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It has been confirmed byASAS Exhibitions that thisyear’s edition is to be the

largest till date, with an 18 percent increase in exhibitors,compared to 2013. There isalso a prospective increase of20 per cent in the number ofvisitors expected.

Bander Al Gryni,General Manager, ASASExhibitions and Organizer ofthe Riyadh Travel Fair men-tioned, "It will be the largestevent held so far, and willstrengthen therefore our repu-tation as a leading travel andtourism exhibition in theKingdom. Last year’s fair wel-comed 13,678 visitors. Thetotal number of visitors for the2014 edition is expected toincrease further by 15,000–20,000 visitors.”

The most importantadvantage of attending RiyadhTravel Fair as an exhibitor isthe opportunity to meet andcarry out business directly withthe Saudi travel trade andindustry representatives. The

timing of the event also pro-vides an excellent platform tolaunch new products andpackages, as it is held justprior to the peak summerbooking season.

“This year’s event will wit-ness a remarkable diversity ofexhibitors. In fact, exhibitorshailing from Asia, Oceania,Europe and North Africa willbe present, along with traveland tourism agencies andonline booking site represen-tatives. Riyadh Travel Fair is afour-day event that bringstogether the leading andessential regional organisa-tions from the entire field oftourism under one roof,” he fur-ther informed.

KSA is the key market forYas Viceroy Abu Dhabi andhence, Riyadh Travel Fair isimportant for them. “There hasbeen a consistent increase inSaudi leisure travellers to AbuDhabi and Yas Island, and westrongly believe this trend willcontinue. Participating for thefirst time, we hope RTF 2014will allow us to gain exposure,connect with the target market

and showcase the activitiesand facilities that we have at Yas Island,” assertedIbrahim Korkut, Director of Sales and Marketing, Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi.

“The exclusive and lux-urious proposition of YasViceroy Hotel, combined withother Yas Island’s attractionslike Yas Waterworld, FerrariWorld, will fit perfectly with

RTF. And we hope this is thebeginning of a profitable part-nership,” he added.

Heading the nationalauthority participants is the Abu

Dhabi Tourism and CultureAuthority (TCA Abu Dhabi),which is the permanent partnerof the travel fair.

Sultan Al Mutawa AlDhaheri, Acting ExecutiveDirector of TourismEcosystems, Abu DhabiTourism & Culture Authorityemphasised, “The show is keyto us, as it reaches the impor-tant Saudi travel trade, media and the consumers.Participating in RTF last year,our stakeholders got thechance to update their clientson all the latest developmentsof our destination. We believethis activation played a role in the increasing number of Saudi visitors arriving in Abu Dhabi. ”

He added, “In 2013,some 84,668 Saudi visitorschecked into Abu Dhabi’shotels and hotel apartments,clocking a 20 per cent rise over2012. These Saudi Arabianguests in 2013 delivered193,287 guest nights, whichwas a Year-on-Year lift of 26

The sixth edition of Riyadh Travel Fair will take place from April 15-18, 2014. It will be open to the travel and tourism sector, as well as the general public. This year, it welcomes national tourism organisations like Qatar, Mauritius, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, which are participating for the first time.

All roads lead to Riyadh this April

SU S M I TA GH O S H

Contd. on page 8

In 2013, near84,668 Saudivisitorschecked intoAbu Dhabi’shotels, a 20%rise over 2012

The number ofvisitors thisyear mayfurtherincrease by15,000–20,000visitors

Bander Al GryniGeneral Manager, ASAS Exhibitionsand Organizer of the Riyadh Travel Fair

Sultan Al Mutawa Al DhaheriActing Executive Director of TourismEcosystems, TCA Abu Dhabi

There hasbeen aconsistent risein Saudileisure touriststo Abu Dhabiand Yas Island

Ibrahim KorkutDirector of Sales and Marketing Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi

A booming medical tourism hub ..........................................................................03Dubai targets 20mn tourists by 2020 ....................................................................06Qatar Airways continues ME expansion ..............................................................12

EXHIBITIONS

For the first time under the guid-ance of Informa Life Sciences

Exhibitions, organisers of theArab Health Exhibition &Congress, IMTEC 2014 broughttogether consumers and serviceproviders in the global medical tourism industry to theMiddle East.

Simon Page, ManagingDirector, Informa Life SciencesExhibitions informed, “The movefrom Monte Carlo to Dubai is astrategic one. Dubai is a tourism,trade and logistics hub.

It also has a thrivinghealthcare industry,possibly the highestpercentage ofhealthcareinvestments in theregion, and theoptimumgeographicallocation right in thecentre, which makesit the perfect venuefor this event.”

Hosting an event like IMTECin the Middle East and specifically

in Dubai is very important.It’s due to the optimumlogistic location, the avail-ability of excellent medicalfacilities, multilingual practi-tioners and the multiculturalaspect of the city.

A three prongedapproach like infrastruc-

ture, regulations and supportsystems should be implementedto promote health tourism.Healthcare is a labour intensiveindustry and highly skilledhealthcare talent needs to be generated. Labour market regulation is necessaryfor the sustainability of hospitalsand to maintain consistent highmedical standards.

Medical tourism alsodepends on smooth immigrationpolicy of the country. A network ofdirect and non-stop flight availabil-ity from the identified health

tourism catchment areas andspecial packages for the patientsand families travelling on medicalvisa will help in building the healthtourism industry.

The Middle Eastern healthauthorities are taking great stridesto improve infrastructure in bothprimary care and specialist care.Consequently, the Middle East isnow attracting its own medicaltourists to benefit from the qualityhealthcare provided. The healthauthorities in Dubai are investingheavily in developing the medicaltourism sector.

Dubai is recognised for its world-class healthcare infrastructure and is continuallyprogressing towards becoming an industry leader in medical travel. Relocated fromMonaco to Dubai, the 2nd International Medical Travel Exhibition & Conference(IMTEC) took place from March 5-6, 2014.

A booming medical tourism hub

SU S M I TA GH O S H

Novotel opens new hotelNovotel Abu Dhabi Al Bustan opened its

doors on March 16, 2014. The 4 Star, 361-roomhotel has six F&B outlets, seven meeting rooms,a ballroom, plus recreation and wellness facil-ities. Dominique Mercier, General Manager ofthe property enthused, “We are delighted tohave opened the hotel, reaching the next chap-ter in our ongoing journey to deliver high qualityaccommodation for our guests.” He added,“Guests can now choose based on the durationof their stay. The Novotel brand is synonymouswith providing exemplary 4 - star, short-termaccommodation, whilst for longer stays we willsoon have the Adagio hotel apartments.”

Adagio Al Bustan will open in Q2 of 2014,and will be connected to the Novotel propertythrough a series of enclosed footbridges.

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EDITORIAL

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TRAVTALK is a publication of Durga Das Publications Private Limited. All information in TRAVTALK is derived from sources, which we consider reliable and a sincere effort is made to report accurate information. It is passed on to our readers without any responsibility on our part. The publisher regret that he cannot accept liability for errors and omissions contained in this publica-tion, however caused. Similarly, opinions/views expressed by thirdparties in abstract and/or in interviews are not necessarily shared by TRAVTALK. However, we wish to advice our readers that one or more recognised authorities may hold different views than those reported. Material used in this publication is intended for information purpose only. Readers are advised to seek specific

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Publisher : SanJeet Director : Sumeera Bahl Editor : Deepa Sethi Assistant Editor (ME) : Susmita Ghosh Desk Editor : Archana Sharma Sub Editor : Ramya J.S. D’Rozario Design : Nityanand MisraBusiness Development Manager : Crisna De Guzman Manager Advertising : Geetika Pathak Circulation Manager : Ashok Rana Manager Production : Anil Kharbanda

With the stated aim ofinvestment,promotion, development

and sustainability of the travel & tourismsector in the Middle East and Saudi Arabia,Riyadh Travel Fair (RTF) 2014 is hoping tobe the largest till date.

ASAS Exhibitions and ConferenceOrganizing Company is anticipating an 18per cent increase in exhibitors, compared to2013. Riyadh Travel Fair 2013 welcomed13,678 visitors. The total number of visitorsfor the 2014 edition is expected to be up by15,000 to 20,000, due to extra headroom.

While outbound destinations havetraditionally played a key role within theexhibition, RTF 2014 will seek to introduceand promote Saudi Arabia’s tourismpotential. It will highlight the growth in thissector locally and the services andprogrammes that are on offer to Saudiresidents and Gulf tourists alike, whether asdomestic or international travellers. Thevisitors will be able to interact directly withvarious tourist agencies, hotels, airlines andtravel agents from across the world. It is theoptimal platform for tourism organisationsand industry leaders from the Arabian Gulf,wider region and from around the world todisplay their tourism products, services andinvestment opportunities to the Sauditourism and consumer market.

The Fair is getting more popular as canbe gauged from the fact that several newcountries will be participating for the first timelike Qatar, Mauritius, Sri Lanka and theMaldives. In fact, exhibitors from Asia,Oceania, Europe and North Africa will bepresent, along with travel and tourismagencies and online booking siterepresentatives.

The primary advantage of attending theFair as an exhibitor is the opportunity to meetfor business directly with the Saudi traveltrade and industry representatives. Theopportunities for B2B development areimmense, as the most important buyers fromthe region will be present.

RTF 2014 to drawmore visitors In 35 years, since my arrival, I

have witnessed a tremen-dous surge in the hospitalityindustry here in the UAE. Itinspired me to set down roots to the establishment ofthe Byblos HospitalityManagement as a consistentlyreliable partner, both to ourguests and our investors.

We frequently partnerwith local travel trade and attendroadshows led by DubaiDepartment of Tourism andCommerce Marketing, (DTCM)or familiarisation trips. Our clientportfolio is largely composed ofthe UK, Europe and the MiddleEast like Lebanon, Syria, Egyptand the GCC, including corpo-rations, colleges, universities,and sports leagues both largeand small, and local marketslike Abu Dhabi.

After arriving in the UAEin 1979, being the CEO andfounder of the Group, I havewitnessed the growth, develop-ment and flourishing of thehospitality and tourism industryin Dubai. Such success fos-tered the strength and inspiredme to build a firm backgroundto the establishment of ByblosHospitality Management.

Since then, all these fac-tors contributed to set up a stellar reputation within the hospitality industry dedicat-ed to Byblos Hospitality

Management’s bold mission todeliver superior results for itsowners, investors, partnersand guests.

Our range consists of sixluxury hotels in the UAE, withthe Capitol Hotel being itscrown jewel as the finest 4 starproperty in Dubai. Strategicallylocated in the heart of the busi-

ness district of Dubai, just fewminutes from Dubai WorldTrade Centre, the Capitol Hotelcapitalises on travel for busi-ness and pleasure.

With regards to ourother properties across theglobe, Byblos Niagara Resortand Spa (formerly theHoliday Inn Grand Island) isworth mentioning. Ideal forprofessional and pleasuretourism, the property is locat-ed on the banks of the upper Niagara River, and the hotel is just 15 minutes away from down-town Buffalo, Niagara Fallsand Ontario, Canada. Closeto Dubai’s main businessareas, Marina Byblos Hotel,a 4 star concept, has the per-fect location to suit the needs of both business andleisure travellers.

Anchored in the heart ofAl Barsha Tecom area, ByblosHotel, a modern 4 star con-cept, offers Lebanese hospital-ity with the perfect location to

suit the needs of both businessand leisure travellers.

Capturing inspirationfrom the vibrant culture ofRussia and perfectly blend-ing it with the modernstrokes of Dubai, theMoscow Hotel is an experi-ence not to bemissed.Broadway Hotel, aboutique hotel, is ideally locat-ed in Deira market frequentedby the UAE and GCC guests.

In future, we aim tolaunch several hotel projectslike the Byblos Bay Hotel, aproperty we are co-developingwith Landmark at the businessbay, Dubai which is expectedto be ready by 2017. Also,Byblos Hospitality has beeninvolved in developing a smallpersonalised 84-room hotel at Deira ‘Al Sarab Hotel’, a 3star hotel due to be ready andoperational by June 2014,which will be managed byByblos Hospitality.

We are proud toannounce that ByblosHospitality has been awardedthe contract to develop the req-uisitioned unique, iconic plot ofland at the trunk of The Palmwhere we have accomplishedall needed licenses and designto build up a 145-room 4 starhotel, with attractive outletsand facilities, due to be readyin 2017.

In addition to hotels,Byblos Hospitality has a chainof model coffee shops createdsince 1991, ‘La Gaufrette’ withbranches at Deira City Center,Tecom (Cayan Tower) andMarina (Silverene Tower), while‘La Gaufrette Catering’ coversall cuisine facilities of outside

catering with a production facility in Al Quoz.

Bazerkan LebaneseRestaurant embraces the trueflavour of Lebanon and bringsa family style experience.Located at Capitol Hotel, JBRThe Walk and at Marina(Silverene Tower), the variousbranches offer an exclusiveambience. With regard to busi-ness related to hospitality inthe past years, January 2014stands as the best year rev-enue with an increase of 30 percent from January 2013.

All existing ByblosHospitality hotels and restau-rants are operating above budg-et. However, challenges remainin expansion, since one has tocarefully evaluate the locationof the new property. Footfall inDubai is rising, and new devel-opments are constantly takingplace, and therefore a properstudy of the market is required.Each of our properties has itsown market and clientele, whichmakes it challenging to jugglethe diversity from one propertyto the next.

Jean SammanChairman

Byblos Hospitality

We, at the Byblos Hospitality Group, always look to expand our relations withthe UAE travel trade community, as it helps us realise our goal of providing aninnovative outlook to a firmly established industry.

Offering an inventive view

Being the CEO & founder of theGroup, I have witnessed the growthand flourishing of the hospitality and tourism industry in Dubai

India Tourism in South Africa, MauritiusIndia Tourism recently

conducted roadshows inMauritius and South Africa, asthese countries emerged asmajor tourism generatingmarkets, which is also grow-ing at a consistent pace. The

tourism roadshows were suc-cessfully held on February 3,2014 in Port Louis, Mauritius,followed by February 5, 2014in Cape Town, in Durban onFebruary 6, 2014 and inJohannesburg on February 7,

2014. “While it was empha-sised that, India today hasestablished itself as round-the-year destination, thecountry offers something forevery traveller. The thrustduring the roadshows was

also given to showcase Indiaas a destination for luxury andmedical tourism,” said VikasRustagi, Regional Director(West Asia & Africa), IndiaTourism, Ministry of Tourism,Govt. of India, based in Dubai.

AVIATION A P R I L 2 0 1 4 TRAVTALK 5

The airport infrastructureinvestments and associat-

ed challenges will come up atthe 14th edition of AirportShow from May 11 - 13, 2014,which will also see the stagingof the second edition of GlobalAirport Leaders’ Forum(GALF) on its sidelines.

Daniyal Qureshi,Director of Airport Show andGALF, said, “In almost everypart of the world, especially inthe Middle East, airportexpansion is a major focus forthe aviation industry. Theimportance of investment inairports is realised strongly,keeping in mind the massiveflow expected in air travellersin the coming decade.”

Centre for Asia PacificAviation (CAPA) has revealedthat the spending on airportconstruction projects globallyis worth over US$385 billion.

International AirTransport Association (IATA)said the Middle East contin-

ues to be a great successstory in the aviation industry.It’s noted that ‘about US$40 billion is invested inairport infrastructure in theArabian Gulf alone by far-sighted’ governments. By2017, the total passengernumbers are expected to riseto 3.91 billion.

Dubai is executingUS$34 billion on Dubai WorldCentral (DWC) project as theworld’s top airport for interna-tional passengers in 2015,overtaking London Heathrow.In November 2013, Dubaiopened the passenger termi-nal of its second internationalairport, Al MaktoumInternational. Expected toinvest over US$8.1 billion innew infrastructure to hostExpo 2020, Dubai Airportshas been ‘preparing’ itself to double the Emirate’s pas-senger handling capacity to200 million passengers a year by 2045, up from

the present target of 100 million a year by 2020.Commissioned by 2017, AbuDhabi will have a new airportterminal complex, initially to handle 27 million passen-gers per year.

Sharjah Airport is wait-ing to complete its 2030 mas-ter plan. The airport reportedlyhandled 7.5 million passen-gers in 2012, a 13.6 per centyear-on-year jump from theprevious year.

Oman has earmarkedUS$6.1 billion over five yearsfor aviation projects, whichinclude major terminal devel-opments at Muscat andSalalah international airportsand completion of four newregional airports. The newMuscat International Airport is expected to see full opera-tions by 2014-end, designedto handle 12 million passen-gers and can be extended upto 48 million.

To meet the demands of future air travellers and expanding fleets of airlines, theMiddle East countries in general and Arabian Gulf states in particular are pumpingin billions of dollars to build new airports or expand the existing facilities.

Huge airport growth on track

TT BU R E AU

The importanceof investment inairports isrealised strongly,keeping in mindthe massive flowin air travellersexpected

Daniyal QureshiDirectorAirport Show and GALF

Next on the charts are long-haul flights to London,

Paris, Casablanca, India and Pakistan, offering regionaltravellers access to populardestinations.

“flynas’ target tocarry 20 millionpassengersannually by 2020 isfueled by theairline’s ambitiousstrategy to expandits network todestinations likeAsia, Europe andAfrica,”informed Sulaiman AlHamdan, CEO, Nas Holding.The new brand identity of fly-nas, formerly nasair, offerspassengers affordable air trav-

el with high value-added services.

The carrier hasembraced smarter technolo-gies as a part of its Low CostCarrier Plus (LCC+) concept.To cater to a new generation oftravellers, a new BusinessClass offering on all routes andthe start of its ambitious GlobalFlight Routes programme –Saudi Arabia’s national carrierand first low cost airline, is allset to embark upon new jour-neys starting April 2014.

“The recently launchedBusiness Class experience onall routes comes with comfort-able in-flight features with aseat pitch of 60 inches and areclinable full flat-bed, in addi-tion to a hot meal service, andunlimited hot and cold drinks,”he further stated.

flynas Global Flight Routesprogramme took off in April this year,with non-stop flights from Jeddah toMalaysia, and Jakarta.

TT BU R E AU

Spreading wingsacross the globe

ANALYSIS6 TRAVTALK A P R I L , 2 0 1 4

The seven-year strategicroadmap highlights - while

Dubai remains proud of itssuccess to date, there isrecognition of the enablersthat need to be delivered bythe industry collectively for thecity to cater this visitor growth.

Dubai plans to almost doublethe number of hotel rooms by2020. Saudi Arabia and Indiarepresented two of thebiggest markets for Dubai in2013. According to DTCMdata, tourists come from bothEast and West. Dubai airportpassenger traffic 14 per centin 2013.

Under the ‘Tourism Vision for 2020,’ Dubai expects to attract 20 million tourists by the end of the decade. Dubai'sDepartment of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) has outlined the detailed Tourism Vision 2020 to more than70 of the Emirate's leading hospitality and travel industry decision-makers.

Dubai targets 20mn tourists by 2020

SUSMITA GHOSHHelal Saeed Almarri, Director General, DTCM, noted, “To bring 20 million global outbound visitors

to Dubai, and thereby increase the GDP contribution by 2020, we should remain focussed on increasing thecompetitiveness of Dubai's tourism sector.” He further added, “Innovative marketing to raise awareness ofour offering, redefining travellers' expectations with consistent service excellence across all tourism touchpoints and adoption of cutting edge technologies, and initiating versatile experiences are the three vitalaspects we need to take care of.” During a recent meeting with representatives of the hospitality industry,Almarri, presented Tourism 2020 strategy, emphasising the strength of the tourism sector as an economicdriver for the Emirate's GDP. The presentation discussed several initiatives covering regulatory policy,infrastructure development, product offering enhancement and destination marketing investments to posi-

tion Dubai as the evident 'first choice' for the international leisure and business travellers. Dubai's 2020 TourismVision has been well received by the Emirate's hoteliers and tour operators.

Rupprecht Queitsch, General Manager, JW Marriott Marquis, I was delighted to be present atthe Stakeholder Meeting with Helal Almarri, providing keen insight into DTCM's strategy for the forthcomingyear. The breadth of DTCM's research is extensive, covering regulatory issues, leisure and business topicsand the internal structures of DTCM committed to executing the strategy most effectively. I was particularlyinterested in the research which showed the rich infrastructure and diversity of Dubai, and the competitiveprice offering compared to other destinations. The meeting clearly confirmed the essential role of hospitalityleaders and stakeholders in the strategy, working together to raise awareness of Dubai as a destinationin an increasingly competitive market."

Mohammed Awadalla, CEO, TI’ME Hotels, "We appreciate the role played by the DTCM, whichis in constant communication with us, advising us of the latest trends and guest requirements to developtourism still further in the city. In addition to the wise decision made recently by Sheikh Mohammed bin RashidAl Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, it has called for 3- and 4-star hotels,to be exempt from municipal fees, which will encourage investors to develop hotels in this category. I haverecommended DTCM that they consider monitoring and regulating prices in hotels - a measure which wouldhave a positive impact in attracting MICE tourism to the city. TIME Hotels intends to expand its portfolio tocope with the increasing number of overseas visitors coming to Dubai and to prepare for Expo 2020."

Ghassan Aridi, CEO, AlphaTours, "It was very valuable to shareand discuss the strategy with us, whichproved to be an example of the closeworking links shared between the pri-vate and public sectors. There is muchto do from now till 2020, and thoughthe vision is challenging, it is certainly

achievable. It’s clear that DTCM will have immense activitiesto perform in the next few months. More such meetings shouldbe held since it is important that we work together, therebycontinuing the growth of tourism in Dubai."

David Thomson, ChiefOperating Office, JA Resorts & Hotels,This meeting was a key milestone in thedrive of the Dubai hospitality sector tofulfill the vision of Sheikh Mohamed binRashid for the Tourism Industry in 2020.The presentation by Helal Almarri clear-ly laid out what actions needed to betaken both within Dubai in terms ofservice delivery, the required additions to the hotel inventory,the infrastructure developments and what markets needed tobe developed to bring the targeted number of visitors. It wasa clear call to action and undoubtedly whoever has attendedthe presentation felt empowered. It was also understood thatthe success of Vision 2020 is as much down to the privatehospitality sector as it is to the Government."

Rob Weeden, Vice President,Sales and Marketing, Shangri-LaHotels and Resorts, "Strategically, theplan is world-class and the delivery ofit will ensure that Dubai competes onthe global stage. It was encouragingto see the focus on the developmentof DTCM's overseas office networkand the research that is being con-ducted into growth markets. A focus on increasing visitorsduring summer is also important and the industry must worktogether on such aspects to ensure success. Perhaps mostencouraging is the thought that has gone into future-proofingthe tourism industry - this is not a short-term fix but a detailedlong-term strategy."Nicholas Clayton, Chief

Operating Officer, Jumeirah Group,"It is very encouraging for all the play-ers in the travel and tourism industryin Dubai to be united by a commonvision of future growth, supported byexcellent data and insights, spear-headed by such strong leadership.This is a true public/private partnershipstriving for a common goal and Jumeirah Group is proudto be a part of it."

Wael El Behi, GeneralManager of Hawthorn Suites byWyndham Dubai, “I think we need to work closely and hand in hand with all government authorities with the common interest to promote Dubai as a leading tourism destination. It is our duty to work closely with

DTCM, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Police and assist themin their mission.”

NTO A P R I L 2 0 1 4 TRAVTALK 7

Ajman is presently witness-ing a golden age of devel-

opment. At the forefront, it isthe Emirate’s burgeoningtourism sector being devel-oped and handled by AjmanTourism DevelopmentDepartment (ATDD).

Faisal Al Nuaimi,General Manager, ATDD said,“We constantly strive to

upgrade and improve promo-tion and support mechanismsfor the Ajman hotel establish-

ments, through effective strate-gic partnerships and continu-ous innovation.”

With the opening of theAjman Palace, the first recog-nised 5 star property in theEmirate, along with over 80contracts signed at the ITB forthe opening of more of suchproperties, the region isexpected to become a viableleisure destination.On March5, 2014, the UAE Ambassadorto Germany, Jumaa MubarakAl Jeneibi in conjunction withAl Nuaimi launched the officialwebsite of ATDD, www.ajman-tourism.ae. This was done intandem with ATDD leading theAjman delegation to ITB Berlin.

The web portal, currentlyin its first phase of threeplanned phases will include ane-calendar for Ajman events, adetailed map of the Emirate’stourist attractions, hotel estab-lishments, travel agencies anda media centre. The secondand third phases are going toexpand on the accessibility ofthe portal through smart phoneapps and e-services in the sec-

tors of licensing, classificationand inspection, among othertourist-related services respec-tively. The delegation, whichheld a number of public orient-ed activities over event days,was voted the Third BestExhibitor at ITB-Berlin, for theCategory of Near and MiddleEast participants.

According to Al Nuaimi,this outing was particularlyprofitable with many of theregion’s hotels signing con-tracts with tour operators to pull European tourists toAjman in addition to the variousdelegation meetings with for-eign luxury companies to holdsports events and conferencesin the Emirate.

In 2013, Ajman saw a dramatic upswing in the tourism sector of the region withrevenues of Ajman hotels and hotel apartments increasing by 34.6 per cent in2013, and occupancy shooting up to 48.47 per cent during the same period.

Occupancy hits 48.47% in 2013

TT BU R E AU

Faisal Al NuaimiGeneral ManagerATDD

We constantly strive to upgradeand improve promotion andsupport mechanisms for the Ajmanhotel establishments, througheffective strategic partnerships andcontinuous innovation

It will include a list ofevents, details oftourist spots, hotels,travel agencies, etc.

Web Portal

Tourism is one of the majorcomponents of Saudi-

Greece relations as near13,000 Saudi citizens visited the country in 2013.Moreso, they discussed bilat-eral cooperation regardingtourism, museums and monu-ments in addition to architec-tural heritage between the two countries.

“Our cooperationefforts beganbefore with Rome in Italy.Presently, we are working withGreece as acountry that had ahistorical impacton the Muslimworld,”

said Prince Sultan binSalman bin Abdul Aziz,President, SCTA.

The Saudi Commissionfor Tourism and Antiquities(SCTA) was greatly benefitedby Greece in preparing theGeneral Strategy for theDevelopment of NationalTourism. The MoU was signedbetween Prince Sultan binSalman bin Abdul Aziz,President, SCTA and Olga Kefalogianni, Minister of Tourism of the HellenicRepublic.

SCTA had also organ-ised an exploratory visit toGreece in May, 2011, to gainexperience in rehabilitation ofheritage buildings and to learnon joint work between the rel-evant authorities for the devel-opment of tourism.

To boost mutual aid in the field oftourism and antiquities, Saudi Arabiaand Greece signed a Memorandumof Understanding.

TT BU R E AU

Saudi-Greece pacton tourism

COVER STORY8 TRAVTALK A P R I L , 2 0 1 4

per cent and they stayed anaverage of 2.28 nights.”

He added, “We nowhave 50 Etihad Airwaysflights from Saudi Arabia withthe recent addition of a newservice from Median, the air-line’s fourth destination in theKingdom. With Dammam,Riyadh and Jeddah comple-mented by flights from SaudiArabian Airlines, our potentialto grow business further has increased.”

He further added, “InJanuary, we welcomed 10,679Saudi Arabian guests to ourhotels which saw a jump of 37per cent on January 2013.These guests accounted for24,147 guest nights, whichwas a month-on-monthincrease of 45 per cent, withguests staying an average of45 per cent.”

City Seasons Hotels arewell established throughout theGCC, particularly in the Saudimarket. They expect a strongnetworking bond with theirexisting business partners aswell as build relationships with

new clientele, showcasing thenewly opened 5-star property,Royal Rose hotel.

“By participating in RTF2013, our business share fromthe Saudi market is on agrowth trend. Families visitingover the weekends anddemand for family rooms orsuites has increased substan-tially,” informed Manu Madan,Group General Manager,Business Development, CitySeasons Group of Hotels, AbuDhabi. “Riyadh Travel Fair is animportant event due to largenumber of Saudi visitors andexpatriates travelling to the UAEon both leisure and business.Hence, we are participating thisyear too,” he further stated.

“We have a strong focusin the Saudi Arabia market,and expect remarkable growthin business in near future. TheRiyadh Travel Fair provides theright platform for us to show-case our strength as a travelcompany,” explained JamalAbdulnazar, GeneralManager, Cozmo Travel.“Besides interacting with otherexhibitors and sharing bestpractices, it will attract the trav-el segment especially during

the summer vacations, both foroutbound from Saudi Arabiaand inbound to the UAE. Wedidn't participate in the fair lastyear as we were busy setting-up our office in Saudi Arabia.But we are actively participat-ing in the Fair this year, fol-lowed by a roadshow. We havea very strong focus on Saudimarket and expect massive

growth in business in nearfuture,” he elucidated.

Today, Cozmo Travelshas offices in five Saudi cities,with the head office being in Riyadh, followed by Jeddah, Dammam, Medinaand Yanbu. By June 2014, theorganisation will have 12 branches.

RTF to attract summer business

RTF provides the rightplatform toshowcase our strength

By taking part in RTF2013, ourbusiness from KSA has grown

Manu MadanGroup General Manager, BusinessDevelopment, City Seasons Groupof Hotels, Abu Dhabi

Jamal AbdulnazarGeneral ManagerCozmo Travel

Showcasing India in Mauritius & SARealising the potential of Mauritius and South Africa as feeder markets, India Tourism successfully conducted roadshows in February in Port Louis, Mauritius,followed by another roadshow in Cape Town, Durban and in Johannesburg. The Indian delegation comprised Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) andthe officials of the State Tourism Departments of Meghalaya and Madhya Pradesh, showcasing their India products during the four events.

Cape Town Durban

MauritiusJohannesburg

Contd. from page 1

UAE in focus atGIBTM 2014The Middle East is the fastest growing international association meetingmarket in the world, according to an International Congress and ConventionAssociation study which was revealed recently, coinciding with the eighthedition of Gulf Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings (GIBTM) whichopened on March 24. This year, GIBTM welcomed over 250 regional andinternational Hosted Buyers from 36 countries, who met 300 exhibitorsfrom 35 destinations. For travel within the region, the UAE was ranked asthe most popular destination.

CRUISES A P R I L 2 0 1 4 TRAVTALK 9

Miami is the internationallaunch pad for its cam-

paign to promote the ArabianPeninsula as a cruise tourismhotspot. During the WorldCruise Tourism summit work-shops, Hamad bin Mejren,Executive Director, BusinessTourism, DTCM, commented,“Cruise Shipping Miami is thepinnacle of the global cruiseindustry’s calendar. Hence, weare delighted to attend thisyear’s event for the first time asCruise Arabia, together withour partners from Oman andAbu Dhabi.”

He added, “Recently,Dubai leadership has investedheavily in the development ofthe cruise sector, resulting inDubai becoming recognised asa leading cruise hub. By part-nering with Abu Dhabi andOman to encourage a newgeneration of cruise tourists inthe Gulf and to showcase all

the region has to offer, we arelooking forward to the further

evolution of this industry andincreasing the number of

cruise tourists that disembarkat our ports.”

Salim Al Mamari,Director General of TourismPromotion, Oman Ministry ofTourism, informed, “Oman,Dubai and Abu Dhabi are bud-ding cruising destinations inthe region with immensepotential to compete withestablished global destina-tions. In reality, we already offera highly developed tourism andhospitality infrastructure.”

“Collectively, Abu Dhabi,Oman and Dubai represent anattractive regional destinationthat can compete with theworld’s primary cruisehotspots,” said Sultan AlDhaheri, Acting ExecutiveDirector Tourism Sector, TCAAbu Dhabi. “There is significantinvestment, both financial andhuman capital, going in tobuilding this sector and thetime is right for operators toalign with us to reap the bene-fits of a segment which nowhas full and committed atten-tion,” added Al Dhaheri.

The Oman Ministry of Tourism, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority and Dubai’s Department ofTourism and Commerce Marketing highlighted their new, joint Cruise Arabia partnership at CruiseShipping Miami, a global event of the cruise industry.

Promoting Arabian Peninsula in USA

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Jumeirah Group hassigned a managementagreement with GT LandHoldings to operate 169luxury serviced resi-dences, in addition to the 207-room luxuryJumeirah GuangzhouHotel in China. The hotelis already nearing comple-tion. The agreement wassigned at a ceremony heldat Burj Al Arab, and wasattended by Su Meng,Chairman, GT Land, and Gerald Lawless,President and Group CEO,Jumeirah Group.

Set in a prime locationin East Guangzhou, theapartment and hotel com-plex is located in a rapidlygrowing commercial cen-tre and upscale hotel dis-trict. The previouslyannounced 207-room five-star luxury JumeirahGuangzhou Hotel isscheduled to open in2015, and will comprise10 food and beverage out-lets, a sky lobby on the49th floor and banquetand conference centre.

JumeirahGroup expandsin China

There issignificantinvestment, bothfinancial andhuman capital,building this sector

Oman, Dubaiand Abu Dhabiare buddingcruisingdestinationswith immensepotential

Dubai hasinvested heavilyin the cruisesector, resultingin it becoming aleading cruise hub

Hamad bin MejrenExecutive DirectorBusiness Tourism, DTCM

Salim Al MamariDirector General of TourismPromotionOman Ministry of Tourism

Sultan Al DhaheriActing Executive Director TourismSector, TCA Abu Dhabi

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Unique prospects from tourism think tankITB Berlin 2014 confirmed its role as the world’s leading travel trade show with increase in international buyers, exhibitors and congress delegates. This year’sshow reported a 4 per cent rise in trade visitors and an increase in business volume, reaching Euro 6.5 billion, an estimate reported by Messe Berlin. Positiveforecasts for the global economy are expected to boost the tourism sector this year.

A P R I L 2 0 1 4 TRAVTALK 1 1

Awide range of awarenessactivities will be highlighted

across the UAE, where partic-ipants get a first-hand experi-ence of all the aspects of agreen life.

“Community engage-ment is an important part ofThe Cove Rotana Resort.Greening efforts move people and will eventuallylead to positive changes in the environment and our larger society,” informedAndreas Mueller, GeneralManager, The Cove Rotana Resort.

“We have dedicated ourselves tirelessly to the environmental causes for the betterment of our resort and its surroundings. Wewill continue to implement sus-tainability programmes toincrease awareness amongst

our guests and staff,” he expressed.

As part of its ongoingsustainability programme and to show further commit-ment to the environment, the resort is planning additionalactivities to create memorableexperiences, while bringingawareness to global sustain-ability issues.

The resort will organise atree-planting project wherehotel staff will join the guests to plant trees in theresort. The trees will not only bring positive changes in its environment but will leave a positive change within everyone.

Cinnamon, the all daydining restaurant of the resort,will cook up a menu whichdelights the palate and is alsogentle to the earth.

By participating in the UAE Green Festival, Cove RotanaResort shows its support for a green, sustainable future.Designed to educate people about a sustainable way oflife, the festival is a month-long celebration.

Going Green with UAE

We havededicatedourselvestirelessly toenvironmentalcauses for thebetterment ofour resort and itssurroundings

Andreas MuellerGeneral ManagerThe Cove Rotana Resort

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In Luxor, the Group will managethe 154-bedroom TI’ME Tut

Hotel, comprising 116 standardrooms and 38 suites, due to behanded over later this year. Inthe UAE, TI’ME is opening fur-ther two properties in AbuDhabi and Ajman. The 42-storey Al Jawhara TI’ME fur-nished apartments is sched-uled to open in 2015.

“Demand for modern,well managed and competitive-ly priced accommodation is ris-ing in all of the major resortsand cities throughout theregion. In this aspect, localindependent hospitality brandsare more readily accepted inthe value chain. We have agrassroot understanding of theregional markets, our over-heads are modest and we areflexible when it comes torespecting an owner’s aspira-tions,” said MohamedAwadalla, CEO, TI’ME Hotels.

The TI’ME Capital HotelApartments situated in down-

town Ajman is due to be hand-ed over in March 2014. Thenine-storey TI’ME Rako Hotelwill be located in the rapidlyemerging industrial belt ofWakra, close to Doha, set toopen in mid-2015.

To support TI’ME’sexpansion plans further, thecompany has recently movedto a new office in the Garhoudarea of Dubai, close to DubaiInternational Airport. The new head office covers 360 sq mt on the fourth floor ofthe Al Fattan Plaza, the homeof Dubai Government’sDepartment of Tourism,Commerce Marketing.

“The entire executivemanagement team at TI’ME isnow consolidated into a dedi-cated single space, which willimprove operational efficiency,”added Awadalla. “We have anoffice set up in Cairo, opera-tional since March 1, 2014. It willserve as a platform to supportour sales and marketing effortsin Egypt, both inbound and out-

bound business and expansionplans for more properties inEgypt,” he concluded.

TI’ME Hotels has planned new properties over the next18 months in Luxor, Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Ajman, takingthe group portfolio to 11. The new Dubai head office andregional office in Cairo aim to support expansion plans.

Boosting regional presence

Demand formodern andcompetitivelypricedaccommodationis rising in allmajor resortsand cities in the region

Mohamed AwadallaCEOTI’ME Hotels

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Designed and decorated inArabic style, featured

amenities and advanced interactive multimedia sys-tems, the island resort boastsof 302 rooms and suites withlarge balconies.

Marjan Island Resort andSpa is a true family destinationwith a range of facilities andactivities for young guests. Itincludes an indoor-outdoorplayground, Pirate’s Club,Youngsters Entertainment Fun Centre, dedicated chil-dren’s swimming pool and ahost of watersports on theisland’s two beaches.

“With over 30 years ofexperience in the hotel busi-ness, I feel we hardly getopportunities like this veryoften, to work in a destinationas rewarding as Marjan Island- Ras Al Khaimah, managing a

property as amazing as MarjanIsland Resort and Spa,” saidRoger Tannous, GeneralManager, Marjan Island Resort and Spa, a Lebanesenational who is also fluent inEnglish and French andArabic. “I am thrilled to beworking with this resort.

This one-of-a-kindresort offersfamilies acomplete andauthentic Arabianexperience.

The property soaks up the culture, hospitality, tran-quility and stunning location,that remains truer today thanever before.”

Relaxation and wellbeingare essential elements of theresort’s vision, with an entirefloor dedicated to the La’MarHolistic Wellness Spa.

If its business that needsto be attended to, there is noneed to leave the comforts ofthe resort.

With a 250-person ballroom, fully serviced business centre as well as aboardroom and various break-out rooms, executives anddecision-makers will haveeverything they need to get thejob done.

Offering spacious accommodation, Marjan Island Resortand Spa opened its doors recently on a private island offthe coast of Ras Al Khaimah. The hotel is offering aspecial introductory rate as its launch celebrations.

Island resort opens in RAK

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Roger TannousGeneral ManagerMarjan Island Resort and Spa

HOTELS

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Operated both by AirbusA320 aircraft, the new

UAE routes with its continuedexpansion plans will benefittravellers by increasing acces-sibility to the region. There willbe three flights daily toSharjah, with two flights perday to DWC.

“Over the years, we havefocussed upon the expansionof our route network, and theseflights to Sharjah and DWCdemonstrate our commitmentto the UAE,” commentedAkbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways.

Sheikh Khalid BinEssam Al Qassimi,Chairman, Department of CivilAviation-Sharjah said, “Wewould like to thank QatarAirways for their choice to useSharjah International Airportas a new destination within its

international network. This willadd value for travellers usingthe airport to reach their desti-nations in Europe, Asia andAmerica, enhancing trade and transportation servicesbetween Sharjah and Doha as well.”

Ali Salim Al Midfa,Chairman, Sharjah AirportAuthority said, “The launch of

daily flights to SharjahInternational Airport reflectsthe confidence of the interna-tional airlines in services andfacilities provided by the air-port. Today, we are happy toreceive the inaugural flight ofQatar Airways, connectingSharjah and Doha.”

Mohamed Ali AlNoman, Chairman, Sharjah

Commerce and TourismDevelopment Authority(SCTDA) expressed, “Themove will boost tourism rela-tions between the two partiesand increase the flow of Qatariand GCC tourists to theEmirate.” Al Noman pointed outthat Sharjah receives morethan 25,000 visitors from Qatarannually on an average, andthe numbers are sure to

increase significantly in thecoming years with direct Doha-Sharjah connectivity. QatarAirways has used ITB as aplatform to showcase its newproducts and services,focussing on new destinations,addition of the A380 and A350

to its fleet and opening up ofthe much anticipated HamadInternational Airport.

Moreover, Qatar Airwaysand Qatar Tourism Authorityhave started a joint initiative forthe airline passengers in transit

to explore some of the city’smajor tourist attractions on afree tour in Doha. Passengerswith five to 12 hours transittime can book the free city tour by visiting the Doha CityTour counter at DohaInternational Airport. Booking

is done on a first-come, first-served basis and is subject toseat availability on the coach. The duration of the tour is around three hours, con-ducted in an air-conditionedcoach with an English speaking guide.

Qatar Airways recently started daily flights from Doha to Sharjah and Dubai World Central Al Maktoum InternationalAirport (DWC). This new addition to the existing flight network doubles the total number of destinations within the UAE.

Qatar Airways continues ME expansionSU S M I TA GH O S H

Sheikh Khalid Bin Essam Al Qassimi, Chairman, Department of Civil Aviation, Sharjah, (third from left) addresses themedia gathering at a ceremony to welcome Qatar Airways’ flight to Sharjah International Airport. Also seen (from left)Fathi Al Shehab, SVP GCCLI & ISC, Qatar Airways; Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways and Ali Salim Al Midfa, Chairman,Sharjah Airport Authority

Middle Eastern guests nowhave something to look

forward to with this news asthey get to sail on this ship fromtheir preferred destination.“European sailings are verypopular among Middle Easternguests. Generally, mostMediterranean cruises set sailfrom spring through fall with thesummer high season hostingthe largest number of sailingsand people. Over the lastyears, we have had constantbooking increases from theMiddle East region forEuropean sailings,” explainedLakshmi Durai, ExecutiveDirector (Middle East), RoyalCaribbean Arabia. Bookingsare now open

Starting from May 24,2015, ‘Allure of the Seas’ willsail a seven-night itineraryevery Sunday from Barcelona,calling at Palma De Mallorca,Spain; Provence (Marseilles),France and Florence/Pisa (LaSpezia), Rome (Civitavecchia)and Naples/Capri in Italy.Cruise lovers can also choose

to embark ‘Allure of the Seas’for a seven-night sailing,roundtrip from Rome(Civitavecchia). On board,

guests of ‘Allure of the Seas’will enjoy the most innovativearray of onboard amenitiescontained in seven themedneighborhoods. Guests willalso enjoy the DreamWorksExperience, an entertainmentprogramme developed with theworld-class animated film stu-dio powerhouse DreamWorksAnimation SKG.

Royal Caribbean’s familyprogramming will also helpensure that guests of everygeneration can share an unfor-gettable Europe family vacation aboard ‘Allure of the Seas’. The cruise line’scomplimentary AdventureOcean kids programme offersongoing educational and enter-taining sessions.

Royal Caribbean International has announced that‘Allure of the Seas’ will homeport in Barcelona in summer2015, taking tourists to Mediterranean destinations.Bookings for the Oasis-class Europe season is now open.

Europe season gains fame

Over the lastyears, we havehad constantbookingincreases fromthe Middle Eastregion forEuropeansailings

Lakshmi DuraiExecutive Director (Middle East)Royal Caribbean Arabia

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In conjunction with govern-ment departments like Dubai

Chamber of Commerce andIndustry and the Dubai CivilAviation Authority, DTTAGseeks to set and regulate proper standards and practices for members andadvance the travel agency profession as a whole.

“This will be taken up inthe next weeks, as the newExecutive Committee forDTTAG has been confirmedwith Majid Al Mulla of dnata,who was re-elected asPresident and Samir Andraosas Vice President. There will be a meeting with Dubai Civil Aviation shortlywhen we will consolidate andmove things forward,”informed Leo Fewtrell,General Manager, DubaiTravel and Tour Agents Group.“Moreover, with the new com-mittee, we are finalising sub-committees to enable us tomove things ahead morespeedily with the DubaiChamber also.” He added,

“On behalf of ourmembers, we seekto achieve positiveresults withpartners likeairlines, GDS,cruises, TourismBoards, insurancecompanies, carrentals and allsuppliers to thetravel trade.”

DTTAG offers free skillstraining to travel agents everymonth, thanks to the generos-

ity of its key sponsor, Emquest.Thus, around 15 agents everymonth will benefit from thisvaluable training.

When funds permit, theagents are given more com-prehensive training sessionsfrom fully authenticated traininginstitutes. DTTAG also coordi-nates with Tourism Boards,IATA and other affiliated groupsto provide facilities for trainingkey consultants.

DTTAG agents sellaround 80 per cent of the busi-ness and leisure out of Dubai,which includes companies likednata, Al Rais, Al Rostamani,Kanoo Travel, ALTA, AlNaboodah, Alpha Holidays, AirLink and Emirates Holidays,amongst others.

They also offer an affili-ate membership to travel relat-ed suppliers, who work closelywith travel agencies. TheGroup would like to see mem-bership made mandatory priorto travel agency licensesbeing issued/renewed, as theonly way.

Dubai Travel and Tour Agents Group (DTTAG) worksto promote cooperation among the travel trade. The groupsigned an MOU with the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority,committing both parties to enhance standards in Dubai.

Supporting Dubai’s agents

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‘Allure of the Seas’ willsail a seven-nightitinerary every Sundayfrom Barcelona, callingat Palma De Mallorca;Provence, France and Italy

Itinerary

Leo FewtrellGeneral ManagerDTTAG

Over the years, we have focussedupon the expansion of our routenetwork, and these flights toSharjah and DWC demonstrateour commitment to the UAE

Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways

TECHNOLOGY A P R I L 2 0 1 4 TRAVTALK 1 3

The adjusted profit for theyear grew 7.8 per cent to

Euro 619.5 million. “Amadeushas maintained its record ofdelivering success both in rev-enue and profitability.

Our transaction-based businessmodel continuedto be resilient inthe face ofindustrychallenges.

Also our investment inR&D, which drives productevolution and portfolio expan-sion, has contributed to ourcontinued growth,” commentedLuis Maroto, President &CEO, Amadeus.

“Even in the context ofslow growth in the wider mar-ket, Amadeus continued tooutperform the travel distribu-

tion industry and strengthenits leading position in the airdistribution segment, with amarket share increase to 40.1per cent in total air travelagency bookings.

This was most apparentin North America, one of ourstrategic targets for expansion, where despitecontraction in the region weachieved a 38.1 per centincrease,” he added.

The growth commitmentin new regions was also evi-dent in the IT Solutions busi-ness, where the number ofpassengers boarded in theAsia Pacific markets increasedby 57.6 per cent.

The region became the second biggest market for the IT Solutions business,and this shift will continue as migrations of Asian carriers take place during 2014and 2015.

“With the acquisition of Newmarket International, a leader in the Hotel IT industry, we have enhancedour presence in a key growtharea for Amadeus. Meanwhile,our airports unit madeprogress in the ground-han-dling area as well as signingkey agreements withCopenhagen and Munich air-ports,” he further said.

Amadeus IT Holding, S.A., recently released their year-on-year financial results for 2013, witnessing an increasein revenue of 6.6 per cent to Euro 3,103.7 million, and 7.2per cent growth to Euro 1,188.7 million.

Revenue up by 6.6%

Luis MarotoPresident & CEOAmadeus

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Middle East Airlines selectedTravelport as its preferred

GDS in Lebanon, which signif-icantly means that Travelport-connected agents and theirtravelling customers in theregion will benefit from exclu-

sive promotions and enhancedsupport from Middle EastAirlines. According to MiddleEast Airlines, Travelport’s exten-sive, world-wide travel agencynetwork complements the car-rier’s growth plans, makingthem a valued partner andimportant distribution channel.

The airline wishes to continueworking to take their businessto the next level.

“We are very pleased toannounce this new deal with avalued airline partner in theMiddle East,” said Rabih Saab,

President and MD, Africa, theMiddle East and South Asia, Travelport. “Being the pre-ferred GDS of Middle EastAirlines is a testament to our commitment, deliveringunrivalled service and travelcontent to our regional andglobal customers.”

The new deal reinforcesTravelport’s continued invest-ment and long-term commit-ment to Lebanon, whereTravelport set up an office in2012 to closely manage andsupport the airlines and distrib-utors in the fast growing Levantregion. The company alsoannounced last year therenewal of its distributor con-tract with Gate 7 for Travelportin Lebanon.

Travelport and Middle East Airlines, the national flag-carrier of Lebanon, renewed its global full contentagreement, which provides Travelport’s clients with accessto the carrier’s full content and its web fares.

Travelport renews old ties

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Rabih SaabPresident and MD, Africa, the Middle Eastand South Asia, Travelport

Being the preferred GDS of MiddleEast Airlines is a testament to ourcommitment, delivering unrivalledservice and travel content to ourregional and global customers

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Celebrating National Day & Liberation DayDeyab Farhan Alrashidi, Consul General of the State of Kuwait in Dubai andNorth Emirate hosted the grand celebration of the 53rd National Day & 23rd Liberation Day of Kuwait on February 25, 2014 at JW Marriott Marquis HotelDubai. Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman ofthe Board of Directors, Dubai Media Inc., who serves as the Chairman of Dubai,graced the occasion.

This agreement will facilitate Bangkok

Airways’ customers to book on Qantas services fromBangkok and Singapore toAustralia, and on a number of routes on Qantas’ domestic network.

“The agreement wasanother step forward in deliv-ering on the Airline’s strategyto offer the best options forcustomers travelling betweenAustralia and Asia,” informedSimon Hickey, CEO, QantasInternational.

“This partnershipis great news for our customerstravelling to resortdestinations in Thailand,” he added.

From March 30, 2014,Qantas’ customers will be ableto book on Bangkok Airwaysservices from Bangkok and Singapore to six new destinations in Thailand,including Ko Samui, ChiangMai and Phuket.

Besides connecting theirholiday destination viaBangkok or Singapore, thenew codeshare services willallow customers with more opportunities to earn fre-quent flyer points and have their luggage checkedstraight through to their final destination.

To boost Qantas’ offeringinto Asia, this announcementincludes new codeshare with China Southern, new premium lounges in Singapore(April 2013) and Hong Kong (March 2014) and a major upgrade of the airline’s A330 fleet startingfrom 2014-end.

Qantas and Bangkok Airways signeda codeshare agreement, which willimprove options for Qantas’ clientstravelling across South East Asia.

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New codeshareagreement signed

Etihad to increase services to MoscowEtihad Airways will

increase its Abu Dhabi-Moscow services from sevenflights per week to doubledaily on June 1, 2014, andthen to triple daily fromOctober 1, 2014. The UAE flagcarrier commenced operationsto the Russian capital'sDomodedovo airport (DME) inDecember 2008, and sincethen has carried more than400,000 travellers. In 2013passenger volumes rose 36per cent compared to 2012

levels, achieving double-digitgrowth for the fourth consec-utive year. Important newconnections will includeflights to and from theMaldives, Seychelles, Phuket,and Ho Chi Minh City,as well as new busi-ness and leisure desti-nations such asBrisbane, Chengdu,Kathmandu, Lagos,Manila, Nairobi, Perthand Singapore.Elsewhere, the triple

daily flights will see more andimproved connections toBahrain, Bangkok, Doha,Jakarta, Johannesburg, KualaLumpur, Kuwait, Lahore,Muscat, Riyadh and Sydney.

The flight schedule will alsoboost onward codeshare con-nectivity with S7 Airlinesbeyond the Russian capital tothe cities of Kazan, Krasnodar,Saint Petersburg and Samara.

City Seasons Hotels has announced the soft opening of Royal Rose, the first 5-star propertyof the Bin Ham Group and its flagship property in Abu Dhabi. Built in a style resembling thesplendour and grandeur of a 17th century French palace, Royal Rose features 355 well-appointed luxury rooms and suites, state-of-the-art meetings rooms, signature restaurantand dining outlets, a fully equipped health club, swimming pool and a full service spa.

Royal Rose now open in Abu Dhabi

MOVEMENTS A P R I L 2 0 1 4 TRAVTALK 1 5DTTAGDubaiDina Al Herais, Vice President, Commercial Operations andDistribution at Emirates Holidays has been appointed to the ExecutiveBoard of the Dubai Travel and Tour Agents Group(DTTAG). She is responsible for all EmiratesHolidays’ commercial operations in sourcemarkets in Europe, CIS countries, theMiddle East, Africa and Asia. DTTAG andEmirates Holidays share a similar visionto help stimulate an environment con-ducive for positive interaction amongstthe travel trade, towards the achieve-ment of business objectives. AUAE national, Herais joinedEmirates as a trainee in 1994.

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu DhabiAbu DhabiBana Toukan has been appointed Director of Sales & Marketing at Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi. She has a distinguished career inhospitality and with over 12 years of expe-rience. She will be responsible for theplanning and induction of sales andmarketing strategies, while tapping intorelevant local and international marketsegments for business opportunities,among others. She began her careerin the hospitality industry in GrandHyatt Amman in 2002.

Radisson Blu Resort SharjahSharjahKamal Rijhwani has been promoted to Executive Assistant Manager/in-charge of sales and marketing at Radisson Blu Resort Sharjah.He will be responsible for the strategic, com-mercial and day-to-day operationals. Hestarted his career in the hotel industry in1998 and has worked in propertiesacross India, Bulgaria, Tanzania and UK.Prior to joining Carlson Rezidor ME, hegained vast experiences with the TajGroup of Hotels and Kempinski Hotels. Hebrings over 15 years of experience inthe hotel business.

FRHI Hotels & Resorts DubaiAndrew Gibson has been appointed the Vice President - Spas &Wellness. Based out of FRHI's regional office in Dubai, Gibson willbe responsible for the development and exe-cution of the company's spa strategy,including defining and implementing spastandards globally across all of FRHI’sleading hotel and spa brands. He bringsover 25 years of international hospitalityexperience in the fields of spa, wellnessand leisure to his new role. He began hiscareer in England, where an early role wasleisure centre manager at an airport hotelclose to London Gatwick Airport.

Ramada Downtown DubaiDubaiSalman Ansari is the new Assistant Director of Sales of RamadaDowntown Dubai. In his role, he will be in-charge of strengthening

business ties with existing clients and stake-holders. He will also support the Director of

Sales in the development of strategies. APakistani national, Ansari has more than20 years of experience in the hospitalityfield. He previously worked as BusinessDevelopment Manager in The H Hotel,and as Senior Sales Manager in Grand

Midwest Hotel and Apartments. He also worked in Pakistan, including

Sheraton Hotel and Towers Karachi, andRamada Renaissance Karachi.

Park Regis Kris Kin Hotel DubaiDubaiIvan Jovalekic has joined the Park Regis Kris Kin Hotel Dubai asSenior Business Development Manager. He moved from Abu Dhabi

where he spent two years in a similar position at the Insights ManagementConsultancy, representing internationalhotels and tourist boards in the region.A Croatian national, Jovalekic enteredthe hospitality industry with a post atJumeirah Hotels. In 2006, he joined the

JAL Fujairah Resort & Spa in its pre-opening phase, spending three years,

before moving back to Dubai and the Dusit Princess City Centre Hotel.

Grand Hyatt DubaiDubaiKifah Bin Hussein is the new Hotel Manager of Grand Hyatt Dubai.A hospitality professional with 15 years of experience in Food &Beverage, he started his career with Hyatt in1998 in Jordan and has worked for HyattDubai hotels and other hospitality brandsaround the world. During Hussein’s six-year tenure at Grand Hyatt Amman, he hasheld several positions starting fromAssistant Outlet Manager to AssistantDirector of Food & Beverage. AJordanian national, he hasa university degree inBusiness Administrationand Marketing.

Majestic Hotel Tower DubaiDubaiRamzy Andrew Faris has been appointed as the General Managerof the Majestic Hotel Tower Dubai. A Lebanese national, he has 18

years of experience in the hospitalityindustry. He brings with him a wealth ofskills, ideas and plans to his new role.His grasp of the highly competitive anddynamic UAE market will be an assetto the team. He has built his careerwith brands like Kempinski and Jebel Ali Resorts.

RAK Tourism Development AuthorityRas Al KhaimahSteven Rice has been appointed as the CEO of Ras Al KhaimahTourism Development Authority. As CEO, he will oversee all areaspertaining to the promotion and developmentof the Emirate's tourism infrastructure.Rice has previous worked across mul-tiple European markets, North America,Asia-Pacific and the GCC. He will also lead efforts to meet the Authority'saims of growing the contribution oftourism to Ras Al Khaimah's GDP and toestablish the Emirate globally asan affordable luxury and out-door adventure destination.

Al Raha Beach Hotel bags‘HolidayCheck Award 2014’HolidayCheck, a European travel review website, has awarded Al Raha Beach Hotel the ‘HolidayCheck Award 2014’ in the category ‘Popular Among Couples’. They won this award due to their commitment and effor t to exceed the expectations of their guests with excellent products and impeccable service. The team manages to excite countless guests and fulfill or even exceeded their wishes and expectations. “Al Raha Beach Hotel is pleased to receive this prestigious award,” said Diana Ancuta, Director of Sales & Marketing, Al Raha Beach Hotel. “We strive to offer our customers a memorable experience, and this accolade is evidence that our hard work is translating into positive reviews on HolidayCheck. Since the distinctionof our hotel, our share of German-speaking guests has more than quadrupled. We could determine this positivechange almost immediately.”

Air Arabia launches newflight to Shymkent

Air Arabia, on March15, announced the launchof regular non-stop servicesto Shymkent, Kazakhstan.With the addition ofShymkent, Air Arabiabecame the onlyoperator in theUAE to servethree destinationsin Kazakhstan.The new twice-weekly servicewill be Air Arabia’s 91stworldwide destination. AirArabia currently servesAstana and Almaty inKazakhstan, in addition toShymkent starting March15, 2014. Located in thesouth of the country,Shymkent is the

Kazakhstan’s third mostpopulous city and is knownas a centre of culture andindustry. Flights will departSharjah InternationalAirport on Wednesdays and

Saturdays at 22:00, arriv-ing at ShymkentInternational Airport at 03:30 on the followingday. Return flights willdepart Shymkent onThursdays and Sundays at04:30 arriving in Sharjah at 06:15.