04 10 accommodation jumeirah al naseem opens in dubai · 2016-12-09 · 4. weekly news. . 10...
TRANSCRIPT
BURJ KHALIFA DECLARED THE UAE’S SMARTEST BUILDING
MUSCAT’S NEW CITY WALK PROJECT
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10 DECEMBER 2016 ISSUE 370
JUMEIRAH AL NASEEM OPENS IN DUBAI
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10 DECEMBER 20162
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Abu Dhabi Airport Reports Positive Numbers
For the month of October, Abu Dhabi International Airport welcomed 1.9 million passengers, contributing to more than 20 million travellers passing through the airport so far this year.
The overall number of travellers between January 01 and October 31 reached 20,432,279, indi-cating a year-on-year increase of 5.4 percent.
Passenger traffic to and from Mumbai, saw a 19 percent surge over the same period of 2015. Travellers from the airport to Doha also rose eight percent to 59,535 passengers.
All in all, the top destinations for the month under study were London, Bangkok and Mumbai.
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Meliá Hotels Experiences Growing Demand
In the first nine months of the year, Meliá Hotels International reported a 40 percent growth in RevPAR in its Spanish resorts, while its city hotels in the country saw an 11 percent increase in the same measure.
The group recorded a net profit of EUR92.2 million, a remarkable surge of 74 percent over the same period in 2015, in part due to its strategic decision to renovate, rebrand and reposition some of its most iconic resorts in recent years.
Furthermore, during the period under review, Meliá Hotels International has expanded its international offerings, with new addresses in Vietnam and Cabo Verde.
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WEEKLY NEWS www.traveltradeweekly.travel
10 DECEMBER 2016
Dubai Maintains Occupancy but Drops Rates
Muscat’s New City Walk Project
Located in North Al Hail Muscat, the 47,500m2 initiative will comprise a 355m waterfront, a retail area with shops and restaurants, as well as a 123 room five-star hotel. The agreement is based on a usufruct concession for
50 years with fees payable starting from year six.
A new development agreement was signed between H.E. Ahmed bin Nasser Al Mahrizi, minister, Ministry of Tourism Oman, and Samih Sawiris, chairman, Orascom Development, to develop a
beachfront commercial complex, Sur City walk.
Science and Innovation Park Revealed in UAE
H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, prime minister, UAE, launched the new Science and Inno-vation Park of the United Arab Emirates University
(UAEU), located at the universities’ campus in Al Ain. A number of senior education officials attended the event
and projects from students of UAEU, Khalifa University and Abu Dhabi Police were on display. The park comprises of what is said to be a-first-of-its-kind research hub and student innovation in-cubator.
Al Maktoum commented on the initiative, ''Such inventions will have positive impact on the development of our state and enable it to compete globally in fields of research, invention, education and knowledge.”
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Cairo Hosted International Film
Festival
The 38th edition of Cairo Interna-tional Film Festival was recently held, where a number of local and
international movies inspired by William Shakespeare’s plays and dramaturgy were screened, making the playwright this year’s special guest.
The 10-day event also included screenings of the eight Oscar-nominated films in the foreign language category, including Egyptian picture named Clash.
Moreover, for the first time, attendees will be able to download a dedicated mo-bile application with information regard-ing the schedule of events, information about the featured films as well as screen-ing times and booking options.
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WEEKLY NEWS TECHNOLOGYwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
k ulula.com is to increase revenue through a new retailing approach, using Sabre’s newly-launched AirVi-
sion Revenue Optimizer platform. This will allow kulula.com to price its
services based on a customer’s willingness to buy different combinations of fares and ancillary services.
Sabre’s AirVision Revenue Optimizer provides end-to-end control for airlines to better understand customer profiles and respond to their needs and willingness to pay, while efficiently pricing and selling seat inventory and ancillary products.
kulula.com will be able to respond fast-er to changing market conditions in real-time and optimise revenue streams across all its services including ancillary sales, codeshare and partnership arrangements.
“Sabre’s innovative new revenue man-agement technology will give us a new lev-el of knowledge that has not been possible until now […],” said Gabriel Moritz, execu-tive manager, commercial product, Comair.
A t Aviation Show MENASA, Daniel Kerrison, vice president, in-flight product, flydubai, underscored the importance of new technolo-gies in the airline industry, while also highlighting the carrier’s
commitment to innovation.This year, the airline has introduced onboard Wi-Fi and live television
on its services as well as further meeting the needs of passengers with the launch of its OPEN rewards programme.
Kerrison also participated in a panel titled The future of in-flight con-nectivity and entertainment, where delegates discussed the challenges and trends in the evolution of in-flight entertainment services.
A New Retailing Approach for kulula
Importance of Inflight Technology Underlined
Philippine Airlines Joins Forces With Sabre
T he collaboration will allow PAL to monitor daily revenue performance on a more constant and accurate level via simplified solutions. Decision making for commercial planning divisions is enabled through real-time data, helping the carrier to maximise revenue opportunities.
Dasha Kuksenko, vice president, Asia Pacific, Airline Solutions, said, “This solution also enables the airline to maximise revenue, improve efficiency and productivity, while driving a competitive advantage. By using Commercial Analytics, the Philippines flag carrier will have the ability to look at customer segments instead of simply fare purchases. This gives the airline more insights into their customers’ purchase propensities and the ability to recommend actions to best suit the business needs of the airline.”
Sabre’s technologically orientated AirVision Commercial Analytics sign Beta partnership with Philippine Airlines (PAL).
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WEEKLY NEWS www.traveltradeweekly.travel
Honeywell Smart Building Score Awards has named the Burj Khalifa as the UAE's smartest building at the Innovation Live! summit.
Norm Gilsdorf, president, Middle East, Russia and Central Asia, Honeywell, explained, “For us at Honeywell, a smart building is one that is connected, safe, energy efficient and, ultimately helps improve the quality of life for its occupants and users.”
Burj Khalifa achieved the highest evaluation amongst all entries from the UAE, with impressive scores across all three categories.
Other awards included DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel which won the title of smart-est hotel in Qatar, Al Hamra Business Tower and Luxury Centre, which was named the smartest building in Kuwait, and King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Cen-tre, winning smartest building in Saudi Arabia.
Burj Khalifa Declared the UAE’s Smartest Building
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Next Generation of Celebrity Cruises
Under Construction
Motiongate Shows Sneak Peek of Step Up Dubai
Hailed as Middle East’s largest Hollywood-inspired theme park, Motiongate Dubai has released
an exclusive sneak peek trailer of Step Up Dubai, All In!, the highly anticipated, high energy hip hop dance show.
This is the first of a series of action-packed reveals, that will be released over the coming weeks, giving guests a first-in-line preview of some of its most exhilarating and immersive attractions.
Hosted inside the 1,000-seat Hol-lywood Theatre at Motiongate Dubai, the performance marks the first time blockbuster dance films Step Up: Revo-lution and Step Up: All In have been re-created as a permanent, live dance show.
Work has begun on the first new Ce-lebrity Cruises ship, Celebrity Edge, marking the move from concept
to manufacture for the next generation of vessels under the brand.
The new ship’s name reflects the many daring design advances and innovations of Celebrity's first new ship class since 2008, while the recently-announced name of its sis-ter ship, Celebrity Beyond, signals the incred-ible experience guests can expect onboard the entire Edge Class, changing the way trav-ellers see the world.
Richard Fain, CEO, Royal Caribbean Cruis-es, said, “Edge Class is destined to be a trail-blaser in modern luxury travel. The new ships will be on the cutting edge of innovation and the leading edge of design.”
The first piece of steel was cut at the STX France shipyard for Celebrity Edge Rendering of Motiongate Dubai digital
K ing Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) brought its showcase of villa land plots at the Beach Community (BC)
in the prestigious Al-Murooj district to Ri-yadh for an event at the Al-Faisaliah Hotel.
The exclusive BC spreads over 900,000m2 and comprises of land plots ranging from 600-6000m2. Home-buyers can also choose from 20 pre-approved villa plans provided free-of-charge. Plans are offered in Arabian and Spanish archi-tectural styles that characterise the com-munity as a distinctive Mediterranean-inspired luxury coastal resort.
In view of the Red Sea, the project also provides residents with close proximity to an extensive range of lifestyle amenities including a variety of waterfront beach and marina dining options, retail outlets, parks, international grade educational fa-cilities, and mosques.
Beach Community Showcased in
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WEEKLY NEWSwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
I n a recent development, Global Travel Distributor (GTA) Middle East has col-laborated with the what is said to be the region’s largest integrated theme park destination, Dubai Parks and Resorts.In line with Dubai Parks and Resorts vision to grow the family leisure and
entertainment industry, the collaboration will highlight family tourism through key activities specifically designed for trade awareness in the Middle East.
Rami Mashini, vice president, sales and marketing, GTA, said, “Our partner-ship will change the way the travel industry looks to market an entertainment brand. The strategy implemented will be to strengthen the much-talked about brand, boost its visitor profile and ensure demand is maintained.”
GTA Partners with Dubai Parks and Resorts
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Al Mazaar Edutainment Centre Opens in Muscat
Barr Al Jissah, a high-end destination in Mus-cat, has announced the much-anticipated opening of Al Mazaar Edutainment Centre.
The facility offers a dynamic programme of kids’ entertainment, sports activities, art, culture and much more for adults and children alike to enjoy.
Firas Matraji, CEO, Barr Al Jissah, said, “With Al Mazaar Edutainment Centre we wanted to create a place where families return to again and again, not only to exercise or play, but to learn and create.”
The one-of-a-kind edutainment centre marks the transformation of the Barr Al Jissah heritage vil-lage into Oman’s must visit destination.
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WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION www.traveltradeweekly.travel
InterContinental Hotels Group’s New Project in Doha
Located on Doha’s longest natural private beach, the property brings a total of 82 luxury residences to Doha offering a full package of premium amenities and services. The project will comprise of 17 3-bedroom, eight 3-bedroom apartments and 15 two-bedroom offering. The remaining residences
will consist of 42 one-bedroom apartments. Pascal Gauvin, chief operating officer, India, Middle East and Africa, IHG, commented, “We are thrilled to
be working with Gulf Hotels Company to manage this great property and bring unparalleled luxury living to a city that is flourishing both economically and as a travel destination. [...].”
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced the opening of InterContinental Doha Residences under a management agreement with Gulf Hotels Company.
Second Annual Conference on
Enhancing Success Rates
in ART
Professionals Meet at the Tourism Innovation and Transformation Forum
The third annual, The Ajman Palace Hotel Wed-ding Fair will be held in association with Ajman Tourism Development Department (ATDD) be-
tween January 11 – 13, 2017. Over 70 leading brands, vendors, fashion designers and wedding planners, specialised in catering to luxury weddings, will par-ticipate in the third edition of the show.
H.E. Faisal Al Nuaimi, general manager, ATDD, said, “Our support for the Wedding Fair is part of our stra-tegic plan to promote the emirate of Ajman as a safe and welcoming destination for both leisure and busi-ness travellers.”
The Ajman Palace Hotel to Host Wedding Fair to be Held in January, 2017
The Tourism Innovation and Transformation Forum 2016 was held, under the supervision of H.E Sultan bin Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, minister, economy, UAE, on November 23. The gathering, in cooperation with the World Tourism Organization, took place at The Westin Dubai Al Habtoor City where around 400
international professionals attended.The event included four distinctive interactive workshops including the shift in the tourism sector, the trans-
formation of various global destinations, the transition to smart cities, and the innovative visitors’ experiences. The St. Regis, Corniche Abu Dhabi hosted the second Annual Conference on
Enhancing Success Rates in As-sisted Reproductive Technology (ART) under the patronage of H.E. Sheikh Nahayan bin Mabarak Al Nahayan, minister, culture and knowledge development, UAE. Over 400 attendees and 11 distin-guished speakers from across the globe attended the conference.
Al Nahayan, addressed the gathering by saying, “I am de-lighted that the Middle East Fertil-ity Clinic is holding its important international conference in Abu Dhabi […]. In 2015 our coun-try welcomed the Clinic to Abu Dhabi, and it has now established a second facility in Dubai. The professional staff of this Span-ish-based company has already helped many patients in the UAE, and I expect that the number of its successes will grow rapidly.”
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WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION www.traveltradeweekly.travel
in DubaiJUMEIRAH GROUP'S NEWEST HOTEL, JUMEIRAH AL NASEEM, HAS OPENED FOR RESERVATIONS.
T he 430-room address is set in the midst of a two kilo-metre stretch of sand, which spans from Jumeirah Beach Hotel in the east to Jumeirah Al Qasr in the west, overlooking Burj Al Arab Jumeirah and the Arabian Gulf.
Its opening marks both the completion of Madinat Jumeirah - the Arabian Resort of Dubai – and the final chapter in the group’s transformation of Dubai’s coastline into a major touristic destination.
Bringing a fresh new feel of energy, exuberance and excite-ment to Madinat Jumeirah, the resort aims to show a different side of the emirate, appealing to those discerning travellers who like to explore and may not have considered Dubai before.
JUMEIRAH AL NASEEM OPENS
A new development agreement was signed between Su-perCasa and Dubai-Archea Associati, for a five-star hotel and resort project in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK).
The construction of the project will be completed in 2019 and the development will include, among others, 320 beach-facing rooms, four restaurants, a pool, spa and fitness centre.
“Al Marjan Island is the first man-made island in RAK, and the hotel is our debut project in the UAE. We are proud to contribute to the new urbanism movement in the emirate. We create iconic buildings that combine functionality, security, design, luxury and sustainability. This is our signature and the print we leave in the cities where we operate,” commented, Abdallah Al Houti, manag-ing partner, Supercasa.
Archea Appointed to Develop RAK New Beachfront Resort
First Ever Paris-Marrakech Electric Vehicle Road Trip
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I n partnership with Mövenpick Ho-tel Mansour Eddahbi Marrakech & Palais des Congrès, Moroccan com-
pany Green Mobility Africa, EPAMA-ROC and French agency, BlueCom have organised the first ever electric vehicle road trip between Paris, other European capitals and Marrakech.
The ecological rally has been hailed as the first of its kind in the Af-rican continent. The event will also be marked by the arrival of the COP22 flame, a photovoltaic torch christened 'Light Us', a symbol of a lasting com-mitment to safeguarding the future of our planet.
The Marrakech address will be the first hotel in Morocco to be equipped with a temporary charging station for electric vehicles for the duration of COP22.
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WEEKLY NEWS AIRPORTS www.traveltradeweekly.travel
B ahrain Airport Company, the managing body of Bahrain International Airport, recently commemorated Cathay Pacific’s
40 years of service between Bahrain and Hong Kong, in a celebration held at the airport.
The airline’s first destination in the Middle East was to Bahrain in 1976 and it currently oper-ates a daily service between the two countries.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah, CEO, Bahrain Airport Company, said, “As one of our longest serving longhaul carriers we are pleased to be able to celebrate 40 years of service with Cathay Pacific Airways. They con-tinue to offer the thousands of people in our catchment area a daily flight to Hong Kong with a world renowned service. As the airport grows over the coming years we hope Cathay Pacific Airways will continue to be part of our growth.”
L uxor International Airport opened its gates to a countable 230 passengers arriving from Japan.
After five years of absence, the reintro-duction of scheduled flights is expected to boost tourism in Egypt. The travellers are set to visit Luxor, Abu Sembel and Cairo on their venture to the Northern African country.
Hisham el Demiri, head of tourism pro-motion authority, Egypt, asserted the impor-tance on the return of Japanese tourism to the country.
Celebrating 40 Years Serving Bahrain
Egypt Welcomes Japanese Tourism after Five Years
OAMC Signs MoU With DHL
T he MoU aligns with OAMC’s objective of facilitating growth of the logistic services industry, which has been identified as one of the key contributors to Oman’s economic diversification drive.
Sheikh Aiman bin Ahmed Al-Hosni, CEO, OAMC, said, “Our memorandum with DHL paves the way for Muscat International Airport to play a major role in securing opportunities to support various businesses in Oman. We also aim to provide job opportunities for Omani youth in a promising sector, as well as boosting aviation and cargo movement at the airport.”
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between Oman Airports Management Company (OAMC) and DHL Express.
Passengers at Muscat International Airport
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WEEKLY NEWS AIRwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
Dubai Maintains Occupancy but Drops Rates
Air Arabia Confirms Additional Airbus A320s
The delivery of the original contract covering 44 firm orders and five options will be completed in 2017. The new aircrafts will join Air Arabia’s expanding fleet of Airbus A320s aircraft currently serving more than 120 routes from five operational hubs.
Adel Al Ali, CEO, Air Arabia, said, “We operate one of the youngest fleets in the world and this approach will continue to drive our fleet growth strategy for the future. Our customers can expect the same cabin comfort and spacious seat configuration with the new five aircraft joining the fleet.”
Hailed the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier, Air Arabia has confirmed options for five additional Airbus A320 aircraft.
Emirates Aviation Hosts Third Management Conference
Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, CEO, Emirates Group, Emirates Aviation University opened its third Interna-tional Aviation Management Conference (IAMC).
The two-day conference brought together industry leaders, researchers and aviation management professionals to tackle the challenges and opportunities currently facing the aviation industry under the theme Lessons Learned, Current Challenges, and the Road Ahead.
IAMC provides an ideal platform for aviation influencers to tackle industry hot topics share case studies and best practices. It is also an opportunity for aviation management researchers, academics and authors from all around the world to showcase their papers and present their studies in a dynamic environment.
Qatar Airways Membership Goes Digital
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launched a digital membership card for its Privilege Club mem-
bers, providing them with a more con-venient option to redeem Qmiles when travelling across the airline’s global net-work.
The new digital membership card provides travellers with the same level of service as the physical card using their smartphones or tablets.
Commenting on the new initiative, Ian Di Tullio, vice president, CRM and loyalty, Qatar Airways, said, “We are al-ways looking for new ways to provide our passengers with convenient service, giving them the very best travel experi-ence, and our new digital membership card initiative allows our valued mem-bers immediate access to the benefits of the Privilege Club programme without having to wait for the physical card to arrive in the mail.”
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WEEKLY NEWS AIR www.traveltradeweekly.travel
T urkish Airlines has added flights to Havana and Caracas, set to launch on December 20.The flights will be operated three times per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sun-
days, in both directions. Havana and Caracas will become the airlines’ 16th and 17th destinations, respectively, in
the Americas; joining existing services to Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Bogota, Panama, Toronto, Montreal, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Washington, Boston, San Francisco, Mi-ami and Atlanta.
Turkish Airlines to Serve Havana and Caracas
A irbus confirmed it has received a second US Treasury Depart-ment’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) license for aircraft exports to Iran. The original deal, signed in late Janu-
ary, included 21 A320ceo aircraft, 24 A320neo aircraft, 27 A330ceo, 18 A330neo, 16 A350-1000s and 12 A380s. The new license reportedly covers the export of 106 aircraft. Airbus was granted an initial OFAC license in September, covering 17 A320s and A330s, from the original 118 aircraft deal.
Airbus Confirmed License for Aircraft Exports to Iran
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TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: How has business been in the past few months?
HARTMUT GRAUEL: Coral Beirut Al Hamra Hotel had a very good summer season starting from Eid El Fitr with a great volume from the leisure travellers with the lion’s share coming from Egypt and Iraq. The leisure season con-tinued almost uninterrupted till the Eid El Adha holidays in mid-September with high demand for our Hamra-based hotel with frequent overbooking situations. When we noticed indications for a slight decrease of our business after the Adha holidays, we were able to compensate for it instantly with incentive groups from abroad.
HARTMUT GRAUEL
Q & A
with
GENERAL MANAGER, CORAL BEIRUT AL HAMRA HOTEL
HOPES ARE HIGH IN LEBANON AS HOTELIERS LIKE HARTMUT GRAUEL,
GENERAL MANAGER, CORAL BEIRUT AL HAMRA HOTEL, WORK HARD TO REVIVE
THE INDUSTRY.
has a rich and diverse tourism offer-ing. Which are the most promising segments?
HARTMUT GRAUEL: Our top two tourism sectors in Lebanon currently are leisure and business tourism. Lei-sure business is usually strong dur-ing the summer and the holidays in the region whilst business tourism is based on either individual business or triggered through conferences and all sorts of events in Lebanon.
However, Lebanon with its vast religious heritage makes it a great destination for religious tourism, es-pecially with the growing stability of the country after the successful elec-tion of Lebanon’s president.
A very large potential is medical tourism that owes its success to Leba-non’s renowned hospitals and doc-
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What kind of strategies have you implement-ed in order to adapt to the changes?
HARTMUT GRAUEL: Following the GCC countries’ travel ban and due to the continuous conflict in Syria, the profile of the clientele for Beirut expe-rienced some significant changes.
While the high-end luxury travel-ler segment decreased in numbers, we gained in return from the volume of markets such as Egypt and Iraq. In spite of the lower average rate these markets can produce, our busi-ness gained from its volume of room nights as our records are showing high demand for our four-star Coral Beirut Al Hamra Hotel not solely dur-ing the holiday season but through-out the year.
By adapting our rates for this seg-
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Coral Beirut Al Hamra Hotel
ment based on pre-planned visits, tai-loring our product to suit these mar-kets through personal sales calls in these destinations, and through sup-port of our local destination manage-ment companies with tailored rates, we were able to close a very good third quarter of this year.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: Being a top favourite in the region, Lebanon
tors specialised in an array of medical treatments. Having said that, these tourism sectors require a special focus and tailor-made strategy within the marketing plans of both, the special-ists of the hospitality companies com-bined with the long-haul vision and a path-clearing support from Lebanon’s concerned ministries. In summary, we at Coral Beirut Al Hamra Hotel are looking positively into the future.
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WEEKLY NEWS AIRwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
Etihad Airways celebrated the graduation of 310 participants of the company’s Future Leaders Programme. The event was hosted at Al Raha Beach Hotel, and the graduates devised from 65 working as cadet pilots at Abu
Dhabi University; 19 at Etihad Flight College in Al Ain, whilst 74 are based in technical engineering. A further 152 are learning about the business within the graduate management development programmes and are based at various Etihad Airways offices.
H.E. Mohamed Mubarak Fadhel Al Mazrouei, chairman, Etihad Aviation Group, said, “[…] We also look forward to their contributions making Etihad Aviation Group even more successful and bringing us closer to our goals. The group has made a major commitment to investing in its people, the cornerstone of our service excellence and success.”
UAE Future Leaders Graduate
A irbus provided a total of 516 air-craft to 78 customers from January through October this year.
Based on the month’s order and deliv-ery activity, Airbus’ backlog as of October 31 stood at 6,710 aircraft, composed of 5,494 A320 Family jetliners, 330 A330s, 765 A350 XWBs and 121 A380s.
Among October’s delivery highlights was the 10,000th aircraft milestone an A350-900 for Singapore Airlines, once again con-firming the company’s role as a global mar-ket leader offering the most modern and comprehensive product line with seating capacities ranging from 100 to more than 600 passengers.
Deliveries Reach 516 in 10 Months for Airbus
Qatar Airways adds 158 Seats for Cape Town Route
T he addition of a new Boeing 777 was announced by Qa-tar Airways for the Cape Town - Doha itinerary, increas-ing capacity on the route by 158 per day.
Qatar Airways has been successfully serving Cape Town from its Doha hub since 2005 and it is now increasing the seats numbers due to high demand.
Ehab Amin, senior vice president, Africa, Middle East & Paki-stan, Qatar Airways said, “[…] we are happy to provide our pas-sengers with greater choice when they make their travel plans. Cape Town is a hugely popular destination for leisure travel with its fantastic blend of nature, culture and wildlife.”
The Boeing 777, offers a total of 412 seats across its busi-ness and economy classes, with passengers across both cabins able to enjoy a fully interactive personal audio and video enter-tainment system with up to 3,000 options.
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WEEKLY NEWS INTERNATIONAL www.traveltradeweekly.travel
I nterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), opened the InterContinental Real Santo Domingo hotel, bringing dis-
crete luxury to the metropolitan com-mercial point area of the city.
Standing 21 stories tall with 227 guest rooms, a spa, fitness centre, two bars and three unique concept restau-rants, the hotel caters to business and leisure travellers alike.
Additionally, the hotel offers vast meeting space spread across eight rooms and maximum capacity of 750 guests.
Commenting on the USD70 million new-build hotel, Jason Moskal, vice president, lifestyle brands, the Ameri-cas, IHG, said, “With its location in a key international gateway destination, the InterContinental Real Santo Domingo contributes to the strong growth of the InterContinental brand, […].”
D usit International has signed a management agreement with Phuket-based property de-veloper Layana Development to operate the
dusitD2 Phuket Aria hotel in Surin Beach.The property will comprise 199 rooms, with a choice
of studios and one- to two-bedroom units and family suites. Four one-bedroom lofts will also be available.
In line with dusitD2 branding, the eight-storey ho-tel is slated to open in 2020 and will boast an infinity rooftop pool, a terrace offering views of the Andaman Sea, and an adjoining all-day-dining restaurant serving international and Thai dishes.
Commenting on the upcoming project, Suphajee Suthumpun, group CEO, Dusit International, said, “Surin Beach is a wonderful destination and the hip, young, design-conscious crowd it attracts is the ideal market for our distinctively modern hotel brand.”
T he seventh property to join the Turkey portfo-lio, Labranda Bodrum Princess & Spa, is set to welcome guests as of spring 2017.
Labranda Hotels & Resorts has signed a 10 year rental agreement with the owners of the previously named Sensimar Hotel, located in Turgutreis, Bodrum.
The hotel, offering a scenic view of the Turkish and Greek Aegean islands, boasts 255 modern and spa-cious guest rooms, a dedicated 2000m2 premium spa area, two a- la-carte restaurants, as well as a wide vari-ety of activities, including an entertainment program.
Roula Jouny, CEO, Meeting Point International, said, “With the addition of Labranda Bodrum Princess & Spa, [...] we establish our holistic commitment as a group to the success of Turkey as a destination.”
F red. Olsen Cruise Lines has reviewed and refreshed its communi-cations channels with the travel trade, improving the format of its weekly e-shots, known as Focus Update, sent weekly to agents, and
enhancing its dedicated trade website, Travel Agent Centre (TAC).As well as updating the design and layout of TAC, it will now feature
newly-released deals, campaign offers and news stories on a live rolling feed. This will allow trade partners to access information as soon as it is an-nounced, without having to wait for the weekly updates.
An important feature of TAC, which can be accessed via the main Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ website, is an Online Training section, which has been created in partnership with Online Travel Training, with five modules. Those attaining a pass rate of 90 percent will then receive the official certification for completing The Fred. Difference Training.
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Dominican Republic Welcomes IHG Property
Surin Beach to Home Dusit Property
Labranda Bodrum to Open in Turkey
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Introduces Focus Update
10 DECEMBER 2016 19
TRAVEL CHANNELSwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and In-dustry’s Centre for Responsible Business organised the Dubai Dialogue – Realigning Business Models & Strategies to Achieve Sustainable Development, at the Westin, Al
Habtoor City.Held for the ninth year running, the annual Dubai Di-
alogue looked at mobilising businesses and other stake-holders towards playing a pivotal role in driving sustain-able change through innovations, and partnerships.
H.E. Majid Saif Al Ghurair, chairman, Dubai Cham-ber, said, “In line with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, sustainability is current-ly at the top of the UAE’s agenda, as it remains one of the key goals under our country’s Vision 2021 plan.”
The freight division of Etihad Airways, Etihad Cargo, was tasked with transporting more than 70 elite racehorses from the UK to Kuwait after the European racing season, where they will spend the winter months training and racing in the tem-perate Middle Eastern climate.
In all, 72 racehorses – worth a combined AED163 million (USD44.4 mil-lion) – were flown on one of the carrier’s state-of-the-art Boeing 777 freighters which are equipped with comfortable seating for up to nine grooms and can accommodate up to 75 horses at a time.
David Kerr, senior vice president, Etihad Cargo, said, “The Middle East has strong ties to these magnificent creatures dating back thousands of years and, to this day, they are argu-ably the most precious cargo we carry.”
The Ajman Tourism Development Department (ATDD) partook in a number of unique events to celebrate the 45th National Day of the United Arab Emirates, highlighted by a time capsule that toured a number of important places and dignitaries across the emirate.
The capsule was placed underground in the Ajman Museum, where it will be opened in 2021 to coincide with the golden jubilee celebration of the UAE Federation.
When it gets opened, the container will reveal what has been shared and accom-plished for the last five years, including tools and posts that reflect aspects of social and technological life, in order to compare it with the prevailing age tools in the coming pe-riod and see the evolution during that time.
Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, founder, Khalaf Ah-mad Al Habtoor Foundation (KAHF), officially handed over a cheque for AED1.7 million (USD462.8 thousand) to H.E. Humaid Moham-mad Obaid Al Qutami, director general, Dubai
Health Authority (DHA), at the Al Habtoor Group head of-fice. The funds were raised at a charity event organised by Hope, a breast cancer campaign launched in October by Noora Al Habtoor and Mariam Al Mazrooei. Al Habtoor, commenting on the project, said, “This is just the start of many initiatives for this worthy cause that we will run via [KAHF] […]”. The funds raised by the charity will be used to support and treat breast cancer patients’ in-line with the support of the DHA, Friends of the Cancer Patients society.”
DUBAI DIALOGUE FOCUS ON
SUSTAINABILITY HORSES FLY WITH ETIHAD
TIME CAPSULE LAUNCHED TO CELEBRATE UAE NATIONAL DAY
KAHF RAISES FUNDS FOR CANCER PATIENTS
: From left: HE Humaid Al Qutami; Khalaf Al Habtoor; Noora Mohammed Al Habtoor
10 DECEMBER 201620
WHO’S MOVED www.traveltradeweekly.travel
FRANCK ROYER has been ap-pointed as the general man-ager for Le Bristol Hotel Beirut, bringing with him more than 20 years of international ex-pertise.Royer has held a number of management roles in Beirut after relocating in 1999 and posses a deep understanding of the luxury hospitality indus-try. As well as extensive expe-rience in business properties, boutique hotels and resorts, Royer also has worked within food and beverage consul-tancy management and mass catering organisations.In his new role, Royer will en-sure guests receive a unique personalised service, with a focus on attention to detail.
IGNACE BAUWENS has be-gun his role as regional vice president, Middle East and Africa at Wyndham Hotel Group, where he will oversee one of the group’s fastest-growing regions.In a career spanning almost 30 years, Bauwens’ most recent role was managing director for BLH baba Hos-pitality Consultancy. Prior to this, he served as a number of senior operations roles including CEO at Abu Dhabi National Hotels as well as at AccorHotels and InterConti-nental Hotels Group. Bauwens will endeavour to continue Wyndham Hotel Group’s bold development strategy
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WEEKLY NEWS AGENTSwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
Hotelogix Partners with GuestCentric
T he alliance will benefit hoteliers by offering a centralised dashboard where they can manage all channels along with a channel manager that supports over 400 real-time integrations with Hotelogix's PMS. Commenting on the collaboration,
Pedro Colaco, CEO, GuestCentric, said, "We share the same mission with Hotelogix to help hoteliers maximise revenue and provide their guests a seamless experience”.
GuestCentric’s functionality, in terms of design and innovation, and Hotelogix's man-agement solutions, give hotels the chance to take advantage of two enterprise-level tools. The harmonic synchronisation between the two systems will help hoteliers world-wide improve their operational efficiency, attract more direct bookings, and drive incre-mental revenue.
GuestCentric Systems announced a new partnership with Hotelogix property management system (PMS), automating hotel operations with channel manager, booking engine and front desk.
Royal Jordanian (RJ) honoured its best-sell-ing Jordanian travel
agents for this year at a cer-emony held under the spon-sorship of Vienna Airport.
Suleiman Obeidat, CEO, RJ, expressed the airline’s ap-preciation for travel agents’ efforts and their support to the national carrier of Jor-dan. He said they work hard to increase sales aboard RJ and that the airline is always ready to develop business ties with its partners, in the interest of all parties, and to give a boost to the local tour-ism and travel industry.
At the end of the cer-emony, Obeidat delivered certificates of appreciation to the sales agents in rec-ognition of their marketing efforts exerted during this year.
T UI Group’s supervisory board has given the green light for the next step in creating a new European airline joint venture with Etihad Aviation Group.
The initiative venture, headquartered in Vienna, is expected to serve a broad route network with its two airlines, TUI fly and NIKI. A total fleet of around 60 aircraft and a seat capacity of 15 million seats per year will operate from key departure airports in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
TUI is to hold a stake of 24.8 percent in the joint venture, while Etihad will hold 25 percent of the interests. The remaining 50.2 percent would be held by the existing private foundation NIKI Privatstiftung.
RJ Praises Travel Agents
New Joint Venture Between Etihad and TUI
10 DECEMBER 201622
TRAVEL CHANNELS www.traveltradeweekly.travel
Etihad Airways Engineering has opened its hangar doors to some of the UAE’s brightest minds as part of its drive to attract univer-sity students from different disciplines to consider a career in aerospace engineering.
Around 50 students from Khalifa University and Higher Colleges of Technology in the UAE visited the Etihad Airways Engineering facility, and were provided with diverse subjects such as mechanical and comput-er engineering, with an opportunity to see firsthand the engineering landscape in a professional working environment.
As part of their visits, students were given an over-view of the facility followed by a tour of the workshops and hangar facility, during which they were able to in-teract with both graduate and experienced engineers specialising in different areas of the business.
H.H. Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz, president, Saudi Commission for Tour-ism & National Heritage (SCTH), expressed his appreciation to H.E. Abdul Latif Al-Sheikh, minister, Municipal and Rural Affairs, for his coordination with SCTH when developing local projects and following the monuments, museums and architectural heritage regulation.
Abdul Aziz highlighted that the protection of the natural heritage comes under the at-tention of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, as part of the Custodian’s program for the Care of National Heritage of the Kingdom. SCTH began a coordination with the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of the Municipal and Rural Affairs and a Royal Decree was issued to prevent infringement on the important heritage sites, historical mosques and the Islamic history sites.
Bee’ah, the Middle East’s environment and waste management company, partici-pated in UAE Innovation Week, on November 20 – 26, at Expo Centre Sharjah.
Bee’ah showcased several sustainable technologies, advanced solutions, innovative tools and equipment to improve the waste management process across the UAE. The company featured its Recycling Vending Machines (RVMs),
mobile app, WiFi bins and electric desert cleaning vehicles, which continue the positive momentum in achieving environmental sustainability.
The company was the first in the Middle East to deploy RVMs, which accept plastic bottles and aluminium cans and rewards them accordingly. The RVMs will be placed in public loca-tions including malls, educational institutes and many more areas across Sharjah and Dubai.
The Emirates Wildlife Society in association with World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) announced its plan to assess the feasibility of transitioning up to 100 percent renewable energy in the UAE by 2050.
The project will see WWF and Baringa Partners join forces in a bid to fulfil the country’s commitment to ad-dress climate change and facilitate enhanced energy security through diversification of domestic energy supply.
Tanzeed Alam, director, climate and energy, WWF, said, “By setting out some clear and actionable recommendations, we believe that the UAE will be better equipped to move towards a climate-resilient future which will benefit UAE society, its economy and the environment. We plan to engage closely with energy authorities, utilities, private sector and leaders to ensure there is concrete action to make this work a reality.”
Encouraging Aerospace
Engineering Students
Coordination with SCTH in Developing City Planning
Projects
Bee’ah Develops Innovation-Driven Economy
New Research to Unearth UAE’s Clean
Energy Potential
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Representatives from Cathay Pacific and Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah, CEO, Bahrain Airport Company, second from right, commemorate the
airline’s 40th year of operation in BahrainChefs of FourSeasons Beirut capping the Salon Du Choco-
lat with an exquisite Buche de Noel
Sameh Sobhy, general manager, Semi-ramis InterContinental Cairo, was hon-
oured at the Arab Satallite Festival 2016
Shoutout to Chevy Kelly for managing a thumbs up during his three marathons in three days to support Just a Drop at
World Travel Market 2016Congratulations to the first Oman Air passenger to win
a free upgrade on Oman's National Day
Danat Al Ain Resort receives another award for being the Garden Luxury Hotel
of the year in UAE
10 DECEMBER 2016 23
PHOTO ALBUMwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
10 DECEMBER 201624
NEWS & EVENTS www.traveltradeweekly.travel
Sharjah’s First Ever Indian Fest
a Success
IPAF Hosts Eighth Nadwa at
Qasr Al Sarab
The UAE’s first ever Indian Fest was completed at Al Qasba, Sharjah’s premier leisure destination, with
the opening of the inaugural festi-val to celebrate Indian culture and traditions enjoying a huge public turnout.
The event featured a variety of music, dances, art, entertainment and culinary offerings that show-case India’s vibrant culture and rich cultural legacy.
Sultan Shattaf, manager, Al Qas-ba, said, “We organised this festival in celebration of the deep–rooted relations and strong ties between the UAE and India. Through it we seek to highlight the rich cultural heritage of the country, including its food, music, art and traditions.”
A group of six emerging Arab authors recently gathered at Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort, Abu Dhabi to take part in
the annual nadwa, organised by the International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF).
The week-long workshop brought together writers from Bah-rain, Morocco, Syria, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and was led by two leading names in Arabic literature, who have previously been shortlist-ed for the IPAF, Mohammed Hasan Alwan and Hammour Ziada.
Saudi writer, Mohammed Hasan Alwan, said, “A nadwa such as this re-affirms to us that writing is an activ-ity worth travelling and taking time out for in an isolated location, some-thing that has become an unthink-able luxury in today's world.”
IBTM ARABIA
Abu Dhabi, UAEFebruary 07 – 09, 2017www.ibtmarabia.comOne of the leading international events for the Arabian meetings, incentives, conferences and events industry.
FITUR
Madrid, SpainJanuary 18 – 22, 2017www.ifema.esThe 37th edition of the travel trade fair for both inbound and outbound Ibero American markets.
EMITT
Istanbul, TurkeyJanuary 26 – 29, 2017www.emittinstanbul.comIndustry professionals from more than 70 countries are expected to attend the exhibition focussed on the East Mediterranean.
EVENTS