SAUDI ARABIA: 11.3 MILLION GCC VISITORS

14 NOVEMBER 2015
ISSUE 314
ATM MIRRORS REGIONAL
AVIATION GROWTH
MORE THAN 11.3 MILLION GCC RESIDENTS TRAVELLED
TO SAUDI ARABIA IN 2014, MORE THAN 6.6 MILLION
OF WHOM SPENT AT LEAST ONE NIGHT
IN THE KINGDOM.
06
INTERVIEW WITH
BADER AL MERSHED
19
IN THIS ISSUE
MARKET UPDATE
02
TECHNOLOGY
09
ACCOMMODATION
10
AIR
14
INTERNATIONAL
18
RENDEZVOUS
19
WHO'S MOVED
21
TRAVEL TALK
22
AGENT CORNER
23
TRAVEL CHANNELS
24
NEWS & EVENTS
26
SAUDI ARABIA: 11.3 MILLION
GCC VISITORS
4
MARKET UPDATE
Dur Hospitality Profit Soars
TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS
Dur Hospitality posted a net profit of SAR40.7 million (USD10.9 million) in the third
quarter of the year, marking a year-on-year increase of 11 percent.
MANAGING EDITOR
Mary Kammitsi
[email protected]
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Maria Kazeli
SENIOR JOURNALIST
Rita Kasziba
CONTRIBUTOR
Ana Mladenovic
PRESS
Maria Demetriadou
Pauline Shahabian
Inna Armeanu
DESIGN & LAYOUT
Elena Stylianou
WEB & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Savvas Kammitsis
DIRECTORS
Andreas Constantinides
Mary Kammitsi
HEADQUARTERS
Marriott Riyadh Hotel, owned by Dur Hospitality
T.T.W. Travel Trade Weekly LTD
P.O. Box 25255, Nicosia 1308 Cyprus
Tel: +357 22 021607, Fax: +357 22 103670
WEBSITE
www.traveltradeweekly.travel
EMAILS
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
MENA EXCHANGE RATES
As of
13/11/2015
Currencies shown in blue
are fixed against the US
Dollar
Marriott Riyadh Hotel,
owned by Dur Hospitality
D
uring the three-month
period, the company
completed renovation
on Makarem Annakheel Village in Jeddah
as well as Holiday Inn Tabuk and
delivered a number of villas in Riyadh, generating major revenue
and further adding to the overall
improvements in operation and
services.
The Hajj season was once
again a success with properties
flying the Makarem flag, Dur Hospitality’s own brand designed for
visitors of the Holy Cities, recording 100 percent occupancy rates.
2
COUNTRY
CURRENCY 1USD=
Bahrain (BHD)
Dinar
0.37
Jordan (JOD)
Dinar
0.71
Oman (OMR)
Rial
0.39
Qatar (QAR)
Rial
3.64
Saudi Arabia (SAR) Riyal
3.75
UAE (AED)
Dirham
3.67
Algeria (DZD)
Dinar
107.66
Egypt (EGP)
Pound
7.83
Iran (IRR)
Rial
29,964.00
Iraq (IQD)
Dinar
1,108.75
Kuwait (KWD)
Dinar
0.30
Lebanon (LBP)
Pound
1,495.40
Libya (LYD)
Dinar
1.38
Morocco (MAD)
Dirham
9.94
Syria (SYP)
Pound
188.82
Tunisia (TND)
Dinar
2.02
Yemen (YER)
Rial
214.89
14 NOVEMBER 2015
WEEKLY NEWS
Destinia Expands in the Middle East
International online travel agency,
Destinia has enhanced its presence in the
Middle East with its entrance into Iran’s
market through a new office.
Iran
T
he new base now serves as the company’s third hub in the region.
Amuda Goueli, CEO, Destinia, commented, “Our objective is to be one of the top three Arabic online travel agencies in the region by 2017. [In 2014,] sales from the MENA region grew
by 140 percent and the entrance into the Iranian market is part of a larger strategic expansion by the
agency.”
The first step taken by the agency was to offer the website in Persian, then to develop and implement a local payment system.
Hertz Signs Iraqi Franchise Deal
H
ertz Equipment Rental Corporation (HERC), entered into a franchise agreement with Khudairi Group for the exclusive licence
to provide rental equipment in Iraq using the Hertz Equipment
brand and proprietary system.
The move will enhance the company’s Middle Eastern network, with
HERC Iraq offering light-to-medium equipment fleets in the country serving oil and gas, construction, industrial, and government customers.
As Larry Silber, president, HERC, noted, the agreement reflects the corporation’s long-term business strategy to licence franchises, establish joint ventures and open company-owned branches in emerging and growth markets.
ezytrips Launches in Bahrain
e
zytrips commenced operations in Bahrain from where it will
provide access to a full spectrum of flight and holiday booking
services.
The online travel agency’s state-of-the-art site is geared towards
assisting small travel agencies and end customers who can log on to
purchase tickets on more than 180 premium as well as budget airlines
worldwide or reserve hotel rooms, arrange travel insurance, car rental
and other transfer services. For its establishment in Bahrain, the company has authorised Dadabhai Travel & Tours as its franchise operator, and
the deal between the two entities also covers Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
14 NOVEMBER 2015
3
WEEKLY NEWS
SAUDI ARABIA: 11.3 MILLION GCC
VISITORS
4
S
Mecca
Some 11.3 million
GCC residents
travelled to Saudi
Arabia in 2014,
more than 6.6
million of whom
spent at least one
night in the Kingdom,
resulting in 37.3
million guest nights
for accommodation
establishments.
First Hotel Standard for
Muslim Guests
T
he visits generated some SAR22.8 billion
(USD6.08 billion), driven by strong demand
from Kuwait and Bahrain, followed by Qatar
and the UAE.
The most popular region for GCC travellers proved to be Mecca, and the top five also included
Medina, the Eastern Province, Riyadh and Asir.
In the first half of the current year, the number of
GCC visitors to Saudi Arabia reached 7.4 million.
alam Standard, hailed as the firstever online hotel reference tool
dedicated to Muslim travellers, has
been launched.
The one-of-a-kind platform provides
information on amenities and services
that adhere to Islamic principles and cater
to specific accommodation requirements
of Muslim guests, who spent more than
USD142 billion on tourism in 2014, according to research by Thomson Reuters.
“With this figure set to rise to more
than USD233 billion in 2020, which accounts for 25 percent of total global travel
expenditure, there is a need to provide this
influential group of travellers with tourism
products that make them feel at home,”
explained Faeez Fadhlillah, CEO, Salam
Standard.
14 NOVEMBER 2015
WEEKLY NEWS XX
Passenger Boom Continues in
Abu Dhabi
ATM Mirrors Regional Aviation
Growth
Abu Dhabi International Airport
S
A
bu Dhabi International Airport handled some 17.5
million travellers in the first three quarters of the year,
indicating a year-on-year increase of 18 percent.
The busiest routes for the nine-month period included
the UK, US, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Qatar, Thailand and Germany. Year-to-date passenger numbers between the UAE
capital and the US surged 44 percent, while traffic to and
from Australia was up 27.3 percent, and significant improvement was also recorded on UK and German services.
As Ahmad Al Haddabi, chief operations officer, Abu Dhabi Airports, explained, increased global connectivity continues to be an important contributor to the overall success.
ince 2012, the allocated space for aviation at
the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) has steadily
expanded, reflecting the regional sector’s development.
As Nadege Noblet-Segers, exhibition manager, ATM,
explained, over the past four years, the area has grown
almost 32 percent to reach well in excess of 2,000m2.
Noblet-Segers referred to the Gulf heavyweights’
speedy global expansion, noting that low-cost carriers
are not being left behind either. Yet, according to her,
more could be done to generate additional air passengers, the open skies issue and GCC-wide visas for example are sure to be hot topics for discussion once again at
ATM, which will be held between April 25 – 28, 2016 at
the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre.
ATM 2015
B
ahrain Airport Company (BAC) signed a strategic partnership
agreement with International Air Transport Association (IATA),
positioning the managing body as an integral contributor to
setting industry standards and strategies.
Boasting over 400 participants, IATA’s Strategic Partnerships Program provides a platform for the aviation industry to share ideas, collaborate and improve practices and technology. In terms of the deal,
BAC will now have full access to the global organisation’s economic
data and analysis and will also be able to utilise its resources for industry research in order to further drive the company’s growth and
development.
6
Yas Marina
BAC Partners with IATA
14 NOVEMBER 2015
WEEKLY NEWS
Travelport Merchandising
Solution Marks First Year
Ras Al Khaimah TDA and Air Arabia Join Forces
enior representatives from Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (TDA) and Air Arabia led a two-day campaign in Saudi Arabia
and Kuwait to promote direct routes to the emirate and increase overall
awareness of the destination.
The road show included a series of workshops, press conferences, meetings
and engagement dinners with prominent figures in the two countries’ tourism
industry.
“We are looking to achieve one million visitors by the end of 2018 and we
believe travellers from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait will comprise a significant proportion of this total, particularly when supported by direct Air Arabia flights,”
commented Haitham Mattar, CEO, Ras Al Khaimah TDA.
8
Ras Al Khaimah
Marriott Executive Apartments Dubai Creek
S
T
ravelport celebrated the first
anniversary of its Rich Content
and Branding, an industry solution that allows airlines to more
effectively market and retail their offering to travel agencies around the
world.
In its introductory year, over 120
network and low-cost carriers signed
up for the tool, 90 of which are currently live in the system ready for
travel professionals to search, sell and
book.
The feature allows airlines to fully
display all their fares, ancillaries and
brand proposition, exactly as they
would on their own websites, giving
them control over how their products
appear on screen.
14 NOVEMBER 2015
TECHNOLOGY WEEKLY NEWS
New Tool for Small and Mid-sized Hotels
Hotelogix and HotelRunner have come together to create a platform through which small and mid-sized
accommodation establishments can boost online sales and better organise operations.
T
he strategic alliance brings together Hotelogix’s cloud-based property management
system technology that streamlines daily activities with HotelRunner’s Channel Manager that allows access to online booking channels.
“Smaller properties have limited resources and face greater challenges when distributing
rooms on multiple channels as well as managing fulfillment while maintaining rate parity,”
explained Prabhash Bhatnagar, founder, Hotelogix.
US Consumers
Increasingly Rely
on OTAs
Travelstart Kicks
Off Arabic Web
Services
N
I
ew
research
by
TravelTech
showed
that US travellers are
increasingly relying on online
travel agencies (OTAs) when
searching for, comparing and
booking their accommodation.
The findings showed that
nearly seven in 10 of those
surveyed consider online
booking as safe and convenient and 43 percent are purchasing through OTAs, while
40 percent use hotel booking
platforms.
“By offering side-by-side
comparisons, access to the
growing array of travel options
and competitive prices, online
travel companies have empowered travellers to search,
compare and book from the
palm of their hand from anywhere in the world,” said Steve
Shur, president, TravelTech.
14 NOVEMBER 2015
n a bid to offer its services
to a broader segment of
the Egyptian market, Travelstart Egypt launched its Arabic language travel services
portal.
With the initiative, the
company has removed barriers by providing its local customers a choice of languages
for easier access.
Ahmed Saadeddine, country manager, Travelstart Egypt,
enthused, “Our vision has always been to introduce online
services in Arabic [...]. Travelstart’s focus on tech-savvy,
adventurous customers that
demand sophisticated online
tools has proved very successful for us with almost 300 percent increase in sales over the
past year. We hope that the
introduction of our Arabic services will boost sales further.”
9
WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION
Four Seasons Doha’s Al Mirqab Re-emerges
Four Seasons Hotel Doha debuted its new 758m2 re-imagined ballroom, Al Mirqab.
Al Mirqab
S
ince the venue’s launch a decade ago, it has set a benchmark for memorable events held in Qatar’s capital and remains among the top destinations for corporate meetings, conferences, social
events and weddings.
Upon an extensive refurbishment over the summer period, with state-of-the-art technology and a capacity to host up to 700 guests, the hotel’s team is set to welcome guests to experience the transformation.
Rami Sayess, general manager, Four Seasons Hotel Doha, commented, “I am excited about the prospect of our newly enhanced ballroom to highlight our many luxurious Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
offerings – especially in the area of special events.”
UAE to Welcome Residence Inn
M
arriott International revealed plans to debut Residence Inn in
Dubai, with the first property flying the brand’s flag scheduled
to open in 2019.
Commenting on the upcoming Residence Inn by Marriott Al Jaddaf, Alex
Kyriakidis, president, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International, said, “Today it is not only the executive traveller who seeks out an extended stay property, but also young families who are looking for a home-like environment.”
Given the increase in tourism and global traffic to Dubai, as well as
market predictions for the future, Marriott International sees great potential in Dubai within the extended stay segment, suggested Kyriakidis.
Gulf Executive Residence Unveiled
T
he Gulf Hotel Bahrain has completed the refurbishment of The Gulf
Executive Residence.
Hailed as one of the first luxury residences in the Kingdom, it boasts
97 one-, two- and three-bedroom fully-furnished serviced apartments with
European-style kitchens, white oak floors and modern entertainment systems.
Residents of the units can also benefit from the facilities and amenities of the complex’s hotel, and enjoy, among others, 16 food and beverage
outlets, a lagoon swimming pool with waterfalls and a health club.
As Rahim Abu Omar, general manager, The Gulf Hotel Bahrain, explained, the project has resulted in refreshed and modern interiors.
10
14 NOVEMBER 2015
WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION
Madinat Jumeirah Adds to Culinary Experiences
Starwood Gears
Up for Triple Dubai
Opening
S
Hanaaya
M
adinat Jumeirah launched yet another restaurant on the
ground floor of Jumeirah Mina A’Salam following a full refurbishment of Al Muna.
Hanaaya, which means happiness in Arabic, serves a combination of authentic international cuisine with dishes prepared at live
cooking stations.
“At Hanaaya, we take an interactive approach to dining that encourages guests to enjoy talking about great food with chefs that
know and love the dishes they are preparing,” explained Dirk Haltenhof, resort executive chef, Madinat Jumeirah, adding that the vibrant
experience enables diners to make new flavour discoveries and engage with the chefs.
tarwood Hotels & Resorts
Worldwide got a step closer to
the launch of its three properties in Dubai’s Al Habtoor City with
the appointment of the designated
management teams.
The emirate’s first-ever St. Regis,
the UAE’s first W hotel and the largest Westin in the Middle East will
contribute nearly 1,600 rooms to the
destination’s inventory and will open
in a staggered formation, starting
with the 234-key The St. Regis Dubai
in the fourth quarter of the year.
Overlooking all three hotels as
complex general manager is luxury
hospitality veteran, Andreas Oberoi.
Riyadh
Elaf Group to Boost Saudi Arabia’s
Tourism
E
laf Group is set to launch a series of strategic
marketing tours for select countries in a bid to
further boost Saudi Arabia’s fast-growing tourism industry.
During its stopovers in Egypt, Turkey, Morocco,
Indonesia, Tunisia and the UK, the group will unveil
its new packages for travellers planning to visit the
Kingdom as well as highlight popular local attractions.
Special focus will be placed on tourism for religious purposes amid its continuous popularity, as Ziyad Bin Mahfouz, president, Elaf Group, noted, “Local
reports show [religious tourism’s] contribution to the
non-oil sector of the Kingdom’s GDP will increase from
5.4 percent to 5.7 percent by 2020.”
12
14 NOVEMBER 2015
WEEKLY NEWS AIR
Falcon Starts Scheduled Al Bateen Flights
Falcon Aviation Services commenced offshore transportation services from its base at Al Bateen Executive
Airport to Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company (ADMA-OPCO).
T
he corporate jet and helicopter service provider will fly nearly 400 ADMA-OPCO staff
members daily to and from Das Island and Zirku Island.
As Ahmad Al Haddabi, chief operations officer, Abu Dhabi Airports, noted, due to its
strategic location, fully equipped operational, administrative and maintenance facilities, and
fast-on-fast-off processing services, Al Bateen Executive Airport remains the ultimate choice
for charter and executive aircraft operators.
RJ: 272 Percent
Net Profit
Increase
R
oyal
Jordanian
Airlines
(RJ) has returned to profitability after recording net
profits before tax of JOD27 million
(USD38.05 million) in the first nine
months of the year, up from the
JOD15.7 million (USD22.13 million)
net loss in the corresponding period in 2014, marking a 272 percent
improvement.
Net profit after tax stood at
JOD21.4 million (USD30.16 million),
a surge of 236 percent.
Suleiman Hafez, interim CEO,
RJ, deemed the positive results as a
quantum leap in the company’s current restructuring process.
The carrier’s five-year plan focusses on improvements in all areas,
increasing revenues and reducing
operating costs.
In line with its ambitions, the airline shut down a number of its stations
at the end of 2014, while new destinations included Tabuk and Najaf.
14
Qatar Airways
Expands UK
Network
Q
atar Airways is to launch
eight weekly services
between Doha and Birmingham, effective from March
30, 2016.
The Gulf carrier will operate a
Boeing 787 Dreamliner in a twoclass configuration to its fourth UK
destination with 232 economy and
22 business class seats.
As Akbar Al Baker, group CEO,
Qatar Airways, noted, the flight to
the city, which welcomes nearly
34 million visitors per annum, will
create new commercial and leisure
links between Birmingham and
the 152 global locations served by
the airline.
Birmingham
14 NOVEMBER 2015
WEEKLY NEWS AIR
Qatar Airways Welcomes First Royal
Air Maroc Flight
Emirates Flies A380 to Brazil
E
mirates will operate the first-ever commercial Airbus A380 flight to Brazil and South America, with
the deployment of the double-decker aircraft on a
one-off service to São Paulo on November 14.
The flight marks the airline’s eighth year of operation
to the country, which will host its annual Formula 1 race, of
which Emirates is a sponsor, one day earlier.
As Orhan Abbas, senior vice president, commercial
operations, Latin America, Sourthern and Central Africa,
Emirates, explained, while the carrier has currently no
plans to introduce scheduled A380 services to Brazil, customers still have now the opportunity to experience the
iconic aircraft.
R
oyal Air Maroc has launched direct flights between Casablanca and Doha as part of its business agreement with
Qatar Airways.
In terms of the partnership, the North African carrier will offer
thrice-weekly services between the cities in conjunction with the
Gulf airline, increasing the number of frequencies on the route
from seven to 10.
All flights will be operated by Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
According to Driss Benhima, CEO, Royal Air Maroc, the joint
business allows the company to create a bridge between Asia
and Africa that will facilitate the movement of passengers in a
seamless fashion.
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Emirates Airbus A380
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t
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fir top di
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Etihad Enhances Technology Offering
E
tihad Airways entered a new strategic partnership with
global technology provider, Adobe.
As part of the airline’s tactical vision to offer a superior
digital service by deploying cloud-first initiatives for its business
and its guests, the deal will see the roll-out of a range of worldclass cloud solutions across its business and partners.
With Adobe Marketing Cloud and Creative Cloud, the carrier
and its associates will be empowered to create a secure and costeffective digital guest experience. Additionally, the technology
will enhance the UAE flag carrier’s digital marketing capabilities to
provide tailored and personalised services across the globe.
16
14 NOVEMBER 2015
WEEKLY NEWS INTERNATIONAL
Sanctuary Collection, Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita
Four Seasons Mauritius Launches Luxury Lodgings
F
our Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita unveiled the latest addition to its pool villas
with the introduction of Sanctuary Collection.
Comprising a newly extended presidential suite offering the flexibility of three
to five bedrooms, and six sanctuary pool villas with either direct beach access or sweeping
lagoon views, all new accommodations offer leisure activities, spa, international dining options across three restaurants as well as complimentary golf on an Ernie Els Design course.
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands Increases Share
S
olomon Islands continues to gain popularity with international arrivals, remaining on an upward trajectory.
In June alone, 2,131 travellers opted for the destination, marking a 9.3 percent year-on-year growth, following
double-digit rises in April and May.
Australian arrivals continued to dominate the statistics,
contributing 49.7 percent to the total, followed by Papua New
Guinea, New Zealand, Fiji and the US.
According to Josefa Tuamoto, CEO, Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau, ongoing marketing activities undertaken by the
tourism body in partnership with Solomon Airlines, have
helped boost demand.
18
14 NOVEMBER 2015
RENDEZVOUS
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: In terms
of both financial and operational
results, has Jazeera Airways now
reached there where you thought it
would back in 2005?
BADER AL MERSHED: The first 10
years of a company tend to be incredibly dynamic, especially the first two
years when the business plan is tested, and more often than not it is either
revised or overhauled. Now we are not
just a company; we are an airline operating in the Middle Eastern aviation
sector and that alone brings its own
unique set of challenges, especially in
the last 10 years.
No other aviation market in the
world has seen as much growth and
opportunity as well as crises and turbulence as our market. The major
achievement over this period was
not in network or passenger numbers, even though our performance
is better than what we expected, but
in how we adapted to the constantly
changing competitive, political and
commercial environment. Had someone told me in 2005 that we would
go through what the Middle East aviation market has gone through and still
be operating, let alone with growing
profitability year-on-year, I would not
have believed it. But we were lucky to
have a flexible business model and a
great management team that is dedicated and resourceful. […] To answer
the question; are we there? Yes. Will
we stay here? No, as we are constantly
moving ahead.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: Jazeera
Airways was the first non-government owned airline in the Middle
East and is still one of the few carriers that are not owned by a state.
In your opinion, how has the airline
changed the dynamics of the regional aviation industry?
BADER AL MERSHED: The change
was tremendous, especially in our
home market where we brought a
much needed upgrade in travel culture. Many attribute this change to
our affordable fares but that is not
the full story. What Jazeera Airways
brought to the market was operational excellence and a better and seamless travelling experience, from booking to check-in.
State airlines back then were po14 NOVEMBER 2015
Q & A with
Bader Al Mershed
VICE PRESIDENT, INDUSTRY AFFAIRS, JAZEERA AIRWAYS
make a trip to the issuer to finalise
the booking. Can you imagine spending a couple of hours just to make a
booking and pay for it? Then came Jazeera Airways. With our first flight we
brought 100 percent confirmed tickets, on-time performance and online
booking and payment. And since then
we have introduced web check-in, self
check-in and many other initiatives
that not only changed the culture, but
respected customers as well. Soon after, other airlines followed suit.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: In June,
Jazeera Airways formally submitted a letter of intent to acquire 35
percent of Kuwait Airways, which is
currently undergoing a privatisation process. How could this significant step support Jazeera Airways'
long-term strategy?
SINCE THE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF
ITS TURN-AROUND PLAN, JAZEERA AIRWAYS
HAS EVOLVED INTO A PROFITABLE BUSINESS
AND AS BADER AL MERSHED, VICE PRESIDENT,
INDUSTRY AFFAIRS, JAZEERA AIRWAYS, SAYS,
THE COMPANY IS DETERMINED TO STRENGTHEN ITS PRESENCE IN THE ARABIAN SKIES.
liticised, inefficient organisations.
It was not uncommon for travellers
with a paid and confirmed ticket to be
bumped off a flight because someone
more important […] wanted their seat.
It was not uncommon to have long
delays that impacted an entire schedule due to waiting for passengers to
finish their duty-free shopping. It was
a different world back then; in fact,
to make a booking a customer had
to leave his home at one point and
“
WHAT JAZEERA
AIRWAYS BROUGHT
TO THE MARKET
WAS OPERATIONAL
EXCELLENCE
BADER AL MERSHED: We see Kuwait
Airways, whether as a standalone
entity or as a subsidiary of Jazeera
Airways, as an operator that complements Jazeera Airways. We see a
future where Jazeera Airways does
what it has proven that it does best,
and that is serving the regional market, while Kuwait Airways focusses on
the long-haul opportunity which remains to be underserved in our home
market. Together we would create a
solid complementary business with
relevant and in-demand offerings for
both short- and long-haul travellers.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What
needs to be done in order to support the growth of regional LCCs?
BADER AL MERSHED: […] We have
always been strong advocates for a
single regulatory market in the GCC
and the greater Middle East. The only
barrier today for a Kuwait-based airline to serve passengers on the Beirut – Riyadh route or a Oman airline
on the Jeddah – Bahrain route is an
outdated legal framework that is
not helping anyone, not even stateowned airlines. A unified regulatory
sky will not only boost commerce,
trade and connectivity between cities
in the Middle East, but it will also free
up state airlines, which are heavy on
wide-bodies, to focus on the global
opportunity while regional airlines
like Jazeera Airways, who excel in regional operation, focus on the rest.
19
WEEKLY NEWS INTERNATIONAL
Rezidor Inks Indonesian
Agreements
S
tarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has launched Sheraton Jakarta Gandaria City Hotel, the second from the
brand to open in the Indonesian city.
The 293-room property is part of the Superblock Gandaria
City complex and features a state-of-the-art fitness centre, outdoor pool, over 3,500m2 of meetings and conventions space and
a variety of dining options.
Charlie Dang, regional vice president, southeast Asia, Starwood
Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, noted, “The opening of Sheraton Jakarta Gandaria City Hotel will help meet the rising demand for highcaliber lodging generated by the influx of business and leisure travellers to Jakarta, the gateway to Indonesia.”
C
Indonesia
Sheraton Jakarta Gandaria City Hotel
Sheraton Enhances Presence in
Indonesia
arlson Rezidor Hotel Group has partnered with Saphir
Group for four hotels in Indonesia.
The hotelier will introduce its Radisson Red brand to
the market with Radisson Red Jakarta CBD and Radisson Red Bali
Legian Camakila and will launch Radisson Bali Legian Camakila
and Radisson Bali Tanjung Benoa by Janauary 1, 2016.
Thorsten Kirschke, president, Asia Pacific, Carlson Rezidor
Hotel Group, noted, “We are pleased to welcome on board a new
partner in the key market of Indonesia, where strong growth
opportunities are supported by the government’s pro-tourism
measures. With this four-property deal, […] we continue to reinforce our presence in Indonesia, a key market for us in Asia Pacific.”
Citadines Haeundae Busan
Ascott Expands in South Korea
T
he Ascott Limited has opened Citadines Haeundae
Busan, its first Citadines branded serviced residence in
South Korea.
Situated in the heart of Busan, the 468-apartment unit
property has a prime location in Haeundae, a popular holiday
destination, with easy access to major businesses, entertainment and cultural venues.
Kevin Goh, managing director, North Asia, The Ascott
Limited, said, “Citadines Haeundae Busan is not only our largest property worldwide, it is the first international brand of
serviced residence in Busan. Ascott currently has more than
1,000 units across three properties in South Korea including
Citadines Han River Seoul which is slated to open in the first
quarter of 2016.”
20
14 NOVEMBER 2015
WHO'S MOVED
CARLOS
SALAS
Carlos Salas is the new regional
director of Crystal Lagoons for
the Middle East.
He will oversee the company’s
strategic growth, with a total of
10 active, under-development
and pipeline projects spread
across five key locations.
Salas, who will be based in
Dubai, brings with him extensive regional experience, having
spent the last six years as head
of the embassy in Chile in the
UAE’s economic department
and GCC commercial representative for ProChile.
Salas will be in charge
of 10 projects across
the Middle East
RAKI
PHILLIPS
ANURADHA
VENKATACHALAM
Anuradha Venkatachalam has
joined Crowne Plaza Sohar as director of sales and marketing.
Having worked with various
international hotel brands in
Kuwait, Bahrain and India, Venkatachalam brings 13 years of
experience to the hotel.
She started her career in India
and joined InterContinental Hotels Group at Crowne Plaza Bahrain as a sales and marketing executive. She was then promoted
to sales and marketing manager
and was also in charge of public
relations.In 2012 Venkatachalam relocated to Crowne Plaza
Kuwait as marketing and public relations manager and two
years later she continued as
cluster director of marketing
and public relations with Marriott International in Kuwait.
Raki Phillips is Hospitality
Consulting Group (INHOCO)’s
newest member, as senior vice
president of development.
He joins the company after a
successful 15-year career in
the industry. In the past eight
years, he worked at FRHI Hotels
& Resorts with his latest role
being regional director for the
Middle East, Africa and India.
Phillips’ expertise include
global hospitality sales, marketing, revenue management
and hotel development.
He played a key role in the
launch of well-known projects, such as Universal Studios
Islands of Adventure Theme
Park, Universal City Walk
Nightlife Venue, Hard Rock
Hotel Orlando, The Ritz-Carlton Sharq Village & Spa Doha,
Fairmont the Palm Dubai, as
well as various food and beverage outlets.
Phillips played a key
role in the launch of
well-known projects
14 NOVEMBER 2015
21
TRAVEL TALK
At Starwood, our brands
are differentiated from a
lifestyle perspective
Sharia is […] our
way of living
KHALED
KAMAL
General manager,
Al Jawhara Hotel
Apartments, Dubai
“Winning the World’s Best Halal Hotel Apartment title at the
World Halal Travel Summit &
Exhibition means a lot for us
as it echoes the vision of Saeed
Al Lootah [founder, Lootah Hotel Management Company]; he
believes that Sharia is embodied not only in the name and
address but also in the way of
talking, acting, working, our way
of living, processing, behaving
[and so on]. Sharia is about food,
cleanliness, […] it is the service
that ensures guest loyalty, tradition that appreciates diversity
in culture and values, caring for
our guests, people and society.”
ARIF
PATEL
Regional director,
sales and marketing,
South Asia, Starwood
Hotels & Resorts
Worldwide
“Contemporary travellers are
looking for experience focussed
travel and hotel experiences,
[...] At Starwood, our brands are
differentiated from a lifestyle
perspective, not price point.
Each of our hotel brands have
their own personality, their own
unique programmes and experiences, which are curated for
our guests. For instance, those
inclined towards wellness might
opt for a Westin hotel whereas
a younger, tech-savvy business traveller may choose Aloft
hotels as their preferred stay
option.”
I have always loved
being a hotelier
RAHIM
ABU OMAR
General manager,
The Gulf Hotel, Bahrain
“I am very grateful for [the
Helmsmen Award from the
Jordanian chapter of the International Association Golden
Helmsmen of Tourism] and I
would like to thank the association for this recognition, I have
always loved being a hotelier
and the hospitality industry has
been my world. I take pleasure
in taking care of my guests and
providing them with the highest
care and attention to give them
a memorable experience. I have
always believed that in this field,
we do not only serve but to also
leave a legacy to our guest.”
TRAVEL TALK IS YOUR SPACE – this is a casual forum for travel industry professionals to discuss current issues and share stories. We want to hear from you,
so send your comments, questions, frustrations and observations to
[email protected]
22
14 NOVEMBER 2015
AGENT CORNER
Agent’s Insight
NAME:
Tarek Mousa
POSITION:
Chairman
COMPANY:
Egypt & Beyond Travel
LOCATION:
Egypt
WEBSITE:
www.egyptandbeyondtravel.com
When did you get involved in the tourism industry?
In 1989. I am a citizen of both Egypt and Australia and have worked for over 25
years in the travel industry in both countries.
What are the most important attributes of a good travel agent/tour operator?
Honesty, credibility and [the ability to deliver] what has been promised.
What is the most frequently asked question that your company receives
from customers?
When is the best time to visit Egypt.
What are the must-visits and must-dos in Egypt that no one should miss?
[One must definitely not omit] a visit to the pyramids, Old Cairo and a Nile cruise
between Luxor and Aswan, as well as hot air ballooning over the Valley of the
Kings in Luxor.
14 NOVEMBER 2015
23
TRAVEL CHANNELS
RJ Backs
Breast Cancer
Awareness
Hyatt Reinforces
Commitment to Sustainability
In its pledge to innovate around sustainability, Hyatt entered a new
partnership with fuel cell technology company, Bloom Energy.
H
yatt Regency Greenwich, Connecticut
has been selected as the recipient of
the hotelier’s first-ever 500kW fuel cell
installation, which is expected to provide up to 75 percent of the hotel’s energy load, generating significant cost savings.
By producing its own energy on-site with the
new agreement, the property will reduce its carbon emissions by 40 percent compared to electricity purchased from the grid.
The hotel group announced the news on the
heels of the release of its 2015 Scorecard Report,
which outlines the company’s progress towards its
social and environmental goals.
R
oyal Jordanian Airlines (RJ), in
collaboration with the King Hussein Cancer Foundation, hosted
Think Pink day at its headquarters.
The event, as part of Jordan Breast
Cancer Program’s annual campaign Stay
in my life… get screened, was held in a
bid to help raise awareness about the
benefit of early detection of breast cancer which can up survival rates to over 90
percent.
The carrier’s female employees were
invited to a lecture by Latifeh Zuhdi,
an educator and nurse with the programme, who highlighted the symptoms of the disease, the risk factors that
increase the possibility of being affected
and the needed screening tests.
Rezidor’s Humanitarian Month
C
arlson Rezidor Hotel Group shared its Responsible Business
Action Month worldwide activities highlights of the year.
Now in its 12th year, 1,100 of the hotelier’s properties
organised over 1,300 activities, committed more than 37,000 volunteer hours and raised a total of USD360,000 for the World Childhood
Foundation and other various local charities.
Some of the initiative’s activities from across the globe included
book drives, breakfast serving to children in need, mural painting
with at-risk youths and clean-up drives.
Inge Huijbrechts, vice president, responsible business, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, noted, “I am proud to see the generous and unique
ways our hotels and corporate offices get involved not only during Responsible Business Action Month, but also throughout the year.”
24
14 NOVEMBER 2015
WEEKLY
NEWS
& EVENTS
NEWS XX
SCTH to Strengthen
Patriotism
H.
R.H. Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz, president, Saudi Commission
for Tourism & National Heritage (SCTH)
patronised a workshop held under the
theme Strengthening educational and
cultural presence on the cultural dimension in education and the media.
Addressing the participants, the
president said, “To promote citizenship and instilling a sense of national
belonging among citizens is an essential issue one of its starting points is to
determine the features of the national
identity based on the cultural dimension of the Kingdom.”
Abdul Aziz pledged to retain a keen
focus on cultural dimensions as it is
considered a base to enhance citizen’s
patriotism.
IATA Introduces Online
Education Scheme
T
he International Air Transport Association (IATA) has
partnered with Harvard
Business Publishing to launch Aviation Leadership Development Program, marking the organisation’s
first educational programme to be
taught in real time by instructors in
a virtual environment.
The initiative is built around
the strategic needs of the airline
industry in leadership development. This followed an intensive
series of assessment interviews by
both entities with key associated
stakeholders, which identified their
strategic business goals, challenges
and trends that are required to be
addressed in the development of
high potential senior managers
and business leaders.
A curriculum of was developed
with three modules; leadership and
influence, operational excellence
as well as global mindset and collaboration.
26
EVENTS
IBTM WORLD
Barcelona, Spain
November 17 – 19
www.ibtmworld.com
A leading global event for the
MICE and business travel industry,
which gathers over 15,500
professionals.
SAUDI INTERNATIONAL HOTEL
TECH EXHIBITION
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
November 30 – December 02
www.saudihoteltechexpo.com
The show brings together hotel
equipments, security procedures,
interior and exterior providers
and information technologists.
INTERNATIONAL LUXURY
TRAVEL MARKET (ILTM)
Cannes, France
November 30 – December 03
www.iltm.com
ILTM is luxury travel's flagship
event, where international travel
agents and advisors meet the
world’s luxury travel experiences.
4TH GLOBAL SUMMIT ON CITY
TOURISM
Marrakech, Morocco
December 14 – 15
www.unwto.org
International experts in city
tourism, representatives of
local authorities, municipalities
and international and regional
associations will discuss
challenges and create a platform
for the exchange of ideas.
3RD ANNUAL AFRICA HOTEL
EXPANSION SUMMIT
Lagos, Nigeria
January 28 – 29, 2016
africa.hotelandresortsummit.com
For the third consecutive year,
Noppen is organising the
Africa Hotel Expansion Summit,
bringing together hotel chains,
developers and architects with
hospitality institutions.
14 NOVEMBER 2015