31 MAY 2014 ISSUE 238

05

Investment fund, Wessal Capital has launched Wessal Bouregreg in Morocco, its second large-scale

project after the EUR530 million (USD728 million) Wessal Casa-Port in Casablanca.

04

Dubai to Become an Open Air Gallery

IN THIS ISSUE

New Cultural Development Site in Morocco

MARKET UPDATE

WEEKLY NEWS

GDSs

ACCOMMODATION

AIR

UK

INTERNATIONAL

AGENT'S CORNER

TRAVEL TALK

WHO'S MOVED

TRAVEL CHANNELS

RENDEZVOUS

NEWS & EVENTS

020306071012 14151617181920

H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Mak-toum, ruler of Dubai, has announced plans to transform the emirate into an open air gallery.

31 MAY 2014

2 MARKET UPDATE

Dirham

Pound

Riyal

Pound

Dinar

Dinar

Pound

Dinar

Riyal

Rial

Dinar

Dirham

Riyal

Rial

Dinar

Dinar

3.67

7.15

3.75

1,512.00

0.37

0.71

149.25

0.28

3.64

0.38

1.63

8.26

25,607.00

214.91

79.15

1.22

Accurate as of

30/05/2014Currencies shown in red are fixed against the US Dollar

MENA EXCHANGE RATES

COUNTRY CURRENCY 1USD=1USD=1USD=1USD=

TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS

MANAGING EDITOR

Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel

COPY EDITOR Emily Millett

SENIOR JOURNALIST Rita Kasziba

JOURNALIST Maria Kazeli

PRESS

Maria Demetriadou Pauline Shahabian

DESIGN & LAYOUT

Elena Stylianou

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Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi

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UAE (AED)

Egypt (EGP)

Saudi Arabia (SAR)

Lebanon (LBP)

Bahrain (BHD)

Jordan (JOD)

Syria (SYP)

Kuwait (KWD)

Qatar (QAR)

Oman (OMR)

Tunisia (TND)

Morocco (MAD)

Iran (IRR)

Yemen (YER)

Algeria (DZD)

Libya (LYD)

Air Arabia’s Net Profit up 27 Percent

Dubai Hotels Record 53.3 Percent Profit Margin

Occupancy Levels Soar in Abu Dhabi Hotels in Abu Dhabi capitalised on a surge in demand during March, as TRI Hos-pitality Consulting’s latest HotStats report shows.

An increase in occupancy to 82.4 percent, coupled with a rise in average room rate (ARR) to USD157.76 lifted RevPAR to USD130.1, resulting in a 14.3 percent growth in gross operating profit per available room which stood at USD103.92.

Occupancy levels in the UAE capital for the first quarter of the year averaged at 79.1 percent, up 4.4 percent, ARR however dropped to USD161.62, leading to a rise in RevPAR to USD127.83, and a 5.7 percent improvement in profits to USD93.98.

T he first quarter (Q1) results show a net profit of AED75 mil-lion (USD20.4 million), marking a year-on-year increase of 27 percent.

D ubai’s hotel market continues to grow at an impressive rate with profit margin for the first quarter (Q1) of the year standing at 53.3 percent.

According to TRI Hospitality Consulting’s latest HotStats report, while hotels experienced a marginal reduction in average room rates (ARR) and occupancy during

Air Arabia has announced its financial results for the first three months of the year ending March 31.

March, these indicators still remain the strongest in the region at 88.4 percent and USD398.71.

Average occupancy for Q1 was 87.5 percent, down one percentage point compared to the same period in 2013, ARR however rose to USD389.99, boosting RevPAR to USD341.08 and gross operating profit per available room to USD305.02.

During the three-month period, the com-pany’s turnover rose 14.5 percent to AED827 million (USD225.2 million), while passenger numbers jumped 12 percent to 1.63 million, leading to a 81.5 percent load factor.

“Air Arabia has enjoyed a remarkable start to the year, which builds on our long and proud track record of success and achieve-ment,” said Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al Thani, chairman, Air Arabia, adding that the airline’s route, fleet and hub expansion strat-egy continues to deliver profitability while bringing ever greater connectivity and flex-ibility to people across MENA.

During Q1, Air Arabia also launched its sec-ond UAE hub in Ras Al Khaimah, and three new routes were inaugurated from its main base in Sharjah to Cairo, Antalya and Shymkent.

Air Arabia

3WEEKLY NEWS

31 MAY 2014

STR Global’s preliminary April data for Dubai’s hotel and accommodation industry shows positive growth in all key performance indicators.

During the month under review, the emirate’s guest room supply increased 8.1 percent, demand, however, surged even faster at 10.5 percent, lead-ing to a 2.2 percent rise in occupancy to 84.8 percent and a 11.4 percent improvement in average daily rate (ADR) to AED1,065.92 (USD290.20). Ultimately the en-couraging figures boosted RevPAR by 13.9 percent to AED903.87 (USD246.08).

As Elizabeth Winkle, managing director, STR Glob-al, pinpointed, ADR remained the main driving force behind the double-digit RevPAR growth, posting the highest levels for the months since 2008.

“Demand growth reported a double-digit in-crease for the first time since September 2013, result-ing in the highest occupancy level in April for the last seven years,” added Winkle.

Dubai Hotels’ RevPAR SoarsArabian Adventures Reinforces Australian Presence

Arabian Adventures, part of Emirates Group, has appointed i4 Travel Marketing as its repre-sentation company in Australia and New Zea-land, effective from July.

Working closely with existing partners and building new relationships, the cooperation will allow the destination management com-pany the opportunity to grow its profile in the region and give the trade a more visible point of contact in an area, which, according to Peter Payet, senior vice president, Arabian Adven-tures, has grown into one of the largest source markets.

Arabian Adventures is also looking to Asia, Africa and Latin America for similar partner-ships, tapping into the growing interest in Dubai as a hotspot in these markets.

31 MAY 2014

4 WEEKLY NEWS

GTA: Massive Growth Potential for the Middle East

Global travel distributor GTA predicts con-tinued development for the Middle East.

Data for 2013 shows that overall the num-ber of room nights booked by Middle Eastern travel agents with GTA soared 30 percent year-on-year, with Iraq registering a more than 100-fold rise in sales. In addition, the Turkish travel trade booked more than dou-ble the number of room nights, while Yemen, the UAE, Jordan, Lebanon and Bahrain all en-joyed double-digit growth.

Room nights booked by fully independ-ent travellers from around the world to the Middle East also grew five percent in 2013 with the UAE remaining the most popular destination, followed by Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Qatar.

Dubai to Become an Open Air GalleryH.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, has an-nounced plans to transform the emir-ate into an open air gallery as part of the newly launched ‘Dubai Speaks to You’ campaign.

The operation comes under the Brand Dubai initiative, which brings together major real estate developers to select a number of prime locations across the city for UAE artists to use to create street art, installations, photog-

raphy and sculpture. According to Mona Ghanem Al Marri, director general,

Government of Dubai Media Office, the project will help trav-ellers experience Dubai’sdynamism.

“From the moment a visitor lands in our city until the mo-ment he or she leaves, we want Dubai to surprise and delight them,” added Al Marri.

Project Announcement

5WEEKLY NEWS

31 MAY 2014

Dubai looks set to achieve its tourism target of 20 million visitors by 2020, providing that a growth rate similar to that achieved in 2013 is maintained, meaning a 10.6 percent year-on-year increase reaching 11 million hotel guests.

“Since H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, an-nounced the Tourism Vision for 2020 at [2013’s Arabian Travel Market], the UAE has won the right to host Expo 2020 in Dubai; the first phase of our second international airport has opened at Dubai World Central and a substantial number of new hotels, attractions and events have opened, taken place or been announced,” said H.H. Helal Saeed Almarri, di-rector general, Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing.

Dubai Aims to Become World’s Most Visited City

New Cultural Development Site in Morocco

Investment fund, Wessal Capital has launched Wessal Bouregreg in Morocco, its second large-scale project after the EUR530 million (USD728 million) Wessal Casa-Port in Casablanca.

Located between Rabat and Salé, the EUR775 million (USD1.07 bil-lion) development comes in line with the destination’s national plan to position itself as a gateway to Africa, and consequently attract as many as four million visitors by 2020.

The 110ha project, which aims to create a new cultural and leisure centre designed for local residents and tourists alike, will of-fer high quality living areas, a business cen-tre, marina and a tourism complex, which will incorporate several leisure facilities. Other highlights of the venture include the Grand Theatre of Rabat, the Museum, the Museum of Archaeology and the History of Man and various other cultural centres.

Wessal Bouregreg

6 WEEKLY NEWS GDSs

31 MAY 2014

Sabre has launched three data-driven travel solutions, namely Customer Experience Manager, Guest Connect Upsell and Trip-Case Corporate, to help travel companies design and offer a more personalised shopping and travel experience to tourists.

Customer Experience Manager is a data-rich software solu-tion with which airlines can automate many manual customer service functions and stimulate revenue.

Guest Connect Upsell is a hotel booking capability that al-lows guests to upgrade to a higher room class instantly after their booking is confirmed, via targeted offers based on the travellers’ unique preferences.

Lastly TripCase Corporate is a business travel version of Sa-bre’s TripCase consumer mobile application which is used to manage over 11 million trips annually. With TripCase Corporate, travellers can make bookings and reservations from their smart-phone.

“Personalisation makes travel better, and the only way to scale personalisation is through technology,” said Tom Klein, president, Sabre.

Sabre Personalises TravelAmadeus Celebrates Excellence in Egypt

In recognition of their outstanding performance, Amadeus honoured its Egyptian industry partners at its annual award ceremony held at InterContinen-tal Citystars Cairo Hotel.

The gala, which was attended by more than 150 travel agents and representatives of 20 airlines, aimed to identify distinction during challenging times.

“Our strategy is to shape the future of travel by working closely with our partners in Egypt,” stressed Khaled Gad, general manager, Egypt, Amadeus.

As Ahmed Samir, director of sales, Egypt, Ama-deus, pinpointed, with 36 million Internet users, 88 percent of whom regularly utilise some sort of social media, the destination is home to a massive, largely youthful, and digitally fluent customer base that has increasingly demanding travel expectations.

7WEEKLY NEWS

31 MAY 2014

Hyatt Hotels Corporation and wasl Hospitality have opened Hyatt Place Dubai/Al Rigga, the first Hyatt Place branded property in the Middle East.

The 210-key hotel forms part of a mixed-use devel-opment and offers more than 230m2 of meeting and function space.

“Our business and leisure guests demand high-tech, stylish hotels that cater seamlessly to their 24/7 lifestyles, and that is what Hyatt Place delivers,” asserted Vishal Mehra, general manager, Hyatt Place Dubai/Al Rigga.

Hesham Al Qassim, CEO, wasl Asset Management Group, added, “Hyatt Place offers an innovative service concept […] that we believe will be very successful in Dubai and throughout the Middle East. wasl remains committed to providing affordable and modern accom-modation and facilities to cater to Dubai’s increasing de-mand for mid-range tourism.”

Hyatt Place Debuts in the Middle East

Accommodation

Emaar and DM Team up for Mixed-Use Development

Dubai Municipality (DM) and Emaar Properties have signed a memorandum of understanding to launch a mixed-use beachfront lifestyle project in Dubai’s Al Mamzar district.

The development, which is being planned around Al Mamzar Lake, will feature waterfront living options, serviced residences, retail amenities, water features and water-themed leisure attractions.

According to Hussain Nassir Lootah, director general, DM, the initiative underlines the vision of DM to drive the all-round growth of the city.

“Envisaged as a modern lifestyle hub, the project will further drive the economy through its value-added residential, retail and leisure components,” added Lootah.

Signing Ceremony

8 WEEKLY NEWS

31 MAY 2014

Accommodation

Alila Hotels and Resorts is set to launch Alila Jabal Akhdar, the com-pany’s first project in the region.

Located in Oman’s Jabal Akhdar mountain area, the resort will fea-ture 78 suites and two villas, along with a variety of leisure facilities.

Wael Al Lawati, CEO, Omran, the development company behind the project, said, “The minimum im-pact Alila Jabal Akhdar has on the environment is a reflection of our commitment to our eco-conscious efforts for resorts in Oman to be-come integrated and in harmony with the natural ambience. Omran is dedicated to providing unique experiences for travellers to the Sul-tanate, the partnership with Alila will [...] encourage Oman’s appeal and establish Jabal Al Akhdar as a year-round tourist destination.”

Alila Hotels and Resorts Gears up for Middle East Debut

The Radisson Blu Residence, Dubai Marina HonouredThe Radisson Blu Residence, Dubai Marina has been awarded a certificate of appreciation by the Dubai Municipality (DM) for the team’s continued community social responsibility efforts.

The 152-key property was singled out for the management’s on-going support of the emirate’s labour camps.

Commenting on the accolade, Rob Collier, general manager,

The Radisson Blu Residence, Dubai Marina, said, “Our team works tirelessly to support the local community, and awards like this help recognise and reward these efforts.”

The Rezidor Hotel Group places great emphasis on social responsi-bility endeavours. Its Responsible Business Programme has been built on three pillars, namely Think Plant, Think People and Think Together.

Alila Jabal Akhdar

9WEEKLY NEWSAccommodation

31 MAY 2014

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has outlined plans to further strengthen its footprint in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Located in the Ras Al Akhdar district, Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel & Residences Emirates Pearl will feature 368 rooms and 60 serviced apartments, while the 464-room and 405-apartment Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek will offer extensive food and bever-age and leisure offerings upon completion in 2015.

In Saudi Arabia, a Hyatt affiliate has en-tered into an agreement with Jabal Omar De-velopment Company to manage three prop-erties in Mecca. The 657-unit Hyatt Regency Makkah is slated to launch in 2015 along with the 260-room Hyatt Regency Riyadh.

Hyatt to Expand UAE and Saudi Portfolio

New Hotel Developments on Dubai Creek H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, has approved a new project for Dubai Creek front in Bur Dubai’s Al Seef area.

Developed at an estimated cost of AED2 billion (USD544.5 million), the venture will cover a plot of 1.8km, and will consist of a floating market, hotels, restaurants, art galleries and shops for Emirati handicrafts.

Scheduled for completion by the end of 2016, the initiative is set to become a new tourist at-traction reflecting traditional Emi-rati identity.

Establishing the project’s sig-nificance, Al Maktoum said, “Let us work as one team to transform our city into a cultural hub that at-tracts creative artists. I want Dubai to remain a melting pot for peace, harmony and love, a vibrant place for all.”

Dubai Creek Project

10 WEEKLY NEWS Air

31 MAY 2014

EGYPTAIR Expands Saudi Network

EGYPTAIR has launched two weekly nonstop services be-tween Hurghada and Jeddah, further strengthening the exist-ing links between Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

The inauguration of the new route comes in line with the airline’s endeavours to boost inbound tourism to the coun-try’s popular tourist destinations.

To further accelerate the industry’s growth, starting June 3, the carrier will introduce four weekly flights between Alex-andria and Dubai. The new services will be operated by an Air-bus A320 aircraft with 145 seats, on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Emirates is to step up its operations to the Seychelles by in-creasing services to double daily, effective from October 28.

As Orhan Abbas, senior vice president, commercial op-erations, Latin America, Central and Southern Africa, Emir-ates, explained, the decision to commit two extra flights a week is a clear indication of growing passenger demand.

“Emirates’ expanded schedule provides better con-nectivity and a wider choice for our customers connecting through Dubai. These additional seats every week are central to helping us meet the growing demand and support the Sey-chelles tourism industry,” added Abbas.

The UAE airline operates an Airbus A340-500 on the route.

Emirates Goes Double Daily to Seychelles

Etihad Regional Links Zurich and Turin

Etihad Regional Arrives in Turin

Etihad Regional has commenced a new service be-tween the Swiss capital, Zurich and the Italian city of Tu-rin, operated three times a week by a 50-seat Saab 200 aircraft.

Expressing delight at being the first airline to offer a direct link between the two destinations, Maurizio Mer-lo, CEO, Etihad Regional, said, “The new route will extend our presence in the Italian market, where we already op-erate to Rome, Florence and Bolzano, and where soon we will also fly to and from Verona.”

According to Merlo, this latest network addition will benefit both business and leisure travellers, further facili-tating the already strong trade and tourism ties between Switzerland and Italy.

Seychelles

31 MAY 2014

11WEEKLY NEWSAir

Iraqi Aviation to Take OffAviation is set to become one of the fastest growing sec-tors in Iraq as Iraqi Airways places orders for new aircraft, and airports announce multi-billion dollar expansion plans.

Following the launch of new routes and the resump-tion of services to Kuwait, the national carrier is gearing up for further expansion with the addition of flights to Azer-baijan among others. To support its growth, Iraqi Airways signed a USD387 million agreement with Bombardier for new aircraft.

This comes as the country’s airports are preparing to handle more passengers with some USD50 billion being invested in the construction of new terminals, air traffic control and air traffic management, safety and security.

Etihad Airways Moves to HIA

Etihad Airways Airbus A380

Etihad Airways’ four daily passenger flights between Abu Dhabi and Doha now operate from the Qatari capi-tal’s newly launched Hamad International Airport (HIA).

According to Richard Hill, chief operations officer, Etihad Airways, moving the airline’s services to the state-of-the-art HIA is a positive step which will offer custom-ers newer and more spacious facilities, significantly en-hancing their travel experience when flying in and out of Doha.

Opened at the end of April, Qatar’s new hub has three times the capacity of Doha International Airport.

Etihad Airways launched operations from the UAE capital to Doha in 2006 and currently offers four daily flights between the cities.

Emirates Boosts Singapore Operations

Starting August 1, Emirates will introduce a fifth daily ser-vice on the Dubai - Singapore route.

The additional frequency will bring the Dubai-based air-line’s total number of flights between the two cities to 35 a week, with 28 nonstop services and seven more via Colombo, Sri Lanka.

According to Barry Brown, divisional senior vice presi-dent, commercial operations, east, Emirates, the launch of the fifth daily frequency is a reflection of the growing passen-ger demand for services between these two global business, trade and tourism hubs.

As Brown noted, the carrier began operating to Singa-pore in 1990 and the country remains an important gateway in the Far East and Australasia region for the company.

Emirates will operate a 364-seat Boeing 777-300, with 12 first class seats, 42 business class seats and 310 economy class seats for this additional Dubai - Singapore nonstop service.

12 WEEKLY NEWS UK

31 MAY 2014

The short-stay visa waiver programme announced by the Irish government with a view to promoting tourism from emerging markets, has been extended until the end of Oc-tober 2016, according to Debbie Moran, trade and industry executive, Tourism Ireland.

The scheme concerns 17 countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar, and allows holders of UK visas to travel to Ireland within the period of validity of

that permit without having to ob-tain a separate Irish visa.

Moran pointed out that, in combination with this develop-ment, Etihad Airways’ flights from Abu Dhabi, and Emirates’ soon-to-launch services from Dubai are expected to boost re-gional visits to Ireland.

Ireland Hopes for More GCC Visitors

Giant's Causeway, Ireland

600,000 UK Visas Issued for Asia Pacific in 2013

The Asia Pacific region sent 600,000 visitors to the UK in 2013 according to Simon Peachey, regional director, Asia Pacific, UK Visas & Immigration.

This figure is expected to grow by 10-15 percent annu-ally in the coming years, mainly due to tourists from China, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Peachey added that the recent visa waiver introduced for citizens of Qatar, the UAE and Oman came after careful evaluation and Kuwait is to follow by the end of this year.

Scotland Reaches Out to the Middle East

With Qatar Airways having launched its inaugural flight to Edinburgh on May 28, VisitScotland aims to open up the country even further to key long-haul and emerging markets, targeting not only new luxury travellers and fam-ily segments from the Middle East, but also the ancestral tourism market in Australasia.

According to Sarah Drummond, international public relations executive, emerging markets and Australasia, Vis-itScotland, the two regions have high and disposable in-come which can highly benefit the Scottish tourism industry.

British Destinations Benefit from ME Air Links

The introduction of new routes from Saudi Arabian Air-lines and flynas to Manchester has positively impacted the flow of Middle Eastern (ME) travellers to the city.

According to Anh Nguyen, marketing manager, Mar-keting Manchester, improved air connectivity and the city’s football culture accounts for the increase in spending from GCC tourists.

Stefanie Bowes, travel trade executive, Birmingham Airport, confirmed that for the past two months Emirates’ flights departing from the hub to Dubai are on a 95 percent capacity and predictions are that this trend will continue for the summer season.

http://www.rotana.com/

14 WEEKLY NEWS International

31 MAY 2014

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has signed an agreement with Century Park and Hotel Residences to launch a new hotel in Kigali, Rwanda.

Scheduled to open in 2018, Sheraton Kigali will mark the company’s entry into the African country and will be its 50th hotel on the continent.

“With the signing of this agreement, we are proud to debut Starwood and the Sheraton brand in Rwanda’s economic, cultural, and transport hub,” said Michael Wale, president, Europe, Africa and Middle East, Starwood Hotels & Resorts.

Situated in the Gasabo district, the 136-room property will be located 7km from Kigali Interna-tional Airport offering easy access to the city cen-tre.

Featuring signature Sheraton experiences, the project will also include 62 serviced apartments available to guests for extended stays in the Rwan-dan capital.

Starwood to Enter Rwanda Shangri-La Hotel, At The Shard, London Opens

Shangri-La Hotel, At The Shard, London

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts has unveiled its first property in the UK, namely Shangri-La Hotel, At The Shard, London.

Located on floors 34-52 of the tallest building in Western Europe, it is the city’s first high-rise hotel, offer-ing views of the capital in every direction and overlook-ing landmarks such as the Houses of Parliament, Tower of London and St Paul’s Cathedral.

“The sweeping views from Shangri-La Hotel, At The Shard, London provide an entirely new perspective on London. It is a spectacular setting in which to introduce our signature Asian-inspired hospitality to the UK,” said Greg Dogan, president, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts.

HMH Firms up Presence in Sudan

With three hotels in operation and two under develop-ment, Sudan remains a key market for Hospitality Manage-ment Holdings (HMH).

As Laurent Voivenel, CEO, HMH, explained, the country is part of the company’s ‘Go Africa’ strategy.

Since assuming the management of Coral Khartoum Hotel in 2009, the group has rapidly expanded its footprint in the African country with five properties, two of which will open later this year.

Commenting on the brand revitalisation project cur-rently being rolled out, Voivenel added, “Being our flagship property, Coral Khartoum Hotel will serve as a pilot hotel in Sudan to launch the new Coral look.”

15AGENT'S CORNER

31 MAY 2014

Virgin Atlantic: New Travelport DealTravelport has announced the re-newal of its full content agreement with Virgin Atlantic.

Building on the existing rela-tionship between the British carri-er and Travelport, the accord aims to ensure that content from Virgin Atlantic will continue to be made available to Travelport users glob-ally, with full access to the airline’s best inventory and fares.

“We are pleased to extend our agreement with Travelport as it has consistently provided us with innovative and efficient technol-ogy to deliver Virgin Atlantic’s of-fering to travel agents globally,” commented Joe Thompson, direc-tor of network and alliances, Virgin Atlantic.

On his behalf, Robin Ranken,

head, european airline relation-ships, Travelport, acknowledged Virgin Atlantic’s status as one of the world’s best-known airlines and expressed his delight at the extension of the deal. “This new agreement supports our mission to continue to deliver unrivalled content to our travel agency cus-tomers,” Ranken added.

AGENT’S INSIGHT

Who are you?I am the operations manager at Anastasia Group. I studied tourism sciences and tourism guiding. I am a licensed tour-ist guide in Lebanon. I have taught tourism in three differ-ent Lebanese universities for nine years. For the time being I am giving all my tourism time to Anastasia Group.

Anastasia was established in 1992, by Georges Anasta-siades. The company is the fruit of over 20 years of experi-ence in the field of travel management, and was founded under one guiding principle: to be the world’s gateway to Lebanon, and be Lebanon’s gateway to the world.

What is your favourite thing about working in the travel industry?Although guest satisfaction causes a lot of stress, I cannot ignore the good part of always meeting new people, shar-ing experiences and discovering new horizons.

When is the best time to visit Lebanon?Lebanon is a country that can be visited happily through-out the year. Offering the sea, the snow, the spring and the lovely autumn colours, all seasons are good times to visit Lebanon.

Where would you like to travel to for your next holiday?Hopefully Sri Lanka.

Why should people come to you for travel advice?Anastasia is a full-service tour operator, dedicated to pro-viding corporate, leisure and meeting management ser-vices.

We have earned a reputation for innovative ideas, and excellent customer service. We are simply different in a much better way.

NAME: Aline Ghanem

LOCATION: Lebanon

WEB: www.anastasiagroup.net

COMPANY: Anastasia Group

POSITION: Operations manager

Virgin Atlantic

16 TRAVEL TALK

31 MAY 2014

Omer Kaddouri

“The opening of [our] new hotels in [the UAE, Iran, Sudan and Tanzania] falls in line with our strate-gic goal to operate 100 hotels by 2020. These are in addition to the properties announced earlier which will open in Turkey, Erbil, Jordan and Qatar. As the Middle East’s most successful homegrown hospitality brand, we believe we are well posi-tioned to execute these expansion plans and to venture into new territories.”

CEO, Rotana Hotel Management Corporation.

Michel Lansen

General manager, DoubleTree by Hilton Aqaba.

“Jordan’s ability to attract international visitors is renowned. Leisure travellers are drawn to the country’s rich cultural and historic jewels, and its geographic location at the crossroads of East and West, and it is also ideal for the corporate sector to stage international seminars and conferences. Jordan’s primary source markets continue to be the GCC countries and northern Europe includ-ing UK and Germany. The number of Asian visi-tors is also on the rise.”

General manager, Marjan Island Resort & Spa.

“With a location such as the Marjan Island within 45 minutes from Dubai, and a few minutes from the airport, our resort is located in the midst of the idyllic island. […] Four floors are currently opera-tional, with a total of 140 rooms and suites. In to-tal, the resort has 301 units all of which enjoy sea views and is set to fully open in September.”

Roger Tannous

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, and observations to editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel

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17WHO'S MOVED

31 MAY 2014

Hossam Nabil

Ahmed Ayoub

Ahmed Atef

Hossam Nabil has joined Mil-lennium Hotel Dubai as the new director of sales and marketing. Having held various senior sales and marketing positions with leading hotel companies such as InterContinental Hotels Group, TIME Hotels and Rotana Hotel Management Corpora-tion, Nabil brings over 18 years

of experience to the role. Predominantly his responsibil-ity will be to market the hotel, which is in the final stages of completing a major expansion project, to the local corporate and leisure market.

Ahmed Ayoub has been pro-moted to director of rooms at Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza. Over his 12-year career with Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Ayoub has gained experience within the rooms division, in-cluding concierge, front office, spa, safety and reservations.

He started at Four Seasons Ho-tel Cairo at The First Residence in 2002 as a safety and loss prevention officer, working his way up to become front office manager at Four Seasons Ho-tel Cairo at Nile Plaza in 2013.

Ahmed Atef has been pro-moted to director of sales and marketing at Four Seasons Ho-tel Alexandria at San Stefano.Atef, who holds a bachelor degree in hotel management, started his professional career with Marriott International in Cairo where he spent the first 10 years building up his knowl-edge and expertise starting from the front desk and reser-vations before moving to the group coordinator position. He then discovered that his true passion lies in sales and

marketing, quickly climbing within the company’s sales organisation, reaching the role of senior sales manager. Atef joined Four Seasons Ho-tel Cairo at Nile Plaza in 2007 as sales manager in charge of the leisure segment. He then continued as associate di-rector of sales, travel, before becoming director of sales in 2012.

He has been promoted to director of rooms

He discovered that his true passion lies in sales

and marketing

Nabil brings over 18 years of experience to the role

18 TRAVEL CHANNELS

31 MAY 2014

Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) and the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) THEMIS Foundation have jointly

conducted the first regional capacity-building workshop.

E ntitled Strategy in Tourism Destination, the five-day programme aimed to train 39 participants from Qatar and the MENA region on the key skills needed for building successful destination tourism strategies.

“Developing the tourism human capital in Qatar is one of the key pillars of the Qatar National Tourism Sector Strategy 2030, with QTA

having already taken concrete steps towards that direction by partnering with leading organisations such as the UNWTO,” explained Hassan Al Ibrahim, director of strategy development, QTA.

Participants have applauded QTA’s collaborative approach in working with stakeholders from the local tourism and hospitality industry, providing them with visibility into future plans and giving them the opportunity to see the national strategy’s main points in practice.

SMD Holds New Workshops

Al Ain Zoo Welcomes Jersey Delegation

Sharjah Museums Depart-ment (SMD) has organised a series of workshops focusing on excavation, astronomy and ceramics.

In line with SMD’s endeav-ours towards enhancing the community’s appreciation of museums, the initiatives were

geared towards school-aged students and their families. The first event was designed for children to learn

about archaeology and the excavation and restoration of lost treasures. This was followed by a programme on as-tronomy at the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization.

Sharjah Archeology Museum then hosted multiple courses for 8-13 year-olds, including the My Story on My Jar workshop, which highlighted pottery and the develop-ment of ceramics through the ages.

The month-long initiative will conclude on May 31 at the Sharjah Archeology Museum with a training for young people with special needs.

Al Ain Zoo has invited a delegation from the government of the British Channel Island of Jersey to discuss the further development of the existing collaboration between the zoo and Jersey-based Durrell Wildlife Conserva-tion Trust.

Among the key topics reviewed was the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre, part of the planned Al Ain Zoo expansion project, that will feature educational exhibits celebrat-ing the wildlife and traditions of the desert.

As H.E. Ghanim Mubarak Al Hajeri, director general, Al Ain Zoo, explained that the zoo has strong partnerships with a number of zoologi-cal institutions around the world and these connections are invaluable in the success of wildlife conservation at a global level.

QTA and UNWTO Organise Capacity-building Workshop

SMD Programme

19RENDEZVOUS

31 MAY 2014

Q & A with H.E. Marwan Bin Jassim Al SarkalSince its establishment in 2009, Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) has played a vital role in the emirate’s social, cultural, environmental and economic development. Here H.E. Marwan Bin Jas-sim Al Sarkal, CEO, Shurooq, talks about why tourism is crucial for destination growth.

Travel Trade Weekly: What makes tourism one of Sharjah’s most significant sectors?

H.E. Al Sarkal: Tourism in Sharjah is growing at an increasingly rapid rate. In 2013 Sharjah welcomed more than 1.9 million tourists, a number which we expect to exceed signifi-cantly this year in light of the large scale cel-ebrations [...] planned to mark Sharjah’s year as The Capital of Islamic Culture.

This should come as no surprise when Sharjah’s diverse offering is considered. Shar-jah is the cultural heart of the UAE and contin-ues to play a key role in protecting and pro-moting the region’s history and heritage. The emirate’s multitude of museums and heritage sites therefore offer a unique opportunity for tourists who want an authentic experience of the region’s culture. Sharjah is also immensely biodiverse and concerted efforts are being made to both protect and capitalise on this biodiversity. In addition Sharjah is an ideal base for tourists who wish to explore the UAE at large as it is the only emirate that shares its borders with all six of the other emirates.

These factors combine to create a very positive outlook for Sharjah’s tourism sector – current projections show that the emirate’s travel and leisure sector is likely to grow from AED1.24 billion (USD338 million) in 2013 to AED1.49 billion (USD406 million) by 2016.

Travel Trade Weekly: Please give us an up-date on Shurooq’s current projects.

H.E. Al Sarkal: Work on the first of the Heart of Sharjah’s five phases is progressing well. [...]Addressing the need for an increase in luxury hotel offerings in Sharjah, the Al Bait Hotel project, which will form part of the Heart of

of new hotels and chalets, including a luxury five-star resort overlooking the Gulf of Oman as well as a state-of-the-art activities centre all of which will be built in line with eco-friendly standards.

The development of Al Hisn Island in Dib-ba Al Hisn, which promises to become yet an-other unique Sharjah destination, is currently in the planning, design and layout phase. We look forward to welcoming visitors to enjoy its large water canal, restaurants, cafes and cinemas with stunning views on the canal, as well as parks, children’s play areas and various other amenities.

Lastly the newly redeveloped Al Montazah Amusement and Water Park is now officially open to visitors. Covering an area of over 126,000m2 the project includes Sharjah’s first-of-its-kind water-themed park, an amusement park, as well as a park designated for walking, children areas and other activities.

Travel Trade Weekly: What are the author-ity’s main goals for the current year? H.E. Al Sarkal: We will continue in our efforts to promote Sharjah as a major investment hub, specifically in the four key investment sectors of tourism, healthcare, logistics, and the environment and will be taking part in all of the major international and regional plat-forms such exhibitions, forums, and confer-ences. We also have a full schedule of round-tables and other business-to-business events planned. The large number of diverse projects currently under development in Sharjah of-fers great opportunities for foreign investors in the emirate and we will continue to work to attract these investors and forge partnerships to the benefit of Sharjah’s growth.

H.E. Marwan Bin Jassim Al SarkalCEO, Shurooq

Sharjah development, is also underway and ground work has commenced on this five-star luxury development. Set for comple-tion between this December, and January 2015, the AED100 million (USD27.2 million) Al Bait hotel project – the region’s first tradi-tional Emirati hotel – will spread over almost 10,000m². It will include 54 guest rooms, [...] a spa/health club, and dining areas.

As for Al Jabal Resort, The Chedi Khorf-akkan project, construction has started. The development is being built using materials that emphasise and complement the natu-ral contours of the land and the indigenous features of the desert. [...]

The Kalba Eco-tourism project, which represents the largest project of its kind in the development eco-tourism facilities in the UAE and the region, is currently in its first phase. [...] The second phase is focussed on the development of Kalba Lake and the final phase will be the construction of a number

20 NEWS & EVENTS

31 MAY 2014

EVENTS

EVENTS PAGE

Arab Luxury WorldDubai, UAE, June 2 – 3, 2014(www.arabluxuryworld.com)The conference will focus on opportunities and challenges in travel and hospitality, and art and cultures, amongst others.

International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) AsiaShanghai, China, June 2 – 5, 2014(www.iltm.com/asia)An invitation-only event where travel agents and advisors from across Asia meet global luxury travel experiences.

ConnectMarrakech, Morocco, June 3 – 6, 2014(www.connect-aviation.com)The event will bring together airports, airlines, suppliers and tourist industry professionals from around the world.

Turkey & Neighbours Hotel Investment Conference (CATHIC)Istanbul, Turkey, June 9 – 10, 2014(www.cathic.com)One of the region’s premier meeting places with more than 300 companies.

Kingdom Business & Luxury Travel CongressRiyadh, Saudi Arabia, June 9 – 10, 2014(www.kbltcongress.com) A unique business platform that will bring Saudi corporate travel buyers and outbound travel agents under one roof.

Americas Incentives, Business, Travel & Meetings Expo (AIBTM)Orlando, US, June 10 – 12, 2014(www.aibtm.com)A leading global exhibition for the US meetings and events industry.

Routes Africa Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, June 22 – 24, 2014(www.routesonline.com)An event for aviation based companies who wish to conduct business to, from and within the African region.

Beijing International Tourism Expo (BITE)Beijing, China, June 27 – 29, 2014(www.bitechina.com)Asia’s leading annual travel event with high-quality exhibitors and buyers.

Dubai’s Maritime Experience to be Highlighted

Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) is to showcase the emirate’s credentials as a world-class international maritime hub at the Posido-nia 2014 exhibition between June 2 – 6, in Athens, Greece.

This move comes in line with DMCA’s commitment to creat-ing channels for transferring knowledge and exchanging expertise with leading regional and international industry players, in order to promote Dubai’s competitiveness among the world’s top maritime centres.

As Amer Ali, executive director, DMCA, revealed, the authority will shed light on the Dubai Maritime Sector Strategy (DMSS), aimed at regulating, developing and promoting the maritime industry under the highest standards of excellence, creativity, innovation, human in-vestment and environmental protection.

“We look forward to discussing the key pillars of DMSS which will take advantage of the emirate’s various strengths such as its strategic location, prosperous economy, healthy investment environment, and integrated maritime legislations,“ added Ali.

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