Market Update 2International News 3Air Travel News 4Accommodation News 6General News 8Agents’ Corner 10Travel Tips 11Travel Talk 12Who’s Moved 14Rendezvous 15Events 16

Middle East and North Africa Edition

JANUARY 29, 2011 ISSUE 64

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33SHERATON SHARJAHStarwood Hotels and Resorts has signeda management contract for the firstSheraton branded property in Sharjah,UAE. The agreement was signed betweenStarwood and Sheikh Abdullah BinSalem Al Qassimi, deputy ruler ofSharjah, who is developing the propertyin private capacity.

In This Issue

FORBIDDEN MERGERMajor Greek aviation interests, AegeanAirlines and Olympic Air, have beenforbidden to merge by the EuropeanCommission. The decision is theculmination of a 10 month investigationby the EU.

www.traveltradeweekly.travel

Troubled ParadiseTroubled Paradise

Many tourists are evacuating Tunisia in response todramatic political upheavals underway in the North

African country. Thousands of holidaymakers havealready fled the country, but industry sources predict a

return to normal in the short to medium term.

Qasr Al Nahrain will begindistributing the Galileo GDSgroup of products beginningin February, under the nameGalileo Iraq.

Aws Alhashimi, general manager of Rawat AlHajer and Galileo Iraq, said the introduction ofthe GDS would help stimulate Iraq’s growingtravel sector.“We are excited to get started and provide Iraqitravel agencies with technical resources that canhelp bring their businesses to a new level ofproductivity and performance," he said."We are committed to supporting the local

travel trade and aim to play a key role in theirfuture growth and development.”

Jennifer D'Souza, regional commercial directorin the Middle East for Travelport, said Rawat AlHajer had been chosen as a partner due to thecompany’s established position in the Iraqitravel technology market.“With its extensive local market knowledge andtechnical expertise, Rawat Al Hajer is wellpositioned to help us establish Galileo'spresence in Iraq and effectively serve our newtravel agency customers in the country," shesaid. "We are delighted to partner with them in thispromising new venture and look forward to along and successful relationship.”Rawat Al Hajer was established in 2004 as aprovider of business IT solutions.

JANUARY 29, 20112

TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLYManaging Editor

Mary Kammitsi

EditorLaura Warne

Deputy EditorLouis Dillon Savage

JournalistRita Kasziba

Design & LayoutElina Pericleous

Sales & MarketingDimitris Thomaidis

DirectorsAndreas Constantinides

Mary Kammitsi

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Nicosia 1308 CyprusTel: +35722820888Fax: +35722318958

Websitewww.traveltradeweekly.travel

Emailsinfo@traveltradeweekly.travel

editorial@traveltradeweekly.travelsales@traveltradeweekly.travel

COUNTRY CURRENCY 1USD=UAE (AED) Dirham 3.67Egypt (EGP) Pound 5.86Saudi Arabia (SAR) Riyal 3.75Lebanon (LBP) Pound 1500.61Bahrain (BHD) Dinar 0.37Jordan ( JOD) Dinar 0.71Syria (SYP) Pound 46.56Kuwait (KWD) Dinar 0.28Qatar (QAR) Riyal 3.64Oman (OMR) Rial 0.38Tunisia (TND) Dinar 1.42Morocco (MAD) Dirham 8.17Iran (IRR) Riyal 10,350Yemen (YER) Rial 214.73Algeria (DZD) Dinar 72.88Libya (LYD) Dinar 1.24

MENA Exchange RatesAccurate as of 27/1/2011Currencies shown in red are fixed against the US Dollar

Travelport to Launch Galileo in Iraq MarketGlobal distribution system (GDS) provider Travelport has entered the Iraq market,signing a deal with local travel conglomerate Qasr Al Nahrain.

Etihad Becomes UATP ShareholderEtihad Airways has adopted the UATP payment system and will soon startissuing accounts to corporate clients.UATP allows its shareholders, such as Etihad, to provide accounts to businessesthat in turn use them as a method of payment.Peter Baumgartner, chief commercial officer of Etihad, said the system wouldmake Etihad more competitive in the corporate travel sector.“Etihad chose to become a UATP issuer to better capture the extensive corporatemarket in the Middle East,” he said Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways.“By offering an Etihad UATP card program to our corporate customers, we willbe able to provide best-of-breed solutions and utilize UATP in many ways toenhance our customer service and fulfil the payment needs of the airline.”

Etihad chose to become a UATP issuer to bettercapture the extensive corporate market

A ccording to a statementfrom Aegean, a mergerhas been underinvestigation by thecommission, which is

the main regulatory body of the EuropeanUnion, for the past 10 months.Both Aegean and Olympic executiveshave issued statements criticising thedecision.Theodore Vassilakis, chairman of  Aegean,said the ruling came despite the carriers’efforts to demonstrate consumer benefitsto the commission.“Throughout last year we presented tothe European Commission the benefits ofthe merger for our companies, ourpassengers and our country’s economy,”he said.

“We also offered important commitmentsto safeguard consumers as well asmeasures to facilitate the entry of newcompetitors in the domestic market.

Andreas Vgenopoulos, chairman ofMarfin Group, owner of Olympic Air,argued that the refusal would havenegative effects on consumers.

“The EC Decision will have negativeconsequences for consumers as well asour country’s economy while it willbenefit foreign competitors,” he said.“Obviously we, as well as Aegean, willcontinue to do our best for the benefit ofour staff, our shareholders and ourpassengers.”Vassilakis said the decision represented asetback, but that the companies wouldconsider further options, includingappealing the decision.“An important opportunity for aconsolidated representation in theEuropean aviation market has been lost,”he said.“We will adjust and continue: our trackrecord shows that we can succeed throughchallenging times.”

3JANUARY 29, 2011

- International

European Commission Forbids Merger of Greek Carriers

We will adjust and continue:

our track record shows that we cansucceed through

challenging times

The new vehicle, previouslyslated for delivery in early2011, will now be rolledout in the third quarter ofthis year.

An electrical fire in November 2010 hasbeen widely blamed for the delay.

Boeing confirmed that an incident inNovember was responsible.Scott Fancher, vice president and generalmanager of the 787 program, said thedelay included a buffer period to allow forfurther disruptions.“This revised timeline for first delivery

accommodates the work we believeremains to be done to complete testingand certification of the 787,” he said.“We've also restored some margin in the

schedule to allow for any additional timethat may be needed to completecertification activities.”

The 787 has been designed todramatically decrease theamount of fuel used by thevehicle and, consequently, to cutthe volume of greenhouseemissions produced.

Boeing has already received alarge number of orders for theaircraft, from airlines includingmany in the Middle East.Qatar Airways, Etihad, Gulf Air,and Royal Jordanian have allplaced orders for the aircraft; insome cases for as many as 35vehicles.

JANUARY 29, 20114

Boeing Dreamliner Delayed to Third QuarterDelivery of Boeing’s next generation 787 Dreamliner aircraft has been delayed for the seventh time.

This revisedtimeline for first

deliveryaccommodates the

work we believeremains to be doneto complete testingand certification

of the 787

ith flights commencingon March 278,Montpellier will beconnected to Oujda,Nador, Tangier, Fez

and Casablanca.Oujda is located near Morocco’s borderwith Algeria, in the east of the country,

and is a major node for cross border trade.The northeastern city of Nador, in the Rifregion, is a major trading port and popularholiday destination for domestic tourists.Tangier is a historic international city, andas a result has been a destination fortravellers of various origins since the earlytwentieth century.

Fez is one of Morocco’s four Imperial Cities(along with Rabat, Marrakech and Meknes),that have served as the seat of power for oneor more of the countries various dynasties. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site.Casablanca is the main port of Moroccoand the location of Air Arabia Maroc’sprimary hub.

5JANUARY 29, 2011

- Air Travel

Middle East Airlines, flag carrier ofLebanon, has been accepted as a fullmember of the SkyTeam alliance.The membership process requirespotential members to serve a period as aprovisional member before achieving

full acceptance by the group.MEA will sign a membership agreementin February to set the stage for its officialinclusion in 2012.Saudi Arabian Airlines became the firstMiddle Eastern member of the group in

January 2011.SkyTeam is an airline alliance thatallows its members to supplementand share each other’s services,including passenger lounges androute networks.

Air Arabia Boosts Montpellier ConnectionsAir Arabia has boosted the role of its hub in Montpellier, France, adding new routes and boosting frequencybetween that city and various destinations within Morocco.

Middle East Airlines (MEA) to Join SkyTeam in 2012

W

The agreement was signedbetween Starwood andSheikh Abdullah BinSalem Al Qassimi,deputy ruler of Sharjah,

who is developing the property in privatecapacity.Roeland Vos, president in Europe, Africaand the Middle East for Starwood, saidstrong government support withinSharjah made the emirate a strongpotential market for the Sheraton brand.“We are delighted to be working withSheikh Abdullah as we introduce Starwoodto Sharjah with our most iconic brand. “With the new commitment to tourismdeveloped by the government, Sharjah is setto become a major travel destination in theregion, offering culture and tradition as wellas sunshine, beaches and shopping.”Similarly, Al Qassimi said he expected thenew Sheraton to perform well.

“We look forward to a very fruitfulassociation with Starwood and we areconfident that, through this association,the Sheraton Sharjah Hotel and Resortshall be one of the leading destinations in

the UAE and Gulf Area,” he said.The Sheraton Sharjah will offer 343rooms, including 48 suites and will belocated on Al Muntazah Beach. It is planned to open in 2013.

JANUARY 29, 20116

- Accommodation

Latest Mövenpick Opens in Deira, Dubai

Sharjah to Get First Sheraton Hotel in 2013Starwood Hotels and Resorts has signed a management contract for the first Sheraton branded property inSharjah, UAE.

Starwood CEO Frits van Paasschen with Sheikh Abdullah

Möevenpick Hotels and Resorts hasopened its latest hotel, Mövenpick Deirain the commercial hub of Dubai. The 216-room facility is expected toattract business executives, shoppers,and meeting groups. Michael Nugent, general manager of the

hotel, said that in the past, Deira had beenbypassed by Dubai’s rapid development.”While Dubai has been on a buildingboom, Deira`s five-star hospitalitysector has been some what stagnant andwe mean to fill this void by bringing insome new energy,” he said.

The hotel is located at the heart of Deira,Old Dubai`s commercial district on thenorth side of Dubai Creek.“It is to the Creek that Dubai is able toattribute much of its success as thecommercial hub of the UAE, as a lot ofDubai`s early infrastructure grew up onthe banks of the Creek,” Nugent added. According to Mövenpick, the newproperty is well placed to take advantageof the many commercial enterprises andgovernment offices in the area.The hotel has been developed inpartnership with real estate developer,Seven Tides. The two companies are currentlypreparing for the opening of more than1,000 rooms over three more propertiesin Dubai. Mövenpick Deira

With the new commitment to tourism developed by the government, Sharjah is set

to become a major travel destination

The hotel is currentlyunder development and isexpected to open this yearwith 293 guestrooms, tworestaurants, two bars, two

lounges, a spa and health section, as wellas conference and banquetingfacilities. Colm McLoughlin, managingdirector of Dubai Duty Free,named Jumeirah’s rapidexpansion as a factor in thechoice of management company.”We are delighted to sign themanagement agreement withJumeirah Group, who have agreat deal of experience inoperating some of the mosticonic hotels in Dubai and haveexpanded considerably in recentyears,” he said. “We are confident that the newhotel will be a valued addition tothe business and leisure facilitiesin Dubai and complement thesuccessful Aviation Club.”

Gerald Lawless, executivechairman of Jumeirah Group,said he saw a strong opportunityin the operation as well. “We are honoured to have beeninvited by Dubai Duty Free tooperate this exceptional luxurybusiness hotel,” he said. According to Dubai Duty Free,

the hotel’s proximity to the airport as wellas the range of sporting and leisureoptions in the area are expected to attractbusiness executives, destination travellersand local residents. Jumeirah Group is planning to open at

least six further hotels this year: in Dubai,Abu Dhabi, Shanghai, the Maldives andFrankfurt.The group has indicated that it is alsoseeking opportunities in Azerbaijan andKuwait.

7JANUARY 29, 2011

- Accommodation

Jumeirah Group signs with Dubai Duty FreeDubai Duty Free has signed a management agreement with Jumeirah Group for a five star hotel at the AviationClub, near Dubai Airport.

We are delighted to sign the

managementagreement withJumeirah Group

ajor UK agencyThomas Cook hascancelled all its flightsto Tunisia up to atleast early February.

Manny Fontenla-Novoa, group CEO ofThomas Cook, confirmed that 1,800 ofthe group`s holidaymakers have returnedto the UK since troubles began inDecember 2010. "At times like this, the benefits of bookinga package holiday come into their own,”he said.“As with the ash cloud, the impact of thepolitical unrest in Tunisia has shown justhow important it is to book with a trustedtravel company who, should anythingaffect a customer's holiday, will ensurethey are looked after."

Customers for these flights have beencontacted and have the option to changetheir destination or receive a full refund. Until the end of February, all ThomasCook clients are able to delay theirdeparture to Tunisia or to choose analternative destination. The company’s next flight is planned onFebruary 6, however the tour operator haswarned that this is subject to revision.Peter Kirk, general manager of UK-basedagency Tunisia First, said he believes theTunisian travel market will recover quickly.“Our agency has obviously contacted allits clients spending their holidays inTunisia as well,” he said.“According to their reports, despite the

protests and continued turmoil in Tunis,outside the capital seems to be safe and theirfull holiday experience can be guaranteed.

“Tourism is always vulnerable to crisessuch as this, but still we expect potentialclients to start booking again rather quicklyonce the situation returns to normal."Operators within Tunisia also believethe chaos will not have an impact the inlong term.

Shoaib Abd Alrham, commercial managerof Tunisian Travel Agency, said most ofhis visitors had left the country, but thathe expected to be able to welcome groupshe has booked for March.“Despite the uncertain situation, we dobelieve that tourism will be able to recoversoon: of course, how quick this would bedepends on the political developmentsthat are unfolding," he said.Tourism is a major sector in Tunisia, bycontributing seven percent of grossdomestic product, providing over 300,000jobs, and representing 12 percent of thecountry`s entire workforce.

JANUARY 29, 20118

Travel Professionals Predict Fast Recovery for TunisiaMany tourists are evacuating Tunisia in response to the dramatic political upheavals underway in the NorthAfrican country. Thousands of holidaymakers have already fled the country, but industry sources predict areturn to normal in the short to medium term.

M Tunisia Riots

Despite the protests and continued turmoil

in Tunis, outside thecapital seem to be safe

Tourism is alwaysvulnerable to crises

such as this

JANUARY 29, 201110

Agent’s InsightName: Ahcicene SegouniPosition: ManagerCompany: Expert AlgeriaLocation: Algeria

Who are you?My name is Ahcicene Segouni, I was born in the heart of the casbah inAlgiers, and I'm the joint owner of Expert Algeria. We're based in theAlgerian capital, Algiers, and we devise and run cultural tours andincentive programmes across Algeria from the UNESCO World Heritagesites of the Mediterranean to the deepest reaches of the Sahara. 

What is your favourite part of working in the travel industry?Taking the overnight plane from Algiers to Djanet, deep in the Sahara. I'vespent nearly two decades in the tourist industry, travelling the world fromMiami and Madrid to London and Paris, but my heart still leaps when Igo to the Algerian Sahara.

When is the best time to visit Algeria?The best time to visit Algeria is from September to June - and spring isparticularly beautiful along the Mediterranean with endless fields of wildflowers amongst the Roman ruins.

Where would you like to visit on your own next trip?In Algeria? A little place outside Ghardaia in the M'Zab Valley in theSahara; it's called Beni Isguen, it's a small, remote oasis and, at the righttime of the year, you can open your hotel window and pick dates, oranges,lemons and grapefruits straight from the trees.

Why should people come to you for travel advice (rather than yourcompetitors)?Because myself and my partner, Moh - who has a doctorate fromCambridge - have lived, worked and studied in the English-speakingworld for a total of over 40 years. Another plus is we're fortunate enoughto be able to offer private hospitality and personalized tours for our guests.We’re here for the long run, to show the world what a welcoming,rewarding country Algeria is.

SNTTA Named MakeMyTripGSA in the UAESNTTA, a major travel and tourism company basedin the UAE, has been named as general sales agent(GSA) for MakeMyTrip in the emirates.Keyur Joshi, chief operating officer of MakeMyTrip,an Indian online travel agency, said he expects toattract new clients in the emirates, which he calleda major global market. “As a strategic partner, SNTTA will now enable UAEresidents to benefit from MakeMyTrip’s exceptionalIndian and international holiday packages as well asextend superior ground support to our UAE-boundleisure travellers,” he said. “This association with a reputed company likeSNTTA will enable us to effectively tap theexpanding market in the UAE.”David Milican, senior general manager for SNTTATravel said he also saw big opportunities in thepartnership. “We have tremendous experience in this field,including handling ground arrangements for luxurycruise liners,” he said. “With the UAE recognised as one of the top tenglobal tourist destinations, we anticipate a hugesurge in the volume of inbound leisure travellers.”

We anticipate a huge surge in the volume of inbound

leisure travellers

Ahcicene Segouni

11JANUARY 29, 2011

Corporate socialresponsibility is becoming

more important forcompanies as many arelooking for some sort of

charity element includedin their incentive trips

The MICE Will Play Responsibly in 2011Throughout the great recession, the meetings industry has been the focus of intense speculation, with manyexperts identifying the sector as a potential site for cutbacks by corporate travel buyers. However, accordingto one of the world’s major accommodation sellers, Great Hotels of the World, 2011 is already shaping up tobe a good year for the MICE market.

A rmand Guillemot, salesdirector for meetingsand incentives at GreatHotels of the World,explained that MICE

bookings are already increasing.“The past few months has seen a significantincrease in the amount of enquiries forincentive trips placed through Great Hotelsof the World,” he said.The segment is displaying idiosyncraticbooking patterns according to Guillemot,combining longer stays with short leadtimes for bookings.

“On average, the length of stay for incentivetrips has increased and lead times are shortand the industries now considering theseincentive events are mainly from the retail,automotive and banking sector,” he said.Guillemot identified a change in moodamong corporate clients, noting that areturn to a culture of bonuses andincentives was tempered by a greater feelingof social responsibility.“Bonuses are back in the city and we arenow starting to feel the issues of the pastfew years are coming to an end,” he said.“One of the trends we’ve noticed is that

corporate social responsibility is becomingmore important for companies as manyare looking for some sort of charityelement included in their incentive trips.”

JANUARY 29, 201112

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

Taleb RifaiSecretary General, UNWTO“We are of course watching closely what is happeningin Tunisia, as it’s a very important tourist destination.We have every indication and every reason to believethat Tunisia will be very quickly -- actually muchquicker than people expect -- able to go back on track.As far as tourism is concerned, we think that in themedium term, not the long term, Tunisia will comeback to what it was."

In themedium

term, not the

long term,Tunisia

will comeback towhat it was

Ahcicene SegouniManager, Expert Algeria“We're trying to introduce European standards toAlgeria: it's far from easy - Algeria has been cut offfrom the world for decades, but Expert Algeria ismaking a name for itself by being honest and open:we don't hide the problems here – even though we’reonly three hours from London we’re completelyunknown in the English speaking world. But, evenwithout the tourist infrastructure, it’s a privilege totravel in Algeria.“

Even though we’re only threehours from London we’re

completely unknown in theEnglish speaking world

Imran A SiddiquiGeneral Manager, Emirates Springs Hotel Apartments“The government of the UAE is set to allocate USD1.09 billion fromthe federal budget to implement 35 development projects which willbe carried out in the country between 2011 and 2013. Infrastructure development is continuous for easy inter-emirates access. A new highway from Fujairah to Dubai will be developed, which willreduce travelling time to almost half of the existing time to travel. “

A new highway from Fujairah to Dubai will ... reduce travelling time

to almost half of the existing time

Ahcicene Segouni, with Berber guide

Imran SiddiquiTaleb Rifai

JANUARY 29, 201114

Adam TurnerAdam Turner is the new sales andmarketing manager for Ritz-CarltonDubai, in the UAE.Prior to moving to Dubai, Turnerserved for three years as director oftravel industry sales for the Londonglobal sales office of The Ritz-CarltonHotel Company where heimplemented a new strategy for theluxury group’s penetration within theUK travel market. Turner previouslyworked with British Airways as thekey accounts sales manager forspecial markets. In this role hemanaged and coached a mid-sizedteam of account managers, salessupport and a call centre sales team.Turner started his career as accountmanager for consumer sales in 1999with British Airways.

Nehal RizviNehal Rizvi is the new director of sales and marketing for two hotels within the CitySeasons group.Rizvi has been in the hospitality industry for more than 26 years, beginning hiscareer with the hotel Oberoi InterContinental New Delhi, India, as a managementtrainee.From there he moved to Saudi Arabia, gaining experience in the front office andthe sales department. Rizvi moved to the UAE in 2002 joining the Riviera Hotel,Deira, Dubai and the Metropolitan Deira Hotel. Rizvi's most recent position waswith the Habtoor Hospitality Group Dubai, where he was responsible forcorporate sales as well as food and beverage sales. In his new role, Rizvi will overseethe sales and marketing function of the City Seasons Suites and the City SeasonsHotel Dubai. He will be primarily responsible for acquiring business and for the planning andimplementation of key account business development plans in line with businessobjectives.

Patrick MartinezRotana has appointed Patrick Martinez tomanage two properties on Yas Island inAbu Dhabi, UAE. He will take over asgeneral manager of both Yas IslandRotana and Centro Yas Island. Martinezhas 20 years of experience in the hotelindustry on three different continents. Heheld his first position as general managerat the age of 28 years old and has 13 yearsof experience with the Marriott Group inNorth and South East Asia. He graduatedfrom the Hotel Management School inNice, France. Martinez has priorexperience in the UAE, where he startedat Hyatt Regency Dubai in the food andbeverage department.

John MorganWataniya Airways has a new chief commercial operator, in the form of JohnMorgan. Morgan has held senior marketing, sales and commercial positions at anumber of international airlines. He began his airline career with British Airwaysin 1988 as a regional business manager and was promoted to general manager forbusiness sales, before moving to BMI as director of sales and marketing. He hasalso worked in a number of senior roles in Europe and the Gulf region, mostrecently as senior vice president in Europe the Middle East and Africa of EosAirline, based in Dubai, and as vice president overseeing commercial activitiesfor Royal Jet in Abu Dhabi. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree with honours in Business Management fromUniversity of Aston, Birmingham.

Adam Turner

Patrick Martinez

15JANUARY 29, 2011

Travel Trade Weekly: Can you tellme a little about your hotel? Benedict Chow: Our hotel, HarbourGrand Hong Kong, was opened in June2009. We are the latest 5-star propertymanaged by Harbour Plaza Hotels andResorts, the biggest hotel group in HongKong. The hotel is within walkingdistance to the convenient undergroundMTR transportation system. All 828contemporary designed guestrooms andserviced suites, most restaurants andfunction spaces enjoy spectacular views ofVictoria Harbour. A gigantic Swarovskichandelier, one of the largest in HongKong, welcomes guests as soon as theystep into the hotel’s oval-shapedcontemporary Art Nouveau lobby. Underthe glittering 37-foot-high ceiling, streamsof heart-lightening melody from thespecially-appointed harpist captivateguests, and alleviate every busy traveller’smind. The hotel boasts a total of 12,685square feet of function space and the fiverestaurants and lounge offer an exquisitedining experience.

Travel Trade Weekly: Who are themain visitors to Hong Kong? Do youget many from the Middle East?Benedict Chow: Amongst the totalnumber of visitor arrival to Hong Kong uptill November 2010, China accounted forover 60 percent, followed by Taiwan,USA, Japan, Korea and Europe. We alsoexperienced rapid growth in new andemerging markets such as India, MiddleEast and Russia.

Travel Trade Weekly: What are thechallenges of operating in Hong Kong?Benedict Chow: Finding experienced

and quality staff is quite a challenge here.Unemployment is around 4.3 percent andthere are many job opportunities andhotel work is perceived as hard work bythe young generation who are looking forwork-life balance and a job with a fasttrack on their career development.

Travel Trade Weekly: What are theadvantages?Benedict Chow: Hong Kong is blessedby its location. Backed by the Chinesegovernment, geographically andeconomically, HK enjoys an enviablelandscape with its harbour, facilitated bypolicies that helped allure more visitorseven during the economic downturn. Thebusiness environment is also favourable.Being a multi-cultural city with easy reachto the rest of the world, Hong Kong is asafe and convenient metropolis. HongKong people, though busy with daily life,carry a can-do attitude which makes us ahospitable community, great for travellers.

Travel Trade Weekly: Is HK equippedto deal with Middle Eastern visitors?Benedict Chow: As a multi-culturalcity, Hong Kong is equipped to servevisitors from around the globe withvarious requirements, in regards tocultural and religious understanding inparticular. Providing direction for prayers,serving Halal food, and even invitingRabbis for blessings are not uncommonlyfound in guests’ requests and are not hardto fulfill.

Travel Trade Weekly: What are HongKong’s main attractions and activities,either for business or leisure travellers?Benedict Chow: Visually, the landscape

and harbour view as mentioned. Apart frombeing a world-famed shopping paradise,Hong Kong’s nice natural environment isfantastic to develop eco-tourism. Also, the political and economicadvantages as described.Convention and exhibition centres invarious locations facilitate large-scaleevents to be held in Hong Kong, attractingmore visitors.Culturally, Hong Kong is a mixture of oldand new, with the dynamism of the eastand the west.It is interesting to discover how they havebeen orchestrated in the past 100 years.Theme parks like Hong Kong Disneylandand Ocean Park, as well as The Peak onwhich visitors can have a panoramic view ofHK; plus the seafood market at Sai Kung;Rugby Sevens in March; and horse-racingare just a few of the most popular attractionsand activities that visitors will enjoy.

Travel Trade Weekly: What makesHK Unique?Benedict Chow: The harbour, thecityscape, and all that I mentioned before.

Q and A with Benedict ChowHong Kong, a special administrative region of China, is a market of growing importance to the Middle East.The city-state is a gateway to China and local carrier Cathay Pacific has reported strong and growing interestin both directions. Travel Trade Weekly caught up with Benedict Chow, general manager of the HarbourGrand hotel, to get the lowdown on the Middle East market in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong

JANUARY 29, 201116

EventsHobexTripoli, Libya, January 25-27, 2011 (www.wahaexpo.com/hobex)International hotel business exhibition.

India Travel Market - MumbaiMumbai, India, February 4-6, 2011 (www.indiatravelmart.com)Travel trade show for inbound, outbound and domestic tourism.

Food and Hospitality ExpoManama, Bahrain, February 8-10, 2011 (www.foodexpbh.com)Hospitality technology, systems and equipment, along withexhibitors from international food companies.

Emitt IstanbulIstanbul, Turkey, February 10-13, 2011 (www.emittistanbul.com)Istanbul’s only international trade fair: focused on tourism inthe Eastern Mediterranean.

Middle East Exclusive 2011Dubai, UAE, February 20-22, 2011(www.middleeastexclusive.com)Luxury brand and travel retail exhibition.

EventopediaAmman, Jordan February 22-23, 2011 (www.eventsunlimited.com.jo)Conference covering the A to Z of events management, aimedat encouraging Jordan’s MICE market.

First Blossom Japan Event Heralded as a Success The recently held inaugural edition ofBlossom Japan has garnered an array ofpraise from exhibitors and attendees. Held at the International ExhibitionForum, Blossom Japan ran for four days,starting January 18.The show comprised four days of businessmeetings, giving sellers and buyers theopportunity to interact in an environmentdesigned to be inspiring for fruitful andpromising results. Jay Martens, CEO of Lucioles, organiserof the event, said the successful showbrought years of planning to fruition.“We are truly excited that after two yearsof planning, research and sheer tenacitywe have delivered this event, which by allaccounts, in terms of the quality of buyersand exhibitors and the very enthusiasticresponse we have received from the

industry, fills a much needed gap in themarket,” he said.Professor Yoshihara Tsuboi, chairman ofthe Blossom Japan Welcome Committee,said Blossom Japan was an example of anew direction for luxury travel in thecountry.

“Blossom Japan is a welcome step inbridging the gap between the Japaneseand international travel industries and I

believe marks a new era for us,” he said.A number of attendees also spoke up insupport of the event, including YoshiharaHoshino, president of Hoshino Resorts.“In the past, Japan has not really gone outof its way to promote the country tointernational travellers because we havebeen able to thrive from our owndomestic market, but I believe that’s nowchanging and Japan is starting to adaptand wants to be more open tointernational luxury travellers,” he said.Steve Odell, senior vice president of AsiaPacific of Silversea, said Blossom Japanwas fruitful, especially for a newexhibition.“We had 90 meetings with Japanesebuyers lined up, including manycompanies that we have not dealt withbefore,” he said.

Blossom Japan is a welcome step in

bridging the gap betweenthe Japanese and

international travelindustries