July 2019 Volume V Issue I Pages 32

The Tropical Sanctuary of Blue and BeyondMAURITIUS

Trade

PUBLISHER & CEO Varun Malhotra varun@versatilemedia.in

DIRECTOR Pranav Khullar pranav@versatilemedia.in

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Gagneet Kaur

ASST. EDITOR Sayanti Halder

REPORTERKritika Dua

REPORTER & MARKETING ANALYST Lokesh Tuli

AGM SALES & MARKETING (MUMBAI) Aarti Rajkhewa

BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP MANAGERNitika Bisht

CONSULTANT Anindya Malhotra, Jitin Mann

DESIGNER Shivnath

ACCOUNTS Saroj Thakur

ADMIN HEAD

R Prem Lata

EXECUTIVE-CIRCULATION Hari Puri, Raja Rari

Head Office:TravelScapes Middle EastF.Z.E.,SM-Office- A1-303F

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ContentsCOVER STORY .................................6IN PURSUIT OF BALANCEME augments its wellness potentialWellness tourism has progressed by leaps and bounds to become the Middle Eastern’s tourism industry’s fastest growing sector owing to its wide range of top-notch spas, wellness centres and fitness facilities. In tandem with that, different brands are contending to capture the attention and cater to the demands of their discerning patrons by developing innovative yet personalised wellness services and packages. We converse with the prominent players of this segment to comprehend how the destinations are adopting innovative practices to earn a loyal clientele and stand out in the Middle Eastern Wellness Tourism market while showing an upward trend in the growth chart

AROUND THE WORLD ................14MAURITIUSThe Tropical Sanctuary of Blue and Beyond

SPECIAL FOCUS OUTBOUND ....17MORE TO MAURITIUS: THRILLING

REGULARS

Trade ........................................... 4Hospitality ................................. 12Aviation ..................................... 18What’s On .................................. 22Appointments ........................... 30

Dear readers,

For our July issue, we enter into a blissed-out state gazing at wellness segment of the Middle East and how it has been impacting their tourism industry. The discerning travellers are seeking new and distinct wellness experiences and keeping this in consideration various tour and travel companies are alluring them with tailor-made packages offering authentic treatments, cutting-edge technology, world-class spas, wide-ranging wellness centres and a personalised itinerary. Majority of GCC countries are upping their ante with a wide range of wellness offerings and thereby, endorsing this segment in a big way and we chart their robust growth to find out how it is changing the face of wellness.

Moving ahead, Mauritius is often hailed as an island nation, in the lap of the Indian Ocean, where the sun shines all year round. It will leave you stunned by the sheer abundance of experiences that can be had on and off this idyllic island. With options like scaling up the mountains, flying out of planes, jumping into waterfalls,

diving into the Indian Ocean, soaking in the lush scenery on horseback or simply savouring the gentle breeze swaying your hammock from side to side. Also, we get in touch with Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA)’s Director Arvind Bundhun to understand how the tourism authority is planning to profit from the new forms of diversified tourism offerings meanwhile turning 'adventure' into their biggest attraction for the Middle Eastern travellers. For a relaxing vacation away from the hustle and bustle of the daily grind, the emirate of Fujairah is an ideal choice and certainly worth a visit. Travellers can bask in the glory of its mosques and museums, watch in awe the bull face-off or simply cruise around. We describe futher an array of uber-luxury hotels that can be kept in mind for an ideal wellness getaway in the coming months.

This issue brings news and reports about trade, special insights on hospitality, regional as well as aviation, outbound market and technology and the latest in tourism in the Middle East.

We value your feedback and suggestions, so please do write to us on varun@versatilemedia.in

Happy Reading!

ACTIVITIES AWAITIn conversation with Arvind Bundhun, Director, Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA), TSME comprehends that this island nation has so much to offer beyond just the hues of blues

SECIAL FOCUS WELLNESS ........24THE REGAL REPOSE UAE becoming the ideal destination for luxurious wellness

FOOTPRINTING MIDDLE EAST ..26FUJAIRAH Relax. Rejuvenate. Repeat

4 July 2019

UPDATETrade

Dubai-based luxury developer Damac has teamed up with SSH to breathe

new life into Oman’s Sultan Qaboos sea terminal, transforming it into one of the largest coastal tourist and lifestyle havens in the region. Mina Sultan Qaboos Waterfront is located in the 200-year-old historical centre of commerce in Muscat. Damac was chosen by the Oman Tourism Development Company to develop Port Sultan Qaboos into a world-class, mixed-use waterfront destination and to establish the port as an integral new tourism hub for Oman. The Mina Sultan Qaboos Waterfront Regeneration Project development will include two main zones, namely tourist port regeneration areas, as well as other project sites, such as Shotayfi Village, Al Rabia hilltop parcels and Hay Al Mina. SSH was subsequently awarded the scope of detailing the master plan and completing the infrastructure of the new waterfront destination. In addition, SSH is carrying out design consultancy services for the buildings and components of Zone 1 – Bab Al Mina. The Bab Al Mina zone covers a built-up area of approximately 150,000-sq-m and includes a four-star hotel, residential blocks comprising 430 units and several retail and entertainment offerings. “SSH is very happy to be working collaboratively with respected companies such as Omran and Damac on a project of this calibre,” said Omar Nuri, General Manager – Oman, at SSH. “We look forward to delivering an outstanding development that will have a positive social as well as economic impact on Oman. The ultimate vision is that the transformation of the Mina Sultan Qaboos Waterfront area will contribute to the sultanate becoming a leading tourism destination in the MENA region.”

Saudi Arabia forecast to see continued tourism growth

Oman's oldest port to be revamped into a coastal tourist haven

Turkey sees a significant rise in tourist traffic from the UAETurkey's popularity as a tourist destination

for UAE nationals continues to rise, with the country welcoming a total of 13,296 Emiratis within the first four months of the year, figures released by the Turkish Cultural and Tourism Office in Dubai showed. A total of 4,466 UAE nationals travelled to Turkey during the month of April, representing a 34.27 pc increase when compared April last year. On the heels of this growth, several non-stop flights have been launched from Sharjah International Airport to Turkish cities, with Air Arabia flying into Antalya and Trabzon, and Turkish Airlines flying between the emirate and Istanbul. Meanwhile, a total of 110 flights now depart from the UAE’s airports for several destinations across Turkey each week.

“We are delighted to see Turkey climb to one of the most popular tourist destinations

for Emiratis as well as other Gulf nationals. Visitors from neighbouring nations have always played a significant role in driving economic growth within Turkey by boosting its tourism sector,” commented Salih Ozer, Attaché of Culture and Information, Turkey to the UAE. Over 8,735,200 tourists from around the world flew into Turkey in April, representing a 24 per cent increase in comparison to April last year. Turkey’s Mediterranean province of Antalya also recently broke its record for the number of tourists arriving by air on a single day — 85,205 visitors flew into the city on June 8. Inbound tourist traffic per month also rose by 17 per cent in June with 570,422 visitors to the city. So far, 3,870,211 tourists have visited Antalya this year, an 18 per cent increase when compared to the same period last year.

Saudi Arabia will see continued growth in the hotel sector across the kingdom, fueled

by increasing demand from tourists, according to a new report. The latest data released by Expedia Group disclosed that travellers from the USA, UAE and UK topped the list for travel demand into Saudi Arabia in 2018. With travel bookings in the kingdom considered the largest in MENA, the power of the international traveller growth to Saudi Arabia is expected to remain strong.

The USA saw over 110 pc year-on-year growth in demand compared to the same period in 2017 with almost 45 pc share of total room nights; UAE saw a whopping year-on-year (yoy) growth of above 140 pc than last year with almost 20 pc share of total room nights whilst the UK had more than 10 pc share of room nights with a yoy growth of above 40 pc. The data also revealed strong growth in package demand from travellers in India, seeing above 200 pc yoy increase, as well as Spain with an increase of 200 pc yoy. According to the Savills report, recent tourism growth in Saudi Arabia has been driven by three key demand pools: leisure, pilgrim and corporate visitors. According to data from Colliers international arrivals to Saudi Arabia are expected to increase 5.6 pc per year from 17.7 million in 2018 to 23.3 million in 2023. Religious tourism

is expected to remain the bedrock of the sector over the next decade, with a goal of attracting 30 million pilgrims to the kingdom by 2030, an increase of 11 million from the 19 million Hajj and Umrah pilgrims that visited the country in 2017. Factors contributing to this significant increase could be initiatives made by the Saudi Arabian government to boost tourism in the country as part of their Vision 2030, such as issuing tourist e-visas in ‘three-minutes’, rolling out special one-off event visas , expansions of the Grand Mosque in Makkah to accommodate a greater number of religious tourists in the coming years and the ‘Kafalah’ programme initiative to finance commercial establishments for tourism projects in Saudi Arabia.

6 July 2019

Wellness tourism has progressed by leaps and bounds to become the Middle Eastern’s tourism industry’s fastest growing sector

owing to its wide range of top-notch spas, wellness centres and fitness facilities. In tandem with that, different brands are

contending to capture the attention and cater to the demands of their discerning patrons by developing innovative yet personalised wellness services and packages. The recent trends include rising

number of comprehensive and authentic wellness resorts, innovative therapies and Ayurveda being the sought-after choice

among so many more wellness travellers. We converse with the prominent players of this segment to comprehend how the

destinations are adopting innovative practices to earn a loyal clientele and stand out in the Middle Eastern Wellness Tourism market while showing an upward

trend in the growth chartBy Kritika Dua

In pursuit of balance

COVERStory

ME augments its wellness potential

7July 2019

StoryCOVER

Robin Parry

With the growing cognizance on fitness, mindfulness and well-being becoming pervasive and entrenched in our society, the wellness tourism segment is mushrooming across the globe. The UAE wellness and spa travel market represent around 15 per cent of the overall tourism market. Dubai alone recorded a 10 per cent growth in 2018 that made over USD 500 billion of reveue and it is undoubtedly a rapidly evolving niche segment within the global tourism economy.

This noteworthy growth has led to a remarkable shift in the manner wellness services are being consumed. What was previously viewed as an indulgence or add-on service, are now being entwined into the daily lives as a common affair be it a relaxing treatment after a hectic work schedule or a rejuvenating experience during a vacation. Leveraging on their rising popularity are an enormous percentage of boutique hotels, spa and wellness centres and wellness retreats. The wellness services range from authentic Middle Eastern spas, hammam, in-room yoga mats, Ayurveda, advanced fitness facilities, Reflexology, Sound Therapy and Halotherapy, among others. The demand for wellness offerings is expected to prevail considering the greater emphasis on stress management. UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Morocco increasingly appeal to a broad range of tourists seeking well-being-related treatments of global standards which is not possible without advanced technology and highly specialised and trained staff.

The current global wellness trends, as stated in the 2018 Global Wellness Trends Report are transformative wellness travel, the wellness kitchen, extreme challenges, treatments and experiences that aim to redefine human limits, efforts to sustain happiness and the feminist wellness trend built around women empowerment. Bryce Young, Director of Emerging Markets, G Adventures comments upon the flourishing global wellness tourism

market and the sheer variety of wellness treatments in the market, “The wellness industry, globally, is an incredibly diverse sector with a huge variety of retreats, workshops, tours and day sessions available to travellers. This wealth of product allows them to pick and choose the well-being experience suiting their needs, be it a medi-spa in Europe such as Henri Chenot or the Viva Mayr or more exclusive holistic wellness retreats such as Chiva Som in Thailand. Travellers can pick the wellness offerings based on their interest, results it offers and the kind of experience they are seeking be it dedicated yoga practice, detoxing, gut health or focused meditation.”

Christopher Lund, Head of Hotels, Colliers International MENA says that undoubtedly UAE can be considered as a pioneer in the Middle East’s Wellness Tourism market and emphasises on the latest data published by Global Wellness Institute. Based on that, the UAE ranks first in the Middle East wellness tourism market for the maximum number of trips made, with over 1.8 million trips recorded. On average, a wellness tourist, whether inbound or domestic, would spend approximately USD 2,000 per trip. The country also continues to be the region’s largest spa market, serving a diverse customer base catering to both domestic and inbound demand. MENA region’s wellness tourism

market is estimated to grow annually at 11.8 per cent between 2017 and 2022.

Lund informs that most countries in the Middle East are taking steps to integrate wellness tourism to their national tourism strategy and promoting it on their tourism websites. “Saudi Arabia, for instance, has set wellness tourism as a target for national investment promotion. ‘Wellness’ has become one of the keys components/concepts for many newly launched megaprojects in Saudi Arabia. A few examples include Amaala, a luxury destination project that focuses on wellness tourism while other mega-projects such as The Red Sea project and NEOM will also cover wellness as one of the key components. Governments across the region are looking into large-scale resort spa developments and exploring both wellness and medical tourism including the Phase 2 development of Dubai Healthcare City, development of dedicated wellness centres such as the MAG Creek Wellbeing Resort in Dubai and the eco-friendly Al Zorah Development in Ajman are some of the latest developments seen in UAE.”

Besides this, there has also been a growing focus on developing natural resources such as the thermal or mineral springs in the region, asserts Lund and elucidates with the tactical initiatives taken by certain Middle Eastern countries for promotion of wellness tourism.

Bryce YoungChristopher Lund

8 July 2019

StoryCOVER

Oman has started promoting its natural springs on its national tourism website and Saudi Arabia is promoting investment in hot springs to attract domestic and regional tourists for both wellness and medical tourism. It’s affirmative news that they are leveraging upon their natural resources as the thermal/mineral springs market of the ME region has number one recent growth rate worldwide at 30 per cent a year, reveals the recent data published by Global Wellness Institute.

Various travel and tour operating companies curate personalised wellness packages based upon the particular preferences of their clientele and in turn do their bit to endorse the various wellness destinations in the Middle East. The primary focus of Emirates Holidays is promoting Dubai as a wellness destination. Besides which, the key markets targeted for wellness and medical holidays include Kuwait and Saudi Arabia and the local market in the UAE. The company plans to expand its reach to more markets over time, their packages include return flights on Emirates; a three to four day stay at a hotel property renowned for its health and wellness facilities and a selection of spa and wellness treatments, including a health and wellness programme tailored to the client’s specific needs and daily meals.

The aim of these packages designed by Emirates Holidays is that the customers can revel in flying in the award-winning Emirates, witnessing the best of Dubai’s sights and improving their health and well-being. “We train our support team and educate them on the details that each package offers so that they can make knowledgeable recommendations to customers and communicate our propositions clearly and effectively. We have also diligently worked with our partners to ensure a seamless end-to-end customer journey. Emirates Holidays has selected and opted to work with reputable partners to guarantee that the highest-quality wellness services and experiences are incorporated into our packages,” shares Robin Parry, Vice President, Emirates Holidays when asked about the initiatives taken by the company for

this segment’s growth. The burgeoning health and wellness tourism has provided a significant growth opportunity both for Emirates Holidays and Dubai as a destination.

He adds that they regularly run marketing campaigns to help communicate their value-for-money proposition within the wellness realm using numerous channels in the company’s key markets to promote its packages, in addition to regular joint promotions with the Dubai Health Authority. Furthermore, he reveals how the agreement with Dubai Health Authority’s Health Tourism Council helped in the further growth of wellness tourism in Dubai. Parry asserts, “The agreement signed in 2018 between Emirates Holidays and the Dubai Health Authority has enabled us to work closely together to offer visitors tailor-made, high-quality health and wellness holidays in Dubai. We are pleased with the awareness this partnership has generated to successfully tap into the ever-increasing demand from travellers and visitors for health and wellness tourism.”

He reveals that since the initiation of this collaboration they have been able to connect with and forge strong partnerships with suppliers such as world-class spas, wellness centres, health facilities and travel companies to provide a range of well-curated and bespoke packages and create a unique destination travel experience for the health-conscious travellers. “Looking further afield, wellness tourism in Dubai will continue its growth momentum as more travellers adopt this lifestyle and mindset as a key decision driver to visit the city,” believes Parry. They will help to bolster the emirate’s position on the world map as a centre of excellence for this industry with the support of Dubai Health Authority,

Young divulges details on their unique take on a well-being experience, “G Adventures launched the new wellness travel style in October last year, with first departures taking place this summer. We have taken a different approach to the well-being experience by combining wellness and adventure together. Our travellers are seeking enhanced wellness

experiences but still want to explore a new destination rather than spending a week in a retreat centre. They want to visit some of the world's most striking countries, meet locals, taste fresh locally-sourced produce and all while having the opportunity to return home feeling rested and reconnected with themselves and the planet.” He further adds that their wellness tour destinations have been hand-picked to help travellers slow down and recenter using the three pillars of movement, mindfulness and nourishment. Each location offers unique local wellness rituals to enhance travellers' experience with local well-being practices as well.

Young gives us a glimpse of their tailor-made wellness tours, “The new wellness tours focus on setting an intention with the travellers. Each traveller seeks something different out of their wellness tour, knowing that our qualified Chief Experience Officers sit with each one of them to comprehend their intention behind embarking on this wellness journey. If a traveller wants to eat solely vegan cuisine, practice yoga daily and meditate regularly, then the trip will cater to this. If, however, the traveller wants to relax, sleep but also taste the local cuisine and enjoy a bowl of delicious pasta, that is also fine as it is all about maintaining a balance.” The Wellness tours by G Adventures are designed to be accessible to travellers with all levels of wellness experiences. The company is attracting female travellers in particular, who are interested in intention-setting, unique locations and an opportunity to experience a blend of well-being and adventure with local rituals included.

In order to augment the wellness business, Lund suggests that certain elements should be identified beforehand such as the primary purpose of visit whether it is wellness or not, type of service expected (health, spa, mind-body, spiritual, fitness or eco-adventure) and the unique experience that destination can offer. He adds that the focus should be on offering authentic experiences and the guests should be able to connect with that destination’s community and its environment.

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غير مكتشفة بعد.إنها تايوان

إن تايوان هي عنوان للطبيعة في أبهى حلة! شواطئ لم يمسها أي خلل، كرز مزدهر

وأودية رائعة.“إن تايوان بلد جمالها أخاذ، كذلك شواطئها، ومناظرها الساحلية، ومزاراتها التاريخية.

في تايوان يمكنك استكشاف حياة حضارية سريعة ومشغولة، ويمكنك التسوق حتىالتعب، وتناول مأكوالت مذهلة أو االسترخاء في الينابيع الطبيعية الحارة.”

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Eastbound tourism LLCTaiwan Tourism Bureau, Representative Office in Middle East & Turkey: Near Burj Khalifa, P.O. Box 114551, Dubai, UAE

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For any enquires or further information for Taiwan Tourism, please contact

TAIWAN TOURISM BUREAU, REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE IN UAE:Wafi Mall, 3rd Floor, PO Box 114100, Dubai, UAE

Email: farisj@vfsglobal.com | Facebook: www.facebook.com/ttbmiddleeast

10 July 2019

UPDATETrade

Global Travel signs Sabre as an exclusive technology provider

Nijhawan Group forays into the GCC market with its new representation vertical

Expedia Partner Solutions, dcs plus announce new partnershipExpedia Partner Solutions (EPS),

the B2B brand within Expedia Group, is bringing its competitive rates and availability for more than 500,000 accommodations to technology specialist dcs plus and its travel partners. The new venture enabled through EPS's newest hotel API, Rapid, will broaden and deepen dcs plus’s inventory offering, particularly in emerging markets in Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and Latin America.

With the implementation of EPS Rapid, dcs plus will be able to offer its partners access to 35 different accommodation types including hotels, resorts, treehouses

and houseboats, across more than 25,000 global destinations. The API’s modular architecture also allows for versatility to meet partners’ varying needs. Fritz Oberhummer, Director of Account Management Platforms, EPS, EMEA said, “Dcs plus’ reliable solutions have allowed us to expand our reach and provide travel agents and travel management companies across the world with access to EPS’ extensive accommodation portfolio, through EPS Rapid. Dcs plus combines its accommodation offering from EPS with travel products, such as flights and car hire, to build dynamic packaging solutions for travel agents.”

Global Travel and Tourism, one of the leading travel agencies in

the Kingdom of Bahrain, has signed an exclusive multi-year agreement with Sabre Corporation to continue the use of its innovative technology and platform to manage travel. Under this agreement, Global Travel will continue to access Sabre’s portfolio of innovative technology and its intelligent platform Sabre Red 360, allowing it to harness more data, content and flexibility to differentiate its offering, compete more effectively and grow faster in the region.

“As a key customer for Sabre for more than a decade, we’re thrilled to continue to support the future growth and plans of Global Travel,” said Abdul Razzaq-Iyer, Vice President, Sabre Travel Network Middle East.

“We are constantly evolving our technology, enabling us to offer agencies faster innovation and more flexible solutions infused with data-driven insights. We stand ready to help Global Travel achieve its mission to enter the online travel space and solve travel challenges.” Online travel is growing significantly in the Middle East driven by high adoption for consumer technologies and high expectations from the travel players. Studies indicate that online travel bookings represent approximately 32 pc of the overall ME travel market and this is projected to reach 40 pc by 2021. “We are delighted to renew our long-standing partnership with Sabre to support our plans to enter the online space,” said Suhaib Kidwai, CEO, Global Travel and Tours.

By Sayanti Halder

Consolidating a strong base for its representation vertical in India, the Nijhawan Group now forays into the Middle East

and GCC markets with ‘Elev8’, its new venture for representation. Conventionalised by the hospitality veteran of the Middle East tourism market, Seema Pande who would also be one of the co-directors of this joint venture, Elev8 would involve “90 per cent of representation and 10 per cent of consultancy services,” as Pande mentions. “I would be giving equal amount of energy in consulting considering my past experiences. We will get the ground running, at the earliest,” adds Pande.

Pande, who has been based out of Dubai for nearly 25 years shares that the idea of Elev8 is a result of her exchange of casual business thoughts with both Ankush and Priyanka Nijhawan. “My experience of launching several hospitality brands in the Middle East will come handy and Ankush has his vast reach in the India market that would further augment this association.” She further shares, “Considering the abundant presence of representation companies in the Middle East, what we would be looking at is to become that niche company who would have the right number of clients in order to stand apart, putting in quality service and undivided attention for them.”

Talking about this expansion, Ankush Nijhawan, MD of Nijhawan Group says, “I am pleased to share that Nijhawan Group will now establish its representation portfolio on a global footprint; the Middle East and GCC to begin with, considering its top growing markets in terms of outbound travel from across the globe after India and China. Considering Seema’s enormous grasp and relationship across the entire GCC market, we are pleased to come together with her. Seema and I would be of equal partnerships and look at both the reputed and emerging accounts of the GCC market.”

Currently, Elev8 is representing Tropical Escape’s vacation rental homes based out of Orlando under the supervision of two senior personnel including Pande, herself. By the year-end, she expects to have a dedicated team of three to four members and selective along with achieving around five to six niche accounts.

Ankush Nijhawan Seema Pande

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12 July 2019

Hotels in Muscat will increase in value by nearly 22 per cent by 2022,

largely erasing the loss of value of hotel investments witnessed over the period 2015 to 2018, according to hotel and hospitality analysts, HVS. With oil price falls and a subsequent loss of confidence in the Omani economy in 2015 to 2018, the value per hotel key - the standard industry metric for valuing hotels - lost 31 per cent in value between 2015 to 2018 to be OMR 41,300 (USD 106,972) in 2018.

However, the latest HVS assessment points to increasing hotel values with a rise in HVS's hotel valuation index of 21.9 per cent over the period 2019 to 2022. The positive outlook for Muscat is second only to Doha - which also suffered a downturn in values, of 35 per cent, in 2015 to 2018 - in the 14 regional cities considered by HVS. This encouraging perspective comes as there is increasing discussion in Oman of ways in which the hospitality industry and tourism more generally, can grow.

In responding to the positive outlook highlighted by the HVS report, Mac Thomson, Chief Executive Officer of hotel and asset management group, MMIS, said “The latest report from HVS is a reminder for the hotel and hospitality sector that most trends in the industry are cyclical. The downturn in the market over the past few years was a result of many factors out of the industries control. Now it is time for the private sector to play its part in promoting Oman more as a very attractive leisure destination and providing the accommodation and experiences that local and international visitors are seeking.”

“Hotel operators need to look at the growing tourism markets such as China and India and understand what will encourage them to visit Oman. For example, the number of Chinese tourists travelling to the GCC is expected to increase by 81 per cent, from 1.6 million in 2018 to 2.9 million in 2022. This represents less than six per cent of the Chinese international tourists and less than four per cent of the Chinese population has passports. So there remains a massive market potential, as long as local operators take efforts to encourage this market to visit Oman,” Thomson said.

Another matter that is being addressed is the lack of midrange accommodation within Muscat. Tourists are keen to see affordable hotel rooms that provide international standards. “With nearly half of the current hotel keys being in the four- and five-star category, it is time the hospitality sector moved its focus away from the top-end hotels to affordable accommodation favoured by more budget-conscious visitors," he said.

“Oman offers an extraordinary mix of cultural and natural environment experiences to which we should be adding the health and wellness and adventure tourism experiences that have proved so attractive elsewhere in the world. His Majesty’s Government and the Ministry of Tourism have made an admirable commitment to the sector with the 25-year National Tourism Strategy with major investments in airline and airport infrastructure, and an easing of visa requirements,” Thomson added.

Hotel valuations to rebound in Muscat

Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority has bestowed its prestigious 'five-stars’

rating once more on Le Meridien Abu Dhabi, after completing a massive renovation. One of Abu Dhabi’s original urban resorts and iconic landmark dating 40 years. Abu Dhabi National Hotels, which owns the property, has completed a comprehensive renovation, which included an extensive transformation to all 248 guestrooms, suites and public spaces. The hotel’s restoration embraced the culture and vivacity behind Le Meridien brand while providing its sophisticated and self-assured guests with the highest degree of luxury service and accommodations. “As a leading hospitality company, our strategy has always been to restore and modernise our existing hotels and I am pleased to see the outcome of the comprehensive renovation of Le Meridien Abu Dhabi,” said Khalid Anib, Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi National Hotels.

Citymax Hotels, a part of the hospitality division of Landmark Group, has

announced the opening of its ‘ladies only floor’. This is a first for Citymax Hotels and will be available for bookings at the newly-opened Citymax Hotel Al Barsha in Dubai. On this exclusive floor, guests will be attended to by an all-female service team. This announcement follows the recent hospitality trend in the market catering to solo or group female travellers. “We are very happy to be able to provide female travellers with a dedicated floor, for women and by women, to be free and have some extra privacy. The Citymax brand takes pride in finding unique ways to meet the needs of our valued customers and making their stay extra special, keeping the well-being and safety of our guests at the highest level. This concept is very relevant here, being an Arab country where the tradition for most services is separate for men and women,” said the hotel's General Manager Joanne Williams.

Le Meridien Abu Dhabi regains five-star status

Citymax Al Barsha launches 'ladies only' floor

UPDATEHospitality

13July 2019

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is continuing to expand its footprint across

Saudi Arabia with the signing of voco Makkah, in partnership with Maad International, one of the kingdom’s largest hospitality real estate development companies. The property will be the largest voco in the world, when operational in early 2020, and it will cater to the growing number of religious tourists in Saudi Arabia. The 4,200-room hotel will take IHG’s portfolio in the country to over 19,500 rooms, solidifying IHG’s position as one of the largest hospitality players in Saudi Arabia.

Voco Makkah will occupy a premium location within the greater Maad Hospitality Towers Development, a mega mixed-use development that includes restaurants, lounge areas, event halls and separate male and female prayer halls. Situated in one of the most sought-after locations in the Holy City, the new hotel is within walking distance of Masjid Al Haram, and it will provide an ideal base for pilgrims along with an exceptional guest experience including over 20,000 sq m of dining and meeting facilities. Since being launched globally just over a year ago, voco has enjoyed rapid growth with multiple signings

across the Middle East. After the signing of voco Al Khobar earlier this year, voco Makkah will be the second voco-branded hotel in Saudi Arabia. voco Makkah will also be IHG’s fourth hotel in Makkah.

Pascal Gauvin, Managing Director, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG said, “We are honoured to enter into this agreement with Maad International, which is one of the most renowned hospitality development companies in the kingdom. They have a unique vision not only for the hotel sector but also for Saudi Arabia as a sought-after destination. We are also proud to add this landmark property to our longstanding portfolio in Saudi Arabia. Having opened our first hotel InterContinental Riyadh in 1975, we have gained significant experience and expertise in running successful operations in KSA, and particularly in Makkah.”

He added, “Religious tourism is expected to increase further year on year to gradually reach 30 million visitors by 2030. We look forward to catering to the influx of pilgrims at voco Makkah, which will provide a welcoming, comfortable and reliably different experience during the Hajj and Umrah seasons.”

Following the positive trend from 2018, the Egyptian hospitality market continues to

experience strong growth in performance levels, new data shows. According to Colliers International’s MENA Hotel Forecast for 2019 - June issue, the Egyptian markets saw an average revenue per available room (RevPAR) growth of 24 pc in the first five months of 2019 compared to the same period last year. The report also showed that the Beirut hotel market witnessed strong growth in performance with double-digit growth in RevPAR within the first five months of 2019. Increase in performance levels can be attributed to the growing number of European tourists, with French tourists topping the list, followed by Germans and the British. The lifting of the travel warning from Saudi Arabia is also expected to have a positive impact. The Beirut market is forecasted to see a RevPAR growth of 14 pc

in 2019. GCC hospitality markets such as Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, Fujairah, Jeddah, Madinah, Al Khobar and Kuwait city will see RevPAR drop this year, possibly due to the entry of new supply, analysts revealed. The RevPAR of Muscat (Oman) and Aqaba (Jordan) and Muscat are expected to stay flat in 2019. Bahrain is expected to experienced healthy performance levels this year, with hotels in the kingdom forecasted to record an average RevPAR growth of six pc. Analysts also noted that hotels in Abu Dhabi will see RevPAR inch up two/three pc this year, while hotels in Makkah and Amman are expected to see a slight decrease in RevPAR, down two pc and three pc respectively. Overall, analysts forecast that Egypt, Lebanon and Bahrain will experience an uptick in foreign arrivals, with RevPAR moving upwards, while the rest of the ME will see RevPAR either move downwards or stay flat in 2019.

Emirates has partnered with world-renowned hotel providers

to offer its passengers travelling to and through Dubai attractive summer rates in some of the UAE’s most prestigious hotels. Customers who purchase an Emirates ticket and travel from now until September 30 can enjoy exclusive summer hotel rates in any of the properties within Accor, Armani Hotel Dubai, Emaar Hospitality Group and Marriot during their stay in the UAE. Visitors can take advantage of up to 30 per cent off best available rates provided by Accor.

Armani Hotel Dubai is offering Emirates passengers up to 35 pc off on best available rates. Marriot boasts a diverse brand portfolio and the hotel chain is offering Emirates passengers up to 25 pc off selected best available rates at any of its properties across the UAE. Emaar Hospitality Group is offering Emirates customers up to 35 pc off best available rates. Emirates customers visiting Dubai during the summer can also benefit from exclusive offers using My Emirates Pass valid until August 31. The exclusive pass allows customers to redeem up to 50 pc off in over 400 fine dining restaurants, luxury wellness treatments in almost 50 spas and leisure activities. Customers can also take advantage and redeem up to 30 pc off at international retail outlets.

IHG to open world’s largest voco hotel in Saudi Arabia

Egypt hotel market witnesses strong performance

Emirates offers exclusive hotel rates in the UAE

UPDATEHospitality

MAURITIUSThe Tropical Sanctuary of Blue and Beyond

It was the reputed Mark Twain who once said, “You gather the idea that Mauritius was made first and then heaven was copied after Mauritius.” Officially called the Republic of Mauritius, this island nation is nestled in the Indian Ocean, off the southeast coast of the

African continent. It is often referred to as the ‘Continent-Island’ due to its diverse cultures and ethnicities, acting like a melting pot of all that is best!

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JIG TO THE BEATS OF SEGA DANCINGA regal retreat located on the banks of the Dubai Water Canal, Habtoor Palace Dubai is Dubai’s first-ever integrated urban resort. Situated at an enviable location, the hotel is just a 20-minute drive from Dubai International Airport and a 40-minute drive from Al Maktoum International Airport. It is simply minutes away from city’s key attractions, locales of Downtown and Uptown Dubai, business districts of Business Bay and Dubai International Financial Centre. Habtoor Palace quaintly sits alongside two other hotels, three high-rise residential towers, as well as the city’s first amphitheatre water show La Perle by Dragone. It’s a riveting acrobatics show and the area’s biggest attraction.

BLEND IN WITH THE VIBE OF PORT LOUISThe capital city of Mauritius, Port Louis is known for its French colonial architecture and the 19th-century Champ de Mars, the oldest horse-racing course in the southern hemisphere served in the envelope of extravagance. In 1735, the French governor Mahé de La Bourdonnais made Port Louis a key harbour in this part of the Indian Ocean. Travellers can feast their eyes on the colourful fruit and vegetable market, letting their senses be awakened by the scent of oriental spices in China Town with its restaurants serving delicious dishes. For another stunning view, Marie Reine de la Paix, on the side of Signal Mountain, is an ideal choice.

14 July 2019

AROUNDThe World

SOAK IN THE GOLDEN SUN AND SILVER BEACHESMauritius is reputed to possess some of the most amazing white coral sand beaches and crystal blue lagoons that contrast vividly with the backdrop of black volcanic mountains. The best beaches are definitely worth a visit are Pereybere, Flic en Flac, Le Morne, Belle Mare, Blue Bay and Ile aux Cerfs. The picturesque Mauritian beaches seem like an utmost contemplation of Mother Nature who has tried all the possible hues and beauties of blue, white, golden and green on a blank canvas. A good way to discover the differences between the North, East, South and West, is to drive around the coast visiting the different beaches. Each region is unique and has so many treasures waiting to be discovered.

PLUNGE INTO THE WATER WONDERSLife in Mauritius revolves around the alluring, warm waters of the Indian Ocean that, in return, surrounds the entire isle. Mauritius is a well-known diving destination and snorkelling can be done in most of the lagoons. Visitors can take advantage of this water paradise by trying their hands on each of the thrilling and unique water activities that Mauritius has to offer. There are a plethora of water sports in Mauritius to pick from including pedaloes, kayaks, water skis, sea karting, surfing, windsurfing, stand up paddleboarding, glass-bottom boats, catamaran cruises, dolphin watching and big game-fishing, to name a few. For the more adventurous lot of visitors, there are an underwater walk, submarine trips and parasailing. One and all would be amazed at the sea life at Mauritius.

WITNESS A DIFFERENT SET OF SEVEN COLOURS IN CHAMARELContinuing to speak of hues, next comes the Chamarel that rises around 283 meters above the sea level and is reached by a panoramic route, which cuts through the luxurious tropical forest surrounding it. The region of Chamarel is a relatively small area of sand dunes comprising sand of seven distinct colours (approximately red, brown, violet, green, blue, purple and yellow). The colours evolved through conversion of basaltic lava to clay minerals. The seven-coloured soil here is a unique volcanic geological phenomenon and a prominent tourist attraction. There are many places to stop to admire the exquisite view and take photos. Another prime spot is an 83-metre high waterfall, a treasure not-to-be missed.

RELISH THE SWEET CONCOCTION OF SUGAR, RUM AND TEAMauritius’s history and prosperity have been ever-linked to the sugar cane industry. The L’Aventure du Sucre museum in Pamplemousses will give you a fascinating look at how the country’s history is intertwined with sugar. Nowadays, its by-products, such as rum has emerged as an extremely popular product that attracts several tourists across the globe. Alongside, the tea route of Mauritius is equally popular with both local and international tourists, allowing them to visit traditional tea plantations, tea factories and museums to learn about how tea is produced. Sample the delicious and unique tea blends, most notably Mauritian vanilla tea, among the world's best! Make sure you buy some to take back home as a souvenir.

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15July 2019

AROUNDThe World

GO GREEN AT THE PAMPLEMOUSSES BOTANICAL GARDENThe Pamplemousse Botanical Garden, more popularly known as the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden, in Mauritius is unquestionably one of the most visited attractions in this island. Created over 300 years ago by the famous French botanist Pierre Poivre, the garden is the oldest in the Southern Hemisphere and boasts a plethora of indigenous plants. There are also giant tortoises, Java Deer and the remarkable water lilies. Visitors may take a break under one the many gazebos spread throughout the place to enjoy the charm of Pamplemousses Botanical Garden. The best way to enjoy the visit is to hire a local guide to witness an abundant rage of enthralling tree species, bearing interesting stories.

SAVOUR A WORLD OF GASTRONOMIC DELIGHTA huge part of discovering and understanding Mauritian culture is in its food. Often described as the 'melting pot of flavours', Mauritius offers a wide variety of food from different cuisines as a number of markets sell global food products in Mauritius. It is a foodies’ paradise coming to a country that offers everything from Michelin-star chefs, fine dining and tempting roadside snacks and beverages. The delicate ‘heart of palm’ salad is famous in Mauritius that hardly pinches the pocket. Travellers may sample the abundant street food ranging from dholl puris, samosas, gateaux arouille and gateaux piments both on and off the streets of Mauritius, in the many small restaurants and takeaway outlets. When eating in Mauritius; it’s delicious!

CULTURAL HERITAGE SITESWhile Mauritius is home to innumerable attractions, there are some significant sites and spots that ought to be explored for learning about the island’s heritage and culture. The Government House, a French colonial building built in 1738, the Port Louis Theatre steeped in history, the beautiful Central Post Office and Court of Justice buildings and the old prison adjacent to them all deserve a visit. Two UNESCO world heritage sites - Aapravasi Ghat and Le Morne - are well worth visiting as is the Vieux Grand Port historical route that houses several historical monuments including the Dutch landing site. Modern life and the old buildings harmoniously blend Mauritius past and present.

INHALE THE TRUE ESSENCE OF MAURITIUS: ITS PEOPLE!From Europe to China, the entire world is on one island! The striking natural beauty and diversity of Mauritius are reflected in the warmth of its people. The richness of their culture and heritage binds them together. It is said that Mauritians pride themselves on being able to live in harmony and respect the different religions and ethnic groups represented here, therefore, making Mauritius a paradise of amity and harmony: the much-needed aspects for global tourists! The best way to meet the locals would be on public beaches or in the shops and market places, where the people flock for a joyous time.

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AROUNDThe World

17July 2019

SPECIAL FOCUSOutbound

MORE TO MAURITIUS THRILLING ACTIVITIES AWAIT

In conversation with Arvind Bundhun, Director, Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA), TSME comprehends that this island nation has so much to offer beyond just the hues of blues. He also highlights how MTPA will be capitalising on these new forms of diversified tourism while promoting adventure as the biggest pull factor for the travellers from the Middle East

By Gagneet Kaur

A fascinating coastline, sun-kissed skies, palm-fringed beaches and sapphire blue waters have long lured the visitors to this beautiful destination. Yet beyond their eminently quaint aesthetics lies an island waiting to be discovered, be it hiking in the forested and mountainous interior, exceptional diving and snorkelling experiences, gastronomic delights or places acting as a melange of different cultures, Mauritius gives you more excellent reasons to visit, leaving you spellbound at the very first look. Bundhun couldn’t agree more when he expresses, “Mauritius, in my opinion, is melting cauldron of culture, gastronomy, ethnicities and religious interest and that is how we want to publicise Mauritius, in the near future.”

Mauritius has adapted to tourists’ more sophisticated demands by diversifying its offerings to them. There is no questioning the beauty of Mauritius' beaches however; the island has developed a variety of entertainment

opportunities aside from the

traditional beach tourism. As a result of this work, tourist numbers have risen, compared to the previous years. Further talking about its other sedate attractions and activities that are expected to lure more travellers especially from the Middle East, he continues to share, “We want to feature Mauritius beyond a beach destination considering the several other attributes that we have other than the Sun and sea. We have got loads of water activities which have recently launched including experiences such as submarine tours, big game fishing, sky diving and kite surfing. For those craving for more, there are underwater walks, submarine trips and parasailing. On top of that, we have started developing the interiors of the country. Mauritius would be 365 days, year-round destination for eco-tourism. We are putting a lot of effort into our facets of this segment and improvising our ecological sites and activities such as trekking and zip lining. Finally, we are also raising our cultural and religious aspects of Mauritius. We have got four separate religions, co-existing together harmoniously in Mauritius and therefore, this idea can be altered as a prospective point for tourism. During Ramadan seasons, we have a prosperous number of Muslim travellers coming to Mauritius to fast during the holy month of Ramadan. Therefore, Muslim travellers are not only coming for vacations in Mauritius but also during their fasting-period.”

Asked on how sustainable the tourism growth is from the Middle East market, Bundhun highlights, “We have been substantially growing the tourism industry by almost five per cent per year. Talking particularly about the Middle East, we have observed a phenomenal growth in the number of travellers coming to Mauritius with around 100 per cent increase from this potential market in the past five years. We have witnessed a constant nine to ten per cent of growth, year-on-year, which is quite sustainable.”

“The different segments of travellers that we would want to target from the Middle East

market would be families, honeymooners and

this year, we would be putting in a lot of impetus to attract the MICE travellers,” he adds.

Eyeing to double the efforts for the Middle East market this year, MTPA’s outline of marketing strategies would not just involve working closely with the tour operators but the efforts also being channelised through social media and other digital platforms. “Marketing for us has evolved a lot. Gone are the days when we would only be present in fairs and exhibitions, inviting the tour operators to come to us for sales. Our channels of sales have strategically changed. However, I would still want to highlight that Mauritius still remains the top tourism destination for tour operators. We have been present in fairs, participated in exhibitions, organised roadshows and press trips to Mauritius. We conducted giant marketing campaigns in collaboration with airlines. We are contemplating on a having a celebrity face, representing us for this market. Social media campaigns were already launched on May 15 to push the Ramadan period and the season afterward. We are already doing several social media campaigns with many OTAs. We are planning to launch another social media campaign soon, seeing the rising popularity of Facebook, Youtube and Instagram in order to give a direct push to our course of action for attracting more Middle Eastern tourists to our country,” highlights Bundhun.

While tropical beaches have always been a classic selling point for Mauritius, other segments like adventure, gastronomy and culture, have become the major draw cards for the tourists travelling to this island nation lately. “We would not just position Mauritius as the young beach destination to the travellers but will be putting spotlight on all the attributes that Mauritius has to offer including its gastronomy, religion, cultural and traditions to highlight the other side of Mauritius,” asserts Bundhun adding, “There’s something about Mauritius that other destinations don’t offer - our warmth of service and this is what would compel you to return to Mauritian shores time after time.”

18 July 2019

UPDATE

Baku’s Heydar Aliyev International Airport has partnered with Amadeus to implement a full suite of its core airport management

systems, making it the world's first fully cloud-based airport. The move comes as Azerbaijan and its capital city Baku prioritise global connectivity to enable business travellers and tourists to visit the Central Asian country. Also joining the airport in the drive for improved connectivity is Azerbaijan Airlines, which will be implementing the Altéa Passenger Service Systems (PSS) and Revenue Management solutions for improved passenger experience.

Amadeus’ Airport IT technology suite includes all its core airport management systems such as an operational database, resource management and flight information display systems. The airport will also deploy its key passenger processing systems using Amadeus’ cloud-based Airport Common Use Service. The implementation of these new airport systems will enable world-class operations at Baku’s international airport with all actors now working from a single, consistent view of operations without the need for manual updates. For airlines, passenger service systems are also mission-critical. Azerbaijan Airline’s signature for the Amadeus Altéa PSS will allow the airline to streamline its reservation, inventory, departure control and ticketing systems. The Amadeus Altéa Suite will enable the airline to deliver more consistent and personalised customer service, pursue additional revenue-generating opportunities, and improve operational efficiency.

Jordan's Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) welcomed a total of 583,662 passengers during the month of May, which is a 3.8 pc drop

when compared to the same month in 2018. According to the statistics released by the Airport International Group, QAIA recorded 6,061 aircraft movements (ACM) and 9,243 tons of cargo, signifying a 2.8 pc and 2.5 pc decline, respectively. Meanwhile, QAIA received 3,312,232 passengers between January and May of this year, marking a 5.2 pc increase in year-to-date (YTD) figures, in comparison with the first five months of 2018. Furthermore, YTD ACM rose by 4.6 pc to reach 30,524, whereas YTD cargo decreased by 6.6 pc to settle at 40,830 tons. “The numbers recorded at QAIA throughout the first five months of the year were generally positive, despite the marginal decline in our results for May, which was mainly due to the slower pace normally expected during the holy month of Ramadan. Nonetheless, we anticipate promising figures for the upcoming few months, particularly with the summer holidays in full swing,” said Airport International Group CEO, Kjeld Binger.

Azerbaijan airport to be 'world’s first fully cloud-based airport'

Over 583,00 passengers travel through Jordan airport in May

UAE's Etihad Airways has announced that it will resume flights between Abu Dhabi and Khartoum, Sudan, on July 16. Etihad

Flight EY 632 will depart Abu Dhabi at 9.50am every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, arriving four hours later at 11.50 am local time. The return service, flight EY 633 will depart at 12.50 pm, arriving in Abu Dhabi at 6.55 pm.

The airline suspended flights to Khartoum on June 9 due to security concerns in the city. "The safety of guests and staff is the highest priority for Etihad Airways, and the decision to resume services follows a detailed review of safety and security," the airline said in a statement.

Bahrain national carrier Gulf Air has signed a partnership deal with Emarsys - a leading independent marketing platform

company - to enhance its customer automated communication systems. With this deal, Gulf Air will now be able to connect to passengers prior to and post the flight experience and offer value-added and personalised communication. This will enhance the overall customer experience at every step of the journey. Emarsys features offered to Gulf Air include hyper-targeted promotions, data-driven newsletters, personalised content for Falconflyer members and customer behaviour tracking.

With the objective of ensuring a high level of customer satisfaction and enhancing customer experience, the airline will work closely with Emarsys to fully integrate communication platforms so as to stay agile and understand its customers’ interests on an individual basis, the airline said in a statement.

Etihad to resume flights to Khartoum

Gulf Air picks Emarsys to enhance automated communications

Aviation

Turkish Airlines has announced the signing of

a new codeshare deal with Kuwait Airways. The signing of the agreement took place at the Turkish Airlines headquarters in Istanbul and was attended by Bilal Eksi, General Manager of Turkish Airlines and Yousef Al-Jassem Al-Saqer, Chairman of Kuwait Airways, along with a delegation from both airlines.

Eski said, "I am pleased with the new codeshare agreement signed with Kuwait Airways. The agreement will not only contribute to the carrier’s existing commercial relations with Kuwait Airways but also offer alternative connections between Turkey and Kuwait for Turkish Airlines passengers. Both Turkish Airlines and Kuwait Airways will work closely to offer the best services to our passengers and improve the

customer experience.” The new deal will see Kuwait Airways' code added to Turkish Airlines flights, and Turkish Airlines' code added to Kuwait Airways flights operated between Kuwait and Istanbul/Sabiha Gokcen Airports. The bilateral codeshare partnership will commence from August 1.

Al-Saqer said, “We welcome Turkish Airlines as a codeshare partner. The agreement will support Kuwait Airways and Turkish Airlines operating between the two cities and allow more travel options, facilities for the public to take advantage of the services provided by the carriers. Furthermore, this codeshare partnership will not only enhance the relationship between the two airlines but also the strong relationship between the two brotherly states, Kuwait and Turkey.”

A key airport primarily to serve pilgrims to Makkah has received the go-ahead, following the allocation of state-owned land for

the project, said a media report. The Emir of Makkah Prince Khaled Al Faisal and Minister of Finance Muhammad Al Jadaan signed an agreement to allocate land for implementing the Al Faisaliah airport project at a ceremony held in Jeddah, according to a news report. The land has been allocated in the Al Faisaliah City project, which will be constructed over a 2,450-sq-km area in the western part of Makkah, extending from the Makkah Haram boundary to the Red Sea coast of Al Shuaiba in the west. The new airport will be linked to Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport in collaboration with the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), the report said.

Another agreement was also signed sealing the partnership and kick-starting work on Al-Faisaliah after the completion of studies and designs for the project. Meanwhile, Ihsan Bafakih, Governor, Real Estate General Authority and Fahd Al Sudairi, CEO, Saudi Electricity Company (SEC), signed an agreement granting SEC the right to use the Al-Faisaliah site for a 2,600-MW solar project that aims to provide power to around 340,000 homes. This agreement is in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and within the framework of efforts to diversify the energy sources.

Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa's low-cost carrier, has announced

the launch of direct flights between Malaysian capital city Kuala Lumpur and Sharjah. The seven-hour flight between the two cities is the first direct flight by a low-cost carrier connecting Malaysia with the UAE and GCC.

The inaugural flight that landed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) was received by an official delegation including YB Datuk Mohammadin bin Ketapi, Minister of Tourism, Arts & Culture Malaysia; YM Raja Azmi Raja Nazuddin, Group Chief Executive Officer Malaysia Airports; Adel Al Ali, Air

Arabia Group Chief Executive Officer, Senior Management of Malaysia Airports, Air Arabia, UAE Embassy & Tourism Malaysia and media. The welcoming function was then followed by a press conference held upon arrival in KLIA.

Commenting on the inaugural launch of the route, Al Ali said, “We are delighted to be the first low-cost airline to connect Kuala Lumpur with the UAE and GCC. We are confident this new service linking the two cities will further strengthen the trade and tourism ties between both nations while providing our customers with a great value-for-money option to travel between both

countries and beyond. We thank Malaysia Airports & Tourism Malaysia for their warm welcome and continuous support.”

Mohamadin Ketapi said, “This year, our target is to have 337,100 tourists from West Asia region and I believe that the establishment of Air Arabia’s Sharjah-Kuala Lumpur route will certainly help with increasing tourist arrivals from this region. The flight couldn’t have come at a better time as we are also aggressively promoting Malaysia in the run-up to our Visit Malaysia 2020 campaign.” The seven-hour flight operates daily.

Turkish Airlines, Kuwait Airways ink codeshare deal

New airport to take shape at Saudi Arabia’s Al-Faisaliah City

Air Arabia launches direct flights to Kuala Lumpur

19July 2019

UPDATEAviation

22 July 2019

UPDATEWhat's on

Taiwan, the Heart of Asia, has recently witnessed growing number of

Muslim travellers coming to Taiwan. In order to comprehend this progressive growth, we hand-picked the top five reasons why Muslim travellers should be visiting Taiwan. Firstly, there are flight connectivities that connect Taipei and Dubai, easily. Travellers can take non-stop flights or one-stop flights, based on their convenience, to reach Taiwan. Secondly and most primarily, the Muslim travellers that travel to Taiwan don’t have to worry about looking around for Halal food. Taiwan has been rapidly expanding the number of Halal restaurants. Overseen by Taiwan’s Chinese Muslim Association (CMA), Taiwan currently has at least 324 certified Halal restaurants located all over the country. All of these restaurants have a certificate to prove their Halal status usually displayed at the entrance. There is even an annual Halal Taiwan Expo event which takes place in June of each year.

With Taiwan’s renewed focus on attracting Muslim travellers, there are also a growing number of hotels that are catering to the needs of Muslim visitors. These hotels usually provide prayer rooms and ‘musalla’ facilities. Some also

offer copies of the Quran and the Qibla (indicating the direction to which Muslim’s need to pray) in hotel rooms too. Also, there are a surprising number of mosques situated across the country. There are currently eight mosques in total, two of which are the Taipei Grand Mosque and the Taipei Cultural Mosque are in the capital, while there are also mosques in Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung. Lastly, Taiwan is a melange of modern, metropolitan vibes and deep-rooted culture and traditions. Travellers can visit Sun Moon Lake, Alishan and Taroko Gorge along with Taipei and have an experience for a lifetime. Mountains, canyons, beaches and amazing food – this country is home to all! It is truly Asia’s best kept secret.

Abdullah Al-Othaim Leisure & Tourism Company, Saudi Arabia’s major business

group, has launched its first Snow City family entertainment project at City Stars Mall in Cairo, Egypt. The Snow City was launched in the presence of Osama Noqaly, the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Egypt; and the Chairman of Al-Othaim Group, Abdullah Saleh Al-Othaim; Vice Chairman and CEO Fahad Abdullah Al-Othaim and other dignitaries. Snow City, the fifth leisure project of Al-Othaim Group in Egypt, was developed at an estimated cost of EGP 500 million, spanning over an area of 60,000 sq ft with a freezing temperature controlled below five degree Celsius. Snow City is covered

with 750 pounds of snow manufactured using pure water. The project also uses the latest international specifications and French technology with committed safety and security measures implemented to provide the real snow environment. The Snow City, dubbed an environment-friendly project, lets visitors ‘live-in’ a snow environment all year long. Fahad Abdullah Al-Othaim said, “We are extremely happy to open our latest leisure project in Egypt. This opening comes under the framework of the expansion of leisure projects outside of Saudi Arabia. We are increasing our investment in the leisure and tourism industry across different countries in the Arab region.”

Taiwan ranked as the third most-welcoming country on Global Muslim Travel Index 2019

Al-Othaim Leisure company opens first Snow City in Egypt

dnata, one of the world’s largest air services providers, has opened a new

airport lounge at Dubai International Airport (DXB) to enhance young flyers’ travel experience. The newest dnata facility has been designed and launched exclusively for unaccompanied minors, whose safety, security and comfort are ensured by dnata’s specially trained team at the airport. Located at Terminal 1, the lounge is tastefully decorated in vibrant colours. It is equipped with games and entertainment screens to keep the young guests occupied throughout the day. The lounge is open 24 hours and manned by experienced, multilingual staff. dnata employs over 70 dedicated agents who work closely with airline representatives to ensure unaccompanied minors are in safe hands, reach departure gates on time and receive priority boarding.

Mall of Dilmunia, a unique family-centric mall concept, will be home to the largest

mall entertainment facility in the kingdom with the opening of Funscape World. Bahraini entertainment company Funscape World will consist of four different zones: Funscape Play, Funscape Adventure, Funscape Sport and Funscape Ice. Funscape Ice extends across 1,085 sq m with a beautiful ice-skating rink that will run through all seasons of the year. Funscape Play is a considerably large facility, covering 2,210 sq m, and brings the family together to rejoice and bond in delight over fun attractions. Funscape Adventure, which occupies 517 sq m of the mall entertainment facility, brings out the inner explorer and the thrill of adrenaline pumping activities to life. Funscape Sport is an expansive space covering 1,848 sq m that is set to be a key entertainment zone with many excited for the two five-a-side football spaces with FIFA approved turf for rental purposes. Development and fit-outs of the Funscape zones are 40 pc complete, with the décor and cladding being focused on.

dnata opens a dedicated lounge for young flyers in Dubai

Mall of Dilmunia to house Bahrain's largest entertainment facility

24 July 2019

THE REGAL REPOSEThe Middle East features some of the world’s most exclusive luxury hotels with indulgent spas that have earned this region its reputation for opulence. Although the region is known for resort spas featuring relaxation and pampering treatments, there are some outstanding destination spas that offer week-long spa retreats. Boasting treats from the mineral-rich mud to high oxygen massages, TSME handpicks some of the finest and most spectacular wellness hotels in this region to provide rejuvenating treatments found nowhere else on earthBy Sayanti Halder

THE CHEDI MUSCAT HOTEL, OMANOccupying a prime beachfront location, this exclusive 21-acre beach resort is located 20 minutes north of old Muscat, the capital of the Sultanate of Oman, at Al Ghubra. The Chedi Muscat is ideally located for business and leisure travellers alike as the main tourist attractions. The Spa at The Chedi Muscat is a sophisticated oasis by the beach, featuring holistic therapies designed to restore vitality, balance and spirit to the mind and body. The 1,500-square-metre relaxation and fitness haven, the largest spa in Muscat, offers the personalised, discreet service of the region’s finest wellness professionals. The vast Asian-styled spa is a luxurious centre of relaxation and serenity. An expert team of spa therapists and personal trainers are dedicated to creating a personalised guest experience to meet their clients every need. Balinese therapies, Indian Ayurveda and indigenous rituals are amongst the highlights on the spa’s comprehensive menu, delivered in 13 meditative spa suites that combine dramatic Omani architecture.

UAE becoming the ideal destination for luxurious wellness

SPECIAL FOCUSWellness

25July 2019

THE COVE ROTANA RESORT - RAS AL KHAIMAHThe Cove Rotana Resort is located on an idyllic water inlet on the Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) with 600 metres of pristine beachfront, offering spectacular views over the Arabian Gulf. The resort is an ideal destination for leisure travellers and weekend breakers. The property is where the traditional charm embraces the uniqueness of the Arabian culture. Spread through the idyllic resort, are 204 rooms and 78 one-, two- and three-bedroom villas that are ideally designed to accommodate families or a group of friends. The traditional Arabian architecture of this resort combines with high-end facilities to provide the utmost comfort to all guests. Visitors may soak up the sun by the side of the pool, gaze out across the sun-drenched Gulf or treat themselves to a rejuvenating Swedish massage whilst embracing the unique charm of The Cove Rotana.

AMANRUYA, TURKEYAmanruya is located on the southeast Aegean coast of Turkey, on the north side of the Bodrum Peninsula in Mandalay Bay. The design of this vast, seaside treat named Amanruya was inspired by the simplicity of architecture in the pre-Ottoman Selcuk era. Acajou wood can be found in the pavilions and restaurants and floor to ceiling windows open to reveal expansive horizons. Staggeringly beautiful, the scalloped coastline of Bodrum Peninsula comprises sheltered bays and pretty villages and it is here that millennia of Greek and Roman history are evoked in the UNESCO-protected ruins. Meandering pebble pathways lead to the property's central building, where spa suites and a three-storeyed library overlook the infinity pool, a vision of semi-precious Antalya marble. Famous for the magnificent ruins of Ephesus and the medieval castle at Bodrum, the area is as alluring to historians as holiday seekers, thus making the ambience more authentic and associated..

SHANGRI-LA HOTEL, QARYAT AL BERI, ABU DHABIThe winding waterway that connects locations within the hotel sets the tone of tranquillity at this stylish property located in the hub of Abu Dhabi. The Arabian styling extends to the treatment room with Emirates-inspired products. Camel milk from UAE animals, lemons from Fujairah and dates from Ras Al Khaimah are all used in its local hammam ritual. Another alternative – the Ultimate Zen Journey – combines a foot ritual, aromatic bath, organic body scrub, age-defying body wrap and a full body massage for three hours of goodness. For a less-involved trial, guests may go straight to a 30-minute express foot massage. Facials have a similar blend of result-driven and indulgence. Our strong recommendation is to combine a visit, be it for one of the numerous scrubs and or one of the numerous nail treatments, with a trip to the quiet and large swimming pool, which has impressive views across to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.

SPECIAL FOCUSWellness

Middle EastFOOTPRINTING

FUJAIRAH

By Team TSME

Located further away from the hustle and bustle of bigger cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Fujairah city is a modern, industrial town separated from the rest of the United Arab Emirates by the rugged foothills of the Hajar Mountains and lined by a fine stretch of sea, this beautiful slice of coastline is ideal for sunbathing, swimming, and scuba diving

Relax. Rejuvenate. Repeat

27July 2019

Al Badiyah

Fujairah museum

In a country full of historic attractions, the nation’s oldest Mosque, Al Badiyah is a standout sight. This mosque is also known as Ottoman Mosque as it was named after the person who had constructed it. It is uncertain when the mosque was constructed but is believed to be more than 500-years-old and still hosting daily prayers. Adorned with four pointed domes and rests on a single internal pillar makes it a must to see attraction to understand region’s history.

The Fujairah Museum is located not very far from the Heritage Village and this old-school local-history museum holds a wealth of significant archaeological finds. It presents a brief summary on the history and heritage of the emirates. The examples of Bronze Age soft-stone vessels and pot lids, all intricately decorated with geometric designs, Bedouin jewellery and various dioramas depicting traditional market stalls are particularly impressive. The entrance cost is five AED and the museum is open every day from 8.30am to 1.30pm and from 4.30pm to 6.30pm, except for Fridays which is open only from 2.30pm to 6.30pm.

Middle EastFOOTPRINTING

28 July 2019

Bull Butting

Snoopy Island

Musandam Dibba Cruise

If you are planning to come to Fujairah for a day in the cooler months, make sure it is a Friday so you can experience the ancient sport of bull butting. Fujairah bull butting is fortunately not a blood sport unlike the Spanish bullfighting. The amusement introduced in the United Arab Emirates by Portugal is primarily about the bulls. This popular event is organised every Friday attracting a lot of tourists and families in an open field. The battle commences with 20 bulls combating with each other with winners moving on to the next round. The final winner bull of the battle is commemorated with its value increased.

This tiny gem island tucked away in Fujairah has been a favourite mini getaway mainly due to its beautiful scenery, incredibly stunning coral reefs and a super chill vibe. It is definitely a paradise for anyone looking for a lethargic and idle passage of time or get in touch with nature. It is also famous for snorkelling and deep sea diving. Getting up close and personal with the fish and seeing how untapped the underwater life is an experience all on its own.

Discover the amazing Musandam Peninsula on a traditional Arabian cruise in the the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean .The cruise experience in Musandam Dibba allows its visitors with an opportunity to discover unspoiled fauna and flora that the northern part of Fujairah has to offer. The transfer from Fujairah town to Musandam Dibba offers an enriched experience as the travellers pass by the beautiful Hajar Mountain having an intense experience of the Musandam Peninsula and Dibba Al Bay. You can choose to stop to swim and snorkel and enjoy an oriental buffet lunch on board. One may enjoy his time lazing and sunbathing under the sun, whilst feasting the eyes upon the beauty of the white and salty mountains.

The WorldAROUND

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30 July 2019

Appointments

EIKE CLAUSENKempinski Hotel Aqaba Red Sea has promoted Eike Clausen as the property’s General Manager. Clausen has worked with the property since March 2018 as the Hotel Manager. He started working with Kempinski group in 2007 as a Sales Management Trainee at Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin and progressed in the department. He has been associated with Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Centre, Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai and Kempinski Hotel Gravenbruch Frankfurt, Germany.

GEORGE SAFI Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait at Burj Alshaya, Kuwait City has appointed George Safi as Hotel Manager. Lebanese by birth, Safi has been working with Four Seasons since 2002, when he started as a Management Trainee at Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris. In 2017, during the property’s opening, Safi was on board as Director of Food & Beverage. In this role, he will handle the running of the hotel.

SOPHIA BERRIANE The Ascott Limited appoints Sophia Berriane as Director of Marketing for Middle East, Africa and Turkey. Berriane brings more than 10 years of experience in marketing, communications and brand development across luxury hotels, hospitality and multinational Fortune 500 brands in the UAE and Africa. She began her career teaching marketing at universities whilst consulting in communications with five-star hotel and resorts in Morocco. Berriane later joined the marketing team of Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi.

CARLO KAZAN Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham JBR appoints Carlo Kazan as Assistant Director of Sales. Kazan has over 15 years of hospitality experience gained from various countries including UAE, Oman, Qatar, USA and Lebanon. Prior to this, he was a Senior Sales Manager at Habtoor Grand Resort, Autograph Collection by Marriott. Kazan also worked as business development manager at Salalah Rotana Resort, and was part of the sales team of The Torch in Doha and Le Gray Hotel in Beirut.

BARTLOMIEJ MART The Ascott Limited has appointed Bartlomiej Mart as General Manager for its luxury serviced residences, Ascott Rafal Olaya Riyadh. Mart is a senior hospitality professional who has previously worked in the Middle East. He has worked for global brands in the UK, US and Gulf region. Mart began his hospitality career in the US with Marriott in the F&B department. He has worked as the housekeeping manager, director of services, and director of operations.

PETER DE BONDT Grand Swiss-Belresort Seef Bahrain appoints Peter De Bondt as General Manager. With over three decades of experience in the hospitality sector, De Bondt began his hospitality career in 1985 at the Mercure Hotel Group in Belgium. He will head up all responsibilities of the hotel. The general manager has spent the majority of his career with the Accor hotel group and has held roles across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean.

TAREK HAROUN Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi appoints Tarek Haroun as Cluster Director of Sales and Marketing. Haroun has over 11 years’ experience in sales and marketing, business development, strategic planning and team management in hospitality industry. In his new role, his core responsibilities will include optimising hotels revenues through result oriented sales and marketing strategies as well as enhance business opportunities for our three hotels. Prior to this, Haroun was associated with Holiday Inn Muscat Al Seeb.

KATHARINA VAN BEUGEN-MAYR Radisson Hotel Group has appointed Katharina van Beugen-Mayr as its Regional PR and Communications Manager for the Middle East. Mayr joined the group in 2016 as the PR and marketing communications manager at Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Media City and progressed to her last role as cluster director of PR and communications for Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Waterfront and Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Canal View. She has previously worked in the hospitality and airline industry.