RAS AL KHAIMAH WELCOMES NEW ANANTARA RESORT
DROP IN OCCUPANCY AT ABU DHABI HOTELS
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IMG WORLDS REVEALS NEW THEME PARK
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RendezvousTourism Iniatives
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MANAGING EDITOR
Mary Kammitsi [email protected]
JOURNALIST Ellen Petty
CONTRIBUTOR Dominique Christou Panayiotis Karanicholas Stella Alexandrou
SALES & SALES SUPPORT Maria Demetriadou Magda Christou Raluca Apostolescu
DESIGN & LAYOUTElena Stylianou
WEB & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Savvas Kammitsis
DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi
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Drop in Occupancy at Abu Dhabi Hotels
STR’s preliminary November performance data for Abu Dhabi has revealed that a 2.7 percent surge in supply and 0.4 percent slight decline in demand have contributed to a 3.1 percent year-on-year decrease in occupancy which stood at 81 percent.
Despite a boost in market performance as a result of the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where average daily rate (ADR) soared above AED1,000 (USD272.25) for four straight days, overall dur-ing the month, there was an 11.1 fall in ADR compared to November 2015, down to AED660.14 (USD179.73). Meanwhile, RevPAR plummeted 13.8 percent to AED534.97 (USD145.65).
Increase in Passenger Traffic
The International Air Transport Association released global passenger traf-fic results for October showing that demand rose 5.8 percent compared to the same month in 2015.
Capacity grew 6.3 percent and load factor decreased 0.4 percentage points to 80.1 percent.
October’s international passenger demand rose 5.9 percent compared to October 2015. Middle Eastern carriers experienced a seven percent rise in demand for the same period, the slowest pace for the region in 18 months, although the timing of regional celebrations could
have affected the results. Capacity increased 10 percent however, load factor dropped two percentage points to 70.1 percent, its lowest level for the month of October since 2006.
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WEEKLY NEWS TOURISM INITIATIVESwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
A jman Tourism Development Depart-ment (ATDD) has launched a mobile application, Visit Ajman.
The app had been designed and devel-oped to be a fundamental gateway for tour-ism in the emirate. It provides the latest news of the tourism industry in Ajman, as well as a detailed guide of the hospitality offerings, including culture, heritage, travel agencies, and touristic events and activities in the emirate.
H.E. Faisal Al Nuaimi, general manager, ATDD, said, “We hope to raise awareness about the emirate of Ajman, a unique desti-nation with various exciting experiences so we encourage everyone to download the ap-plication.”
S harjah has successfully identified increased opportunities for business with Far East Asia following the participation of Invest in Sharjah at two key summits.
Invest in Sharjah took part in events in South Korea and Shanghai to net-work in two of Asia’s strongest economies the emirate’s fertile investment landscape.
The initiative took place December 04 – 08, where the Invest in Sharjah representatives showcased the many benefits that investors could avail from Sharjah, with a strategic special focus on the four key sectors of tourism and leisure; healthcare; transport and logistics; as well as real estate and the envi-ronment.
“We anticipate that Korean business interests will expand significantly in Sharjah based on our efforts that are revealing its array of benefits and the new visa on arrival scheme, which we predict will hugely increase the current figure of 70,000 Koreans flying to the UAE each year. […],” said Mohammed Al Musharrkh, director, Sharjah FDI office (Invest in Sharjah).
ATDD Introduces Smartphone App
Successful Business Summits for Sharjah Investments
Initiative to Drive Tourism
T he two-day event saw the presence of several tourism ministers, undersecretaries, and VIP dignitaries from the region, as well as representatives from the World Tourism Organization who came together to discuss a number of important topics and developments in the field of tourism to drive this promising sector.
Discussions at the event included the development of the Arab Tourism Strategy as well as the quality standards of tour op-erators and media vendors. In addition, a panel discussed the statistics available and ways to collate data from different hotels to utilise them in future strategies.
H.E. Ahmed Bin Nasser Al Mahrizi, minister, Tourism, Oman, said, “This event [focused on] strengthening the relations between the Arab countries and give a boost to the tourism sector. [...].”
The Ministry of Tourism Oman hosted the 19th Ministerial Meeting for Arab Tourism in Oman on December 13 – 15.
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Qatar’s Airport Renews ACA Programme
H amad International Airport (HIA) celebrated the renewal of the Airports Council Inter-national’s Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) programme, by announcing a long-term commitment to tackle climate change and reduce carbon emissions.
This includes a target to improve carbon efficiency by 30 percent by 2030, along with a series of initiatives to help save energy and optimise the consumption of vehicle fuel.
Globally, HIA is one of 173 airports accredited to the ACA programme, and has denoted the carbon emissions it has generated since its very first day of operations, in April 2014.
Badr Mohammed Al Meer, CEO, HIA, said, “It is in our best interest to develop a sustainable future for our airport by effectively managing the environmental impacts of our operations.”
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R oyal Caribbean International’s newly revitalised Empress of the Seas will make history for the cruise line with an in-augural visit to Cuba during a five-night sailing departing
Miami on April 19, 2017. The ship will then reposition to Tampa offering two itineraries with calls to Havana.
“Royal Caribbean is the world’s most exciting adventure com-pany, and we are thrilled to introduce culture-seeking travellers to Cuba. As the unrivaled innovators of the cruise experience, no company is better positioned to help adventurers explore and experience this culturally rich destination,” said, Michael Bayley, CEO, Royal Caribbean International.
Empress of the Seas to Sail to Cuba
Fourth CSR Conference for Qatar
O n December 07 – 08, Alfardan Group hosted the fourth CSR Conference in Qatar at Al Gassar
Ballroom, in the St. Regis Doha.The event was organised by Dar Al
Sharq, under the patronage of H.E. Sheikh Abdulla Bin Saoud Al Thani, governor, Qa-tar Central Bank, and focussed on strategic development and business performance support in the framework of corporate social responsibility (CSR). Furthermore, in line with its steadfast commitment to-wards initiatives that help cultivate a sus-tainable future for the country, Afardan Group served as a strategic partner for the conference, which also featured the launch of the latest edition of the CSR White Book, an annual publication that highlights leading CSR activities.
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New Theme ParkDUBAI-BASED IMG WORLDS HAS UNVEILED PLANS FOR IMG WORLDS OF LEGENDS, AN 18.6HA THEME PARK SPREAD ACROSS NINE ZONES AND FEATURING AN ARRAY OF POPULAR BRANDS, MAKING IT ONE OF THE BIGGEST GLOBAL LICENSING DEALS OF ITS KIND. L ocated next to IMG Worlds of Adventure, the offering
will boast state-of-the-art rollercoasters, rides, water-based attractions and live entertainment as well as retail and dining outlets.
Lennard Otto, CEO, IMG Worlds, noted, “IMG Worlds continues to attract truly international brands to Dubai and we are now one of the principal players in the global theme park industry. We have executed on our brand portfolio strategy, bringing together the biggest names in the industry under one umbrella to create the ultimate lei-sure and entertainment destination.”
IMG WORLDS REVEALS
Rendering of IMG Worlds of Legends
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Bringing the Heart of Europe to Life
K leindienst, a real estate company in Dubai, has announced the appointment of JK Bauen Building Contracting, Wuchang Ship Building Industry Group and Sino Great Wall International Engineer-ing, for The Heart of Europe, a project comprising a cluster of six islands on The World in Dubai.
The building firms will join forces to carry out the construction of all the hotels located on the The Heart of Europe’s main hub, main Europe Island, villas on Germany Island, buildings and resort facilities on St Petersburg Island, as well as the buildings and infrastructure on the other three islands in the project.
“The combination of JK Bauen’s vision and Wuchang’s experience will work hand-in-hand to bring the Heart of Europe to life. From the floating seahorses to the hotels on main Europe Island, the building quality greatly exceeds construction regulations in the Middle East with durable materials and superior technique,” said, Josef Kleindienst, chairman, Kleindienst.
The World’s First Invisible
Lock
M inimalist design meets cus-tomer convenience in the new release of VingCard Es-
sence, hailed as the world’s first invis-ible lock.
Now compatible with ASSA ABLOY Hospitality Mobile Access, VingCard Es-sence allows guests to skip the front desk and unlock their room using their own smartphone or smartwatch.
The stylish new design hides the electronics inside the door and works with most door materials.
Christophe Sut, executive vice, ASSA ABLOY Hospitality, commented, “Ving-Card Essence offers a seamless experi-ence for guests, from their ability to enter and secure their room without interac-tion with the front desk, to the enhanced aesthetics of their hotel environment.”
E mirates Wildlife Society (EWS) in association with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is reaffirming how critical public-private partnerships are to protecting the Gulf’s marine species and habitats, as it renews commitment from key UAE
and Oman-partners for the Gulf Green Turtle Conservation initiative. The latter was launched in May and has already made rapid headway, after 24
green turtles were tagged off the beaches in UAE and Oman.In its first year alone, the scientific research initiative has brought together
eight partners who share the same vision of safeguarding the marine environment of the Arabian Gulf and the surrounding sea.
H.E. Hanna Saif Al Suwaidi, chairperson, Environment and Protected Areas Authority, Sharjah, said, “The Gulf Green Turtle Conservation initiative will help us identify important turtle areas for Gulf green turtles, boost efforts to protect their nesting areas and also extend them to include foraging habitats important for ma-rine turtles at all parts of their life stages.”
Protecting the Gulf’s Marine Life
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On December 01 – 02, the European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Association (ECTAA) held its semi-annual meeting in Tunisia, which was at-
tended by more than 20 European delegations. The meeting was an opportunity to exchange views
and take stock of the work that has been undertaken by the Tunisian government as well as the industry to wel-come back European tourists in Tunisia.
Welcoming the attendees, Selma Elloumi, tourism minister, Tunisia, explained that tourism in the country underwent restructuring with a long-term strategy.
Merike Hallik, president, ECTAA, said, “Tunisia has always been a cherished destination for Europeans. We have been impressed by the warm welcome and gener-ous hospitality received in Tunisia and we hope that tour-ists will soon be returning to Tunisia in greater numbers.”
Tunisia Targets European Tourists
Invest in Sharjah, Sharjah FDI office’s flagship driver for promoting investment opportunities in the emir-ate and a subsidiary of the Sharjah Investment and
Development Authority (Shurooq), recently concluded its participation at the Arab Aviation Summit in Jordan on December 05 – 06.
Under the theme Linking Cultures, Driving Econo-mies, the summit featured keynote addresses, insightful discussion panels and interactive workshops.
Ministers, officials and CEOs from various organisa-tions around the world, highlighted the crucial role travel and tourism can play in the growth of Arab economies. In doing so, they explored potential strategies that will allow long-term symbiotic private – public sector part-nerships in developing the tourism market in the region.
“It is true that the Arab aviation and tourism indus-try are […] the fastest growing globally, but to ensure the sustainability of this growth, private businesses and investors need to come forward and make more substantial contributions,” said, Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO, Shurooq.
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Anantara to Debut in Saudi Arabia
Following renovations of the existing premises, the property will feature 226 guest rooms as well as 102 two- to five-bedroom villas.
In addition to a selection of dining options, facilities will include fitness and swimming pool areas, a library as well as kids’ and teens’ clubs. For corporate guests, a 500m2 flexible meeting space and two further rooms will be available.
Moreover, spa and wellness will be at the core of the resort, with a broad range of health and wellness journeys or therapies on offer.
Minor Hotels has announced plans for the development of Anantara Jeddah Resort, a luxury waterfront address anticipated to open its doors in 2019.
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Mecure Sohar Welcomes
its First Guests
Banyan Tree has signed an agreement with AccorHotels to collaborate to develop and
manage Banyan Tree branded ho-tels around the world.
AccorHotels will invest an initial EUR16 million in the Singapore-based company and both parties will then co-develop the brands owned by Banyan Tree around the world. This investment will be made through a mandatory convertible debenture that at conversion will give AccorHotels an approximate five percent stake in Banyan Tree, with the option to purchase an ad-ditional approximate five percent.
Commenting on the agreement, Sebastien Bazin, CEO, AccorHotels, said, “Our collaboration with Banyan Tree is a great opportunity to com-plement our business proposition to owners with iconic brands, while always better servicing our guests.”
Action Hotels has offi-cially opened its third hotel in Oman, Mecure
Sohar, marking the group’s ninth collaboration with Ac-corHotels and its first Mecure-branded address.
Commenting on the launch of the 151-key prop-erty, Alain Debare, CEO, Action Hotels, said, “Sohar port and free zone is an important link in Oman's commercial industry and this ideal location means we are confident the hotel will be a successful addition to our portfolio as we continue to work towards our goal of 5,000 rooms by 2020.”
Mecure Sohar brings the total number of hotels oper-ated by Action Hotels to 12 with 2,181 rooms in six coun-tries.
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R AK Properties, announced the signing of agreement pertaining a AED 30 million (USD2 million) works contract with Al Nu-aimi Group for its upcoming Anantara Resort & Spa within the Mina Al Arab development.
The project, operated by Minor Hotels under Anantara sets to open late 2018. The property, measuring 73,700m2 will boast 306 rooms, overwater villas, four restaurants, Anantara Spa, a ballroom as well as events and meeting spaces amid other leisure facilities.
Mohammed Sultan Al Qadi, CEO, RAK Properties, said, “Once construction is complete, Anantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah Resort & Spa, will form a key part of the international hospitality offering of our largest development in the emirate, providing visi-tors and residents with an iconic venue to relax and be entertained.”
Ras Al Khaimah Welcomes New Anantara Resort
A ccorHotels and AlBaker Investments have an-nounced their collaboration for Qatar’s first Sofitel-branded property in Doha’s West Bay.
Due to launch in 2019, the luxury hotel will boast 420 rooms, dining outlets, a rooftop bar with panoramic views over the city as well as tailor-made meeting facilities, swim-ming pools, fitness and spa areas.
Olivier Granet, managing director, AccorHotels Middle East, noted, “Sofitel has become a key player in the luxury and upscale segment of the hospitality industry and the new Sofitel Doha West Bay will broaden the scope of our offering in one of the region’s key markets.”
Sofitel to Debut in Qatar
Second Rove Hotels Launches in Dubai
F ollowing the success of Rove Downtown Dubai, Rove City Centre, a joint venture between Emaar Properties and Meraas Holding, has opened its
doors to guests.The 270-key property features a distinct design with an
urban theme and artwork reflecting Dubai’s cultural iden-tity. The hotel boasts flexible meeting rooms, a food outlet, fitness gym and swimming pool.
Chris Newman, chief operating officer, Emaar Hospi-tality Group, commented, “Rove Hotels has created a new identity with our focus on delivering highly engaging cultural experiences. With today’s travellers seeking more value from their hotel stays, the midscale proposition that we deliver is ideally suited for the new generation.”
Seven additional addresses flying the Rove Hotels flag have been revealed, with three to open by 2020.
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M arking its first address in Ras Al Khaimah, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has finalised a deal to operate a beachfront property on Al Marjan Island.
Due to open in 2019, the five-star resort will feature 430 rooms and 120 ser-viced apartments on the emirate’s first man-made island project worth USD1.8 billion.
Commenting on the announcement, Andreas Mattmüller, chief operating officer, Middle East and South Asia, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, said, “Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan Island, Ras Al Khaimah is a valuable addition to our portfolio and will provide leisure travellers with another compelling reason to visit one of the UAE’s most stunning holiday destinations.”
Mövenpick Signs Al Marjan Resort
By 2018, Rixos Group will have expanded the number of hotels in its portfolio to 32, with the ad-
dition of addresses in Jumeirah Beach in 2017 and on Saadiyat Island in 2018.
The company has been steadily growing the number of properties fly-ing the Rixos Group flag and is expect-ing to sign additional agreements in new markets such as Jeddah, Muscat, Salalah and the Maldives.
Commenting on the openings, Erkan Yildirim, senior vice president, operations, Rixos Group, said, “[...] We expect business to grow further thus intensifying the profitability of Rixos Group in the UAE. Since Dubai is the most popular tourism destination in the Middle East, opening another Rixos hotel offers additional choices to luxu-ry travellers and increases the market share of [the] group.”
Rixos Continues Middle East Growth
DIRC Reveals Mirdif Hills
Dubai Investments Real Estate Company (DIRC) has un-veiled Mirdif Hills, a mixed-use residential, commercial and retail project covering an area of 27.9ha.
The development, anticipated to be completed in the first quarter of 2018, will be spread across three components, Al Mul-taqa Avenue, Janayen Avenue and Nasayem Avenue. In addition of a selection of community attractions, the Mirdif Hills will com-prise of 1,500 apartments, hotels and modern lifestyle amenities.
Obaid Al Salami, general manager, DIRC, said, "This well-integrated project is a significant step towards achieving DIRC’s strategic objectives and consolidating its market presence in the real estate domain. The project is an exceptional addition to the company’s portfolio and complements DIRC’s role in the region’s real estate landscape.”
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Flying Daily to the Seychelles
A ttending the inaugural flight ceremony, H.E. Akbar Al Baker, group CEO, Qatar Air-ways, said, “Our aim is to provide our passengers with greater choice and variety when selecting their holiday destinations. We are sure that the Seychelles is going
to be a popular option with many travellers from Europe and the Middle East looking for an exotic island getaway. With this new service, holidaymakers can seamlessly connect to the Seychelles via our state-of-the-art home and hub in Doha, Hamad International Airport.”
Qatar Airways has launched daily flights to the Seychelles, the 14th new destination on the airline’s route map in 2016, and the
third in Africa.
flynas Launches New Dammam
Abu Dhabi Route
T he Saudi carrier flynas an-nounced the inauguration of its new flight route between
Dammam and Abu Dhabi, in a bid to strengthen its network of international flights and linking King Fahd Interna-tional Airport with Abu Dhabi Interna-tional Airport.
The service, launched December 23, will be operating on Sundays, Mon-days, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Bander Al-Mohanna, CEO, NAS Holding, said, "The provision of new flights between the Kingdom and the UAE demonstrates flynas’ concern to cover a wider range of international destinations, while making a major contribution to the support of the economy and tourism growth.’
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On December 09, Oman Air launched its inaugural flight to Guang-zhou, China, with four weekly services.
The invited guests on the maiden flight were treated to a day of celebrations with a cake cutting ceremony at Muscat International Airport be-fore proceeding to Oman Air’s First and Business Class lounge.
The launch of the new route is in response to significant customer demand and also demonstrates the airline’s commitment to continuing its ambitious and dynamic programme of fleet and network expansion and on board ser-vice developments.
Boeing Business Jets (BBJ) is set to work with GKN Aerospace's Fokker business to develop, produce, offer and support the Skyview Panoramic Window,
hailed to be the largest window available on any passen-ger jet offered today.
The window will be available as a feature on the BBJ, BBJ 2, and all three members of the BBJ MAX family, in-cluding the new BBJ MAX 7, with scheduled entry into service in 2018.
"We are thrilled to formally confirm our partnership with GKN Aerospace's Fokker business for the develop-ment of this fantastic feature on the BBJ, the largest air-plane window available in the market," said, David Lon-gridge, president, BBJ.
The Emirates Group has published its sixth annual environmen-tal report, showcasing its sustainability performance and ini-tiatives, such as a 60 percent reduction in electricity in its Lon-
don office and the installation of solar panels at the Emirates Engine Maintenance Centre.
While airline operations make up the majority of the group’s en-vironmental impact, the carrier has one of the youngest fleets in the industry, meaning lower engine and noise emissions. Despite collab-orative efforts with air traffic management to deliver more efficient routings and reduced fuel consumption, airspace closures this year have resulted longer flight paths.
On top of its ongoing wildlife conservation support in Dubai and Australia, the company also partnered with United for Wildlife to in-crease awareness into the illegal trade of wildlife.
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Emirates Highlights its Environmental Efforts
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: How has demand been to date this year?
THOMAS WILLIAM: [...] We own and manage three eco-lodges in Siwa Oasis. This year, we saw more demand for eco-tourism and for Siwa as a destination in comparison to 2015. Guests attracted to visiting Siwa are Egyptians or foreign residents living in Egypt, in addition to some tourists coming mainly from the US, France, the UK and other European countries.
THOMAS WILLIAM
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MANAGING DIRECTOR, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INTERNATIONAL
IN RECENT DECADES, EGYPT HAD BEEN KNOWN AS A MASS TOURISM
DESTINATION, WITH REDUCED ARRIVALS, THOMAS WILLIAM, MANAGING
DIRECTOR, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INTERNATIONAL, DISCUSSES THE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR NICHE AND NOVEL MARKETS, FOCUSSING ON QUALITY.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What do you offer guests staying at your proper-ties?
THOMAS WILLIAM: At our ecology ho-tels in Siwa, it is totally different [to oth-er destinations]. Visitors going to Siwa are mainly guests looking for nature, ecology, pure protected environment; looking to peace up their mind while enjoying the beauty of the nature and the historical side of the destination. Travellers to Siwa are looking to discov-er the culture of the people there and their traditions. Please consider as well that the distance from Cairo to Siwa is 700 km by road with no regular flights unless we ourselves arrange air travel on special occasions for guests coming to visit Adrere Amellal and our other two eco-lodges, Albabenshal and Shali Lodge. Therefore, I see that guests trav-elling to Siwa [...] know clearly what they look for and they are sure they will not find it elsewhere.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: Which mar-kets are you targeting?
THOMAS WILLIAM: [...] We look for like-minded guests who respect the nature and ecology style of life we are offering. We organised a flight in Oc-tober to Siwa for three nights and we had the pleasure to welcome many dif-ferent nationalities. I believe they are the best to promote Egypt from the enjoyment they experienced in Siwa at Adrère Amellal.
Adrère Amellal is always the tar-get for the niche segments and high spenders, simply because we are differ-ent. We present a concept of life which we live it and believe it. We look spe-cifically for luxury exhibitions for niche segments willing to travel to exotic spe-cial destinations.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: How can a shift away from mass tourism benefit Egypt and its travel industry?
THOMAS WILLIAM: Mass tourism is very important for Egypt, for the em-ployees working in tourism and their families, important for investors and im-portant for the whole country. We can never deny that mass tourism has its importance. Mass tourists travelling to Egypt have been mainly going to beach resorts to enjoy sun and sea or to upper Egypt for classical tourism visiting Luxor and Aswan and Cairo to enjoy historical sites and Egyptology.
[In terms of] how moving away from mass tourism can benefit Egypt in the long term, this will require me to answer you based on my personal opinion. If taking Adrère Amellal, our eco-lodge in Siwa as an example, you will find the following: we look for guests who un-derstand, believe and live with the con-cept of ecology in total harmony. Our guests respect nature and the environ-ment and in the mean time are looking for tranquillity, calm and peace. This you can never find with mass tourism. We offer organic food and no electric-ity but candle lights. In brief, we respect nature. Egypt can benefit from this in the long term by reducing the damage happening to its coral reefs due to the non-awareness of people. The country can benefit from avoiding the mass tour-ism by moving towards quality tourism, and this will return with great benefits to Egypt. The secret key word here instead of mass tourism, is quality tourism’s. [...] In brief, what visitors travelling to Egypt are seeking will remain varied. The only shift that might appear is people trav-elling are becoming more concerned about tranquillity and looking to find peaceful areas like Siwa to enjoy the na-ture and environment in calm way.
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Adrère Amellal
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WEEKLY NEWS INTERNATIONALwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
B est Western Hotels & Resorts added its first Execu-tive Residency by Best Western in Africa to Kenya’s capital city Nairobi.
Situated along Riverside Drive, the newly built five-floor property consists of 48 one- and two-bedroom apartments, in addition to a fitness centre and indoor heated swimming pool.
The property is also home to the Slate meeting room, available to host business events of up to 60 people. In ad-dition, guests will be able to enjoy a rooftop restaurant, boasting panoramic views.
“The Executive Residency by Best Western Nairobi will further solidify our presence in Kenya, specifically in Nai-robi, one of the fastest growing cities in Africa,” said Suzi Yoder, senior vice president, international operations, Best Western Hotels & Resorts.
R adisson Blu Coimbatore has offi-cially opened in the second larg-est city in the Indian state of Tamil
Nadu.Boasting 135 rooms and suites with
amenities, the property is hailed as a relax-ing well-appointed retreat for corporate and leisure guests.
The hotel has an array of meeting spaces, food and beverage outlets, a busi-ness class lounge, business centre, swim-ming pool, spa and fitness centre.
Raj Rana, CEO, South Asia, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, said, “Radisson Blu Coimbatore is set to raise the bar on the city’s upper-upscale hospitality landscape and bring new standards to the city.”
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Radisson Blu Coimbatore Unveiled
F ollowing InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) management’s agreement with Lao Inter-national Development, the new InterContinental Vientiane will join Crowne Plaza Vien-tiane as the second IHG managed hotel in the capital.
Set to open in 2021, the hotel will feature 400 rooms, offering guests a quality stay in the upcoming World Trade Centre – a mixed-use complex being developed by Lao International Development. The project also boasts a retail mall, medical centre, office tower and residential towers.
Leanne Harwood, vice president, operations, South East Asia and Korea, IHG, said, “Laos […] is well on its way to becoming one of the region’s busiest business and tourist destination and it is a great time to be bringing the InterContinental brand into the country to tap [in to] this potential.”Re
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IHG Introduces InterContinental Vientiane
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WEEKLY NEWS INTERNATIONAL www.traveltradeweekly.travel
B est Western Hotels & Resorts’ Asian ex-pansion strategy reached another major milestone, with the opening of its first
ever property in Krabi, Best Western Hula Hula Ao Nang Resort.
Nestled in the heart of Ao Nang, Krabi’s main tourist area, the property boasts 76 rooms, a se-lection of dining options, an outdoor pool, fitness club and massage services.
Additionally, the resort will be able to host business and social events in its function room which can accommodate up to 150 people.
Olivier Berrivin, managing director, interna-tional operations, Asia, Best Western Hotels & Resorts, said, “Guests will love the open, tropical nature of Best Western Hula Hula Ao Nang Resort, and how easily accessible it is to the area’s main tourist attractions.”
M arriott International announced the de-but of Sheraton Grand Conakry, mark-ing the group’s entry into Guinea, West
Africa.The newly built property boasts 269 rooms, an
extensive 300m2 fitness centre, an infinity pool and a spa.
Additionally, guests can take advantage of a selection of food and beverage outlets and more than 1300m2 of meeting and event space.
Commenting on the brand’s addition, Alex Kyriakidis, president, Middle East and Africa, Mar-riott International, said, “Sheraton Grand Conakry not only marks our entry into a new country, but will also create a halo effect for the brand and serve as a great example of our transformation efforts.”Sh
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Krabi Welcomes New Resort
Marriott International Debuts in West Africa
A ndaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya, a Hyatt property has officially opened in the internationally acclaimed eco-destination Mayakoba in Mexico.
Boasting 214 rooms overlooking lagoons and resort gardens, guests can en-joy an array of food and beverage outlets, a spa with a variety of treatment rooms and a gym. Furthermore, visitors can take advantage of vast meeting and event space, includ-ing a ball room.
Commenting on the new property, Lin Schatz, general manager, Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya, said, “With lush landscape and a rich Mayan culture, the region ide-ally encapsulates the brand’s connection to its local surroundings. From the unique de-sign and native cuisine to indigenous spa treatments, partnerships and experiences led by local insiders, guests will feel entirely immersed in the culture during their stay.”A
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Mexico Welcomes Premium Oceanfront Property
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TRAVEL TALKwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
GENERAL MANAGER, DUBAI AND NORTHERN EMIRATES, TURKISH AIRLINES
“UAE travellers have revealed their varied expectations from airlines for the future which is a good indicator of where the bar needs to be raised within the aviation sector. Safety continues to be the biggest concern for passengers closely followed by their comfort in the air. [...] Pro-viding our passengers with the best services possible is one of Turkish Airlines’ key goals. We will continue to work hard on our expansion plans by add-ing new destinations to our network while constantly in-novating to provide the best in class on-board amenities and services.”
Safety [is] the biggest concern for passengers
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TRAVEL TALK IS YOUR SPACE – this is a casual forum for travel industry professionals to discuss current issues and share stories. We want to hear from you, so send your comments, questions, frustrations and observations to
CEO, ETIHAD AIRWAYS ENGINEERING
“Our entire team is totally fo-cussed on achieving the high-est levels of reliability across our fleet, [as shown with the award for Top Operational Ex-cellence]. The A380 has been a fantastic addition to our fleet over the past two years and this award demonstrates excellence and the success of our ongoing close cooperation with Airbus.”
[We are] focussed on achieving the highest levels of reliability
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CEO, ROTANA HOTEL MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
“There is no industry rec-ognition bigger and more prestigious than the World Travel Awards, and we are very proud to have won [two awards]. Securing these cov-eted accolades by beating off stiff competition from the best international brands is a clear indication of Rotana’s rising global profile and repu-tation. [It] has been a year of continued growth and expan-sion for Rotana and we are happy to be able to end the year on such a euphoric note.”
There is no industry recognition [...] more prestigious [...]
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DIRECTOR, MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS, ORYX ROTANA HOTEL
“By organising this annual [swimming] contest, we aim to create an atmosphere of fun and memorable experi-ence for children by going into a new adventure that will teach them swimming skills of various kinds, and also provide opportunity for everyone to improve their talents in swimming with the help of trained professionals in addition to the chance to win valuable prizes.”
We aim to create an atmosphere of fun
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WHO’S MOVED www.traveltradeweekly.travel
ALFIO BERNARDINI has be-gun his new role as general manager at Radisson Blu Ho-tel Media City, where he will be responsible for more than 300 members of staff at the property.Bernardini started his career with Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group in 1996, where he first joined Radisson SAS Scan-dinavia Hotel Milan, before moving to Vienna. He also previsouly worked as general manager for Hotel Missoni Kuwait, where he was funda-mentally involved in the re-launch and implementation of the first Missoni branded hotel in the GCC. Bernardini’s most recent role was cluster general manager in Mauritius.
OLIVIER HARNISCH is the new CEO of Emaar Hospital-ity Group, bringing with him more than 30 years of interna-tional experience.Harnisch joins the company from Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, where he was responsi-ble for more than 350 proper-ties as chief operating officer. Prior to that, he held the posi-tion of vice president at Hilton Worldwide for more than 14 years. Having worked in numer-ous leadership roles, Harnisch has extensive expertise in all as-pects of the hospitality industry.In his new role, Harnisch will help deliver the group’s growth plans throughout the UAE and international markets.
MUHAMMAD ALI ALBAKRI has been appointed as re-gional vice president for Africa and the Middle East at Inter-national Air Transport Associa-tion (IATA).Albakri began his career at Saudi Arabian Airlines 26 years ago, where he rose up the ranks of the carrier’s IT depart-ment before becoming vice president of information tech-nology, a role he held concur-rently to his position of chief financial officer. Most recently, Albakri served as executive vice president for strategic projects and transformation, where he developed initia-tives to strengthen the airline’s competitiveness as part of its planned growth.In his new role, Albakri will be responsible for operations in 68 countries and operations of IATA’s settlement systems.
TRACI MERCER has been named senior vice president of hotel, car, cruise and rail, for Sabre. In this position, Mercer will focus on defining a strategic direction and commercial ini-tiatives to cater to the needs of lodging, hospitality, ground and sea transportation provid-ers, ensuring Sabre is develop-ing industry leading technol-ogy that meets distribution and e-commerce needs of this customer segment. She will be based at Sabre’s global head-quarters in Southlake, Texas.Mercer’s industry experience includes over 10 years at Ex-pedia, driving their business strategy and sales operations in North America and Asia Pa-cific markets. Most recently, she was global vice president, online revenue and growth, for Hootsuite Media.
Bernardini will lead 300 members of staff
Harnisch has over 30 years of experience
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WEEKLY NEWS AGENTS www.traveltradeweekly.travel
Making the Most of Dubai
A first-of-its-kind in the UAE, the kiosk will allow tourists to book all the best excur-sions, safaris and attractions that Dubai has to offer in one location. A team of Dubai experts speaking a variety of languages will also be on hand to assist with
bookings and advise customers on how to get the best Dubai experience based on their interests.
Commenting on the new kiosk which is open daily, Steve Barrass, senior vice presi-dent, dnata Travel, said, “Dubai has grown into a destination that offers tourists a wide variety of attractions and excursions to experience, and this kiosk will quickly and conveni-ently provide them with all their information and booking needs.”
R ail Europe, has expanded its strong sales network across the region by ap-
pointing Elaf Travel Tourism Company in Saudi Arabia, as their GSA partner.
Waleed Ahmed, regional manager, Dubai office, Rail Eu-rope, said, “We are very delight-ed to strengthen our presence in Saudi Arabia. Elaf Travel & Tour-ism has an excellent reputation in the region and has shown a great interest in facilitating the sale of Rail Europe products to their clients and travel trade in the kingdom. We foresee Saudi Arabia as a key market in GCC and integral to our long-term growth strategy.”
Elaf Travel Appointed by Rail Europe
dnata Travel has opened the first City Expert kiosk in Dubai at The Beach, Jumeirah Beach Residence.
Rezlive.com Partners with Ghanaian Company
R ezLive.com has appointed African Origin Travels & Sports Tourism as its exclusive general sales agent for Ghana.
With the launch of Ghana office, RezLive.com has further cement-ed its position in the Africa region and is looking forward to have healthy business with the local travel trade.
Jaal Shah, group managing director, RezLive.com, said, “Our increasing presence in Africa region will help us to boost trade from the region which will eventually generate good amount of business in the near future, look-ing at the potential of the market. By partnering with African Origin Travels & Sports Tourism and the experience they bring to the table, will help us to mutually accelerate our success in this market.”
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TRAVEL CHANNELS www.traveltradeweekly.travel
A four-week free fitness training camp lead-ing into Wadi Adventure Race, WAR12, which will take place on January 14, 2017, has been announced by Wadi Adventure.
The training sessions will be based around the actual obstacles to be used in the up-coming event, ensuring that each session is a full body work out, and will help participants get ready to face the obstacle come race day.
Speaking about the event, Nilesh Mistry, general manager, Wadi Adventure, said, “Wadi Adventure Race is a great opportunity for the fitness community to come together for a day of excitement, fun and a test of true athletic ability. […] The free training sessions are the best way to train your body for the great event ahead.”
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) announced that the Ecotourism Kenya Eco-rating Certification Scheme has achieved GSTC-Recognised status. The awarded status affirms Ecotourism Kenya’s commitment to promote sus-tainable tourism products and services.
The Ecotourism Kenya Eco-rating Certification Scheme is designed to certify as sustainable accommodations of various types throughout Kenya.
The purpose of the GSTC programs is to recognise and reward genuine practitioners of sustainable tourism, which in turn builds confidence and credibility with consumers.
“Ecotourism Kenya continues its fine efforts to make nature- and wildlife-based tour-ism more and more sustainable. Applying localised standards that adhere to the universal principles included within the GSTC Criteria is part of their commitment to excellence,” com-mented Randy Durband, CEO, GSTC.
Targeting family travellers in the emirate, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham, JBR, launched the Junior Arrival Experience, a VIP check-in scheme for guests aged four to 10.
With the Junior Arrival Experience, the children will be given their own regis-tration card to fill out, and their own key card. They will also receive a free activity
kit and two complimentary kiddie coins, which they can redeem by purchasing food goodies within the hotel. The parents can also buy additional coins for their kids to use during their stay.
Commenting on the initiative, Samir Arora, general manager, Hawthorn Suites by Wynd-ham JBR, said, “[…] This new programme will boost our position as a family-centric and kid-friendly hotel. We expect the Junior Arrival Experience to be a hit among the children by making them feel that they are indeed our VIP guests.”
Boeing has entered into an agreement to acquire Liquid Ro-botics, a market leader in autonomous maritime systems and developer of the Wave Glider ocean surface robot.
Leanne Caret, CEO, defense, space and security, Boeing, commented, “With Liquid Robotics’ innovative technology
and Boeing’s leading intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance so-lutions, we are helping our customers address maritime challenges in ways that make existing platforms smarter, missions safer and opera-tions more efficient.”
Worth noting, Liquid Robotics has designed and manufactured the Wave Glider, the first wave and solar-powered autonomous ocean ro-bot, since its founding in 2007. With more than one million nautical miles travelled, the Wave Glider’s capabilities address the challenges facing defense, commercial and science customers by making ocean data collection and communications easier, safer and immediate.
Preparations Underway for WAR12
Promoting Sustainable Tourism
Creating a Child Friendly Experience
Boeing Enhance Maritime Systems
Wave Glider Robot
Nairobi
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Mövenpick Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel - Dubai was awarded with Green Globe Gold Member status after five years of consistent certification Emirates cabin crew were ready to welcome the first flight to Fort
Lauderdale from Dubai
Dubai Parks and Resorts invited more than 200 children, their families, and volunteers from Awqaaf Minor Affairs Foundation and Make a Wish Foundation UAE to its grand
opening
A medley of over 9,000 flowers and plants made up the Emirates iconic logo, and 100,000 blossoms formed the enormous wings, which reach
over 80.27m wide
Star Wars Stormtroopers paid a visit to Etihad Airways' Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator
Unique views of Dubai from 80-storeys high
31 DECEMBER 2016 23
PHOTO ALBUMwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
31 DECEMBER 201624
NEWS & EVENTS www.traveltradeweekly.travel
Dubai Leading the Way
Addressing Tourism and Biodiversity
The International Autumn Trade Fair was held from December 14 – 16 at Dubai World Trade Centre, under the theme of
smart living. It displayed general con-sumer goods with emphasis on home and lifestyle, fashion, electronics and home equipment, beauty and cosmet-ics, and health and fitness.
“Dubai is an open market to the international goods, where consumers find all kind of items of high quality and diverse utilities. This fair is not only ben-eficial for Dubai residents and guests but also to the whole MENA region that represents a rich, evolving and innova-tion savvy market,” said Satish Khanna, general manager, Al Fajer Information and Services, the organiser of the event.
Dubai aims to become the seventh leading maritime capital of the world by 2020, ahead of cities such as London, New York, Tokyo and Copenhagen.
With the objective of ad-vancing the contribution of the tourism sector to biodiversity preservation
the World Tourism Organization (UN-WTO) participated in the UN Biodi-versity Conference COP13, in Cancun, Mexico on December 02-17.
The conference focussed on main-streaming biodiversity across relevant sectors, including tourism.
UNWTO underlined the need for national policies and frameworks for sustainable tourism and foster multi-stakeholder partnerships.
“Tourism and biodiversity are natu-ral allies and UNWTO is fully committed to its joint work with the Convention of Biological Diversity. Tourism can highly contribute to the protection of biodiver-sity, by raising awareness, by engaging the tourism community and by propos-ing sustainable alternatives for local communities,” said Taleb Rifai, secretary general, UNWTO.
IBTM ARABIA
Abu Dhabi, UAEFebruary 07 – 09, 2017www.ibtmarabia.comOne of the leading international events for the Arabian meetings, incentives, conferences and events industry.
FITUR
Madrid, SpainJanuary 18 – 22, 2017www.ifema.esThe 37th edition of the travel trade fair for both inbound and outbound Ibero American markets.
EMITT
Istanbul, TurkeyJanuary 26 – 29, 2017www.emittinstanbul.comIndustry professionals from more than 70 countries are expected to attend the exhibition focussed on the East Mediterranean.
EVENTS
