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PASSENGER TRAFFIC AT DWC SURGES 79.8 PERCENT
6 AUGUST 2016 ISSUE 352
Tourist Development Council Approved for Mecca
GENERAL05
09
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MIDDLE EAST: 11 PERCENT PASSENGER GROWTH
QATAR AIRWAYS INCREASES STAKE IN IAG
TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS
6 AUGUST 20162
MARKET UPDATE www.traveltradeweekly.travel
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
109.77
8.88
30,991.50
1,182.00
0.30
1,506.27
1.38
9.79
215.18
2.21
250.10
COUNTRY CURRENCY 1USD=
5.8.2016as ofMENA EXCHANGE RATES
MANAGING EDITOR
Mary Kammitsi [email protected]
ASSISTANT EDITORRita Kasziba
JOURNALISTS
Memnon Arestis Ellen Petty CONTRIBUTORS
Ana Mladenovic Dominique Christou
SALES & SALES SUPPORT Maria Demetriadou Magda Christou Raluca Apostolescu
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
WEBSITEwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
EMAILS [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
WORLDWIDE REPRESENTATIVES
Representative for North, South & Central America, and the Caribbean: Neil Strickland GlobeTM Tel: +19542969515 [email protected]
Representative for Indian subcontinent: Faredoon Kuka RMA Media Tel: +912229253735
Representative for UK & Ireland and Scandinavia: David Simpson Simpson Media Tel: +447900885456 [email protected]
MIDDLE EAST: 11 PERCENT PASSENGER GROWTH
EMAAR MALLS: 17 PERCENT PROFIT GROWTH
The Middle East delivered a strong passenger traffic increase in May with a surge of 11.4 percent, according to Airports Council International (ACI) Asia Pacific.
Emaar Malls recorded a net profit of AED987 million (USD269 million) in the first half of the year, a 17 percent increase over the same period in 2015.
Within the region, Doha maintained the leading position with Hamad International Airport posting a 23.8 percent improvement, followed by Dubai International, which registered a 7.2 percent year-on-year rise, and Abu Dhabi International Air-port where figures climbed 5.6 percent.
A moderate growth of 3.3 percent was evident in the Middle East’s air freight market, with Dubai continuing its stable development at 4.9 percent while the Qatari capital showcased its freight expansion with a boost of 18.3 percent. On the whole, the picture in the region was mixed, with most airports witnessing a decline in air freight volumes.
Revenues reached AED1.618 billion (USD441 million), up 11 percent over 2015’s figure.
The second quarter delivered a net profit of AED458 million (USD125 million) and a rev-enue of AED785 million (USD 214 million), up 11 and 9 percent, respectively.
Mohamed Alabbar, chairman, Emaar Malls, commented, “The robust growth of Emaar Malls during the first half of the year highlights Dubai’s premier position as a global hub for luxury retail and world-class leisure attractions.”
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Dubai Maintains Occupancy but Drops RatesMiddle East Hoteliers Face
ChallengesI n terms of the three key performance indicators, the region recorded a 62.9 percent occupancy rate, dipping from
2015’s 68.4 percent, while average daily rate (ADR) stood at USD169.99, pushing RevPAR down to USD107.01. In Africa, occupancy averaged at 52.1 percent, marking a 8.5 percent decrease from Q2 2015, ADR, how-
ever, rose 8.3 percent to USD101.61, leadind to a RevPAR of USD52.92.On a different note, Saudi Arabia reported a boost in both ADR, up 14.2 percent, as well as RevPAR, up 13.6
percent to SAR528.86 (USD141.03). In June, ADR skyrocketed 40.7 percent, resulting in a RevPAR improvement of 44.4 percent, signifying the highest levels on record for Q2 in the Kingdom.
In Cairo, while occupancy remained flat, ADR jumped 24.9 percent, leading to a 25.2 percent rise in RevPAR. In fact, April was the first time on record in the Egyptian capital that ADR eclipsed EGP1,000 (USD112.61) and May marked the first time since November 2010 when occupancy soar above 70 percent. Nevertheless, June once again proved to be a challenging month for Cairo’s hotel sector.
Similarly, Casablanca recorded a 33.3 percent drop in occupancy to 42.4 percent in June. All in all, the three-month period delivered a 11.4 percent decline in the same metric and although ADR showed a positive change, RevPAR was still down 3.9 percent year-on-year.
Hotels in the Middle East witnessed a weaker
performance in the second quarter of the year (Q2), as compared to the same timeframe in 2015,
according to STR’s report.
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WEEKLY NEWS www.traveltradeweekly.travel
6 AUGUST 2016
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WEEKLY NEWSwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
After advanced wind tunnel tests, seismic examina-tions and local climate studies, Emaar Properties have declared that The Tower at Dubai Creek Harbour
is structurally strong and durable.The developer commissioned a comprehensive set of
wind tunnel trials that had never been carried out before, due to the project design involving anchoring cables. Tests were completed on a full scaled model in addition to different sec-tions of the building.
With wind being considered a significant challenge at high altitudes, the 12 analysis and testing methods ensure the quality and safety of the tower.
Featuring luxury accommodation, retail attractions and an observation deck, the high-rise development, designed by Santiago Calatrava, will also include damper and shock ab-sorption systems.
Emaar’s New Tower Proves Structural Strength
MeccaH.R.H. PRINCE KHALID AL FAISAL, GOVERNOR, MECCA, HAS AUTHORISED THE FORMATION OF A TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL AND ITS MEMBERS TO CONSIST OF PUBLIC DEPARTMENT, PRIVATE AND COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES. T he committee is expected to support the development of tourist accommodation in
Mecca, and contribute to heritage, antiquity and museum events and programmes. The organisation will align the efforts of the Saudi Commission for Tourism & National Heritage and its partners, to support projects related to the preservation and identifi-cation of Islamic historical sites.
There are currently 17 councils in Saudi Arabia that implement tourism development plans, thereby encouraging business investment in the regions.
TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL APPROVED FOR
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WEEKLY NEWS www.traveltradeweekly.travel
T he Dubai Maritime City Au-thority (DMCA) has revealed the formation of RASEINA
Maritime Domestic & Leisure Working Group, a first of its kind in the UAE, which aims to promote Dubai’s ma-rine and leisure sector activities.
The group has been created in a bid to support the maritime sec-tor strategy and further strengthen the emirate’s position as one of the world’s most important maritime centers.
According to Amer Ali, executive director, DMCA, the decree paves the way for a new era of excellence in terms of promoting the competitive advantages of Dubai and its marine leisure and recreational activities.
DMCA Forms RASEINA
AirPlus and Enterprise Ease Business Travel
A irPlus and Enterprise Holdings established a new collaboration, pro-viding the former’s users with access to 41 countries that are part of the car rental company’s network, with more to follow.
The expanded partnership with the business travel payment and data management firm enhances Enterprise Holdings’ payment options and high-lights the extent to which car rental has been integrated into international business travel. AirPlus facilitates better reporting on car rentals that is VAT-compliant, whilst ensuring consistent management regardless of the transac-tion location and the client’s place of residence.
Rob Ingram, director of business rental, Europe, Enterprise Holdings, stat-ed, “As we continue to grow and evolve our global operations, we are con-stantly seeking to implement new programmes that better serve [business travellers] customers.”
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WEEKLY NEWS TECHNOLOGYwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
Royal Caribbean Reinvents Corporate
Online Resource
With a new look, the digital hub now offers a fully integrated process with enhanced search functionality, exclusive planning tools and customisable options that allow organisers to quickly find a destination and all details that meet their needs. Professionals can use a
range of devices to gather information and request proposal forms based on their group criteria.Royal Caribbean International offers dedicated conference facilities on board 25 ships,
along with the assistance of an event planning team, a variety of function spaces and high-speed Internet.
Royal Caribbean International has launched a new website for corporate meetings, incentives and event planners.
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Travelport Signs Deal with Roibek
Travel
Roibek Travel has invested in Travel-port’s services to develop its online presence in order to meet customer
needs in Saudi Arabia, hailed as the largest travelling nation in the Middle East.
The exclusive agreement will give the Riyadh-based agency access to the tech-nology company’s Universal API technol-ogy which controls Internet booking en-gines and collates travel content, thereby aiding the user’s online commercial suc-cess. Furthermore, the point of sale solu-tion, Smartpoint will help to maximise revenue and increase productivity whilst improving the customer experience.
Roibek Travel will now have real-time access to 650,000 hotels, 36,000 car rental locations and 400 airlines’ fares in addition to other products.
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WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION www.traveltradeweekly.travel
Louvre Hotels Partners with Regional Airlines
T he aim is to advance brand visibility and facilitate the development of a loyal clientele. The hotelier has strategically chosen to team up with airlines that fly to destinations where the company
has a strong presence in order to further increase value for customers. According to Françoise Houdebine, vice president, marketing and sales, Louvre Hotels Group, this gives the brand
a real point of positioning and differentiation, presenting a whole new hotel experience for business travellers.
Further enhancing the benefits offered through its loyalty programme Connections, Louvre Hotels Group has signed deals with Gulf Air, Tunisair and Ethiopian Airlines,
Frequent flyers of the hotel group’s 14 partner airlines can accumulate miles when staying in three-star Tulip Inn, four-star Golden Tulip and five-star Royal Tulip luxury properties.
Saudi Hotel Sector Faces Challenges
S audi Arabia’s hotel market is experiencing a slowdown in business, according to Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL)’s report .
As Jamil Ghaznawi, country head, Saudi Arabia, JLL, explained, reduced corporate demand and government spending, both of which are the outcome of the recent fluctuation in oil prices, have jeopardised the hospitality sector’s performance in Jeddah and Riyadh.
Over the past 18 months, Jeddah has witnessed a notable growth in room supply, with the majority of entrants representing the five-star category. Therefore, as Ghaznawi noted, product differentiation remains a crucial success factor.
In the capital, more than 8,000 new keys are expected to be added to the room inventory by the end of 2018, however, substantial delays in delivery are anticipated to soften the impact of new addresses thereby decreasing the pressure on occupancy and daily rates.
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WEEKLY NEWS AIRwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
Qatar Airways Increases Stake in IAG
The carrier, that previously owned a 15.67 percent share, increased its stake within allowed limits. Non-European Union (EU) shareholders are subject to a cap on ownership to ensure that EU air-lines are majority owned by EU shareholders.
Qatar Airways states that its interest in IAG is solely financial, with its enhanced shareholding is de-monstrative of the commercial and strategic ties between companies.
Akbar Al Baker, group CEO, Qatar Airways, said, “We continue to be highly supportive of IAG’s strategy and management team and we do not intend to increase our percentage shareholding further unless there are material changes to the current situation.”
Qatar Airways has announced that it now holds a 20.01 percent share in International Airlines Group (IAG).
Jazeera Aiways has inaugu-rated its business lounge at Kuwait International Airport.
The facility, that overlooks the runway, is conveniently lo-cated near to the low-cost car-rier’s gates, and provides free Wi-Fi and a business corner with iPads. In addition to these perks, a healthy buffet is also available to travellers, as well as a seating plan that offers privacy.
Speaking of the airline’s on-going commitment to serve premium customers, Mohamed Barakat, vice president, market-ing and product, Jazeera Air-ways, remarked, “We are always keen to exert our utmost ef-forts in meeting our passengers’ needs as well as our strategic plans to elevate the travel expe-rience in Kuwait.”
Jazeera Lounge Unveiled in Kuwait
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WEEKLY NEWS AIR www.traveltradeweekly.travel
I n response to increased passenger demand, Etihad Airways announced its plans to introduce an additional Airbus A380 service between New York’s John F. Kennedy International
Airport and Abu Dhabi International Airport. Starting June 01, 2017, the new service will join the ongo-
ing daily A380 flight, and will replace the existing Boeing 777-
300ER aircraft between the destinations.Reaffirming the airline’s commitment to its guests, Peter
Baumgartner, CEO, Etihad Airways, stated, “[...] The highest levels of comfort, luxury and world-class hospitality [are deliv-ered] at every point in their travel journey – on the ground and in the air – across all classes of service.”
Etihad Augments New York Service
John F. Kennedy International Airport
Millions of Kilometers Served by Emirates
Emirates aircraft have travelled over 432 mil-lion kilometres since
January, equivalent to tra-versing the globe more than 10,700 times.
A typical week sees the airline operating more than 3,600 flights, with over 96,000 services having been carried out in the first half of the year. Interestingly, over 50 million passengers have flown on Emirates Airbus A380s since the aircraft joined the fleet in 2008. Emirates also operates the largest family of Boeing 777s, with 157 of these popu-lar wide-body aircarft con-necting Dubai to 109 destina-tions around the world.
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WEEKLY NEWS AIR www.traveltradeweekly.travel
Sala
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I n response to the increased need for pilots in the industry, Emirates Flight Training Academy signed an agreement with Boeing under which the organisations will collaborate on a comprehensive training
curriculum and software infrastructure to support learning operations. Due to open in October at Dubai World Central, the airline’s dedicated
facility will combine best practices in education with the latest learning technologies and cutting-edge training aircraft. According to the Boeing agreement, the academy will also receive an integrated software system.
An order for 27 Boeing aircraft has been placed by Emirates to allow ab-initio pilots to complete their training in the UAE, following the launch of the facility.
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I n a bid to offer travellers greater comfort in the sky, Etihad Airways has upgraded its regular service between Abu Dhabi
and Amman.Since the beginning of the month, pas-
sengers flying between the two popular Middle Eastern destinations can enjoy the many benefits of a Boeing 787-9 aircraft, which is now being deployed on a daytime return flight.
Also known as Dreamliner, the wide-body airliner boasts a two-class configura-tion and a total capacity of 235 customers.
Am
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Emirates Partners with Boeing for Pilot Training
Etihad Airways Enhances Jordan Operations
Some 1.5 million pilots and technicians will be re-quired in the global aviation industry by 2035, according to Boeing’s 2016 Pilot and Technician
Outlook.More specifically, 617,000 pilots will be needed,
along with 679,000 new commercial aircraft techni-cians and 814,000 cabin crew members.
This year’s outlook pinpoints a 10.5 percent growth over 2015 in pilot demand and an 11.3 percent boost in acquiring more maintenance technicians.
In the Middle East, 58,000 pilots, 66,000 technicians and 92,000 new cabin crew members are expected to join the aviation sector.
Boeing: 1.5 Million Pilots and Technicians by 2035
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WEEKLY NEWS AIRwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
Etihad Airways has launched its new lounge at Los Ange-les International Airport’s
Tom Bradley International Termi-nal.
The facility allows first and business class passengers to relax, re-energise and be entertained in a tranquil environment and enjoy high-quality culinary experiences and hospitality services. Along with Washington, D.C. and New York City, the airport is the third US location to welcome a dedi-cated Etihad Airways lounge.
Martin Drew, senior vice presi-dent, Americas, Etihad Airways, expressed, “Our new first and business class lounge in Los An-geles demonstrates our unwaver-ing commitment to travellers on the US West Coast, and in the US as a whole.”
Etihad Opens World-class LA Lounge
Oman Air Receives Boeing 737-800
Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, a globally recognised aerospace company headquartered in Dubai, has signed a sale and leaseback agreement with Oman Air for two Boeing 737-
800s. As part of the airline’s fleet expansion, aircraft deliveries began in July and another airliner is set to arrive this month.
Etihad Airways lounge
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: How important is the luxury travel segment to The Regency Hotel, Kuwait?
AHMED MOURAD: Luxury travellers [represent] a very important segment to our hotel. As one of the leading business destinations in the region, Kuwait often receives a large number of business travellers who attend seminars, conferences
AHMED MOURAD
Q & A
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MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER, THE REGENCY HOTEL, KUWAIT
KUWAIT HAS LONG ESTABLISHED ITSELF AS ONE OF THE REGION’S LEADING
BUSINESS DESTINATIONS, FREQUENTED BY BUSINESSMEN AND CORPORATE TRAVELLERS, MANY OF WHOM ARE
USED TO HIGH-END SERVICES. HERE AHMED MOURAD, MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER, THE
REGENCY HOTEL, KUWAIT, TALKS ABOUT THE COUNTRY’S LUXURY SCENE.
Kuwait to have its own share from the travel market and attract luxury travel-lers who appreciate the finer things in life. Kuwait has many attractions to visit, such as the historical car museum, where travellers can see and feel the his-tory by looking at various very famous cars which once belonged to past kings or were shown in famous Hollywood movies. In addition, Kuwait has some of the most luxurious and biggest shop-ping malls in the GCC that include the finest and the most luxurious brands from all over the world.
It also has many different cultural entertainment gateways, which pre-sent different kinds of art to those who are interested [in these]. Moreover, of course, Kuwait is a hub for food lovers, where they can find all kinds of cuisine, with many different styles from around the world. There are always develop-ment plans for Kuwait with solid steps [being taken] to move forward and keep up with the fast changes of the world.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: Could Ku-wait become the next Middle Eastern hotspot for discerning travellers?
AHMED MOURAD: Luxury travellers al-ready exist in Kuwait, however, I see it is a growing segment. The reason behind that is the efforts that have been made by the Kuwaiti government, which has also started to participate in many inter-national road shows all over the world to grab a fair share of the international travel market by introducing Kuwait to the world in a different way with the help of local businessmen – since they have got all the technologies and the finest brands and concepts – so that [the country] can stand on the top of the list of the GCC’s must-visit countries, while at the same time keeping the real identity of the old Kuwait that is conservative and generous.
and/or are just seeking new business opportunities. Those business and cor-porate people are travelling the world with high expectations and [a high] attention to detail, [thus], our hotel comes as their first choice when visiting Kuwait. We have enough experience to fulfil their needs and match their expec-tations. However, luxury travellers at our hotel are not only business or cor-porate travellers. In addition, most of GCC guests are luxury travellers as they are used to high standards with excel-lent services, and according to this, a big percentage of our guests represent this segment.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: How is the hotel responding to the ever- evolving needs and preferences of luxury travellers?
AHMED MOURAD: The Regency Hotel, Kuwait has positioned itself amongst the most luxurious hotels in Kuwait. As the leading luxury hotel, it has been awarded in the past few years [with var-ious titles, such as] the leading luxury hotel in Kuwait, by providing excellent and international services and stand-ards to all of our guests.
The newly refurbished hotel has up-to-date technologies that should serve the ever-evolving needs and prefer-ences of luxury travellers, and with the assistance of our experienced team, we provide our guests with above-expec-tation solutions to their inquiries. Nev-ertheless, we keep developing our facil-ities in order to maintain [our position as] the first choice for luxury travellers.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: In your opin-ion, what makes Kuwait a must-visit destination for high-end travellers?
AHMED MOURAD: It is not strange for
The Regency Hotel, Kuwait
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WEEKLY NEWS INTERNATIONALwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
P referred Hotels & Resorts has entered into a global partnership with UnionPay International as part of its continuous campaign to court the booming Chinese
outbound market by making it easier for travellers to enjoy an independent hotel experience.
Effective through 2019, the agreement is designed to benefit both the hundreds of hotels and resorts within the brand’s global portfolio and the millions of UnionPay card-holders worldwide through a variety of components, includ-ing advertising campaigns and special promotions.
As part of the agreement, UnionPay International will provide Preferred Hotels & Resorts with valuable exposure through banner advertising and statement inserts at affili-ate banks across China.
D eveloped by Vilailux Development, Dusit Internation-al’s latest venture, dusitD2 Khao Yai opened in Thai-land.
Situated on the outskirts of Khao Yai National Park, the ho-tel boasts 79 guest rooms, each with plug and play facilities. The property has been designed to appeal to international travellers, who seek high-tech connectivity and efficacious modern convenience.
One of the new address’ unique features is Cocoon, a tree-top private dining pod which offers a bird’s eye view of the premises and the nearby mountain range. Guests are also in-vited to enjoy an outdoor swimming pool, an international res-taurant, as well as both indoor and open-air function spaces.
Preferred Hotels & Resorts Partners with UnionPay
dusitD2 Khao Yai Unveiled
I nterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announnced Crowne Plaza Yerevan, to be operated under a man-agement agreement with Hotel SR.Due to open in 2018, the Armenian property will fea-
ture two suites, 12 club rooms and 84 standard units, as well as a lobby bar and a restaurant. For corporate meet-ings and events, IHG’s latest addition to the region will also feature 120m2 of conference space and an 18m2 board room.
Stanislav Hambartsumyan, director, Hotel SR, com-mented, “Yerevan’s popularity among domestic and in-ternational travellers is on the rise, attracting both guests who come for business and for leisure. With business ac-tivity in the city gaining momentum, we could not imag-ine a better time to introduce Crowne Plaza to Yerevan.”
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Crowne Plaza Yerevan to Open in 2018
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TRAVEL TALK www.traveltradeweekly.travel
6 AUGUST 2016
PRESIDENT, ETIHAD AVIATION GROUP
DIRECTOR, ASIA PACIFIC, MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA, VISITBRITAIN
“As Etihad Airways expands its US operations, and the im-portance of Abu Dhabi as a global hub grows, so will our impact on the US economy, and in particular the employ-ment landscape with the huge number of jobs sup-ported across the country, both directly and indirectly. The figures […] clearly show the catalytic incremental ef-fect that the Etihad Aviation Group will have in the job market and on the US econo-my in the years to come.”
“We are welcoming visitors from the GCC to Great Brit-ain and we are expecting this summer to see more GCC nationals visiting as we con-tinue our activity to promote Britain as a favourite holiday destination. Our global Home of Amazing Moments market-ing campaign will encourage more people to come and vis-it Britain by showcasing some of Britain’s best captured mo-ments.”
[…] The importance of Abu Dhabi as a global hub grows
We are welcoming visitors from the GCC
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GENERAL MANAGER, W DUBAI – AL HABTOOR CITY
“It has been a long-time com-ing, but the first W Hotel in the UAE opened its doors [this June]. As a leading life-style hotel, it is fitting that W Dubai opens within a unique and first-of-its-kind urban resort like Al Habtoor City – Starwood’s largest hospitality project in the Middle East. As a city, Dubai represents eve-rything that W Hotels [is] pas-sionate about; fashion, music, design, and fuel.”
Dubai represents everything that W Hotels [is] passionate about
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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
CEO, OMAN AIR
“At Oman Air, we aim to make air travel an exciting and enjoy-able experience for every cus-tomer. So we are particularly pleased to be unveiling our Junior Sindbad Flyer Passports for our young customers.Every Junior Sindbad Flyer will receive their own Oman Air passport which will be stamped and signed by the captain on every flight they take. Once they have collected 10 stamps and signatures, they will be able to claim a free flight to any destination within our network – what better oppor-tunity to discover the world?”
We aim to make air travel an exciting and enjoyable experience
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AGENT CORNER www.traveltradeweekly.travel
When and how did you get involved in the tourism industry?[After living] in Japan for four years, I joined InsideJapan back in 2005 as a travel consultant and tour leader. Inside Japan has evolved to be part of InsideA-sia Tours [...] and my role has developed into the public relations and marketing manager.
What are the most important at-tributes of a good travel agent/tour operator?It is all about the in-destination experi-
AGENT’S INSIGHT
James Mundy
Public relations and marketing manager
InsideAsia Tours
Bristol, UK
www.InsideAsiaTours.com
COMPANY:
POSITION:
NAME:
LOCATION:
WEBSITE:
6 AUGUST 2016
ence, love and knowledge of the coun-try and culture, and believing in the product you sell.
What is the most frequently asked question that your company receives from customers?Is Japan expensive? When is the best time of the year to travel? What are the must-see places? Have you been there?
What are the must-visits and must-dos in the UK that nobody should miss?Bristol itself is a good city with plenty of free festivals during the summer months. We have Wales on our door-step [and] the historic town of Bath. A must-do in the UK would be to visit one of the cities free galleries or museums.
Which destination is on your bucket-list?I could go back again and again to Ja-pan and Myanmar. I also love diving and would love to visit Pemba Island and Zanzibar.
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TRAVEL CHANNELS www.traveltradeweekly.travel
6 AUGUST 2016
Hosted by Sharjah’s public library and Horouf, part of the Kalimat Publishing Group, the emirates’s Arabic linguistic summer programme utilises smart tech-nology to develop children’s language
skills as well as cognitive and physical abilities. The four-week camp will emphasise the impor-
tance of books, both for development and pleasure, through entertaining publications and interactive applications. Sayf Bel Arabi, meaning Arabic summer, runs until August 17 and consists of 12 themed work-shops which aim to enhance free learning processes. Those who attend will also be able to take part in ac-tivities such as art and traditional handicrafts and will have the opportunity to enter competitions.
Bahrain’s Down Syndrome Society has received a donation of BHD2,000 (USD5,302) by Gulf Hotels Group, as a gesture of support to their activities.
The cheque of the donation was presented by Aqeel Raees, CEO, Gulf Hotels Group, to Adel Fakhro, Bahrain Down Syndrome Society with Rahim Abu Omar, general manager, Gulf Hotels Group and Mohammed Al Mannai,
manager, Bahrain Down Syndrome Society.
Saudi Commission for Tourism & National Heritage (SCTH)’s programme tar-gets secondary school and university students, encouraging them to experi-ence and learn about their homeland and national urban heritage.
As part of its endeavours, SCTH, represented by Live Saudi Arabia, took 40 Prince Sultan Social Center pupils on a two-day trip to Al Ula, where they at-
tended a range of events, visited historical sites and met with officials and local residents.Meanwhile, 99 learners, who attend the College of Tourism and Antiquities and Col-
lege of Architecture and Planning, took part in an onsite training of the Urban Heritage Center on the rebuilding and restoration of earthen buildings in Dir’iyah.
Organised by Oman Sail’s corpo-rate and personal development (CPD) department, children aged between eight and 17 at-tended a one-day programme
at Millennium Resort Mussanah, filled with activities such as sailing, kayaking, cooking and team building exercises, all led by quali-fied instructors.
Ahmed al Ma'amari, senior facilitator, CPD, Oman Sail, said, “This programme aims to inspire the youth with the values of team-work, patience, commitment and leadership that will serve them well beyond our classes and translate into every aspect of their lives.”
LINGUISTIC SUMMER CAMP
IN SHARJAH
GULF HOTELS SUPPORTS DOWN SYNDROME SOCIETY
SCTH ORGANISES STUDENT TRIPS
MILLENNIUM MUSSANAH AND OMAN SAIL HOST SUMMER CAMP
Oman Sail summer camp
From left: Mohammed Al Mannai, Adel Fakhro, Aqeel Raees, Rahim Abu Omar
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Send your photos to [email protected] Because a picture is worth a thousand
words... Russian singer Nikolay Rastorguev was hosted at Burj Al Arab in DubaiSummer nights at Le Gray Beirut
Dubai Duty Free revealed the latest millionaire winners
Thumbs up for and from Rabih Zein, the new general manager of Radisson Blu
Resort Sharjah
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PHOTO ALBUMwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
6 AUGUST 2016
A very special superhero at Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl in DohaFlavours Of Ramadan TV shooting at Kempinski
Hotel Ajman
6 AUGUST 201620
NEWS & EVENTS www.traveltradeweekly.travel
IBTM LATIN AMERICA
Mexico City, MexicoSeptember 07 – 08www.ibtmlatinamerica.comLeaders, organisers and specialised suppliers for events will convene for business adventures.
SEATRADE CRUISE MED
Tenerife, SpainSeptember 21 – 23www.seatradecruiseevents.comA major biennial event focussed on the world’s second- largest cruise destination, the Mediterranean and its adjoining seas.
IMEX AMERICA
Las Vegas, USOctober 18 - 20 www.imexamerica.comThe hosted buyer programme qualifies and brings key buyers to the show, with IMEX America covering travel and accommodations.
EVENTSOman to Host Major Comics
Event
Date Festival in
Ajman
Muscat will welcome the internationally re-nowned IGN Conven-tion between December
09 – 10, at the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC).
The programme marks the first-ever comics event to take place in the Sultanate, offering a real treat to the tech-savvy com-munity and popular culture en-thusiasts.
“With its diverse attractions and activities, IGN Convention is an event not to be missed, ex-pecting to attract thousands of attendees to Oman’s state-of-the art events hub,” confessed Trevor McCartney, general manager, OCEC.
Participants will experience two days of games, activities, dis-cussion panels, workshops, con-certs and live video game music, while having the opportunity to meet their favourite celebrities.
Sheikh Ammar Bin Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, crown prince, Ajman, inau-gurated the third annual
Liwa Date Festival, at Emirates Hos-pitality Centre.
The three-day festivity, an ex-tension of the Abu Dhabi event of the same name, celebrated the best dates and citrus fruits grown by local farmers. The organisers aimed to inform tourists and resi-dents about Emirati heritage, while encouraging them to learn about traditions and customs.
Al Nuaimi supported the con-tinuation of the festival in order to present the importance of the palm and act as a forum for farmers.
