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NEW ETIHAD PREMIUM LOUNGE AT JFK
NEW DOHA PORT TO WIDEN QATAR’S HORIZON
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2 JANUARY 2016 ISSUE 321
ROTANA: 14 OPENINGS THIS YEAR
ACCOMMODATION 10
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Hotel PerformanceInternationalAgent CornerPhoto Album
TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS
MANAGING EDITOR
Mary Kammitsi [email protected]
ASSISTANT EDITORMaria Kazeli
SENIOR JOURNALISTRita Kasziba
JOURNALIST
Pauline Shahabian CONTRIBUTOR
Ana Mladenovic
PRESS Maria Demetriadou Inna Armeanu
DESIGN & LAYOUTElena Stylianou
WEB & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Savvas Kammitsis
DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi
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2 JANUARY 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)
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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
107.11
7.82
30,114.89
1,107.06
0.30
1,508.856
1.39
9.90
188.81
2.03
214.89
MENA EXCHANGE RATES
COUNTRY CURRENCY 1USD=
24.12.2015as of
JAZEERA AIRWAYS CONTINUES STEADY PATH
EMIRATES: USD848 MILLION IMPACT ON INDIAN ECONOMY
Jazeera Airways’ latest financial results indicate that the company’s net profit surged 11.7 percent year-on-year in the first nine months of 2015, touching KWD14.47 million (USD47.69 million).
A study that measured Emirates’ input to the Indian economy estimates that the airline’s operations contribute over USD848 million annually to the country’s GDP.
Similarly, during the same period, the Kuwaiti carrier’s earnings per share rose 11.7 per-cent, amounting to KWD34.45 (USD113.47).
In addition, in the third quarter of the year, the airline’s net profit improved 2.4 percent to KWD8.25 million (USD27.19 million).
Moreover, the carrier has over the years supported over 86,000 Indian jobs and gener-ated almost USD1.7 billion in foreign exchange earnings.
With India aiming to become the third-largest aviation market by 2020 and the largest by 2030, Adnan Kazim, divisional senior vice president, strategic planning,
revenue optimisation and aeropolitical affairs, Emirates, commented that the carrier has been committed to India since the launch of operations in 1985 and has progressively grown ser-vices to the country by increasing capacity and opening new routes.
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WEEKLY NEWS HOTEL PERFORMANCEwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
While in Dubai the constant growing supply continued to pose challenges for the hotel sector, Amman and Riyadh witnessed positive improvements in October 2015, according to HotStats.
Five- and four-star hotels in Dubai continued to experi-ence weakening average room rates (ARR) in October 2015, falling 8.1 percent to USD312.08, whilst occupancy
levels remained strong at 82.9 percent. The decrease in RevPAR was compounded by 12 percent lower food and beverage rev-enues, dragging total RevPAR down 8.8 percent to USD423.54. All in all, gross operating profit per available room (GOPPAR) stood at USD194.64, down 17 percent year-on-year.
Hoteliers in Manama witnessed weak performance in-dicators as well, with occupancy levels plummeting 6.2 per-centage points to 50.8 percent, impacting ARR and RevPAR which fell 14.6 percent and 24 percent, respectively, leading to a GOPPAR of USD47.31, a drop of 41.2 percent compared to October 2014.
Dubai Faces Fierce Competition; Manama Underperforms
Hotels in Amman witnessed a 9.1 percentage point im-provement in occupancy to 67.9 percent in October 2015, offsetting a 5.6 percent decline in ARR. The re-
newed demand drove an increase in all metrics, including Rev-PAR which climbed 8.9 percent to USD103.24. Conference and banqueting showed particularly strong growth at 34.7 percent, helping GOPPAR rise 38.8 percent to USD67.70.
In Riyadh, occupancy levels averaged at 66.3 percent, up 12 percent; ARR, however, was 1.1 percent lower than in 2014 at USD226.07. Nevertheless, RevPAR and total RevPAR still rose 20.8 percent and 18.5 percent, respectively, resulting in a GOP-PAR increase of 36 percent to USD117.94.
Positive Signs in Amman and Riyadh
Despite increasing economic activity in the city, Doha’s hotels saw demand levels fall in October 2015, with oc-cupancy dropping 1.4 percentage points to 74.9 per-
cent. The fall in demand impacted all performance indicators with ARR and RevPAR declining 12.7 percent and 14.3 percent, respectively.
Higher food and beverage demand was insufficient to off-set the softer room revenue, hence the 8.6 percent decrease in GOPPAR to USD160.78.
Marginal Declines in Doha
Dubai
Doha
2 JANUARY 20164
WEEKLY NEWS
Global Tourism Improved by 3.5 Percent
“D espite a number of terrible regional incidents throughout the year, the sec-tor will still grow one percent faster than the global GDP in 2015,” confirmed David Scowsill, president, WTTC.
The council estimated the industry’s total contribution to the world economy at USD7.8 trillion in 2015.
Moreover, money spent by foreign travellers is to surge 2.9 percent, in line with the continuous growth in international travel.
Sabre: Online and Mobile Channels Grow
Online and mobile technologies are key drivers of the travel industry’s growth in the Middle East, it was acknowledged by Sabre execu-
tives at an event held in Dubai. The programme Connect Online gathered profes-
sionals from across the region to discuss trends and exchange best practices in tourism innovation.
Daniel Naoumovitch, CEO, Middle East, Sabre Travel Network, commented, “Internet penetration in the GCC is now more than 60 percent, with one out of every two people actively engaged in e-commerce in Dubai. Consumers today are connected online, via smartphones and wearable devices, and expect eve-rything that was once offline to be available online, including travel.”
Vienna remains a popular destination for trav-ellers from the GCC region, with 2015 being another record-breaking year.
From January to October 2015, guest nights from the UAE soared 48.2 percent year-on-year, reaching 110,663. Arrival levels also saw a similar growth, with Emirati and Saudi tourists registering surges of 44.8 and 19.4 percent, respectively, com-pared to the same period in 2014.
“Vienna sees most visitors from the region in summer, but Vienna Tourist Board also registered a significant growth of visitors from the GCC in the winter months,” said Verena Hable, media relations, Japan, China, South Korea, Russia and Arab coun-tries, Vienna Tourist Board.
GCC Tourists Flock to Vienna
According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the global industry is forecast to have grown by 3.5 percent in 2015.
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2 JANUARY 20166
WEEKLY NEWS www.traveltradeweekly.travel
The fourth OIC Halal Middle East Exhibition and Congress was held at Expo Centre Sharjah.
The three-day event launched a new vertical targeting the Halal tourism seg-ment and also featured the expanded Kitchen Equipment – HoReCa Middle East 2015 as a concurrent show.
The programme was visited by delegations and business teams from several countries. Meanwhile, the third installment of the kitchen equipment fair sought to leverage on
the regional hospitality industry’s success that is expanding fast on the back of prepara-tions for several upcoming mega projects, rising tourist arrivals and a stronger MICE sector.
T he Palestinian Central Bureau of Sta-tistics announced that during the third quarter (Q3) of 2015, 123,531
travellers stayed in West Bank hotels; 25 per-cent from European Union countries and 14 percent from Palestine.
During the same period, the number of guest nights in West Bank’s accommoda-tion establishments totalled 336,822, with 26 percent of those spent in Jerusalem.
Occupancy rates rose one percent year-on-year to reach 23 percent, but declined 10 percent compared to the second quarter of 2015.
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A jman Tourism Development Department (ATDD) unveiled a new identity for the emirate, aiming to promote the destination as the perfect place to
experience Emirati hospitality.“To tell our story, we have created a brand that is mod-
ern, unique and embodies the true spirit of Ajman. We have also made a new tagline along with the brand that is colourful and attractive,” commented H.E. Faisal Al Nuaimi, general manager, ATDD.
He emphasised that the new image was created to reflect the vision of the Ajman government as part of its marketing plan for the period between this year and 2018. Fa
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Sharjah: Focal Point of Halal Trade
Nearly 124,000 Tourists in Palestine
in Q3 2015
New Destination Brand for Ajman
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WEEKLY NEWSwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
Al Hamra Taps
Into Kuwaiti Market
Oman: Premier Tourist Destination for Saudis
O man’s Ministry of Tourism showcased the Sultanate’s varied tourism offering through an interactive event in Jeddah featuring a stand which highlighted the country’s rich traditions and landmarks, while guests were treated to a sample of local arts and crafts, in addition to other exciting activities.
“We aim to attract visitors from all across the GCC as they represent a big portion of our annual tourists and we are steadfast in our commitment to providing them with an unparalleled rewarding tourist experience,” commented Salim Bin Adey Al Mamari, director general, tourism promotion, Ministry of Tourism, Oman.
Bahrain Welcomes Czech Visa
Centre
Nearly 300 Saudi Companies Support Domestic
Tourism
V FS Global launched a new visa appli-cation office for the Czech Republic in Bahrain, where travellers can sub-
mit their documentation and enrol for biom-etrics in a convenient environment.
Yummi Talwar, regional head, Middle East, VFS Global, noted, “We are committed to streamlining the visa application process for travellers and providing best-in-class ser-vices for visitors to our centres.”
Key features of the centre include profes-sional staff with local language capability, au-tomated queue governance for smooth flow of applicants, a dedicated website and secure handling of important documents, among others.
According to data provided by the Saudi Commission for Tour-ism & National Heritage (SCTH),
the tour sector has recently witnessed a remarkable growth with the number of companies licensed by the authority ris-ing to 290.
These organisations are dealing with the operation of domestic services and achieve annual revenues of up to SAR170 million (USD45 million) by organising trips for both Saudi citizens and expatriates.
The same source also revealed that for these tours, Riyadh, Jeddah and Medina are topping the list as the most popular destinations.
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Medina Ribbon-cutting ceremony of the new centreFalcon Island villa
A l Hamra Real Estate Development re-turned to Cityscape Kuwait in Decem-ber 2015, with a release of villas and
apartments targeting the country’s high-net-worth individuals.
Capitalising on the growing number of investors in the country, the company show-cased park and beach units from its most re-cent high-profile launch, Falcon Island.
Benoy Kurien, general manager, Al Hamra Real Estate Development, commented that the destination represents a very important seg-ment for the Ras Al Khaimah-based company.
“We are committed to ensuring Al Hamra’s portfolio [...] remains front-of-mind in this im-portant market,” he confirmed.
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WEEKLY NEWS CRUISING www.traveltradeweekly.travel
New Doha Port to Widen Qatar’s Horizon
Spanning a total of 28.5km2, the QAR27 billion (USD7.4 billion) venture comprises three parts, namely Hamad Port, the country’s new naval base and Qatar Economic Zone 3, covering an area equivalent to Doha itself.
Located 25km south of the capital, Hamad Port will already start welcoming vessels this month, while the first cruise ships are expected to call at the new location in October. While the old port in the city centre undergoes a complete transformation, the currently developed new project is set to facilitate around 30 calls during its first season, including vessels hailed as the world’s largest cruise ships, giving a major boost to Qatar’s tourism industry.
Over 15,000 workers are on site at the new Doha port project, which will ultimately transform Qatar’s coastline and open up a world of opportunities for the Gulf state.
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d nata entered into a partnership with AIDA Cruises to provide shore excursions to the German company’s guests in Bahrain.
Throughout the year, the UAE-based travel management expert expects to serve approximately 25,000 – 30,000 tourists arriving to the Kingdom onboard AIDAstella, which cruises the Gulf waters and has a capacity of 2,300 passengers.
“The partnership with AIDA Cruises fits in with our strategic focus to provide premi-um holiday products and services in Bahrain and further cement our position as a leader in cruise handling in the region,” said Ashley Correa, general manager, Bahrain, dnata.
dnata to Handle AIDA Cruises’ Bahrain Excursions
AID
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WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATIONwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
New Carlton Hotel in the UAE
Rebranded to Carlton Palace Hotel, the property is located in Deira and features 212 rooms and suites, including three club floors and an ex-ecutive lounge, rooftop swimming pool and substantial meeting and
conference facilities.“We are delighted to acquire this prestigious hotel, adding a well-estab-
lished five-star property to our expanding portfolio,” commented Hosni Ab-delhadi, general manager, Carlton Group of Hotels.
Dubai-based Carlton Group of Hotels added the former Metropolitan Palace Hotel to its growing portfolio.
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Quorvus Collection Adds Omani Property
Hormuz Grand Hotel, Muscat joined Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group’s Quor-vus Collection, a new-generation of
curated luxury hotels inspired by the lifestyle and sensibilities of the contemporary global traveller.
The 231-room accommodation estab-lishment is situated close to major govern-ment and academic institutions, shopping and golf areas, and is just 4km from Muscat International Airport and 20km from the centre of the capital.
Chris Pike, general manager, Hormuz Grand Hotel, Muscat, commented, “We are delighted to bring Hormuz Grand Hotel, Muscat into the Quorvus Collection, and introduce our own suite of hallmark and essential services tailored for the travellers looking for individual luxury.”
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WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION www.traveltradeweekly.travel
THIS YEARROTANA CONTINUES ITS EXPANSION WITH THE PLANNED LAUNCH OF 14 PROPERTIES THIS YEAR.
A longside the opening of the company’s first project in the capital of the Demo-cratic Republic of the Congo, Rotana is also working on new additions in the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia,
Jordan, Iraq and Turkey.According to Omer Kaddouri, president,
Rotana, the developments will reinforce the com-pany’s market leadership position in the Middle East and bring it closer to its vision of operating 100 hotels by 2020.
The Domain Boasts New Software
Nikki Beach to Launch in February
The Domain Hotel and Spa launched its new, mul-tifunctional, content-rich mobile application.
The software was introduced during an event held at the property in the presence of Sheikh Khaled Bin Humood Al-Khalifa, assistant undersecre-tary of tourism, Bahrain.
Stephen Daniel, assistant general manager, The Domain Hotel and Spa, welcomed guests, while Tanvi Bhatia, sales and marketing manager, The Domain Ho-tel and Spa, gave a presentation of the new applica-tion, which is available to download through Google Play and iOS App Store.
Debuting in Dubai in February, Nikki Beach Restaurant & Beach Club paves the way for the official opening of Nikki Beach Resort &
Spa Dubai in spring. Part of a 52,000m2 project which will comprise
many top-line amenities, the outlet will be nestled in the private, surroundings of the man-made Pearl Jumeirah peninsula.
“Dubai’s penchant for celebrating life in style is well known and, with the opening of Nikki Beach Dubai, it is extremely exciting to bring our global vi-sion to the Middle East,” said Jack Penrod, founder, Nikki Beach Worldwide.
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Rotana: 14 Openings
2 JANUARY 2016 11
WEEKLY NEWS AIRwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
New Etihad Premium Lounge at JFK
Conveniently located close to the gate area after the security checkpoint in Terminal 4, the new facility, the airline’s second in the US after Washington, D.C., boasts a unique atmosphere reflecting 21st century Abu Dhabi modernism, and embodies
the highest levels of luxury and comfort. Amenities include a sculptural showcase bar and lounge with a dining area, a library and prayer rooms, amongst others.
Gulf Air launched a joint solution with Anixe and Vayant Travel Technologies to enhance its e-commerce website with a next-gener-
ation booking and shopping platform aimed at im-proving the experience for customers while booking flights and purchasing various travel add-ons such as rail tickets, hotel bookings, car rentals, tours and more.
According to Maher Salman Al Musallam, acting CEO, Gulf Air, “As consumers are becoming increas-ingly more sophisticated and demand a more seam-less experience, this initiative ensures we deliver that to them while still maintaining a direct relation-ship between the customer and our airline.”
Gulf Air to Improve E-commerce
Reinforcing its commitment to further improving the ground experience for guests, Etihad Airways unveiled a first- and business-class lounge at New York’s John F. Kennedy (JFK)
International Airport.
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Emirates A380 Lands in Copenhagen
Emirates has expanded its network of destinations served by its Airbus A380
fleet with the launch of the first A380 service to Copenhagen.
Denmark’s capital is the first Scandinavian city to welcome this kind of aircraft and the 36th in the UAE-based airline’s operations.
Emirates will fly daily be-tween Dubai and Copenhagen, which is also the carrier’s first route to be operated with an A380 in a two-class configura-tion, with a capacity of 615 pas-sengers in each direction.
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DID YOU KNOW...
Copenhagen is considered one of
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2 JANUARY 201612
WEEKLY NEWS AIR www.traveltradeweekly.travel
Qatar Airways commenced operations to Durban, its third desti-nation in South Africa after Cape Town and Johannesburg.
The four times weekly flights, which are being offered on-board a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, bring the airline’s weekly frequencies between Doha and the African country to 21.
As Akbar Al Baker, group CEO, Qatar Airways, noted, the carrier has been serving South Africa for a decade.
“Durban’s prestige as a tourism destination is attracting an increas-ing number of travellers who deserve the world-class service and best in class value that only Qatar Airways can deliver,” added Al Baker.
Qatar Airways Celebrates Durban
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R oyal Jordanian Airlines (RJ) signed an interline agreement with Vueling Airlines, whereby its pas-
sengers can connect to the Spanish low-cost carrier’s 150 destinations via its hub in Barcelona and to 65 locations from its second centre in Rome.
The new itineraries can be reached by passengers arriving on the Jordanian flag carrier’s three weekly flights from Amman to Barcelona or its five weekly services from the Middle Eastern capital to Rome, and then on to Vueling Airlines’ destinations.
RJ Opens Breadth of Choice via
Vueling
Etihad Airways added to its codeshare partnership with S7 Airlines to cover eight more destinations from the Russian carrier’s Moscow hub.
Abu Dhabi’s flag carrier now also places its code on S7 Airlines’ domestic services between the capital and Chely-abinsk, Krasnoyarsk, Novosibirsk, Novy Urengoy, Omsk, Perm, Rostov-on-Don and Sochi.
In turn, the European airline applies its code on routes via Moscow to Abu Dhabi and selected connecting destinations on Etihad Airways’ network, including Singapore, Bangkok, Phuket and Sydney.
“Through this enhanced partnership we are demonstrating our commitment to the Russian inbound and outbound mar-ket, and providing guests with greater choice and travel convenience,” commented James Hogan, president, Etihad Airways.
Etihad Expands Ties with S7 Airlines
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WEEKLY NEWS AIRwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
E tihad Airways launched a new service between Abu Dhabi and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania oper-ated by a two-class Airbus A320 aircraft.
The new route is designed to provide business and leisure travellers with a direct daily flight between the two cities, with convenient onward connections to key locations.
“Dar es Salaam is a wonderful destination for tour-ists seeking to experience the great culture and history of Tanzania, and provides the gateway to numerous national and international tourist attractions, includ-ing Mount Kilimanjaro, the wildlife-rich national parks of the Serengeti, and the spice island of Zanzibar,” com-mented Daniel Barranger, senior vice president, global sales, Etihad Airways.
Abu Dhabi Welcomes KLM’s First Dreamliner
Etihad Enhances Presence in East Africa
T his year, Emirates will retire a total of 26 aircraft, including 12 Airbus A330-300s, four Airbus A340-300s, one Airbus A340-500, six Boeing 777-200ERs,
two Boeing 777-300s and one Boeing 777-300ER, while it will take delivery of 36 new Airbus A380 and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
Tim Clark, president, Emirates, noted, “With the retire-ment of older aircraft and the introduction of new, more fuel-efficient aircraft [this year], Emirates will continue to lead the industry in reducing the age of our fleet, while at the same time defining new levels of service that our customers have come to expect.”
Ambitious Fleet Plans for Emirates
B ahrain International Airport (BIA) welcomed KLM’s first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner which will operate daily flights from Amsterdam to
Bahrain via Abu Dhabi.Mohamed Khalil, chief commercial officer, Bah-
rain Airport Company, commented, “It is indeed a great pleasure to witness the arrival of the latest Boeing 787-9 passenger aircraft at Bahrain Interna-tional Airport. This newest addition to Air France-KLM’s Bahrain fleet marks a noteworthy milestone for both the airline and our national gateway.”
New Dreamliner Touches Down at BIA
K LM’s new Boeing 787-9 Dream-liner arrived in Abu Dhabi after a flight from Amsterdam, inau-
gurating the seven-weekly services be-tween the two cities.
The UAE capital is the first KLM des-tination to be served by the new aircraft.
Gilles Roche, general manager, Gulf, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Pakistan, Air France-KLM, said, “The KLM Dreamliner sets new levels of onboard experience for passengers with greater comfort in every aspect, more entertainment, and fine-dining options in a contemporary cabin – all in one incredible aircraft.”
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DID YOU KNOW...
KLM first welcomed its newest fleet
member, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, on
November 23, 2015?
2 JANUARY 201614
WEEKLY NEWS INTERNATIONAL www.traveltradeweekly.travel
M arking the company’s foray into Vietnam, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group is to introduce Radisson Blu Cam Ranh Bay.
The 290-key, new-build property is scheduled to open in early 2019 and will feature 40 high-end villas providing guests with direct access to an 800m stretch of beach.
“This latest Radisson Blu flagship will provide interna-tional and domestic travellers with a full range of innova-tive design-led products and services, delivering genuine and relevant guest experiences with Radisson Blu’s dis-tinctive […] service philosophy,” said Thorsten Kirschke, president, Asia Pacific, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group.
M arriott International boosted its Caribbean presence with the opening of the 129-room Courtyard by Marriott Kingston, Jamaica.
Located close to Norman Manley International Air-port and bustling dining and shopping areas, the hotel, which boasts green building design, construction, op-erations and maintenance solutions, features the brand’s Centro restaurant, flexible meeting space, a state-of-the-art fitness centre and swimming pool.
Tim Sheldon, president, Caribbean and Latin Amer-ica, Marriott International, commented, “Courtyard by Marriott has become a very popular brand in the Carib-bean and is expanding rapidly. It offers excellent value in the mid-tier market that is currently underserved.”
S heraton Hotels & Resorts re-entered Hokkai-do with the introduction of the brand’s first ski resort in Japan.
Following extensive renovations, Sheraton Hok-kaido Kiroro Resort offers ski-in-ski-out luxury com-bined with all of the hotelier’s signature amenities and services. The 140-room property features a club lounge, dining options, lobby bar and a meeting room accommodating up to 100 guests.
Dave Marr, global brand leader, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts and Tribute Portfolio, enthused, “[...] Our pres-ence in Hokkaido builds on the brand’s first mover ad-vantage, as we continue to provide guests access to some of the most sought after destinations in the world.”
B est Western Hotels & Resorts unveiled a new property in the Philippines at Subic Bay.
Best Western Plus Hotel Subic is hailed as the first internationally-branded midscale hotel in the area. Set in a brand-new building, it offers 77 rooms.
Olivier Berrivin, managing director, interna-tional operations, Asia, Best Western Hotels & Resorts, stated, “The Philippines is an incredibly important market for Best Western, and I am de-lighted to be able to welcome guests to our first ever hotel in Subic Bay – another exciting destina-tion for our company.”
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Carlson Rezidor Enters Vietnam
Jamaica Greets Latest Marriott Addition
Japan Welcomes Sheraton Ski Resort
Best Western Penetrates Subic Bay
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.
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WEEKLY NEWS INTERNATIONAL www.traveltradeweekly.travel
C laremont Club & Spa, A Fairmont Hotel is the newest addition to Fairmont Hotels & Resort’s US portfolio.
The hotelier’s parent company, FRHI Hotels & Re-sorts purchased the establishment in 2014, following a multimillion dollar upgrade of the property’s facilities and architecture. The 276-room hotel now boasts a restored entrance with a grand gallery, several dining options, spa, tennis and fitness centre, ample meeting space and a ball-room accommodating 450 guests.
Kevin Frid, president, Americas, FRHI Hotels & Resorts, said, “[It] has been an honour for Fairmont to take on this heritage hotel’s reintroduction as a Fairmont property.”
G uests staying at The Ritz-Carlton, Bali can now unwind and reenergise themselves at the brand’s signature spa.
Balinese inspired treatments await visitors at the wellness centre’s 14 free-standing treatment rooms, which also include four spa villas with bathing pool, an open-air relaxation area and outdoor shower.
“Taking inspiration from the Indian Ocean, The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Bali seamlessly infuses the theme of water and healing resources of the sea throughout every ele-ment of the spa experience, creating a completely re-juvenating spa immersion,” commented Karim Tayach, general manager, The Ritz-Carlton, Bali.
T he Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong unveiled newly rede-signed guestrooms and suites, re-
invented by the acclaimed Hong Kong de-signer, Joyce Wang.
Graced by a calming colour palette, each room boasts luxurious furniture and fabrics, as well as bathrooms with both deep soak-ing tubs and power showers.
In addition, guests can enjoy a daily se-lection of culinary in-room amenities, pre-pared by Michelin-starred Amber restaurant, in a stylish cooling vitrine.
C hoice Hotels International added the 92-room Hotel North Woods in Lake Placid in New York to its Ascend Hotel Collection.
“The essence of the Ascend Hotel Collection is to honour the unique and colourful spirit of locally owned hotels and the communities which they serve,” said Neil Cantor, head, Ascend Hotel Collection.
“From its vital role in the region’s hospitality history to the hotel’s warm Adirondack decor, friendly service and the cuisine they serve, Hotel North Woods is a per-fect fit,” he enthused.
The property caters to visitors of Lake Placid, as well as to ski enthusiasts as it is close to Whiteface Mountain.
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Fairmont Takes On Historic Landmark
The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Bali Unveiled
Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong Boasts New Rooms
Choice Hotels Expands Portfolio with New York Hotel
2 JANUARY 2016 17
RENDEZVOUSwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: How was the idea to establish an airline serving pri-marily Muslim travellers and expatriates living in the UK conceived?
KAZI SHAFIQUR RAHMAN: [Earlier media reports] did not exactly define who we are as a brand; they decided to give us an identity themselves. We are a multicultural airline with a Halal-friendly attitude and aspect; however, that does not mean we will be able to achieve everything which will be Halal, especially in a world that does not fully recognise Halal yet. There may be aspects that may not necessarily be Halal, especially in a world where the majority of things are not Halal and this is why we
KAZI SHAFIQUR RAHMAN
Q & A
with
CEO, FIRNAS AIRWAYS
ADMITTEDLY INTENDING TO SHAKE THINGS UP WITHIN THE AVIATION
INDUSTRY, UK START-UP AIRLINE, FIRNAS AIRWAYS IS DETERMINED TO BRING A NEW CONCEPT TO THE MARKET AS
KAZI SHAFIQUR RAHMAN, CEO, FIRNAS AIRWAYS, EXPLAINS.
ry unserved and underserved destination, as well as to destinations that have huge commercial potentials; routes such as Lon-don – Sylhet, Islamabad, Kolkata, Ghana, Jeddah, New York, Toronto, Chicago and many more. Keep an eye out and you will see a lot of fun destinations coming up.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: The company has recently launched a fund-raising campaign in order to find Middle Eastern investors. How much money are you looking to raise and how will this amount support the launch and further operation of the airline? How strong has interest been so far?
KAZI SHAFIQUR RAHMAN: We are looking to raise USD50 – 90 million to fund the operations from now until the fifth year. We have calculated and it shows that we [could be] profitable in year three. It also shows that by year five we will have more than 10 aircraft, if all goes well. Our funding requirement also has a 10 percent contingency to en-sure we are ready for any crisis should there be any, and also be ready to grow quicker if needed – subject to opportu-nity, feasibility and viability.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What is your philosophy?
KAZI SHAFIQUR RAHMAN: We would rather make friends than become com-petitors, and that is my philosophy. We will defiantly come in the market and shake things up a little, and that is good news for economy travellers.
like to choose our identity very carefully. We will be an airline that will treat
every customer as they expect to be treated. We will try to understand their communication style and adapt to that. Our customers will [mean] everything and they deserve every bit of attention, does not matter who they are or what faith they follow.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: How will the airline’s business model and growth strategy differ from those of other car-riers operating in the same regions? What kind of ground and in-flight ser-vices will be offered for Muslim pas-sengers?
KAZI SHAFIQUR RAHMAN: As we are set to be a UK-based carrier, we can potentially be-come the third long-haul full service operator from the UK along with British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. This gives us an opportunity to serve the markets and routes they do not serve and does not fit their business model either, as they tend to focus a lot more on the front half of the plane which puts us in a perfect position to focus on the back half of the plane and improve it dramatically by increasing seat pitch and width, and by offering a premium style ser-vice at economy prices.
I do not want people fly-ing cattle class any more.
I believe passengers can get a lot more for their money. In terms of Ha-lal friendliness, we will do small things that Muslims and in fact everyone will appreciate that large operators tend to miss out on. I am sure that people do not choose an airline based on what food and drinks they offer, it is the com-fort, security and safety and value for money that drives their decision-mak-ing process.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: Where will the airline operate from and what destinations are on your radar?
KAZI SHAFIQUR RAHMAN: We will not disclose the name of out homebase yet, as we are still evaluating and nego-tiating the best location and deal for us and naming a particular airport will not help us in any way in the negotiations.
We are looking to fly to any and eve-
2 JANUARY 201618
WHO’S MOVED www.traveltradeweekly.travel
MICHAEL KEMPF has been named executive assistant manager at Towers Rotana, Dubai.Kempf, who has been with Rotana since 2002, has over the years gained valuable knowledge in the UK, Europe and the UAE.In his new position, he will be assisting the general man-ager in accomplishing the new upcoming projects such as the pool lounge and spa, and will be working closely with the entire team offering treasured time for all guests.
VINAY NAMBIAR has been chosen as SpiceJet’s country head for the UAE. Nambiar joins the Indian air-line from Arik Air in Nigeria, where he held the position of vice president for the UAE and Gulf region.With more than 16 years of experience in commercial aviation in the UAE, Asia Pa-cific, the Indian subcontinent and the African markets, he has spearheaded crucial roles associated with driving sales, competitor activities, chan-nel performance, maximising revenue and market intelli-gence, among others.
MARK TIMBRELL has been appointed general manager of Oryx Rotana Doha.Timbrell has considerable experience in the hospital-ity industry, having begun his career in 1983, in the UK. In 1995, he took the helm at Forte Grand Hotel in Amman, and then moved to Bahrain to handle InterContinental Re-gency Bahrain until 1999. In the same year, he returned to Jordan and managed several hotels until April 2007. Follow-ing this assignment, he joined Rotana as general manager of Gefinor Rotana Hotel in Lebanon, and in 2013 he was named general manager of Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana in Abu Dhabi.
SAMEERA SHAIKH has been selected as meetings and events sales executive at Radis-son Blu Resort, Sharjah.Shaikh brings nine years of hospitality experience to the role with a deep knowledge of various departments, includ-ing food and beverage, reser-vations and sales. Her expertise and willingness to get things done in a pro-fessional manner are set to be valuable assets to the team in Sharjah, where she will focus on the hotel’s meeting and events as well as corporate accounts.
Timbrell began his career in 1983
Kempf has been with Rotana for
13 years
Nambiar has extensive experience in the
region
Shaikh is an experienced and motivated sales
executive
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WHO’S MOVED www.traveltradeweekly.travel
ANDREA POPA has been ap-pointed assistant director of sales, groups and events at Kempinski Mall of the Emir-ates, Dubai.Popa moves to Dubai from the UAE capital, where she was part of The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal’s team.All in all, she has more than 10 years of international tour-ism and hospitality experi-ence in delivering large-scale events and group business meetings.
SAHIL THAKUR has been chosen as assistant director of sales at Millennium Plaza Hotel Dubai.In his role, Thakur will be in charge of strengthening the property’s business ties with existing clients and stakehold-ers, and will also be responsible for all aspects of sales, prepar-ing sales budgets and business plans and identifying opportu-nities to drive revenue. Thakur, who has more than 12 years of experience in hospitali-ty, previously worked as front of-fice team leader at Hyatt Regen-cy Delhi and group and events coordinator with Habtoor Grand Beach Resort & Spa, Dubai. He also held key managerial positions in hotels in the UAE with Flora Hospitality and Ro-tana, and also worked with Hotels Arabia as an agents re-lation manager.
ZAKIA KAZI has joined Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi as the new marketing and communica-tions manager.Kazi brings to the brand nine years of international hotel marketing experience from In-dia and the UAE.Having risen in ranks from a public relations executive at a luxury hotel chain in India, she has gained extensive field ex-pertise in Mumbai, New Delhi and Dubai.In the UAE capital, she will play a pivotal role in ensuring the successful marketing launch of the hotel.
MIRZA USMAN has been named assistant director of sales, corporate at Kempinski Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. Usman, who brings more than 10 years of experience to the team, joins the property from Accor.In his new position, he will be responsible for managing all existing and new corporate ac-counts of the hotel.
Popa relocates to Dubai from
Abu Dhabi
Kazi has worked in India and the
UAE
Usman will manage all corporate accounts
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2 JANUARY 201620
TRAVEL TALK www.traveltradeweekly.travel
PRESIDENT, ELAF GROUP
ACTING CEO, GULF AIR
“The success of Elaf Group is closely linked to the perfor-mance of our valued dealers across the region. In recogni-tion of their important role, we honour our key travel agents, especially those that deliver outstanding perfor-mance consistently year-on-year. During the Hajj season, our key dealers’ exceptional delivery of services highlight-ed yet again our common vi-sion for high quality and excel-lence, both of which are central to our sustained success.”
“Our partnership with Shop Bahrain [festival] reflects Gulf Air’s long-standing and con-tinuous support of Bahrain’s tourism and economic sec-tors and is part of our drive to strengthen the Kingdom’s position as a unique touristic destination. Shop Bahrain [...] helps us showcase the King-dom to a regional and global audience, highlighting our many tourist attractions and encouraging visitors to come and enjoy the trademark Ara-bian hospitality that our na-tional carrier is renowned for.”
The success of Elaf Group is closely linked to […] our valued dealers
Shop Bahrain […] helps us showcase the Kingdom
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PRESIDENT, ONYX HOSPITALITY GROUP
“As we expand our presence in China, we are very excited to be in collaboration with some of the top developers in China. These two new proper-ties [Amari Yangshou Guilin and Shama Daqing Heilongji-ang] are part of our growing portfolio of 59 properties in operation, including 20 under development. We continue to expand our footprint beyond our Thai roots across the Asia Pacific region and have a stra-tegic goal of managing 81 hotels, resorts and serviced apartments by 2018.”
We continue to expand our footprint beyond our Thai roots
PETE
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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
PRESIDENT, ETIHAD AIRWAYS
“Etihad Airways and our 27,000 employees worldwide are reinventing the air travel experience, [...] while pro-viding access to parts of the world that would otherwise go underserved or unserved. We are not about being the biggest – Etihad Airways has always been about being the best and, through our three-prong strategy of organic growth, codeshares and eq-uity partners, Etihad Airways has been able to compete ef-fectively with carriers much longer established and much larger in size.”
Etihad Airways has always been about being the best
JAM
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2 JANUARY 2016 21
AGENT CORNERwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
21
When and how did you get involved in the tourism industry?In 1979, once I completed my college degree in London, I decided to stay and look for a job there, instead of returning to Italy.
What are the most important attributes of a good travel agent/tour operator?[These include] passion for travel, out-side-the-box approach in creating new programmes, products, destinations and itineraries. Last but not least, you must know you will work very hard when eve-
M elbourne-based travel start-up, SafeTravels launched its mobile application allowing travel agents and tour companies to provide customers with their complete
suite of travel documents, enhance tourist safety and centrally manage customer communications.
Chris Reed, founder, SafeTravels, commented that the soft-ware was designed to ease frustration created by not being able to view all trip information in one location.
“Smartphones are now an essential tool for travellers to seek information while on a trip, and access to itinerary information and travel documents easily through an app is becoming an ex-pectation by digital-savvy travellers,” he added.
SafeTravels Launches Mobile App
AGENT’S INSIGHT
Arianna Pradella
Director of sales
Caldana Travel Service
Italy
www.caldana.eu
COMPANY:
POSITION:
NAME:
LOCATION:
WEBSITE:
rybody else will be off on vacation.
What is the most frequently asked question that your company receives from customers? Quality of service and thorough assis-tance.
What are the must-visits and must-dos in Italy that no one should miss?There is the first-timer’s Italy and a re-peater’s Italy. The new visitor will surely ask for Venice, Rome, Milan, Florence and the Costiera Amalfitana. The repeat-er will have to visit Apulia, Sicily, the Tus-can countryside with the art cities, Emilia Romagna with all the food heritage, Piedmont for wine and truffles, and Sic-ily which deserves a holiday on its own.
Which destination is on your bucket list?I have two for the upcoming year: Bali and Kerala.
2 JANUARY 201622
TRAVEL CHANNELS www.traveltradeweekly.travel
Emirates Aviation University held its 24th annual graduation ceremony, honour-ing more than 400 students from under-graduate, vocational and postgraduate programmes as well as the UAE National
Higher Diploma.H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum,
chairman, Emirates Group, awarded degrees across multiple disciplines with hundreds of family and friends in attendance.
“The growing aviation industry in the UAE and the wider region has created a whole spectrum of jobs that demand continuing education and profes-sional qualifications. The success of our programmes reflects this demand, and also the calibre of our edu-cation,” said Ahmad Al Ali, chancellor, Emirates Avia-tion University.
H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum (second from right) honours graduates
To commemorate the 44th national day of the UAE, Jumeirah Group re-leased 44 sea turtles into the Arabian Gulf at Madinat Jumeirah’s private beach by Burj Al Arab Jumeirah.
The 44 juvenile hawksbills were rescued from the country’s shores and nursed back to health by the Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project
(DTRP). Since the project began in 2004, a total of 844 turtles were saved.Based at Burj Al Arab Jumeirah and Madinat Jumeirah, DTRP is run in collabora-
tion with Dubai’s Wildlife Protection Office, with essential veterinary support pro-vided by Dubai Falcon Hospital and the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory.
Wheelchair users can now drive on the road without the need of any addition-al assistance.
Elbee, a special two-seat vehicle for wheelchair users, enables them to drive at 80km/h on highways directly from the wheelchair – whether electri-cal or manual. The unique vehicle will be displayed during AccessAbilities Expo 2016, between February 9 – 11 at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Elbee can be used on all European roads as it has valid homologations for the entire European Union and is now available in the Czech Republic and in France.
Oryx Rotana, Doha participated in the Sealine beach cleanup campaign which forms part of Qatar Tourism Authority’s ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability.
More than 20 volunteers from the property helped collect plastic bags and waste.
Lana Jwainat, cluster director, marketing and communications, Oryx Rotana and Rotana City Center, commented, “Our participation in such activities falls under our corporate social responsibility programmes and reflects our keenness on preserving and maintaining one of the most important tourist destinations in Qatar.”
EMIRATES AVIATION
UNIVERSITY AWARDS GRADUATES
JUMEIRAH REHABILITATES 44 TURTLES
ELBEE TO BE DISPLAYED IN THE MIDDLE
EAST
ORYX ROTANA BACKS ENVIRONMENTAL SCHEME
Turtles released by Jumeirah Group
Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre
Campaign’s hotel volunteers
Take a Shot!
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... This month Emirates customers can enjoy the first six Star Wars movies onboard
Emirates celebrated its sponsorship of Real Madrid by adorning an Airbus A380 with the club’s crest and players
Three-year-old Khalifa Humaid Al Suwaidi bagged a new Jeep
Wrangler Sahara Unlimited, courtesy of Nakheel, after visiting
Dragon Mart
Rixos The Palm, Dubai was named the World's Leading Lifestyle Resort 2015 in the World
Travel Awards 2015 finale Royal Jordanian Airlines launched services to Ankara
2 JANUARY 2016 23
PHOTO ALBUMwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
2 JANUARY 201624
NEWS & EVENTS www.traveltradeweekly.travel
EVENTSMEETINGS MOROCCO
Marrakech, MoroccoJanuary 14 – 15www.meetings-morocco.comDesigned to ensure the promotion of all the country has to offer to professional event organisers at both local and international levels.
BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL AIR SHOW
Sakhir, BahrainJanuary 21 – 23bahraininternationalairshow.comA focussed global aviation event providing its elite list of aerospace business participants with the opportunity for high-level networking in exclusive surroundings.
IBTM ARABIA
Abu Dhabi, UAEFebruary 09 – 11www.ibtmarabia.comWith a new format, the event is ideal for meetings, events and incentives industry decision-makers to meet for global business adventures.
3RD ANNUAL AFRICA HOTEL EXPANSION SUMMIT
Lagos, NigeriaJanuary 28 – 29africa.hotelandresortsummit.comFor the third consecutive year, Noppen is organising the Africa Hotel Expansion Summit, bringing together hotel chains, developers and architects with hospitality institutions.
Discounts for Reed Events Delegates
Meetings Morocco
Coming Up
Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) signed a global agreement with oneworld as its exclusive airline alliance partner for this year at
the recent ibtm world in Barcelona. The deal, hailed as the biggest part-
nership of its kind, will see RTE clients enjoy discounts on flights operated by the carriers of the alliance. It covers 19 events across 15 cities on five con-tinents, which are expected to attract around 100,000 delegates.
Palmeraie Resorts partnered with Meetings Morocco to stage the inaugural edition of the event exclusively dedicated
to the organisation of seminars, confer-ences, congresses and incentives in the North African destination.
To be held from January 14 – 15, the show will welcome 50 professionals and up to 150 international hosted buyers from more than 20 countries, in addition to selected Moroccan and international companies based in the country.
