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MILLENNIUM & COPTHORNE TO ADD 1,000 KEYS IN UAE
IN THIS ISSUE
MARKET UPDATE
ACCOMMODATION
AIR
INTERNATIONAL
RENDEZVOUS
WHO'S MOVED
TRAVEL TALK
AGENTS
TRAVEL CHANNELS
PHOTO ALBUM
NEWS & EVENTS
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26 SEPTEMBER 2015 ISSUE 307
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SOME 538 MILLION INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS TRAVELLED THE WORLD IN THE FIRST HALF (H1) OF THE YEAR,
FOUR PERCENT OR 21 MILLION MORE THAN IN THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD IN 2014.
21 MILLION MORE GLOBAL TRAVELLERS IN H1
ORASCOM: USD20 MILLION DEAL IN EL GOUNA
26 SEPTEMBER 2015
MARKET UPDATE
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TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS
MANAGING EDITORMary Kammitsi
ASSISTANT EDITORMaria Kazeli
SENIOR JOURNALISTRita Kasziba
CONTRIBUTOR
Ana Mladenovic
PRESS Maria Demetriadou Pauline Shahabian
Inna Armeanu
DESIGN & LAYOUTElena Stylianou
WEB & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Savvas Kammitsis
DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides
Mary Kammitsi
HEADQUARTERS
T.T.W. Travel Trade Weekly LTD P.O. Box 25255, Nicosia 1308 Cyprus
Tel: +357 22 021607, Fax: +357 22 103670
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2
Bahrain (BHD)
Jordan (JOD)
Oman (OMR)
Qatar (QAR)
Saudi Arabia (SAR)
UAE (AED)
Algeria (DZD)
Egypt (EGP)
Iran (IRR)
Iraq (IQD)
Kuwait (KWD)
Lebanon (LBP)
Libya (LYD)
Morocco (MAD)
Syria (SYP)
Tunisia (TND)
Yemen (YER)
Dinar
Dinar
Rial
Rial
Riyal
Dirham
Dinar
Pound
Rial
Dinar
Dinar
Pound
Dinar
Dirham
Pound
Dinar
Rial
0.37
0.71
0.39
3.64
3.75
3.67
106.06
7.83
29,959.68
1,141.55
0.30
1,513.93
1.37
9.73
188.79
1.96
214.89
MENA EXCHANGE RATES
As of 25/9/2015Currencies shown in blue are fixed against the US Dollar
COUNTRY CURRENCY 1USD=
Turkish Airlines’ Net Profit Grows 4.6 TimesTurkish Airlines increased its net profit by 4.6 times to USD406 million in the first half of the year.
G lobal sales revenue soared to USD4.78 billion, while operating profit climbed 21 percent year-on-year to USD238 million.
During the six-month period, capacity grew 10.1 percent allowing the airline to carry 28.5 million travellers across its 212,000 flights with a load factor of 77.8 percent.
In the 13 cities across the GCC, passenger numbers rose 7.8 percent to 1.35 million, with a significant improvement in demand for business class, especially from the UAE, where the volume of customers in this segment increased 16.5 percent.
21 MILLION MORE GLOBAL TRAVELLERS IN H1
I n the Middle East, arrivals were up five percent, solidifying the re-covery initiated in 2014. A similar growth rate was reported from Eu-rope and Asia Pacific as well, while
limited data available for Africa points to an estimated six percent drop in traffic.
According to Taleb Rifai, secretary general, World Tourism Organization, the figures show that, despite increased vola-tility, the industry continues to consoli-date the positive performance it has had over the last five years.
Rifai called for a stronger support to tourism as the sector has the potential to deliver on present challenges.
Some 538 million international tourists travelled the world in the first half (H1) of the year, four percent or 21 million more than in the corresponding period in 2014.
Did you know...
International
arrivals are
expected
to increase three to
four percen
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worldwide for the
whole year?
WEEKLY NEWS
326 SEPTEMBER 2015
Orascom: USD20 Million Subdevelopment Deal in El Gouna
One of Egypt’s leading property developers, Hassan Allam Properties’ portfolio includes leisure resorts, luxury residential communities and four million square metres of land in prime loca-tions across the country.
The new venture will include both touristic as well as real estate elements on the designated plot located west of the Ancient Sands project.
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Falcon Island Introduced at Cityscape Global Dubai
Following a strong second quarter perfor-mance in Ras Al Khaimah’s real estate sec-tor, which registered consistent growth
in sales demand, robust occupancy and rental rates, Al Hamra Real Estate Development at-tended Cityscape Global Dubai to launch the second phase of sales for Falcon Island.
Due to be handed over in December 2017, the multimillion-dollar luxury development is a 204,000m2 island community located within the natural lagoon that forms part of the Al Hamra Village complex.
“Falcon Island will bring a new level of luxury real estate to the emirate and customisation is at the heart of this exclusive community with investors able to create their own tailor-made property using our homebuilder app,” said Benoy Kurien, general manager, Al Hamra Real Estate Development.
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Al Marjan Island Boasts New Corniche
A l Marjan Island Company completed phase one of the Al Marjan Island Corniche
project which extends up to Al Hamra Village, creating a 3km-long pedes-trian and cycling track along the wa-terfront.
As Abdullah Rashed Al Abdooli, managing director, Al Marjan Island Company, said, the area is designed to promote family activities and healthy living on a waterside location, and it also includes unique public art exhib-its celebrating the rich history of Ras Al Khaimah.
“With its existing attractions, the island is drawing a growing number of visitors and tourists. With this pro-ject in hand, Al Marjan Island will con-tinue to raise the importance of busi-ness and the tourism sector of Ras Al Khaimah,” Al Abdooli concluded.
Orascom Hotels and Development signed a USD20 million agreement with a Hassan Allam Properties company to subdevelop 100,000m2 of land in El Gouna.
26 SEPTEMBER 2015
WEEKLY NEWS
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Abu Dhabi Introduced to German Market
Major developments in Abu Dhabi’s cruise sector and an international marketing and promotional campaign were rolled out at
one of Europe’s leading cruise events, Seatrade Eu-rope, which took place in Hamburg, Germany.
A five-strong delegation spearheaded by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) set out to assert the emirate’s commitment to re-gional cruise development as part of a coordinated Cruise Arabia stand.
According to Sultan Al Dhaheri, acting executive director, tourism, TCA Abu Dhabi, the team’s pres-ence in Hamburg launched a series of international marketing activities to build on past successes and celebrate the forthcoming terminal facility at Zayed Port.
Dubai Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing (DTCM) or-ganised a three-city road show in
China to present the emirate as an ideal embarkation destination for Chinese cruise tourists.
Having visited Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai, the initiative was the second to be launched over the past 12 months.
Hamad bin Mejren, senior vice presi-dent, DTCM, commented, “There is an in-creasing appetite amongst Chinese tour-ists to discover destinations differently and cruising from Dubai is a concept they have embraced with enthusiasm.”
Notably, this year’s first half has seen a 21 percent year-on-year surge in ship calls and a 42 percent rise in the number of cruise travellers to the destination.
Dubai Showcased in China
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WEEKLY NEWS
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Dubai to Launch Crocodile Park
OAMC Introduces Airport Clinics
Oman Airports Management Company (OAMC) launched a clinic at Muscat International Airport, under the auspices of Sheikh Mohammed Saif Al
Hosni, undersecretary, Ministry of Health, Oman. The facility will offer medical services, provided by Al Raffah Hospital, and will accommodate emergency cases of different levels and grades in the airfield.
In addition, OAMC also opened a clinic at Salalah’s air-port, which boasts modern medical equipment to respond to epidemics, as well as a well-trained medical team ready to treat different cases related to aviation disasters. The facility currently provides services to about 1,300 patients.
Dubai Municipality has awarded an AED22 million (USD6 million) contract to a com-pany for the construction of a crocodile
park in the emirate. Due for completion within 14 months, the pro-
ject will resemble those found in France with a hab-itat that is as natural as possible. The reptiles will be grouped in order to reproduce as they would in their natural environment.
As Obaid Ebrahim Al Marzouqi, head of admin-istrative services, Dubai Municipality, explained, in addition to the entertainment aspect, the park will grant educational institutions and research centres the opportunity to carry out excursions.
Spanning 20,000m2, the destination will be located 10km from Dubai International and is ex-pected to appeal to children, families and tourists.
A n Oyster longlines eco-experiment by Almouj Marina, the first of its kind in the region, has yielded strong results. The project could huge-
ly affect the declining global oyster population, as af-ter the introduction of longlines to the marina, viable-sized oysters grew there within a period of six months.
Khalil AbuJaber, marina manager, Almouj Marina, said, “The success of this venture is a milestone mo-ment for Almouj Marina, as we continuously imple-ment eco-friendly practices to ensure clean water. As the Sultanate’s premier marina, we constantly look for ways to support Oman’s marine environment and de-velop sustainable projects that will benefit local com-munities.”
W hen it comes to meetings, each generation has different preferences and priorities, according to a recent survey conducted by the International Association of Conference Centres in partnership with Development
Counsellors International in the Australia and Asia Pacific region.Results clearly suggest the growing influence of generation Y professionals who
prefer attending venue promotions events rather than trade shows, favoured by generation X.
Moreover, generation Y buyers place a greater deal of importance on technol-ogy capabilities of a venue, while the previous age band pondered over food and beverage offerings.
Almouj Marina: Oyster Experiment Success
Contrasting Generational Preferences of Meeting Planners
Sheikh Mohammed Saif Al Hosni (right) cuts the ribbon
The oysters at six months
26 SEPTEMBER 2015
WEEKLY NEWS XX
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WEEKLY NEWS
STCH: Ready to Fund Tourism Developments
H.R.H. Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz, president, Saudi Commission for Tourism & Na-tional Heritage (SCTH), disclosed that under the
tourism and hospitality projects loaning programme, the authority began receiving funding requests from various investors.
The initiative has been launched after the successful completion of preparatory studies and provides financial resource to hotels and other tourism facilities for a value of up to SAR100 million (USD26.7 million). Moreover, it covers less developed cities with a population of under a million inhabitants.
Bin Abdul Aziz commented that it is very fortunate to see Saudi citizens becoming aware of the importance of tourism, and private sector investments growing.
I n line with Dubai’s vision to reduce its energy consumption by 30 percent by 2020, Dubai Mu-nicipality (DM) completed the first trial to operate
environmentally-friendly parks across the emirate.The idea for these destinations is to generate en-
ergy from the sun with the use of solar panels and Al Khazzan Park is a first of its kind in the area that relies 100 percent on alternative resources.
As Mohammad Mashroom, director, general projects department, DM, revealed, the first project shed light on some challenges, including the diffi-culty of finding a space large enough to accommo-date the solar panels, which need to be exposed to direct sunlight all year long.
First Solar-powered Park in Dubai
Crystal Lagoons Showcases USD1 Billion Projects
Crystal Lagoons promoted its Egyptian developments at the recently-concluded Cityscape Egypt in Cairo.
The company currently has four active projects in the North Afri-can country, including the 12.2ha CityStars Sharm El Sheikh Lagoon, which will feature hotels, golf courses, marinas, a museum, a shopping mall as well as residential units and is valued at USD500 million. The developer is also working on a second lagoon in Sharm El Sheikh. The 2.7ha Radamis Lagoon will be the centrepiece of a 2,500-key three-hotel mixed-use destination. Other upcoming developments include the USD200 million high-end Swam-lake North Coast community with a boutique hotel and the 150ha mixed-use Porto Golf Marina.
Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) led a nine-strong del-egation of Abu Dhabi and Far East-based
travel suppliers to Korea and Japan to stimulate visitor demand to the emirate.
The authority, along with Etihad Airways and a number of local hospitality and other tourism representatives, staged destination road shows in Seoul and Busan in Korea. The team then headed to the Japanese capital, where it was joined by tour operators Travco Japan and Miki Tourist.
The promotions came as Abu Dhabi’s authori-ties push for stronger ties with the travel industry in each country to fulfil the potential for growth by highlighting the diversity of the emirate’s her-itage and luxury propositions.
TCA Abu Dhabi to Boost Business in Japan and Korea
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26 SEPTEMBER 2015
TECHNOLOGY WEEKLY NEWS
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Facial Recognition to Enhance Hotel Security
Davidson referred to innovative solutions, such as the fa-cial recognition technology, which, according to Kees Van Donk, director, hospitality, Europe, Middle East and Africa,
NEC, has seen significant growth in the region in recent years.“Hoteliers are now beginning to understand that although a
safe environment for guests should be a basic […] condition, sit-uations can arise which cannot be determined or pre-planned. The available face recognition technology has now reached a level of maturity and accuracy that it can be used for real-life situations of varying levels of security threat,” added Van Donk.
In order to attract guests, hoteliers need to provide unique experiences and utmost safety, emphasised Christine Davidson, group event director, hospitality portfolio, dmg events, organisers of The Hotel Show.
Dubai-based travel technology company, TravRays launched a complete end-to-end technology platform which encompasses an advanced book-
ing engine using multiple sources of air and non-air con-tent, combined with customer profiling, comprehensive reporting and management capabilities.
As Hari Kumar Manivannan, general manager, TravRays, explained, the innovative business-to-business (B2B) software enables travel agents as well as suppliers, such as airlines, car rental companies and hotels, to be both a supplier and a customer at the same time.
“TravRays platform is ready to integrate with any travel supplier within the UAE and beyond. We have beta-tested with over 75 travel agents and our clientele base is increasing day by day,” added Manivannan.
TravRays Brings B2B Platform to UAE
Marriott Introduces In-room Virtual Reality Experience
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Marriott International launched VRoom Service, that allows guests to order inspiring vir-
tual reality (VR) experiences to their rooms.
Created in collaboration with Sam-sung Electronics America, the initia-tive invites travellers to call a dedicated VRoom Service extension or use the ho-telier’s app to request a Samsung Gear VR headset and accompanying headphones which they can then use for 24 hours.
Matthew Carroll, vice president, Mar-riott Hotels & Resorts, commented, “Our guests want to be in inventive spaces that help foster their creativity and thinking. VRoom combines storytelling with technology, two things that are im-portant to next generation travellers.”
26 SEPTEMBER 2015
WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION
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Ramada Abu Dhabi Signs Stopover Agreement
According to Ismail Ibrahim, director of sales and marketing, Ramada Hotel Abu Dhabi Corniche, under the agreement, passengers flying with Etihad Airways will have the opportunity to get acquainted with the property’s facilities and services, while it will also be included in Etihad
Holidays’ stopover directory.Ibrahim further revealed that as part of its promotion activities, the hotel’s management has also
finalised deals with travel agencies in the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
In a bid to increase its clientele base, Ramada Hotel Abu Dhabi Corniche inked a stopover deal with Etihad Holidays and Hala Abu Dhabi.
Action Hotels Partners with Mercure for Riyadh Property
The Ajman Palace Hosts Sports Stars
Action Hotels has teamed up with AccorHotels to launch the com-pany’s new project in the Saudi capital under the Mercure brand.
Located in the Olaya district, the 130-room four-star property is being converted from an existing office building and is expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2016. Marking Action Hotels’ foray into the Saudi city, Mercure Riyadh Olaya will bring the company’s room count to close to 2,900 and the number of hotel partnerships between AccorHo-tels and the UAE-based entity to 10.
As Sheikh Mubarak Al Sabah, chairman, Action Hotels, noted, Ac-corHotels has already established a strong present in Saudi Arabia and Mercure is a well-recognised brand in the midmarket segment.
The Ajman Palace Hotel welcomed the Baniyas Football Club for the second time this year as the stars visited the emirate to play against Al Shaab Football Club.
The team spent two days at the property, which as Ferghal Purcell, general manager, The Ajman Palace Hotels, noted, is keen on hosting sports teams travelling to the destination to take part in competitions.
“We believe in treating our guests like family. It is traditional Arab hos-pitality at its best,” added Purcell.
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Marriott International, together with Ian Schrager and Dubai Properties, plans a second EDITION project in the UAE.
Scheduled to open in early 2018 in Dubai, the de-velopment will follow the expected 2016 debut of the first EDITION property in Abu Dhabi.
The 258-room hotel will occupy a strategic beachfront location on Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) and will boast multiple food and beverage
outlets, as well as business and leisure facilities.Abdullatif AlMulla, group CEO, Dubai Prop-
erties Group, commented that the company has long focussed on introducing leading interna-tional brands to Dubai to attract global visitors. He added, “The launch of Marriott International’s EDITION allows us to introduce a premium beach-front boutique hotel experience to JBR, further expanding the choice of options for travellers.”
C entro Capital Centre – Abu Dhabi par-ticipated in Health Authority - Abu Dhabi’s annual Working Safely in the
Heat programme, by distributing 1,000 bot-tles of water and 200 packs of juices, along with awareness material. The flyers and bro-chures given to the workers across several areas in the emirate explained the symptoms of heat illness and its prevention measures.
The hotel’s initiative was aimed at strengthening overall alertness and encour-aging labourers to stay well-hydrated to re-duce possible risks of heat exhaustion, heat stroke and other hazards.
L uxury property developer, Seven Tides returned to City-scape Global Dubai with an update on its hotel apart-ment projects, as its sole appointed agent Asteco report-
ed that 80 percent of DUKES Oceana residences have already been sold. As the first international property for the DUKES brand, the five-star hotel with adjacent apartments is undergoing interior furnishing ahead of the handover in the first quarter of 2016. A surge in demand was also witnessed for the developer’s other venture, Anantara Residences.
John Stevens, managing director, Asteco, noted that both projects represent a solid investment opportunity as the com-pany expects a second wave of interest following the real estate exhibition.
Centro Capital Centre Addresses Sweltering Weather
Seven Tides Portfolio Attracts Interest
Dubai to Welcome UAE’s Second EDITION Hotel
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Hotel staff with labourers
L e Méridien Bahrain City Centre has unlocked the hotel brand’s global partnership with The LEGO Group by launching a family programme at the property.
The brand offers a guide which outlines the top attractions to explore in the country, such as parks, animal reserves and other places of interest that support learning and discovery. Young guests are also presented with a welcome amenity set which is the play manufacturer’s gift to every child upon check-in. The initiative is in line with a global mission of Le Méridien to encourage youngsters to get creative and have an educational experience while staying at the hotel.
Le Méridien Bahrain Enters into a Joint Venture with LEGO
DUKES Oceana
26 SEPTEMBER 2015
WEEKLY NEWS
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WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION
One&Only Bahrain Adds Asian Outlet
Following a deal with Hakkasan Group, One&Only Bahrain which is open-ing in 2016 in Seef, is to welcome a Hakkasan restaurant.
“Hakkasan is the perfect fit for appealing to the desires of our dis-cerning global guests who expect a variety of only the best dining experienc-es,” commented Mark DeCocinis, president, One&Only Resorts.
Located on the property’s private beachfront, Hakkasan at One&Only Bah-rain aims to offer guests a world-class experience overseen by Michelin-starred international executive chef Ho Chee Boon. The menu will take a modern ap-proach to authentic Cantonese cuisine, using the finest ingredients and expert techniques looking to create timeless and innovative signature dishes.
Nakheel Unveils Jebel Ali Gardens
Dubai-based developer, Nakheel announced its latest project, a new community providing living spaces for more than 40,000 people in
Jebel Ali. Covering a total land area of over 510,000m2, the
development will comprise nearly 10,000 apartments in 42 buildings, set among landscaped gardens with pool and sports facilities. Designed for people seeking quality yet affordable accommodation with convenient community facilities, residents will also benefit from three mosques, more than 100,000m2 of green parks and a plethora of retail outlets. Apartments will range from one to three bedrooms.
Minor Hotel Group is poised to further expand its presence in the UAE with its first property in Ras Al Khaimah due to be unveiled in 2018.
Part of the mixed-use development Mina Al Arab, Anan-tara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah will offer 225 rooms and suites in Maldivian-style overwater villas, a first in the emirate. A diverse selection of restaurants, meeting and events spaces, health club, squash and tennis courts, outdoor pool, kids’ club and an extensive spa will complete the list of facilities.
“The Middle East is a key market for Minor Hotel Group, both for outbound business to our properties worldwide and also to further expand our footprint within the region,” reaf-firmed Dillip Rajakarier, CEO, Minor Hotel Group.
First Anantara in Ras Al Khaimah to Open in 2018
Jebel Ali Gardens
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26 SEPTEMBER 2015
ACCOMMODATION WEEKLY NEWS
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Emaar Properties launched the elegantly designed Creek-side 18 residences in the island district of Dubai Creek Harbour, a modern master-planned community in the
heart of the city. Promising a sophisticated new lifestyle choice, the prop-
erty has around 480 residential units with modern finishes. The one-, two- and three-bedroom glass-fronted apartments are located in two 37-storey towers. An additional level of po-dium flats are also offered that redefine upscale island living. Complemented by an array of retail, food and beverage, lei-sure and entertainment choices, the development also offers direct access to a marina, yacht club, ferry terminal creek pier, lighthouse and a harbour point.
Emaar Puts Creekside 18 on the Market
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Ras Al Khaimah to Welcome New Luxury Development
Diamonds International Corporation has unveiled a new upscale project that will boast 340 branded residential units featuring one-, two- and three-bed-room apartments, along with a five-star hotel with 300 units, as well as 40
water villas. The mixed-use development will be added to the UAE skyline of high-end ven-
tures on Al Marjan Island, in Ras Al Khaimah.Valued at AED500 million (USD136 million), the property will be equipped with
a world-class community centre, paved roads and parking spaces. Additional ameni-ties include a gym, swimming pool, retail outlets, restaurant, as well as a spa and fitness area.
Mandarin Oriental to Enter Lebanon
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group will manage a new luxury hotel and branded
residences currently under develop-ment in Beirut.
Scheduled to open in 2018, the overall project comprises two adjacent buildings, with Mandarin Oriental, Bei-rut being situated in the south tower, boasting 280 rooms and suites as well as 25 serviced apartments. The north structure will house 103 Residences at Mandarin Oriental.
“This new development represents another significant step for Mandarin Oriental in leveraging our brand fur-ther across the Middle East region,” said Edouard Ettedgui, group CEO, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.
Did you know...
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26 SEPTEMBER 2015
WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION
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Millennium & Copthorne to Add 1,000 Keys in UAE
Four Seasons Casablanca to Launch Soon
DAMAC Enriches Its Portfolio
Millennium & Copthorne Hotels Middle East and Africa has signed a
memorandum of understanding with real estate expert, Deyaar Development to establish a stra-tegic alliance for constructing and operating new hospital-ity projects in the UAE, totalling nearly 1,000 units.
As Saeed Al Qatami, CEO, Deyaar Development, explained, the company has allocated up to 93,000m2 of land for such ventures, which will help Dubai achieve its objective of adding 160,000 new hotel rooms by 2020.
The partnership, as Ali Ham-ad Lakhraim Alzaabi, president, Millennium & Copthorne Hotels Middle East and Africa, noted, also brings the hotelier closer to its goal of opening 100 properties by 2020.
Due to be unveiled later this year, Four Seasons Hotel Cas-ablanca will bring modern
Moroccan elegance and an oceans-ide oasis to the busy metropolis.
Located 10 minutes from the city centre, the brand’s second prop-erty in the country will offer full fa-cilities for business travellers, and resort-like amenities for relaxing holidays with family and friends.
The intimate hotel will comprise 157 rooms and 29 suites, three res-taurants and bars, a 700m2 spa with 10 treatment rooms, and expansive event spaces for up to 800 guests, including a 580m2 ballroom.
European Dining at Jumeirah at Etihad Towers
J umeirah at Etihad Tow-ers is to launch Pearls by Michael Caines, a
restaurant named after the world-renowned chef , on October 1.
At the new venue, dishes draw inspiration from Abu Dhabi and the Arabian Gulf, as the casual dining experi-ence will mirror the cultural diversity of the city. With its floor-to-ceiling open glass walls, it will offer views of the emirate’s islets and the sur-rounding sea.
Caines commented, “It is a real privilege and honour to open my first restaurant outside the UK in Abu Dha-bi. […] The location of this stunning restaurant, with its independent entrance, will make it one of Abu Dhabi’s top dining destinations.”
DAMAC brought forward the release of Viridis Resi-dences & Hotel Apart-
ments; four towers comprising 700 units in the AKOYA Oxygen golf course community in Dubai, with construction expected to be com-pleted by mid-2019.
Two of the towers will consist of 370 hotel apartments to be man-aged to five-star standards by the developer’s hospitality arm, NAIA Hotels & Resorts, whereas the re-maining towers will include 356 pri-vate residential entities overlooking the full project. All units will have ac-cess to a high-tech gym, swimming pool, lounge area, as well as retail outlets and restaurants.
The luxury real estate firm also launched the exclusive lim-ited edition collection Ettore 971 Bugatti styled villas, also to be located within the new master development.
Did you know...
The three-bedroom
329m2 Royal Suite
will offer 180-degree
ocean views?
AIR WEEKLY NEWS
1326 SEPTEMBER 2015
Lufthansa Establishes Headquarters in CairoLufthansa Group has opened a new regional sales base in Cairo, from where a dedicated team will oversee the Egyptian, Tunisian, Algerian, Libyan, Moroccan, Jordanian and Lebanese markets.
H aving recently taken over, Zied Gueblaoui, country manager, Egypt, Lufthansa Group, commented, “It is an exciting time for business in Egypt and with new plans from the Egyptian Tourism Authority to reinvigorate the country’s tourism industry, we look forward to working together to bring more tourists to Egypt, thus
contributing to the country’s tourism sector as well as expanding economic and business prospects.” With the Egyptian capital's popularity increasing, Lufthansa launched the Cairo – Munich route at the begin-
ning of the summer season and it now operates four weekly flights between the cities.
14 FEBRUARY 2015
E mirates has reinforced its commitment to Russia by upgrading its aircraft servic-ing the St Petersburg route.
The change from the Airbus 330-200 to a Boeing 777-300ER will mean a capacity in-crease of 50 percent and will be applied on six weekly flights from October 25, while from December 1, the airline will deploy the same aircraft on a seventh frequency.
As Thierry Aucoc, senior vice president, commercial operations, Europe and Russia, Emirates, noted, over the past 12 years, the airline has carried more than 3.6 million pas-sengers to and from Russia.
Emirates Boosts Capacity to St Petersburg
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Emirates Upgrades Algiers Service
I n response to strong demand, Emirates is switching from its Airbus A340-300 to a larger Boe-ing 777-300 aircraft on the Dubai – Algiers route.
Starting October 1, the airline will offer more seats and an enhanced onboard experience, explained Adil Al Ghaith, senior vice president, commercial operations, Northern and Western Africa, Emirates.
Since commencing operations to the North African destination in March 2013, the carrier has handled over 272,000 passengers and 12,500 tonnes of cargo. The increase in capacity will mean 97 additional economy class seats and a total of 20 tonnes of cargo per flight.
Gulf Air has revealed plans to purchase up to 50 aircraft, from Airbus, both narrow- and wide-body.
Speaking after a recent meeting between Bah-rain’s Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications, Gulf Air and Airbus, H.E. Kamal bin Ahmed Mohamed, transporta-tion and telecommunications minister, Bahrain, described the airline as a strategically important, key national infrastructure asset that supports the country’s long-term aspirations for economic development and diversification.
“Optimising Gulf Air’s fleet is an ongoing process and a critical component of its current and long term strategic busi-ness direction,” he added.
Gulf Air to Add up to 50 Airbus Planes
Alg
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Did you know...
First class
Emirates
passengers can
carry a bag
gage of
up to 50kg?
26 SEPTEMBER 2015
AIR WEEKLY NEWS
15
Q atar Airways is to significantly in-crease its presence in Europe with the introduction of extra frequencies
to Sweden, Denmark and Belgium.Effective from December 1, the airline will
operate three additional services between Doha and Stockholm, offering a total of 13 weekly flights between the capitals up until March 25, 2016. A double-daily service will be available every day except Wednesdays on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
From December 2, passengers will benefit from double-daily operations to Copenhagen, meaning a 30 percent capacity increase, while from December 4, Brussels will be connected to the Qatari capital eight times a week with an extra frequency.
T otal revenue passenger kilometres surged by more than eight percent worldwide in July, International Air Transport Associa-
tion (IATA) reported. Capacity by 6.5 percent, while load factor grew
1.4 percentage points to 83.6 percent. All regions reported growth including Africa
for the first time this year, as air traffic across the continent jumped by almost five percent com-pared to July 2014. Middle Eastern carriers on the other hand saw demand surge almost 20 per-cent, boosted by the end of Ramadan.
“July results were strongly positive but slowing global trade and the wild gyrations of stock exchanges around the globe suggest that we may be in for some turbulence in coming months,” said Tony Tyler, director general, IATA.
IATA: Strong July, Turbulent Times Ahead
Qatar Airways Steps Up European Expansion
Copenhagen Tony Tyler
Etihad to Fuel Growth with Amadeus Fare Families
E tihad Airways is to implement the Amade-us Fare Families tool in indirect channels to support its merchandising strategy and
accelerate its international development. Through the technology, the airline will
brand and differentiate its products and services by showing the full value of each packaged fare on all its retailing interfaces for all customer seg-ments and worldwide points of sale.
With clear descriptions as well as terms and conditions, both travellers and travel agents will benefit from greater transparency, allowing agents to meet the customer’s individual needs.
Etihad Airways becomes the first Middle Eastern carrier to utilise the software, a com-pletely automated solution that prompts travel agents with upsell opportunities.
26 SEPTEMBER 2015
WEEKLY NEWS INTERNATIONAL
16
Radisson Blu Cements Its Presence in Mauritius
Wyndham Boosts Ramada Footprint in Thailand
Seychelles Greets Latest Serene Getaway
R adisson Blu Hotels & Resorts launched two new beach properties in Mauritius.
Set on a serene beach on the edge of the village of Azuri, the family-friendly Radisson Blu Azuri Resort & Spa, Mauritius features 160 units with spacious long-term options including 60 suites, townhouses and penthouses providing extensive living and dining areas.
Radisson Blu Poste Lafayette Resort & Spa, Mauritius is an adults-only hotel with minimalist style rooms set amidst manicured gardens. Guests can choose to relax in the spa or participate in recreational activities on the beach. The resort’s turquoise lagoon is suitable for snor-kelling, kayaking, glass-bottom and pedal boats.
B uilding upon its strategic efforts to grow the Ram-ada brand in key markets across southeast Asia, Wyndham Hotel Group is to open the 206-room
Ramada Phuket Deevana in the heart of Thailand’s Patong Beach.
Barry Robinson, president, Wyndham Hotel Group, commented that the addition of the property offers travel-lers a trusted lodging option on the country’s largest island.
“The hotel is also a step forward in our efforts to grow [...] in destinations where travellers want to be,” he added.
The announcement follows the launch of the compa-ny’s first mixed-use property in Asia, Wyndham Sea Pearl Resort Phuket.
T he H Resort Beau Vallon Beach, Seychelles is now open, offering an exquisite and intimate experience where Seychellois heritage meets modern service and comfort.
Built around a natural lagoon, the property presents 100 naturally hand-crafted accommodation units, ranging from garden junior suites to grand beach villas, all designed to meet the needs of global guests with the essence of local culture and authenticity.
Conveniently located at the centre of Mahé, the hotel embraces the island’s landscape, making the vil-las – which boast their own private pools and cabanas – almost camouflaged by the scenery. The resort also features fine dining venues, a spa and a gym.
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INTERNATIONAL WEEKLY NEWS
17
K uzu Group presented its seven-star luxury venture, Sea Pearl Ataköy, Istanbul at Cityscape Global Dubai, for the second consecutive year.
Located on the banks of the Sea of Marmara, one of the most prestigious residential lo-calities in Istanbul, the USD2.7 billion development will comprise a deluxe five-star hotel, 1,474 luxu-rious apartments , high-end boutiques and restaurants.
Özen Kuzu, board member, Kuzu Group, commented that the project attracted huge investor interest from the UAE and other countries in the region, since the highly-impressive development is set to redefine the very essence of luxury living.
26 SEPTEMBER 2015
T he former Hyatt 48 Lex was relaunched as an independent lifestyle property named Hotel 48LEX New York.
It houses 116 bedrooms, including one-bedroom suites, terrace studios and two penthouses with large outdoor terraces, as well as a second floor lounge with all-day snacks, four boardrooms and a brasserie-style restaurant.
Robert Gormley, general manager, Hotel 48LEX New York, en-thused, “We have become a vital part of Midtown East’s fabric, both for business and leisure clients, who embrace our design aesthetic, style and service levels. As the hotel matures, we are excited to bring the classic and sophisticated experience to our existing discerning travel-lers and invite new guests to experience our refreshed property.”
Rebranded Hotel 48LEX New York Unveiled
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Turkey’s Sea Pearl Ataköy Showcased in Dubai
26 SEPTEMBER 2015
RENDEZVOUS
18
Q & A withLyle Lewis
OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, MIDDLE EASTERN ARRIVALS TO THE MALDIVES HAVE SOARED FROM JUST 9,500 IN 2009 TO 37,200 IN 2014. ACCORDING TO LYLE LEWIS, GENERAL MANAGER, CONRAD MALDIVES RANGALI ISLAND, IT IS NO WONDER THAT THE REGION HAS GROWN INTO A KEY MARKET FOR THE ISLAND NATION.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: Have you witnessed an increase or decline in demand from MENA?
LYLE LEWIS: MENA is a key emerging market for Conrad Maldives Rangali Is-land. Easy accessibility, high frequency of flights, short travel distance and free visa services make the Maldives even more alluring for the MENA traveller. Following arrival to the Maldives, our resort is just a short, 30-minute sea-plane flight.
Middle Eastern [guests] either trav-el for romance and honeymoons or for family and multigenerational holidays. Conrad Maldives is ideally conceived to cater to families and couples. We enjoy the unique position of being one of the [few] resorts in the Maldives that spans two islands and features three distinct resort experiences, offering luxury travellers a unique and inspired experience.
The two islands have their own distinct characteristics, which cater to the different needs of guests and oc-casions.
Rangalifinolhu is the larger, more family-oriented island of the resort. Being at the heart of the resort, the is-land serves as the starting point for all water sports and cruises, in addition to housing a number of the resort’s iconic restaurants.
Rangali Island is the smaller, adults-only island, providing a more private getaway where couples can enjoy a romantic time together. The highlights of Rangali Island are its in-timate and innovative overwater villas and overwater spa experiences, as well as fine dining.
The Spa Retreat and Retreat Wa-ter Villas is the third resort experience with an overwater destination spa that operates as a resort-within-a-resort and features family and retreat over-water villas and a restaurant which serves organic spa inspired cuisine. The Spa Retreat is set 100m off the tip of the main island.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What trends have you observed in past months in the Maldivian tourism industry?
LYLE LEWIS: Nowadays, we believe travellers are seeking experiences that connect them with their surround-ings; coupled with rest, relaxation and time spent with their loved ones.
go diving and exploring on the many excursions available, including luxuri-ous sunset cruises and local island-hopping trips, or learn how to fish from a traditional Maldivian Dhoni. This is a new level of luxury travel experience that connects the traveller with the lo-cal charm of the Maldives and we be-lieve that as people are travelling more and more, they want to experience and connect with the destination through the eyes of the people who live there. This is the best and most unique ex-perience of their journey and within grasp at Conrad Maldives. [...]
We also aim to provide authentic food experiences and activities which offer both quality and variety and are inspired by the unique environment of the Maldives.
We know guests often view the lo-cation of a trip as a fine dining desti-nation in itself, which is why we offer a wide variety of fine dining options for our guests with 12 distinctive res-taurants and bars located in unique settings that only the Maldives can provide. [...]
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What recent achievements and initiatives of the resort are you most proud of?
LYLE LEWIS: At Conrad Maldives, we are dedicated to providing luxurious services and products of the highest quality to our guests, ensuring they evolve to meet the requirements of our global travellers. We are most ex-cited about the recent award wins and accolades the resort has received in the [past months].
In an important milestone, the environmental performance of Con-rad Maldives Rangali Island has been recognised with B bronze certification by EarthCheck; the travel and tourism industry’s leading environmental man-agement, benchmarking and certifica-tion company. Sustainability is a pri-ority to Conrad Maldives and is a key driver in our daily operations [...].
As we head into the back end of the year and into a new year, health and wellbeing is a key focus for the resort. Most recently the resort’s no-table spa, The Spa Retreat introduced leading luxury British skincare leader, Elemis, which will showcase its signa-ture treatments and an exclusive be-spoke treatment which has been de-signed especially for The Spa Retreat.
GENERAL MANAGER, CONRAD MALDIVES RANGALI ISLAND
People are now busier than ever in their daily lives and staying at a luxury resort in the Maldives, such as Conrad Maldives allows them to do just that – discover, explore, rest and recharge. Conrad Maldives is the quintessence of an once-in-a-lifetime experience for travellers, which we hope turns into a more-than-once experience.
The Maldives has always been one of the most aspirational destinations for world travellers. [...]. [Here you can]
“THE MALDIVES HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST ASPIRATIONAL DESTINATIONS FOR WORLD TRAVELLERS
26 SEPTEMBER 2015
WHO'S MOVED
19
Kamal Abou Fares is the new-est member of TIME Hotels’ corporate team as marketing and communications director. Currently studying for his mas-ter’s degree in strategic mar-keting, Abou Fares has worked for companies such as Millen-nium & Copthorne Hotels and Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, before joining TIME Hotels. After gaining experience in marketing, he worked as as-sistant marketing manager at Grand Millennium Dubai and later on as cluster marketing and public relations manager at Radisson Blu Hotel Abu Dhabi Yas Island.SAMIE
BARR
CHRISTIAN HUSCHKA
KAMAL ABOU FARES
GHASSAN FARHAT
Samie Barr is the new vice president of global brands at Hyatt. She will be responsible for the development and manage-ment of the Hyatt Regency and Grand Hyatt brands. Barr joins the company with a track record of success and in-depth know-how in every facet of marketing. She has more than 25 years of consumer and retail experience. She moved to Hyatt from Starbucks Cof-fee Company where she spent more than 14 years in a vari-ety of leadership roles. Most recently, she was vice president of category brand manage-ment, responsible for leading the At Home Coffee and global merchandise businesses. Prior to that, she held marketing leadership roles at drugstore.com, Nintendo of America and McCann-Erickson Worldwide.
Christian Huschka has been named director of sales and marketing at Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl, in Doha. Over the past 10 years, Husch-ka has played an integral role in the success of a number of Kempinski properties. Most recently he was with Hôtel des Mille Collines where he fa-cilitated the takeover of Hotel Rwanda. With more than 18 years of commercial and operational experience in leading luxury hotel groups in the sales and marketing sector, he also brings international experi-ence from Europe, the US, Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa.
Ghassan Farhat has been selected as hotel manager at TIME Ruby Hotel Apartments, Sharjah. A 23-year Dubai hospitality veteran, he began his career in the UAE in 1992 as front office manager at Al Khaleej Palace Hotel, subsequently climbing the career ladder and moving into sales with key positions at a number of the destination’s properties, before transition-ing into executive assistant manager level roles.Farhat has two decades’ grounding in sales and mar-keting as well as direct opera-tional experience, giving him a well-rounded perspective of the business from top to bot-tom. He is tasked with developing TIME Ruby Hotel Apartments’ position as a leading midscale destination in the emirate.
Abou Fares will be in charge of marketing
and communications
Huschka has been with Kempinski for
10 years
26 SEPTEMBER 2015
TRAVEL TALK
20
LEON SALINEL
TIM CLARK
Corporate director of sales and marketing, Dhiaffa
President, Emirates
“To have an online presence is vital when talking to the in-ternational market, and we are delighted that all [of our] hotels now have their own websites. We will be utilising the online book-ing engine to promote special rates and seasonal offers, and the website is an opportunity for potential guests to find out more about these little known destina-tions. This is, of course, only one way for guests to book our ho-tels, and our relationships with the travel industry remain as strong and committed as ever.”
“We have enjoyed a strong and long-standing relationship with Boeing on the 777 programme. As the world’s largest 777 op-erator, our multibillion dollar commitment to the programme continues to support jobs and innovation […]. The 777s give Emirates the range, reliability, and flexibility to efficiently serve close to 100 destinations on six continents with nonstop flights from our hub in Dubai. We are pleased to mark the delivery of our 150th 777 aircraft, and will continue to work closely with the Boeing team on the next genera-tion 777X for the Emirates fleet.”
ANDREAS WISSDORFGeneral manager, Marriott Marquis City Center Doha
“We are proud of our accomplish-ments in the first year [of opera-tions], as they recognise the out-standing achievements we have accomplished as a team, offer-ing exceptional and thoughtful service. We will continue to sup-port the Qatar Tourism Authority and its vision of driving success through innovation and service excellence, staying true to Qa-tar’s cultural roots. Marriott’s new Meetings Imagined concept, mo-bile check-in and the great room concept show that we are leading with initiatives that take the guest experience to another level.”
We will continue to support the Qatar Tourism Authority
CHRISTIAN PALACIN
General manager, City Seasons Hotel Muscat
“We are very proud and grateful to be awarded [the Best Family-Oriented Hotel title by the Arab Center for Tourism Media]. At City Seasons we have always strived to offer a comfortable stay to all our travellers, es-pecially to family vacationers which have [positioned] us as a sure and friendly choice in Oman as well as in the UAE.”
We have always strived to offer a comfortable stay
To have an online presence is vital
[We] will continue to work closely with the Boeing team
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]
26 SEPTEMBER 2015
AGENTS WEEKLY NEWS
21
Mystifly and Wooba to Empower Brazilian Industry
GTAC Supports UNWTO/ICAO Statement
W ooba has integrated with OnePoint, Mystifly’s XML web services product, to offer the content of more than 900 airlines to Brazilian consolidators and corporates powered by the Wooba platform.
Through the partnership with AirTkt, MyFareBox XML is now live on Ancouradoro and Tyller and final negotiations are also underway with other wholesalers within the Wooba network.
Nominated as the leading airline consolidator at World Travel Awards, Mystifly offers business-to-business airfare consolidation services covering over 900 carriers in more than 70 countries around the globe, while tech-nology company, Wooba is a specialist in developing solutions and systems for the Brazilian travel industry.
T he Global Travel Association Coalition (GTAC) heralds the issuance of the Medellin Statement on Tourism and Air Transport for Development, agreed upon at the Joint World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) / Inter-
national Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) high-level forum on tourism and air transport for development held in Colombia on September 14, which coincided with the convening of the 21st session of the UNWTO general assembly.
The proclamation underscores some key elements of GTAC’s Agenda for Growth and Development, such as the recognition of the pivotal role of tourism and air transport in creating employment opportunities through their linkages to local economic activities, the need to avoid unnecessary regulations and burdens, optimising connectivity and implementing coordinated and holistic measures toward tourism and transport development.
MEA Shifts to Travelport Content
M iddle East Airlines (MEA) is the latest to sign up to Travelport’s innovative airline merchandis-
ing technology, Travelport Rich Content and Branding with its fares now ready to be searched and sold through Travelport Smartpoint 6.0.
Following the agreement, the carrier will utilise the tech firm’s tool enabling it to market and retail its offering more effectively by controlling how the products are visually presented and described to travel agents.
The solution has received support and interest from airlines since its launch, with well over a hundred signed up to participate.
26 SEPTEMBER 2015
TRAVEL CHANNELS
22
East African Countries Join Forces
In a bid to unlock the potential of East Africa, the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)’s first UNWTO East Africa Tourism Development Forum gathered
leaders and stakeholders from the region as well as the Vanilla Islands.
Takamul Visits Mecca Tourism
Schools
Sharjah Ladies Club Honours Women
T he women sports department of Sharjah Ladies Club celebrat-ed Emirati Women’s Day by recognising its members’ capabili-ties and efforts towards gaining great benefits for women and
the UAE in general. The day included a number of sports and enter-tainment activities.
Nada Askar Al Naqbi, head of women sports department, Sharjah Ladies Club, said, “This event signifies a token of appreciation from us to the great contributions achieved by Emirati women in all domains, especially sports. We also would like to show our admiration to those women who joined the ranks of the UAE army, for their heroism and patriotism in a field where Emirati women have proven a laudable sense of responsibility.”
The UAE Joins Portuguese Heritage Fair
F eira do Património heritage fair, taking place between October 9 – 11, in the Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha in Coimbra, Portugal will wel-come the UAE as a guest country for the very first time.
The third edition of the event will be staged under the theme Heritage Internationalisation.
Feira do Património aims to promote the cultural heritage sector as a means to create economic and social value. It gathers various stakeholders such as public institutions, tour operators, territorial-based projects, conser-vation and restoration companies, universities and specialised training cen-tres, and is also open to the public.
Senior representatives of Saudi Arabia's National Centre for Tour-ism Human Resources Develop-
ment (Takamul) visited King Abdul Aziz University, Makkah College of Technol-ogy and several other tourism educa-tion and training institutes in the Mec-ca province, to evaluate their readiness and plans to receive trainees.
The visit supported the aim of Saudi Commission for Tourism & National Her-itage (SCTH) to encourage training of national cadres from across the tourism sector and tart cooperation with tour-ism education and training segments in the government and private sectors.
“All tourism education and train-ing facilities can benefit from the training criteria and portfolios as a ref-erence point for setting up their edu-cational and training plans,” said Nasir Al Nashmi, director general, Takamul.
Mombasa, Kenya
Celebrations at Sharjah Ladies Club
P articipants aimed to identify opportunities to maximise sustainable tourism develop-ment through collaboration.
“Tourism is a critical com-ponent of the East African economy and important part of our common destiny,” stressed William Samoei Ruto, deputy pres-ident, Kenya, saying that the biggest chal-lenge is to work together to improve every aspect of the experience offered to visitors.
Taleb Rifai, secretary general, UN-WTO, applauded the recent introduction of the East Africa Tourist Visa, which al-lows travel between Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda.
Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha in Coimbra
26 SEPTEMBER 2015
PHOTO ALBUM
23
Semiramis InterContinental Cairo has joined InterContinental Hotels Group colleagues from all over the world to take part in IHG Race
Around the World
Park Inn and Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts brought the eighth annual
Box Appeal charity to Oman
Four Season Hotel Bahrain Bay launched an exclusive fitness programme, Antigravity YogaQatar Airways celebrated 10 million likes on Facebook
Ayla Bawadi Hotel announced a new theme night, Seafood Mania
Dubai’s upcoming IMG theme park installed 69 dinosaurs
Share with us the latest images of your activities and let your colleagues know what you have been up to.
Send your photos to [email protected] Because a picture is worth a thousand words...
Take a Shot!
26 SEPTEMBER 2015
WEEKLY NEWS XX
24
NEWS & EVENTS
24
ICAO Supports African Air Market
An International Civil Aviation Or-ganization (ICAO) delegation vis-ited Kenya and Ethiopia and met
with African Union Commission officials to discuss the implementation of the memo-randum of cooperation signed by the two organisations in 2010.
Also high on the agenda was setting continental targets on aviation security, facilitation of air navigation services; the establishment of a common passport valid across Africa; and priority support to the 11 African states that declared their commit-ment to work towards a single African air transport market.
Barbie Exhibition at Mall of the Emirates
I n celebration of the 10th anniversary of Majid Al Futtaim’s Mall of the Emir-ates, the shopping and entertainment
centre organised a Barbie exhibition. In a Parisian setting at the Central Gal-
leria, the haute couture Barbie Collector event showcased limited-edition dolls, each displaying hand-crafted designer outfits, inspired by signature looks from the catwalk shows, from a collection which has been developed over 50 years.
EVENTS
THE HOTEL SHOW
Dubai, UAESeptember 28 – 30 www.thehotelshow.comPresenting a full view of the hotel and hospitality industry, the event, having grown by over 12 percent in the past year, attracts over 17,700 attendees from across the sector.
INTERNATIONAL GOLF TRAVEL MARKET
Tenerife, SpainOctober 05 – 08www.igtm.co.ukA meeting place for the business-to-business golf travel community with specialised suppliers joining pre-qualified buyers and international press representatives for four days.
HQ 2015
Doha, QatarOctober 13 – 15www.hqshow.com A global exhibition featuring all aspects of the hotel, restaurant and café industry, addressing hospitality professionals, franchise investors and suppliers.
IMEX AMERICA
Las Vegas, USOctober 13 – 15www.imexamerica.comProviding an expanded wealth of options and new ideas for buyers and planners, the event boasts many new exhibitors from across various industry sectors.
ITB Asia
Singapore, SingaporeOctober 21 – 23www.itb-asia.comThe show will feature companies from Asia Pacific, Europe, the Americas, Africa and the Middle East, covering not only the leisure market, but also corporate and MICE travel.
Travel Trade Luxury is a worldwide luxury travel trade publication.
Travel Trade Luxury is brought out monthly. It is published both in digital and printed format.
Its digital readership is based on the 150,000 readers which the Travel Trade Publications platform enjoys. Readers include agents spe-cialising in individual luxury travel, group luxury travel, travel counsellors and advisors, luxury travel DMCs and all other luxury products and services.
Travel Trade Luxury is also distributed to the major travel trade exhibitions and specialised luxury shows and events.
Travel Trade Luxury contains informative cur-rent news on luxury destinations and products. It also includes specialised luxury destination reports with in-depth analyses of issues related to the luxury segment.
