3 SEPTEMBER 2016 ISSUE 356 10 ACCOMMODATION 06 … Weekly-Issue-356... · passenger traffic at dwc...
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3 SEPTEMBER 2016 ISSUE 356 REZIDOR: THREE NEW UAE ADDRESSES ACCOMMODATION 10 12 06 ROTANA TO ENTER MOROCCO CHINESE DEMAND DRIVES SHARJAH TOURISM
Transcript of 3 SEPTEMBER 2016 ISSUE 356 10 ACCOMMODATION 06 … Weekly-Issue-356... · passenger traffic at dwc...
PASSENGER TRAFFIC AT DWC SURGES 79.8 PERCENT
3 SEPTEMBER 2016 ISSUE 356
REZIDOR: THREE NEW UAE ADDRESSES
ACCOMMODATION10
12
06
ROTANA TO ENTER MOROCCO
CHINESE DEMAND DRIVES SHARJAH TOURISM
TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS
3 SEPTEMBER 20162
MARKET UPDATE www.traveltradeweekly.travel
MANAGING EDITOR
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ASSISTANT EDITORRita Kasziba
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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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AIR TRAFFIC ON THE UPWARD SWING
GLOBAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM REMAINS RESILIENT
Global passenger traffic rose 4.5 percent in June, driven by a four percent year-on-year surge in international figures and a 5.1 improvement in domestic seats.
Regardless of the ongoing challenges and the recent Brexit referendum in the UK, the international travel and tourism industry continues to deliver a stellar performance, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).
According to Airports Council International, while passenger volumes escalated 5.6 per-cent in the first half of the year, due to subdued growth in emerging markets, air freight demand was only 0.5 percent stronger than in 2015.
Middle Eastern airports experienced an upturn of 3.4 percent in travellers in June, with the UAE and Qatar posting increases of 6.8 percent and 20.2 percent, respectively. With a 4.5 percent rise in air freight in the six-month period, the Middle East proved to be the fastest-growing region globally.
Based on WTTC’s forecast, the sector is set to grow 3.1 percent this year, outpacing the global economic development anticipations at 2.3 percent. Although Europe is expected to witness lower visitor spend, the continent is likely to still achieve a 2.2 percent improvement. Recent incidents and macroeconomic dynamics are predicted to lower the industry’s direct contribu-
tion to the national GDP in both France as well as Turkey, nevertheless, despite the UK’s decision to leave the European Union, the destination is projected to witness a 3.6 percent growth.
Bahrain (BHD)
Jordan (JOD)
Oman (OMR)
Qatar (QAR)
Saudi Arabia (SAR)
UAE (AED)
Algeria (DZD)
Egypt (EGP)
Iran (IRR)
Iraq (IQD)
Kuwait (KWD)
Lebanon (LBP)
Libya (LYD)
Morocco (MAD)
Syria (SYP)
Tunisia (TND)
Yemen (YER)
Dinar
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Rial
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Dirham
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3.64
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1,165.04
0.30
1,507.00
1.38
9.74
214.60
2.20
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COUNTRY CURRENCY 1USD=
2.9.2016as ofMENA EXCHANGE RATES
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WEEKLY NEWS www.traveltradeweekly.travel
3 SEPTEMBER 2016
Saudi Regions Linked by Tourist Routes
The initiative is set to encourage travellers to discover the most beautiful and diverse locations of the Kingdom by linking 49 regions of the country with each other through these paths.
The itineraries include desert, Red Sea, Arabian Gulf routes as well as mountain trails, amongst others.
According to Abdullah Metain, general superintendent, tourism strategic routes development project, SCTH, the endeavour will help to highlight attractive programmes for visitors and tourists through activating the role of tour operators, in addition to developing the accommodation sec-tor, improving transport services and fostering investment.
Saudi Commission for Tourism & National Heritage (SCTH) is putting the final touches to a number of new tourist routes.
High Accommodation Prices Concern
SCTH
Hamad Al Semail, vice presi-dent, Saudi Commission for Tourism & National Heritage
(SCTH), has declared the rising cost of tourist accommodation as the or-ganisation’s prime concern, follow-ing 567 complaints so far this year about rates.
Speaking of the issue, H.R.H. Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul-Aziz, president, SCTH, commented, “Seasonality and weak financing of tourism projects, especially in the accommodation sector, has led to lack of expansion in facilities, which in turn has led to exploitation of hol-iday seasons by the facility owners to recover investment costs.”
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WEEKLY NEWSwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
Nearly Half of UAE Residents Travel during Eid
A recent YouGov survey of over 1,500 people in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, unveiled that 43 percent of those residing in the UAE con-
sider taking a break during the upcoming Eid Al Fitr holidays.
Four- and five-star hotels seem to be the first choice for Emiratis, while top destinations include In-dia, Georgia – which has welcomed more than 17,000 guests from the UAE in 2015, up 687 percent year-on-year – as well as Egypt and the Maldives.
“We are seeing a surge of interest for stays at our member properties,” stated Saurabh Rai, executive vice president, Preferred Hotels & Resorts, highlight-ing UAE-based travellers’ appetite for holidays even in the face of the economic slowdown.
Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu, Maldives
A project has been intro-duced by the Saudi Com-mission for Tourism &
National Heritage (STCH) with the support of the National Urban Her-itage Center, in an effort to register the Kingdom’s national and urban heritage reserves.
The initial stage will focus on the design of a system intended to manage the sites, utilising the latest geographical information system technologies, while the sec-ond phase will include the devel-opment of a database facilitating more efficient marketing actions.
High-tech Database to Manage Saudi Heritage
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Khareef Season Boosts Salalah Arrivals
Oman’s Salalah International Airport welcomed more than 284,000 travellers during the Sultanate’s famous monsoon season between June 15 – August 15.
According to data released by the National Center for Statisti-cal information (NCSI), out of the 529,000 visitors who headed to the region during the same period, 93,000 reached Oman’s sec-ond-largest hub through 2,263 domestic and international flights.
Ali Bakhet Fadhel, operations manager, Salalah International Airport, commented, “In a high pressure environment, profes-sional and responsive airport staff are key to ensuring procedures and protocols are followed smoothly [...].”
Future expansion projects are set to increase the airfield’s capac-ity from the current two million to six million annual passengers.
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WEEKLY NEWS www.traveltradeweekly.travel
Nakheel to Enhance Jumeirah Village Offering
Poland Greenlights Egypt Flights
R eal estate developer, Nakheel has striked a AED1.5 billion (USD408.4 million) deal after signing a contract for the con-struction of Al Khail Avenue, a retail, dining and entertain-
ment hub in Dubai’s Jumeirah Village Triangle (JVT). The 18.58ha project, which is expected to be completed in the
first quarter of 2019, will provide more than 11.14ha of leasable space, 70 percent of which has been already booked.
Other highlights of the destination will include an 18-storey hotel and leisure club with 252 rooms directly connected to the avenue, as well as some 350 retail shops and a variety of food and beverage outlets.
S harm El Sheikh International Airport (SSH) has welcomed the first aircraft from Warsaw
with 183 passengers onboard, after the travel ban on the country, which had been in effect since October 2015, has been lifted.
As Emad El Belasi, head, SSH, pin-pointed, resuming services from the European market marks a crucial step towards the revival of Egypt’s tourism industry, a major contributor to the national GDP.
According to Hisham Zazou, tour-ism minister, Egypt, Polish holiday-makers account for a notable share of arrivals to the country.
MAB Wins Louvre Abu Dhabi Deal
M AB Facilities Management has been awarded a five-year facility management services contract
for Louvre Abu Dhabi, by Abu Dhabi Tour-ism & Culture Authority.
Hailed as one of the most prestig-ious projects in the UAE, the museum will showcase priceless and highly regarded artworks in a bid to educate the local pop-ulation and the country’s large ex-pat com-munity about the value of art as part of the society’s development.
“MAB is deeply honoured to be a part of this unique and first of its kind project in the UAE,” commented Maen Saddeq, CEO, MAB Facilities Management.
H otels operating in Sharjah recorded a seven percent growth in revenue in the first half of the year with the figure standing at AED378 million (USD102.9 million).
Based on data released by the Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Au-thority (SCTDA), bookings from China jumped 73.2 percent, and SCTDA is determined to fur-ther boost arrivals from the country.
All in all, the number of Asian visitors surged 12 percent, making the continent the emir-ate’s second-largest source market, just behind the GCC which sent nearly 220,000 tourists during the six-month period.
According to H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, chairman, SCTDA, the positive results, which are in line with Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021, underscore the destination’s growing popularity as a year-round hotspot for families.
Chinese Demand Drives Sharjah Tourism
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WEEKLY NEWS ATTRACTIONSwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
Egypt to Welcome North Africa’s Largest Crystal Lagoons Project
L ocated within phase two of Remco Group’s Stella Di Mare in Ain Sukhna, the body of water will encircle the entire development which includes private islands connected by bridges.
Speaking of the project, Carlos Salas, regional director, Middle East, Crystal Lagoons, said, “[It is] a truly unique residential and leisure environment and further [underscores] our ability to bring waterfront living to anywhere in the world, even the desert.”
Additionally, in partnership with Misr Italia, two lagoons with a combined area of 2.7ha will be delivered to Mousa Coast, a Red Sea community boasting 2,500 properties with plans for 16,000 chalets and five-luxury hotels.
Crystal Lagoons is developing a 38ha destination in Egypt, hailed the largest venture of this kind in North Africa.
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Nakheel Reveals Reel Cinemas at The Pointe
Al Hoota Cave
Receives Makeover
O man’s Al Hoota Cave is set to reopen to the public on September 05, after
undergoing significant improve-ments.
Said to be the first tourist cave in the GCC, the enhanced Al Hoota Cave experience enables travellers to plan their trip online and book various services in advance.
From the visitor centre, an electric train transports guests right into the cave. For families, a play area, gift shop and a restau-rant are also available.
I n collaboration with Reel Cin-emas, Nakheel has announced Reel Cinemas at The Pointe,
a new five-screen luxury experi-ence boasting a dine-in movie theatre, hailed as the region’s first cinema within a restaurant.
Located at The Pointe at Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah, the bou-tique entertainment centre fur-ther strengthens the developer’s partnership with the cineplex company, which is managed by Emaar Entertainment. The ven-ture follows the 2015 confirma-tion of a 14-screen complex at Al Khail Avenue.
The AED800 million (USD218 million) The Pointe at Palm Jumei-rah is set to create an attractive dining and leisure destination with fountain shows, a prom-enade and 150 restaurants and retail outlets.
Al Hoota Cave
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WEEKLY NEWS ATTRACTIONS www.traveltradeweekly.travel
Majid Al Futtaim has unveiled a AED600 million (USD163.38 million) project to expand City Centre Ajman, almost doubling the mall’s size and creating 500 new jobs.
Expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2017, the complex will boast 150 retail and dining outlets in addition to enlarged VOX Cinemas. The existing premises will be renovated in line with the developer’s sustainability strategy.
Kim McInnes, CEO, shopping malls, Majid Al Futtaim, commented, “As Ajman’s population increas-es and a growing number of tourists visit this part of the country, the redevelopment of City Centre Ajman will deliver the highest standard of design and diversity of choice while contributing signifi-cantly to the emirate’s economic and employment landscapes.”
For the first time in the UAE, two classification programmes for desert camps and tourism vil-
lages have been launched by Ajman Tourism Development Department (ATDD).
Although desert camps are normally divided into two types, namely day and overnight use, in this case they will be considered as one group, while tourism villages will range from three- to five-star categories, based on the services and facilities they offer.
Prior to the launch of the classi-fication system, ATTD’s team visited numerous camps and tourism villag-es in Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah.
As Sara Asuwaidi, head of clas-sification section, ATDD, explained, the new criteria aims to promote the emirate’s leisure sector, while also contributing towards sustain-able tourism development.
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Abu Dhabi-based Tourism Development & Investment Company has report-ed further progress on enabling works for phase one of Saadiyat Lagoons District.
Due to be delivered by the end of the year, the contract covers ground im-provements as well as site clearance.
The first part of the project includes 820 two- to four-bedroom properties, swimming pools and playgrounds, all set within a gated community. The area has been designed to encourage an active lifestyle through the provision of walking and cycling paths as well as horse-riding trails. Additionally, two lifestyle and retail destinations, a town centre and a waterfront village will be developed.
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Ajman Defines Camp and Tourism Village Standards
Saadiyat Lagoons District on Schedule
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WEEKLY NEWS AGENTSwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
GTA and TCA Abu Dhabi Add to Agent Benefits
Valid until the end of October, the offer is part of the tourism organisation’s Abu Dhabi Summer Season campaign, which aims to promote the emirate as an attractive destination for the hottest months for domestic, GCC and interna-
tional visitors alike, through a variety of events, tours and packages.Rami Mashini, vice president of sales and marketing, Middle East, Africa, Turkey
and India, GTA commented, “This is an excellent opportunity for us to provide even greater benefits to our travel trade partners across the GCC region, and to help Abu Dhabi drive higher tourism arrivals and revenues this summer.”
In a new partnership between GTA and Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), members of g shop loyalty scheme have been receiving triple points this summer on all hotel and
attraction bookings.
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Sabre and EAN Offer
More to Agents
Thanks to a participation agreement between Sabre and Expedia
Affiliate Network (EAN), the technology provider is adding more than 63,000 new hotels to its travel marketplace.
Travel agencies will now benefit from access to EAN rates and availability through the Sabre global distribution system.
Agents can now shop and book properties through the Sabre Red Workspace with the newly-introduced properties representing a wide range of accommodation types, includ-ing full-service hotels and re-sorts, bed and breakfast estab-lishments, small inns, airport hotels, boutique and budget addresses as well as serviced apartments.
TripAdvisor Teams Up
with Citymaps
TripAdvisor has acquired New York-based Citymaps. a social mapping platform
that enables tourists to discover countless hidden gems and hot-spots, all around the world.
The website and app make it easy for consumers to find points of interest and share their favour-ite locations with friends.
“The Citymaps team under-stands how people experience their day through a maps lens,” said Adam Medros, senior vice presi-dent, global product, TripAdvisor.
As Elliot Cohen, CEO, City-maps, noted, the application de-livers socially-powered inspiration and exploration for travellers.
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WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION www.traveltradeweekly.travel
AddressesTHE REZIDOR HOTEL GROUP HAS SIGNED THREE NEW PROPERTIES IN THE UAE, ADDING OVER 1,000 ROOMS TO THE COMPANY’S COUNTRY-WIDE PORTFOLIO.
L ocated in Dubai’s Business Bay, the 432-unit Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Waterfront is set to welcome its first guests in the second quarter of 2017, and the same opening date has been given to Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Canal View, which will feature 188 rooms and 16 suites, meeting and confer-
ence venues of 131m2, a business centre and a 341m2 banquet hall. Due to be unveiled in the first quarter of 2018, the third project,
Park Inn by Radisson Resort Ras Al Khaimah, Marjan Island will com-prise of two buildings, offering a total of 408 units. Extensive meet-ing and event spaces are also planned, along with a swimming pool and a spa.
“We want to contribute to the ongoing journey and support this fast-growing sector together with our experienced regional part-ners”, said Wolfgang Neumann, president, The Rezidor Hotel Group.
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REZIDOR: THREE NEW UAE
Rotana Introduces Centro Shaheen Jeddah
Rotana is gearing up for the launch of Centro Shaheen Jeddah, the company’s first pro-ject in the Saudi city, set to be unveiled this
month. Situated 20 minutes from King Abdulaziz Inter-
national Airport, the new 252-key establishment provides easy access to Jeddah’s business hub and booming north side.
“We are bringing to Jeddah and Saudi Arabia a new concept; one that provides business and leisure travellers with style and comfort but at very afford-able rates,” stated Mohammad Haj Hassan, area vice president, Rotana.
Centro Shaheen Jeddah is one of the six prop-erties planned by the hotelier in the Kingdom, and one of 18 projects that are set to be delivered across the region before the end of 2017. Re
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WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATIONwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
Warwick Hotels and Resorts has unveiled The Mist Hotel & Spa by Warwick, a high-scale mountain resort overlooking Lebanon’s Ehden Valley.
The hotel boasts 71 rooms, suites and chalets, five res-taurants and nightlife venues, including a fine dining loca-tion as well as a traditional Lebanese eatery. The group’s fourth property in the country also features a spa and fit-ness centre, offering a wide range of wellness treatments. For business travellers, four conference rooms and a multi-purpose events terrace offering views of the surrounding mountains are also available.
Guests staying at the establishment will be offered one of three individual experience packages – leisure, friends and family or adventure – comprised of unique components and activities.
Lebanon Welcomes Fourth Warwick Hotel
As part of the further development of its AVANI Hotels & Resorts brand, Minor Hotels has inaugurated AVA-NI Deira Dubai Hotel, formerly known as Mövenpick
Hotel Deira.The brand’s first address in the Middle East follows the
signing of a management agreement with Bin Sulayem In-vestments, the hotel’s parent company. The property features 216 keys, two restaurants as well as meeting rooms, outdoor pool and a fully-equipped gym.
Robert Kunkler, chief operating officer, Minor Hotels, noted, “This key acquisition to our portfolio allows Minor Hotels to take a strategic foothold in the Middle East for our fast-expanding AVANI Hotels & Resorts brand in what is a vi-tally important market.”
AVANI Hotels & Resorts Debuts in Dubai
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Jannah Hotels and Resorts has revealed plans to launch two new projects in Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah before the end of the year.
Located next to Abu Dhabi Mall, Jannah Residences City Centre, which is due to open November 01, will fea-ture 36 two-bedroom apartments overlooking Al Reem Island.
The group’s first beach location in the UAE, Jannah Beach Resort in Ras Al Khaimah will boast 100 apartments with sea-view terraces, 22 three-bedroom villas as well as a 29-berth marina, entertainment facilities and three dining venues.
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W ithout raising any further equity, Action Hotels has outperformed the management’s expectations
set out at IPO with regards to the number of rooms in operating and pipeline hotels by 29 percent, with the number of units totalling 3,257 as opposed to 2,516.
With recent property acquisitions, the com-pany currently holds 11 addresses, that are com-pleted and operating, boasting 2,032 rooms, and is expected to complete hundreds of addi-tional keys before year-end.
The group, which manages hotels in the Middle East and Australia, continues to witness strong average occupancies, with Kuwait-based properties, namely ibis Sharq and ibis Salmiya maintaining their place as top performers.
Rotana to Enter Morocco
Rotana has announced the signing of its first Moroccan project, Arjaan Hotel Apartments by Rotana.
Due to open at the end of 2018, the 140-key property will cater to both business and leisure guests. Located at M Avenue, Marrakech’s new shopping, entertainment and residential destination, the hotelier’s debut venture will feature three dining outlets, a swimming pool, conference and banquet halls as well as a fully-equipped Bodylines Fitness & Wellness club.
As Omer Kaddouri, CEO, Rotana, noted, the property is set to particularly appeal to long-stay guests.
“Our new Arjaan in Marrakech will offer everything guests need to be comfortable and productive, and will exude sophisticated elegance across all facets of the property,” added Kaddouri. Re
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WEEKLY NEWS AIRPORTSwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
Traffic in Abu Dhabi Continues to Grow
Total arrivals at the hub rose 10.4 percent to 1,074,022, while departure numbers jumped 6.1 percent to 1,180,504.
As for the local arrivals specifically – visits to the capital excluding transfer and transit – July delivered a 15.9 percent increase whilst departures in this category grew 1.8 percent.
The top city destinations from Abu Dhabi included London, Bangkok, Doha, Mumbai and Ma-nila respectively, representing 16 percent of the total traffic registered at the airport in July.
Abu Dhabi Airports has installed a new automated tray return system to speed up the process of hand luggage screening at Terminal 3 in Abu Dhabi Inter-
national Airport.The new system allows for the processing of more than
four times the number of baggage that conventional screen-ing lanes do, reducing waiting times and congestion, and providing a smoother travel experience for passengers.
Mohammed Al Katheeri, acting chief operations officer, Abu Dhabi Airports, said, “We can now process more passen-gers per hour in a secure and controlled environment, im-proving overall operational efficiency and enhancing public safety and security.”
More Efficient Screening in the UAE Capital
Passenger volumes at Abu Dhabi International Airport surged 7.9 percent year-on-year in July, with 2,267,572 travellers on record.
Passenger Volumes Boom at DWC
Dubai World Central (DWC) recorded a growth of more than 95 percent in traffic in the first half (H1) of the year.
During the six-month period, 410,278 travellers passed through the hub, with flydubai playing a major role in the development with 35 weekly flights to five destinations from DWC.
Aircraft movements during H1 stood at 18,126, register-ing a 4.8 percent rise over the same period in 2015.
The airport is currently served by 17 passenger carriers, with approximately 174 flights per week to 39 international destinations. In addition, 34 scheduled cargo operators fly to and from the airfield to 141 locations worldwide.
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Qatar Airways has entered into a codeshare partnership with Vueling Airlines, offering passengers connections to 67 of the Spanish
carrier’s most popular routes across Europe.Following an interline contract signed in 2014, the
latest agreement came into effect in August. The joint venture provides seamless transitions through the airlines’ common gateways in Barcelona and Rome, linking travellers to the Gulf carrier’s global network of over 150 destinations.
Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways, commented, “Codeshare partnerships and airline alliances continue to play an important role for Qatar Airways. The further addition of these codeshare routes will offer an en-hanced and unrivalled global network and improves our competitive offering.”
E tihad Airways partnered with luxury depart-ment store Bloomingdale’s – Dubai as the retailer launched its autumn seasonal cam-
paign.The airline is showcasing its iconic penthouse
in the sky, The Residence by Etihad inside the store at The Dubai Mall.
Etihad Airways has offered customers who spent a certain amount at Bloomingdale’s – Dubai the opportunity to enter an exclusive draw during the two-week showcase, which ends on September 03. Two winners will receive business class return tickets for two from Abu Dhabi to New York and a three-night stay at The Plaza Hotel New York.
The collaboration formed part of Etihad Air-ways’ strategy to explore innovative collaborations with premium brands.
Qatar Airways and Vueling Commence
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Etihad Airways Teams Up with Bloomingdale’s
Emirates Upgrades Khartoum Route
The aircraft replaces the previously used Airbus A340-300 on the route, offering passengers an en-hanced on-board experience with additional entertainment options and more economy class seats.
The Boeing 777-300ER also boasts eight private first class suits with automated sliding doors, 42 lie flat business class seats, offering a total capacity of 310 travellers, 100 more than the A340-300.
In response to strong demand, Emirates now deploys a larger Boeing 777-300ER between Dubai and Khartoum.
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TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What are the main criteria when it comes to choos-ing locations for new developments?
ROBERT WARMAN: Langham Hospitality Group encompasses a family of dis-tinctive hotels under the Langham Hotels and Resorts, Cordis and Eaton brands with 20 operating hotels located in key global cities and more than 30 projects currently either confirmed or in a developed stage of negotiation from Asia, Eu-rope and North America to the Middle East.
The Langham Hotels and Resorts has a unique brand proposition where it features two distinct styles – the classically-oriented hotels of The Langham, and
ROBERT WARMAN
Q & A
with
CEO, LANGHAM HOSPITALITY GROUP
HAVING ALREADY ESTABLISHED A STRONG GLOBAL PRESENCE WITH 20 HOTELS ON
FOUR CONTINENTS, LANGHAM HOSPITALITY GROUP IS NOW LOOKING TO EXPAND ITS
PRESENCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST AS ROBERT WARMAN, CEO, LANGHAM HOSPITALITY
GROUP, REVEALS.
and upcoming projects in the GCC. When are these properties expected to open?
ROBERT WARMAN: In the next two to three years, we will have our first hotel in
Qatar – Langham Place, Doha, Lusail City – along with two forthcoming hotels in Dubai – Langham Place, Downtown Dubai slated to open in 2018; and The Langham, Dubai located on Palm Jumei-rah, which will open in late 2017.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What attrib-utes will set these Langham projects apart from other brands?
ROBERT WARMAN: The group takes its name from the legendary Langham in London which was widely recognised as Europe’s first grand hotel. For 150 years, this flagship hotel has represented so-phisticated and gracious hospitality, a philosophy that reflects elegance in de-sign, innovation in hospitality, genuine service and captivation of the senses across all properties. These qualities, and in particular our genuine service, is what sets us apart from the rest.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: Please tell us about the company’s long-term plans in the Middle East and North Africa region.
ROBERT WARMAN: We are actively looking to increase our footprint in the Middle East and also look at opportuni-ties to debut in the North Africa region. The group is also in negotiations for properties in Lebanon, the UAE, Bah-rain, Oman and Saudi Arabia and we are looking forward to have some of these come to fruition shortly.
the more modern, contemporary Lang-ham Place style. A proliferation of both styles of our luxury brand globally is the ultimate goal in this market. […]
We constantly look for partners who appreciate what our brand represents to work together and when it comes to the choice of location for our hotels, The Langham Hotels and Resorts [projects] will be in prime locations in key cities.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What as-pects make the Middle East a strate-gically important market for Lang-ham Hospitality Group?
ROBERT WARMAN: The Middle East is an important market for our group and we are excited that we are making in-roads into Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar, working with like-minded owners to increase our footprint in these regions – within the next five years.
In line with the tourism vision in the Middle East, the increasing number of visitors travelling to the region and the world-class international events being held there, we see a demand for luxury hotels in these markets. The launch of Langham Place, Downtown Dubai for example, complements Dubai’s strate-gic tourism vision to annually attract 20 million visitors by 2020. Langham Place, Downtown is located in the Burj Khalifa district. With spectacular views facing Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower, and Dubai Water Canal, the 167-room hotel will provide easy access to Downtown Dubai, Mohammed bin Rashid City, Business Bay and the up-coming Dubai Design District. The loca-tion is perfect for the business traveller and also for delegates visiting to attend events and conferences held in Dubai.
In Doha, the opening of the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre will further boost Qatar’s tourism poten-tial and significantly contribute to the country’s status as a globally competi-tive destination for business events. This will develop the business events sector for Doha which is estimated to attract 70 percent of Qatar’s visitors and is set to increase visitors to Qatar by 20 percent over the next five years with a focus on business events.
The development of the award-win-ning airlines in these regions, like Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad Airways [also] present many opportunities. […]
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: Please tell us about the company’s ongoing
Langham Place, Downtown Dubai
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RENDEZVOUSwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
3 SEPTEMBER 201616
WEEKLY NEWS AIR www.traveltradeweekly.travel
I n collaboration with DFASS Group, Royal Jordanian Airlines (RJ) has launched an in-flight duty-free ser-vice on most of its routes, offering travellers the op-
portunity to purchase products such as tobacco, jew-ellery, fragrances and cosmetics as well as the airline’s branded items.
Utilising its large network of resources, the in-flight specialist retailer will devise an exclusive programme tailored to the needs of RJ customers.
As well as contributing to the airline’s ancillary rev-enues, Suleiman Obeidat, CEO, Royal Jordanian, noted that the time-saving initiative enables travellers to shop during their journey, providing added value cus-tomer service.
Duty-free on Royal Jordanian Flights
N epal Airlines has commenced three-weekly services between Kathman-du’s Tribhuvan International Airport and Dubai International.
The new itinerary offers travellers greater connectivity between the cities, providing enhanced choice for Nepalese expatriates in the UAE as well as more opportunities for tourists to visit the landlocked South Asian country, in-cluding adventurers planning to climb Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak.
The route, which began on August 19, is served by an Airbus A320 on Tues-days, Thursdays and Sundays. The carrier currently operates services to eight in-ternational and 25 domestic destinations.
Nepal Airlines Inaugurates Flights to Dubai
I n a bid to meet the growing demand for air links be-tween the destinations, Nile Air has announced an ad-ditional weekly service between Cairo and Hurghada.The new flight, which is being operated on Monday
mornings, brings the number of weekly frequencies of-fered by the carrier between the cities to four.
“Hurghada tops the list of holiday destinations for domestic and international tourists. The additional flight is a response to increased demand on this popular route, and offers our guests more convenience with the ability to choose flights that are best suited to their unique require-ments,” commented Ahmed Aly, CEO, Nile Air.
Nile Air Cairo Steps Up Domestic Operations
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WEEKLY NEWS INTERNATIONALwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
R adisson Blu Resort & Spa Karjat, located in the sub-district of the Indian city Raigad, is now open.
The property boast 102 rooms, a multitude of dining options, a state-of-the-art fitness centre, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a chil-dren’s pool and an outdoor heated Jacuzzi, in addition to the Escenza Spa and meeting and event space.
Speaking of the launch, Raj Rana, CEO, South Asia, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, said, “This […] opening reinforces our commitment to en-hance the brand's portfolio and further expand our presence in resort destinations throughout India. With its unparalleled resort experience and commitment to excellence, we are confident Radisson Blu Resort & Spa Karjat will be a shining success.”
C ountry Inn & Suites By Carlson, San Antonio Medical Center, Texas has been officially launched.
After undergoing a complete renovation, the 97-key property now flies the Country Inn & Suites By Carlson flag.
“This hotel’s location provides an ideal stop for those stopping at local medical offices and visiting top attractions like the San Antonio River Walk,” commented Jeffrey Freund, senior vice presi-dent, midscale brands, Americas, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group.
The hotel features the brand’s latest design elements, which include new exterior architecture, modern interiors, comfort-able yet stylish furnishings, and suites that feature spa-like bathrooms. Ra
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Radisson Blu Resort & Spa Karjat Unveiled
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WEEKLY NEWS INTERNATIONAL www.traveltradeweekly.travel
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M eliá Hotels International has introduced Meliá Makas-sar, the company’s sixth establishment in Indonesia.
Located in Makassar, the 1.5 million inhabited capital of South Sulawesi province, the four-star hotel is 25 min-utes away from Sultan Hassanuddin International Airport, and within a five-minute walking distance from the main shopping and business areas.
The 135-key resort houses restaurants, a pool, spa and sev-eral meeting venues, and offers modern technology features in its rooms.
Meliá Hotels & Resorts is planning to launch an additional 10 hotels in Indonesia, confirming its strong commitment to the destination.
H eralding a new era for Papua New Guinea’s hospitality segment, The Stanley Hotel & Suites in Port Moresby
has been launched.Located in the heart of the capital, the
18-storey property offers 433 units, including 99 serviced apartments and a 340m2 presiden-tial suite.
Other facilities include a grill-style res-taurant, executive club lounge, more than 2,000m2 of function space, what is hailed as the largest ballroom in Papua New Guinea at 1,600m2, spa and 3,000m2 of outdoor area.
I nterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed a deal for Holiday Inn Express Asuncion Aviadores, the brand’s first project in Paraguay. Expected to open towards the end of 2018, the new-
build 120-room property will be centrally located in the country’s capital city of Asuncion.
Guests will be able to enjoy a range of amenities, in-cluding an outdoor swimming pool, 24-hour fitness centre, complimentary high-speed Internet access and meeting rooms.
As Jorge Apaez, chief operating officer, Mexico, Latin America and Caribbean, IHG, pinpointed, Paraguay is one of the fastest-growing economies in Latin America.
T he Baird/STR Hotel Stock Index increased 6.1 percent in July to close the month at 3,320, with the year-to-date index up 7.3
percent.“As US hotel lodging performance continues its
period of slow growth, the stock index reflects those new realities,” said Amanda Hite, president, STR.
David Loeb, managing director, Baird, added, “Second quarter earnings reports were generally in line with recently lowered expectations, and most management teams took a much more cautious approach to forward-looking commentary and guidance […].”
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Meliá Grows Indonesian Footprint
Papua New Guinea Welcomes New Address
IHG Brings Holiday Inn Express to Paraguay
Lower Expectations for Hotel Growth
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TRAVEL TALKwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
CHAIRMAN, AL HABTOOR GROUP
CEO, JANNAH HOTELS AND RESORTS
“The Residence Collection at Al Habtoor City is the epitome of luxury living in Dubai and the most desirable lifestyle destination in the UAE. I an-ticipate the prices to increase as we are not a project sell-ing off-plan. We are not sell-ing sand. We have started the sale when construction was already underway and all of our buyers are invited to pre-view the apartments. We an-ticipate all three towers to be fully completed by end of the second quarter of 2017.”
“It is a great honour to be recognised by such an es-tablished committee [like the Socrates Nomination Committee] for [the best en-terprise and manager of the year awards]. The nomina-tion for best enterprise truly reflects the hard work of each individual involved with Jan-nah Hotels & Resorts. We have instilled a fantastic work environment at each of our properties, and we will con-tinue to do so to best serve our guests.”
We are not selling sand
We will continue […] to best serve our guests
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AREA VICE PRESIDENT, ROTANA
“With the government en-couraging private investment in the Kingdom’s hospital-ity industry we feel that we are well-positioned not just to take excellent care of our guests but to provide employ-ment opportunities for Saudis today, tomorrow and into the future. We have already in-troduced a programme that provides local hires with the skills and understanding to offer world-class service. You can expect to see the fruit of this training front and centre at Centro Shaheen Jeddah.”
We are well-positioned […] to provide employment opportunities
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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
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC
RELATIONS AND
COMMUNICATIONS,
JUMEIRAH MESSILAH
BEACH HOTEL & SPA,
KUWAIT
“Since opening in 2013, we have organised several ini-tiatives with the objective to make a positive contribution to the local community and the environment. We have covered social and charitable activities; we have invested in environmental initiatives and actively promoted the rich heritage of Kuwait and its tra-ditions. The key to our success is our guests and colleagues. We remain committed to raise awareness through our initiatives in the coming years and deliver our promise, Stay Different.”
The key to our success is our guests and colleagues
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3 SEPTEMBER 2016
BINU VARGHESE has joined Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai as director of sales.Varghese has extensive ex-perience working with inter-national hotel brands in the UAE, Africa as well as India. Throughout his 19-year career, he has gained invaluable in-dustry knowledge which will enable him to take the hotel’s performance to the next level. In his new role, Varghese also aims to further develop the property’s growing portfolio of international, regional and national accounts. He will play a key role in helping the hotel achieve its business goals.
SHAFI SYED has become group chief development of-ficer at Jumeirah Group.In his capacity, Syed will head the development team and lead the company’s expan-sion strategy.With a solid track record of success with luxury brands, Syed has over 25 years of di-verse experience in the hos-pitality sector. Over the past two and a half decades, he has worked with several re-puted hotels and branded real estate projects in the Middle East, Europe and Asia. Syed has been employed in senior development and op-erations positions at Wynd-ham Hotel Group and Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces, while his most recent role was regional vice president of de-velopment and acquisitions at Trump Hotels.
JEAN-GABRIEL PÉRÈS has been appointed president and CEO at Kerzner International Holdings (KIH). With his international occu-pational experience spanning over 30 years in the luxury and upscale retail and hospi-tality industry, Pérès is highly knowledgeable of the Middle East as well as Asia. His resume includes roles with EADS (formerly known as Matra/Lagardere Group), Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts and Mövenpick Hotels & Re-sorts, where he has served as CEO for the past 17 years. In his capacity, he played an in-strumental role in driving the international expansion of the company. Pérès will join KIH at a crucial stage with an accelerated global growth and expansion on the horizon.
ELIAS EL BAHRI has been named director of sales and marketing at the 203-room Holiday Inn Abu Dhabi.Having previously handled the sales and events departments at Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi Yas Island and and Staybridge Suites Abu Dhabi Yas Island for over five years, El Bahri brings over 12 years of hospitality in-dustry experience to his new role.His career launched at Inter-Continental Hotel Phoenicia Beirut in Lebanon, with suc-cessive posts at Sheraton Bei-rut and Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri Abu Dhabi.
Varghese has worked in the UAE, Africa
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AGENT CORNER www.traveltradeweekly.travel
When and how did you get involved in the tourism industry?I studied tourism management in Hong Kong and started my career in 1981. After having lived in the Middle East, UK and Malaysia, I decided that Hong Kong is my home and I started my own boutique travel agency, Char-lotte Travel, in 2001.
What are the most important at-tributes of a good travel agent/tour operator?For the business of today, I would say that good listening skills and the abil-ity to maintain good relationships are essential. […] In the face of online purchasing, paradoxically, the travel industry has become a relationship business; based, I believe, on trust and confidence.
What is the most frequently asked question that your company re-ceives from customers?[…] Questions usually target our abil-ity to deliver what is difficult to get on-line; first-hand knowledge of destina-tions, high-level contacts, new ideas, inside information and the best value for money available.
What are the must-visits and must-dos in Hong Kong that nobody should miss? Hong Kong is one of the few places that lives up to its own clichés. […] I still get a buzz from the view from the peak […]. Visit Kowloon to get a sense of what the real Hong Kong is like […]. Learn about the city’s history, visit the street markets in Mong Kok and the countryside for a different perspective […]. Finally, everyone should experi-ence the fantastic Chinese food […].
Which destination is on your bucket-list?Greenland and the Arctic Circle have been very high on my bucket-list and I am incredibly excited to be [taking] my friends […] on an Arctic cruise in 2017.
AGENT’S INSIGHT
Jackie Harris
CEO
Charlotte Travel
Hong Kong
www.charlottetravel.com.hk
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3 SEPTEMBER 2016
T ravelport and Kuwait-based Rehlat.com have announced a new long-term agreement with the technology ex-pert’s distribution partner in Kuwait that allows the on-
line travel agency to grow its online presence across the Gulf through the technology expert’s innovative products.
Rehlat.com will use Travelport’s services to power Internet booking engines and to aggregate Travelport’s content, includ-ing branded fares and ancillaries from leading national and low-cost carriers across the world, as well as hotels, car and rail.
Bader Al Bader, founder, Rehlat.com commented, “[…] Travelport’s Travel Commerce Platform is bringing our online presence to an unprecedented level as we integrate ourselves deeper in the Middle Eastern market.”
Travelport and Rehlat.com Team Up
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TRAVEL CHANNELS www.traveltradeweekly.travel
3 SEPTEMBER 2016
Emirates Park Zoo and Resort unveiled its new identity that better reflects the es-sence of the destination.
The concept is to provide families with the opportunity to interact with a large va-
riety of wildlife from all over the world in a safe envi-ronment, while enjoying an abundance of fun.
The resort has been undertaking a number of expansion projects and renovations to attract more guests and tourists from the UAE, GCC and the West. It has incorporated elements from entertainment, adventure, sports and culture to create a memorable and unique experience for guests of all ages.
Centro Capital Doha welcomed children for a fun day of cooking at c.taste.
The objective of the event was to give kids an insight into the kitchen and emphasise the importance of healthy food.
Together with the hotel’s chefs, the young visitors collected their ingredi-ents to then prepare delicious dishes. They were also taught how to use basic
kitchen tools safely and be creative when preparing meals. “Cooking is a great way for children to learn all sorts of crucial academic skills like read-
ing, following directions, basic math, and using kitchen tools safely,” said Shaikh Toufik Imam, executive chef, Centro Capital Doha.
Amwaj Rotana, Jumeirah Beach, Dubai has enrolled 27 members of its team in a new programme equipping them with skills on how to better serve guests with special needs.
Training topics cover various types of requirements, general etiquette to follow for interaction, features of the rooms designed for these visitors as well
as the correct procedure in case of emergency evacuations.“As Dubai is rapidly developing and welcoming more and more visitors of diverse back-
grounds and needs, we felt that it was essential to take our talents to another level, espe-cially after recently upgrading several of our rooms to cater to guests with special needs,” commented Mark Deere, general manager, Amwaj Rotana, Jumeirah Beach, Dubai.
As part of its corporate social responsi-bility (CSR) and sustainability efforts, Ramada Hotel and Suites Ajman re-affirmed its commitment to Soap for Hope and Your Can for Tree campaigns.
Pioneered by Sealed Air, the hotel has been part of the Soap for Hope project for more than two years. While giving out boxes of used soap for recycling, the property pledged to continue its participation not only to save the environment, but also to help less privileged communities supported by the project.
The hotel also took part in Emirates Environ-mental Group’s Your Can for Tree initiative, which aims to raise funds by collecting and selling used aluminium cans.
MORE FUN AT EMIRATES PARK ZOO
LEARNING THROUGH COOKING AT CENTRO
CAPITAL DOHA
AMWAJ ROTANA CATERS TO ALL GUESTS
RAMADA HOTEL AND SUITES AJMAN BACKS CSR PROJECTS
Emirates Park Zoo and Resort
Cooking with c.taste chefs
Supporting Your Can for Tree
Take a Shot!
Share with us the latest images of your activities and let your colleagues know
what you have been up to.
Send your photos to [email protected] Because a picture is worth a thousand
words...On the occasion of the Emirati Women’s Day Etihad
Airways announced that more than half the UAE nationals employed by the airline are women
A typical New Zealand evening was enjoyed by a full crowd at Millennium Corniche
Hotel, Abu Dhabi in the presence of Jeremy Clarke-Watson, ambassador to the UAE,
New Zealand (right)
Etihad Airways presented the celebrated Indian designer Manish Malhotra and his new collection at Mumbai’s Lakmé Fashion Week Al Bustan Centre and Residence, Dubai organised
an eye screening initiative for employees
3 SEPTEMBER 2016 23
PHOTO ALBUMwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
XDubai athlete Kie Willis took sighseeing to new heights during the ultimate playcation in Dubai
3 SEPTEMBER 201624
NEWS & EVENTS www.traveltradeweekly.travel
IBTM LATIN AMERICA
Mexico City, MexicoSeptember 07 – 08www.ibtmlatinamerica.comLeaders, organisers and specialised suppliers for events will convene for business adventures.
SEATRADE CRUISE MED
Tenerife, SpainSeptember 21 – 23www.seatradecruiseevents.comA major biennial event focussed on the world’s second-largest cruise destination, the Mediterranean and its adjoining seas.
IMEX AMERICA
Las Vegas, USOctober 18 - 20 www.imexamerica.comThe hosted buyer programme qualifies and brings key buyers to the show, with IMEX America covering travel and accommodations.
EVENTSSuccessful Xi’an Silk Road
International Tourism Expo
IFFMENA to Focus on Empowering
Women
More than 600 exhibitors and 400 hosted buyers from 42 countries and 26 local provinces took part in the
recently-held Xi’an Silk Road Interna-tional Tourism Expo at Qujiang Inter-national Convention and Exhibition Centre in China.
“In five years, the countries along the One belt, one road can look for-ward to hosting 150 million Chinese tourists with a total spending of USD200 billion. We are also confident that China will receive 850 billion tourists from countries along the Silk Road Economic Belt and the Maritime Silk Road, spending USD110 billion in China,” highlighted Du Jiang, deputy director, China National Tourism Ad-ministration.
The second Investing in the Future (IFFMENA) conference will be held at Sharjah’s Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre between
October 19 – 20, under the theme Build-ing the resilience of women and girls in the Arab region.
The event is being organised in a part-nership between humanitarian body, The Big Heart Foundation and United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Em-powerment of Women.
The two-day symposium will serve as a platform for government officials and representatives of non-governmental and international organisations to estab-lish new partnerships, share best prac-tices and discuss the implementation of sustainable development programmes to maintain and create opportunities for women.
