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29 JULY 2017 ISSUE 403
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DUBAI TO WELCOME FIRST FOOD PARK
BRITISH TRAVELLERS FAVOUR ABU DHABI
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29 JULY 2017 ISSUE 403
DUBAI’S WORLD-CLASS BUSINESS PARK REVEALED
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AccommodationAgents
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TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS
29 JULY 20172
MARKET UPDATE www.traveltradeweekly.travel
MANAGING EDITOR
Mary Kammitsi [email protected]
SENIOR JOURNALIST Ellen Petty
JOURNALISTS Maria Sabova Panayiotis Karanicholas Anna Spyrou
CONTRIBUTORDominique Christou
DESIGN & LAYOUTElena Stylianou
WEB & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Savvas Kammitsis
DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi
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Dirham
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Rial
0.37
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108.40
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COUNTRY CURRENCY USD1=
27.7.2017as ofMENA EXCHANGE RATES
The four-month period usually accounts for around 28 percent of the annual total, with this year’s performance said to be the best in 12 years.
All regions reported growth, led by a 10 percent boost in visitors to the Middle East. Based on limited data, Africa welcomed eight percent more tourists, while visitors to Europe, Asia Pacific
and Americas were up six percent, six percent and four percent, respectively. Moreover, destinations that were impacted by unfortunate events in 2016, saw signs of recovery in the beginning of this year.
UAE Property Market Favourable for Buyers
International Arrivals Grew Six Percent
According to the report conducted by UAE-based property portal Bayut.com, although the country’s real estate sector experienced a small dip in the first half of this year, the market represents an attractive opportunity for investors seeking strong returns.
Average rental prices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi decreased across all property types during the reviewed period, down 10.4 percent and 6.3 percent year-on-year, respectively. Meanwhile, the average property prices in both emirates also fell, seven percent in Dubai and by lower single digit percent in Abu Dhabi.
The report concluded that despite a decline in property prices, the drop in rental prices has kept the re-turn on investment consistently stable, making the two locations more accessible for buyers than ever before.
During the period January – April, international tourist arrivals worldwide grew six percent year-on-year according to World Tourism Organization, with a total of 369 million international overnight visitors.
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WEEKLY NEWSwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
RevealedH.H. SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN RASHID AL MAKTOUM, RULER, DUBAI, HAS UNVEILED DUBAI’S NEW AED5 MILLION (USD 1.36 MILLION) BUSINESS DISTRICT, EMIRATES TOWERS BUSINESS PARK, SET TO ENHANCE THE DESTINATION’S GROWING POSITION AS A LEADING GLOBAL CORPORATE HUB.
M aster-planned by Dubai Holding in collaboration with Dubai Internation-al Financial Centre, the development is set to meet the increasing demand for grade A office space through high-
and low-rise office towers while its three five-star ho-tels, retail and dining outlets will also cater to diverse needs of corporate visitors.
During the occasion, H.H. Rashid Al Maktoum emphasised that the UAE is continuing its drive to enhance the environment for businesses and the private sector by providing innovative solutions for investors.
Dubai’s World-Class Business Park
R epresentatives of Qatar Tourism Authority were hosted by H.E. Maitha Saif Al Mahrouqi, undersecretary, Ministry of Tourism, Oman on July 09, with a pro-gramme of meetings and visits to tourism attractions across the Sultanate.
On the back of a previously signed memorandum of understanding between the two parties, the visit aimed to explore mutual cooperation through events, facil-itating travelling procedures, managing tourism facilities, encouraging the private sector to engage in tourism developments, and coordinating promotional cam-paigns between the countries, as well as sharing information related to cooperation with World Tourism Organization and other industry partners. During the occasion, Oman also presented its tourism strategy 2040 to the partners, focussed on rein-forcing sustainable tourism and attracting fresh investments to the sector.
Oman Welcomed Qatar Tourism Delegates
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Azizi Developments has announced new groundbreaking projects for Azizi Riviera in Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum City district of Meydan Sobha, set to transform Dubai with its vision of becoming an unparalleled world lifestyle and hospitality destination.
Luring investors to secure the share of what is said to be one of the most rapidly growing tourism markets, the company has presented 35 projects in the location set to be delivered within 22 months. The innovative facilities commissioned for development include 420m high dancing fountain, 1,200m long ski slope, a water canal with private marina spread across four kilometres, as well as new metro line, more than 200 hotels, including what is said to be the world’s highest restaurant in one of the tallest residential buildings.
Azizi Unveiled 35 Projects in Dubai
Saudi Commission for Tourism & National Heritage (SCTH) has recently begun development works at Souk Okaz, the iconic landmark in Taif, to transform
it into a year-round leading cultural tourist destination.H.R.H. Prince Sultan bin Salman, president, SCTH, re-
vealed that the significance of the project is based on the fact that Souk Okaz is one of the most important ancient Arab souks.
He added, “It is now subjected to archaeological stud-ies and excavations and the initial surveys showed that the site is very rich of antiquities."
Estimated to occupy an area of 1,000ha the new devel-opment is expected to attract more than 266,000 tourists annually while also creating over 4,400 additional jobs.
SCTH Begins Souk Okaz Transformation
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British Travellers Favour Abu Dhabi
O ne of the factors supporting the interest of travellers is seamless connectiv-ity, enabled through Etihad Airways’ five weekly flights from Edinburgh, two daily schedules from Manchester and three daily Airbus A380 services from
London Heathrow. In a bid to maintain the positive momentum, the carrier, along with the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, has scheduled large familiarisation visit to the emirate for British travel agents in September, enabling them to experi-ence the destination’s attractions through own eyes.
According to the UK travel company Gold Medal Travel, Abu Dhabi represents one of the most popular summer destinations for British
holidaymakers visiting the UAE, with this year’s holiday bookings achieving a 294 percent jump over the summer period in 2016.
GBTA Revealed Gaps in Travel
Risk Management
G lobal Business Travel Associa-tion’s (GBTA) latest study How to Close Risk Management Loop-
holes revealed that nearly 30 percent of travel managers are unsure how long it would take to locate employees in crisis situations.
Exploring the establishment and execution of safety protocols, the study, conducted in partnership with Concur, further confirmed that 50 percent of respondents are confident they could locate their staff in the affected area within two hours or less.
Mike Eberhard, president, Concur, elaborated, [...]. If a crisis or incident oc-curs, it is critical that businesses be pre-pared to quickly locate employees and determine who may need assistance.” A
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SCTH Takes Tourism Transformation Further
Saudi Commission for Tourism & National Heritage (SCTH) has an-nounced the launch of six initiatives approved under the National Transformation Program 2020 as a part of the project National Tour-
ism Development and National Heritage of the Kingdom. Overall, the organisation has submitted 31 initiatives in collaboration
with its partners, with approximately SAR9.93 billion (USD2.65 billion) of funds allocated.
Mohamed Al Nashmi, head, achievements, Vision 2030, SCTH, re-vealed that the company intends to establish three entities to facilitate the initiatives, namely the Saudi Company for Heritage Sites Operation, the Heritage Buildings Restoration Company, as well as a unit specialising in handicrafts, which will together manage the restoration of 15 handi-craft centres and 18 urban heritage sites, along with establishing 18 re-gional museums, among other plans.
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Siwa Oasis Initiated Wellness Tourism Season
Egypt’s Ministry of Environment has announced that Siwa Oasis is ready to wel-come tourists seeking a therapeutic holiday retreat.
Known for its rich sources of mineral water, hot and cold springs, sand land-scapes and olive trees, the region offers travellers unique rejuvenating natural treat-ments, such as sand bath therapies. Visitors can also enjoy camel safaris across the area’s nature reserves. Furthermore, the construction of a museum, which will present the complete production process of olive oil, is underway. Apart from its strong ecological and wellness tourism potential, the location also boasts rich cultural and historical herit-age for tourists to explore.
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WEEKLY NEWSwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
Aiming to enhance Dubai's position as a leading regional hub for food trade H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler, Dubai, recently unveiled Dubai Food Park at Dubai Wholesale City.
Said to be the first-of-its-kind in the region, the AED5.5 billion (USD1.5 billion) pro-ject, to be developed by Dubai Holding, will be a central wholesale market serving the retail, hospitality and food service sector.
Given that food trade makes up 11 percent of the UAE's GDP, and that the food industry is estimated to grow 70 percent by 2030, the new project is expected to play a vital role in further supporting food security in the country.
Dubai to Welcome First Food Park
Abu Dhabi Named Second
Best City
I psos City Index has named Abu Dhabi the second best city in the world to live, work and do business with the emirate overtak-
ing both New York and Paris to move up two places since the last survey.
Furthermore, in the period January to May, Abu Dhabi recorded nearly two million hotel guest arrivals indicating four percent growth compared to the corresponding period in 2016.
Commenting on the achievement, H.E. Saif Saeed Ghobash, director general, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, revealed, “[...] As we leverage the wealth of Abu Dhabi’s cultural heritage sites, such as the UNESCO World Herit-age Sites in Al Ain, and the forthcoming open-ing of Louvre Abu Dhabi, we are confident that our position on the map of leading cities will continue to be cemented.” D
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Dusit International to Enter Bahrain
C onveniently located in Manama near Bahrain International Airport and other major developments, the address will comprise 195 units with sea views, meeting facilities, a kids club, an expansive health and fitness centre and a number of restaurants.
Suphajee Suthumpun, group CEO, Dusit International, highlighted, “We are delighted to add Bahrain to our list of international destinations, further strengthening Dusit’s presence within the GCC region.”
After signing a hotel management agreement with Al Manzil Hospitality Group, Dusit International unveiled plans to open dusitD2 Seef Bahrain, a contemporary leisure and business hotel, marking
the group’s debut in the country.
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C arlson Rezidor Hotel Group has announced the launch of Radisson Blu Hotel, Riyadh Al Sahafa, set to open in the first quarter of 2019.
Located in close proximity to King Khalid International Airport and only few minutes walk from the new King Abdullah Financial District, the address aims to appeal to corporate travellers.
Elie Younes, executive vice president, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, revealed, “We are confident that the business fundamen-tals, and the major infrastructure projects being developed in line with Saudi Arabia’s future vision, will help accelerate further eco-nomic growth for the country and create more opportunities for Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group to make several valuable contribu-tions to the economy and communities where we operate.”
Radisson Blu Unveils New Riyadh Address
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WEEKLY NEWS ACC0MMODATIONwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
Swiss-Belresort Opened in Jordan
Swiss-Belhotel International has recently signed an agreement with Jordan Projects for Tourism
Development (JPTD) to rebrand and co-manage a five-star property in Jordan.
Part of the massive Tala Bay devel-opment, Grand Swiss-Belresort Tala Bay Aqaba is located on the Red Sea and fea-tures 336 rooms the majority of which face the marina.
Gavin Faull, president, Swiss-Bel-hotel International, revealed, “We are proud to partner and expand our foot-print in Jordan with a distinguished organisation such as JPTD. The Middle East holds high significance for us with 17 percent of our global portfolio cen-tered in the region and we are glad to welcome Grand Swiss-Belresort Tala Bay Aqaba to our upscale luxury collection of hotels.”
Jumeirah Group to Manage New Hotel in Mecca
Mec
ca
A fter signing an agreement with Jabal Omar Development Company, Dubai Holding unveiled plans to develop Jabal Omar Jumeirah Makkah Hotel in 2019, to be managed by Jumeirah Group.
Featuring 1,033 guest rooms along with 93 villas and a variety of food and bever-age offerings, meeting facilities, an executive lounge, gymnasium and over 90 retail units, the new resort will comprise four towers overlooking Masjid-al-Haram.
Commenting on the upcoming launch, Edris Al Rafi, CEO, Dubai Holding, revealed, “[…] Jabal Omar Jumeirah Makkah Hotel will significantly boost its growth in the com-ing years. It will also mark the group’s first presence in Saudi Arabia in Mecca, one of the holiest sites in the world and the highest in real estate value.”
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Q atar Airways’ inaugural Doha – Dub-lin flight on July 06 marked the official launch of the itinerary and was celebrated
with a press conference hosted by H.E. Akbar Al Baker, group CEO, Qatar Airways at InterContinen-tal Dublin.
During the event, Al Baker confirmed the air-line’s commitment to bringing more visitors to Dublin, as well as offering Irish travellers the oppor-tunity to connect to more than 150 destinations through Hamad International Airport. The four times weekly schedule will be operated on Mon-days, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
He further expressed, “Dublin has long been on our list of destinations to add to our route map [...].”
A iming to cater to the growing demand for better con-nections between the UAE and Africa, Etihad Airways un-veiled plans to add more flights from its Abu Dhabi hub to
Egypt and Nigeria. On October 01, a fifth daily scheduled service will be intro-
duced on the Cairo route, taking frequency to the Egyptian capital up from 28 to 35 flights a week while a new Saturday service to Nigeria’s commercial capital Lagos will be launched on December 02, offering greater flexibility and convenience to local travellers.
On the back of Nigeria's and Egypt’s resurging economies, the airline sees the frequency increases to both markets as timely to provide guests with greater choice.
Qatar Airways Touched Down in Dublin
Etihad Expands Services to Cairo and Lagos
Emirates Enhances Links to Russia
D emonstrating the carrier’s commitment to the Russian market and fur-ther supporting tourism and trade links between the carrier’s network and Russia, the upgauge will see an increase of over 1,000 seats per week.
Emirates has also made amends to its winter schedule to and from Saint Pe-tersburg, adjusting flight times for more seamless connections to many of its des-tinations including the Maldives, Thailand and Sri Lanka with just a short stop in Dubai.
Aiming to boost seat capacity to and from Russia, Emirates has unveiled plans to deploy an Airbus A380 aircraft for its two daily flights between Dubai International and Moscow Domodedovo Airport,
effective from October 01. La
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P ursuing its robust expansion in Eastern Europe, Qatar Airways is launching a new service to Kyiv from Hamad International Airport, commencing
on August 28.The seven weekly schedules to the Ukrainian capi-
tal will be served with an Airbus A320 aircraft, boasting the next-generation, interactive onboard entertain-ment system, complemented with the carrier’s award-winning service. The airline’s further growth will also see new services to Skopje and Prague this summer.
Enthusing about the opportunity to uncover a new gateway to Eastern Europe, H.E. Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways Group, said, “Our new service to Kyiv is part of our expedited expansion plans, which aim at unlocking new destinations to enhance our passengers’ connectivity to our extensive global network.”
Qatar Airways Introduces Kyiv Service
Emirates Launched New Lounge at Boston Hub
A iming to provide premium customers travelling through Boston with a seamless and enjoyable journey, Emirates has invested USD6.7 million to open a new lounge at Boston Lo-
gan International Airport, offering premium guests the opportunity to relax, unwind, catch up on work and enjoy award-winning service and cuisine.
Following its soft opening in April, the lounge is now available to Emirates first class and business class customers as well as platinum and gold members of Skywards.
Mohammed Mattar, divisional senior vice president, airport servic-es, Emirates, revealed, “[...] Boston becomes our 41st dedicated lounge worldwide and we will continue to invest in upgrading this product to ensure our customers have an enjoyable journey from beginning to end.”
Kyiv
Emirates Lounge at Boston Logan International Airport
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A iming to optimise their networks while also offering customers unmatched travel options, Emirates and flydubai have joined forces to create an innovative partner-ship that goes beyond a codeshare agreement.
Both airlines will continue to be managed independently, but will leverage each other’s network to scale up and accelerate growth. Moreover, the two carriers will further align their systems and operations at Dubai International to ensure a seamless travel experience.
Commenting on the agreement, H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, CEO, The Emirates Group, highlighted, “[...] Both airlines have grown independently and successfully over the years, and this new partnership will unlock the immense value that the comple-mentary models of both companies can bring to consumers, each airline, and to Dubai.”
Emirates and flydubai Sign Innovative Agreement
Saudia Expands Summer Schedule
O n the back of increased summer travel demand, Saudia Airlines has increased both frequency and capacity on some of its most popular leisure des-
tinations across its network, effective until September 16.The airline boosted its service to Geneva from one
to two flights daily, and added two extra services to its Manchester and Munich routes to provide daily services to both destinations. Moreover, the carrier increased its long-haul services to Los Angeles from three to five flights weekly. Saudia Airlines also unveiled plans for the upcom-ing launch of flights to Mauritius, a key holiday destination.
Presently, the national airline boasts 129 jets, including the market's latest Boeing and Airbus wide-body aircraft, which will be deployed on the upgauged schedules.
Air Arabia Maroc to Strengthen Marrakech Links
A s part of its expansion plans, Air Arabia Maroc has announced two new routes from Marrakech to Paris and Gatwick
Airport, set to take off in October and November, respectively.
The launch of twice-weekly service to Lon-don, along with three weekly schedules to the French capital follow the latest new link between Casablanca and Catania introduced by Air Arabia in the first quarter of this year.
Hailed as Morocco’s new low-cost carrier with a base at Casablanca’s Mohamed V International Airport, the joint venture airline of Air Arabia Group aims to enhance business and leisure travel between Morocco and the European des-tinations.
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INTERNATIONAL: ASIA PACIFICwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
Jet Airways Upgrades Delhi –
Singapore Service
Jinping Visited HKIA
MEEF and FEF Fund Nine
Projects
W ith the deployment of its flag-ship Boeing 777, Jet Airways has introduced first class ser-
vices on its daily flights between Delhi and Singapore, while also significantly boosting its cargo transport capacity.
Enhancing passenger comfort, the largest aircraft in the carrier’s fleet now enables travellers to take advantage of eight first class suites, 30 lie-flat beds in premiere class and 308 ergonomically designed and spacious seats in economy class.
Jayaraj Shanmugam, chief commer-cial officer, Jet Airways, said, “[…] Guests get to experience our exceptional, award-winning product and our guest first ser-vice philosophy, helping to deliver un-matched service excellence in the skies.”
As part of the conditions of the envi-ronmental permit for the expansion of Hong Kong International Airport
into a three-runway system, more than HKD7 million (USD896,733) has been granted to Ma-rine Ecology Enhancement Fund (MEEF) and Fisheries Enhancement Fund (FEF).
The funding will finance nine projects over a 12-month period until June 30, 2018, with applicants including tertiary institutions, research groups, and associations from the fisheries industry. Through MEEF, HKD4.23 (USD541,944) has been awarded to five initia-tives, and four projects received HKD2.93 mil-lion (USD375,394) from FEF.
FEF supports programmes related to sus-tainable management and enhancement of fisheries resources, and other measures to benefit operations.
During a visit to Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) on July 01, Xi Jinping, president, China, learnt about the recent
developments and projects at the hub, including its expansion into a three-runway system.
Jack So Chak-kwong, chairman, Airport Authority Hong Kong, pinpointed how HKIA is leveraging its unique advantages, including a prime geographical location, an extensive aviation network and close relationship with mainland China, to develop Hong Kong into an international and regional aviation hub, contributing to the Belt and Road development strategy of the country.
The session ended with Jinping assuring that the Chinese government will support the building of the runway in order to help Hong Kong consolidate its status as a global aviation hub and improve its overall competitiveness.
On June 30, Fiji Airways launched the first direct flight between Nadi International Airport and Adelaide
Airport, making it the third international airline to add services to South Australia’s cosmopolitan coastal capital within the last 12 months.
Other international airlines that com-menced direct flights to Adelaide include China Southern Airlines and Qatar Airways.
The twice-weekly service will also pro-vide a gateway to the US via Nadi Interna-tional Airport, introducing another link to the US market. According to South Austral-ian Tourism Commission, the US is South Australia’s second largest international mar-ket, with 51,000 American tourist arrivals in March.
S ingapore Airlines and Eurowings have signed a new codeshare agreement, enabling passengers travel-ling between Singapore and Europe to enjoy extra
travelling options.Specifically, the partnership provides the customers of
the Singapore carrier access to 15 routes operated by the Lufthansa subsidiary, from its hubs in Düsseldorf, Munich, Zurich and Manchester.
“We are pleased to partner with Eurowings to offer ad-ditional connectivity between Singapore and Europe. It is in line with our commitment to expand our network reach and offer customers more options to meet their travel needs,” said Tan Kai Ping, senior vice president, Singapore Airlines.
Fiji Airways Announced Flights to Adelaide
Singapore Airlines and Eurowings Team-Up
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INTERNATIONAL: AFRICA www.traveltradeweekly.travel
Air Seychelles
Adopted
CUPPS
IHG Expands African
Footprint
Kenya Reveals First Five-Star Airport
Hotel
O n July 12, Seychelles Airlines introduced SITA’s state-of-the-art Common-Use Pas-senger Processing Systems (CUPPS) at Sey-
chelles International Airport, providing greater flex-ibility for international airlines operating from the hub by allowing them to share common-use termi-nal equipment for check-in and boarding.
Gilbert Faure, CEO, Seychelles Civil Aviation Au-thority, explained, “Introducing cutting-edge CUPPS infrastructure at Seychelles International Airport puts us on par with some of the most modern air-ports in the world. Having a standardised system for handling passengers will improve the airport expe-rience for all international travellers, irrespective of the airline they are flying with, which is a fantastic achievement. We have developed a strong rela-tionship with both Air Seychelles and SITA and are pleased to have worked together to install this new technology."
As part of the government’s tourism and hospitality transformation strat-egy, Uhuru Kenyatta, president, Ken-
ya, officially inaugurated The Lazizi Premiere, the county’s first five-star airport hotel.
Conveniently positioned inside Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, the 144-key property seeks to tap into the increasing de-mand for rooms in Nairobi.
Speaking at the launch, Kiran Patel, chair-man, The Lazizi Premiere, commented that the opening of the property would tap into the 900,000 annual international arrivals and the conducive business environment in Kenya.
Patel added, “Our intention is not only to contribute significantly to the country’s growth and Vision 2030 but also to create over 1,000 job opportunities in the hospital-ity industry, directly and indirectly.”
I nterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has opened the doors of Holiday Inn Mutare in Zimbabwe, in response to
rising business travel to the region.Owned by African Sun, the fran-
chised property is the third addition to the hoteliers’ common portfolio. Fea-turing 96 rooms, an outdoor pool and a meeting space to accommodate 250 delegates, the address is located in the city’s centre, which is a hub for business activity related to forest, farming and mining industries.
Commenting on the opening, Pas-cal Gauvin, chief operating officer, India, Middle East and Africa, IHG, said, “[…] We believe that [the new property] will further support business travel between the Middle East, and Africa.”
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INTERNATIONAL: AMERICASwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
S andals Resorts has recently unveiled plans to open 12 new over the water bungalows at San-dals South Coast in Jamaica.
Set to open in November, Over the Water Honey-moon Butler Bungalows will feature hardwood floors with glass panels to observe the underwater world, cus-tom crafted king-sized beds and other in-room ameni-ties including spa style bathrooms equipped with indi-vidual sinks, as well as a walk-in rain shower. Couples can enjoy a private patio with an extended sun deck, outdoor shower, loungers, and over-water hammocks.
Furthermore, the property will offer 24-hour butler service to handle every detail of guests’ experience.
M arriott International’s Convention & Resort Network (CRN) has announced the growth of its portfolio to 100 propertied across the
US, Mexico, Caribbean and Canada, offering event planners multiple options in highly sought-after meet-ing destinations.
In conjunction with the expansion of the hotelier’s collection of global brands, the company has unveiled a new website to enhance the service for organisers, boasting tools such as preselected hotel search group-ings, narrated site videos, and the MeetingsImagined platform.
Mike Wainwright, vice president, sales, CRN, Mar-riott International, said, “This presence in new markets allows for CRN to dramatically expand on the ability to provide meeting facilities in the most desired destina-tions and continue to deliver unparalleled service and experience in bigger and better ways.”
Sandals to Introduce Honeymoon Bungalows
Marriott Grows its Convention Properties Collection
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Rosewood Launched Conver-sations Platform
Ongoing Success for Hotels in
Canada
Bisha Hotel Toronto to Debut
in August
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts has unveiled Rosewood Conversations, an interac-tive digital platform which aims to in-
spire guests through unique perspectives on travel, art, fashion, cuisine, and culture.
Offering a channel for readers to dive deeper into the topics, the online hub is up-dated weekly with articles to serve as an insid-er’s guide for each destination and a resource for every stage of the travel process.
“Rosewood Conversations is an extension of our brand’s continued innovation within the digital space. Our goal is to create an on-line community for our affluential explorers to meaningfully engage in destination content that is constantly updated with fresh new perspectives on global travel trends,” revealed Thuy Tranthi Rieder, group vice president, sales and marketing, Rosewood Hotel Group.
Loews Hotels and INK Entertainment have unveiled their latest collaboration, Bisha Hotel Toronto which is scheduled
to open in August within Bisha Hotel & Resi-dences.
The 44-storey address features 82 luxury boutique hotel rooms and 14 suites, some of which have been designed by Lenny Kravitz, 355 residential condominiums, a state of the art fitness centre alongside meeting facilities and a rooftop restaurant with an infinity pool.
Jacques Lapierre, general manager, Bisha Hotel Toronto, enthused, “Bisha is going to hit Toronto with a fresh experience for the well-travelled, culture-seeking guest. We will have a highly-curated team on hand delivering a premium and thoughtful level of service; and we will combine this with a wide array of im-pactful food and design [...].”
Having achieved success in the first quarter (Q1) of this year, Canada’s hotel industry expected to welcome
a boost through 2018 according to a forecast report by STR and Tourism Economics.
In Q1, a 5.5 percent year-on-year climb in revenue per available room was observed, driven by rising occupancy and average daily rate (ADR), both up 2.7 percent.
Kobe Akuffo Owoo, research analyst, STR, said, “With events planned throughout the year to celebrate the 150th anniversary of confederation, Canada will receive another influx of visitors that will push growth fur-ther.”
The 2018 outlook reveals that supply and demand are both expected to grow 1.4 per-cent, while ADR and RevPAR are each due to increase 3.1 percent.
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LORNE RILEY
Q & A
with
DIRECTOR, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS, DUBAI AIRPORTS
SERVING 83.6 MILLION TRAVELLERS IN 2016, CONNECTING THEM TO 240 DESTINATIONS ACROSS SIX
CONTINENTS ON MORE THAN 100 AIRLINES, DUBAI INTERNATIONAL IS A
DYNAMIC AND FAST-GROWING AIRPORT THAT TRULY INTERLINKS THE WORLD. LORNE RILEY, DIRECTOR, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS, DUBAI AIRPORTS, EXPLAINS HOW THE GATEWAY TO THE
WORLD RETAINS ITS GLOBAL REPUTATION AND SHARES RECENT ADVANCEMENTS
REGARDING INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENTS AND PROJECTS.
er experience across the airport. Con-course D was the final major piece of physical added at Dubai International. We are now working on a project called Dubai International Plus which seeks to enhance service while increasing capac-ity to 118 million passengers at the hub by 2018.
We have a number of very exciting projects lined up as part of our prepa-rations for the Expo 2020 Dubai exhibi-tion, but it is too early to talk about the specifics. These projects are aimed at delivering world-class experience for the millions of passengers that pass through the airport, creating an expo experience inside the airport which will set the tone for visitors and entice pas-sengers to return or stop over.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: Do you work alongside strategic partners to pro-vide requested services while also meeting passengers’ needs?
LORNE RILEY: Just like any other airport, a major part of the customer experience at Dubai International from parking to check-in, security and immigration to shopping, and dining to relaxing is de-livered by our stakeholders or partners with whom we work very closely to ensure the airport delivers a seamless, consistent experience. The strength of our longstanding relationship with authorities that manage security, im-migration and customs, as well as with Dubai Duty Free and Dubai’s flagship carriers, Emirates and flydubai comes from the fact that we share a common goal to make Dubai the world’s largest and best hub for aviation, tourism and business.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: In your opin-ion, how important is the experience of an airport for someone who is vis-iting the country for the first time?
LORNE RILEY: Dubai International is one of the busiest international hubs in the world where an average of seven million passengers travelling through every month on more than 100 airlines to 240 destinations around the world. For a significant number of those pas-sengers, Dubai International is their only experience of Dubai as they spend a few hours here on transit. We believe that their experience of the hub has a major influence on their idea of what Dubai would be like and as such it is very important for us.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: How was passenger traffic at Dubai Interna-tional in 2016 and how does this compare to 2015? Could you share some of your latest statistics for the first quarter of this year (Q1)?
LORNE RILEY: Dubai International re-tained its title as the world’s number one airport for international passengers after the hub’s annual traffic reached 83.6 million passengers in 2016, up 7.2 percent compared to 78,014,838 passengers in 2015. The hub is fore-cast to welcome 89 million passengers this year. Traffic at Dubai International climbed 7.4 percent during Q1 to 22,496,596 compared to 20,948,690 re-corded during Q1 of 2016.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What are the airport’s latest advancements in regarding to existing services, infrastructure developments, pro-grammes and awards? Are there any interesting projects that travellers can look forward to?
LORNE RILEY: [...], Dubai International caters to the most diverse base of cus-tomers and we are always looking at ways to meet and exceed their expec-tations while also making their jour-ney through the hub smoother and memorable. Our initiatives range from a steady expansion of our infrastructure to offering the widest and best range in dining, retail and relaxation.
Concourse D which opened in Feb-ruary 2016 is capable to serve more than 60 airlines operating at Terminal 1, and is a great example of how we de-liver capacity while enhancing custom-
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Dubai International
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Dubai International
INTERNATIONAL: AMERICASwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
A dding to its routes from Boston, Delta Air Lines has announced new nonstop services to Pitts-
burgh and New Orleans beginning Octo-ber 01 and February 10, 2018, respectively.
Improving connectivity for business travellers, the carrier will only offer the first class product on the twice-daily Boston Logan – Pittsburgh schedule, served by the carrier’s partner Endeavor Air. Mean-while, the seasonal service to Louis Arm-strong New Orleans International Airport is set to meet rising leisure demand and will be operated on Saturdays and Sun-days until April 01, 2018.
Joe Esposito, vice president, network planning, Americas, Delta Air Lines, said, “Boston continues to play a larger role in Delta’s overall network, and we will con-tinue to invest in new service important to Bostonians.”
I n June, American Airlines achieved record revenue passenger miles (RPM) of 21 billion, a 0.8 percent in-crease over June 2016, while capacity reached 24.9 bil-
lion available seat miles, a rise of 1.1 percent.However, passenger load factor fell 0.2 percentage
points to 84.7 percent.The carrier expects its second quarter (Q2) total
revenue per available seat mile to grow approximately between five and six percent year-on-year. This figure is higher than what was initially forecast due to higher passenger yields, with particular strength in the domes-tic, Central American, South American and Caribbean regions. As a result, the airline predicts its Q2 pre-tax mar-gin excluding special items to be around 13-14 percent.
S kyTeam is taking airport experience to new heights with the opening of its new lounge at Vancouver International Airport later
this year. The alliance’s first branded facility in North
America will offer a luxurious environment for first class, business and elite plus customers flying on any of its nine member airlines currently serv-ing the airport.
Perry Cantarutti, CEO, SkyTeam, elaborated that the company continues to invest in technolo-gy so that it can capitalise on emerging customer trends, drive greater efficiencies and continue to deliver value for airlines and its passengers.
A iming to offer local and foreign visitors a day of adrenaline outside of Las Vegas, Grand Canyon Helicopters has recently
partnered with Hualapai River Runners to offer a12-hour excursion that includes limousine transporta-tion, helicopter flights and white-water rafting.
The tour begins at Grand Canyon Helicopters’ terminal from where guests will be flown to Hualapai Airport. There, Hualapai River Runners will take guests to the Hualapai Lodge, where they will board an eight-person motorised river raft, designed espe-cially for navigating the Colorado River. The four-hour white water rafting portion will conclude at Grand Canyon West and includes a hike, a stop for lunch as well as a thrilling helicopter ride back.
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Delta on Track with Boston Expansion
Record RPM for American Airlines
SkyTeam to Enhance Vancouver Hub
Grand Canyon Helicopters Launched New Adventure
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TRAVEL CHANNELS www.traveltradeweekly.travel
Emirates Park Zoo and Resort hosted the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment’s annual children’s event on July 16, focussing on wildlife awareness, education and entertain-ment.
During the occasion, 30 registered families with chil-dren convened for a day of inspiring activities bringing the children closer to understanding the aspects of wild-life, such as zoo tours, story telling, interacting with ani-mals, dancing to African tunes and other highlights.
Waleed Sha’aban, manager, Emirates Park Zoo and Resort, commented, “[…] There is so much knowledge to gain when it comes to animals and the wildlife, that we design our experience by combining the best of enter-tainment, fun, leisure and education.”
Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, the official destination marketing organi-sation of Las Vegas, has unveiled some of the region’s most exciting new openings, activities, events and shows.
Offering the newest, most advanced production facility, Caesars Entertainment Corporation has recently launched Caesars Entertainment Studios, hailed as the first
full-scale television, movie and e-sports production facility in the state. On July 25, Circus 1903 – The Golden Age of Circus debuted at Paris Theatre, featuring sensational puppetry and acro-batics. In addition, yoga lovers enjoyed pop-up hot yoga sessions at Neon Museum’s Bone-yard on July 19.
Lastly, Lip Smacking Foodie Tours has announced two gastronomic tours providing guests an opportunity to experience the best restaurants in the city.
Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach has announced an exclusive sum-mer Football Academy, which will be led by the sports icons Rio Ferdinand and Eiður Guðjohnsen on October 16 – 20 and October 23 – 27.
Designed for aspiring young footballers, the programme will feature daily morning and afternoon coaching sessions covering all aspects of the game.
Spectators will also be able to enjoy refreshments, along with other leisure activities and offerings available at the resort.
Leonardo Baiocchi, general manager, Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach, said, “[…] We are very excited to give a group of children the experience of a lifetime at our beautiful resort – we hope they will leave with memories that last forever […].”
In an effort to promote Saudi handicraft products on national and international levels, Saudi Commission for Tourism & National Heritage (SCTH) announced plans to develop Saudi Handicraft Company (SHC).
Through SAR220 million (USD58.66 million) of fund-ing, the initiative falls under the first phase of the National Transformation Program 2020 as a step towards Vision 2030.
Faisal Khamis, director, SHC, explained, “SCTH seeks through the company to regulate the handicrafts sector in order to counteract the indiscriminate marketing and to overcome the obstacles facing the industry. It will encour-age the artisans to ensure their quality and expand invest-ment in this area through the best use of the raw materials to reflect positively on the product quality, along with per-formance development of artisans.”
Las Vegas Presents New Offerings
Four Seasons Dubai to Host Football Stars
Saudi Arabia Supports Local Artisans
Emirates Park Zoo Held Family Fun Day
Emirates Park Zoo and Resort
Las Vegas
29 JULY 2017 19
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Send your photos to [email protected] Because a picture is worth a thousand
words... Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels installed two murials of Emir Sheikh Tamim Hamad Al Thani
Mohammed Mehyar, concierge supervi-sor, InterContinental Jordan, earned the
prestigious Clef D’Or award in recognition of his outstanding performance
Young patients at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City met Tom and Jerry thanks to Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority
The UAE Board on Books for Young People introduced Emirati children literature to new audiences at Hong Kong Book Fair 2017
22ND UNWTO GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Chengdu, ChinaSeptember 04 – 09 World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) annual meeting will bring together tourism officials and private sector leaders.
29 JULY 201720
NEWS & EVENTS www.traveltradeweekly.travel
TCA Abu Dhabi Teamed Up with Salam Standard
ACI Gives Airports In-depth Passen-
gers’ Insights
Salam Standard collaborated with Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) to offer a one-day
workshop aiming to educate hotels, attractions and other key industry stakeholders about the potential of Halal travel.
Held at Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana, the event was an opportu-nity for participants to learn about the needs and preferences of Muslim trav-ellers from around the world.
Faeez Fadhlillah, CEO, Salam Stand-ard, highlighted, “Given the growth potential of the Muslim travel market, which generates USD139 billion in GDP and accounts for 4.5 million jobs worldwide each year, promoting Halal friendliness as a key selling point not only makes good business sense for in-dividual tourism industry providers, but has a wider economic impact for desti-nations that buy-in to the concept.”
In a bid to assist airports in measur-ing service performance, Airports Council International (ACI) has launched the Airport Service Qual-
ity (ASQ) Arrivals Survey, serving as a benchmark in promoting customer ser-vice excellence.
The programme enables airports to evaluate the full picture needed to en-hance services on all levels as it provides valuable insights on passengers experi-ence related to disembarkation, immi-gration, baggage reclaim, and more.
“The ASQ Arrivals Survey is for any airport […] that wishes to learn how to improve its passengers’ arrivals experi-ence from the only source that really matters – the passengers themselves,” said Angela Gittens, director general, ACI World.
THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TOURISM AND BUSINESS
Lucerne, SwitzerlandAugust 31 – September 01 The second edition of the event will see the presentation of research related to the tourism and hospitality sectors.
OTDYKH LEISURE
Moscow, RussiaSeptember 20 – 23 www.tourismexpo.ruThe 23rd edition of the exhibition will be held alongside its events focussing on MICE, luxury as well as medical tourism, spa and health.
IFTM TOP RESA
Paris, FranceSeptember 26 – 29 www.iftm.frMore than 31,000 trade visitors are expected to attend the multi-target event with dedicated programmes for the leisure, business and MICE sectors.
EVENTS
