adnh: over usd190 million in revenue...aug 29, 2015 · adnh: over usd190 million . in revenue. 29....
TRANSCRIPT
ORASCOM CONTINUES UPWARD PATH
04
14
QATAR AIRWAYS AND ROYAL AIR MAROC: NEW ROUTES
IN THIS ISSUE
MARKET UPDATE
TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
ACCOMMODATION
AIR
INTERNATIONAL
RENDEZVOUS
WHO'S MOVED
TRAVEL TALK
AGENT CORNER
TRAVEL CHANNELS
PHOTO ALBUM
NEWS & EVENTS
02040912161819 2021222324
29 AUGUST 2015 ISSUE 303
9
FOR THE FIRST HALF (H1) OF THE YEAR, ABU DHABI NATIONAL HOTELS (ADNH) RECORDED OPERATING
REVENUES OF AED701 MILLION (USD190.8 MILLION).
ADNH: OVER USD190 MILLION IN REVENUE
29 AUGUST 2015
MARKET UPDATE
2
TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS
MANAGING EDITORMary Kammitsi
ASSISTANT EDITORMaria Kazeli
SENIOR JOURNALISTRita Kasziba
CONTRIBUTOR
Ana Mladenovic
PRESS Maria Demetriadou Pauline Shahabian
Inna Armeanu
DESIGN & LAYOUTElena Stylianou
WEB & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Savvas Kammitsis
DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides
Mary Kammitsi
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T.T.W. Travel Trade Weekly LTD P.O. Box 25255, Nicosia 1308 Cyprus
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Dinar
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Rial
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Riyal
Dirham
Dinar
Pound
Rial
Dinar
Dinar
Pound
Dinar
Dirham
Pound
Dinar
Rial
0.37
0.71
0.39
3.64
3.75
3.67
105.998
7.83
29,926.94
1,149.23
0.30
1,512.26
1.37
9.66
188.82
1.94
214.89
MENA EXCHANGE RATES
As of 28/8/2015Currencies shown in blue are fixed against the US Dollar
COUNTRY CURRENCY 1USD=
Global Air Traffic Rises, Middle East Leads the WayWorldwide passenger traffic surged 5.7 percent in the first half (H1) of the year, despite the Greek debt crisis and the ongoing events in Ukraine, Middle East and West Africa, according to Airports Council International (ACI).
M iddle Eastern airports achieved the highest growth globally at 8.8 percent, with Doha, Abu Dhabi and Dubai reporting increases of 14.4, 17.3 and 10.4 percent respectively.
Cairo was North Africa’s busiest airport which saw passenger traf-fic jump 7.8 percent compared to H1 2014.
As per ACI’s predictions, global growth is likely to remain in the realm of five percent for the year as a whole.
Aldar: Net Profit Up in Q2As a result of growth in recurring revenues, higher development margins and lower finance costs over the last 24 months, Aldar Properties recorded an 18 percent year-on-year boost in net profit to AED601 million (USD163.6 million) in the second quarter (Q2) of the year.
I n June, the company launched Meera, a residential develop-ment on Shams Abu Dhabi, Al Reem Island, which features two 26-storey towers overlooking a landscaped park, with one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments.
In addition, during Q2, Aldar Properties’ flagship retail devel-opment, Yas Mall was fully leased and is now trading with 340 stores.
Meanwhile, occupancy across the group’s hotel portfolio touched 81 percent in the first half of the year.
Hamad International Airport
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HOTEL PERFORMANCE WEEKLY NEWS
329 AUGUST 2015
According to data collected by HotStats during June, the UAE showed a negative picture with profitability suffering, especially in Abu Dhabi where yields per room plummeted 96.5 percent. Occupancy levels in the Lebanese and Saudi capital cities went down, more so in Beirut where weak demand led to reduced rates as well. In contrast, the hospitality market in Sharm El Sheikh posted positive results with all metrics exhibiting healthy growth.
H otels in the Lebanese capital witnessed a significant reduc-tion in RevPAR, dropping 20 percent to USD75.22 as a direct result of a decrease in both occupancy and average room
rates (ARR) by 11.9 percentage points and 2.5 percent respectively.A marginal growth in food and beverage demand in the city
helped offset the low revenues, but failed to escalate profitability for hoteliers, with gross operating profit per available room (GOP-PAR) sliding 57.8 percent to USD15.41 in comparison to the same period in 2014.
An increase in payroll costs by 6.3 percentage points also had a direct impact on the reduced financial gains for hotels and failed to alleviate declining earnings.
Dramatic Fall in Beirut’s Occupancy Rates
A ccommodation units in Abu Dhabi suffered a dramatic decline in profitability, with a 96.5 percent drop in GOP-PAR to USD1.11. The deceleration in profit levels was
characterised by a 10.5 percentage point decrease in occu-pancy and ARR falling 2.3 percent, leading to a 16.8 percent reduction in RevPAR to USD71.43. The hotel market in the UAE capital was affected by the traditional summer slowdown and compounded by the onset of Ramadan.
Four- and five-star hotels in Dubai also suffered the effects of falling interest in June with occupancy levels sliding by nine percentage points to 68.4 percent and ARR dropping 2.1 per-cent to USD206.35 with RevPAR diminishing 13.4 percent to USD141.22. Properties in the city also witnessed a significant decline in food and beverage revenues owing to the low de-mand during Ramadan, which subsequently led to total Rev-PAR shrinking 16.1 percent.
Hotel Profitability Reduced in the UAE
S harm El Sheikh properties experienced a 4.8 per-centage point increase in occupancy levels to 64.6 percent and, when coupled with a 2.9 percent
surge in ARR to USD38.61, resulted in RevPAR growing 11.2 percent year-on-year. Complemented by solid food and beverage demand, total RevPAR rose 10.6 percent. Despite a strong revenue performance, hoteliers wit-nessed a 17.6 percent reduction in GOPPAR to USD7.19.
The performance of hotels in Riyadh was negatively affected by a 6.1 percentage point downturn in occu-pancy to 59.1 percent as a direct result of a substantial decrease in demand.
A marginal drop in ARR resulted in RevPAR declining 9.5 percent but hotels were able to offset this with strong food and beverage revenues which resulted in a 2.2 per-cent climb in total RevPAR to USD249.09.
Strong Demand in Sharm El Sheikh, Summer Slowdown in Riyadh
Abu Dhabi
29 AUGUST 2015
WEEKLY NEWS TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
4
R as Al Khaimah Tourism De-velopment Authority (TDA) in collaboration with crea-
tive agency, TBWA hosted a two-day workshop, aiming to define the ideal brand positioning for the des-tination and chalk out a road map for future developments.
As Haitham Mattar, CEO, Ras Al Khaimah TDA, noted, the event marked the first step in creating a clear vision for the emirate’s tour-ism industry.
For the workshop, TBWA inter-viewed H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, ruler, Ras Al Khaimah, for insights into his vision of the future, and spoke to key stakeholders in the industry.
Ras Al Khaimah TDA Outlines Strategy
Orascom Continues Upward Path In the first half (H1) of the year, Orascom Hotels and Development's revenues increased 25 percent to EGP937.2 million (USD119.7 million), up from EGP750.2 million (USD95.8 million) in H1 2014.
R egarding the company’s hotels, the signed commitment deals with tour opera-tors in addition to a new yielding strategy and pricing protocol that was intro-duced in 2014, resulted in a 40 percent boost in occupancy during the second
quarter (Q2) of the year to reach 56 percent. This improvement has reflected positively on the total revenue of the segment which recorded a growth of 18 percent in H1.
A notable rise was witnessed in the performance of Makadi hotels, with the aver-age occupancy rate of the three properties in the destination rising from 45 percent in Q2 2014 to 75 percent this year.
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29 AUGUST 2015
TECHNOLOGY WEEKLY NEWS
5
Air Seychelles has selected Sabre to provide a full range of technology that will support the carrier’s global business as well as enhance guest experience and revenue-generating capabilities.
Amadeus Expands Presence in Hotel Sales and Catering
Amadeus is to increase its sales and catering offering to the hos-pitality industry with the acquisition of Hotel SystemsPro by Newmarket, an Amadeus Company.
The takeover, which will see Hotel SystemsPro being formally inte-grated into Newmarket, will complement the new entity’s existing mar-ket reach and expand its overall product offering, all whilst generating new business opportunities across the Hotel SystemsPro customer base.
The hospitality software’s flagship product, hotel SalesPro works to automate the entire sales administration and catering delivery process, increasing sales efficiency, and customer service at hospitality venues with a specific focus on mid-tier properties.
Air Seychelles Partners with Sabre
The agreement will see the airline move to SabreSonic, an integrated suite of applications that automates criti-cal processes enabling a unique differentiated customer
experience.Using the technology provider’s robust and flexible software,
Air Seychelles will be able to further optimise daily operations, drive incremental revenues and ancillary revenue opportuni-ties, and provide guests with a more personal travel experience through tailored services.
H otelogix, the cloud-based property management system, has developed a
faster trial experience for new us-ers as part of its ongoing commit-ment to make moving to the cloud system simpler and more efficient for hotels.
Designed for independent properties, the company’s latest product update promises a quicker way to get businesses on the cloud platform, in less than one minute.
The latest update adds some innovative interfaces, enabling ho-teliers to set up their trial in as lit-tle as three clicks. Also added is a ticking clock that emphasises the simplicity of the process.
Hop on Hotelogix’s Platform in One Minute
29 AUGUST 2015
WEEKLY NEWS XX
6
WEEKLY NEWS
Nirvana Travel Predicts Busy Season for Abu Dhabi
According to estimates made by company specialists, when com-pared to the same period in 2014,
tourist numbers are also expected to rise during the coming months thanks to fes-tivals and events organised by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority. The same source further revealed that according to confirmed bookings, there is a continued flow of tour groups and visitors, especial-ly from the GCC.
UAE-based tour operator, Nirvana Travel & Tourism posited that Abu Dhabi will witness an increase in hotel occupancy rates throughout September.
Dubai Summit to Explore Future of Events
Egyptian Airports Leverage SITA Technology
International experts will converge in Dubai between November 18 – 19 to discuss opportunities and issues related to the future of events.
Presented by Emirates, Host Cities 2015 will run under the theme Embracing Future Events, and will highlight how the hosting strategies of cities today will shape the cities of tomorrow. The summit will identify trends in strategies for bids, engagement, sponsorship and funding to share knowledge that can be applied to different event types, budgets, cultures and geographies.
Egyptian Airports Company (EAC) has chosen SITA as its technology partner for its airport IT modernisation programme at five of the air-fields it manages across the country.
EAC leverages the combination of SITA airport solutions to improve the pas-senger experience and increase efficiency in Sharm El Sheikh, Luxor and Aswan.
“Specifically, we are enhancing the passenger experience with new self-service opportunities and the latest baggage solutions, and using SITA’s world-class airport management system to manage flights, gates, baggage and most importantly, our people more efficiently,” explained Adel Abdel Aziz Mahgoub, CEO, EAC.
Abu
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Did you know...
Nirvana Travel &
Tourism won UAE's
Leading Tour
Operator Award
during the 2015
World Travel
Awards?
29 AUGUST 2015
WEEKLY NEWS
8
D espite comprising less than 10 percent of Dubai’s population, UAE nationals are the majority of real estate purchasers in the emirate, according to
global consultants, Knight Frank.They are closely followed by buyers from Saudi Ara-
bia, as well as the rest of the GCC, and it is estimated that this group acquired properties worth around AED9 billion (USD2.45 billion) during the first quarter of this year.
As for non-GCC purchasers, Indian nationals lead with AED3 billion (USD820 million), followed by the UK and Pakistan.
“Dubai offers exceptional value for money, in terms of price per square metre,” said Gregory Lewis, senior nego-tiator, Knight Frank.
UAE Nationals Are Top Buyers in Dubai
OCEC to Stage Oman Bride Show 2016
O man Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC) will be hosting Oman Bride Show 2016 between April 27 – 30, organised by local exhibition company East Expo.
Set to be the Sultanate’s biggest wedding event, the programme will present an array of bridal products and services, from fashion, makeup and jewellery to flowers, transport, entertainment and venues.
Trevor McCartney, general manager, OCEC, commented that the venue will give invaluable exposure to the show, offering a host of significant possibilities for its exhibitors locally, regionally and globally.
“This will also allow us to present the OCEC as a venue for weddings in our own grand and junior ball-rooms, which together can accommodate 1,990 guests,” he added.
Did you know...
OCEC's tiered
auditorium seats
3,200 people?
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ACCOMMODATION WEEKLY NEWS
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O ryx Rotana celebrated its fifth anniversary at a stylish event attended
by the hotel’s general manager, senior executives and staff, where a celebratory cake cutting cer-emony took place.
Lana Jwainat, director of marketing and communications, Oryx Rotana, commented, “Today we are celebrating five years of Oryx Rotana’s operations in Doha, where we have transformed the landscape of the hospitality sec-tor with the superb quality of our services, taking our guests’ experi-ence, whether tourists, travellers or Doha residents, to a whole new level of comfort and luxury.”
She revealed that the hotel has been achieving high occu-pancy and growth rates year after year, while it has made a remark-able difference in the service qual-ity to all hotel guests and visitors.
C airo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino, which was built as a palace to host
guests of the opening festivities of the original Suez Canal in 1869, took inspiration to commemorate the launch of the New Suez Canal in a similar grand manner.
The hotel reflected the his-torical significance as well as the current achievement and invited guests to join the festivities. Visitors were greeted by a photo booth de-picting the old palace, the original canal digging, the existing property and the new canal.
Cairo Marriott Celebrates New Suez Canal
Doha's Oryx Rotana Turns Five
ADNH: OVER USD190 MILLION IN REVENUE
For the first half (H1) of the year, Abu Dhabi National Hotels (ADNH) recorded operating revenues of AED701 million (USD190.8 million).
T his was due to significant achievements across all of the company’s business divi-sions, as Hareb Al Muhairy, board member, ADNH, said. Overall, the hotels segment accounted for 68.3 percent of the total operating revenue, with the properties owned and managed by the group having met their budgeted figures.
Noting that the company enjoys extensive presence in the catering, transport and retail business as well, Al Muhairy added, “Looking at developing our hospitality offering, we will continue to focus on developing trendsetting dining venues while creating innova-tive hospitality environments in Abu Dhabi and further afield.”
ADNH's The Venetian Village
Har
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Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino
29 AUGUST 2015
WEEKLY NEWS
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WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION
JW Marriott Marquis Dubai: Strong H1 Results
In the first half of the year (H1), JW Marriott Marquis Dubai witnessed an inventory increase of 51 percent compared to the corresponding period in 2014, yet room occupancies re-
mained in excess of 80 percent. The hotel also achieved 100 percent occupancy on more
than 30 occasions since its second tower was officially opened in October 2014.
Bill Keffer, general manager, JW Marriott Marquis Dubai, said the results were a significant achievement considering the rise in supply of new luxury hotels regionally.
“JW Marriott Marquis Dubai has continued to drive room revenues by 21 percent. These positive figures further cement our position as a market leader in the region, as we continue to set the precedent for hospitality industry standards both in the Middle East and internationally,” added Keffer.
A l Habtoor City, the new multiuse project is set to receive its first guests by the end of the year. Ideally located within 15 minutes from an array of amenities and key
landmarks in Dubai, it will be a destination fit for residents and visitors alike.
The development, which is set to become home to three five-star Starwood-branded hotels and three luxury residential tow-ers, is in close proximity to tourism sites, international schools, as well as the emirate’s main shopping malls and financial hubs.
Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, chairman, Al Habtoor Group, not-ed, “There are so many choices for visitors within the develop-ment itself from restaurants, shops and entertainment too, all within few minutes walking distance.”
Al Habtoor City: The New Heart of Dubai
Inspired by the popular children animated movie Frozen, Kempinski Palm Jumeirah unveiled Ice Princess Summer Camp, a thematic programme for youngsters,
available throughout the month. During the camp, kids can bring a costume from
home or buy one at the hotel’s retail shop and dress as their favourite character from the blockbuster. Children participating are entertained with a range of activities; they learn how to sing and dance to all the songs from the film and create arts and crafts. Every week parents have the opportunity to watch their little ones emphasise what they have learned in a showcase prepared by the staff.
Kempinski Palm Jumeirah Presents Ice Princess
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29 AUGUST 2015
ACCOMMODATION WEEKLY NEWS
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Premier Inn Sharjah Launches
A ction Hotels opened Premier Inn Sharjah, a 168-room property located in the centre of the emirate.
After a delay in its inauguration, the hotel is now fully operational, and the company forecasts early opera-tional profitability as the Premier Inn brand is expected to drive occupancy.
Alain Debare, CEO, Action Hotels, confirmed, “The hotel enjoys a superb location in the heart of Sharjah and it is the first internationally branded economy hotel in the emirate. We are confident in the hotel’s future success. Sharjah is well positioned for both leisure and business travel and is a hub of culture and activity, having been named Arab Tour-ism Capital for the year.”
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Le Royal Méridien Dubai Reinvented
L e Royal Méridien Beach Resort & Spa commenced the second phase of its renovation plans. Scheduled for completion in the last quarter of the year, the enhancements will focus on the complete refurbishment of the entrance, lobby and reception area, as well as the introduction
of a new all-day dining concept and signature brand experiences, such as Le Méridien Hub.The second round of facelifts follows phase one which included the redevelopment and redesign
of more than 100 rooms in Tower One, as well as the addition of two new food and beverage outlets.According to Pam Wilby, complex general manager, Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort & Spa and
Grosvenor House Dubai, the refurbishment reflects a new era of change and innovation, as the prop-erty is repositioned for the new generation of global luxury travellers.
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WEEKLY NEWS AIR
12
Royal Air Maroc to Launch Rabat Base
Starting October 26, the national carrier will connect the capital city to four European business and tour-ism destinations, namely London, Brussels, Madrid
and Marseille. Travellers will be able to benefit from three weekly frequencies to each of the cities.
The airline will deploy a Boeing B737-800 aircraft on the route with a seating capacity of 160 passengers.
Royal Air Maroc is to open a new base in Rabat, further enhancing travel options between Morocco and Europe.
Emirates to Launch World’s Longest Long-haul Route
Emirates’ Dubai – Panama City route is to become the longest long-haul flight in the world
at 17 hours and 35 minutes when it launches on February 1, 2016.
Operated daily by a Boeing 777-200LR aircraft, the service will mark the airline’s foray into Central America, opening up a range of convenient connections to Latin America, South America and be-yond. According to Isabel Saint Malo de Alvarado, vice president, Panama, with a direct connection to the Middle East, new doors will open for the country.
Q atar Airways is con-tinuing its rapid growth across
Africa and the Indian sub-continent with increased frequencies to Asmara and Dhaka.
From September 7, flights from Doha to the Eri-trean capital will be boosted from four to five per week, representing a 25 percent rise in capacity and en-hanced connectivity options, in particular for customers from the US and Europe.
In addition, effective from December 9, operations to the Bangladeshi city will also be improved substan-tially with the number of ser-vices jumping from 10 to 14 weekly, leading to a capacity rise of 40 percent on the pop-ular route.
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Qatar Airways Boosts Operations in Africa and Asia
AIR WEEKLY NEWS
1329 AUGUST 2015
Fly Baghdad Takes Off
A new Iraqi carrier has launched operations, with Fly Baghdad’s air-craft recently touching down at Baghdad International Airport.
The airline has a dedicated sales office in the city and for the moment it offers only domestic flights from Baghdad to Erbil, Sulaymani-yah, Najaf and Basra.
G ulf Air has boosted services be-tween Bahrain and Cairo from 12 to 14 weekly flights, follow-
ing successful negotiations between the Kingdom’s Civil Aviation Authority and the Egyptian counterpart to expand air traffic rights between the two countries.
Ahmed Janahi, acting chief commer-cial officer, Gulf Air, said that the airline’s improved Cairo service would mean a greater connection to one of the nation-al carrier’s long-standing routes.
“We are always looking to satisfy the high demand to and from Cairo and ca-ter to passenger needs on this popular route. With twice daily flights between Bahrain and Cairo we are offering en-hanced schedule flexibility for our trav-ellers,” he added.
Gulf Air Increases Direct Cairo Flights
Kuwait Airways Welcomes New A330s
K uwait Airways has recently received two new Airbus A330 aircraft at Kuwait International Airport.
Named Dasman and Al Fintas, the planes are the first two A330s from a total of five leased aircraft of the type that will join the Kuwaiti carrier’s fleet, ac-cording to the relevant development programme launched in December 2014 when the airline wel-comed its first leased airliners.
As per the fleet modernisation plan, with this new addition the number of jets has now reached nine, comprising seven A320s and the two A330s.
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Did you know...
Some 30 airlines
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29 AUGUST 2015
WEEKLY NEWS AIR
14
New Codeshare Routes for Qatar Airways and Royal Air Maroc
Gulf Air Hosts Russian Group
A s of December 1, Emirates will offer four new weekly routes between Dubai and Phuket, Thailand.
Adding a capacity of 57 percent, the services will introduce connectivity from various cities in the Americas for the first time and improve links to a number of destinations in Europe and the Middle East.
“These new flights have been well timed to not only maximise connections across our network but also allow for a morning arrival in Phuket, giving travellers even more time to enjoy the island and its surrounds,” commented Thierry Antinori, executive vice president, Emirates.
The airline will operate the new flights onboard a Boeing 777-300ER.
Emirates Boosts Services to Phuket
G ulf Air received a number of Russian travel trade repre-sentatives to Bahrain, as part
of a familiarisation trip which gave the European partners the opportunity to explore the Kingdom and get to know various tourist attractions.
During the visit, leading tour op-erators, luxury travel outlets and for-eign independent agents reviewed a number of hotels and experienced a plethora of sites around the country. Additionally, the group witnessed Gulf Air’s latest products, both in-flight and on the ground, and visited the airline’s headquarters to meet with the execu-tive management team.
Q atar Airways and Royal Air Maroc will further strengthen their recent business partnership with the launch of new codeshare services across the Moroccan carrier’s extensive
West African network, as well as on both airlines’ routes between the two countries.
The new agreement will allow passengers to purchase a single itinerary combining flights on both carriers’ global route maps, af-fording them the ease of one-stop ticketing and baggage check-in.
Following the deal, as of September 9, Royal Air Maroc will start operating three weekly flights with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner from Casablanca to Doha, complimenting Qatar Airways’ existing daily ser-vice to the North African city.
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The Russian team with Ahmed Janahi, acting chief commercial officer, Gulf Air (middle)
29 AUGUST 2015
AGENTS WEEKLY NEWS
15
Gulf Air Hosts Top Kuwaiti Cargo PartnersGulf Air recently received representatives of Caesar’s Cargo and Hazmat Logistics, two of Kuwait’s leading cargo and professional logistics companies, in its headquarters in Bahrain.
T he visit served as an incentive for the two entities’ top selling staff, allowing them to visit and explore Bahrain, and learn more about Gulf Air’s product and service offering.
The airline operates multiple direct daily flights between Bahrain and Kuwait.
T ravelport has renewed its multiyear agree-ment with Al Futtaim Travel, one of the larg-est travel agencies in the Gulf region special-
ising in corporate and leisure travel management.The deal provides agents with the travel com-
merce platform's technology, including Travelport Universal API which gives access to a world of in-formation and functionality through a single appli-cation programming interface (API) connection by aggregating air, hotel, car, rail and merchandising content from multiple sources. The agency’s custom-ers will continue to have access to the technology firm’s inventory allowing them to search, sell and book fares from approximately 400 airlines and over 650,000 hotel properties globally.
d nata’s division in Pakistan, Gerry’s dnata ramped up its scale of operations by invest-ing over USD4 million to commence service
at three new airports in the country, namely Quetta, Multan and Faisalabad.
“We have been supporting the aviation industry in Pakistan since 1993. This expansion will help the industry continue to grow and meet the needs of the travel and cargo communities,” commented Syed Haris Raza, vice president, Gerry’s dnata.
He added that the aviation industry in Pakistan continues to grow, and as a trusted partner, the company’s goal is to ensure the smooth handling of flights, passengers and cargo across the country.
Travelport Continues Collaboration with Al Futtaim Travel
Gerry’s dnata Expands Footprint in Pakistan
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29 AUGUST 2015
WEEKLY NEWS INTERNATIONAL
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Carlson Rezidor Focusses on Australasia
Dusit Expands in the Philippines with Cebu Property
Four Seasons to Launch First Korean Property
C arlson Rezidor Hotel Group is to increase its commitment to Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
Starting with the redesign of the flagship five-star Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney, due to be soon un-veiled, the company aims to grow its team to include a dedicated Australasia hotel development function based in Sydney. This will be followed by the introduc-tion of the group’s full portfolio of brands including Radisson Red, Park Inn by Radisson and Country Inns & Suites by Carlson.
Thorsten Kirschke, president, Asia Pacific, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, commented that the region’s tour-ism outlook is positive, especially in Australia.
C ontinuing its aggressive expansion in Asia, Dusit International has formalised an agreement to bring its DusitPrincess brand
to Cebu.“With its position as a key gateway to southern
Philippines, strong corporate demand and myriad tourist attractions, the island is currently seeing a boom of development,” explained Rustom Vickers, group director, development, Dusit International.
The high-rise DusitPrincess Cebu will offer 295 guest rooms with views of the city and the ocean. As part of a mixed-use development, the property will also host a number of retail outlets, offices and apartments.
A s Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts puts the final touches on its first location in South Korea, the count-down begins for the October opening of the all-new Four Seasons Hotel Seoul.
With the promise of exceptional accommodations, a collection of restaurants and late-night bars, an expansive fitness and spa complex, and outstanding settings for events, the five-star hotel aims to create a new benchmark in global style, sophistication and service.
Lubosh Barta, general manager, Four Seasons Hotel Seoul, noted, “More than simply a place to sleep, Four Seasons is where people come together to eat, drink and mingle; to celebrate and to close the deal; to relax and to be inspired.”
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INTERNATIONAL WEEKLY NEWS
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Mövenpick Boasts New Resort in Boracay
M övenpick Hotels & Resorts strengthened its Asian footprint with a new deal to manage Sol Marina Resort in Boracay, the Philippines.
The 333-key property, to be renamed Mövenpick Re-sort Boracay, will open in December. Most of its rooms and suites will enjoy sea views, while the presidential suite will be a stand-alone villa with a private pool.
Other highlights include family rooms, a kids’ club, games area, three restaurants, a lobby lounge, beach club and swim-up pool bar, plus meetings and events facilities.
“Signing a property in Boracay is a significant develop-ment for Mövenpick, as it cements our presence in one of Asia’s most established resort destinations,” explained An-dreas Mattmüller, chief operating officer, Middle East and Asia, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts.
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Iconic Thai Hotel Undergoes Revamp
P huket’s first luxury resort, Royal Phuket Yacht Club is to reopen on January 16, 2016 as THE NAI HARN, following an extensive 18-month remod-
elling programme. It will offer 130 rooms and suites with panoramic vis-
tas over the Andaman Sea, plus a bespoke spa, new pool and six food and beverage outlets.
Christoph Berger, chief operating officer, THE NAI HARN, said, “We will be respecting the heritage of the re-sort as well as looking to the future with design innova-tions that will make the most of its incredible location.”
He added that it will be fully embracing Southern Thai art and culture and bringing it into the resort ex-perience both inside and outside so that guests can feel relaxed, inspired and engaged by the history and natural context of the destination.
THE NAI HARN
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29 AUGUST 2015
RENDEZVOUS
18
Q & A withImad Zaboura
BEING THE ONLY FIVE-STAR HOTEL IN THE MAIN LOCATION OF KUWAIT’S LEADING OIL AND GAS COMPANIES MAKES AL MANSHAR ROTANA HOTEL A CONVENIENT CHOICE FOR BUSINESS TRAVELLERS, AS IMAD ZABOURA, GENERAL MANAGER, AL MANSHAR ROTANA HOTEL, KUWAIT, EXPLAINS.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What initia-tives are being implemented by the management to ensure that your vis-itors become loyal, returning guests?
IMAD ZABOURA: We have several ini-tiatives and hotel packages that focus more on our corporate guests. Our Ro-tana Escape Package showcases an ar-ray of carefully picked accommodation packages that suit the needs of our cli-entele. We also have a selection of Daily Delegate Packages that can be adjusted according to the requirements of our guests. Rotana Rewards also plays a big role in creating a loyal clientele; being a member means more opportunities to enjoy the benefits and various food and beverage, room and massage treat-ment discounts. Moreover, we treat all our guests as VIPs. We make sure that every interaction we have with them is personalised, we anticipate their needs and offer the best services possible. [...] Sometimes simple gestures make our guests feel really special and part of the family such as addressing them with their names, knowing what type of bev-erage they prefer or how do they want their omelette to be done. All of these can make a big difference.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What is the role of a renowned property like Al Manshar Rotana Hotel in further con-solidating the country’s standing on the regional and global tourism map?
IMAD ZABOURA: Rotana is one of the well-known brands in the Middle East and Africa and the company continues to expand at a rapid pace. This also gives us an edge to attract more visitors to Ku-wait and our hotel. Guests often choose us expecting the same experience they had during their stay at some other Ro-tana property in the Middle East.
Al Manshar Rotana’s role is to make sure that we give our guests the best services possible and remain true to our brand’s Treasured Time promise.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What kinds of steps are needed in order to lure more holiday-makers to Kuwait?
IMAD ZABOURA: There is a big pos-sibility of businessmen turning into holidaymakers with Kuwait’s improved hotel industry consisting of a high num-ber of world-class hotels that offer all the facilities and cover almost all cities.
recent Travelport report, by 2017, on-line travel bookings will account for 36 percent of all bookings in the Mid-dle East. How will this shift in book-ing methods change the way hotels do business and engage with guests?
IMAD ZABOURA: We can already see the power of online travel booking en-gines such as Booking.com, TripAdvi-sor, Expedia and other platforms. The new generation would like to see actual comparisons between the places or the hotels that they would like to visit during their vacation, especially the difference between the rates. Consum-ers nowadays are very conscious about anything that they purchase and the inclusions of each package that they choose.
Booking.com for instance is very popular in the GCC and particularly in Saudi Arabia. TripAdvisor is boom-ing too thanks to its testimonials and reviews.
These [sites] will definitely change the way hotels do business. More crea-tive ideas are needed in order to at-tract traffic to the hotel’s main website and encourage the bookers to use that platform to book their next stay at the property. Language plays a big role in this and that is the reason why Rotana’s website is available in six different lan-guages, including English, Arabic, Chi-nese, German, Russian and Spanish.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: In line with the country’s long-term economic diversification strategy, Kuwait is currently hammering out a new, full-fledged national strategy aimed at further developing the tourism sec-tor. What are your expectations from this strategic plan?
IMAD ZABOURA: Kuwait’s plan to de-velop the tourism sector will give a big boost to the country and to all the busi-nesses of the nation. It will definitely encourage more foreign investors to do business in the country. Moreover, the number of visitors, whether its business or leisure, will definitely be doubled. More job opportunities will be available and the number of big and small busi-nesses will increase.
Kuwait has a very auspicious plan promoting the country. In due time, Ku-wait will be known not only as a business but also as a tourist destination, where families can enjoy their next holiday.
GENERAL MANAGER, AL MANSHAR ROTANA HOTEL, KUWAIT
“IN DUE TIME, KUWAIT WILL BE KNOWN NOT ONLY AS A BUSINESS BUT ALSO AS A TOURIST DESTINATION
Continuous development of the road network and infrastructures will certainly entice tourists to come and try a different kind of Arabian hospital-ity. Considering all these, Kuwait should also invest in tourism marketing both within and outside the region in order to attract more travellers. Perhaps a media familiarisation trip would help promote advertise Kuwait in different countries.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: Based on a
29 AUGUST 2015
WHO'S MOVED
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Mohamed Abdo has accept-ed the position of director of sales and marketing at Möv-enpick Hotel Ibn Battuta Gate, Dubai. Abdo has decade-long experi-ence in the industry, seven of which he spent in Dubai. He holds a bachelor degree in international hospitality and tourism management and began his career as an assis-tant sales manager at Rotana. He then continued to excel professionally and moved to Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group where he was most recently responsible for the Middle East and Africa region as di-rector of sales. Preceding his employment at Mövenpick Hotel Ibn Battuta Gate, Abdo was director of sales and mar-keting for Mövenpick Hotel & Apartments Bur Dubai for one and a half years.
FABIEN CHESNAIS
DANIEL GUILLOU
MOHAMED ABDO
ONUR KADEMOĞLU
Fabien Chesnais continues as the new general manager of Mövenpick Hotel & Apart-ments Bur Dubai.Chesnais, who spent the past four years in the same position at Mövenpick Hotel Doha, will oversee the overall manage-ment of the property while also setting strategic direc-tions for continued growth. After starting his career in food and beverage opera-tions, he has worked in Africa, the Middle East as well as Eu-rope. Chesnais spent seven years with Hilton Worldwide as food and beverage manag-er of various hotels and resorts in Egypt, before joining Möv-enpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea as executive assistant manag-er. He was already hotel man-ager for two years by the time he accepted the general man-ager role in the Qatari capital.
Daniel Guillou has been ap-pointed managing director at Travelport Hotelzon, a hotel distribution technology pro-vider for the business-to-busi-ness travel industry.Based in Finland, Guillou will be responsible for leading the company to the next stage of international expansion. Guillou brings with him over 20 years of experience work-ing in the international IT and telecommunications indus-try where he held leadership positions at a number of or-ganisations. His previous em-ployers include Ericsson and IT services company, Tieto, where he successfully drove solid improvement across his customer portfolio.In addition, he also has exten-sive experience in working in other markets, such as Japan, Nigeria and the Netherlands.
Onur Kademoğlu has as-sumed the position of direc-tor of sales and marketing at Pera Palace Hotel Jumeirah in Istanbul. He joins Jumeirah Group with 11 years of experience under his belt. He previously held various positions with The Is-tanbul Edition, The Ritz-Carl-ton Hotel Company as well as InterContinental Hotels Group. Kademoğlu, who holds a master’s degree in tourism management, most recently served as director of sales and marketing at Kempinski Hotel Barbados Bay Bodrum.
Kademoğlu holds a master’s degree in
tourism management
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TRAVEL TALK
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RAFIC KAMALEDDINEChief Strategy Officer, TBWA
“Destination branding is more than a logo design and a cam-paign. It is a way of bringing the place to life through a strong and relevant vision rooted in inherent brand strengths and relevant insights. The Disruption Workshop is helping us bring this depth to Ras Al Khaimah by creating the foundation for the brand and helping us express it in collaboration with all stake-holders.”
H.H. SHEIKH AHMED BIN SAEED AL MAKTOUM
CEO, Emirates Group
“Sponsorship has always been a vital component of our marketing strategy. Through our sponsor-ship and support of an incredible line-up of global football clubs and popular football events we have been able to bring major clubs to the UAE to compete in unique tournaments, connect-ing them to their fans. With our new partnership with the Arabian Gulf League, we will be in an even stronger position to add value to the UAE’s professional league by capitalising on opportunities that will link local clubs with interna-tional football teams.”
With our new partnership [...] we will be in an even stronger position
The workshop is helping us bring this depth to Ras Al Khaimah
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AGENT CORNER
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Evgenia Zorina
Head of purchasing division
MaxiMICE
Russia
www.maximice.ru
Agent’s Insight
When and how did you get involved in the tourism industry?Our company was established in 2006, but most of our middle- and high-level managers have been in the tourism business for more than 10 years. Personally I started my career as a travel agent in 1999.
What are the most important attributes of a good travel agent/tour operator?A professional team for sure.
What is the most frequently asked question that your company receives from customers?They ask, “How can you surprise us this time?”
What are the must-visits and must-dos in Russia that no one should miss?Since we are the biggest country in the world, we have an amazing number of wonders. But the most famous places are The Moscow Kremlin, St Petersburg and Petergof, Kamchatka, Altay and Sochi.
Which destination is on your bucket list?All the world.
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dnata Travel: Elected Reseller for Rio 2016
d nata Travel has been appointed as an authorised ticket reseller (ATR) for the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic
Games by the UAE National Olympic Commit-tee, allowing the travel provider to take fans from the UAE to Brazil for the event.
Ailsa Pollard, senior vice president, dnata Travel, commented, “dnata Travel has consid-erable experience taking sports fans to the ac-tion, wherever it may be. The appointment by the UAE National Olympic Committee for the second time is a great vote of confidence in our capability and high level of service.”
Rio
de Ja
neiro
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TRAVEL CHANNELS
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Dubai Aquarium Enables Sand Tiger Shark Breeding
A flagship asset of Emaar Retail, Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo is launching an assisted breeding programme for one of its star inhabitants, the
sand tiger shark, in collaboration with SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium.
Japan Loosens Tour Operator
Regulations
TAT Lures Golfers to Thailand
I n a bid to attract more golfers to the country, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) hosted the Thailand Golf Travel Mart 2015 between August 4 – 6, as golf is seen as a priority niche market for the coun-
try that supports the authority’s policy to promote travel and tourism to the provinces.
A group of 153 international golf-holiday buyers met with 95 lo-cal sellers, including golf courses, golf schools, travel agents and tour operators, hotels and spa facilities.
Juthaporn Rerngronasa, acting governor, TAT, stated, “We […] have attractive green fees […], excellent clubhouse facilities serving delicious Thai cuisine, as well as good challenging holes in an exotic tropical environment. Courses can be played on all year round.”
UNWTO Conference Throws Spotlight on Brand Africa
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) brought together a number of African tourism stake-
holders who explored ways to build a stronger tourism brand for Africa during the UNWTO Regional Confer-ence Enhancing Brand Africa - Fos-tering Tourism Development, which took place in Accra, Ghana, between August 17 – 19.
The event was opened by H.E. John Dramani Mahama, president, Ghana, and speakers included tourism minis-ters of Ghana, Cameroon, Namibia, the Seychelles and Zimbabwe, as well as Tewolde Gebre Mariam, CEO, Ethiopian Airlines and Zain Asher, news anchor, CNN International.
Topics discussed focussed on the impact of Brand Africa on tourism in the region, key challenges facing the Afri-can countries, creating synergies in the region, and more.
Japanese Association of Travel Agents issued new guidelines for operators working in the coun-
try’s market, as current regulations gave travellers extraordinary protec-tion, allowing them to delay book-ing confirmation until 30 days before departure and claim lavish compen-sation if the product they bought dif-fered from what they expected.
Under the new guidelines, com-ing into force in October, Japanese operators will be able to offer consum-ers upgraded accommodation, as long as it appears on a published list, and charge non-refundable deposits for the air segment of the holiday.
“It has to be stressed that this does not mean any relaxation of the stand-ards required by the Japanese market,” said Tom Jenkins, executive director, European Tour Operators Association.
John Dramani Mahama
Sand tiger shark
A lso known as the grey nurse shark, the spe-cies is listed as ecologi-cally vulnerable on the International Union for
Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species, and could become extinct in the next three decades.
Maitha Al Dossari, CEO, Emaar Retail, said, “A species that is even older than dinosaurs, sharks face in-numerable threats across the world. Through a global collaboration, we are putting the spotlight on shark conservation while taking a proac-tive step to build the population.”
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PHOTO ALBUM
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Lebanese Emmy Award winning director Amin Dora with Etihad Airways staff en route to Sydney to attend the opening night of Arab Film Festival
Abu Dhabi Ports collected over 9,000kg of goods via the Together, Lending a Helping Hand charity
campaign
The stars of The Illuminaire show lit up the night on the beach next to The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi
Zayed Ahmed Al Hashmi (right) won a hotelandrest.com competition
Kempinski Hotel Aqaba Red Sea’s skilled lifeguard occasionally takes up nanny duties
Share with us the latest images of your activities and let your colleagues know what you have been up to.
Send your photos to [email protected] Because a picture is worth a thousand words...
Take a Shot!
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NEWS & EVENTS
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EVENTS
MEBAA SHOW MOROCCO
Casablanca, MoroccoSeptember 01 – 02www.mebaamorocco.aeroThe event, which will host over 50 exhibitors, is exclusively designed for business aviation suppliers, providers and buyers to network and establish new relationships in North Africa.
MICE ASIA PACIFIC EXHIBITION
Singapore, SingaporeSeptember 10 – 11www.miceasiaexhibition.comOver two days, the show aims to connect Asia’s leading meetings, conference, exhibition and events organisers and help them network with Asia Pacific venues.
WORLD ROUTES
Durban, South AfricaSeptember 19 – 22www.routesonline.comThe programme, which takes place in Africa for the first time, attracts the most senior representatives of airlines, airports and tourism authorities.
FOOD & HOSPITALITY OMAN
Muscat, OmanSeptember 07 – 09 foodandhospitalityoman.comA business and networking platform to promote the latest products and services in the food and beverage sector.
ONLINE TRAVEL MARKET HURGHADA
Hurghada, EgyptSeptember 04 – 05www.otmhurghada.comA specialised event for travel technology and online travel solutions in Egypt and the Middle East.
Abu Dhabi Showcased in Brazil
T he UAE capital was represented at the 43rd edition of WorldSkills Com-petition held in São Paulo between
August 11 – 16, as Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau attended the event.
“Through different thematic areas of the stand, visitors immerse themselves in a vir-tual journey across the main attractions of Abu Dhabi,” said Mubarak Al Shamisi, direc-tor, Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau.
The organisation has won the right to host the event's next instalment.
Etihad and Jet Airways to Conquer Indian Market
E tihad Airways’ investment in Jet Air-ways is showing strong results, as the pair now holds a 21 percent share of
the country’s international air travel market.Naresh Goyal, founder, Jet Airways,
confirmed, “Together with Etihad Airways, we now operate over 4,300 international flights a month, more flights to and from India than any other airline. [...] Our stra-tegic collaboration with Etihad Airways includes network integration, joint sales effort, sharing of resources, collaborated procurement and knowledge transfer.”