NEW LUXURY RESORT AT JUMEIRAH BEACH HOTEL

12 JULY 2014
ISSUE 244
SECOND DOUBLETREE BY
HILTON OPENS IN DUBAI
A 350-ROOM ULTRA-LUXURY RESORT IS TO BE ADDED TO
JUMEIRAH BEACH HOTEL IN DUBAI AS THE PROJECT
CONTINUES WITH THE FIFTH PHASE OF ITS EXPANSION.
10
GULF AIR STEPS UP LARNACA
SERVICES
14
IN THIS ISSUE
MARKET UPDATE
GDS
WEEKLY NEWS
RENDEZVOUS
ACCOMMODATION
CLASSIFIEDS
AIR
INTERNATIONAL
AGENT CORNER
TRAVEL TALK
TRAVEL CHANNELS
WHO’S MOVED
PHOTO ALBUM
NEWS & EVENTS
02
03
04
08
09
12
14
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
NEW LUXURY RESORT
AT JUMEIRAH BEACH HOTEL
9
MARKET UPDATE
TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS
MENA EXCHANGE RATES
Accurate as of
MANAGING EDITOR
11/07/2014
Mary Kammitsi
mary@traveltradeweekly.travel
Currencies shown in blue
are fixed against the
US Dollar
SENIOR JOURNALIST
Rita Kasziba
JOURNALIST
Maria Kazeli
COUNTRY
CURRENCY
1USD=
PRESS
Maria Demetriadou
Pauline Shahabian
UAE (AED)
Dirham
3.67
Egypt (EGP)
Pound
7.15
DESIGN & LAYOUT
Elena Stylianou
Saudi Arabia (SAR)
Riyal
3.75
Lebanon (LBP)
Pound
1,512.50
Bahrain (BHD)
Dinar
0.37
Jordan (JOD)
Dinar
0.71
Syria (SYP)
Pound
149.65
Kuwait (KWD)
Dinar
0.28
Qatar (QAR)
Riyal
3.64
Oman (OMR)
Rial
0.38
Tunisia (TND)
Dinar
1.70
Morocco (MAD)
Dirham
8.24
Iran (IRR)
Riyal
25,641.00
Yemen (YER)
Rial
214.89
Algeria (DZD)
Dinar
79.40
Libya (LYD)
Dinar
1.20
WEB DEVELOPER / IT
Soteris Constantinou
DIRECTORS
Andreas Constantinides
Mary Kammitsi
HEADQUARTERS
T.T.W. Travel Trade Weekly LTD
P.O. Box 25255, Nicosia 1308 Cyprus
Tel: +357 22 021607, Fax: +357 22 103670
WEBSITE
www.traveltradeweekly.travel
EMAILS
info@traveltradeweekly.travel
sales@traveltradeweekly.travel
editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel
Increased
Bottom Line Yields
in Jeddah
Jeddah’s four- and five-star hotels reported
growth across all major performance
indicators in April as an increase in average
rates and non-room revenues boosted the
bottom line yields.
B
ased on TRI Hospitality Consulting’s HotStats report,
occupancy for the month rose 2.5 percentage points
to 81.4 percent, while average room rates jumped 9.3
percent to USD268.59, leading to a 12.7 percent RevPAR improvement to USD218.57.
Increased revenues from food and beverage consumption,
along with higher conferencing demand resulted in a 10.8 percent
total RevPAR surge and the strong top-line revenues coupled with
a 1.5 percentage point reduction in payroll costs boosted gross
operating profit per available room by 16.8 percent to USD174.13.
Nakheel to Repay Debt ahead of
Time
Nakheel’s Management
N
akheel plans to repay all AED7.9 billion (USD2.15
billion) owed to bank lenders this August, nearly
four years before the final loan installment due in
March 2018.
The Dubai-based developer’s scheduled repayment of
AED5.54 billion (USD1.51 billion) in August will come just
six months after the same transaction in February, when
the company returned AED2.35 billion (USD640 million) of
its bank loan.
Since the launch of its post-restructuring business
plan in August 2011, Nakheel has achieved what some
considered impossible, noted Ali Rashid Lootah, chairman,
Nakheel, referring to the completion of one of the largest,
most complex financial restructuring exercises followed
by the successful execution of a new business plan that
has placed the company on a path to new growth.
2
12 JULY 2014
GDS WEEKLY NEWS
Travelport Acquires Hotelzon
T
ravelport announced that it has bought Hotelzon, a
business-to-business hotel distribution technology
provider, as part of its ongoing strategy to redefine and
strengthen its hotel offering to both corporations and travel
management companies (TMCs).
With only 30 - 50 percent of corporate hotel buying going
through TMCs and many bookings still being implemented directly by business travellers themselves, the Hotelzon acquisition is expected to provide both corporations and Travelportconnected travel agencies with a best-in-class booking tool
with extensive independent hotel content.
Enhanced Version of Travelport
Mobile Agent
T
ravelport launched an upgraded version of its Travelport Mobile Agent (TMA)
tool, first introduced in 2011, adding a range of new features and
functionality for its agency users.
The mobile app which was developed in partnership with TTS,
an active member of the Travelport Developer Network, allows
travel agents to make bookings
for their customers from handheld
devices.
Version 3.0 of Travelport’s tool
includes new features which were
implemented as a result of user
feedback and are all designed to
enable agents to provide superior
customer service.
CyberSource and Amadeus
to Optimise Fraud Management
A
kno
u
o
y
d
Di
w.
p
grou
eus nd
d
a
ou
Am
The ploys ar ople
em 00 pe ?
10, 0 rldwide
wo
12 JULY 2014
madeus and eCommerce payment
management service provider, CyberSource, have formed a strategic
global partnership to bring an integrated
travel reservations and fraud management
solution to airlines, travel agencies and other
organisations worldwide.
Leveraging CyberSource’s global expertise, the innovative solution integrates a
fraud management system, called Decision
Manager, into the Amadeus Payment Platform, enabling travel businesses to maximise
revenue, reduce costs and improve the customer payment experience across multiple
channels.
As Celia Pereiro, head, travel payments,
Amadeus, noted, the new tool will provide
clients with a customised and enriched solution, helping them optimise business operations, increase acceptance rates and facilitate
a smooth consumer payment process.
3
WEEKLY NEWS
Europe to Host
Halal Tourism
Conference
Dubai Tram: 93 Percent
Complete
C
The first-ever international
conference on halal tourism
is set to take place between
September 22 – 23 in
Andalucia, Spain.
T
he inaugural event, which will bring together
the global travel industry to discuss ways of
tapping into this niche market, aims to equip
delegates with market intelligence, industry forecasts and trends to understand how to market their
products to Muslim customers.
Based on figures, halal tourism was worth
some USD140 billion in 2013, representing
around 13 percent of global travel expenditure,
4
and the figure is expected to reach USD192 billion
by 2020.
“This is a groundbreaking event for halal tourism
which is directly reacting to current market trends
and addressing the needs of the industry. It is the
first time such a global event is being staged looking at halal tourism in detail,” explained Tasneem
Mahmood, director, Creative Minds Media, organisers of the event.
ompletion rate in the entire works
of the Dubai Tram project hit 93 percent at the end of June, H.E. Mattar
Al Tayer, chairman, Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai, revealed.
Al Tayer made the statement during a recent site tour, where he also confirmed that
the project is on track to open in November.
During the visit the delegation inspected
the depot which comprises 11 environmentally-friendly buildings and has a capacity
to accommodate 25 trains, as well as the 11
tram stations spanning activity centres and
population density areas.
The progress in road works in the vicinity
of the tram project and pedestrian crossings
were also checked, and Al Tayer directed officials to attach paramount attention to the
traffic safety aspect.
12 JULY 2014
WEEKLY NEWS
World’s Largest Sustainable Underwater
Tourism Site in Dubai
L
os Angeles-based developer, Reef Worlds
has completed the design stage for a two
hectare tourism site that will allow select
waterfront resort development partners to capture a larger share of the USD3 billion dive and
snorkel market.
Inspired by an ancient Lost City, the Pearl of
Dubai is set to become a hit with divers and snorkellers, and, as Dave Taylor, director of development, Reef Worlds, said, fill a gap in the market.
“When one considers Dubai and the region,
scuba diving and underwater exploration is not
on the top 10 list, and yet it is almost everywhere else in the world. [...] The creation of new
habitat while at the same time adding instant
tourism revenue and excitement to waterfront
resorts,” added Taylor.
12 JULY 2014
UAE Airports Invest in
Airport Security
now
k
u
o
y
Did
..
30
than om all
e
r
Mo ies fr
e
ld ar
pan
com the wor ttend
a
over ted to nce?
c
e
r
p
e e
ex
conf
the
O
ver USD30 billion is being earmarked to enhance the security and safety of airports in
emerging markets.
The special focus placed on further
strengthening security in the aviation
sector will be one of the key topics at this
year’s Emerging Markets Airports Security Summit (EMASS), which will take place
between November 26 – 27, at Le Méridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre.
Organised by Arabian Reach, the
event will provide an opportunity for
over 150 delegates from global aviation security and safety organisations
to discuss the challenges and issues
faced by the industry and get a better
understanding of the usage of technologies and effective practices.
5
WEEKLY NEWS
Smart Living City Dubai 2014 to
Showcase Smart City Solutions
Troon Launches New Golf Facility in
Morocco
U
G
pon H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s, ruler of Dubai, launch of a six-pillar and
100-initiative strategy that is set to consolidate
Dubai’s position as the Smartest City, a recent industry report has shown that the emirate has indeed jumped to the
lead to become a fully-fledged Smart City.
Smart Living City Dubai 2014, which will take place
between September 15 – 16
at Jumeirah Emirates Tower,
Dubai, aims at supporting the
destination’s goal of becoming
the smartest city in the world
by bringing the best of technology and experts and innovators
from across the world together
to share ideas with government
representatives, company executives, technology investors and
Masood Al Awar, CEO, Tasweek,
business accelerators alike.
organiser of the event
Tony Jacklin
olf course management,
development and marketing company, Troon
has opened its fourth facility in
Morocco.
Owned by Groupe Addoha,
The Tony Jacklin, Casablanca
forms an integral part of Bouskoura Golf City, the all-new development just minutes from the
city centre and within easy access
of the airport.
Named after golfing legend,
Tony Jacklin, the 6,422m2 course
blends seamlessly with the project’s accommodation offerings,
which include stand-alone villas
and upscale apartments. Incorporating a variety of parkland
holes, flanked by the community’s amenities, the course is
expected to attract golfers of all
abilities and ages.
“It is extremely pleasing to see
our commitment to the country
rewarded with even more venues
choosing Troon in the creation or
development of their golf experiences,” commented Bruce Glasco,
managing director, international
operations, Troon.
Dubai Stages First Destination Forum
with German Association
I
n line with the emirate’s ongoing strategy to grow its
share of one of the world’s largest outbound market for
foreign travel, more than 80 key influencers from Germany’s travel and tourism industry gathered together in
Dubai for a three-day conference.
The inaugural event, co-organised by the German
Travel Association in partnership with the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM)
and supported by Rotana Hotels Management Corporation, included sightseeing tours, visits to key attractions
and a one-day conference during which DTCM and
partners from Dubai’s hotels and airlines outlined why
the emirate’s growing status as a must-visit destination
will result in increased business for the German travel
trade industry.
6
12 JULY 2014
WEEKLY NEWS
Nakheel to Develop Deira Islands Mall
Deira Islands
A
s part of its retail expansion strategy, Nakheel plans to
construct a 620,000m2 retail, dining and entertainment
hub at Deira Islands, its new 15.3 million m2 waterfront
destination development in Dubai.
The mall will feature over 200,000m2 of leasable space, hundreds of shops, cinemas and a wide range of cafes and restaurants.
The offerings will be complemented by a diverse range of other
attractions, all developed by Nakheel, at the new waterfront city,
including a night market, hotel, amphitheatre for 30,000 people
and a marina big enough to accommodate large yachts.
Deira Islands will add 40km, including 21km of beachfront to
Dubai’s coastline and pave the way for a host of tourism, leisure
and residential developments including, hotels, resorts, serviced
apartments, mixed-use buildings and waterside homes.
UAE Airports Invest in Airport
Security
T
he Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) commenced construction works to rebuild Souq Al Shanasiyah, a historical destination at the Heart of Sharjah.
The project, located on the emirate’s Bank Street, covers an area of
2,500m2 and is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of the year.
According to Yousif Al Mutawa, manager, Heart of Sharjah, the revived
souq, which was a vital area in the 1950s, will resemble the old image that
exists in the memory of Sharjah’s residents and visitors.
Record Passenger Numbers in
Abu Dhabi
A
bu Dhabi International Airport registered a 27.4 percent rise in
passenger traffic for May, marking the highest growth rate in the
airport’s history.
During the month under review, the hub welcomed 1,633,700 travellers, while aircraft movements stood at 12,931, up 15.8 percent. Similarly,
cargo activity jumped 24.5 percent reaching 66,944 tonnes.
The most popular route was Manila, followed by Doha and Bangkok.
New codeshare partnerships between Etihad Airways and various airlines have positively impacted traffic numbers, noted Ahmad Al Haddabi,
chief operations officer, Abu Dhabi Airports.
12 JULY 2014
7
RENDEZVOUS
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: Please tell us
about the company’s growth plans
for Saudi Arabia.
CHRISTOPHE LANDAIS: Saudi Arabia is
an important market for Accor. We have
operated in the Kingdom for nearly 30
years and our expansion plans reflect
the continued demand for high-quality
hotels with internationally recognised
brands like ours, whether luxury and
upscale (Sofitel, Pullman and Majlis
Grand Mercure), midscale (Mercure, Novotel, and Adagio) or economy (ibis).
Currently, we have 14 hotels under
development in the Kingdom adding
nearly 2,700 keys across all segments,
including two luxury Sofitel hotels, one
in Jeddah with 189 rooms and one in
Riyadh with 404 rooms, and midscale,
long-stay apartment hotels under our
Adagio brand, which is widely regarded
as the number one in its aparthotel segment across Europe.
These new hotels will double the
number of properties we already operate in the country to 28, representing
more than 6,500 keys. These follow the
two hotels in Saudi Arabia we have already opened this year ibis Yanbu with
196 rooms and Majlis Grand Mercure
with 354 rooms, a new upscale brand
designed specifically to meet the needs
of Middle Eastern guests and those
looking for an experience inspired by
local culture.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: How is the
company adopting to the latest Saudi tourism trends?
CHRISTOPHE LANDAIS: Saudi Arabia
has three core markets: business travel
in Jeddah and Riyadh, religious tourism
focused on the holy cities of Mecca and
Medina, and growing demand throughout from domestic travellers.
Our priority targets for development are Riyadh, Jeddah and the Holy
Cities, where we are developing all of
our brands from luxury to economy.
Of course, we are keen to consider development opportunities in secondary
cities frequented by domestic travellers, and our mid-market and economy
brands such as Novotel and ibis are
well-adapted for such purposes. Because Accor has hotels across all market
segments we are well-positioned and
committed to continuing to expand
our diverse network to meet the needs
of travelers of all types.
8
Q & A with
Christophe Landais
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, ACCOR HOTELSERVICES
MIDDLE EAST
OVER THE NEXT SIX YEARS, ACCOR HOTELSERVICES MIDDLE EAST IS SET TO MORE THAN
TRIPLE ITS FOOTPRINT IN THE SAUDI MARKET,
WHICH, ACCORDING TO CHRISTOPHE LANDAIS,
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, ACCOR HOTELSERVICES MIDDLE EAST, OFFERS THE HIGHEST HOTEL DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL IN THE REGION.
In addition, guests are increasingly
looking for unique products. This creates an opportunity for us to provide
more differentiated experiences. Our
introduction of the first Majlis Grand
Mercure in Medina provides a five-star,
localised guest experience with our
international operational expertise.
We are confident that this concept will
prove very popular.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What were
the main reasons and motivations
“
[SAUDI ARABIA]
OFFERS THE
HIGHEST HOTEL
DEVELOPMENT
POTENTIAL IN THE
REGION
for Accor to expand in Saudi Arabia?
CHRISTOPHE LANDAIS: Accor is focussed on Saudi Arabia because the
Kingdom offers the highest hotel development potential in the region.
Right now there are less than two hotel
rooms per 1,000 inhabitants compared
to a market like Europe, where there
are 10 rooms per 1,000 people. At the
same time, the massive increase in religious tourism, especially in the city of
Mecca, means an influx of millions of
pilgrims each year. So clearly there is
tremendous growth opportunity in the
Kingdom.
The hospitality segment in the
country has also shifted dramatically,
from a set of individual local hotels to
major international chains. This has
brought more competition but also
presents strong opportunities for Accor, as we plan to grow our portfolio
from 14 hotels and 4,090 rooms to
50 and 14,090 rooms by 2020, covering the full spectrum of brands from
luxury to economy. We also see continued demand in the economy threestar segment. Accor was a pioneer in
introducing our economy hotel concept, ibis, to Riyadh in 2012, and we
are developing five more ibis hotels
with more than 1,100 keys across the
Kingdom.
The Saudi government is targeting
22 million visitors by 2020. To ensure
we remain an industry leader in the
Kingdom, we plan to open 35 more hotels with approximately 10,000 rooms
in the Kingdom within six years and
are innovating across the business to
meet the challenges of growth.
To deliver on our plans, it is vital to
develop the skills of our Saudi national
colleagues and we are working closely
with the Saudi Commission for Tourism
& Antiquities for our Saudi Management Training Program. This is a yearlong programme which seeks to help
15 Saudi nationals already employed
in Accor hotels in Saudi Arabia with the
potential for management to develop
the technical skills required to take on
a hotel management position. The first
iteration of this programme ends this
fall and we are excited to see the progress the participants have made.
We are very optimistic that the tourism market in Saudi Arabia will continue to grow and flourish in the coming
years, and committed to playing a major role in its success.
12 JULY 2014
ACCOMMODATION WEEKLY NEWS
NEW LUXURY
RESORT AT JUMEIRAH
BEACH HOTEL
A 350-room ultra-luxury resort is to be added to Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai as the
project continues with the fifth phase of its
expansion.
Katara Hospitality Acquires Five
Hotels
K
atara Hospitality has taken over five properties in
key European destinations from a private investor.
In terms of the deal, the Qatari company acquired InterContinental Carlton Cannes, InterContinental
Amstel Amsterdam, InterContinental Madrid, InterContinental Frankfurt, and the leasehold interest in InterContinental De La Ville Rome, bringing the group’s global
portfolio to 32 hotels in operation or under development.
As H.E. Sheikh Nawaf Bin Jassim Bin Jabor Al-Thani,
chairman, Katara Hospitality, noted, the agreement adds
a major expansion to the company’s footprint, both geographically and in terms of hotel operator partners.
Hamad Abdulla Al-Mulla, CEO, Katara Hospitality, further revealed, “We will look to commit investment funds
for necessary renovations or refurbishments, as we do
across our portfolio. Our typical renovation strategy
brings an iconic hotel back to its full glory, combining its
rich heritage with all the modern facilities required in a
21st century hotel.”
H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (left)
T
Rendering
Rendering
12 JULY 2014
he development, which
was endorsed by H.H.
Sheikh Mohammed bin
Rashid Al Maktoum,
ruler of Dubai, is scheduled for completion in 2018.
Guests staying at the new resort will enjoy panoramic beachfront views of Burj Al Arab, a private beach, recreational marine
facilities that encompass spas,
health clubs, elevated tennis
courts, a world-class sports complex and a host of ocean-facing
retail and food and beverage outlets.
The project will also include
the expansion of the existing yacht
marina, doubling its current capacity, as well as the introduction of
new leisure facilities.
The development comes in
line with Dubai Vision 2020 to attract 20 million visitors by 2020.
9
WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION
SCTA Grants License for
Six Hotel Projects in Asir
Hilton Al Ain Supports
Al Ain Zoo
M
F
ohamed Al-Amrah, director general, Asir, Saudi Commission for
Tourism & Antiquities (SCTA), announced that the authority has approved
the licensing of six hotel projects in the region, pointing out that these are to be distributed between four four- and five-star
properties, hotel suites and a hotel resort.
He also stated that the facilities are set
to be ready after construction in the next
two years and will help to expand the highquality accommodation options to satisfy
tourists’ expectations.
During the field inspection of the facilities in the region, the department of licenses
and quality control recorded 96 violations
on 212 units, ranging from price rise and hygiene issues to lack of tourism services.
ollowing a three-month fundraising
initiative designed to promote the
conservation of endangered animals
and other wildlife species, Hilton Al Ain donated AED5,488 (USD1,483) to Al Ain Zoo.
As part of the programme, the hotel
contributed AED1 (USD0.27) for every cup
of coffee sold at its newly renovated Palm
Court Café to Al Ain Zoo for the benefit of
more than 4,000 animals, including the endangered Arabian Oryx and Arabian Sand
Cat.
“Staff at Hilton Al Ain have a strong
sense of commitment and involvement
within the local community,” explained
Jacques Claudel, general manager, Hilton
Al Ain, who described the zoo as one of the
UAE’s premier attractions.
Elaf Group Supports
Saudi Initiatives
A
s the Saudi government
continues to exert key efforts in developing various industries, laying a great emphasis on the non-oil segment in
order to decrease the Kingdom’s
heavy dependence on oil and gas,
Elaf Group of Companies remains
steadfast in its commitment to develop strategic promotions and offers in a bid to attract more visitors.
During the summer period
and the Holy Month of Ramadan,
guests staying at the group’s hotels
in Mecca, Medina and Jeddah can
enjoy special rates, Ziyad Bin Mahfouz, president, Elaf Group of Companies, revealed.
DoubleTree byMarriott
Hilton Dubai
Executive
- Jumeirah
Apartments
Beach Dubai Creek
Second DoubleTree by Hilton Opens
in Dubai
10
D
oubleTree by Hilton Dubai – Jumeirah Beach has welcomed its first guests, marking the launch of the second DoubleTree by Hilton-branded property in Dubai.
Located on The Walk, the 110-suite hotel is set to appeal to
both leisure and business travellers, who can take advantage
of eight meeting rooms, a fitness centre overlooking the sea, a
health club with four treatment rooms, a steam room, Jacuzzi
and sauna, and four distinct dining options.
As Rudi Jagersbacher, president, Middle East and Africa,
Hilton Worldwide, noted, the recent DoubleTree by Hilton
openings in the UAE have been embraced by both domestic
guests and international travellers.
12 JULY 2014
ACCOMMODATION WEEKLY NEWS
Noon Art Boutique Hotel Apartments
Launches Art Gallery and Restaurant
Mövenpick Hotel Al Khobar Adds
New Facility
I
Noon Art Boutique Hotel Apartments, Dubai
n response to the growing demand from corporate clients,
Mövenpick Hotel Al Khobar has introduced a new facility.
As Markus Marti, general manager, Mövenpick Hotel Al
Khobar, explained, the newly-built office includes a welcoming
and comfortable reception and features state-of-the-art audiovisual equipments for presentation purposes.
“Because Internet connectivity is one of our key services, we
have also adopted new technologies
and upgraded our network facility to
enhance our guests’ experience. In
fact, all our limousines have been fitted with 4G Lite Wi-Fi car mobile devices so our they can access the Internet while on the road,” added Marti,
saying that as Saudi Arabia continues
to diversify its economy, Mövenpick
Hotel Al Khobar aims to keep up with
this trend by constantly developing
and upgrading its services.
Mövenpick Hotel Al Khobar
N
oon Art Boutique Hotel Apartments, Dubai has opened
its art gallery and restaurant, offering guests and visitors a unique experience.
Located on the first floor, the art gallery showcases works
from local and regional artists and is open to the public every
day, Haresh Dhanani, managing director, Noon Art Boutique
Hotel Apartments, explained.
“Also on the first floor, The Restaurant at Noon welcomes
guests and art lovers to relish an extensive selection of continental and Middle Eastern cuisine. […]The restaurant is also
offering sweet treats and a wide range of beverages,” added
Dhanani, noting that since its launch in February, the hotel has
welcomed guests from all over the globe.
Rocco Forte to Re-enter the Middle
East in 2015
R
occo Forte Hotels is to open its first property in Saudi Arabia in
the first quarter of 2015, marking the UK-based luxury operator’s return to the Middle East.
The company anticipates to launch its Jeddah hotel and serviced
apartment complex in the first months of 2015, Richard Power, director of communications, Rocco Forte Hotels, revealed.
“We are really excited about bringing the unique sense of Rocco
Forte Hotels’ style to the city, and this hotel will offer a large number of
guest suites, 63 to be exact, which will be able to comfortably hold the
larger families and groups which travel to Jeddah,” said Power, adding
that other highlights of the property will include extensive meetings
and conference facilities and three restaurants amongst others.
12 JULY 2014
11
CLASSIFIEDS RECRUITMENTS
FREE
RECRUITMENT LISTINGS
IN TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY
Limited Placements Book Your Space Now!
classifieds@traveltradeweekly.travel
12
12 JULY 2014
RECRUITMENTS CLASSIFIEDS
IN-HOUSE GRAPHIC DESIGNER (BEACH HOTEL IN RAS AL KHAIMAH)
NEWLY-OPENING 5-STAR DESERT RESORT HAS SIX OPENINGS
Must be fluent in Arabic and English, reading and writing.
Newly-opening 5-star desert resort near Al Ain, UAE, is seeking for the
following posts. All must have a minimum of 5 years of experience in the
same position in 5-star chain hotels.
Bin Majid Hotels & Resorts information:
If you are looking to start a career at a fast-paced innovative company with
loads of opportunities, then look no further than Bin Majid Hotels &
Resorts. We are growing dynamically and are looking for motivated,
talented and proactive individuals to join our team.
Must be fluent in Arabic and English, reading and writing.
Please send your CV to: vanessa.chinopoulou@binmajid.com
CAPITAL CLUB DUBAI VACANCY
 Food and beverage manager
 Chief engineer
 Waitress / waiters
 Security manager
 Front office desk agent
 Guest relations officers
Website: www.gloriahospitality.com
Email address: gloriahotels@eim.ae
Telephone Number: +971 2 644 4739
Fax Number: +971 2 644 4759
Book this space!
classifieds@traveltradeweekly.travel
Work for one of the top 10 most exclusive private member’s Clubs in the
world: Capital Club Dubai.
Accepting applications for Membership Managers to
lauren.ruttle@capitalclubdubai.com
Must have sales experience in luxury goods and/or hospitality, a strong UAE
business network and a 5* professional attitude.
12 JULY 2014
13
WEEKLY NEWS AIR
Gulf Air Steps up Larnaca Services
In response to the growing demand, Gulf
Air has increased frequency on its
Bahrain – Larnaca route.
A
s part of its summer schedule, up until September 28, the
national carrier of Bahrain operates seven weekly services
to the coastal city, significantly enhancing travel options
between the Middle East and Cyprus.
Ahmed Janahi, acting chief commercial officer, Gulf Air, described
Larnaca as a destination of both year-long and seasonal popularity,
with the route showing particularly strong two-way traffic.
“Reinforcing the airline’s business strategy of strengthening our
core network and enhancing products and services, we believe our
summer schedule will improve our passengers’ travel experience,”
added Janahi.
Larnaca Salt Lake
Jazeera Airways Group Leases Aircraft to European Carrier
J
Sahaab Aircraft Leasing
azeera Airways Group’s fully-owned aircraft leasing subsidiary, Sahaab Aircraft Leasing has entered the European Union aviation market by leasing two Airbus A320 aircraft on long-term to TAP Portugal
airline.
The European airline, which operates an average of 2,250 flights a
week, is the company’s fourth international customer after Virgin America,
SriLankan Airlines and flynas.
“With the recent placement, Sahaab Aircraft Leasing has assets distributed across the globe with A-list customers in the US, Europe, the Middle East and Asia,” explained Marwan Boodai, chairman, Jazeera Airways
Group.
Sahaab Aircraft Leasing was launched in October 2008 with Jazeera
Airways as its first customer and the company was fully acquired by Jazeera
Airways Group in 2010.
Did you
know .
was
Air 1996
n
a
Alk ed in
eer
blish
t
s
e a y engin osseir?
b
N
d
ame
Moh
14
Alkan Air Enhances Services
A
lkan Air, the Cairo-based private service and
maintenance provider of Alkan Holding, has received approval for line and base maintenance
of Beechcraft B200/250 Series, Beechcraft B300/350
Series and Hawker British Aerospace BAe125 series aircraft, further extending the company’s tailor-made services offered to the regional aviation sector.
Based in the Egyptian capital, Alkan Air also prides itself on being the first Beechcraft Corporation authorised
service centre in Egypt, the first Rockwell Collins authorised dealer and a Piaggio Aero authorised sales agency. To
provide all-round services and support to the industry, the
company also launched new wheel and battery shops and
continues to employ a highly-qualified multilingual team.
12 JULY 2014
AIR WEEKLY NEWS
QAIA Welcomes AEGEAN Airlines
A
EGEAN Airlines has commenced direct services
between Athens and Amman.
The new twice-weekly flights bring the total
number of direct routes operated through Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) to 67 destinations across four
continents.
As Kjeld Binger, CEO, Airport International Group (AIG),
explained, the step is closely aligned with the company’s
goal to further cement QAIA’s standing as Jordan’s gateway
to the world, and to help position the Kingdom as a niche
transfer hub for business and tourism travellers alike.
According to Wael Kawar, managing partner, Petra
Travel & Tourism Company, the Greek carrier’s general sales
agent in Jordan, the new route will significantly increase
passenger traffic between the Kingdom and Greece, as well
as other European countries.
Gulf Air Boosts Egypt Services
G
ulf Air is to increase frequency between Bahrain and
Egypt from 10 to 12 flights per week, effective from July
23.
The decision follows the successful negotiations between the
Civil Aviation Authority of Bahrain and Egypt’s Ministry of Civil
Aviation concerning air traffic rights between the two countries.
The new schedule will see the introduction of two additional
services between Manama and Cairo,
offering passengers planning to travel
during the summer and Eid holidays
greater flexibility.
“Gulf Air has held long-standing
ties with Egypt since we became one
of the first Gulf carriers to land in Cairo
in 1972,” noted Ahmed Janahi, chief
commercial officer, Gulf Air, saying
that the airlines remains committed
to satisfying the high demand on the
route and cater to passengers’ needs.
Gulf Air
AEGEAN Airlines
New Route between Abu Dhabi
and Zurich Means More Choice
E
tihad Airways introduced direct nonstop flights between Abu
Dhabi and Zurich, enabling greater choice for its travellers,
simultaneously strengthening Switzerland as a European air
transport hub. The new service builds on Etihad Airways’ daily flights
between Geneva and Abu Dhabi which commenced in June 2004.
Discussing the recent launch, James Hogan, president, Etihad
Airways, commented, “Our new Zurich daily service means Swiss
business and leisure travellers have greater access to the UAE and
important markets in the Gulf region, Middle East, Africa, Indian
subcontinent, Asia, and Australia.”
From Zurich, Etihad Airways now provides travellers with 25
international connections via its UAE hub.
12 JULY 2014
15
WEEKLY NEWS AIR
Etihad Airways Introduces
Mobile Boarding Passes
flynas Links Riyadh and London Gatwick
f
E
lynas is to commence twice weekly direct services between Riyadh and
London Gatwick, effective from July 27.
The launch of the new route, which will coincide with the Eid Al Fitr
holidays, comes at a time when travel from Saudi Arabia to the UK is at its peak,
noted Wael Al Sarhan, director of marketing and communications, flynas.
As part of its transformation into an international airline, the Saudi carrier
has made major enhancements to its service offering, including a business class
cabin and the recently-launched Business Plus scheme, amongst others.
tihad Airways has introduced new mobile boarding passes on select routes for guests using the
mobile online check-in facility. The mobile boarding passes contain the same information as the traditional documents, but they offer increased check-in options,
reduce paper wastage, eliminate risk of loss, and enable
storage of multiple boarding passes on one device.
Discussing the new initiative, Peter Baumgartner,
chief commercial officer, Etihad Airways, commented,
“Our aim is to simplify and streamline the departure and
boarding experience.”
kn
Did you
ow. .
tes
pera ghts
o
s
flyna 950 fli in
ly
ith
near week w of
e
r
d
i
e
s
p
?
out
and i Arabia
d
u
Sa
London
Doha to Become Emirates’ Best Connected Destination
16
Emirates
W
ith seven daily flights between Dubai
and Doha, the Qatari capital city is set to
become Emirates’ best served destination, effective from December 1.
The introduction of the extra daily frequency
forms part of the airline’s regional operation boost
which includes 28 additional services.
Muscat for example will welcome a third daily
flight, Bahrain will be served four times a day, while
Kuwait will be linked with Dubai six times per day.
Once the changes come into effect, Emirates will
offer 276 weekly services to destinations across the
Middle East.
12 JULY 2014
RENDEZVOUS
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: The company is to add another property to
its Saudi Arabian network. Please tell
us about the upcoming Centro by Rotana Al Khobar.
GUY HUTCHINSON: The property is
scheduled to open in 2015. Centro by
Rotana Al Khobar will be the lifestyle
brand that signals the start of a bold
new genre of hospitality in the Kingdom. It is located on a prime piece of
land on the corniche with unobstructed views of the sea, offering 235 rooms
and suites.
The newly conceived hotel will provide unique living spaces in a contemporary environment. […]
Q & A with
Guy Hutchinson
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER,
ROTANA HOTEL MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What were
the main reasons behind the company’s decision to venture into the
Kingdom’s mid-range hotel sector?
GUY HUTCHINSON: Despite the current
strict visa regulation, inbound tourism
growth is forecasted to show positive
trends in the next five years with an annual growth average of 10.7 percent.
The main purpose is for religious tourism which constitutes 53 percent of the
overall visitation; the cities of Mecca and
Medina being the key destinations for
this segment; followed by another primary purpose, the friends and relatives’
visits for both international and domestic
visitors. Adding to these, the emergence
of mid-range and low-cost hotels became
the hottest trend within travel accommodation, introducing an essential diversity into the Kingdom’s hotel category.
Furthermore a new trend, virtual tours is
launched through e-tourism for promoting domestic tourism sites and services
which will drive religious, leisure and
business tourism in the country.
Based on that, we at Rotana are
making an innovative contribution to
the development of the Kingdom’s hospitality sector. We are expanding into
the relatively new mid-range and budget hotel sector with the opening of four
hotels under the Centro Hotels by Rotana brand in Al Khobar, Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah. Appealing to large
corporate entities, small and medium
business owners, and individual travellers, Centro by Rotana will become
an essential service hotel brand in the
Kingdom and will certainly meet the
demands of a new generation of travellers seeking finesse and functionality at
12 JULY 2014
BY 2016, 50 MILLION TOURISTS ARE EXPECTED
TO TRAVEL TO AND WITHIN SAUDI ARABIA, THUS
HOTEL COMPANIES ARE COMPETING MORE
FIERCELY THAN EVER TO CAPTURE A LARGER
MARKET SHARE AS GUY HUTCHINSON,
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, ROTANA HOTEL
MANAGEMENT CORPORATION, EXPLAINS.
Centro by Rotana Al Khobar
reasonable rates.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What makes
Saudi Arabia a key market for the
company?
GUY HUTCHINSON: Saudi Arabia is already a key strategic market for Rotana.
In fact its tourism sector has witnessed
an unprecedented boom over the last
several years. Nominal tourism GDP
saw a steady growth of 21 percent from
2009 to 2013. And between 2009 and
2013, the correlation between Saudi
GDP and tourism contribution to GDP
equated to 96.8 percent. A total of 50
million tourists are expected to travel to
and within Saudi Arabia in 2016.
On the other hand, there is a shortage of modern hotels in the Kingdom.
Demand for available hotel rooms significantly outstrips supply to the background of a booming travel and tourism
industry. Our objective is to develop
there and manage many hotel properties with the best international standards Rotana is known for, which will cater to the needs of the local and regional
market, the international travelLer and
niche markets. Rotana’s expansion plans
will contribute directly to the Kingdom’s
hospitality sector by adding more than
4,100 new hotel rooms and suites, and
creating more than 1,500 jobs for Saudi
youth in various departments within its
hotels by 2016.
We are supporting the government’s
drive to establish Saudi Arabia as a worldclass tourist destination and make the
travel and tourist industry sector a key
player in the economic development; the
Kingdom’s government efforts being to
diversify the economy in order to reduce
its dependence on oil, with the tourism
and hospitality industry representing a
focal point of this development.
The Kingdom possesses today a
competitive business environment
attractable to investors. Many hotel
chains are making significant investments into the hotel industry, notably
in Mecca, and the improvements within
the airport and rail infrastructure are
also expected to boost tourism.
The country’s secondary cities are
also seeing increased activity, especially in areas with growing government
spending such as Yanbu, Taif and Jizan,
and the multinational hotel chains are
starting to move into these cities, a clear
indication of the investor and operator
confidence in a growing Saudi market.
17
WEEKLY NEWS INTERNATIONAL
IHG Announces Holiday Inn Express
Istanbul – Halkali
BEST
Marriott
WESTERN
Executive
RiverApartments
Palace HotelDubai Creek
I
nterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) signed an agreement for Holiday Inn Express Istanbul – Halkali, due to
open this year.
The 110-room property is said to be the first internationally branded limited service hotel near Istanbul Atatürk
Airport and will operate under a franchise agreement with
Liv Yapi Gayrimenkul Yatirim.
Aside the airport, the hotel is also well placed to receive
guests from CNR Expo, International World Trade Centre and
the stadium located nearby.
Yalin Yaltiraki, director of
development, Turkey, IHG, commented, “This hotel is the only
one of its kind in the airport’s vicinity and, together with its prime
location, is set to receive a steady
stream of guests visiting Turkey.”
Best Western Arrives in Phnom Penh
B
est Western International (BWI) has taken over the management of a riverside hotel in the heart of Cambodia’s
capital, Phnom Penh.
BEST WESTERN River Palace Hotel is set on the banks of
the Tonle Sap River, offering an ideal location for both business and leisure travellers, and its 59 rooms and suites all come
equipped with LCD TVs, complimentary Wi-Fi, work desks, tea
and coffee-making facilities, walk-in showers and bathtubs.
“This exciting city is fast becoming a regional hub for business and leisure travel, and the position of BEST WESTERN River Palace Hotel means we are now at the very heart of Phnom
Penh’s growth. Combined with our existing hotel in Siem
Reap, this opening also means Best Western is now present in
Cambodia’s two leading destinations,” commented Glenn de
Souza, vice president, international operations, Asia and Middle East, BWI.
Warwick International Hotel Welcomes
Hotel UNIC Prague
H
otel UNIC Prague, a brand new four-star hotel, has joined Warwick International Hotels (WIH) as an affiliate member.
The hotel features 90 rooms and is ideally located in the
heart of the historical city centre, within walking distance to all the
major cultural attractions that the Czech capital has to offer.
The addition of the hotel illustrates how WIH is pursuing further
development in Europe, according to Jean-Marie Pébrel, director of
European sales and marketing, WIH, who added, “We phase in European hotel owners looking for an international representation. Our
affiliation programme perfectly fits their needs.”
18
12 JULY 2014
AGENT CORNER
Agent’s Insight
NAME:
Aneesh Prabhakar
POSITION:
Manager Operations
COMPANY:
Musandam Sea Adventure
Travel & Tourism
LOCATION:
Oman
WEBSITE:
www.msaoman.com
Who are you?
Musandam Sea Adventure Travel & Tourism was founded by a committed team
of individuals who, with many years experience in the tourism industry in Musandam, saw the need for more intimate, exclusive and personal tours. By origin from
Musandam we established Musandam Sea Adventure Travel & Tourism in 2001 in
Khasab to fulfil this requirement. We would like to introduce ourselves as one of the
leading tour operators of Oman and the Musandam region. Presently we are handling professional inbound traffic for the Gulf and the European market. UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are the home countries of our Middle Eastern clients.
Italy, Germany, France, England and the Netherlands are the nations with which
sound business relations of well-known tour operators are held.
What is your favourite thing about working in the travel industry?
I am very keen on travelling around the world and dealing with tourists.
When is the best time to visit Oman?
From October to May.
Where would you like to travel to for your next holiday?
Sri Lanka.
Why should people come to you for travel advice?
We are giving very special care and personal attention to our clients. We consider
each one of our clients as a guest coming to our home.
12 JULY 2014
19
TRAVEL TALK
The first quarter saw some
exciting firsts for us
GERHARD
HECKER
General manager,
Shangri-La Hotel,
Dubai.
“The year has started as another
strong year for us and for the
Dubai hotel industry. […] The
first quarter saw some exciting
firsts for us here at Shangri-La
Hotel, Dubai. Our signature Cantonese fine-dining restaurant,
Shang Palace, welcomed a new
executive Chinese chef, Lai Kam
Pui. Chef Lai is bringing over 30
years of experience to the team.
[…] It was also a privilege to unveil the thrice Michelin-starred
Ristorante Don Alfonso 1890, in
the finest quarter which opened
to much success and critical acclaim. Hailing from Italy’s Amalfi
Coast, the restaurant promises
the finest Italian food in the city.”
We expect to see
competition in the
hospitality industry
ALEX
PICHEL
Managing director, Al
Faisaliah Hotel,
A Rosewood Hotel, and
Al Khozama Hotel,
A Rosewood Hotel.
“[Saudi Arabia’s] business and
tourism sectors have flourished
over the last decade and we
will continue to see these numbers increase year after year.
We expect to see competition
in the hospitality industry but
our guests remain loyal to us
because of our excellent dining outlets, state-of-the-art facilities, beautiful rooms and our
award-winning spa, Al Faisaliah
Spa by ESPA.”
Expo 2020 [will create]
opportunities
NAEEM
DARKAZALLY
Vice president, sales
and marketing,
Millennium & Copthorne
Hotels Middle East and
Africa.
“Expo 2020 [will create] opportunities not only for Millennium
& Copthorne, but also for Dubai
and the surrounding regions. Increased visitor numbers, a boost
to the economy, a showcase of
the UAE’s ability to host worldclass events but above all, to put
the Middle East firmly on the
tourism map, are just a few of the
outputs we can expect.
We are proud to be part of this
and we feel we are already in a
strong position to take full advantage of this amazing opportunity.”
TRAVEL TALK IS YOUR SPACE – this is a casual forum for travel
industry professionals to discuss current issues and share stories.
We want to hear from you, so send your comments, questions,
frustrations and observations to editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel
20
12 JULY 2014
TRAVEL CHANNELS
Educational Workshops
Organised by Sharjah
Museums Department
Seabourn Aligns with
UNESCO
I
In an effort to protect World Heritage Sites, cruise operator
Seabourn Cruise Line and UNESCO have aligned by signing
an agreement.
T
his unique partnership was created in order to foster wider support and understanding in the
travel industry for UNESCO’s mission of identifying, safeguarding,
and promoting unique cultural and natural
features around the world.
Through this alliance, Seabourn Cruise
Line guests’ travel experience will be enhanced by behind the scenes information
about current and future World Heritage
Sites and projects as speakers with special
knowledge on such related matters will sail
on the company’s ships.
Discussing the alliance, Richard Meadows, president, Seabourn Cruise Line, commented, “Through this partnership we are
committed to providing our guests with a
deeper appreciation and understanding
of the many World Heritage Sites we visit
around the world and the important work
UNESCO is doing.”
Airbus’ A350 XWB
Tested in Hot Weather
kno
u
o
y
d
Di
ages
man 6 sites
D
SM an 1
e th
ah,
mor n Sharj r t,
i
a
g
rin
cove ces, and
scien aeology?
arch
Seabourn Ship
SCTA Gears up for Heavy Summer Season Turnout
I
n an effort to check engines
and systems performance in
extremely hot weather conditions, Airbus’ A350 XWB flight
test aircraft has completed hot
weather testing in Al Ain, where
the aircraft performed several
tests in flight as well as on the
ground.
To date, the A350 XWB has
performed more than 2,000
flight test hours in over 460 test
flights, in anticipation to its certification in the third quarter. The
programme is on track to deliver
the first customer aircraft in the
fourth quarter to Qatar Airways.
12 JULY 2014
w.
n order to achieve an understanding, appreciation and respect for Sharjah’s identity and
value of its cultural and natural heritage both locally and internationally, Sharjah Museums Department
(SMD) organised five workshops in
June.
The seminars were held as part
of SMD’s monthly educational programmes, which are aligned with
the department’s mission.
The initiative aimed to address
a variety of subjects where a wealth
of knowledge is available to the
public on areas where access to expert teaching may not typically be
offered.
The meetings were held at
Sharjah Aquarium, Sharjah Art Museum, and Sharjah Science Museum and were organised under the
supervision of education specialists from SMD.
Through these initiatives, SMD
hopes to bring children, teenagers, adults and people with special
needs..
S
Jeddah
audi Commission for Tourism & Antiquities (SCTA)
has begun its preparations to welcome a myriad
of local and international visitors to Jeddah for the
summer season.
The expected heavy tourism turnout in the Saudi city
is primarily due to the importance of its location acting as
a gateway to the two Holy Mosques, as well as due to the
destination’s enticing and distinct tourism potential, which
includes entertainment centres, shopping malls and historical sites.
SCTA has actively taken measures in order to ensure
that tourism facilities are onpar for the expected immense
turnout, as Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Amri, executive
director, Mecca branch, SCTA, stated. “The Mecca branch
of SCTA has geared up early for receiving the summer season guests through deploying field teams throughout the
province to ensure the compliance of provided services.”
21
WHO’S MOVED
SHAHIN
TAROMSARI
MUSTAFA
AL JUNDI
Shahin Taromsari has assumed the position of vice
president of airline solutions,
Europe, Middle East and Africa
(EMEA) at Sabre Corporation.
In his capacity, Taromsari will
lead the company’s airline
business in EMEA, a key growth
region for the corporation. He
has been tasked with growing
revenue and customer base,
and maintaining successful
and trusted partnerships with
existing airline customers.
An accomplished IT and business leader, Taromsari has over
20 years of experience, having previously held leadership
positions with Electronic Data
Systems and IBM. Most recently
he worked as vice president
of global sales at Oracle. His IT
knowledge, rich academic credentials, and constant drive for
innovation are set to help accelerate the company's growth.
SURAJ
DUBEY
Mustafa Al Jundi has been
named director of sales and
marketing at the four-star Millennium Resort Mussanah in
Oman.
Al Jundi began his career in
the tourism industry in Syria
before exploring the sales
and marketing field with
some of the GCC’s leading
hotel brands, including Hilton
Worldwide and Rosewood Hotels & Resorts.
All in all, he has over 20 years
of experience under his belt in
the tourism, leisure and hospitality market.
JOSH
LESNICK
Al Jundi has over 20
years of experience in
the industry
22
Suraj Dubey has joined Mövenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea
as director of spa and wellness
at the property’s Zara Spa.
Dubey holds a degree in Ayurvedic medicine and surgery
along with a number of international wellness and business
management credentials. Having been involved in hands-on
operations, group leadership
in spa and wellness conceptualisation as well as brand development, Dubey has more than
15 years of experience under
his belt. Prior to joining the
Dead Sea hotel, he held various
management positions with
international hospitality companies, including Mandarin
Oriental Hotel Group, Oberoi
Hotels and Resorts, Club Mahindra and Ananda in the Himalayas, allowing him to gain extensive international expertise
in the field.
Josh Lesnick has been named
chief marketing officer at
Wyndham Hotel Group.
Lesnick joins the company
from Audience Rewards where
he served in the last six years as
president and CEO of the industry-wide marketing alliance.
Prior to that, he spent nearly
two decades working in the
hospitality industry in executive leadership roles with
Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Worldwide and Hyatt Hotels
Corporation. During the years,
Lesnick focused on marketing,
customer relationship management, online marketing, loyalty
and membership programmes.
Based in Parsippany, US, Lesnich will be in charge of the
company’s brand, loyalty and
online marketing, as well as ecommerce, global sales, hotel
system strategy and revenue
management functions.
12 JULY 2014
PHOTO ALBUM
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 editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel
Because a picture is worth a thousand words...
MSC Cruises donated USD3 million to UNICEF, the
United Nations agency that fights for the rights of
children around the world
Etihad Airways is now the official partner for England’s cricket team
Cristal Hotel Abu Dhabi hosted a special Iftar
for 20 orphans.
12 JULY 2014
Emirates was a winner at Air Cargo Week’s World Air
Cargo Awards 2014
Emirates has new regional Indian
menus - Chef Ravi Nage
Hamad International Airport
celebrates one month anniversary
Holiday Inn Dubai – Al Barsha’s team participates in the Celebrate Service Week worldwide
initiative by forming a five-star symbol
28th Ramadan & Eid Fair at
Expo Centre Sharjah
23
NEWS & EVENTS
Sharjah to Host Forum
for Foreign Direct
Investment
EVENTS
INCENTIVE, BUSINESS,
TRAVEL & MEETINGS EXPO
(IBTM) INDIA
Chennai, India,
September 3 – 5, 2014
(www.ibtmevents.com)
An invitation-only event for
India’s inbound, outbound and
domestic incentives, business
travel and meetings industry.
Sharjah
S
harjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) has announced that the emirate will be
hosting the 12th edition of the WORLD
FORUM for Foreign Direct Investment 2015,
the annual event which covers the latest
news on corporate strategy concerning
location requirements, people and future
expansion.
The forum’s arrival in Sharjah comes as
the emirate receives increasing international attention, particularly by major global
firms and investment authorities, as one of
GCC’s most attractive markets for foreign
direct investment, pinpointed Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, chairperson,
Shurooq.
“As the forum is expected to attract
wide international participation, we are
confident it will contribute to boosting
economic activity in the region and achieving higher levels of growth in all fields,” she
added.
SHANGHAI INTERNATIONAL
GOLF & TRAVEL (SIGT)
Shanghai, China,
September 5 – 7, 2014
(www.shanghaigolfshow.com)
SIGT will be a meeting place
where golf industry people and
golf enthusiasts can meet.
KERALA TRAVEL MART (KTM)
Kochi, India
September 18-20, 2014
(www.keralatravelmart.org)
KTM brings together the
business fraternity and the
entrepreneurs behind Kerala’s
products and services.
WORLD ROUTES 2014
Chicago, US,
September 20 – 23, 2014
(www.routesonline.com)
An essential global gathering
for aviation organisations
from across all continents and
countries.
CITYSCAPE GLOBAL
This Year's Event in the US
24
Dubai, UAE,
September 21 – 23, 2014
(www.cityscape.org)
Cityscape Global’s mission is to
enhance and support the vision
for real estate growth worldwide
to an international audience.
12 JULY 2014