Middle East and North Africa Edition

May 21, 2011 iSSue 80 www.traveltradeweekly.travel

May 21, Issue 80

Market Update 4Weekly News 5Accommodation News 14International News 20Air Travel News 22Cruising News 25Agents’ Corner 26Travel Talk 28Who’s Moved 29Travel Channels 30Rendezvous 31Events 32

2525Abu Dhabi’s Cruise Industry On-TrackAbu Dhabi’s Cruise Industry On-Track

Abu Dhabi’s cruise industry has intensified itsrole in the emirate’s tourism sector after the

arrival of yet another cruise line vessel.

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Sheraton to Managenew Dubai ProPerty

Starwood hotels & resorts worldwidehas signed an agreement withabdulsalam alrafi group to open a newSheraton hotel in Dubai.

In This Issue

1616

the company’s revenues totalleduSD952 million, representing agrowth of 7.4 percent over Q12010. The increase came as aresult of continued sales

momentum across the three business units(lodging, vacation exchange and rentals andvacation ownership) and incrementalcontributions from acquisitions. reported netincome rose by 44 percent to uSD72 million,while free cash flow grew by 11 percent to uSD185million in the first three months of the year. Stephen holmes, chairman and Ceo,wyndham worldwide, commented on theperformance.“we are pleased to report that 2011 started as2010 ended, with strong operating performanceand accelerating earnings per share growth. we

delivered strong operatingperformance across all ourbusinesses and are confident in

the sustainability of our growth and cash flow.our confidence in growth and cash flowgeneration is reflected in our substantial sharerepurchase activity so far this year, thesignificant increase in our share repurchaseprogram, and the previously announced 25percent increase in our dividend for 2011.”

in addition, the company repurchasedapproximately 8.2 million shares of its commonstock at an average price of uSD31.01 forapproximately uSD255 million and the boardof directors approved a uSD500 millionincrease to the share repurchase authorisation.

May 21, 20114

TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY

Managing EditorMary Kammitsi

mary@traveltradeweekly.travelJournalistsrita Kasziba

Duncan MacraeMarianna Keen

Design & Layoutelina Pericleous

Sales & MarketingDimitris Thomaidis

Directorsandreas Constantinides

Mary Kammitsi

HeadquartersP.o. box 25255

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 5.95Saudi arabia (Sar) riyal 3.75Lebanon (LbP) Pound 1,511.98bahrain (bhD) Dinar 0.37Jordan ( JoD) Dinar 0.71Syria (SyP) Pound 47.40Kuwait (KwD) Dinar 0.28Qatar (Qar) riyal 3.64oman (oMr) rial 0.38tunisia (tnD) Dinar 1.38Morocco (MaD) Dirham 7.93iran (irr) riyal 10,603yemen (yer) rial 214.50algeria (DZD) Dinar 72.29Libya (LyD) Dinar 1.22

MENA Exchange RatesAccurate as of 19/5/2011Currencies shown in red are fixed against the uS Dollar

Starwood Sells Chicago PropertyStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has completed the sale of w Chicago -City Centre, although will continue to operate the property.Chesapeake Lodging trust purchased the hotel for uSD128.8 million,approximately uSD350,000 per key. in terms of a 40-year managementagreement, Starwood will continue to operate the property under the w flag. Frits van Paasschen, president and Ceo, Starwood hotels & resorts, commentedon the sale. “we continue to look for opportunities to sell high quality assets like w Chicago– City Centre as we complete our transition to an ‘asset light’ hospitality company.today, Starwood is increasingly focused on developing and operating distinct andcompelling brands while delivering high quality experience that meet thechanging needs and expectations of our global customers.”The 22-storey full-service luxury hotel, located in Chicago’s financial district,offers convenient access to several momentous buildings, including the willistower, the Civic opera house, the Magnificent, the Millienium Park and the artinstitute of Chicago.

Wyndham: Exceeded ExpectationsWyndham Worldwide has reported strong financial results for the first quarter(Q1) of the year with significantly increased revenues.

Today, Starwood is increasingly focused on developingand operating distinct and compelling brands

We are pleased to report that2011 started as 2010 ended,

with strong operatingperformance and accelerating

earnings per share growth

5May 21, 2011

UNWTO Reports International TourismGrowth in First Monthsof the YearAccording to a World Tourism Organisation(UNWTO) study, international tourism levelsincreased by almost five percent during the firstmonths of this year, with exceptions registered in theMENA region.

Following the seven percent escalation registered in2010, figures from the april interim update of theunwto world tourism barometer indicatesecure growth in the tourism market. all globalregions registered a rebound during January and

February, except for the Mena region. indicating a 15 percentincrease, both South america and South asia led growth,followed by Sub-Saharan africa and Central and eastern europe.results were better than expected for europe, boosted by therecovery of Central and eastern europe and the temporaryredistribution of travel to destinations in the continent due todevelopments in the Mena region. north africa registered adecrease in international tourist arrivals of nine percent, whilethe Middle east indicated negative growth of 10 percent. Theamericas was recorded in line with the world average, with fivepercent growth.taleb rifai, secretary general, unwto, commented on theresults. “These results confirm that in spite of several challenges,the recovery of international tourism which was remarkablystrong last year is consolidating.”worldwide, international tourist arrivals surpassed 124 millionin the first two months of this year, up from 119 million in thesame period of 2010, with emerging economies indicatinggrowth two percentage points higher than advanced ones.

Taleb Rifai

The recovery ofinternational

tourism which wasremarkably strong

last year isconsolidating

May 21, 20116

DTCM Supportto Energy ForumDubai’s Department oftourism and CommerceMarketing (DtCM) hassigned a Memorandum ofunderstanding (Mou) withthe world energy Forum toextend cooperation andsupport for the 2011 worldenergy Forum that will beheld in Dubai.The event will be held underthe patronage of h.h. ShaikhMohammed bin rashid alMaktoum, vice president andprime minister of the uaeand ruler of Dubai, betweennovember 14-17 at theMadinat Jumeirah. More than 1,000 delegates areexpected to attend, includinggovernment dignitaries, energyministers, and executives froma variety of energy companiesto discuss issues relating toenergy, sustainability andclimate change.

hyberabad, nicknamedthe City of Pearls, isthe airline’s 37thdestination and thenew route will open up

Southern india to travellers on flydubai’srapidly expanding network. The flights will operate three-times-per-week and commence on June 11,providing the 1.4 million-strong indian

expat community in the uae with a low-cost connection to their home countryduring the peak summer holiday season. ghaith al ghaith, Ceo, flydubai, wasdelighted to announce hyderabad as thecarrier’s latest destination. “There is a huge indian community in theuae and one of the reasons flydubai wasestablished was to provide low cost, qualitylinks to places the expat community in the

uae wish to travel to. hyderabad is animportant new route for flydubai and goes along way in our efforts to fulfil thatcommitment. while our Lucknow routeprovides a gateway to north and Centrallndia, our hyderabad route will be a low-costconnection to South india, benefiting notonly the indian expat population in the uaebut also bringing increased tourism andbusiness opportunities to this historic city.”

Budget airline flydubai has announced plans to launch flights to Hyberabad, its second Indian destination.

Route Opened Between Dubai and Hyberabad

Khalid A. Bin Sulayem, Director-General of the DTCM (left) withHarold H. S. Oh, Chairman,Executive Board of the WorldEnergy Forum

May 21, 20118

Travelport Makes Bookingon the Move Easier

Coral Hotels & Resorts RevealsFirst Hotel in Abu DhabiCoral Hotels & Resorts unveiled its first hotelin abu Dhabi at an exclusive press conferenceon May 16. Liwa executive Suites wasinaugurated by h.h. Sheikh Sultan bintahnoon al nahyan, chairman, abu Dhabitourism authority (aDta) and h.e. Mubarakal Muhairi, director general, aDta.Michel noblet, president and Ceo, hospitalityManagement holdings (hMh), remarked onthe significance of the new property. “openingour first hotel in abu Dhabi is a true milestonefor our group and will strengthen and reinforceour presence in the uae. abu Dhabi is fastemerging as a business and cultural epicentre ofthe region, with tourism in the capital set togrow to 2.7 million visitors per year by 2012.”hMh has partnered with al nasser holdings inthe hotel project, which features 54 luxurioussuites, a rooftop swimming pool and modernmeeting facilities equipped for up to 50 people.

business services provider tothe global travel industry,travelport, has launchedan innovative mobile travelbooking solution, for its

customers in the Middle east.travelport Mobil will enable the localtravel trade to offer their clients 24-hour access to travelport’s globalDistribution Systems (gDS) contentvia their mobile phones and handhelddevices. with the new technology, travellerscan book and pay for flight, car andhotel bookings around the clock, aswell as view travel itineraries onsmartphones. The secure paymentgateway functionality also ensures thatbookings are instantly processed.

rabih Saab, president and managingdirector, Middle east and africa,travelport, notes that mobile bookingsprovide travellers with new levels ofconvenience. “travelport Mobil is acompelling product that allows travelagents to embrace the latest in mobiletechnology to offer an exceptionalstandard of service to clients. we aredelighted to bring this solution to theMiddle east in order to meet thediscerning needs of today’s busytraveller.”Significantly for the travel trade, bookingswith the mobile booking solution areautomatically generated into the travelagent’s normal workflow procedures toenable full reporting and maintain fullmid and back office integration.

the assembly included thereview of the latest annualreport as well as theapproval of the draftbudget for the new fiscal

year 2011 and further initiatives.Mohammad Samih, chairman, Jitoa,

commented on the organisation’sperformance.“Jitoa has been empowered by the greatefforts of its valued membership andsustainable projects. we are eager to getready to add many more achievements toour already accomplished success in

Jordans tourism sector to date.” Jitoa, which contributed more than 80percent of the packaged tours coming toJordan in 2010, implemented a number ofprojects to develop the kingdom’s inboundtourism industry, including theintroduction of the mandatory Professional

indemnity and Public Liability(Pi&PL) insurance coverage toensure high standard services in allsegments of the sector. anotherremarkable initiative, the launch ofthe first ‘Voluntourism Project’,aims to evolve the internationaltrend into a new niche market inJordan, while ‘Don’t mess withnature’ was addressed to raiseenvironmental awareness. as part of the organisations’sendeavor to promote Jordan andsupport the local industry, Jitoaparticipated at the 15th eastMediterranean internationaltravel and tourism exhibition(eMiTT 2011) in istanbul,representing Jordan for the firsttime at an international event. to strengthen the humanresources capacity and furtherraise the level of the industry,Jitoa offers professional andexclusive certifications as well asvarious training programs at thegeorge washington university,School of business. Furthermore,the organisation signed aMemorandum of understanding(Mou) with the tourist PoliceDepartment to improve thequality of the services provided inthe Kingdom, including travelprofessionals’ language skills. Jitoa closed the annual assemblywith the pledge to further developthe industry through ambitiousprojects in this and the upcomingyears.

May 21, 201110

Jordan to Develop Inbound TourismThe Jordan Inbound Tour Operators Association (JITOA) discussed and celebrated great achievements atits Ordinary General Assembly and reaffirmed its commitment to further develop the industry.

May 21, 201112

ResNet World and EZYield Announce CollaborationThe e-distribution and online marketing company, resnetworld, has entered into a partnership with eZyield, theoriginator of automated online distribution managementsolutions for the global hospitality industry.The collaboration will result in resnet offering all the benefitsof the eZyield hotel channel management system, partiallyrelieving hoteliers of the daunting task of managing multipleextranets, often with a depleted workforce since economicdownturn. The eZyield channel management system allows the growingnumber of online travel agents (otas), along with hotel bookingengines and global Distribution Systems (gDS) connectivity,to be controlled and managed through one simple to use web-based control panel. all changes in hotel rates or availability madethrough the eZyield system will automatically populate allrevenue channels.resnet world will offerthe eZyield system toits hotel partners in theMiddle east and india,in the hope of becomingmore competitive in themarketplace.

Planet Travel & Tours Enhancing ServicesPlanet Travel & Tours, the subsidiary of Planet Group, is launching a new online booking system and addingXML (Extensive Markup Language) to its system.

the newly introduceddistribution channelensures business-to-consumer (b2C)customer’s seamless

connectivity to the wholesaler and travelmanagements company’s products andapplications, while the XML system willallow agents and customers to accessother travel related platforms. Theadditions, which are scheduled to beintroduced by the end of august, willfurther simplify the booking andconfirmation process, pointed out georgeM. Moussa, chairman, Planet group.“our online system accomplished greaterdistribution and sales across two separate

channels, our call centre and business-to-business (b2b) agents. we are on the finalstage of the implementation of a newdistribution channel for our b2Ccustomers. we are also working on a plug-in, which is an end to end managementconsole for XML. This means we are nowavailable to a bigger and wider market thatis looking for efficient, effective and instant

online booking confirmation. This projectconfirms our commitment to offercustomers the latest in technology that willguarantee better and efficient services.”Planet travel & tours web-based b2bsystem features all inbound tour relatedoperations of the company, includingaccommodation, leisure activities andvarious DMC services in the uae.

Planet City Tour Planet City Tour

May 21, 201114

- Accommodation

First Ascott-Branded Property in Doha Opening SoonThe Ascott Limited announced that it has secured a contract to manage a 229-unit premier serviced residencein Doha. Ascott Doha, scheduled to open in the second half of this year, will be the company’s fifth propertyin the Gulf region.

r onald tay, chiefinvestment officer,The ascott Limited,commented on thecompany’s decision

to expand in Doha. “Qatar offers tremendous potentialfor ascott as it is one of the fastestgrowing countries in the world due toits huge oil and gas reserves.Moreover, Qatar has beenaggressively promoting tourism andwill be hosting large scaleinternational events such as the 2022FiFa world Cup.”

ascott Doha will add to the company’spresence in Qatar’s capital city, whichcurrently consists of the 200-roomSomerset west bay.

Qatar

Qatar offerstremendous potential

for Ascott as it is one ofthe fastest growing

countries in the worlddue to its huge oil and

gas reserves

15May 21, 2011

- Accommodation

Al Yamm and Al Sahel Lodges byAnantara Start Taking Bookings Anantara Hotels, Resorts and Spas presented on May 2,updates on its two developments on Sir bani yas island in thewestern region of abu Dhabi, uae.al yamm Lodge and al Sahel Lodge will open to guests in thelast quarter of this year. anantara began contracting with tour operators at arabiantravel Market (atM) from May 2-5, giving them fullspecifications and details on each lodge and showcasing thedifference between the two offerings.David garner, area director of sales and marketing, anantarahotels, resorts & Spas abu Dhabi, elaborated on the objectiveof promotions at the atM. “we aim to pick up as manybookings as possible for the opening period from the leisuremarket with the lodges product and from the MiCe marketwith our new Desert islands Conference Centre facility.”al Sahel Lodge and al yamm Lodge have been developed bytourism Development & investment Company (tDiC),using design principles that combine best practice withmaximum efficiencies and minimal environmental impact.

We aim to pick up as many bookingsas possible for the opening period

Grand Palace Heralds Ritz-Carlton’s First Hotel in Saudi ArabiaThe Ritz-Carlton has announced its first venture in Saudi Arabia. The 493-room Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh willbe situated within the Diplomatic quarter, next to King Abdul Aziz Conference Centre.

h erve humler,president and Ceo,The ritz-Carlton,remarked on theideal location of the

new addition to the hotel chain’sinternational portfolio.“This majestic hotel’s prime location inthe literal heart of the arabian Peninsula,luxury accommodation, variety of diningand meeting facilities, combined withThe ritz-Carlton renowned service, willproduce memorable stays for all our

corporate and diplomatic guests.” to accommodate international summits,the ritz-Carlton, riyadh offers morethan 5,800m2 of conference spacecombined, including two large ballrooms.The hotel will position itself amongst thegrand palace hotels in the world, withstately architecture modelled on traditionalpalaces and elegant arabian residences andinterior design reflecting the Kingdom’sarabic heritage. Surrounding the luxuriousstructure will be verdant gardens, lavishfountains and a one kilometer driveway.

The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh

May 21, 201116

- Accommodation

Sheraton Brand to Manage New Dubai PropertyStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has signed an agreement with Abdulsalam Alrafi Group to open anew Sheraton hotel in Dubai.

Biltmore Arrives in Abu DhabiMillennium & Copthorne has added biltmore to its portfolioof brands. The first biltmore brand luxury hotel in the Menaregion is scheduled to open in 2013 in abu Dhabi.biltmore, after the original art deco design hotel in hollywood,brings opulent luxury and style to the Middle east. it is to bethe first biltimore branded property in the region and will belocated in the al bateen area of abu Dhabi where it is expectedto welcome its first guests in 2013.Millennium & Copthorne is poised to add 12 new properties to its12 operating ones by the end of the year, along with 52 signedmanagement agreements in the pipeline. The introduction ofbiltmore in abu Dhabi further strengthens the company’scommitment to the region, where Millenium & Copthorne isexpected to triple its portfolio. ali Lakhraim, president and Ceo,Millennium & Copthorne hotels and resorts, commented on thefirst upcoming biltmore hotel in the region. “bringing the first biltmore hotel outside of Los angeles to abuDhabi is a coup. The timeless elegance and glamour of thebiltmore is certain to resonate with this market. This uniquebrand, synonymous with exclusivity and quality, will cater toboth the business and leisure market in a select few gatewaycities around the world, with abu Dhabi leading the way. acrossour brands, we continue to see strong growth in the Menaregion, and the addition of a new brand adds another string toour bow as we build momentum for further expansion andincrease in market share.”

Sheraton Dubai Sheikh Zayedroad hotel, part of a three-tower mixed-use projectlocated in the heart ofDubai’s commercial district,

is scheduled to open in 2014. Theproperty is part of the Sheraton brand’sglobal strategic expansion plan thatincludes adding more than 60 new hotelsover the next three years. roeland Vos, president, Starwood hotels& resorts, europe, africa and the Middleeast, is delighted to be working with theabdulsalam alrafi group.“Dubai is a destination that continues tosee growing demand from both businessand leisure travellers. Starwood is

established as the sector leader in theMiddle east and we are dedicated tocontinued growth and expansion in theregion. This market continues to beintegral to our overall developmentstrategy.”

Sheraton Dubai Sheikh Zayed road hotelwill consist of 660 rooms, including 480guest rooms and 180 serviced apartments.

it will also feature extensive dining,conference and leisure facilities as well assignature Sheraton amenities.

Abdulsalam Alrafi, owner, Abdulsalam Alrafi Group(centre) with Roeland Vos, President, StarwoodHotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Dubai is a destinationthat continues to see

growing demand fromboth business

and leisure travellers

the deal, in which Cristalhotels will operate thefurnished apartmentsunder the name Cristalbliss residences, marks

the company’s first venture in Lebanon. The newly renovated and fully-furnishedstudios are within walking distance of theCorniche, hamra Street, the americanuniversity of beirut and the americanuniversity hospital, and will beoperational starting June.Peter blackburn, Ceo, Cristal hotels &resorts, revealed that it is only the start ofmajor projects Cristal hotels have linedup to tap into Lebanon’s hospitalitymarket. “it reflects our pursuit of facilities that

are strategically located and carry ourunique brand of business and leisureliving. tourism is one of the main pillarsof the Lebanese economy, so we lookforward to playing an important role inproviding world-class accommodation toLebanon’s local, regional andinternational travellers.”

Cristal hotels & resorts aims to becomethe premier hotel operator in the Middleeast, africa and asia. The luxuryhospitality group already offers a widechoice of three-four- and five-staraccommodation for business or leisurethroughout the region.

17May 21, 2011

- Accommodation

Cristal Hotels to Debut in BeirutCristal Hotels & Resorts has signed an agreement with Bliss 3000 SAL to operate its property in Beirut, Lebanon.

Tourism is one of the main pillars of the

Lebanese economy, so welook forward to playing

an important role inproviding world-class

accommodation

Hyatt to Open its First Mecca HotelsA Hyatt Hotels Corporation affiliate has entered into anagreement with Jabal omar Development Company tomanage three hyatt-branded hotels in Mecca, Saudi arabia. hyatt regency Mecca, hyatt Place Mecca and hyattSummerfield Suites Mecca will be part of a two-phase plannedmixed use development with a built up area of more than2,000,000m2. The debut of hyatt regency Mecca in 2013 will mark the firstphase of the plan. The opening of the other two hotels in 2014will represent phase two. The three hotels will be the firsthyatt-branded hotels in Mecca.Peter norman, senior vice president, real estate anddevelopment, hyatt international, europe, africa and Middleeast, explained the reasoning behind the plan.“Mecca draws millions of tourists every year, many fromregions where the hyatt brand is well known and recognised.opening these threehotels will strengthenthe hyatt brand in Saudiarabia and will furtherhyatt’s goal ofbecoming the preferredbrand in every segmentwe serve.”

Mecca

Peter Blackburn (left) and Toufic El Tal

May 21, 201118

- Accommodation

Rotana Set to Unveil Two Dubai HotelsHotel management company Rotana has announced that it will open two new properties in Dubai in quarterthree of this year.

the five-star al Khorrayhaan by rotana andthe deluxe hotelapartments al Khorarjaan by rotana, will be

a part of the new expansion of al ghurairShopping complex.omer Kaddouri, chief operating officer,rotana, explained how much thecompany was looking forward to theopenings.“we are excited about the upcomingopening of our 15th rotana property inDubai, which we are certain will meet thedemands of guests seeking contemporaryaccommodation, convenience andparamount comfort. The total number of

7,888 rooms managed by rotana in theuae only, confirms rotana’s strongdedication in delivering premiumhospitality and services to provide guestswith the ultimate choice for a completeaccommodation experience.”both new properties feature the latesthigh-tech facilities, including a widechoice of food and beverage venues, aballroom and six fully-equipped meetingrooms with the most up-to-date audio-visual equipment.“al Khor rayhaan by rotana and al Khorarjaan by rotana are first-class properties,which have been developed with leisure,corporate, long-term guests and familiesin mind,” Kaddouri added.

“The opening team, headed by the generalmanager, Mark McCarthy, is working hardto ensure all areas of the opening areperfected and ready to open on time inquarter three of this year.”

Omer Kaddouri

May 21, 201120

- International

Hilton Expands in Malaysia Hilton Worldwide has signed a management agreement with Hatten Group to manage a DoubleTree byHilton property in Melaka, Malaysia, scheduled to open in 2014.

Mövenpick Opens Second Propertyin ThailandMövenpick Hotels & Resorts announced the management ofthe residences Laguna beach Phuket, with immediate effect.The resort, previously named Palm beach Club hotel, islocated on bang tao beach, one of Phuket island’s mostpristine beaches, which is well renowned among golfers. blueCanyon Country Club and the Laguna Phuket golf Club arewithin a 20-minute drive, as is Phuket international airport.The expansion in Thailand comes in accordance with the hotelgroup’s long term strategy, commented andreas Mattmüller,chief operating officer, Mövenpick hotels & resorts, Middleeast and asia. “we are pleased to have the opportunity tooperate this exclusive retreat and to expand our presence inThailand, one of asia’s top leisure destinations. we have plansto increase our portfolio in the country and to operate sixhotels in Thailand by 2014.”at Mövenpick residences Laguna beach Phuket, guests areoffered a variety of leisure and entertainment facilitiesincluding an expansive swimming pool nestled amid tropicalgardens, lively dining options and a modern fitness centre. Theresort also features a spa that provides traditional Thaitreatments as well as therapies derived from asian andeuropean influences.The new addition to Mövenpick’s portfolio will complementthe Mövenpick resort & Spa Karon beach Phuket, the firstproperty the hotel company opened in Thailand.

the 265-room hotel willrepresent the brand’ssecond property inMalaysia, which is a keymarket for the company.

Martin rinck, president, hiltonworldwide asia Pacific, discussed thedeal of the property.“hilton worldwide has been expandingaggressively across asia Pacific with awide range of award-winning brands, suchas Doubletree by hilton, waldorf astoriahotels & resorts, Conrad hotels &resorts, hilton hotels & resorts andhilton garden inn. The Doubletree byhilton, Melaka will complement ourstrong portfolio of trading assets and will

also compete well with the existinginternational and local hotel supply.”

The new property will mark hilton’s entryinto the favoured tourist destination ofMelaka, on the west coast of Malaysia.william Costley, vice presidentoperations, hilton worldwide Southeast

asia, commented on the brand’s intensivegrowth. “we continue to add momentum to ourexpansion in Malaysia, where wecurrently operate five hotels in KualaLumpur, Petaling Jaya and Kuching. TheDoubletree by hilton, Melaka is the thirdsigning we have announced this year. TheDoubletree by hilton, Melakademonstrates the brand’s growing appealin the market and adds to our full-servicecollection of hotels and resorts that isgrowing quickly throughout the country.”The 27-storey hotel will form part of amixed-use development, which will alsoinclude various retail offerings andresidential apartments.

Hilton Worldwide has been expandingaggressively across Asia Pacific with a wide range of

award-winning brands

May 21, 201122

- Air News

Al Qasba - Travel Trade Monthly - 21 May 2011Trim: 112mm x 155mmBleed: 122mm x 165mm

flydubai and Travelport Sign Dealflydubai and Travelport have reached a key agreement, whichwill ensure that all travelport-connected travel agentsworldwide have full access to flydubai fares.The partnership will enable flydubai to expand its global reachby tapping into the network of 63,000 travel agents whocurrently use travelport’s galileo or worldspan globaldistribution system (gDS) to secure travel bookings.ghaith al ghaith, Ceo, flydubai, observed the importance ofthe partnership. “Since the start of commercial operations lessthan two years ago, flydubai has gone from strength to strengthand making our great fares available to travel agents is now thenext major step in our growth plan. Partnering with travelportwill give us exposure to an important global network of travelagents and help diversify our customer base, bringing oursuccess to the next level.” in return, the multi-year deal will allow travel agents to gain accessto content from flydubai, Dubai’s first low cost carrier (LCC).rabih Saab, president and managing director, travelport Middleeast and africa, emphasised the opportunities that could beexploited via the agreement. “flydubai has a winning formulaand a great future ahead. There is so much growth potentialwithin the Middle east’s LCC sector that it only makes sense forLCC’s in the region to capitalise on the opportunities availablethrough the travel agency distribution channel.”

Safi Airways Enters India Safi Airways, the international airline of Afghanistan, continues its expansion by adding Delhi to its route map.

a s part of the carrier’srestructured growthstrategy, the airline willcommence services tothe indian metropolis

from June 16 and will operate four flightsper week. The Kabul-Delhi route will beserved with an airbus a320-200, whichhas a capacity of 12 business and 132economy class seats. The launch of the new route reflects therecently appointed senior management’sendeavor to transform Safi airways intothe most preferred airline of afghanistanby providing seamless connections to anextended network along with higher safetystandards, improved service and increasedproductivity.

Michael Mctight, chief operating officer,Safi airways, commented on the new route.“Safi airways endeavors to providetravellers with unique travel options alongwith secure, dependable and convenientflights. india’s capital has been on our radarfor a while now and with growing demandsfor this sector, Safi airways will providedirect access to its passengers between thetwo hubs.”

The carrier will also launch services toherat and Jeddah within the next months.

Michael McTight

Safi Airways endeavors to provide travellers with

unique travel options

May 21, 201124

- Air News

Jazeera Holidays Goes OnlineJazeera Airways, in cooperation with Boodai Aviation, has launched Jazeera Holidays, a one-stop online shopfor all-round holiday services.

Oman Air Reopens Zanzibar RouteOman Air has re-commenced its non-stop services betweenMuscat and Zanzibar.The three-times-a-week flight began on May 16 and operateson Mondays, tuesdays and Saturdays. Zanzibar represents thecarrier’s third destination in africa and second in tanzania onits growing network.The airline’s management team believes these flights will buildstronger business, cultural and touristic ties between the twocountries. it is also hoped that they will increase opportunitiesfor tourists from europe, the indian subcontinent and otheroman air routes to explore the destination. tourism has replaced Zanzibar’s major dhow construction asthe city’s major industry, but the city has maintained a strongessence of cultural heritage.Zanzibar is now a bustling fishing centre and much of the area’srustic charm remains.

the new feature allowstravellers to book theirflight and hotel stay froma wide selection ofthousands of properties in

the Middle east on one platform. Througha single itinerary and payment method,passengers can browse amoung numeroushotel brands and sort the results by price,type of the property or location throughdirect connection to google maps. Stefan Pitcher, Ceo, Jazeera airways,commented on the new feature.“holiday travel should be exciting and easy,and we’ve launched Jazeera holidays tomake planning and booking all-roundedvacations for customers hassle-free. we are

confident that our customers will love thisnew feature.”Jazeera airways is the first carrier in Kuwaitto offer such an application. Monzer najia,vice president and general manager, boodaiaviation group commented on the newfeature.

“Jazeera holidays adds a great value to thecustomer as it allows them to have fullcontrol of their inventory 24-hours daily.”

We’ve launched JazeeraHolidays to make

planning and booking all-rounded vacations for

customers hassle-free

Oman Air

the 755 passengercapacity Ocean Princess,which is currently on around-the-world voyage,represents the first vessel

registered to the Los angeles-basedPrincess Cruises’ fleet to dock in theemirate. it will soon be followedby the 2,272-capacity DawnPrincess, which is scheduled todock at the Mina Zayed Port aspart of its globe-trotting voyageon June 16. george Varghese, generalmanager commercial, raishassan Saadi group, commentedon the growing influx.“The arrivals of Ocean Princess

and Dawn Princess illustrateincreasing international operatordemand for abu Dhabi. Theemirate’s regular winter seasonitineraries yield the majority ofcruise traffic, but year-roundstop-overs for round-the-worldvessels could see arrivalsextended to the traditional out-of-season summer months.” Princess Cruises is wholly-ownedby Carnival Cruises, the world’slargest cruise line operator, whichgenerates about 75 percent ofabu Dhabi’s cruise arrivals. Theemirate will soon welcomeanother cruise line, MSC Cruisesin its port, which will embark on19 regional itineraries with itsluxury MSC Lirica from october.Costa Cruises’ Costa Favalosia,the biggest cruise liner even to bebuilt with 3,800-capacity, willarrive in abu Dhabi innovember, while aiDa Cruises’AIDAblu will dock in the emiratein the winter.

The cruise industry’s continuousdevelopment is crucial to abu Dhabi’stourism sector, highlighted LawrenceFranklin, strategy and policy director, abuDhabi tourism authority (aDta).“increased cruise arrivals are a coreenabler in aDta’s strategy to attract 2.3

million hotel guests to the emirate by theend of 2012. over the past two years,cruise arrivals to the emirate have nearlydoubled and in the forthcoming 2011/12season, we are expecting 68 ships todeliver upwards of 145,000 passengersand 50,000 crew.”

25May 21, 2011

- Cruising

Abu Dhabi’s Cruise Industry On-TrackAbu Dhabi’s cruise industry has intensified its role in the emirate’s tourism sector after the arrival of yet anothercruise line vessel.

May 21, 201126

Who are you?we are a dynamic travel agency determined to set newstandards of services and gear up to satisfy the mostdemanding clients. we rely on our years of experience and onour well trained, experienced and competent staff to deliverhigh standard of services.

What is your favourite thing about working in the travelindustry?The art of communication and the competition in which youexploit all your resources, knowledge, experience andcreativity in order to build a bridge to your markets.

When is the best time to visit Lebanon?Lebanon is a year round destination, thanks to its location,weather, services and entertainment activities that it offers.  

Where would you like to travel to for your next holiday?every country has its own beauty but, since it is summer time,i really would like to visit the baltic area or austria.

Why should people come to you for travel advice?it is a very nice question. nowadays the world has become asmall village, which increases the competition level and forcesus to create new ideas to attract clients and build a bridge ofreliability between them and the company. in addition, ourvast experience and travel knowledge make us pioneers in thedomain.

Name: Ikram ZahreddinePosition: OwnerCompany: Raed Travel & TourismLocation: Lebanon

Agent’s InsightAmadeus Qatar Launches Ticket Changer

Amadeus Qatar has introduced an innovative new service,amadeus ticket Changer, to facilitate ticket reissuing.with the new technology, amadeus Qatar became the firstglobal Distribution System (gDS) provider in the country tooffer this service which automates calculations necessary toreproduce a ticket and minimise the length of the process. anychanges requested by customers can be made within five minutesat any point-of-sale. in addition, amadeus connected users saveon airline debit memo and training costs. wafiq al-wahidi, general manager, amadeus Qatar, elaboratedon the new technology. “amadeus is a pioneer of innovation in our industry. we arealways looking to develop new products and solutions thatincrease customer service and reduce time involved to performthe service. Manual ticket reissuing is such a lengthy andtedious process – it involves airline debit memos, 30-minutecalls to the call centre, lengthy and expensive staff training.with amadeus ticket changer, all this is a thing of the past. itis the most powerful and flexible automated solution availablecurrently in the market.”

Lebanon

May 21, 201128

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

Faruk Mustafa RasoolChairman, Faruk Group Holding

“iraq is a promising market; with more growth potential than anyother market in the world is expected to have in the next five to 10years. our operations in Sulaymaniyah will support not only ourentry into the iraq market but also in the global businesscommunity.”

Tim ClarkPresident, Emirates Airline

“if by the end of the year oil prices have reached arounduSD130 - uSD140 per barrel, watch this space, there willbe some casualties. i expect that airlines which willstruggle particularly are those on the periphery.”

I expect that airlines which will struggle particularly

are those on the periphery

Tim Clark

Iraq is a promisingmarket; with more

growth potential thanany other market inthe world is expected

to have in the nextfive to 10 years

Faruk Mustafa Rasool

29May 21, 2011

Nabil Khuzouznabil Khuzouz has been appointed as generalmanager of Crowne Plaza Petra. Khuzouz, who hasmore than 29 years experience in the tourism andhospitality industry, has previously held keymanagement positions in five-star hotels across theMiddle east, which include in amman, Jeddah,riyadh and Dubai. besides spearheading the hotel’sdepartments, he will be in charge of increasing thelevel of guest satisfaction and enhancing key financialmarkers of the hotel.

Mrad El KhouryMrad el Khoury has beenappointed as general managerof towers rotana Dubai. elKhoury began his career withsome renowned internationalchains, including Starwood.he joined rotana in 2003 asarea director of sales andmarketing for Dubai andnorthern emirates. Threeyears later he was promoted togeneral manager of burjumanarjaan by rotana, beforemoving to Fujairah rotanaresort and Spa. in his newrole he will be responsible forthe operations of the 360-room property, aims tofurther solidate the hotel’sposition in both the regionaland international market.

Mrad El Khoury

Nabil Khuzouz

May 21, 201130

South Africa Joins Tourism CampaignSouth Africa has become the first African nation to join the Global Leaders for Tourism Campaign, createdby the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and World Committee on Tourism Ethics (WCTE).

South africa’s President JacobZuma, noted that given theimportance the countryattached to the industry, hewas delighted to be joining

the campaign and highlighted theeconomic and social value of tourism.“we take tourism very seriously in thiscountry given its job creation potential.That is why we have identified tourism asone of the six job drivers in our newgrowth path framework. tourism is wellpositioned to be a leading avenue foraddressing unemployment, especiallygiven its labour intensive nature. tourismjobs are not only created in the travel and

tourism industry, but also inmanufacturing, financial services,agriculture, healthcare and numerousother peripheral industries. Moresignificantly, this sector has become afertile environment for entrepreneurs andsmall, medium and micro enterpriseswhile historically disadvantaged peopleare increasingly making their careers in

tourism, creating jobs for others andbuilding their own businesses.” David Scowsill, Ceo and president, wTTC,commented that South africa has a clearappreciation of the positive impact of traveland tourism, with its ability to stimulategrowth and generate new jobs. “PresidentZuma has a deep understanding of theindustry, and we salute his leadership.”

We take tourism veryseriously in this country

given its job creationpotential

South Africa

Travel Trade Weekly: RAK Hotel andTourism Development Authorityrevealed that in order for the emirate toincrease its visitor numbers, it willinvest USD100 million in hotel andtourism projects in the next four years.What green growth plans andenvironmental sustainability initiativesare in place from the level of theauthority?Victor Louis: among others, one of ourmost important projects is the stunningal Marjan island which is a collection offive man-made islands located 27kmsouthwest of the main town centre inraK. while developing this unique placeonly the most natural procedures havebeen undertaken. having said that,cautiously laid natural rocks took theplaces of concrete ripraps to ensuremarine life wasn’t affected during theprocess. This will not only flourish marinelife but also attract coral life and help areef formation, giving birth to a newnatural wonder in raK.

Travel Trade Weekly: It has been saidthat RAK Hotel and TourismDevelopment Authority was establishedto encourage foreign investment andmanage state funded tourism projects.At what stage is the development of theman-made Marjan Island? Victor Louis: regarding newinvestments, we have got different kindsof projects due to come online this year,including the waldorf astoria hotel – theluxury brand’s first uae property – andtwo new shopping malls, which includethe raK Mall and the al naeem Mall.The man-made Marjan island remainsunder construction, including the much

publicised La hoya bay.another palatial project of ours is theMina al arab, which is a mixed use leisureand holiday beach resort developmentoffering lush landscaping, protectedcoastal wetlands and pristine beachestogether with homes, hotels and world-class amenities, to shape a vacationexperience along the beach of raK. TheaeD10 billion (uSD 2.7 billion) projectwill cover an area of 30 million square feetand be spread along 13km of a beachfrontstrip and a group of islands.

Travel Trade Weekly: With thebudget RAK flag carrier servicing onlyshort-haul routes, including India,Saudi Arabia and Egypt, is increasingregional tourism considered the keytourism strategy for RAK? Victor Louis: The re-launch of theflagship carrier raK airways in october2010 was definitely expected to contributeto stimulating regional tourism andattracting business. The company’s greatestasset is its low-cost fares, starting at Dh10(uSD2,7). however, raK airways is nota low-cost airline. it provides the sameservices as regular carriers, includingluggage and meal service.

Travel Trade Weekly: Whichnational travellers do you believe aremost attracted to the lower cost aspectof RAK as a destination?Victor Louis: in the last few years, thenumbers of incoming european touristswere definitely increasing. within theeuropean market, germany, the uK,Scandinavia and italy are the primarydrivers; although strong growth isemerging from russia, the Czech republic

and other eastern european nations.as raK develops more high-endinfrastructure, it is also attracting anincreasing number of emiratis year-roundfor weekend trips, attracted by its mix ofnatural beaches, deserts and mountains.

Travel Trade Weekly: With WaldorfAstoria RAK set to be the luxury brand’sfirst UAE property, opening later thisyear, will attract a new tourism market?Do you think this retracts from RAK’simage as a lower cost destinationcompared with other emirates?Victor Louis: along with other high-end projects in the pipeline, the luxurysegment in raK is graduallystrengthening and experiencing a robustgrowth. The newest hotels to open areprimarily five-star properties, with severalmore expected to open in the short tomedium term. Perhaps the highest-profileproperty in the pipeline is the “seven-star”Palace raK, set to open mid 2011.with all these upcoming properties andinvestments, that will definitely developthe tourism market in raK, we areplanning to make the emirate a haven ofpeace containing age-old traditions andmodern life.

31May 21, 2011

Q & A with Victor LouisAmidst the turmoil experienced in the Middle East, Ras Al Khaimah is promoting itself as a relaxing retreat,with developments underway to underpin this image. Victor Louis, chief operating officer, Ras Al Khaimah(RAK) Hotels & Tourism Development, talks about the industry’s strategy, projects and attractions.

Victor Louis

May 21, 201132

EventsInternational Pow Wow San Francisco, US, May 21-25, 2011(www.ustravel.org/events/international-pow-wow)an international marketplace and the largest generator ofVisit uSa.

IMEXFrankfurt, Germany, May 24-26, 2011(www.imex-frankfurt.com)a worldwide exhibition for incentive travel, meetings and events.

International Travel ExpoHong Kong, 9-12 June, 2011www.itehk.com

hong Kong’s only travel Fair also covering markets of Chinaand asia

Asia Luxury Travel MarketShanghai, China, June 13-16, 2011(www.altm.com.cn)an event showcasing the world's most sought after destinations andtravel experiences to travel buyers from across the asia Pacific.

CITY FAIR The European Cities Travel Workshop London, UK, June 20, 2011(www.cityfair.travel)a one day event of pre-scheduled appointments dedicated to thesector of city tourism.

AIBTMBaltimore, US, June 21-23, 2011(www.aibtm.com)a uS event for the business travel and meetings industry.

Dubai Selected for Cruise Convention Following Cruise Tourism Growth

Dubai has been chosen as the venue forthe Seatrade Middle east CruiseConvention following significant growthin the uae’s cruise tourism.The conference and exhibition event,which focuses on the Middle east’srapidly expanding cruise sector, will beheld in Dubai on october 18–20. Thedecision follows on from figures from theDubai Department of tourism andCommerce Marketing (DtCM),indicating that 103 ships carrying morethan 390,000 passengers will dock inDubai this year, up from 55 ships in 2007.in the Middle east, cruise tourism overthe past three years was recorded to haveexceeded the global average of fivepercent, representing a valuablecontribution to tourism in the period ofeconomic downturn.

hamad M. bin Mejren, director ofbusiness tourism, DtCM, commented onDubai’s tourism growth. “Despite theslowdown in the global tourism industry,cruise tourism in the gulf has beengrowing steadily, thanks to the efforts ofthe DtCM and the cruise operators. Thisdemonstrates the resilience of Dubai'seconomy and the trust put in it by theglobal cruise operators.”

During the Seatrade Middle east CruiseConvention, delegates and visitors from

regional destinations will have theopportunity to reach cruise line decisionmakers and hear the latest in industry trends. The broader economic impact of cruisetourism in the region and ways to enhancethis, as well as the next steps in marketingthe region’s cruise credentials, will also becovered during the event.

Despite the slowdown in the global tourism

industry, cruise tourism in the Gulf has been

growing steadily

Dubai