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Middle East and North Africa Edition

JANUARY 30, 2010 ISSUE 12 www.traveltradeweekly.travel

10

9CRUISING LIBYALibya is experiencing a cruise renaissance,according to local operators and thenational tourism board. Passenger shoreexcursions increased by 65 percent in2009, compared to the previous year.

QATAR INFRASTRUCTUREQatar has launched a USD21 billiontransport infrastructure programme, inconjunction with its bids for the 2020Olympic Games and the 2022 FIFAWorld Cup.

In This Issue

Saudi

The Riyadh Provincial Tourism Office(RPTO) has barred a number of unlicensed

tour operators and agencies. Seven tourorganisers and five tour agency offices havebeen closed as part of an ongoing reform of

the travel industry in Saudi Arabia.

3Reform

Drawing on data supplied bythe International AirTransport Association(IATA), and in partnershipwith Travelport, CAPA

predicted that ancillary revenue would accountfor USD58 billion in 2010 - accounting for 12percent of revenue worldwide.In 2009, ancillary costs - charges to thecustomer in addition to the cost of passage -accounted for more than 10 percent of globalrevenue for the first time.The ancillary stream already accounts for 15

percent of revenue for the low cost carrier (LCC)segment, comprising an important feature of the

LCC business model.However, according to the CAPAreport, the growth of LCCs,combined with the search for newsources of income by legacyairlines, has boosted thesignificance of ancillary charges tothe aviation industry as a whole.

IATA figures show that the airline industry willface revenue reductions of USD80 billion in2010, leaving aviation income at USD456billion - 15 percent lower than 2008 levels.CAPA predicted an increased interest inancillary revenue by legacy airlines, as thesecarriers sought new ways to increase theirincome, while LCCs were expected to increaseancillary revenue by introducing newadditional-charge services.Legacy airlines are also increasing their revenueby charging more, and more consistently, forexisting penalty rates.According to the CAPA study, in the USrevenue gathered from charges for cancellationor rescheduling increased by 52 percent in thesecond quarter of 2009, while airlines receivedUSD4 billion in revenue for extra baggage feesalone.CAPA predicted that an ongoing interest inextra service charges by legacy airlines andLCCs alike would characterise business modelsin 2010.

LCC Business Model to Filter Up in 2010The Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) has reported that global airlinerevenues will continue to fall in 2010, and ancillary charges will comprise anincreasing share of aviation income.

JANUARY 30, 20102

TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLYDeputy EditorLaura Warne

JournalistLouis Dillon Savage

Design & LayoutElina Pericleous

Sales & MarketingJane DavidsonMarianna TsiamasDanielle Bragg

DirectorsAndreas ConstantinidesMary Kammitsi

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COUNTRY CURRENCY 1USD=UAE (AED) Dirham 3.67Egypt (EGP) Pound 5.45Saudi Arabia (SAR) Riyal 3.75Lebanon (LBP) Pound 1501Bahrain (BHD) Dinar 0.37Jordan ( JOD) Dinar 0.7Syria (SYP) Pound 45.75Kuwait (KWD) Dinar 0.28Qatar (QAR) Riyal 3.64Oman (OMR) Rial 0.38Tunisia (TND) Dinar 1.31Morocco (MAD) Dirham 8.0Iran (IRR) Riyal 10,045Yemen (YER) Rial 204.75Algeria (DZD) Dinar 72.24Libya (LYD) Dinar 1.23

MENA Exchange RatesAccurate as of 26/1/2010Currencies shown in red are fixed against the US Dollar

Jordan and Spain Strengthen Connections at FITUR, MadridJordan has strengthened its tourismties with Spain following the FITURconference held recently in Madrid.Nayef Fayez, general director of theJordan Tourism Board ( JTB), said thatadditional flights between Spain and

Jordan had been arranged by the twocountries.The additional flights were to bescheduled for peak travel periods.Fayez pointed out that marketing Jordanas a destination for Spanish visitors was

a priority for his organisation and thatFITUR had provided an ideal platform.“JTB never miss this event, which isproof of its positive contribution topromoting Jordan as a destination inSpain,” he said.

3JANUARY 30, 2010

Lebanon Reports Record Tourism Arrivals in 2009

Riyadh Cracks Down on Illegal Tour OperatorsThe Riyadh Provincial Tourism Office (RPTO) has barred a number of unlicensed tour operators andagencies.

Seven tour organisers and fivetour agency offices have beenclosed as part of an ongoingreform of the travel industryin Saudi Arabia.

Abdul Rahman Al Jasas, executivedirector of RPTO, said that his office wasdetermined to eliminate regulationviolations by enforcing such closures.

Infringements were discovered as part ofassessment visits by RPTO officers, aspart of an initiative that Al Jasas said wasintended to encourage fair competition.Al Jasas further urged tour companies toobtain the correct licenses and provideservices in accordance with regulations. According to Al Jasas, the closures may betemporary or permanent.

Lebanon received a record number ofvisitors in 2009, with 1.85 million arrivalsreported in that year.The previous peak, posted in 1974 when1.4 million tourists visited the country,had not been approached until now.The Lebanese Tourism Authorityreported a 38.1 percent increase in touristarrivals in 2009 compared to 2008,equalling an 82 percent increase over2007 numbers.

Saudi Arabia accounted for the highestnumber of arrivals, representing 17percent of total visits and 26 percent ofArabian visitors.France originated the second highestnumber of tourists, with a 14.5 percentshare. France was followed by Jordan andKuwait, which accounted for 10.2 and 7.7percent, respectively. Overall, Middle Eastern travellers werethe most significant demographic,

accounting for 42 percent of the total andoutstripping European visitors, whoaccounted for 25 percent.Nada Sardouk, director general of theLebanese ministry of tourism, said thatfive star hotels had reported the highestoccupancy, with an average of 46.1percent.Two star hotels recorded averageoccupancies of 43.6 percent, while fourand three star hotels averaged 39.9 and26.8 percent each.Occupancy was highest in Beirut, thenation’s capital, at 48.9 percent, followedby Mt Lebanon (34.8 percent); SouthLebanon (30.3 percent); North Lebanon(29 percent); and Bekaa (12.1 percent).Furnished apartments achieved thehighest occupancy rates overall, withsecond category apartments reporting71.8 percent occupancy and first categoryapartments 58.8 percent.

JANUARY 30, 20104

ACCOMMODATION NEWS

Mövenpick Predicts Diversification of Saudi TourismMövenpick is refocusing its efforts in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to attract more guests from beyond the GCC.

A meeting between Qatar TourismAuthority (QTA) and 25 local hotelgeneral managers has led to the creationof a new representative committee forhotels in Qatar.Ahmed Al Nuaimi, chairman of QTA,said the general meeting was calledfollowing significant growth in hotel

rooms and accommodation in Qatar.“The meeting had two objectives; firstly,to facilitate networking opportunitieswith the newcomers and secondly, todiscuss issues and topics related to thehotel industry and the promotion ofQatar, working side by side with theQatar Tourism Authority,” he said.

The new committee will be comprised ofrepresentatives from three, four and fivestar hotels in Qatar.It will meet with QTA on a monthlybasis to discuss industry issues and toboost cooperation within the sector. Seats on the committee association willbe held on a six month rotation.

Business as Usual for Rocco Forte Collection After RefinancingAnna Martin, director of communicationsfor the Rocco Forte Collection, hasaffirmed that the company’s Middle Eastdevelopments remain on track, following arecent refinancing deal with Halifax Bankof Scotland (HBOS).HBOS, a subsidiary of Lloyds BankingGroup, has extended a GBP300 million(USD487 million) facility to Rocco Forte,allowing the company to continue with itsoperations and developments.

“It’s absolutely business as usual at RoccoForte,” Martin said.“This is a very positive step.”The Rocco Forte Collection has fourproperties planned in the Middle East andNorth Africa (MENA), with a hotel inAbu Dhabi scheduled to launch in thesummer of this year.Rocco Forte’s other MENA plans includeproperties in Jeddah, opening in 2011, aswell as Marrakech and Cairo in 2012.

Rocco Forte Abu Dhabi

A ccording to figures fromthe Saudi ArabianMonetary Agency(SAMA), tourismaccounted for 2.7

percent of the kingdom’s GDP in 2008,with total tourism revenues of SAR47billion (USD12.5 billion).Mövenpick reported that the majority ofSaudi tourism originated in the GCC,with 40 percent of guests at the HajarTower property in Makkah originating inArabian Gulf countries.Currently, the majority of these touristsare from Saudi, but Omar Boujlid, generalmanager of Mövenpick Hotel andResidence Hajar Tower, predicted a boomin tourists from further afield.“Recent studies predict that international

tourism expenditure will grow toUSD10.74 billion by 2013,” he said.“We are therefore looking at targetingpilgrims from countries like the US, UK,Canada, South Africa, Pakistan, Senegaland Nigeria.”Boujlid highlighted that Mövenpick waswell placed to attract guests from a diverserange of source markets.“As a Swiss hospitality brand we enjoy astrong reputation for service excellenceand a loyal following in these markets,” hesaid.He said that the demand for luxuryaccommodation was in a state ofcontinuous growth in Saudi, citing figuresfrom Business Monitor International(BMI).BMI estimated that religious tourism in

Saudi accounted for USD7 billion worthof revenue in 2009 and predicted thatvisitor traffic would grow by 6.5 percentannually, for a total of more than 15million arrivals in 2013.

New Committee for Qatar to Boost Cooperation Between Hoteliers in Qatar

MövenpickHajar Tower

Makkah

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COTTM (China Outbound & Travel Market) 2010 is now entering its 6th year, and is the only business to business show in China dedicated to theChina outbound travel and tourism industry. COTTM is the ideal platform for international companies and countries to showcase their destinationsand products to the Chinese outbound industry, and it takes place on 28-30th April 2010, in Beijing at the ChinaWorld Trade Centre.

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For more information on COTTM visit WWW.COTTM.COM or contact Jane Carter at jcarter@tarsus.co.uk

5JANUARY 30, 2010

ACCOMMODATION NEWS

Dusit Plans First Saudi Property in JeddahThai accommodation company, Dusit International, has signed its first hotel in Saudi Arabia, marking itsseventh property in the Middle East.

Sam-Erik Ruttmann, regionalvice president Middle Eastfor Dusit International, saidthat the Middle East was animportant upcoming market

for the company and that launching inSaudi Arabia was a milestone.“The Middle East is a priority targetmarket for Dusit International,” he said.“Having our first property opening inSaudi Arabia, the largest country of theArabian Peninsula, is a notable stepforward.”Ruttman said that Jeddah had been

selected for Dusit’s first property in theSaudi Arabia due to its status as thekingdom’s leading industrial centre.“We are proud to bring our unique Thaihospitality and become one of the mostsuccessful hotels in this city,” he said.The 278 key property will be located inthe centre of the city, overlooking ObhurCreek.It has been designed as what Dusitdescribes as an urban resort and willoperate under the Dusit Thani brand.Development will be undertaken by theUnited Company for Hotels and Tourism

Regions (UCHTR).Sheikh Mohammed Bin Mutlaq Al-Qahtani, President of UCHTR, said thatDusit’s entry into the kingdom wouldintroduce a new approach toaccommodation and service.“The partnership with DusitInternational, known for its distinctiveThai hospitality, allows us to bring a newdimension of service quality to SaudiArabia,” he said.“We look forward to the successfuldevelopment of Dusit Thani Jeddah aswell as future properties in this region.”

JANUARY 30, 20106

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Strike Two for British Airways, Says UniteUnite, the union that represents British Airways’ (BA) cabin crew has commenced a new ballot to determinefuture strike action. Ballots opened on January 25 and will continue until February 22.

Malaysian based low cost carrier,AirAsia, is expanding its network andupgrading its services. The airline hasadded a web check-in service, available onall flights, and has installed self check-infacilities in several hubs around Asia.The airline links to the UAE as well as anextensive network across the Asia Pacific.Sathis Manorharan, regional head of cargofor AirAsia, said that expanding the airline’scargo capacity was a priority and that thecarrier was looking to explore new markets.AirAsia has declared a rapid expansion

of its route network, particularly in India,to which six new routes will launch in thefirst quarter of 2010.The airline will add connections toChennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbaiand New Delhi from Kuala Lumpur, and toChennai from Penang.Kathleen Tan, regional head ofcommercial operations, said she hoped theextended network would raise the profileof AirAsia’s services as providing a hub forAsia Pacific travel.“We are confident thatAirAsia’s direct connection serving

Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbaiand Delhi will be able to stimulate newtravel demands and further tap markets,especially those of young working adultsand families, to travel to Malaysia andthereafter use Kuala Lumpur as a gatewayto over 130 routes in Asia,” she said.“This translates into a low cost yet efficienttravel experience for guests who benefitfrom using the LCC Terminal in KualaLumpur to connect to destinations asdiverse as Australia, China, Taipei, Londonand Abu Dhabi.”

Australia’s Tourism Minister, MartinFerguson, has announced a range of stimuluscampaigns for leisure and business travel,targeting several international markets.Tourism Australia will deliver 62 separatetourism marketing projects in 13 differentmarkets, according to Andrew McEvoy,managing director of Tourism Australia.“The recovery effort will also include activityto stimulate the important business eventssector and domestic business travel, whichwas hard hit last year,” said McEvoy.

“We will also be initiating 24 charter flightsto bring an additional 7,000 tourists toAustralia from Greater China and Japanduring the peak travel times of February andMarch.”International campaigns will target NewZealand, China, Hong Kong, Japan, India,Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Gulf. The Australian Government providedAUD9 million (USD8 million) in fundingfor the recovery campaigns, which wasmatched by industry contributions,

bringing the total package to approximatelyAUD20 million (USD17.9 million). “Many destinations around the world will nodoubt be adopting aggressive marketingtactics this year as they look to recover fromthe global downturn in tourism last year,”said McEvoy.“While Australia managed to hold its ownin the tough climate of 2009, we need toremain competitive with our activitiesand urge potential travellers to visitAustralia now.”

A ccording to BA, althoughthe time of the potentialstrike has not yet beenannounced, March 1would mark the earliest

legal date following the close of the ballotingprocess.BA also reported that as the strike wouldonly affect BA operated flights; codesharepartners, would not be affected.Leo McCluskey, assistant general secretary

of Unite, preemptively ruled out a strike overthe Easter period, heading off speculationthat the union would attempt a holiday strikesimilar to action which had been planned forChristmas 2009.“I want to make it abundantly clear that, ifindustrial action receives the requiredmandate from the members and strike actionis made necessary by continuing managementintransigence, we will not call such action overthe Easter holiday period,” he said.

“We are making this announcement now sofamilies can plan their travel arrangementsconfidently.”BA has petitioned its staff to act as stand-insin the case of a strike and has announced itscontingency plans for dealing with flightdisruptions. Customers booked to fly during a strikeperiod will be able to rebook free of chargeon any BA flight within 12 months, or receivea refund.

AirAsia Boosts Services

Tourism Australia Launches USD18m International Stimulus Project

JANUARY 30, 20108

AIR TRAVEL NEWS

Abu Dhabi wins Routes Bid for Routes ForumAbu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) has won its bid for Abu Dhabi to host Routes – The World RouteDevelopment Forum in 2012.

The aviation industry ended 2009 withthe largest ever decline since the SecondWorld War, according to the InternationalAir Transport Association (IATA). Global passenger demand for the full yearwas down 3.5 percent, with an average loadfactor of 75.6 percent. Freight was down10.1 percent, with an average load factor of48.1 percent.However, Middle Eastern carriersgenerated the fastest growth in passengertraffic at the end of the year, with a 19.1percent boost in December. According to IATA, this increase, alongwith the region’s 11.2 percent growth overthe entire year, was a result of Middle

Eastern carriers taking a larger share of longhaul connecting traffic over their hubs.Giovanni Bisignani, CEO of IATA, saidrevenue improvements and profitabilitygrowth would be much slower than thereturn ofdemand that the industry wasstarting to see. He predicted that airlines would lose anexpected USD5.6 billion in 2010. “The industry starts 2010 with someenormous challenges,” he said.“The worst is behind us, but it is not timeto celebrate. Adjusting to 2.5 to 3.5 years oflost growth means that airlines face anotherspartan year focused on matching capacitycarefully to demand and controlling costs.”

Encouraging Results Follow Worst Demand Decline in History: IATA

The event draws airlines,airports and tourismauthorities together tohighlight routeopportunities and

business development for the sector. Other supporting partners include EtihadAirways, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority(ADTA) and ADNEC. Mike Howarth, founder of RoutesDevelopment Group, said there was intensecompetition to host the annual event.“Abu Dhabi met all the criteria, it is a newworld aviation hub, ADNEC is now amajor player on the international eventscircuit and the bidding partners led by theairport presented a compelling andpowerful case,” said Howarth.Ahmed Hussein, deputy director generalof ADTA said the successful bid was afantastic vote of confidence in Abu Dhabias a destination.

“The international MICE business isextremely important to us and Routes hasgiven greater relevance to us as thedevelopment of air access is crucial to anydestination’s business and tourismprogression,” he said.

The event is expected to draw 3,500 to4,000 delegates and will be held fromSeptember 30 to October 3, 2012. Vancouver, Canada is set to host the 2010event and Berlin, Germany will host the2011 event.

(L-R) Wayne Pearce, chief planning and strategy officer of Etihad; Mike Howarth, founder of RoutesDevelopment Group; Ahmed Al Haddabi, senior vice president of ADAC; and Ahmed Hussein, deputy

director general of Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority

GiovanniBisignani

9JANUARY 30, 2010

AIR TRAVEL NEWS

Oman Air Woos Singaporewith Jewel of Muscat

Qatar to Overhaul Transport InfrastructureQatar has launched a USD21 billiontransport infrastructure programme, inconjunction with its bids for the 2020Olympic Games and the 2022 FIFAWorld Cup.The programme will focus on expandingand updating the country’s transportcapabilities, to provide facilities adequateto host global events and to bring theminto line with international regulations.Projects already underway include the

New Doha International Airport, theformation of the Qatar Railway Networkand an expansion of the nation’s bussystem.The scheme will be fully unveiled anddiscussed at the second UrbanTransportation Summit in Doha,organised by event management firmIPQC.The summit will assemble planning anddevelopment experts to discuss the plans.

Ian Mulcahey, in charge of principalplanning and urban design for theGensler development and consultancyfirm, said that transport infrastructurewas particularly important in the Gulfregion.“Urban transport is a highly importantissue for all major cities but is particularlytopical for the Gulf cities, which are onthe cusp of their own transit revolution,"he said.

Oman Air has signed on as a major sponsor to theJewel of Muscat maritime project, designed tostrengthen ties with Singapore.The Jewel of Muscat is a reconstructed ninth centurysewn-plank ship, modelled on the wreckage of aChinese Tang Dynasty treasure ship which sank inthe Indian Ocean.The ship will sail along traditional trade routesdescribed by Arab geographers and navigators,before being presented as a gift to the SingaporeGovernment.“It was necessary for Oman Air to support thisproject to keep history alive, furthermore to bringboth the nations closer,” said a spokesperson fromOman Air’s corporate communications department.

Jewel of Muscat

JANUARY 30, 201010

Emirates has refurbished and re-openedits customer service offices in Um AlQuwain.The Emirates Travel Shop in Um AlQuwain is located on King Faisal road andhas been outfitted to cater for both leisureand corporate clients.

Khalid Bel Jaflah, Emirates' vice presidentof commercial operations in the UAE, saidthat the upgrade was part of the group’sstrategy for maintaining market leadershipin the emirate of Um Al Quwain.“The new office will allow Emirates staff tocontinue providing our customers with

high quality services, but now in anenhanced environment offering greatercomfort and new facilities,” he said.The new facility includes ticketing andreservation counters, dedicated servicepoints for premium passengers, Skywardsmembers and Emirates Holidays customers.

R yad Sunusi, CEO of LibyaExpeditions, said thatinterest from Europeanvisitors had increasedimmensely in 2009.

“Cruise calls to Libyan ports areskyrocketing, with a 65 percent recordedincrease in passenger shore excursions in2009 compared to 2008,” he said.According to the Libyan Ministry ofTourism (LMT), 36 cruise vessels visitedand 12,218 passengers disembarked inLibya in 2009.According to Sunusi, the most popularLibyan ports of call were Tripoli andBenghazi. Most shore excursions targeted theRoman cities of Leptis Magna andSabratha, Greek Cyrene and Apollonia,and the Second World War cemeteriesat Tobruk.

Sunusi said that the most visits to Libya weretaken as part of 10 to 16 day Mediterraneancruises, with the largest contingentsoriginating in Italy, France, Germany, Spainand Sweden.

“Cruise lines with Mediterranean itinerariesare eager to call on Libyan ports and offerpassengers an opportunity to savour themagnificent cultural heritage Libya has tooffer,” Sunusi said.

Libya Celebrates Cruising RenaissanceLibya is experiencing a cruise renaissance, according to local operators and the national tourism board.

Emirates Updates Um Al Quwain Travel Shop

JANUARY 30, 201012

Tips and tricks from industry experts, bringing you the latest in emerging destinations,technology, marketing and travel trends.

How to Pick the Right Hotel for Every Guest

The group recently undertook anindustry-wide survey of hotel guests andhas shared its insights into what peoplewant from their hotel experiences,whether budget or ultra-luxe.Participants were asked to name their bestrecent hotel stay and list the factors that setit apart. Data was then collated and analysedto provide the following helpful hints.

Coyle Hospitality is an international mystery shopper service with a list of clients that includes Hilton,Starwood, and Royal Caribbean.

A room with a viewGuestroom view was one of the top mentioned attributes for all best experiences,irrespective of segment.

Tailor the ServiceExpectations of service differed by segment, making it important for hotels to hitthe right note when it comes to hospitality. Competent and accommodating staff were mentioned more often by economyguests, at 38 percent, while luxury and upscale guests tended to take this kind ofservice for granted, mentioning it only 22 percent of the time.However, luxury guests placed the highest premium on staff attentiveness andavailability.“Clearly travellers at luxury hotels rely on the staff more to make the experience,”Coyle said.

Decorate AppropriatelyProperty design and décor were the toptwo priorities for respondents in thelifestyle segment and made it into the topten for upscale guests, but not for luxuryclients.Make sure you know what your clientbase expects, and focus accordingly.

Charge to your marketPrice was shown to be the sixth mostimportant factor for the experiences ofeconomy travellers, whereas higher spendguests were not as affected. Midscaleguests mentioned price as the fourteenthconsideration when it came to buildingtheir best experiences.

Keep it CleanAccording to Coyle, room cleanlinessand staff attentiveness were the mostmentioned attributes of favouredhotels.Room cleanliness was mentioned in39 percent of all best experiences, and42 percent of economy experiences.Guests of upscale and luxuryproperties mentioned cleanliness at arate of 28 and 22 percent,respectively.Jim Coyle, president of CoyleHospitality, pointed out that this didnot mean high spend guests were lessinterested in hygiene, but that theyhad different key factors fordifferentiating upscale experiences.In short, a good clean room can makean experience for many travellers, buta failure to clean can be a deal breakerfor higher spend segments.

13JANUARY 30, 2010

Travel Talk is your space – this is a casual forum for travel industry professionals to discuss current issues and share stories. We want to hear from you, so send your comments, questions, frustrations and observations to editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel

The demand and offers have changed

Both government and private sectors have shouldered a heavy burden

The Arab world will far surpass

anticipated growth ininternational tourism

A three day marketing training workshop organised by the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) and the WorldTourism Organisation (UNWTO) brought together 70 industry representatives from countries includingSaudi Arabia, Sudan, Bahrain, Jordan, Tunisia and Syria. Here are some of the highlights:

Ahmed Al NuaimiQTA Chairman“The world has recently seen anumber of changes and crises,which have adversely affected thetourism industry and as a result,both government and privatesectors have shouldered a heavyburden. Experience has shown thatintensifying efforts in tourismmarketing and developingpromotional schemes have largelycontributed to remedyingrepercussions of any crisis orchallenges facing the industry.”

Amr Abdel-GhaffarRegional Representative for theMiddle East, UNWTO“International tourism is one of themost important social and economicphenomena in this day and age as abillion dollar industry generatingeconomic growth, investment,employment and foreign trade. Ourregion’s remarkable performance in thetourism industry over the past decadeis the result of sustained efforts onbehalf of national tourismadministrations to improve domestictourism infrastructure and strengthenpromotion and marketing activities.We expect that the Arab world will farsurpass anticipated growth ininternational tourism, and as such, theUNWTO understands the importanceof supporting national administrationsdedicated to tourism marketing.”

Nawal BradaSecond Secretary of the Tourism Department, Arab League

“This is an ideal time to discuss the issues around this topic (tourism marketing).In recent years, the demand and offers have changed as related to tourism. Thepromotional activities around tourism in our country and the region can no longerbe based on the past but need to look forward into the future.”

Ahmed AlNuaimi

JANUARY 30, 201014

Tom KleinGDS provider Sabre Holdings hasappointed Tom Klein as its newpresident. Klein previously held theposition of executive vice president atSabre, where he was responsible for SabreTravel Network and Sabre AirlinesSolutions. In his new role, Klein will beresponsible for the entire global SabreHoldings portfolio.

Lama SemaanLama Semaan has been appointeddirector of catering and sales events atThe Westin Dubai and Le MéridienMina Seyahi Beach Resort and MarinaComplex. Semaan has previouslyworked at the Turquoise AquamarinaMikana Catering Company, MillenniumHotel Dubai, Al Murooj Rotana Dubaiand W Hotel Qatar. She is fluent inArabic, English and French.

Nasser DiabNasser Diab has been appointed asgeneral manager of Omanexpo, anexhibition management companybased in Oman. Diab previouslyworked in Dubai as the Middle Eastdirector of The Expo Hut. He has 17years of experience in eventmanagement and marketing, newbusiness development, corporatebranding and project management.Diab is also a member of theInternational Association ofExhibitions and Events (IAEE). Tapasya Chona

Rezidor Hotel Group has appointedTapasya Chona as the new regionalresponsible business coordinator for theMiddle East. Chona has more than 10years in the hospitality industry. She haspreviously worked with the JumeirahGroup and Radisson Blu. Her new rolewill involve the coordination ofresponsible business activities acrossRezidor’s 25 Middle East hotels, focusingon health and wellbeing, social andethical issues and environmentalmanagement.

Lama Semaan

Nasser Diab

TapasyaChona

The Ritz-Carlton, Doha

Pep Lozano has been appointed as thenew general manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Doha in Qatar. Lozano haspreviously worked at Ritz-Carltonproperties in Spain, the US, Germanyand Portugal. He speaks fluent English,Spanish and French.The Ritz-Carlton Doha has alsoappointed Belal Al Kadry as director ofsales and marketing. Al Kadry has adegree in hotel management andmarketing and has worked with severalmajor hotel brands across the MiddleEast, including Sheraton, Hilton, LeMéridien and Marriott.

Pep Lozano

Travel Trade Weekly: How has tourismimproved in recent years? What are themain factors that have increased visitornumbers in Abu Dhabi?Lawrence Franklin: We are pleased toreport a two percent year on year growth inour hotel guests - a very solid performancein the face of global declines. Over the longer term we have recorded verystrong growth in guests, especially over thepast five years, with double digit increasesevery year. Numbers have doubled since 2004 from680,000 to 1.5 million. The same impressivegrowth has also been a feature of passengervolumes at our international gateway AbuDhabi International Airport. A wide range of positive factors have comeinto play, which all contribute to rapidlydeveloping momentum. Some of the key factors include: theunwavering commitment of the governmentto a visionary plan; a level of commitmentthat would be the envy of tourism agenciesand industries elsewhere; and a strong andvibrant economy which is particularly criticalfor attracting and supporting businesstourism including more traditional MICE.

Travel Trade Weekly: What are some ofthe key principles of your strategy for thefuture of the tourism industry in AbuDhabi? What are your main priorities?Lawrence Franklin:Our key principlesare laid down in the 2030 Policy Vision andframed by our mission statement: to build adestination of distinction which enriches the

lives of visitors and locals alike and is a modelof triple bottom line sustainability.We recognise that we are on a journey. Ourfirst key task after ADTA was created in 2004was to put the building blocks in place;infrastructure development, licensing andregulations, events and experiencedevelopment, promotion and distributionstructure, industry and institutional capacity. We are now in a consolidation phase,creating stronger partnerships with industryand other stakeholders, building our leisuretourism portfolio, expanding our marketing,developing the value proposition. ADTA recognises that, like tourism sectorsthe world over, the key ingredient for longterm sustainability is to be recognised bythe local populace as an industry whichadds value, provides opportunity,especially for employment, and plays itspart in preserving and celebrating a cultureand a legacy from the late UAE presidentand ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed BinSultan Al Nahyan.

Travel Trade Weekly: How has businesstourism fared in Abu Dhabi? What is theexpectation for this sector in the future?Lawrence Franklin: Business tourism hasbenefited greatly from the long termunderlying strength of our economy, thecreation of world class infrastructure at AbuDhabi National Exhibitions Centre(ADNEC) and a wide range of new andexisting hotels. The recent evidence shows that the sector,particularly MICE, has grown from aroundeight percent of the hotel guest market in2008 to 10 percent in 2009. We expect the sector to continue to performwell and we are ready to aggressivelycompete for business. Our recently launched Advantage AbuDhabi programme is a case in point, wherein

we will provide seed funding for businesstourism events which align with our emirate’seconomic vision.

Travel Trade Weekly: What effect hasthe introduction of last year’s new hotelclassification system had?Lawrence Franklin: The effect has beenoverwhelmingly positive. It has createdgreater certainty for visitors and operatorsand has been the catalyst for a range ofimprovements to existing properties, fromsmall to major. It also makes our destination easier to sellfor the global tourism industry, with noconcerns that customers may not begetting what they expect. This system isanother example of our commitment tobuilding a destination of distinction withsystems to match.

15JANUARY 30, 2010

Q&A with Lawrence Franklin

We will provide seedfunding for businesstourism events which

align with our emirate’seconomic vision

Lawrence Franklin is the director of policy and strategy at Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA). Here, hediscusses the state of tourism in Abu Dhabi and outlines some ambitious plans for the future.

Numbers have doubled since 2004

from 680,000 to 1.5 million

LawrenceFranklin

JANUARY 30, 201016

Events

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Middle East Exclusive 2010Dubai, UAE, Feb 2-4 (www.middleeastexclusive.com)Luxury brand and travel retail exhibition.

SME Expo and Conference 2010Dubai, UAE, Feb 2-4 (www.smeexpo.com)Exhibition and conference for small and medium enterprises.

Business Travel and Meetings Show 2010London, UK, February 9-10 (www.businesstravelshow.com)Formerly the Business Travel Show, this event caters toconsumers and suppliers of corporate travel services.

Travel Technology EuropeLondon, UK, February 9-10 (www.traveltechnologyshow.com)Educational and trade event centered on sales, operational, andmarketing technology.

EMITT IstanbulIstanbul, Turkey, Feb 11-14 (www.emittistanbul.com)Exhibition for travel professionals in the east Mediterraneanand Eurasia.

ETOA Hoteliers European MarketplaceLondon, UK, Feb 12 (www.etoa.org/hem.aspx)Workshop event for tour operators, online intermediaries,wholesalers and hoteliers.

Gulfood Exhibition 2010 Dubai, UAE, Feb 21-24 (www.gulfood.com)Food and beverage exhibition.

Jordan Travel Mart ( JTM) Dead Sea, Jordan, February 21-23 (www.jordantravelmart.com)Showcase of the Jordanian tourism industry.

Meetings Africa 2010Johannesburg, South Africa, February 24-26 (www.meetingsafrica.co.za)Business tourism exhibition showcasing meeting venues,destinations and industry support services.

ITB BerlinBerlin, Germany, March 10-14 (www.itb-berlin.com)A combination of trade exhibition, public exhibition andprofessional convention for the travel trade industry.

Britain and Ireland Marketplace 2010London, UK, March 16 (www.bim.travel)Workshop for tour operators, wholesalers and intermediariesto meet suppliers from the UK and Ireland’s hotels, attractions,ground handlers and other tourism services

GIBTMAbu Dhabi, UAE, March 29-31 (www.gibtm.com)International event for the business travel and meetingsindustry in the Gulf and Middle East region.

The Mövenpick Beirut hotel, Lebanon,will host the E-marketing Arts for Tourismconference from February 25 to 26.The conference will focus on educatingparticipants in best-practice approaches tovarious areas of online marketing,including: search engine optimisation,online public relations, search engine

marketing, online ad campaigns, and theuse of social networks.Speakers at the event include: MohamedEl-Sayad, general manager of the MicrosoftNetwork (MSN) Arabia; Damian Cook,managing director of e-Tourism Africa;Boris Kapitanovi, director of the Iventeratravel technology provision firm; and

Michael Jackson, a business marketing andcommunications consultant who hasworked with Nike, Microsoft and VirginAtlantic.The event is being held in partnership withthe International Organisation for theElectronic Tourism Industry andMemphis Tours Egypt.

E-Marketing Conference for Travel Industry to be Held in Beirut