CEDAR EXECUTIVE READIES FOR TAKE OFF

UAE RETAIL CONTINUES EXPONENTIAL GROWTH

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MARKET UPDATE www.traveltradeweekly.travel

MORE TRAVELLERS AT QAIA

MIDDLE EAST HOTELIERS FACE CHALLENGES

According to Airport International Group (AIG), Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) saw a 4.5 percent year-on-year increase in passenger traffic in November 2015.

The subcontinent’s hotel sector posted mostly negative results for November 2015 with occupancy levels dropping 3.3 percent to 69.2 percent, according to STR Global.

A total of 447,610 travellers passed through the facility, pushing the year-to-date fig-ure to 6,562,634 persons – a decline of 0.4 percent. As for aircraft movements, it in-creased by almost one percent to reach 5,173, while year-to-date, aircraft movements dropped 2.6 percent.

“As Jordan’s prime gateway to the world, we look forward to welcoming an exceeding num-ber of visitors from around the globe in the future, generating a positive effect on not only the tourism sector, but also the Kingdom’s economy as a whole,” said Kjeld Binger, CEO, AIG.

Average daily date (ADR) was also down 3.3 percent to USD204.97, leading to a RevPAR de-crease of 6.5 percent to USD141.90.

In Egypt, although both occupancy and RevPAR were lower than in the same month in 2014, ADR improved 13 percent. On the contrary, in Oman occupancy rose 4.8 percent,

despite the negative change in ADR and RevPAR. Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia both witnessed de-clines in all three key performance metrics, nevertheless, Mecca and Medina experienced positive developments.

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Egypt (EGP)

Iran (IRR)

Iraq (IQD)

Kuwait (KWD)

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Libya (LYD)

Morocco (MAD)

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UAE Retail Continues Exponential Growth

Matthew Dadd, head of retail, UAE, Knight Frank, noted, ‘‘Though retail supply per capita in the UAE is one of the highest in the world, the market is still performing well and has a lot of potential over the next decade.”

Dadd emphasised that shopping is a popular leisure activity in its own right among lo-cals and GCC visitors and both Dubai and Abu Dhabi have responded to evolving demand by expanding their retail offering and enhancing entertainment attractions.

Dubai Garden Glow Presents New Experiences

Dubai Municipality recently unveiled a AED30 million (USD8.17 million) project at Zabeel Park, Dubai Garden Glow.

The new attraction, to remain open until April, is a theme garden inspired by wonders from across the globe. It features a range of experiences from the wilde-beest migration of Masai Mara to the tulips of the Neth-erlands, live performances by international, regional and local artists and acrobats, a food street, dedicated kids areas, light show and much more.

“Dubai Garden Glow is a vision of Dubai’s commit-ment towards providing continuous recreation, leisure and entertainment to the local residents and tourists visiting Dubai,” said Hussain Nasser Lootah, director general, Dubai Municipality.

For 32 days, Dubai hosted the 21st edition of Dubai Shopping Festival between January 1 – February 1.

Held under the slogan One World. One Family. One Festival, the event encompassed a multitude of unique experiences, gathering people from different nationalities in a reflection of the cosmopolitan char-acter of the emirate. Visitors had the opportunity to derive experiences from a mix of over 150 activities built around the tagline Unwrap The Exceptional.

The festival’s three main pillars of shopping, win-nings and entertainment were elevated through a range of thematic events, celebrity appearances, world-class family activities as well as numerous pro-motions and raffles.

Dubai Unveiled the Exceptional

The retail market in the UAE has not only grown to be the top shopping destination in the region, but also continues to attract global shoppers, as highlighted in Knight Frank's

UAE Retail Focus Autumn 2015 report.

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New Jumeirah Booking Website

Launched

Dubai Hailed as the International Event Leader

T his year promises to be the best one yet for Dubai as the emirate gears up to play host to a number of prestigious events, further consolidating its status as the re-gion’s top destination.

According to Mamoun Hmedan, managing director, Middle East, North Africa and India, Wego, the level of prestige, variety and enthusiasm invested in these happenings is having a major impact on tourism in the entire region.

“The city has established a reputation for going above and beyond expectations when it comes to events which continue to entice people to visit Dubai, directly impact-ing the tourism sector, benefiting both airlines and hotels, and other tourism-related businesses,” added Hmedan.

Throughout the year, Dubai will host some 70 major public events.

Dollar Rent A Car Commits

to Mai Dubai

Abu Dhabi Ports

Basks in Glory

D ollar Rent A Car and bottled water company, Mai Dubai re-newed their business partner-

ship with the latest delivery of vehicles which will be able to transport bottled water products to homes and offices across the UAE.

In response to rising demand, the car rental expert provided its partner with commercial vehicles to deliver its products and transport office staff and personnel.

Marwan Al Mulla, general man-ager, Dollar Rent A Car, expressed his hope to further strengthen the two entities’ relationship in the future.

A bu Dhabi Ports set a new annual cargo volume record in 2015.

The company witnessed signifi-cant surges in all major sectors; a 32 percent rise in container freight, a 20 percent climb in general and bulk cargo, roll-on-roll-off edged up 27 percent, and cruise tourism grew 16 percent, in addition to increased investments in Khalifa Industrial Zone.

Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO, Abu Dhabi Ports, commented, “We are proud to be in a position to support the economic growth being witnessed in the emirate and intend to continuously invest in enabling the nation’s maritime trade and industrial development.”

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Abu Dhabi Ports Jay Andres, CEO, Mai Dubai (left) and Marwan Al Mulla

I n a bid to enhance the booking experi-ence for those using a mobile or tablet device, Jumeirah Group introduced a

new mobile website.The platform offers a three-step book-

ing flow and makes it even easier for guests to complete a variety of reservations during a single visit.

As Ross McAuley, group vice president, brand, digital and loyalty, Jumeirah Group, noted, today’s travellers access the Internet in a much wider range of ways than before, thus, it is crucial to stay ahead of the game. Around half of all visitors to Jumeirah Group’s websites rely on a mobile or tablet device.

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E laf Group hosted a meeting with H. E. Hisham Zazou, tourism minister, Egypt, and his delega-tion to discuss ways to reinforce the role of tourism for both Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

During the gathering, both parties conversed how to increase two-way traffic for the group’s customers in the respective countries, and also expressed their intention to explore possible investment and mutually beneficial partnership opportunities.

Asim Danish, chief operating officer, Elaf Group, noted, “We are confident that [the] meeting will result in stronger ties between Saudi Arabia and Egypt, especially in a move to promote Egypt as a key tourist destination and to position Elaf Hotels as a highly preferred venue for visiting tourists.”

Saudi Commission for Tourism and Na-tional Heritage (SCTH) continues to activate the role the Kingdom’s prov-

inces play in the industry’s development and the organisation’s various endeavours.

SCTH prepared plans for two decades along with five-year operational pro-grammes for every region, all being linked to the national tourism strategy.

The development of tourism councils in areas that are working to outline a com-mon vision for growth in the region priori-tise tourism projects to be included in the budgets of the concerned authorities.

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Sharjah was selected as one of only 50 cities around the world to receive an ambassador from ITB Berlin as part of the event’s 50th an-

niversary celebrations.During their visit to the emirate, two ambassa-

dors witnessed the Sharjah Water Festival and the UIM F1H2O World Championship 2015 Grand Prix of Sharjah, plus a three-day tour organised by Shar-jah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) to the Heart of Sharjah.

H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, chairman, SCTDA, said, “We look forward to continued cooperation with ITB Berlin as demand remains high from Ger-many for the tourism offering of Sharjah.” IT

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SCTH Fosters Ties with Provinces

Sharjah Welcomes ITB Berlin Ambassadors

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Now OpenWYNDHAM HOTEL GROUP CELEBRATED THE LAUNCH OF THE 161-ROOM RAMADA RESORT DEAD SEA AND THE 165-KEY RAMADA JEDDAH CORNICHE.

L ocated between the mountains of Mount Nebo and the Jordan River, Ramada Resort Dead Sea is hailed as the only four-star, chain-affiliated accommodation establish-ment in the region.

Meanwhile, the new three-star property in Jed-dah is situated in the downtown district and offers 29 suites and a range of amenities.

“The Middle East continues to see strong growth and development thanks to its rising mid-dle class,” commented Dan Ruff, president, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Wyndham Hotel Group.

Tulip Inn Ras Al Khaimah to Open in March

Wyndham Hints at UAE Expansion Plans

Tulip Inn Ras Al Khaimah, owned by Action Hotels, is to welcome its first guests in March.

The management team, led by Hani Shahwan, general manager, Tulip Inn Ras Al Khaimah, is on site, working on the final touches.

The three-star property will feature 102 rooms, suites and apartments, a sports bar, a restaurant, a cafe-deli, a fitness cen-tre and three meeting venues.

“We are adding a budget hotel to Ras Al Khaimah to our existing four-star hotel, Golden Tulip Khatt Springs, offering to local and incoming businessmen and tourists the opportunity to explore Ras Al Khaimah at their convenient budget,” com-mented Amine Moukarzel, president, Golden Tulip MENA.

Wyndham Hotel Group is poised to further expand its presence in the UAE with a new property scheduled to open in Dubai in

the first half of the year. This was revealed by Milad Andraws, general man-

ager, TRYP by Wyndham Abu Dhabi City Centre, who also disclosed plans to expand family rooms in the UAE capital as well as other hotels in the country and other Gulf destinations.

As Andraws noted, occupancy levels at TRYP by Wyndham Abu Dhabi City Centre averaged at 81 per-cent in its first eight months of operation.

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Two New Ramada Hotels

Bahrain will welcome two new Ramada-branded hotels on March 31: the 162-unit Ramada

Hotels & Suites Amwaj Island and the 140-key Ramada Manama City Centre. Upcoming projects, including Haw-thorn Suites by Wyndham Al Juffair and Wyndham Grand Manama, are expected to bring the group’s hotel portfolio in the market to six proper-ties with a total of 1,197 rooms.

Up next: Bahrain

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I n 2015, Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman achieved an average occupancy of 92 percent, surpassing its 2014 perfor-

mance by three percent. Ranking top in the emirate, the 388-

room hotel’s occupancy reached 90 percent even during the traditionally lower summer season, and RevPAR also increased by seven percent year-on-year.

Iftikhar Hamdani, general manager, Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman, com-mented, “We are positive that [this year] will bring us better results. New segments and markets have been signed to attract more tourist arrivals in Ajman and we are diligently working hand-in-hand with Aj-man Tourism Development Department to boost tourism in our emirate.”

Ramada Ajman Boasts High Occupancy

Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN) joined hands with Bank Sohar for a JW Marri-ott hotel within the upcoming Oman Conven-

tion and Exhibition Centre (OCEC) precinct, part of the emerging Al-Irfan City developed by OMRAN.

The deal, which is valued at OMR39.68 million (USD103 million), will finance the development of the five-star property with 304 units, food and beverage outlets, meeting facilities and health and leisure club.

Sasi Kumar, group general manager, business, Bank Sohar, commented, “As a local bank, we endeavour to support the government’s objective of promoting the growth of the hospitality sector and the diversification of the nation’s economy.”

OMRAN Signs USD103 Million JW Marriott Deal

Poised to redefine the boutique hotel experience in Qatar, the newly-opened Al Shaqab Hotel promotes a healthy and active lifestyle in Al Shaqab’s equestrian

complex in Doha’s Education City. Managed by AMLAK, the 70-key property features an ar-

ray of amenities including a private-members club, Marwan Club and its facilities.

“Al Shaqab Hotel is not just a lodging facility – it is an un-precedented, ground-breaking hospitality concept designed to promote wellness, serve as a catalyst for an active lifestyle and entice guests to appreciate the benefits of healthy liv-ing,” commented Karim Abdelhamid, director of operations, hospitality, AMLAK.

Al Shaqab Hotel Brings New Concept to Doha

Rotana Unveils Second Doha Hotel

Rotana celebrated the soft opening of City Centre Rotana Doha, the company’s second property in the Qatari capital.

Developed by Al Rayyan Tourism Investment Compa-ny, the five-star hotel is located in the West Bay area and features 284 rooms and suites and 94 serviced apartments. Guests at the 52-storey property can also take advantage of a bouquet of din-ing venues, a leisure and fitness club as well as and conference and seminar facilities.

As Omer Kaddouri, CEO, Rotana, noted, the second quarter of the year will also witness the launch of Centro Capital Doha.

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Sharjah: 100 Percent Hotel Occupancy

Hotels and hotel apartments in Sharjah reported an all-time high of 100 percent oc-

cupancy rate for December 2015.Demand during the month un-

der review proved to be particularly strong due to a number of high-profile programmes across the emir-ate, noted H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, chairman, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority.

“Sharjah hotels welcomed around two million guests in 2014, led by the strong tourist arrivals dur-ing the various festivals and events, and we are set to surpass it in 2015,” added Al Midfa, stressing that po-sitioning Sharjah as a world-class destination for families is one of the most important pillars of the tourism body’s strategy.

F ollowing a significant upgrade to both its interior and exterior design, Burj Al Arab Jumeirah relaunched its all-day dining Bab Al Yam restaurant.

Boasting a contemporary look, the outlet features a spacious terrace, shisha lounges and a brick kitchen oven. The newly created menu focusses on fresh, seasonal produce and is inspired by Mediterranean cuisine with Middle East-ern accents.

Burj Al Arab Reopens Restaurant

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Cedar Executive Readies for Take Off

The mid-size aircraft can carry nine passengers and will operate on routes across Europe and the Middle East. According to Fouad Fawaz, CEO, Cedar Executive, the plane helps guarantee a premium travel experience.

“The onboard features and amenities make this aircraft the ideal charter jet for our market and our customers. For example, the Legacy 500 allow our clients to fly direct from Beirut to London City Airport,” concluded Fawaz.

As of July 1, Emirates will operate a second daily service to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) onboard an Airbus A380-800ULR aircraft

in a three-class configuration. As Hubert Frach, divisional senior vice president,

commercial operations, west, Emirates, noted, the exist-ing flight alone provides some USD677 million in annual economic benefit to the American city and its surround-ing area, contributes over USD270 million in annual visi-tor spending and supports nearly 6,000 US jobs.

“So, our additional service to LAX not only doubles our capacity to meet demand for our award-winning ser-vice, but also increases our positive economic impact to the Los Angeles area,” added Frach.

Emirates Goes Twice Daily to LA

MEA Group took delivery of the first Embraer Legacy 500 Private Jet, which will inaugurate the VIP charter services at Cedar Executive, Middle East Airlines’ subsidiary dedicated to private jet travel.

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flynas Links Riyadh and Abu Dhabi

Marking yet another milestone in its expansion strategy, flynas commenced services between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi with nonstop flights be-

ing operated between the capitals five times a week. “Adding Abu Dhabi to our GCC route network is an im-

portant strategic step for flynas due to multiple reasons, including our codeshare agreement with Etihad Airways as well as the long-standing friendship and the strong bilateral business and economic ties shared by the two nations,” commented Bander Al Mohanna, CEO, NAS Hold-ing, adding that the UAE capital’s growing prominence as both a leading family-friendly tourism destination and a strategic business hub makes the new route highly attrac-tive to Saudi travellers.

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Q atar Airways introduced a new daily nonstop service between Doha and Los Angeles, California.

The route features the airline’s Boeing 777-200 and repre-sents its first passenger itinerary to the West Coast of the US.

The inaugural arrival was marked with a gate ceremony and an of-ficial celebration.

Akbar Al Baker, group CEO, Qatar Airways, commented, “Los Ange-les and Doha have much in common. As passionate homes for sport, fashion, art and world-class entertainment, this new Qatar Airways ser-vice forms a bridge spanning continents and cultures, which will further strengthen our cultural and commercial bonds.”

Qatar Airways Flies Daily to the City of Angels

Emirates Deploys A380 to Washington

E mirates is to upgrade its Dubai – Washington route with the introduc-

tion of its flagship Airbus A380 on the route, effective from February 1.

Replacing the existing Boe-ing 777-300ER used between the destinations, the new air-craft will serve the strong cus-tomer demand and restore route capacity following United Airlines’ planned withdrawal from the route.

Tim Clark, president, Emir-ates, deemed the flight to the US capital one of the carrier’s most successful and profitable routes.

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Qatar Airways Brings Airbus A350 to Philadelphia

Emirates to Boost Philippines Services

Mahan Air Expands Global Reach

Q atar Airways is hailed to be the first airline to offer a regular scheduled Airbus A350 service to the US following its new itinerary from Doha to Philadelphia.

The carrier’s move reinforces its commitment to strong investment in technology and its dedication to maintain-ing an advanced fleet. The aircraft features a host of eco-efficiency tools, which result in a 25 percent reduction in emissions and an overall capacity of 283 passengers, with 36 business class seats.

Akbar Al Baker, group CEO, Qatar Airways, enthused, “At Qatar Airways, we never cease searching for new ways to enhance the passenger experience and with the A350, we have the ideal platform to take global aviation into the next decade.”

E ffective from March 30, Emirates will launch a daily circular service from Dubai to Cebu and Clark International Airport in the Philippines.

Utilising a two-class Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, the new route will strengthen international connectivity to two of the southeast Asian country’s fastest-growing international hubs.

Thierry Antinori, chief commercial officer, Emirates, commented, “With the opening of this service, Emirates will enhance the choice for travellers in the Philippines, who will be able to conveniently con-nect to 39 cities in Europe, 16 in the Middle East as well as a number of destinations across our extensive network in Africa and the Americas, including Panama from February 1.”

I n line with its strategic plan, Mahan Air is poised to further grow its international coverage.Following the recent launch of services between Tehran and Moscow, the carrier is now gearing up to

commence operations to Kiev in February with more routes, especially to European and Asian countries, expected to follow in the coming months.

The move comes after the inauguration of flights to Munich, Milan and Athens in 2015, and frequency increases to Ankara, Istanbul, Dubai, Beijing, Shanghai, Almaty, Yerevan, Kabul and Kuala Lumpur.

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Gulf Air: Improved Passenger Satisfaction

DC Aviation to Enhance Business

G ulf Air’s quarterly Customer Satisfaction Survey for the July – September 2015 period revealed an overall 31 percent increase in compliments, a six percent decrease in com-

plaints and a 26 percent growth in the distribution of Staff Appre-ciation Vouchers, compared to the same period in 2014.

Moreover, feedback showed that Gulf Air passengers choose Bahrain’s national carrier for its convenient departure/arrival times, nonstop flights, lower fares and good value for money offerings.

“We have embarked on an aggressive revamping of our prod-ucts and services over the past year that has received excellent feedback from customers, as reflected in these survey results,” said Ahmed Janahi, acting chief commercial officer, Gulf Air.

D C Aviation Al-Futtaim (DCAF) expanded its operations at Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport following the recent announcement at Dubai Airshow from its joint

venture partner, Al-Futtaim to lease an additional 10,000m2 of land at Dubai South.

The new plot will drastically increase the operational poten-tial of the company, enabling it to expand its existing VIP lounge and hangar facility.

Holger Ostheimer, general manager, DCAF, commented, “This agreement will ensure that DCAF will remain the number one ser-vice provider for business and private jet operations in aviation district at Dubai South.”

Turkish Airlines Expands Horizon

T urkish Airlines increased its African operation with the addition of two new destinations.

The airline now also serves Port Louis and Antananarivo, the capitals of Mauritius and Madagascar.

The new flights are offered thrice weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Satur-days in both directions.

Effective from February 8, operations between the cities will increase to four weekly frequencies.

The carrier now serves 48 destinations in 31 countries in Africa.

F iji Airways ended 2015 on a high note, having added a new Airbus A330 to its fleet.

The aircraft was welcomed with a traditional Rotuman ceremony attended by state dignitaries.

Jioji Konousi Konrote, president, Fiji, stated, “This aircraft is more than just another addition to the fleet of our national airline. It is a symbol of a mod-ern, progressive nation, which remains proud of its roots, culture and identity, while moving with the times to embrace the opportunities of the future.”

In June, the airline will commence twice-weekly direct services from Nadi to San Francisco.

Fiji Airways: New Aircraft and New Route

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M övenpick Hotels & Resorts announced new hotels in Malaysia and Vietnam, both due to open in 2018.

The 30-storey Mövenpick Hotel Kota Bharu will offer 453 rooms in Kelantan, Malaysia, while Mövenpick Resort Cam Ranh Bay, an integrated beachfront resort in Khanh Hoa province, Viet-nam, will boast 250 rooms, 100 residences and 100 villas.

This year, the group is also preparing to unveil a new Thai hotel, Mövenpick Siam Hotel Pattaya; Möv-enpick Resort Boracay in the Philippines; and Möv-enpick Resort & Spa Jimbaran in Bali, Indonesia.

S tarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide penned a deal with Grand Bay Hotel for a new Thai prop-erty due to open in January 2019.

The 200-key Sheraton Phuket Grand Bay Resort will boast a private beachfront, three dining venues, 1,326m2 of meeting and event space, spa and fitness hubs and an outdoor pool.

“With its idyllic beaches and lush rainforests, Phuket draws an unwavering number of inbound and domestic travellers, making it a strategic market for Sheraton and further driving formidable growth for Starwood in Asia Pacific,” said Rajit Sukumaran, senior vice president, ac-quisitions and development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.

I nterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) signed an agreement with Radius Developers to rebrand what is hailed as India’s first airport terminal ho-

tel into a Holiday Inn Express property. The 93-room Eaton Smart – New Delhi Airport

Transit Hotel at Indira Gandhi International Airport will become Holiday Inn Express New Delhi Inter-national Airport Terminal 3 at the end of this year, celebrating the brand’s entry into the city.

Ujjval Desai, director, Radius Developers, en-thused, “It is important for us to have the right brand offering transit guests exactly what they need; a fuss-free, convenient stay and great night’s sleep before they take off the next day.”

C ourtyard by Marriott debuted in Taiwan with the opening of Courtyard by Marriott Taipei in the cen-tre of the Nangang district.

Owned and operated by Leofoo Tourism Group, the 465-room hotel is the 36th property for the brand in Asia Pacific and offers scenic views from all sides of the building, six room types, a state-of-the-art fitness centre, a 500m2 ballroom and three dining options.

Henry Lee, chief operations officer, greater China, Mar-riott International, commented, “We are extremely pleased to work with Leofoo Tourism Group, a prestigious organisa-tion with great experience in the travel industry, to open our first Courtyard in this emerging hub in Taiwan.”

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Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts Expands in Southeast Asia

Starwood Celebrates New Phuket Signing

Holiday Inn Express Debuts in New Delhi

Courtyard by Marriott Penetrates Taiwan

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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C arlson Rezidor Hotel Group opened Park Inn by Radisson, Albany, in Georgia, US.

The 61-room property is located in the city’s entertainment district, within walking distance of local shops, eateries and attrac-tions, and boasts a seasonal outdoor swim-ming pool, a fitness centre and sauna.

Jeffrey Freund, senior vice president, midscale brands, Americas, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, noted, “This hotel is a welcome addition to our portfolio as we continue to explore strategic growth opportunities for the brand in the Americas.”

P huket’s Surin Beach welcomed a new resort by MANATHAI Hotels & Resorts, MANATHAI Surin Phuket.

The property, inspired by the Sino Portu-guese origins and heritage of the island, fea-tures a fresh design palette of colours, themes and styles, with details such as oversized bird-cages, lotus ponds and high hedges.

”One of MANATHAI Hotels & Resorts’ core philosophies is to give its resorts a sense of place so guests can feel and experience the destination in the resort. They can certainly feel intimately connected here,“ said Rudrojit Deb, general manager, MANATHAI Surin Phuket.

F our Seasons Resort Chiang Mai boasts several new and improved facilities and services, including 64

reinvented pavilions graced with custom-made fabrics and furniture and original art, specially crafted for the property.

In addition, the resort also has a brand new catering venue, Orchid Garden, ideal for private dining experiences.

Plus, new activities have been crafted for those seeking adventure: a guided ex-ploration of the resort’s tropical grounds and rice planting experience, complete with a traditional farming costume.

D usit Thani Dongtai, Jiangsu celebrated its official open-ing, becoming the first internationally-branded deluxe property in the city and the first Dusit Thani project in

China.Featuring 160 rooms and suites, the hotel is situated in

Dongtai’s newest economic development zone, providing easy access to the central business district.

“We are proud to launch the Dusit Thani brand in China to deliver the finest service rooted in gracious Thai hospitality. The hotel is set to meet the increasing demand of high-end accom-modation for business and leisure travellers to this historical and vibrant city, and we aim to exceed our guests’ every expectation,” commented Peter Gan, general manager, operations and hotel openings, China, Dusit Fudu Hotels and Resorts.Pa

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Rezidor Expands Midscale Brand in the US

New MANATHAI Surin Phuket Showcases Island’s Heritage

Novelties Abound at Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai

Dusit Thani Debuts in China

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RENDEZVOUSwww.traveltradeweekly.travel

TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: How has Al Khobar’s image and perception changed over the years?

BASEL TALAL: Al Khobar emerged during the last century as the business hub and residential city for the contractors and workforce of the leading oil and gas company, Saudi Aramco. During that time, only a few multinational hotels ex-isted and operated in the market, along with some local inns. This situation did not change up until 10 years ago. [Today,] every international four- and five-star hotel chain has a branch or operates a hotel in this part of the world. The Rezi-dor Hotel Group took part of that change and Park Inn by Radisson Al Khobar checked in its first guest in 2009.

BASEL TALAL

Q & A

with

DISTRICT DIRECTOR, SAUDI ARABIA, THE REZIDOR HOTEL GROUP

HAILED AS THE ‘PEARL OF THE ARABIAN GULF’, AL KHOBAR HAS GROWN INTO A THRIVING BUSINESS AND TOURISM

DESTINATION, AS BASEL TALAL, DISTRICT DIRECTOR, SAUDI ARABIA, THE REZIDOR

HOTEL GROUP, EXPLAINS HERE.

port. Saudi Arabia is ranked among the largest users of social media, especially Twitter and Facebook, among many other applications, which is impacting the hotel industry through online re-views. Capitalising on this, our hotels use tools to track and manage social mentions about our properties and ser-vices to manage our respective hotels’ online reputations.

TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What issues need to be addressed in order to sup-port the destination’s growth?

BASEL TALAL: Many developing op-portunities have been announced for Al Khobar city, such as the investment in modern beach resort facilities on the corniche, especially in the Half Moon area, as well as the upgrade of the rail-way connection to Riyadh and the en-largement of the causeway to Bahrain.

Overall, the country is [on] the path towards tourism modernity and Al Khobar city, along with Dammam and Dhahran, remains an ideal location for touristic investments, especially [in light of the fact] that this part of the country is relatively modern and new compared to other provinces.

I believe that Al Khobar city is among the [most promising] markets in Saudi Arabia.

The reason behind this develop-ment is the increase of housing de-mand from multiple projects in the city, along with the ever-growing internal demand for leisure destinations from Central Province citizens and residents from the eastern part of the country.

TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What are the main dynamics driving the tourism industry’s growth in Al Khobar?

BASEL TALAL: Tourism in Al Khobar is mainly driven by local demand from the Central Prov-ince during weekends, and espe-cially over Eid breaks. With three operating hotels in the Eastern Province, including Park Inn by Radisson Dammam, Radisson Blu Hotel Dhahran and Park Inn by Radisson Al Khobar, we […] see a considerable number of last-minute bookings and many walk-in guests which remains a challenge, especially during peak seasons. We also see an increased dependency on third-party book-ing engines.

TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: How have your markets changed in recent years? BASEL TALAL: Our main feeder market is Riyadh. Many families in the city look at Al Khobar as a lei-sure destination, especially since the capital lacks access to the sea. They like the fact that Al Khobar is a modern city in close proximity to Bah-rain. Many corporate entities have their head offices in Riyadh, so there is con-stant traffic from the capital towards Al Khobar.

There are also many international markets linked to Al Khobar due to the fact that this region is a tax-free market platform […]. The rest of the GCC is also a strong feeder market as are industrial countries such as the UK, France, Ger-many and the US. […]

TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: How do you see Al Khobar’s tourism industry de-veloping over the coming years?

BASEL TALAL: […] Over the coming years, hotels in Al Khobar will be fo-cussing more on the ever-developing needs of the international and local guest. One of the modern traveller’s needs is online connectivity and sup-

Park Inn by Radisson Al Khobar

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WHO’S MOVED www.traveltradeweekly.travel

MARTIN SCHNIDER has been named general manager at Mandarin Oriental, Doha.Schnider joins the property, which is due to open later this year, from Mandarin Orien-tal, Macau where he held the same position since 2008. Prior to that, he worked as hotel manager at Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo.He began his career with the company in Singapore in 1994, progressing from there to assistant food and beverage manager of Man-darin Oriental, Manila, before joining Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur in 2000. It was here that Schnider moved from food and beverage to a resident manager position in 2005. He then oversaw Mandarin Oriental Majapahit, Surabaya as the property’s general manager.

ELIZABETH QUIZON has been appointed cluster rev-enue director for Carlton Hotel Group in Dubai. Quizon, who holds a university degree in business administra-tion, has worked in the Philip-pines and Bahrain before mov-ing to the UAE in 1996. She has since worked her way up through the ranks of Carlton Hotel Group. Over the years, she has gained valuable experience in various departments such as reserva-tions, front office and e-com-merce, before assuming her current position.In her capacity, she will be in charge of the newly rebrand-ed Carlton Palace Hotel and Carlton Tower Hotel, Dubai.

ENAD TANNOUS is the new general manager of Capital Centre Arjaan by Rotana, Abu Dhabi.In this capacity, he will over-see the offerings of the hotel to ensure the highest level of services.Tannous has extensive experi-ence in hospitality manage-ment and was brought on board at Capital Centre Arjaan by Rotana as pre-opening gen-eral manager to spearhead its successful launch into the mar-ket. Prior to this role, he served as general manager at Amwaj Rotana, Jumeirah Beach Resi-dence Dubai, and was instru-mental in guiding the hotel to new levels of achievement. His previous appointments have seen him providing over-sight in managerial appoint-ments in Jordan, Oman and Saudi Arabia.

MOUSTAFA SAKR has taken the helm at The St. Regis Abu Dhabi as general manager. Sakr joined the property in 2011 as one of the founding members of the pre-opening team in the position of depu-ty general manager, and has since played an integral role in the development of the hotel.With 17 years of hospital-ity experience and 15 years in the Middle East, he has extensive knowledge of the market and the industry and a proven ability to deliver re-cord results.Prior to joining the brand, Sakr worked with a variety of hospitality groups, including Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Shangri-La Hotels and Re-sorts, Westin Hotels & Resorts and AccorHotels across Aus-tralia, Egypt and the UAE.

Quizon has experience in various departments

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AGENT CORNER www.traveltradeweekly.travel

When and how did you get involved in the tourism industry? I got involved in the industry back in 2010 and I currently work as a tour of-ficer for Sharjah Airport Travel Agency, also known as SATA.

What are the most important attrib-utes of a good travel agent/tour op-erator?To be honest and offer a quality product that can positively surprise the customer.

What is the most frequently asked question that your company receives from customers? Since the UAE is a very hot country, cus-tomers often ask us about the best sea-son to travel to Sharjah. They also want to know if it is cheap to travel there and whether there are direct flights to Shar-jah International Airport from their na-tive country.

Which markets are you dealing with?With all countries visiting the destina-

E laf Group, part of SEDCO Holding Group, launched new winter tour packages to key destinations around the world, adding new options, like Cape Town, Sri

Lanka, Singapore, Jordan, Turkey and South Korea to its of-fering.

The packages include accommodation, transportation, guided tours and high-level services, and come in response to the growing demand and current market trends in the Saudi outbound market.

“We are sure that these new winter offers will receive positive response in the local market. We look forward to providing more services that elevate the levels of excellence and efficiency in the sector at the local, regional and global levels,” said Mohammad Bin Mahfouz, vice president, travel and tourism, Elaf Group.

Elaf Group Unveils New Winter Packages

AGENT’S INSIGHT

Claudiu Caldare

Tour officer

Sharjah Airport Travel Agency

Sharjah, UAE

www.satatravels.com

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tion, however, our main customers come from European markets, Russia, Norway, Australia, China and Japan.

Which destination in on your bucket list?My dream destination is China due to its rich cultural heritage that is completely different from what I experienced in the Middle East and Europe.

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TRAVEL TALK www.traveltradeweekly.travel

GENERAL MANAGER, RAMADA HOTEL & SUITES AJMAN

GENERAL MANAGER,

INTERCONTINENTAL

REGENCY BAHRAIN

“Our team is proud to be the first hotel in Ajman to receive Agoda’s Gold Circle Award. We would like to thank Ago-da for this recognition; this will further inspire us toward providing better accommo-dation and upholding high standards of service to our guests. We also like to express our gratitude to our guests for their positive reviews and rat-ings on the website.”

“It is an honour for us all here at InterContinental Regency Bahrain to have reached such a significant milestone, [our 35th anniversary], in our journey in the Kingdom since November 1980. We pride ourselves on the rich culture of delivering authentic expe-riences and excellence that is part of InterContinental Re-gency Bahrain’s legacy. It was a privilege to celebrate our 35th year anniversary with our esteemed partners, Unit-ed Hotels Company and our honourable guests.”

This will further inspire us toward providing better accommodation

We pride ourselves on […] authentic experiences and excellence

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CLUSTER GENERAL MANAGER, AL BUSTAN ROTANA DUBAI AND AL MUROOJ ROTANA DUBAI

“Securing [the ISO 14001 environment management system and OHSAS 18001 oc-cupational health and safety management system] inter-national certifications for Al Murooj Rotana Dubai is a highly significant achieve-ment and we take great pride in being the second Rotana property to be certi-fied following Al Bustan Ro-tana Dubai in 2014. [...] This achievement [...] is indeed another manifestation of our strong commitment to be at par with international standards.”

We take great pride in being […] certified

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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

editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel

CHAIRMAN, ABU DHABI TOURISM & CULTURE AUTHORITY

“These are exciting times for Abu Dhabi’s cruise industry. The opening of the new Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal marks a step-change in how Abu Dhabi is perceived as a cruise destination, and the collective effort of all partners involved in this achievement under-lines the important role the cruise sector has in the expan-sion of our tourism industry. Our global cruise marketing activity has built awareness of the depth and diversity of the emirate’s shore excursion opportunities to stimulate de-mand for Arabian Gulf cruises.”

These are exciting times for Abu Dhabi’s cruise industry

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DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL, ARMED FORCES OFFICERS CLUB & HOTEL

CLUSTER GENERAL

MANAGER, PARK INN

MUSCAT AND PARK

INN DUQM

“Receiving [an appreciation certificate from the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority] con-firms that we operate to the highest standards of food safety as we apply best prac-tice processes and procedures with the highest specifica-tions. Amongst our business units, the catering operations are one of the largest in the UAE in every emirate so our quality standards are of para-mount priority.”

“[Receiving the first Safehotels Premium Certificate by Safe-hotels Alliance in Oman] is another milestone for Park Inn Muscat, adding this achieve-ment to our existing Green Key and Hazard Analysis Criti-cal Control Point certifications. I am proud of my team for working hard to attain such accomplishments. The safety and security of our guests and employees is our top priority.”

We operate to the highest standards of food safety

Safety and security […] is our top priority

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MARKET DIRECTOR, SALES AND MARKETING, SHARQ VILLAGE AND SPA, A RITZ-CARLTON HOTEL AND THE

RITZ-CARLTON, DOHA

“We differentiate ourselves through the personalised service we provide. A num-ber of hotel companies today provide great facilities, but it is really the quality of the overall experience that mat-ters most to guests and that is what our ladies and gentle-men so warmly and thought-fully deliver on a daily basis.”

It is really the quality of the overall experience that matters

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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

editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel

21

VICE PRESIDENT, TALENT ACQUISITION, ETIHAD AIRWAYS

“Etihad Airways is committed to developing women in the workforce and the alignment of our sports sponsorships with our business goals is an important part of driving our wider company strategy. Over 1,000 female employees al-ready take part in our sports clubs in the UAE, and we will continue to utilise our involve-ment in the world of sport to engage our current and future employees.”

Etihad […] is committed to developing women in the workforce

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TRAVEL CHANNELS www.traveltradeweekly.travel

Crowne Plaza Amman hosted a workshop and charity bazaar of the Jordanian Women’s Development Association of the Deaf as part of its ongoing com-mitment to help and support the local

community.The association gathers a large number of deaf

girls to offer them training and qualifying courses and help them fulfill their roles in the society.

During the event, a special thank you and a tro-phy were given to Oussama Massoud, regional gen-eral manager, Intercontinental Hotels Group, for his continuous support.

Inauguration of the bazaar

Two employees from InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) completed a paddling ultra-marathon, dubbed the Capital Paddle, covering 230km over three days in aid of the company’s disaster relief programme, IHG Shelter in a Storm.

Damian ten Bohmer, director, commercial, Middle East and Africa, IHG, and Angelo Vassiliades, commercial marketing executive, Middle East and Africa,

IHG, began the task at Crowne Plaza Sohar and finished at Crowne Plaza Muscat. Pascal Gauvin, chief operating officer, India, Middle East and Africa, IHG, commented,

“Damian and Angelo have once again demonstrated tremendous drive and strength […] and the money they have raised will have a real impact on the lives of those in need.”

Abu Dhabi Airports host-ed a group of 60 special needs individuals and orphans who embarked on an Umrah pilgrimage

from Abu Dhabi International airport. The visit formed part of the Zayed

in Our Hearts initiative, which aims to help those in need of special assis-tance take part in the pilgrimage.

Reaffirming its commitment to corporate social responsibility, Abu Dhabi Airports provided various hospitality services and gifts to the guests, and offered terminal 1A as a dedicated facility to finalise their de-parture procedures, in corporation and coordination with all relevant air-port agencies at the hub.

Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham, Dubai reinforced its ongoing partnership with Dubai Centre for Special Needs (DCSN), handing over a cheque donation of more than AED10,000

(USD2,700).The property, which has been supporting

the centre for the past two years, rolled out vari-ous campaigns to raise funds, and placed dona-tion boxes at the reception and restaurants for voluntary guest contributions.

“We are delighted to give back to our soci-ety through this campaign,” commented Samir Arora, general manager, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham, Dubai.

CROWNE PLAZA AMMAN

SUPPORTS THE DEAF ASSOCIATION

IHG EMPLOYEES SHOW HUMANITARIAN FACE

SPECIAL NEEDS GROUP ON ABU DHABI

UMRAH TRIP

HAWTHORN SUITES EXTENDS SUPPORT TO DCSN

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Samir Arora (second from right) handed over the cheque

Abu Dhabi International Airport

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 editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel Because a picture is worth a thousand

words... flydubai recently sponsored Croatian football team HNK Rijeka, for a winter training sessions in Dubai

Kempinski Hotel Ajman hosted the emirate’s second kite-flying festival

Visa’s Impossible Deals promotion for this year’s Dubai Shopping Festival had a winner

Park Inn by Radisson Muscat employees marked Oman Environment Day

The Armed Forces Officers Club & Hotel hosted a special event, The Parade of Arts

Etihad Airways’ crew is good at selfies

30 JANUARY 2016 23

PHOTO ALBUMwww.traveltradeweekly.travel

30 JANUARY 201624

NEWS & EVENTS www.traveltradeweekly.travel

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.

TEHRAN INTERNATIONAL TOURISM EXHIBITION

Tehran, IranFebruary 16 – 19 www.titexgroup.comThe newest edition covers an area of 21,000m2 divided into six different halls showcasing Iran’s tourism attractions.

ILTM JAPAN

Tokyo, JapanFebruary 29 – March 02www.iltm.com/japanReflecting on the 35 percent year-on-year boost Japan witnessed in 2015 in luxury visitors, the event opens for the first time in Tokyo, and will be bigger than ever.

ABU DHABI AVIATION AND AEROSPACE WEEK

Abu Dhabi, UAEMarch 06 – 12www.adaaw.aeThe inaugural event, which aims to become a biennial fixture, will take place across multiple locations in the emirate and will converge six trade, defence, entertainment and sports components under one umbrella.

EVENTSATM Exhibitors Back African

Project

Michigan Targets the

World

The 23rd edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) will once again pro-vide a platform to raise funds for international water aid programme

Just a Drop, with a focus on the Mpumpule Community Borehole initiative in Zambia, which aims to provide the community with permanent access to clean and safe water.

Jointly sponsored by ATM and World Travel Market London, the project raised combined exhibitor donations of USD30,632.

In a bid to attract international leisure travellers to Michigan, US, Pure Michi-gan installed a photo experience at the international arrivals halls of McNamara

Terminal and North Terminal at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport.

The campaign aims to increase inbound tourism and features large artwork with images of Detroit’s cul-tural landmarks and the state’s natural beauty. Videos will also play on moni-tors throughout the customs area in the near future.