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16 JANUARY 2016 ISSUE 323
03 CRUISING
08
NEW CRUISE TERMINAL
OPENS AT ZAYED PORT
SAUDI ARABIA TO WELCOME
FIRST HAMPTON BY HILTON
10
16 International
19 Who's Moved
21 Agent Corner
EMIRATES LAUNCHES SECOND
ISTANBUL GATEWAY
22 Travel Channels
MARKET UPDATE
www.traveltradeweekly.travel
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MANAGING EDITOR
Mary Kammitsi
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Rita Kasziba
Muscat International Airport
SOLID GROWTH AT
MIDDLE EAST
AIRPORTS
JOURNALIST
Pauline Shahabian
CONTRIBUTOR
Ana Mladenovic
PRESS
Maria Demetriadou
Inna Armeanu
DESIGN & LAYOUT
Elena Stylianou
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Savvas Kammitsis
DIRECTORS
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T.T.W. Travel Trade Weekly LTD
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Passenger demand continued its positive trend in October 2015 with the
world’s airfields reporting a six percent increase compared to same month in
2014. International traffic showed stronger improvement at 6.3 percent, while
domestic movements surged 5.8 percent.
W
hile Abu Dhabi, Muscat and Sharjah witnessed double-digit growth rates of 14, 22
and 13 percent respectively, traveller numbers at Dubai International saw a more
moderate climb of 4.4 percent. Traffic in Kuwait and Bahrain declined by five and
six percent respectively.
Strong boost in sub-Saharan Africa, especially in South Africa, was not sufficient to offset
declining trends in the North with Egypt’s three busiest airports, Cairo, Hurghada and Sharm El
Sheikh, reporting losses of 4.6, 8.1 and 5.8 percent, respectively.
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Dubai International
as of
Year-end passenger numbers for 2015 at Dubai International are expected to
hit a new high with figures for the period between January and October
standing at 64.95 million, up 11.2 percent year-on-year.
I
n October alone, 6.25 million travellers passed through the hub, an increase of 4.4 percent, driven by
a 55.4 percent jump in traffic to and from Eastern Europe and a 19.4 percent rise in North America.
Meanwhile, cargo volumes improved 7.6 percent to 215,714 tonnes, pushing the total figure for
the 10-month timeframe to 2.07 million tonnes.
As Paul Griffiths, CEO, Dubai Airports, noted, 2015 is set to be yet another record-breaking year for
Dubai International for both cargo as well as passenger numbers.
16 JANUARY 2016
WEEKLY NEWS CRUISING
New Cruise Terminal Opens at
ZAYED PORT
W
ith the launch of the permanent facility, Zayed Port is expected to witness a fivefold increase in the number
of passengers and ships during the current season in comparison to its first term of 2006/2007. Growth
projections for the emirate’s cruise sector anticipate more than 300,000 visitors by the 2019/2020 season,
further propelling Abu Dhabi’s ambition to establish itself as a leading winter sun cruise destination.
The first ship to use the new terminal for homeporting is MSC Cruises’ MSC Musica which is expected
to be followed by other international vessels.
Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal
THE ABU DHABI CRUISE TERMINAL HAS BEEN
OFFICIALLY INAUGURATED, MARKING A MAJOR
LANDMARK FOR CRUISE TOURISM IN THE UAE
CAPITAL AND THE ARABIAN GULF.
S
witzerland-based cruise line, MSC Cruises joined the inauguration of the UAE capital’s
Zayed Port, kicking off the winter season in the Gulf with MSC Musica homeporting there
for the current term.
The 3,200-guest vessel, which will take passengers from Dubai and Abu Dhabi on a series
of seven-night itineraries with stops in Sharjah, Muscat and Khasab, marks the first time that a
global cruise line homeports at the new facility, pinpointed Gianni Onorato, CEO, MSC Cruises.
“It also reflects the importance that the region and its riveting history and landscapes represent for our guests, and it is testament to MSC Cruises’ capacity to offer the most sought-after
destinations as they become accessible,” added Onorato.
16 JANUARY 2016
MSC Cruises and local representatives
MSC Ship Homeports in
Abu Dhabi
3
WEEKLY NEWS
Kuwait Owes to Focus on
Tourism
Even though oil prices dropped in Kuwait, the country retains its security and social stability and
maintains a strong financial centre, which helps focus on the development of tourism,
a recent report revealed.
T
Kuwait City
he study, undertaken by Leaders Group for Consulting and Development, the representative of the
World Tourism Organization in Kuwait, also documented that, despite a large government expenditure
exceeding USD11 billion, the country’s industry falls behind Gulf countries in terms of infrastructure,
number of visitors and income generated from tourism.
Lastly, the report showed that the sector could play a significant role in the development strategy for the
period 2015 – 2020, particularly due to the current agreement between the parliament and the government,
and the ambitious plans to diversify the economy away from its dependence on oil.
Saudi Arabia
Gears Up for
Winter Travellers
Ras Al Khaimah
Joins Arab
Aviation Summit
A
number of desert communities
across Saudi Arabia prepared for the winter
tourist season with various
events and sites such as
desert parks and heritage
villages, said Abdullah Al
Morshid, director general,
programmes and tourism
products, Saudi Commission for Tourism & National
Heritage.
He also commented on
the potential of the segment saying that winter
tourism depends on seacoasts and beaches, particularly the Arabian Gulf and
the Red Sea, in addition to
the country’s plains.
4
Sharjah Taps
into Unique
Tourism Offering
H.
R
as Al Khaimah was also present at
the recently-held Arab Aviation
and Media Summit in Manama,
where Haitham Mattar, CEO, Ras Al
Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (TDA), highlighted the region’s growing significance on the global map.
“The UAE is already a major hub
when it comes to aviation in the Middle
East, the continued joint efforts across
the emirates as well as between private and public sectors is a significant
factor as we work towards our goal of
welcoming one million visitors a year
to Ras Al Khaimah by the end of 2018,”
commented Mattar.
E. Marwan bin Jassim Al
Sarkal, CEO, Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), visited Sharjah Center
for Astronomy & Space Sciences to discuss means of cooperation with the aim
of boosting tourist activity in the emirate.
Al Sarkal presented a number of
proposals to help promote the centre,
including advertisements at the authority’s Sharjah Sightseeing bus stations and
an outlet for I Love Sharjah’s items at the
astronomy centre.
Furthermore, Al Sarkal expressed
Shurooq’s readiness to commercially develop the science hub and also posited
linking it to international space aviation
and astronomical institutions with the purpose of raising the emirate’s profile in the
designated fields, adding that he is eager
to make this type of tourism9unique.
JANUARY 2016
16 JANUARY 2016
WEEKLY NEWS
Al Noor Island Inaugurated
in Sharjah
S
Inauguration ceremony
harjah unveiled the latest addition to its tourism offering with the launch of its first leisure destination that combines nature and art.
A project of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), Al Noor Island spans
45,470m2 and consists of a covered and streamlined structure inspired by butterflies’ natural environment, a pedestrian bridge that will serve as an entrance, a Literature Pavilion, a children’s playground,
an egg-shaped OVO Art Sculpture and exclusively commissioned art sculptures from renowned artists.
Sharjah’s Potential
Highlighted in China
I
Sharjah
n a bid to showcase the opportunities offered by the emirate’s diverse and rapidly growing economy, Sharjah Investment
and Development Authority (Shurooq) participated in the China Trade Week in Abu Dhabi.
The event, which brought together over 200 exhibitors from the Asian country, allowed Shurooq, Sharjah Chamber of
Commerce and Industry and Sharjah Airport International Free Zone Authority to promote leisure and tourism, along with logistic services, healthcare and environment.
Projects put under the spotlight included Al Noor Island, Heart of Sharjah, Kalba Ecotourism, Sir Bu Nuair Island, the Mleiha
Ecotourism and Archeological Project, and Al Jabal Resort, The Chedi Khorfakkan.
Announcement of the partnership
Air Arabia Holidays Promotes
Abu Dhabi to Saudis
6
I
n line with Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority’s mandate to conserve and promote the emirate as a world-class destination,
Air Arabia Holidays collaborated with Cozmo Travel to showcase Abu Dhabi as a family destination to Saudi visitors.
The objective of the strategic partnership is to device special offers and promotions to retain at least 10 percent of the Saudis who arrive onboard Air Arabia, to stay in the emirate’s hotels.
Sultan Ali Al Mansoori, country manager, GCC, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, commented that there is a growing
interest among Saudis in visiting Yas Island due to its various entertainment facilities and shopping available under one roof.
16 JANUARY 2016
WEEKLY NEWS
Travelport Prolongs Kenya
Airways Collaboration
Somabay Showcased
to GCC Public
T
ravelport and Kenya Airways jointly announced the extension of their multiyear full content agreement.
The deal means that the technology provider’s connected agents worldwide will have continued access to search,
compare and book full range of fares and optional services on
Kenya’s national airline.
Hellen Mwariri, head of revenue management, Kenya Airways,
noted, “As the nation’s flag carrier, we are committed to delivering
operational excellence for our guests, and it is imperative we leverage the industry’s most cutting-edge technology. The renewal of
this full content agreement with Travelport follows our sign up to
Rich Content & Branding [in early 2015], which has proved to be a
sophisticated merchandising platform for our products.”
Egypt Boasts World's
Biggest Crystal Lagoon
16 JANUARY 2016
Qasr Al Hosn
Festival Returns
T
he annual Qasr Al Hosn Festival is
to be held in Abu Dhabi from February 3 – 13, celebrating the Qasr
Al Hosn fort’s status as a historic monument and community hub, and honour
the UAE’s founders and their visionary
leadership.
“As the symbolic birthplace of Abu
Dhabi and a valuable monument of traditional Emirati heritage, Qasr Al Hosn’s
enduring legacy is reflected through this
annual festival and is an opportunity for
the community and visitors to gather
and celebrate national history,” said H.E.
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman,
Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority.
Qasr Al Hosn Festival 2015
Crystal Lagoons’ Egypt project
C
rystal Lagoons’ 12.5ha Sharm El Sheikh project
was officially named the largest in the world
by Guinness World Records.
Located inland from a renowned Red Sea resort in
the desert hinterland, the USD5.5 million lagoon is the
centrepiece of the USD500 million Citystars Sharm El
Sheikh tourism development.
“What is truly unique about this project is not only
its desert setting but the fact that, thanks to our technological innovation, we are able to take water that is
not being used elsewhere, and make it a sustainable
feature within a traditionally arid desert landscape,
which adds tangible real estate value to the development,” said Carlos Salas, regional director, Middle East,
Crystal Lagoons.
Ibrahim El Missiri
S
omabay, hailed as Egypt’s most sought-after luxury holiday destination, was presented to UAE audiences at an
exclusive event held at The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi.
The introductory presentation to the GCC region was
given by Ibrahim El Missiri, CEO, Abu Soma Development
Company, who shared his knowledge about the lavish destination, Egypt as well as travel trends for the year.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Kempinski and
Westin Hotels & Resorts are just a few of the international
names located on the deluxe resort, heralded as the new
Red Sea hotspot which seeks to appeal to jetsetters and adventurers looking for sun and fun.
7
WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION
Saudi Arabia to
Welcome First
Hampton by Hilton
Copthorne Hotel Dubai
Recertified for HACCP
U
pon successful completion of Food Safety Management System
Surveillance conducted by The United Registrar of Systems Middle
East, Copthorne Hotel Dubai received once again a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) certification.
Glenn Nobbs, general manager, Copthorne Hotel Dubai, commented, “At Copthorne Hotel Dubai, strict food procurement, handling and
execution measures are followed to ensure the very best standards for
our guests. Earlier [in 2015] we had received ISO14001 and OSHS18001
certifications. This would not have been possible without the enormous
hard-work put in by our team who have been working extremely hard to
achieve it and I take this opportunity to thank each and every member.”
Royal Rose Abu Dhabi
Shines at Culinary Event
R
8
Legend of Elephants
Hampton by Hilton Riyadh Olaya
H
ilton Worldwide will open Hampton
by Hilton Riyadh Olaya following a
management agreement with FAS
Hotels Group.
Expected to begin welcoming guests
in early 2018, the 154-room property is the
first of the brand in the Kingdom and as Rudi
Jagersbacher, president, Middle East and Africa, Hilton Worldwide, said, after 20 years of
operations in the country, the signing underscores the success of the company’s multibrand development strategy.
Phil Cordell, global head, Hampton by
Hilton brand management, Hilton Worldwide, added, “Our success in growing our
midmarket presence in the Middle East has
resulted from our award-winning brands, as
well as the Hilton engine-fuelling investor
appetite to partner with us.”
oyal Rose Abu Dhabi
won gold and bronze
medals for its chocolate showpiece and individual ice carving at La Cuisine
by SIAL, the meeting point
for foodservice professionals organised by Emirates
Culinary Guild of Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with the
World Association of Chefs’
Societies.
Both works, the chocolate showpiece entitled
Legend of Elephants and the
Jumping Fish ice carving
were created by chef de partie Jacody Shevon Cumara,
guided by Vangelis Boulis,
group executive chef, City
Seasons Hotels.
16 JANUARY 2016
WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION
Kempinski to Debut in
Al Khobar This Year
Luxury Cabanas
Introduced at
Fairmont Bab Al Bahr
Kempinski Al Othman Hotel, Al Khobar
G
K
empinski is to make its debut in Al Khobar this year with the 218-room
Kempinski Al Othman Hotel.
The five-star hotel will feature 15 suites and 18 serviced apartments
and guests will also be able to take advantage of nine dining outlets, and a separate ladies’ spa.
“[Al Khobar] is a preferred destination for many of the most important regional and international companies as a base, including Saudi Aramco,” explained Mohamed Fadi, director of sales, Kempinski Al Othman Hotel, Al Khobar, saying that
with its corniche, shopping malls and lifestyle centres, the city is also a popular
choice among leisure travellers.
16 JANUARY 2016
uests at Fairmont Bab Al Bahr can
enjoy an enhanced experience
as 20 luxury cabanas are now located on two private beaches and a private
pier offering views of Sheikh Zayed Grand
Mosque and Abu Dhabi Creek.
Available to in-house guests, health
club members and day-pass visitors at a
supplemental cost, each cabana measures
3x3m at the base, is 2.5m in height and is
covered with movable strips of fabric and
boasts flooring made from vegetable fibres
and plastics.
With an on-call waiter paging service,
guests can also benefit from a number of
inclusions such as water, fruit platter, drinks
vouchers, and other amenities, including
cold scented towels, bath robes and an
atomiser.
9
WEEKLY NEWS AIR
Emirates Launches Second
Istanbul Gateway
Emirates and Sabiha Gökçen
International Airport teams
celebrate the arrival
of Emirates’ first flight
Emirates recently touched down at Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, celebrating its second
point of entry in Istanbul.
W
ith the commencement of daily flights to the Turkish hub, Emirates increased its overall capacity to the city by 35 percent,
offering a total of 18 services per week to the popular business and tourism destination.
“We have been operating flights to Istanbul for more than 28 years and in that time we have seen demand for our
services grow exponentially. We are confident that both the passenger and cargo demand is strong enough to warrant Emirates operating to both of Istanbul’s airports,” said Adnan Kazim, divisional senior vice president, strategic planning, revenue optimisation and
aeropolitical affairs, Emirates.
Turkish Airlines Increases
Dubai – Istanbul Capacity
Etihad Boosts
Philippines Services
10
T
urkish Airlines launched daily flights from Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen International Airport to Dubai, boosting frequency on its routes to the emirate by nearly 50 percent.
Moreover, as of March, the carrier will increase its services
between the two destinations to 10 per week.
“Our continued growth from Dubai is a success story
for Turkish Airlines and demonstrates our commitment and
faith in the potential of this region for even further growth.
The local market in Dubai, and the UAE in general, continues
to generate strong sales, and I am very optimistic of the carrier’s increased frequencies on this route,” commented Emre
Ismailoglu, general manager, Dubai and Northern Emirates,
Turkish Airlines.
Manila
Emre Ismailoglu
E
tihad Airways revealed plans to add almost
2,500 weekly seats on the Abu Dhabi – Manila
route.
Effective from May 1, the airline will operate
three additional flights per week to the Asian capital, bringing the number of frequencies to the Philippines to 17.
“The Abu Dhabi – Manila route is one of our
strongest in terms of demand and has been capacity-constrained over the past few years,” explained
James Hogan, president, Etihad Airways.
All flights will be operated by a two-class Boeing 777-300ER with 28 seats in business and 384 in
economy class.
16 JANUARY 2016
WEEKLY NEWS AIR
More Boeing 787
Routes for Etihad
E
tihad Airways will fly its Boeing 787s to five more destinations this year. With a phased delivery of five new aircraft
of the type over a seven-month period starting in May, the 299-seat Dreamliners will be deployed as replacements
on daily scheduled services to Düsseldorf, Perth, Shanghai, Istanbul and Johannesburg.
The UAE carrier currently operates five such planes, serving Brisbane, Washington, Singapore and Zürich from Abu
Dhabi, and with a further 66 Boeing 787s due to be delivered over the next few years, the specific jets will become Etihad
Airways’ flagship long-haul aircraft.
James Hogan, president, Etihad Airways, said that since introducing Boeing 787 in February 2015, the airline enjoyed
excellent feedback from guests and has set a benchmark for high-service levels in the region and across the world.
12
Q
atar Airways signed a threeyear sponsorship deal with
telecommunications company, Ooredoo to provide onboard
Wi-Fi across the airline’s fleet.
Passengers on all connected aircraft can be online while in the air
free of charge for the first 15 minutes.
For those who wish to take advantage of the service for longer periods of time, the carrier offers an easy
payment programme, based on the
amount of time needed.
Guests in the first class cabin on
the airline’s Airbus A380 will enjoy
complimentary Wi-Fi for the duration
of their trip.
flydubai to Promote Russia
in the Middle East
Signing of the deal
Qatar Airways and Ooredoo
executives
Qatar Airways Offers
Free Onboard Wi-Fi
H
DID YOU KNOW...
The airline’s network
in the country includes
daily flights to Moscow
as well as flights to
many Russian
destinations?
ighlighting the airline’s commitment to the
Russian market, flydubai signed an agreement with Visit Russia to promote the destination in the Middle East.
The deal coincided with the opening of the authority’s office in Dubai, which was set up to increase
tourist traffic from the region to Russian locations.
Jeyhun Efendi, senior vice president, commercial,
UAE, European Union, Middle East and CIS, flydubai,
commented, “Since we launched our first flight to
Russia in 2010 we saw the opportunity to connect
Russia to the UAE with a focus on regional cities with
populations of more than a million people. We are
pleased to work with the Russian Federal Agency for
Tourism and Visit Russia to develop further opportunities for tourism.”
16 JANUARY 2016
WEEKLY NEWS AIR
Emirates
Expands Chinese
Network
Zhengzhou
Abu Dhabi
Airports Welcomes
flynas
T
A
bu Dhabi International Airport received flynas’ inaugural service
from Riyadh, marking the start of the Saudi Arabian airline’s new
offering, connecting the two capitals with a direct flight five
times a week.
According to Ahmad Al Haddabi, chief operations officer, Abu Dhabi
Airports, the new operations further develop the company’s airline portfolio while providing passengers with a world-class experience, whether
travelling for business or leisure.
“It also successfully complements the collaborative efforts made by
Abu Dhabi Airports and Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority to further strengthen Abu Dhabi’s position as one of the leading tourist destinations regionally and internationally,” he concluded.
wo of Mainland China’s fastest
growing cities, Yinchuan and
Zhengzhou will soon be connected to Dubai.
Starting May 3, Emirates will operate
four weekly services to the destinations
using Boeing 777-200LR aircraft.
With a large Muslim population,
Yinchuan serves as a gateway linking
the Asian country to Arabic states, while
Zhengzhou is a major transportation interchange for central China.
“We believe the new international
air links […] will help create tourism and
trade opportunities for Chinese business
and leisure travellers that may not otherwise exist,” said H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin
Saeed Al Maktoum, CEO, Emirates.
Turkish Airlines Enhances
Abu Dhabi Offering
T
urkish Airlines launched daily flights from Abu Dhabi to Istanbul Atatürk Airport, adding extra frequencies on the route
which was previously operated four times a week.
Adem Ceylan, vice president, sales, Middle East, Turkish Airlines, commented that the new daily offering to the
emirate combines world-class service with convenient access to an important Middle Eastern gateway from across the carrier’s
global network.
“With our wide-bodied planes, we will be able to fly over many more passengers to Abu Dhabi on a daily basis, and have
them experience the wonderful service of Turkish Airlines,” Ceylan said.
16 JANUARY 2016
13
WEEKLY NEWS AIR
UIA to Grow
Amman Services
Turkish Airlines and Avianca
Brazil Codeshare
Jose Efromovich (left) and Temel Kotil, CEO,
Turkish Airlines
I
n response to strong demand for services between
the destinations, Ukraine International Airlines
(UIA) is planning to increase frequency on its Kiev
– Amman route.
As of this summer season starting March 29, the
European carrier will offer up to seven weekly flights
between the capitals onboard Boeing 737 aircraft.
“We see our passengers’ growing demand for travelling to Asia and the Middle East. Therefore, we decided to increase the Kiev – Amman flight frequency
and offer passengers more opportunities to quickly
reach Jordan,” explained Evgeniya Satska, corporate
press secretary, UIA.
T
Amman
urkish Airlines signed a codeshare agreement with its fellow
Star Alliance member Avianca
Brazil, which will add its code to selected flights operated by the Turkish
carrier, offering customers access to
Istanbul and connections to several
destinations around the world.
Similarly, Turkish Airlines will allow
its passengers to fly on Avianca Brazil
services beyond São Paulo under the
TK code.
As Jose Efromovich, president,
Avianca Brazil, explained, the deal will
enable the company to strengthen its
position as a reliable alliance member
in Brazil and further expand the advantages offered to customers by connecting them safely and comfortably
to the world.
Etihad Implements New
Travelport Offering
DID YOU KNOW...
Avianca Brazil has been
a scheduled carrier since
2002 and covers
23 domestic destinations
and one abroad with more
than 200 daily flights?
Emirates Steps Up
Cairo Operations
E
14
E
Cairo
tihad Airways went live on Travelport’s
Rich Content and Branding merchandising solution, with the airline’s fare
choices structure fully enabled to search, sell
and book through the technology provider’s
Smartpoint platform.
The tech firm’s product allows the Abu
Dhabi-based carrier to seamlessly integrate
its new fare offering into travel agent’s screens
with the ability to vary descriptions and
imagery.
Peter Baumgartner, chief commercial officer, Etihad Airways, noted, “We are fully committed to supporting travel agents in promoting and tailoring our products to meet the
needs of our guests. In collaboration with our
partner Travelport, we are delighted to provide travel agents and our guests with a greater understanding and transparency of our
products in line with the values we stand for.”
mirates introduced three new weekly flights between Dubai and Cairo, supplementing the previous twice-daily Boeing 777-300ER services and
taking the number of weekly frequencies between the
cities to 17.
As Adil Al Ghaith, senior vice president, commercial operations, Northern and Western Africa, Emirates,
noted, the increase in operations follows strong commercial demand and great customer support.
“In the past eight years, the route has carried
over 2.7 million passengers and moved over 200,000
tonnes of cargo,” disclosed Al Ghaith.
Emirates will deploy an Airbus A330-200 aircraft in
a two-class configuration on the additional services.
16 JANUARY 2016
Travel Trade Luxury is a worldwide luxury
travel trade publication.
Travel Trade Luxury is brought out monthly. It
is published both in digital and printed format.
Its digital readership is based on the 150,000
readers which the Travel Trade Publications
platform enjoys. Readers include agents specialising in individual luxury travel, group luxury
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Travel Trade Luxury is also distributed to the
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Travel Trade Luxury contains informative current news on luxury destinations and products.
It also includes specialised luxury destination
reports with in-depth analyses of issues related
to the luxury segment.
WEEKLY NEWS INTERNATIONAL
Wyndham Enters
Mexico with 400th Hotel
Baymont Inn & Suites Lázaro
Cárdenas
B
16
aymont Inn & Suites, Wyndham Hotel Group’s fastest-growing brand in terms of room count, launched
Baymont Inn & Suites Lázaro Cárdenas, the company’s first property in Mexico and 400th worldwide.
Located in one of the country’s most prominent port
cities, the 118-key Baymont Inn & Suites Lázaro Cárdenas
features four conference rooms, outdoor space, outdoor
swimming pool, fitness centre and free transportation to
and from the airport.
“Mexico is the perfect market for Baymont’s international expansion – it is a powerful world economy with
robust domestic travel demand […],” said Greg Giordano,
vice president, operations, Baymont Inn & Suites, Wyndham Hotel Group.
B
Le Méridien Kuala Lumpur
Reinvents Club Lounge
L
e Méridien Kuala Lumpur unveiled a revamped club
lounge, dedicated to Starwood Preferred Guest
members and travellers who book the club room
category.
The 420m2 Le Méridien Club Lounge is now adorned
with batik and songket design elements and features an
open kitchen with a live-cooking station, a private meeting room, a sitting area, computer and printing facilities,
as well as shower rooms.
“Our Le Méridien Club Lounge underwent an extensive MYR6.2 million (USD1.43 million) transformation to
keep in pace with the changing aspirations of business
travellers of today,” said Harvey Thompson, general manager, Le Méridien Kuala Lumpur.
Le Méridien Kuala Lumpur
Launch of Radisson Blu Okoume Palace Hotel,
Libreville
T
est Western Hotels & Resorts continued its rapid growth in
Myanmar with the launch of a new property in Mandalay.
The modern midscale BEST WESTERN PLUS Eastern
Palace Hotel is located in the heart of the city, in close proximity
to the main business district and many historical landmarks. It
boasts an all-day restaurant, lobby lounge, swimming pool, spa,
fitness centre as well as business and meeting spaces for both
large and small events.
Olivier Berrivin, managing director, international operations,
Asia, Best Western Hotels & Resorts, commented, “Best Western
was one of the first international hotel groups to enter Myanmar
[...], and I am delighted to be able to leverage our first-mover advantage with yet another superb hotel in the country.”
BEST WESTERN PLUS Eastern Palace Hotel
Best Western Enriches
Myanmar Portfolio
Rezidor Enhances African
Portfolio
he Rezidor Hotel Group unveiled its first project in
Gabon.
The 330-room Radisson Blu Okoume Palace Hotel,
Libreville is located by the Atlantic Ocean in close proximity
to city attractions and features two dining options, two bars,
meeting rooms accommodating between 10 – 80 delegates,
and a fully-equipped fitness centre and swimming pools, with
an infinity pool are also to be incorporated later this year.
Marc Descrozaille, area vice president, sub-Saharan Africa,
The Rezidor Hotel Group, stated, “The opening of Radisson Blu
Okoume Palace Hotel, Libreville further cements our leading
position in Africa and gives us the opportunity to introduce
the iconic Radisson Blu brand to a new country.”
16 JANUARY 2016
RENDEZVOUS
Q & A with
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: The company has outlined ambitious plans
for the Middle East and for Dubai in
particular with three new properties
scheduled to open in the emirate in
the coming years. What makes the
Meliá brands the ideal fit for Dubai’s
evolving hospitality market?
GABRIEL ESCARRER
CEO, MELIÁ HOTELS INTERNATIONAL
GABRIEL ESCARRER, CEO, MELIÁ HOTELS
INTERNATIONAL, HAD JUST TURNED 21
WHEN HE OPENED THE COMPANY’S FIRST
HOTEL ON PALMA DE MALLORCA. SIX
DECADES LATER, HE RUNS THE LARGEST
SPANISH HOTEL CHAIN WITH MORE THAN
350 PROPERTIES IN 35 COUNTRIES.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: The recently announced new additions to the company’s portfolio underline Meliá Hotels International’s commitment to the
GCC. What makes the region a strategically important market for you?
GABRIEL ESCARRER: The strong growth of the region as a tourism destination
as well as transient business and leisure hub makes it a focus for our growth. Our
presence in the Middle East and GCC region will allow us to serve the regional
markets and bridge a gap between the European and Asian markets, both of
which we are strategically positioned in.
16 JANUARY 2016
GABRIEL ESCARRER: The lifestyle luxury
ME by Meliá brand will add a new dimension of psychographically oriented hospitality to the region with our ME Dubai and
ME Doha scheduled to open in the
coming years. The debut of the
Innside by Meliá brand will serve
the growing midscale and fourstar segment, which is an important and expanding component
of Dubai’s hotel portfolio. The new
Meliá Downtown Residences will
cater to the strong demand for
larger, well-appointed hotel units,
which offer guests true international standards and service.
tion, gradually introduced in 80 hotels
throughout the portfolio. Meliá recently
announced a partnership with leading Chinese online tour operator, Ctrip,
which saw 81 of our hotels made available to Ctrip customers and marked a
significant step in an ambitious roadmap for our company. In addition, Meliá
has also launched its official Wechat and
Wibo pages and the company is engaging with Asian customers through key
social channels in China, as well as Facebook in Indonesia.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What
other MENA countries are on
your radar?
GABRIEL ESCARRER: With the
opening of Meliá Doha in a key
location of the booming West
Bay district nearly one year ago,
we are looking to strengthen
our competitive position in Qatar and other extended Middle
East markets, including Oman,
Bahrain, Maldives, Kazakhstan,
Iran, Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: The
company aims to become the
first choice for Chinese tourists visiting Europe. What steps are
being taken in order to meet the specific requirements and preferences of
Chinese travellers?
GABRIEL ESCARRER: China will become the main feeder market worldwide. In 2014, over 100 million Chinese
tourists travelled overseas and this
is expected to double by 2020; their
spend whilst travelling was the highest when compared to other travellers.
As outbound travel from China continues to grow at an exponential rate,
we are rolling out a Chinese welcome
programme, Pengyou by Meliá, which
includes a comprehensive staff training programme, as well as amenities
and food and beverage offer adapta-
Gran Meliá Xian
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: In your
opinion, what core values and
amenities distinguish Meliá from its
competitors? What are those Meliá
values that Middle Eastern travellers
appreciate the most?
GABRIEL ESCARRER: Meliá Hotels International allows travellers and guests
to experience the warmth of true Spanish hospitality, both in service and experiences, which is being adapted to
integrate with the local culture and
expectations of the regional markets,
while maintaining international standards. The traditional oriental values of
service and hospitality are very much
in line with our Spanish service culture
and that is very much appreciated.
17
WEEKLY NEWS INTERNATIONAL
Texas Receives Latest
Rezidor Property
Country Inn & Suites By Carlson,
Houston-Westchase, TX
C
18
arlson Rezidor Hotel Group launched Country Inn &
Suites By Carlson, Houston-Westchase, TX, in Texas,
featuring the brand’s latest design, including new
architecture, modern interiors and spacious rooms.
The 71-unit new-built hotel boasts an outdoor swimming pool, complimentary breakfast and free weekday
shuttle service within an 8km radius, particularly helpful
for business travellers.
Jeffrey Freund, senior vice president, midscale brands,
Americas, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, commented,
“Country Inns & Suites By Carlson is committed to providing guests a caring, comfortable and consistent hospitality experience all delivered with a touch of home and this
hotel will do just that.”
H
10 Hotels reinforced its presence in Cuba with the
recent launch of Ocean Vista Azul.
Located on the seafront in Varadero, the fivestar newly-built resort boasts 740 rooms, two swimming
pools, several dining options, a full entertainment programme for both adults and children, a theatre, Internet
corner and a meeting room with a capacity of up to 60
guests.
Following the latest addition, the hotelier is also planning to soon open the five-star Ocean Casa del Mar in Cuba.
Altogether, the hospitality group brought 2015 to an
end having introduced eight new establishments worldwide.
Ocean Vista Azul
Signing of the deal
C
arlson Rezidor Hotel Group will open seven
properties comprising 817 rooms under the
Radisson Blu, Radisson and Country Inns &
Suites By Carlson brands, in the northern Indian state
of Jammu and Kashmir.
First to launch will be the 89-key conversion Radisson Srinagar in the fourth quarter of the year. Others to
follow include Country Inn & Suites By Carlson Jammu
in 2017, Country Inn & Suites By Carlson Sonamarg and
Radisson Pahalgam Golf View Resort in 2018, Country Inn & Suites By Carlson Gulmarg and Radisson Blu
Srinagar in 2020, as well as Radisson Blu Resort Tangmarg in 2021.
Cuba Welcomes Third
H10 Hotel
Wanda Hotels Enhances
Chinese Portfolio
W
anda Hotels & Resorts opened
Wanda Vista Hohhot, in China
marking the 12th property under
the Wanda Vista brand.
Hohhot offers a host of attractions from
traditional Mongolian wrestling and dancing
performances to temples and the Zhaojun
Tomb.
The 313-room hotel blends local decorative and cultural traditions with contemporary
interior design, boasting a range of dining options, a 344m2 ballroom, four additional event
venues, an indoor heated swimming pool and
a full-equipped fitness studio.
Wanda Vista Hohhot rendering
Carlson Rezidor: Seven
Hotels in Jammu and Kashmir
16 JANUARY 2016
WHO’S MOVED
HAYTHAM OMAR has been
appointed general manager
at Rose Rayhaan by Rotana,
Dubai.
An accomplished hotelier
with over two decades of experience, Omar aims to take
the property to a whole new
level and establish it as a key
address of Rotana’s Rayhaan
sub-brand.
During his extensive career in
the industry, Omar has worked
with companies, such as Hilton Worldwide, Rotana and
Rixos Hotels, where he served
as a general manager for the
past two and a half years.
SARAH ESMAIL
HAYTHAM OMAR
16 JANUARY 2016
ABDELSALAM AL TAMIMI
continues as the new hotel
manager of Radisson Blu Hotel, Yanbu.
Al Tamimi, who has over 17
years of experience in the hospitality industry, started his career in customer service in Jordan before joining The Rezidor
Hotel Group in 1998.
He most recently served as operations manager at Park Inn
by Radisson Al Khobar. Prior to
that, he worked at Radisson SAS
Amman and Radisson Blu Hotel,
Jeddah, where he oversaw the
front office, housekeeping and
security departments.
In his new role, Al Tamimi will
be in charge of the overall
operation of the hotel, leading the management team to
maximise revenue and guest
satisfaction, while achieving
profitability and delivering
quality services.
DAN WESTBROOK
ABDELSALAM
AL TAMIMI
Omar aims to take the
hotel to a new level
SARAH ESMAIL is the newest member of Kempinski
Hotel Ajman’s team as sales
manager.
Her main focus will be on
corporate groups, events and
she will be covering the allimportant Arabic-speaking
market.
Esmail, who holds a master’s
degree in hospitality management, has more than five
years of experience in the
region. She was previously
part of a high-end hospitality
group in Fujairah.
In Ajman, Esmail will be responsible for creating and
strengthening the hotel’s ties
with corporate clients, while
developing relationships with
the government, sports clubs
and existing clients. In addition, she will be driving new
source markets to Kempinski
Hotel Ajman.
DAN WESTBROOK has been
chosen as vice president and
general manager of Travelport’s air commerce technologies business.
An experienced airline industry executive, Westbrook
joined Travelport in April
2009 after previously holding senior roles in travel merchandising at Sabre. Prior to
that, he spent nearly 20 years
at American Airlines.
Westbrook replaces Bret Kidd,
who continues as the new
group vice president and
managing director of Travelport Americas.
Westbrook has been
with Travelport since
April 2009
19
DIVISIONAL VICE
PRESIDENT,
CUSTOMER
EXPERIENCE,
EMIRATES
“We are extremely delighted
to be recognised [by World
Travel Awards] as the World’s
Leading Hotel Brand and for
Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi, our
company’s flagship property,
to be awarded the World’s
Leading Corporate Resort, in
addition to our newest property in Bahrain, Art Rotana, to
be recognised as the world’s
leading new hotel. Rotana
won, for the ninth year in a
row, the Middle East’s Leading
Hotel Brand and a leader in so
many award categories […].”
GENERAL
MANAGER,
JUMEIRAH
ZABEEL SARAY
We […] are delighted
to bring the first six
Star Wars movies to
our screens
“We always aim to offer our
passengers the best content
onboard and are delighted
to bring the first six Star Wars
movies to our screens. With
a total run time of over 13
hours, customers could watch
all six films at one go on some
of our long-haul flights. It will
allow Star Wars enthusiasts to
re-watch the classic films and
gives others a chance to see
why these movies have such a
huge fan base worldwide.”
GENERAL
MANAGER, RIXOS
THE PALM DUBAI
FERNANDO GIBAJA
Rotana won, for the
ninth year in a row, the
Middle East’s Leading
Hotel Brand
ALEXANDER SCHNEIDER
PRESIDENT,
ROTANA
PATRICK BRANNELLY
OMER KADDOURI
TRAVEL TALK
We […] look forward to
many more years
“We are proud to celebrate
the resort’s fifth year of operation. We have watched
the resort get bigger and
better since opening in 2011
and its success is owed to the
dedicated and talented team
of colleagues we have. We
welcome and look forward
to many more years creating
memorable and exhilarating
experiences for our guests.”
We are always striving
to improve and
innovate our […]
offering
“It is an absolute honour for
us to take home [the World’s
Leading Resort accolade from
the World Travel Awards], especially given the quality and
calibre of resorts that were
nominated from around the
world. We are always striving
to improve and innovate our
service and facility offering,
ensuring that we are one step
ahead of the other lifestyle resorts, so to have been recognised on this level is an incredible achievement for myself
and the team.”
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
20
16 JANUARY 2016
AGENT CORNER
AGENT’S INSIGHT
When and how did you get involved
in the tourism industry?
We have been in the market since
2006. I studied hotel and tourism and
started to work in hospitality. Then I
established my own company.
What are the most important attributes of a good travel agent/tour
operator?
Honesty.
What is the most frequently asked
question that your company receives from customers?
Where to go, what are the new offers
and what is the best place to visit.
NAME:
Thamer AL Hourani
POSITION:
Owner and general manager
COMPANY:
Crystal Travel & Tourism
LOCATION:
Jordan
WEBSITE:
www.crystaltours-jo.com
What are the must-visits and must-dos
in Jordan that no one should miss?
As you know Jordan is one of the most
attractive destinations in the region.
Houseoftours Acquires
Dubai-based DMC
H
Which destination is on your bucket
list?
So many actually; Dubai, Thailand, Bali,
Lebanon, London, Spain and Italy.
16 JANUARY 2016
Akif Aziz
What all travellers should not miss are
the Baptism Site, the Dead Sea which
is the lowest point on Earth, Petra
which is one of the seven wonders of
the world, as well as Wadi Rum.
ouseoftours has purchased Elite Tours, the destination management company (DMC) in Dubai
with a fleet of over 50 safari vehicles and 200 plus
visa quota.
The transaction, valued at AED1 million (USD272,000),
is set to further diversify the Umm Al Quwain-based travel
and tourism management company’s business and add
value to its current focus of corporate travel.
As Akif Aziz, general manager, Houseoftours, explained, the acquisition will help expand the business
with DMC solutions and increase its presence in other
emirates of the UAE as well.
21
TRAVEL CHANNELS
OMAN SUPPORTS WOMEN
ATHLETES
Jebel Shams
CORAL BEACH
RESORT SHARJAH
NOW HACCP
CERTIFIED
A
three-day expedition saw 16 female mountaineers representing various
GCC countries making their way to Jebel Shams, the region’s highest
mountain peak, via Western Hajar mountain trek, organised by Husaak
Adventures in collaboration with Oman’s Ministry of Tourism.
Asma Al Hajri, deputy director general, international tourism promotions, Ministry of Tourism, Oman, said, “We are happy to support the brave
women in this exciting adventure. The trek to the summit of Jebel Shams offered a
dynamic and truly unforgettable experience that challenged the athleticism of our
participants.”
Al Bahar Restaurant, Coral Beach Resort Sharjah
I
n recognition of its high culinary standards
and effective management of food safety risks,
Coral Beach Resort Sharjah was awarded with
Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP)
certification.
As Haytham Aziz, hotel manager, Coral Beach
Resort Sharjah, explained, receiving the confirmation with the highest score enables the hotel to apply for ISO certification.
The assessment for HACCP was carried out in
two stages with the first one focussing on the development of the necessary HACCP procedures
and controls and the second phase examining the
implementation of these. All food and beverage operations and dining outlets across the resort were
thoroughly scrutinised, including receiving, cleaning, storing, preparation handling and serving areas.
CENTRO
SHARJAH
BACKS CLEAN
UP MOVEMENT
ACCORHOTELS SUPPORTS
ENERGY OBSERVER
Centro Sharjah’s team
A
s part of the hotel’s social
responsibility endeavours, Centro Sharjah’s
team joined the Clean
Up UAE campaign.
Organised by Emirates Environmental Group, the initiative brings
together people from all walks of life
to create awareness of sustainable
living. All in all, the total garbage collection through the action reached
1,520kg.
“Being a hotel and a stakeholder
in Sharjah, we believe it is our responsibility to strive for the betterment of our community and the
environment we operate in,” said
Michael Kasch, general manager,
Centro Sharjah.
I
n a bid to move its properties towards energy transition, AccorHotels partnered with Energy Observer, an experimental
multi-energy research catamaran developed by two skippers, Victorien Erussard and Frederic Dahirel, and the French
Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA).
Energy Observer, currently being built in Saint Malo, is a revolutionary, energy-sufficient boat intended as an open-air laboratory. It will sail around the world to 50 countries, with 101 stopovers and 2,000 days of sailing, carrying technicians of HotelInvest,
AccorHotels’ property asset management business, CEA Tech scientists, renewable energy specialists and the skippers.
Sébastien Bazin, chairman, AccorHotels, explained, “Our partnership with Energy Observer reflects our desire, as a sustainable
hotel constructor and operator, to stimulate a long-term virtuous
approach.”
Energy Observer
22
16 JANUARY 2016
PHOTO ALBUM
Rotana renewed its brand endorsement contract
with British golfer Melissa Reid
Looney Tunes visited Yas Mall
Take
a Shot!
Share with us the latest images of your
activities and let your colleagues know
what you have been up to.
Park Inn Muscat was awarded the first
Safehotels Premium Certificate by
Safehotels Alliance in Oman
Belgian football club KAS Eupen visited The Torch Doha
16 JANUARY 2016
Send your photos to
Because a picture is worth a thousand
words...
Qatar Airways and Qatar Duty Free congratulated
tennis star Novak Djokovic on his latest win
How many Lego pieces does it take to make an Emirates Airbus 380 model?
23
NEWS & EVENTS
Abu Dhabi Air
Expo Doubles
in Size
I
n response to demand from industry
professionals, Al Bateen Executive
Airport doubled the exhibition space
for Abu Dhabi Air Expo, which will
be held between March 8 – 10 as part
of Abu Dhabi Aviation and Aerospace
Week. Occupying nearly 60,000m2 of
space, the event will see the return of
private aircraft manufacturers and is set
to welcome over 20,000 visitors from
the industry with an exhibitor line-up
of 2,500.
AAMS
Concludes on
Positive Note
T
he fifth Arab Aviation and Media Summit (AAMS) came to a
close with speakers in broad
agreement on the optimistic
outlook for the Middle East’s aviation
and tourism industry.
Over 200 industry leaders, government officials and journalists attended the conference, held in Manama.
Among themes discussed was the important role aviation and tourism continue to play in the ongoing development of the region’s economies.
EVENTS
BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL
AIR SHOW
Sakhir, Bahrain
January 21 – 23
bahraininternationalairshow.com
A focussed global aviation
event providing its elite list of
aerospace business participants
with the opportunity for highlevel networking in exclusive
surroundings.
3RD ANNUAL AFRICA HOTEL
EXPANSION SUMMIT
Lagos, Nigeria
January 28 – 29
africa.hotelandresortsummit.com
For the third consecutive year,
Noppen is organising the
Africa Hotel Expansion Summit,
bringing together hotel chains,
developers and architects with
hospitality institutions.
IBTM ARABIA
Abu Dhabi, UAE
February 09 – 11
www.ibtmarabia.com
With a new format, the event
is ideal for meetings, events
and incentives industry
decision-makers to meet for
global business adventures.
TEHRAN INTERNATIONAL
TOURISM EXHIBITION
Tehran, Iran
February 16 – 19
www.titexgroup.com
The newest edition of the event
covers an area of 21,000m2
divided into six different halls
showcasing Iran’s tourism
attractions.
24
16 JANUARY 2016

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