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Travel Trade Monthly Middle East & North Africa contains informative destination features, interviews with key industry figures, and in-depth analyses of issues related to the travel and tourism industry within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
Citation preview
MARCH 2013 ISSUE 41
VIEW AIRPORTS
EXPLORE DUBAI
IN THIS ISSUEMARKET UPDATE
VIEW Airports
VISIT Egypt
EXPLORE Dubai
ONSITE Palestine
TOUR UK
EXCLUSIVE Luxury Travel
SPECIAL REPORT Waterparks
INVESTIGATION VFR
WHOrsquoS MOVED
TRAVEL TALK
RENDEZVOUS
NEWS amp EVENTS
02 040611181922242628303132 6
11
04
Fuelled by multi-billion dollar investments the regionrsquos airports are set to become major global hubs catering to an anticipated 400 million passengers by 2020 As the world watches over Egypt waiting to see what the
future holds tourists are steadily beginning to return to the land of genial promises
VISIT Egypt
Dubairsquos astonishing rise from a small fishing and pearling community to one of the fastest growing metropolises continues to impress and inspire the world
Travel Trade Weekly proudly enjoys readers on average per day
LURING IN MORE amp MORE READERS EVERY DAY
2 MARKET UPDATE
MARCH 2013
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY
UAE (AED)
Egypt (EGP)
Saudi Arabia (SAR)
Lebanon (LBP)
Bahrain (BHD)
Jordan (JOD)
Syria (SYP)
Kuwait (KWD)
Qatar (QAR)
Oman (OMR)
Tunisia (TND)
Morocco (MAD)
Iran (IRR)
Yemen (YER)
Algeria (DZD)
Libya (LYD)
Dirham
Pound
Riyal
Pound
Dinar
Dinar
Pound
Dinar
Riyal
Rial
Dinar
Dirham
Riyal
Rial
Dinar
Dinar
367
673
375
150400
037
071
7080
028
364
038
157
840
1228500
21431
7852
126
COUNTRY CURRENCY 1USD=
MENA EXCHANGE RATES
Accurate as of
25012013
Currencies shown in red are fixed against the US Dollar
MANAGING EDITORMary Kammitsi
marytraveltradeweeklytravel
JOURNALISTSStefanie Saghbini
Rita Kasziba Dominique Christou
Maria Kazeli
SALES amp MARKETING
Maria Demetriadou Pauline Shahabian
DESIGN amp LAYOUT
Elena Stylianou
DIRECTORSAndreas Constantinides
Mary Kammitsi
HEADQUARTERSTTW Travel Trade Weekly LTD
PO Box 25255 Nicosia 1308 Cyprus Tel +357 22 021607 Fax +357 22 210466
WEBSITE
wwwtraveltradeweeklytravel
EMAILSinfotraveltradeweeklytravel salestraveltradeweeklytravel
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PRINTED IN CYPRUSCyprint Plc
PO Box 58300 CY-3732 Limassol Cyprus Tel +357 25 720035 Fax +357 25 720123
Email infocyprintcomcy
Etihad Airwaysrsquo Profit Surges 200 Percent Etihad Airways concluded 2012 with a net profit of USD42 million leaping 200 percent over 2011 driven by strong improvements in revenues pas-senger numbers and cost control
T he airlinersquos revenue increased 17 percent to USD48 billion while passenger num-bers rose 23 percent breaking the 10 mil-lion mark for the first time in its history to reach 103 million and seat factor jumped
24 percentage points to stand at 782 percent The numbers were also bolstered by the national carrierrsquos equity partnerships and codeshares delivering more than USD600 million in total revenue
James Hogan president Etihad Airways de-scribed 2012 as a game-changing year for the airline ldquoWe have delivered improved net profit the second consecutive year we have been in the black a remark-
Air Arabia Record Number Passengers in 2012Air Arabia has achieved yet another record after carrying a total of 5301484 passengers in 2012
The 13 percent growth in passenger volume reflects the airlinersquos ambitious expansion strategy which saw the carrier launching flights from its primary hub in Sharjah to nine new destinations including Kazan Taif Salalah Ufa Odes-sa Erbil Astana Basra and Rostow and increasing fre-quencies on a number of routes In addition Air Arabia also continued its expansion from its hubs in Morocco and Egypt reaching a global network of 82 cities
ldquoAir Arabia continues to witness significant year-on-year growth in passenger numbers and this demonstrates the growing popularity of the air-linersquos value for money servicesrdquo highlighted Adel Ali group CEO Air Arabia adding that as a pioneer of the low-cost concept in the region the airline remains committed to setting the standard for the low-cost travel segment offer-ing great fares to an ever-growing range of destinations
The 13 percent growth in passenger volume reflects the airlinersquos ambitious expansion
strategy
able achievement given the youth ambitious growth and ongoing investment made by this airline in a challenging global economic environmentrdquo he fur-ther commented adding that over the last months the airline has taken great strides in building the in-dustryrsquos first lsquoequity alliancersquo with its investments in airberlin Air Seychelles Virgin Australia and Aer Lin-gus which as Hogan stressed are contributing sig-nificant value to the business
ldquoAnd we have met our mandate of contributing to the economic development of Abu Dhabi growing its aviation sector and building trade and tourism con-nections across the globerdquo he concluded
Etihad Airways
4 VIEW Airports
MARCH 2013
T his year marks the 100th anniversary of commercial flights and over the century as Tony Tyler director general International Air Transport Association (IATA) noted through an ever-expanding network air transport
has utterly transformed the way we live work and trade providing jobs for some 57 million people and supporting USD22 trillion in economic activity by con-necting people and goods on 35000 routes
IATA anticipates that 31 billion passengers will cross the worldrsquos airport terminals this year and considering that 100 years ago that number was precisely zero the industryrsquos unprecedented growth and vital role in socio-economic development worldwide is indisputable
The Middle East is set to grow at an annual rate of 66 percent between 2012 and 2016 according to IATArsquos estimated regional figures with the number of passengers handled by the regionrsquos airports reaching 400 million by 2020
ldquoWith an estimated two-third of the worldrsquos popu-lation living within an eight-hour flight of the Middle East the region is ideally situated to provide efficient connections to a large segment of the worldrsquos popu-lationrdquo said Patti Chau regional director Asia Pacific Airports Council International (ACI)
ldquoWith many Middle Eastern airports serving as hubs between the East and West the regionrsquos airports have benefitted tremendously from the flow of traffic through their terminals and the rise in air travel in Asiardquo she con-tinued noting that determined to utilise the strategic location the regionrsquos governments including Dubai Abu Dhabi and Qatar have developed an integrated aviation strategy aimed at further fostering the sustained growth of the sector which is increasingly seen as a key pillar of their economic diversification drive
ldquoThe region also benefits from fast-growing local economies a large and young population as well as tourism all of which contribute to bolstering demandrdquo Chau added further stating that as a result the Middle East proved to be the fastest growing region over the last decade at an annual growth rate of nine percent
To cater to the anticipated demand as a study from Reed Travel Exhibitions reveals Middle Eastern govern-ments continue to allocate sizeable sums for the develop-ment of new and existing airports and related segments at an estimated cost of AED437 billion (USD119 billion)
RECORD AFTER RECORD
Over the past decade the UAErsquos aviation sector has experienced phenomenal growth with its three ma-jor airports in Dubai Abu Dhabi and Sharjah almost quadrupling their annual passenger volume from just over 20 million in 2002 to over 799 million in 2012 establishing aviation as a vital part of the coun-tryrsquos economy contributing more than AED145 billion (USD3947 billion) or 147 percent to the national GDP
ldquoThis amount is projected to grow further in the
Ready for Take-OffWith forecasts suggesting that the number of air pas-sengers will exceed the three billion mark for the first time this year and double by 2030 fuelled by multi-billion dol-lar investments the regionrsquos airports are set to undergo profound transformations in the coming years to become major global hubs catering to an anticipated 400 million passengers by 2020
coming years and as such justifies the countryrsquos huge investment in airports and airline networksrdquo predict-ed HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum presi-dent Dubai Civil Aviation Authority
In 2001 Dubai International barely made it to the top 100 airports worldwide ranking as the 90th in terms of international passenger volume though as Chau fur-ther highlighted in 2011 the airport already managed more than six times the population of the UAE while recently it has already leapfrogged Hong Kong Interna-tional Airport as the worldrsquos third busiest airport after welcoming a record 57684550 travellers in 2012
ldquoMoving into the top three is a fantastic achieve-ment for Dubai International and we have now Lon-donrsquos Heathrow and the number one spot firmly within our sightsrdquo declared Paul Griffiths CEO Dubai Airports revealing that this year some 654 million passengers are expected to pass through the airport
ldquoDubai International has grown at an average an-nual rate of 15 percent since its opening in 1960rdquo at-tested Ali Zaigham manager media relations Dubai Airports attributing the unprecedented progress largely to Dubairsquos aviation model which as Zaigham noted lsquorightly treatsrsquo aviation and logistics as the backbone of the national economy
ldquoBased on this approach Dubai provides a world-class infrastructure and capacity and a tax-free environ-ment to boost the aviation sector while promoting the open skies policy globallyrdquo added Zaigham who also remarked on the ways in which the destinationrsquos strate-gic location between growing economies such as India China and Russia on one side and consumer markets in the West helps positioning it as a global hub
Another key factor as Zaigham noted is the fast-paced expansion of the home-based carriers
Likewise 2012 also marked another record year for Abu Dhabi International Airport with over 147 million passengers announced Ahmed Al Haddabi chief op-
Dubai International Concourse A
Midfield Terminal Building Abu Dhabi
Rita Kasziba writes
5VIEWAirports
MARCH 2013
erating officer Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) Similarly today Jordanrsquos Queen Alia International
Airport (QAIA) caters to more passengers and airlines than ever with 40 carriers operating via the airport during the summer peak revealed Kjeld Binger CEO Airport International Group (AIG) reporting that 2012 marked another record-breaking year for QAIA with passenger traffic exceeding six million for the first time
Beirutrsquos Rafic Hariri International Airport welcomed over 596 million travellers compared to 560 million in 2011 Bahrain International Airport posted a 88 percent year-on-year growth with passenger numbers amount-ing to 848 million while Muscat International Airport also reached a new height after greeting over 75 mil-lion passengers for the first time in the airportrsquos history
Erbil International Airport (EIA) registered a 53 percent year-on-year improvement with passenger numbers hitting 947600 bringing the total number of travellers at the airport since the inauguration of the new terminal in September 2010 to 17 million The robust growth as Andrew Jones adviser com-mercial department communications and market-ing EIA explained is down to the proven link and relationship between economic development and airports ldquoThe economy here is growing fuelled by oil and gas bonanza hence traffic demand growsrdquo
THE BIGGER THE BETTER
Backed by heavy investments the regionrsquos aviation sector is vigorously working to develop collaborative policies in a quest to turn airports into the backbone of economic growth and foster their competitiveness on the global level
Jordan is gearing up for the opening of the new QAIA which as Binger explained was intuitively de-signed to match the worldrsquos leading airports in terms of traveller experience
ldquoThis new QAIA terminal will significantly increase the airportrsquos capacity [from 35 million passengers] to nine million passengers Future expansions which will be carried out as needed will allow the airport to reach a capacity of 12 million passengers per yearrdquo informed Binger
AIG has invested an estimated USD750 million in the construction of this landmark terminal in ad-dition to USD100 million that has been spent for the rehabilitation of the ailing facilities
ldquoIn launching the new terminal we will be clos-ing and demolishing the [previous] terminals to make way for further developments The opening of the new terminal and the subsequent closing of the old ones marks the most crucial milestone in the air-port development project since its opening in 1983rdquo stressed Binger who described the construction of the new terminal as a lsquonational projectrsquo which is set to bolster not only the Kingdomrsquos aviation industry but the nationrsquos economy as a whole
Heralding a new chapter in Qatarrsquos aviation indus-try Hamad International Airport formerly known as New Doha International Airport is set to welcome the first commercial flights on April 1 As HE Abdul Aziz
Al Noaimi chairman Qatar Civil Aviation Authority revealed the first phase of the USD155 billion project will involve 12 international airlines including low-cost carriers while Qatar Airways the operator of the airport will move its entire operations to the new facilities in the second half of the year The world-class airport as Al Noaimi noted will firmly put the country on the global stage and will accommodate 28 million passengers an-nually increasing to 50 million beyond 2015
ldquoThis will be a world-class facility that promises to propel our nation further on the international stagerdquo com-mented Akbar Al Baker CEO Qatar Airways stressing that the lsquostoryrsquo certainly will not end here
After handling over 576 million travellers in 2012 Dubai International is to soon approach its original ca-pacity of 60 million passengers per annum as Zaigham pinpointed adding that the timing of the opening of Concourse A in January was no coincidence as the new facility lifts the airportrsquos capacity to 75 million
ldquoWith 20 contact gates all capable of handling the superjumbo Concourse A will be home to Emir-atesrsquo fleet of A380s from where passengers will con-nect to more than 20 Emirates A380 destinations around the worldrdquo explained Zaigham saying that by 2020 Dubai Internationalrsquos passenger volume is expected to soar to 985 million In comparison traf-fic at London Heathrow the worldrsquos busiest airport for international passen-gers was close to 70 mil-lion in 2012
Within the next few years 20 million people are expected to be han-dled by Abu Dhabi Inter-national Airport therefore the construction of the 700000m2 Midfield Termi-nal Building (MTB) slated for completion by 2017 and the overall redevelop-ment and expansion of the airport forms a vital part in the governmentrsquos Abu Dhabi 2030 vision Located between the two runways the x-shaped complex will feature a full terminal building passenger and cargo facilities extensive duty-free area as well as food and beverage outlets and will cater to 27 - 40 mil-lion passengers annually
Kuwait Airports has also outlined plans to ex-pand the airportrsquos capacity from six million passengers to 20 million passengers per year and establish the airport as a major passen-ger and cargo hub The multi-billion project will
include a new USD3 billion terminal equipped with the latest technology as well as an additional USD3 billion to widen the runways enhance the control tower and build a new one as well as set up a new cargo facility
In Oman the new terminal at Muscat Internation-al Airport designed to handle 12 million passengers is scheduled for completion by 2014 with further ex-pansions planned in three subsequent phases which will ultimately bring the annual capacity to 24 36 and 48 million passengers At Salalah Airport where passenger volume exceeded the 06 million mark for the first time in 2012 the new terminal will increase capacity to one million once it becomes operational in 2014 with the design allowing further expansion to cater for two and later on six million passengers
Saudi Arabia is also planning to issue bonds to fund construction work at King Abdul Aziz Interna-tional Airport in Jeddah increasing its capacity to 30 million passengers as well as at King Khaled Airport in Riyadh Due for completion by April 2014 Basra Inter-national Airportrsquos upgrade will allow for safer landings and increased flights during the night and poor weath-er conditions further enhancing Iraqrsquos air connectivity
Bahrain Airports also plans to extend the pas-senger terminal at Bahrain International as part of an USD1 billion overhaul project which will bring capac-ity from the current nine million to 135 million
6 VISIT Egypt
MARCH 2013
W orld Tourism Organization (UNWTO)rsquos World Tourism Barometer released in January has shown that the sub-region of North Africa alongside Southeast Asia recorded the largest
increase in arrivals in 2012 swelling nine percent high-ly attributed to Tunisiarsquos and Egyptrsquos strong rebounds of 33 percent and 15 percent respectively following on 2011rsquos declines
Moreover UNWTOrsquos World Tourism Barometer November 2012 edition stated that North Africarsquos inbound tourism figures grew 102 percent between January and August over the corresponding months in 2011 a period during which the regionrsquos arrivals dropped 91 percent over 2010 results
The study further indicated that during 2012 North Africa regained the lead over advanced des-tinations thanks to certain countries such as Egypt whose increase in incoming international tourist numbers during the eight-month stretch reflected
a consolidation in figures of 20 percent following 2011rsquos 32 percent deterioration
Meanwhile in June 2012 Business Monitor In-ternational (BMI) issued a preliminary study enti-tled Egypt Tourism Report Q3 2012 with reference to the countryrsquos tourism prospects through to 2016 considering important issues which had been fac-ing the sector since the outbreaks of large-scale un-rest rocked Egypt in 2011 stating that it anticipated strong recovery in 2012 if these occurrences were to continue decreasing in frequency throughout the third quarter (Q3) and finally through to the end of the year under review
On a conclusive note during the first nine months of 2012 Egypt drew in a double-digit increase of 13 per-cent in tourism receipts according to the study while Magdi Gamil director of sales and marketing Fairmont Nile City Towers stated that some 81 million tourists vis-ited the country between January and September with 96 million overnight stays reported in Egyptian hotels injecting some USD10 billion into the economy
ldquoTourism is a vital pillar of the national economy representing 113 percent of Egyptrsquos GDP and 17 per-
cent of its foreign currency reserves in addition to 126 percent of the total manpower of the state with four million people directly employed in the industryrdquo Gamil explicated revealing that by the end of 2012 Egypt had welcomed 11 million tourists all-in-all
ldquoThis number is anticipated to reach 14 million this year with the Ministry of Tourism hoping for USD13 billion in tourism-generated incomeldquo he fur-ther revealed
REMAINING AFLOAT
The countryrsquos hotel sector saw healthy indications of improvement towards the end of 2012 according to data compiled by STR Global which had presented an escalation in occupancy levels of 245 percent
Stefanie Saghbini writes
ETERNAL ELEMENTS OF SURPRISE As the world watches over Egypt waiting to see what the future holds for a country submerged in ancient heritage profoundly resonant throughout its vast and deeply historical setting peppered with contemporary develop-ments tourists are steadily beginning to return to the land of genial promises
EGYPT IN BRIEF
Capital Cairo
Currency Egyptian Pound (EGP)
Language Arabic
Temple of Kom Ombo
Avenue of Human-headed Sphinxes
8 VISIT Egypt
MARCH 2013
reaching 456 percent in December 2012 reporting the largest increase in the Middle East
Meanwhile TRI Hospitality Consultingrsquos HotStats MENA Chain Hotel Market Review November 2012 a study on full-serviced hotels stated that while Sharm El Sheikh witnessed the highest occupancy rates Cairo posted record profits since the 2011 revolu-tion According to the survey the capitalrsquos hospitality segment showed signs of full recovery in the month under review registering a 743 percent increase in gross operating profit per available room (GOPPAR) to USD7175 while RevPAR grew 323 percent to USD6427 driven by a 143 percentage point improve-ment in occupancy to 55 percent masking the two percent decline in average room rate (ARR)
These results can be highly accredited to the re-gional market which proved somewhat irrepressible in the face of the unrest and whose commitment to Egypt could be seen in BMIrsquos revised growth fore-cast and views on total tourism nights recorded for the fourth quarter of 2012 which was said to reach around 24 percent y-o-y from the previous estima-tion of 15 percent
Marten Schwass general manager Kempinski Nile Hotel also noticed this changing trend describ-ing the locals and in particular the hotels of Cairo as resilient which throughout the past 12 months re-
lied on local business to bolster revenues while he added travellers were rescheduling trips around pe-riods of instability
Gamil also reported that during 2012 Fairmont Nile City Towersrsquo top three contributors to the prop-ertyrsquos clientele base hailed from Egypt itself followed by Saudi Arabia and Lebanon while in 2011 Egypt and Saudi Arabia also claimed first and second spot while the US followed in third
Analogous to Schwassrsquo view on the changing tourism trend across the capital Peter Goddard man-aging director TRI Hospitality Consulting Dubai also indicated that recovery in Cairo is evident albeit still suffering to a certain extent ldquoThe Cairo market has been resilient to continuous political upheaval with hotels in the city demonstrating that they have recov-ered as performance indicators return to pre-revolu-tion levelsrdquo he explained
Gamil affirmed his tenacity to claim his slice of the pie ldquoDespite the political unrest and recent clashes in Cairorsquos Tahrir Square inbound tourism appears to be on the rise and we will be keen to grab every opportu-nity that is out there to make it happenrdquo he asserted
A PROMINENT DESTINATION
A good example of the capitalrsquos buoyancy can be seen in the end-of-2012 re-sults of Fairmont Heli-opolis amp Towers which witnessed slight signs of recovery and progressed slowly in 2012 versus 2011 this according to Noha Mansour director of marketing and public relations Fairmont He-liopolis amp Towers Cairo who announced increas-ing y-o-y occupancy rates of seven percent and a y-o-y rise in Rev-PAR of 13 percent
With regards to feeder markets in 2011 Mansour listed Egyptian guests as the propertyrsquos most popular guests which she underlined generated the largest number of room nights than any other national-ity Following the local segment were Germa-ny Italy Morocco UK France and the US Man-sour continued adding that in 2012 the top six countries ranked based on room nights were Libya Germany Africa Italy UK and the US
In addition Kempinski Nile Hotel also remained on top of its league and in particular among the luxury segment during 2012 this according to Sch-wass who registered an increased number of visitors from the UK a market he described as traditional and which signals positive growth for this year
With regards to the hotelrsquos strongest contributors Schwass listed the GCC UK and US as top three stat-ing that a drop in overall number of visitors since the revolution has been witnessed however he contin-ued these three key markets have recently been re-covering and in terms of occupancy year-to-date the property remains in second place among its competi-tors in Cairo
ldquoAdditionally the business segment has been booming and we have attracted an increased flow of business visitors from Turkey and Korea The hotel recently hosted the Turkish government delegation and HE the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs as well as large groups of corporate visitors from East Asiardquo he further explained also confirming that the propertyrsquos social events are always well-attended making the ho-tel a meeting point for local socialites and dignitaries
InterContinental Cairo Citystars also recently hosted high-ranking officials from Malaysia which included Najib Razak prime minister of Malaysia and Anifah Aman minister of foreign affairs Malaysia alongside a group of businessmen and media repre-sentatives from the country
Upon his arrival to the hotel Razak was welcomed by Simon Stamper area general manager InterConti-nental Cairo Citystars InterContinental Residence Suites Cairo Citystars Holiday Inn Cairo Citystars and Stay-bridge Suites Cairo Citystars as well as Ibrahim Nashaat general manager InterContinental Cairo Citystars
ROUND THE CORNER
Revealing his forecasts for this year Gamil is antici-pating a breakdown of 37 percent in leisure travel 28 percent in corporate guests and 18 percent in groups for Fairmont Nile City Towers with expected room nights for the year to reach 75932 average oc-cupancy levels at 412 percent and average room rate fetching in EGY75232 (USD11174) The top three tar-geted nationalities for this year remain the local mar-ket as well as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait he revealed
Commenting on the upcoming developments Gamil said ldquoAlso opening soon is the Casino at Fair-mont Nile City that is built on an area of 850m2 and has top line machines including five Roulette five Black Jack five Poker one three-card Poker one Ponto Banko and over 30 digital slot machines The Casino has a VIP room that includes one Roulette one Poker and one Black Jack tablesrdquo
He also mentioned the recently-unveiled state-of-the-art Presidential Suite which he further informed is fashioned with contemporary elegant art deco furnishings offering what he described as the ulti-mate in urban chic ldquoIt is spacious comprising a bed-room two living rooms a dining area a kitchenette an office a butlersecretary bedroom and an open
9VISITEgypt
MARCH 2013
Lan Tania Fairmont Heliopolis amp Towers
concept bathroom [hellip] All suites feature high speed Internet access an interactive TV and complimentary coffee and tea Presidential Suite guests are provided with a personal butler for unrivalled comfortldquo
Mansour is also eyeing a positive year ahead with an increase in occupancy of 13 percent and an upsurge in RevPAR by 22 percent highly dependent as she inserted on the countryrsquos political and security stability The main targeted markets for the year re-main the propertyrsquos six leading contributors in 2012 Libya Germany Africa Italy UK and the US as well as the rest of Europe and the Middle East Mansour further informed
Urs Umbricht general manager Maritim Jolie Ville Kings Island Luxor also placed a strong emphasis on the reliance on the countryrsquos situation when stating his predictions for the year however his estimates seem somewhat optimistic with a modest surge in occupan-cy of five percent a slight boost in ARR of three per-cent and RevPAR growth of three percent for Maritim Jolie Ville Kings Island Luxor with all European North and South American Middle Eastern and local mar-kets high on the targeted list for the property
For Dina Naeem area director of public relations Egypt Starwood Hotels amp Resorts Worldwide the year is looking to be very positive for the hotel giant across all its propertyrsquos throughout the country as she com-mented adding that as an emerging market located at the nexus of the rapidly growing Africa and Middle East region it is expected that the country will stabi-lise in the second half of year
ldquoStarwood is expecting to see a growth in tourism to Egypt over the coming year The Starwood hotels in particular are pleased to announce some exciting new openings and renovations to excite both leisure and business travellers [This year] will see the open-ing of Le Meacuteridien Cairo Airport to entrench Star-woodrsquos presence in the capital The hotel is targeted primarily towards the business travellers and will be on an area of 23500m2 Located in front of the arrival passenger Terminal 3 Le Meacuteridien Cairo Airport is at-tached to the [main] building through an inter-con-necting bridge and consists of 330 rooms 19 suites three major restaurants banqueting conferences and meeting rooms in addition to swimming pools green areas health club and ample parking
ldquoTwo Le Meacuteridien hotels [namely] Le Meacuteridien Pyramids and Le Meacuteridien Dahab will open Egyptrsquos first two Explore Spas These are the first branded spas by Le Meacuteridien in Egypt offering a new perspec-tive on spa experience breaking away from how spa is viewed [hellip] The iconic Sheraton Cairo Hotel amp Ca-sino located on the west bank of the Nile River is un-dergoing a total revamp and is also set to open with 656 rooms in quarter four of [the year] The renova-tion which began in 2010 is considered one of the most comprehensive projects [hellip] and is targeted to-wards the discerning leisure traveller as well as busi-ness travellers who are looking for much more than just a business triprdquo she explained Starwood Hotels amp Resorts is also gearing up to open The St Regis Cairo in October 2014
PREPARE FOR THE RED SEA
Further south towards the world-renowned tourist re-gion of the Red Sea the coastal city of Sharm El Sheikh was blessed with the entry of the peak season in No-vember 2012 according to TRI Hospitality Consultingrsquos HotStats MENA Chain Hotel Market Review November 2012 as signs of improvement blos-somed throughout the destination during the month under review
According to the re-port occupancy rates swelled 77 percentage points to 797 percent pushing RevPAR up 54 percent to USD4166 despite a 47 percent decrease in ARR to USD5225 Meanwhile total RevPAR boosted 87 percent to USD7551 securely driven by an in-crease in food and bever-age revenue with GOP-PAR growing 52 percent to USD328
However Goddard believes that hotels in Sharm El Sheikh also ap-pear to be struggling as market-wide rate reduc-tions have negatively impacted financial re-sults ldquoAlthough occu-pancy in the region has increased the slashing of rates has had a dra-matic impact on their
peak seasonrsquos profit marginsrdquo he continuedSimilarly Umbricht highlighted that throughout
many tourist destinations across Egypt there exists an over-offer in hotel rooms which he believes re-sults in the very low pricing and thus is keeping Egypt very competitive against European competitors ldquoOn the other hand this is also resulting in a rate battle amongst the hotels which at the end is not healthy One of the losers will be the ecological and balanced tourism and finally naturerdquo he further underlined
On a positive note Marc Reissigner area general manager InterContinental The Palace Port Ghalib Re-sort Crowne Plaza Sahara Sands Port Ghalib Crowne Plaza Sahara Oasis Port Ghalib and Marian Lodge at Port Ghalib this year expects a 4268 percent in oc-cupancy levels equivalent to an increase of 1236 percent over 2012 with average daily rate to surge USD865 to USD4536 from USD3671 in 2012 This is all considering that MICE organisers place Egypt back into their event calendars according to Reissigner who emphasised that the international MICE market will continue to be one of the propertiesrsquo main targets and remain the number one feeder segment to Marsa Alam Port Ghalib destination
In addition the hotels will also be focusing on the corporate meetings and leisure markets the latter including the underwater adventure snorkelling
10 VISIT Egypt
MARCH 2013
families and romance and couples segments as well as wellbeing Reissigner further informed
ldquoNamed Egyptrsquos leading spa resort [] Six Senses Spa is [the countryrsquos] first on the Red Sea coast and is located among the splendid landscaped gardens lagoons stun-ning architecture and pure luxury of InterContinental The Palace Port Ghalib We have tailor-made a new hon-eymooners emotions experience with an inspired luxury palace of indulgence from the moment of arrival in Port Ghalib our lsquoemotionsrsquo experience takes clients on a jour-ney to the fascinating past blended with luxurious com-fortrdquo he continued
Steigenberger Al Dau Resort also recently celebrat-ed the traditional cornerstone placement of its new five-star Red Sea project Steigenberger Aqua Magic With construction works well underway Steigenberger Aqua Magic owned by Sami Saad Holding is slated for opening towards the end of the year and will operate under the flag of the renowned German hotel group Steigenberger Hotels The resort will run as a family hotel boasting 700 rooms in capacity a large swim-ming pool landscape extensive recreational facilities including its own Splash certified water park and an exclusive entertainment area
Moreover Soma Bay and in particular Kempin-ski Hotel Soma Bay is ready to welcome visitors to a place offering what Schwass described as beauti-
La Reacutesidence des Cascades
[the year] and the country enters an onoff transitional phase the second year post-revolution era is likely to re-sult in slow growth and a gradual return to pre-crisis lev-els by winter 20132014rdquo
However he recommends that anyone and eve-ryone visit Egypt ldquoEveryone must know that whatever happens in Tahrir Square the rest of Cairo and most of all the rest of Egypt and Red Sea are perfectly saferdquo he continued ldquoThis does not mean that the protests are not important but tourism-wise there are no complications at all If there is a demonstration on the same day you are in Cairo and you are concerned about your safety just come and enjoy the sun by the Red Sea Port Ghalib were luxury meets natureldquo
Naeem described Egypt as a safe and attractive tourist destination for international travellers and as-sured that Starwood Hotels amp Resorts Worldwide is committed to actively promoting tourism to the re-gion ldquoIn 2012 Starwood launched a dedicated web-site egypt-hospitalitycom to highlight the history of hospitality and services of all 10 Starwood hotels in the country [hellip] Egypt has culture diversity and stunning beauty which encompasses the countryrsquos history and which are still present todayrdquo
Sharing similar sentiments and reaffirming Star-wood Hotels amp Resorts Worldwidersquos top priority in implementing the hotel grouprsquos recovery campaign Hassan Ahdab vice president Africa and the Indian Ocean Starwood Hotels amp Resorts Worldwide said ldquoIt is very important after the recent events in Egypt that peoplersquos faith and trust in a country which has so much to offer be restored We are convinced that the campaign will make some noise and draw those of our loyal longstanding guests who have been wary of revisiting Egypt back to our resortsrdquo
ldquoOur personal message to travellers planning to visit is come and join usrdquo remarked Sherine Emara marketing manager La Reacutesidence Des Cascades ldquoOur hotels our beaches our golf courses our Cascades Spa and Thalasso our dive centre our wind surfing our kite surfing centre our Soma Bayrsquos Marina Centre with its restaurants and shops are all operational and ready to welcome yourdquo she added
Mansour believes that political and security stability are pre-requisites for tourism as she elaborated ldquoHaving tourism high on our president Mohamed Morsyrsquos agen-da in addition to the new initiatives taken by the ministry to boost tourism we expect tourism to regain its previ-ous position Moreover Egyptrsquos upcoming parliamentary elections will further enhance stability in Egyptrdquo
Tarek Moussa chairman Egypt amp Beyond Travel concurred ldquoStability and safety are the key words for tourists to come back to Egypt and unless the president and government of Egypt get it right and bring back sta-bility tourists will remain in much lower numbers Tour-ism in Egypt is very sick now but it will never dierdquo
Meanwhile Ibrahim Mohamed Ibrahim managing director Perfect Tours stressed that customers looking for the worldrsquos most enjoyable holidays to exotic desti-nations in Egypt and abroad do not have to do a single thing except of course to have a good time the rest he confirmed will be taken care of
ful sandy beaches and year-round sunshine which he informed remain the main attraction for tourists worldwide ldquoBy continuing to offer world-class service to our guests during the past 18 months Kempinski Hotel Soma Bay has also been able to recover from the dip in tourismrdquo he added
Also commenting on the resurgence Stephen Banks director of sales and marketing Africa Moumlven-pick Hotels amp Resorts said ldquoWe have seen occupan-cies steadily rise over the last year with our hotels on the Red Sea performing particularly wellrdquo
He added ldquoIn April this year Moumlvenpick Resort Soma Bay will open with 418 rooms on an unspoiled
stretch of white sandy beach in this increasingly popular destination on the Red Sea In addition Moumlvenpick Hotel amp Re-sort Cairo - Pyramids will open a further 132 rooms with an entirely new building aimed at the upscale business traveller and leisure guest
A PERSONAL MESSAGE
The 2011 revolution has certainly had a significant impact on Egyptrsquos tour-ism industry and this evi-dently continued in 2012 with direct impact on travel accommodation air transportation and tour-ist attractions with value growth rates across the board declining to dou-ble digit levels according to Reissigner who added ldquoOperators introduced heavy discounts in order to lure tourists back and prices remained low at the beginning of 2012 As unrest continues in Egypt with violence erupting again at the beginning of
11EXPLOREDubai
MARCH 2013
Why Dubai
DUBAI IN BRIEF
Country UAE
Currency UAE Dirham (AED)
Language Arabic
Dubairsquos astonishing rise from a small fishing and pearling community to one of the fastest growing metropolises continues to impress and inspire the world Welcome to the land of records and record-breakers where everything imaginable and unimaginable be-comes a reality
H ome to the worldrsquos tallest building largest shopping mall a collection of iconic artificial islands and some of the most instantly-recogniseable sights Dubai has established itself as the city of superlatives which con-tinuously strives for greater heights
Just when you think you have seen it all a new lsquoworldrsquos firstrsquo or lsquoworldrsquos mostrsquo project is announced inspiring visitors to return again and again
Propelled by multi-billion dollar investments in a space of just a few years Dubai has grown into the worldrsquos 13th most popular tourist destination as Euromonitor Internationalrsquos Top 100 Cities Destination Ranking shows far outperforming the likes of Shanghai Rome or Las Vegas
ldquoThe hospitality and tourism industry in Dubai is thrivingrdquo commented Nasser Fawzi director of sales and marketing Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates adding that Dubai has turned into one of the most sought-after destinations worldwide and thanks to the continuous efforts of the government and the Dubai Department of Tourism amp Commerce Marketing (DTCM) people are becoming more and more familiar with the emirate and what it has to offer ldquoVisitors can find both choice and value here making it the ideal destination for both leisure and business travellersrdquo he continued
In fact Dubairsquos hotel sector concluded 2012 with the highest profits in the MENA region for the third consecutive year according to TRI Hospitality Consult-ingrsquos HotStats survey which shows that despite the growing room inventory the destinationrsquos soaring popularity and uninterrupted string of events conferences and festivals helped maintain a steady stream of demand throughout the year lead-ing to an average annual occupancy level of 814 percent and a gross operating profit per available room surge of 133 percent over 2011 levels
ldquo2012 was a very good year for the hospitality industry where Dubai went again from strength to strengthrdquo confirmed Hazem Aouad cluster director of sales and marketing Radisson Royal Hotel Dubai and Radisson Blu Resort Fujairah
Karim Nahas general manager Rose Rayhaan by Rotana also described 2012 as a record year for the hotel when Dubairsquos hospitality industry in general witnessed a boom as the destination continued to benefit from the outcome of the Arab Spring and the governmentrsquos endeavours to market Dubai as a premier leisure destination
Sharing similar views Jan Siddiqi director of sales Ramada Plaza Jumeirah
JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai
Rita Kasziba writes
12 EXPLORE Dubai
MARCH 2013
Beach Residence and Ramada Sharjah attributed the over and above expectations performance to the col-lective result of various actions including political well-crafted initiatives
Praising the government and the tourism bodyrsquos continuous efforts Rupprecht Queitsch general man-ager JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai the worldrsquos tallest hotel at 355m said ldquoDTCM works very hard to raise the profile of Dubai as a destination for the con-vention business and leisure business and we work closely with them on these campaigns and sales tripsrdquo
Fawzi further added ldquo[The government along with DTCM] provide a lot of support to the hospital-ity industry through joint promotions sales and mar-keting initiatives and partnerships The government has positioned Dubai as one of the most sought-after destinations worldwide that has so much to offer and as a result demand for the destination continued to grow steadilyrdquo
TURNING AMBITION INTO ACTION
Just in a single generation Dubairsquos population has grown from just 10000 at the turn of the last century to over two million comprising more than 200 nation-alities by 2011 creating a characteristic destination of vibrant cultures and vivid contracts Demonstrating
the emiratersquos growing significance on regional and global levels everyday at present an average of three million people spend their day in Dubai including workers residing in other emirates and travellers visit-ing the destination on business or for pleasure
As Husseim Hachem cluster general manager Al Bustan and Al Murooj Rotana Dubai observed the emirate has consistently made its strong mark as one of the top destinations all over the world bolstered by widespread efforts of both the public and the pri-vate sector aimed at establishing Dubai as a desired place in every aspect
ldquoFirst the government is doing a great job in promoting the city internationally and secondly dif-ferent industries like hospitality travel tourism and more are working hand in hand to provide the best experiences to tourists and residents alike In addition to these factors Dubai as a city itself is a wonderful place with really nice peoplerdquo Hachem stressed
In fact Dubairsquos visionary leadership has long identified tourism as a central pillar of its economic diversification strategy hence the multi-billion dollar investments into the industry and related sectors in-cluding infrastructure transportation as well as pub-lic services have turned the emirate not only into a tourist hotspot but also into one of the best places to live in the MENA region topping the regional ranking
of Mercerrsquos rsquoQuality of Livingrsquo poll In addition the ease of doing business the close
proximity to key growth markets the centralised time zone best suited to both eastern and western busi-ness hours and the emiratersquos safe family-friendly and multicultural environment have all become a major draw for skilled professionals Consequently numer-ous multinational companies have chosen to set up their regional headquarters in Dubai making it a hub for trade and commerce and the number one desti-nation in the region for foreign direct investment
ldquoDubai continues to cement itself as a prime hub in terms of international businessrdquo confirmed Leon Salinel executive assistant manager sales and mar-keting Dusit Thani Dubai who explained that with its location in the Dubai International Financial Centre and in close proximity to Dubai World Trade Centre and the Dubai International Convention amp Exhibition Centre the hotel enjoys high and in fact growing guest volume from the corporate sector
ldquoHowever it is not just business travellers visit-ing the emiraterdquo Salinel stressed ldquoDubai remains a hotspot for leisure travellers it is the Las Vegas of the Middle East and somewhere people want to experi-ence at least once in their lifetimerdquo
Reflecting Dubairsquos dual appeal Robert Barker general manager Moumlvenpick Hotel amp Apartments
14 EXPLORE Dubai
MARCH 2013
Bur Dubai described Dubai as the Hong Kong of the Middle East adding that the unique model that has been created in the emirate and which continues to evolve with the ongoing reinvestment and planning is set to ensure Dubairsquos success and prosperity in the long-term
ENTERING NEW ERAS
Dubai started the new year on a high with a record 17 million visitors attending the Downtown Dubai New Yearsrsquo Eve Gala exceeding the reported attend-ance of one million at the world famous Times Square celebrations in New York City
The destinationrsquos abundant entertainment and amusement options coupled with its vast retail port-folio has long become a vital part of its appeal with Dubai Mall welcoming over 62 million visitors in 2012 and as a market research conducted by Reed Travel Exhibitions has revealed since the beginning of the year some 48 percent of the emiratersquos hotels were
Ocean View Hotel JA Resorts amp Hotels
Bluewaters Island project located off the Jumeirah Beach Residence coastline is envisaged to become one of the largest tourist hot spots in the world fea-turing demarcated retail residential hospitality and entertainment zones as well as the worldrsquos largest Ferris wheel at 210m named Dubai Eye
With construction due to commence in April the destination is set to further improve Dubairsquos competi-tiveness on the global stage as Abdullah Al Habbai chairman Meraas Holding the developer of the pro-ject suggested ldquoWe have a clear mission and vision to strengthen Dubairsquos global position in the tourism sec-tor This project will continue to build on the emiratersquos reputation as leaders in the global entertainment and retail landscaperdquo
Another megaproject Mohamed Bin Rashid City hailed as a city within the city is expected to set new benchmarks in urban development in the region Comprising four components the project will create an integrated environment for the development of entrepreneurship and innovation and will feature a
myriad of record-breaking leisure and entertainment options including a park 30 percent bigger than Londonrsquos Hyde Park designed to receive 35 million visitors per annum as well as the largest family cen-tre for leisure and entertainment in the region set up in collaboration with Universal Studios that will also include over 100 hotel facilities further to the largest arts gallery in the region and the worldrsquos largest retail complex Mall of the World
ldquoThe current facilities available in Dubai need to be scaled up in line with the future ambitions for the cityrdquo emphasised HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum ruler of Dubai remarking on the vital role of such projects in the emiratersquos Vision 2030 and boosting the UAE economy in order to enable it to enter a new era in which it will become the capital of entrepreneurship arts culture and family tourism for over two billion people
In fact the tourism sector in Dubai is growing by 13 percent annually and the accelerated growth rates require the emirate to prepare all sectors for the
future as passenger volume at Dubai International is set to surpass 90 million people per annum over the next five years ldquoOur development initiatives concern-ing infrastructure in all sectors should be aligned with this growth rate and we have the determination to reach our objectives and be the first in the region to achieve themrdquo concluded Al Maktoum
THE MANY FACES OF DUBAI
As a result of the joint efforts and heavy investments over the past decades Dubairsquos hospitality sector has utterly transformed according to David Thomson chief operating officer JA Resorts amp Hotels ldquoSince 2003 the emiratersquos hotel and hospitality sector has boomed launched new niche products developed new feeder markets and roared ahead with new vig-our after the slowdown of 20092010rdquo he said adding that today Dubai is considered a must-see destina-tion for many more reasons than just shopping and going to the beach which as Thomson stressed is vital for the sectorrsquos future growth
Echoing similar views Habib Khan CEO Planet Hospitality stated that people visiting Dubai can be segregated into three major categories namely lei-sure business and transients
ldquoWithin the leisure we have categorised the guests into travellers who come to witness the dra-matic achievements and modernisation of Dubai [hellip] whereas there are a smaller number but its rapidly growing of those intellectuals educational groups and individuals who seek better understanding of the Emirati and Arabic culturerdquo
Further commenting on the shifting trends Rose Ann Shetty CEO Galavantor which caters to a new generation of responsible travellers noted ldquoThe gov-ernment continues to invest and develop wonderful local and cultural experiences and while Dubairsquos focus continues to be a shopping and leisure destination the type of travellers has changed they are willing to stay longer and experience morerdquo Shetty explained adding that desert horseback riding Bedouin camp-ing trekking and rock climbing are continuously gaining popularity
In a bid to exploit another niche segment medi-cal and wellness tourism DTCM has recently teamed up with the Dubai Health Authority to promote Dubai as a premier medical destination capitalising on the emiratersquos advanced healthcare system and highly-skilled professors
ldquoWe are working to promote the medical tour-ism in Dubai since Dubai has an excellent infrastruc-ture modern hospitals and clinics offering a variety of medical [services] to visitors in search of quality health carerdquo explained Eyad Abdul Rahman execu-tive director media relations and business develop-ment DTCM
DTCM is also actively seeking ways to unleash the immerse potential of the burgeoning cruise tourism sector and secure its long-term growth by participat-ing in various international exhibitions with the aim of attracting more cruise liners
located within a 2km radius of one of the five mega-shopping malls of Dubai
Despite the stiffening competition hotels located in close proximity to shopping complexes continue to thrive as Fawzi confirmed revealing that 2012 proved to be one of the most successful years for the property since it opened seven years ago ldquoAs a city hotel Kem-pinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates offers a truly unique proposition which is well-liked by travellers from the Arab region What we add to Dubairsquos hospitality scene is a destination with entertainment for the whole fam-ily there is Ski Dubai and the new Penguin Encounter experience a great selection of dining options a cin-ema one of Dubairsquos most popular malls and a com-munity theatre all in one location that is literally on the doorstep of the hotelrdquo Fawzi further explained
In spite of the already overwhelming number of attractions in a quest to spur demand and support Dubairsquos bid to host the World Expo 2020 the emirate is forging ahead with a number of new megaprojects The recently approved AED6 billion (USD16 billion)
16 EXPLORE Dubai
MARCH 2013
Commenting on the strong economic fundamen-tals of the emirate and the breadth and unparalleled diversity of Dubairsquos tourism product Moussa El Hayek chief operating officer Al Bustan Centre amp Residence said ldquo[One of the] main reasons behind the prosperity in Dubai is the advanced infrastructure that tourists can enjoy here including luxurious hotels and restau-rants transportation malls entertainment venues parks furthermore security iconic buildings and to some extent the flexibility of the rulesrdquo
rently has 204 aircraft on order at a value USD73 billion Likewise as the second-largest airline operating
out of Dubai International flydubairsquos fast-paced ex-pansion has been a key catalyst in the emiratersquos un-precedented growth In the past two years the airline has more than doubled the number of destinations it flies to from 25 to over 50 a rate of more than one new destination per month and has increased its weekly services to over 1000
Since its inception the low-cost carrier which
served more than 51 million passengers in 2012 has laid great emphasis on connecting Dubai with fast-developing and previously untapped markets opening up new opportunities for travel and trade in emerging markets such as the CIS and Eastern Eu-rope in general In 2012 more than 40 percent of fly-dubairsquos route development concentrated on Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the CIS countries
ldquoWe have seen great demand on our routes within the CIS and CEE as more people seek afford-able fares and direct flights between Dubai and this regionrdquo informed Ghaith Al Ghaith CEO flydubai In addition today flydubai welcomes passengers to Dubai and beyond through its connecting flights to the Maldives Sri Lanka and other destinations
As a matter of fact in 2012 Russia and the CIS proved to be the second fastest expanding market in terms of passenger growth behind South America figures released by Dubai Airports have shown and Al Ghaith revealed a similar trend attesting that the car-rierrsquos total number of flights to the CIS and CEE network was 45 percent higher between October 2011 and Sep-tember 2012 compared to the previous 12 months
ldquoWe operated 109 percent more flights in the region in September 2012 compared to September 2011 illustrating the demand for travel between the nationsrdquo added Al Ghaith ldquoWe are constantly look-ing for new opportunities Our approach is to target destinations within a five-and-a-half hour radius of Dubai which puts us within reach of more than 25 billion people one third of the worldrsquos populationrdquo
Remarking on the airlinesrsquo major role in Dubairsquos development El Hayek highlighted ldquoFlight frequency to different cities all over the world made Dubai the hub of the world as Emirates flydubai and Air Ara-bia have all launched various routes to different cities while other lsquogiantrsquo airlines moved their operations to Dubai due to the advanced infrastructure and the ex-cellent services provided by Dubai Internationalrdquo
In line with the airlinesrsquo expansion strategy hotel-iers are increasingly focusing on reaching out to these new markets including the CIS and Russia which Shaff Butt director of marketing and communication Jumeirah Beach Hotel already listed among the ho-telrsquos key feeder markets
Besides the traditionally strong GCC and Europe-an markets mainly the UK and the German speaking countries demand from the CIS nations also contin-ues to be strong as Siddiqi explained
Reporting similar trends Salinel added ldquoThe GCC has always been a primary source market and has remained strong over the past few years Other source markets which have begun to show significant growth for us as a hotel [are] within the CIS region and Asian marketsrdquo
Butt further added ldquoOver the past few years we are seeing continued positive results from our main key markets such as Europe which continues to show good numbers as well as the GCC and wider Middle East For this year our main focus is the CIS market and we would also like to target Asia and Af-rica since we are getting good pick up as well as more repeat guests each yearrdquo
Nahas listed South Africa Brazil and Turkey among Rose Rayhaan by Rotanarsquos target emerging markets while others including Barker remarked on the growing demand from Far Eastern countries and mainly China
Likewise Hachem noted that China India and the rest of Asia have also started to make up for a big chunk of Al Bustan and Al Murooj Rotana Dubairsquos cli-entele while Aouad also added South America to the list of the markets lsquoto watchrsquo for Radisson Royal Hotel Dubai and Radisson Blu Resort Fujairah
Mohamed Taher director of sales and marketing Traders Hotel Dubai listed a number of emerging markets which hold great potential including the Middle East Africa Southeast Asia Australia Scandi-navia Algeria as well as Serbia
The constantly strong business levels from these markets set to balance demand with supply noted Taherw who anticipates a rise in both rates and over-all business levels ldquoDemand will offset the growth in the increased room inventories with more exhibitions being held in the city as well as the increased air traf-fic with the expansion of the airportrdquo
Hachem further added ldquoThis is admittedly a chal-lenging year as the markets get more and more pen-etrated In addition 2012 had been great which adds more pressure to the industry in general to maintain and exceed the previous achievementsrdquo
Echoing similar views Wael El Behi general man-ger Ramada Downtown Dubai concluded ldquoDubai is one of the most sought-after travel destinations in the world The hospitality sector is getting bigger and better every year Hotels are coming up with innova-tive facilities to ensure guest satisfaction and a travel-ler has a wide range of hotels to choose from Most hotels have increased their efficiency and profitability levels which is commendable We hope to continue this success [hellip] With the growing hospitality sector a traveller will be enticed to visit the city againrdquo
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE
Besides the government and the tourism organisa-tionrsquos vigorous work Dubairsquos advanced air connec-tivity and excellent infrastructure have also played a vital part in the destinationrsquos unprecedented growth as Fawzi noted
ldquoAnother contributing factor is the airlift into the destination and the continued growth of Dubai In-ternational and the UAErsquos airlines including Emirates Etihad Airways and flydubai who have also seen phenomenal growth over the past few years bringing more and more people to the destination [who] will be looking for accommodationrdquo elaborated Fawzi
In fact with its strategic location on the global axis between East and West connecting the devel-oped and the developing world Dubai boasts access to over 25 billion people within a four-hour flight as Queitsch pinpointed
Dubairsquos geographic location makes it a major global hub for trade commerce and tourism a key competitive advantage for Emirates An increasing proportion of the traffic between Europe and Asia now flies through the Middle East and the airline ex-pects this share to further grow taking into consider-ation that Dubairsquos location also facilitates rising trade flows to and from India China and Africa three of the carrierrsquos strongest markets
In the financial year 2011-12 Emirates carried a total of 34 million passengers leading to an average load factor of 80 percent while for the first six months of the financial year ending September 30 2012 pas-senger volume reached 187 million marking a year-on-year increase of 154 percent
Over the last year Emiratesrsquo network has grown rapidly bringing new countries cultures and experi-ences for customers to explore and of course opening up new markets for Dubai Reflecting Emiratersquos ambi-tious expansion plans for the future the company cur-
18 ONSITE Palestine
MARCH 2013
Forging Ahead with Pride PALESTINE IN BRIEF
Administrative Centres
Ramallah Gaza
Accepted Currencies
US Dollar (USD) Jordanian Dollar (JOD)
Language Arabic
Palestine rich in culture deep in history blessed with holy sites and highly worthy of its popularity amongst all travellers alike is a des-tination which never seizes to amaze the world of travel and tourismI n 2012 Palestine witnessed an increase in the
number of inbound tourism by some 225 mil-lion visitors 18 percent higher than that record-ed in 2011 and this paved the way for a boost of 25 percent in overnight stays in hotels and
guesthouses across the country to reach 18 millionIn order to keep visitor levels high the Ministry
of Tourism and Antiquities together with stakehold-ers have implemented numerous projects in a bid to increase traffic to the region
One example is Jenin Tourist Center which is scheduled to open later this year and is set to add to the improvement of Jenin as a tourist destination to attract both local and international visitors with a fo-cus on the quality of the arearsquos residential life and the creation of economic opportunities through tourism
With Poland being heralded as the destinationrsquos second major feeder market in 2012 having welcomed 200000 Polish visitors throughout the year Palestine acted as a partner country for the first time in one of
the global renowned travel trade shows TOUR SALON Poland which gave the Middle Eastern country the opportunity to showcase itself to what is being recog-nised as one of the most promising markets
With regards to Palestinersquos vast selection of accommo-dation offerings the country provides an array of friendly and welcoming hospitality services and this is evident in the healthy performance results reported in 2012
Grand Park Hotel which opened towards the end of September 2012 after a USD13 million renovation transformed it into a five-star property from a four-star recorded 50 percent occupancy in the first six months in operation this according to Mohammed Zomlot general manager Grand Park Hotel
ldquoWe expect perfor-mance to be much bet-ter this year as the hotel is very well-known and guests now know we have had this renovation and want to come and see the new lookrdquo he added
With the majority of the hotelrsquos guests hail-ing from Palestine itself Europe America and the Middle East Zomlot pointed out that the ho-tel attends international conferences sets out marketing strategies and also participates in exhi-bitions in order to keep figures high and promote the hotel as a perfect choice for travellers
Further growing its presence in the region Grand Park Hotel is set to open two new hotels in Palestine in the second quarter of the year and is to be the first local ho-tel chain in the country
Thomas Brugnatelli general manager The American Colony Hotel also revealed the recent
completion of what he described as the spectacular Palm House building alongside other changes which came onboard to cater to the propertyrsquos main clien-tele 45 percent of which Brugnatelli revealed hailed from Europe mostly from France Italy Germany UK and Spain while the US segment claimed a 35 percent market share ldquoFor over a hundred years The American Colony Hotel has a proud reputation of one of the most exceptional and famous hotels in the Middle Eastrdquo he concluded
Royal Court Suites Hotel is yet another property which completed a solid 2012 in terms of business performance as Joseph Ayoub general manager Royal Court Suites Hotel announced who further indicated that with new additions to management and plans for further upgrades the hotel expects its performance to continue to improve into the future ldquoThe Royal Court Suites Hotel will be undergoing re-modeling to our lobby and outside terrace which we are excited forrdquo he expressed
Catering to MENA guests of which 20 percent make up the propertyrsquos entire clientele base who pre-dominantly come from Jordan as well as Palestine it-self the hotel provides a highly service-orientated staff and a location that puts MENA travellers in the heart of Ramallah close to its best attractions and provides them with the opportunity to experience a land sacred to Muslims and Christians boasting holy sites scattered across its land Further to local and regional travellers the hotel is also popular among international organisa-tions non-governmental segments and business trav-ellers arriving from Europe US and Japan
Commenting on the ways through which fel-low professionals can work to improve visitor arriv-als Ayoub advised ldquoHotel operators in Palestine can boost the countryrsquos tourism industry by running well managed operations that provide high quality ser-vice and up to date properties that are exposed to the outside world through proper marketingrdquo
This year also looks to be better than 2012 for Golden Park Resort during which the property wit-nessed average performance levels and occupancy rates of 55 percent among the Czechs Slovakians Indians Sri Lankans Nigerians Polish and Egyp-tians according to Ibrahim Giacamam general man-ager Golden Park Resort who announced changes throughout the hotel in the coming months
ldquoWe are renovating parts of the hotel to compete with local marketsrdquo he revealed adding that this will include a full renovation of the lobby as well as the rooms ldquoThere is competition from new hotels open-ing in Bethlehem thus we want to keep our guests happyrdquo Giacamam concluded
Dominique Christou writes
19TOURUK
MARCH 2013
Dominique Christou writes
A ccording to the latest World Travel amp Tourism Council Economic Impact report published in 2012 direct contribution of travel and tourism to the UKrsquos GDP in 2011 reached GBP35 billion (USD54 billion) 23
percent of the countryrsquos total GDP with a forecasted rise of 13 percent in 2012 and an annual increase of 41 percent over the next decade when the indus-try is estimated to be contributing GBP531 billion (USD81 billion) to the UKrsquos GDP in 2022
Patricia Yates director of strategy VisitBritain ex-pected 31 million inbound visits to the UK for 2012 giving the destination as Yates described a perfect foundation to see continued strong growth in interna-tional tourism for this year contributing revenue to the UK economy and creating new jobs across the country
VisitBritain recently ventured yet again into the GCC following the successful execution and delivery of the BritAgent online training programme in the UAE Saudi Arabia and Kuwait
Meticulously Personalised
UK IN BRIEF
Capital London
Currency British Pound (GBP)
Language English
The UK has long been an admired choice among MENA travellers highly accredited to the typically distin-guished English hospitality world-renowned shopping outlets quality selection of entertainment plethora of family activities and last but not least the overabundance of pictur-esque parks scattered across the country
The UK tourism boardrsquos global online training initia-tive which has been designed to meet the needs of travel trade lsquofront-linersrsquo from new starters to experienced sales personnel was recently launched in Qatar at the British Embassy Doha a programme which upon completion grants the agents with BritAgent status signifying their expertise and knowledge about travel to Britain
ldquoBritain is already a major beneficiary of outbound travel from the Gulfrdquo confirmed Sumathi Ramanathan regional manager Asia Pacific and Middle East Visit-Britain ldquoVisitors from the Gulf region are a major source of revenue for the UK from January to September 2012 these visitors spent nearly AED55 billion (USD15 billion) already showing a seven percent increase over 2011 From 2006 through to 2011 Qatar has shown an outstanding increase in visitor numbers of 59 percent and the spend per night significantly outshines all the other countriesrdquo Ramanathan added
Official figures released by VistBritain reveal that in 2012 the UK witnessed the best November since 2007 with visitation figures a soaring nine percent higher than 2011 keeping the country on track to reach the 31 million mark by end-2012
November 2012 saw healthy results from nearly all the regions in the world exempt the US accord-ing to the study which stated that the UK welcomed 10 percent more tourists from Europe and 12 percent from the rest of the world
20 TOUR UK
MARCH 2013
Yates expressed great satisfaction for this success stressing that 2012 was no ordinary year for inbound tourism so to announce the best November in five years is an achievement
AN AMPLE CHOICE
These healthy results are evident in the hotel sector across the country partially attributed to the relative-ly strong MENA market as Daniel Simmons execu-tive director HotelREZ noted further indicating that the hotel currently has a presence in Dubai and as a result is strategically developing the MENA markets to support the membersrsquo growth
o-y improvement from the top five Middle Eastern mar-kets a 104 percent y-o-y upsurge from Saudi Arabian visitors and a 33 percent y-o-y rise from UAE visitors
Assuring that the MENA guest is well-catering to London Hilton on Park Lane trains its staff to pro-vide the welcome that visitors from the region have come to expect equipping the team with the skills to handle tailored requests according to Brayshaw who elaborated ldquoThere is a dedicated guest relations teams for Middle Eastern guests with Arabic-speak-ing team members Facilities are available for visitorsrsquo private chefs to cook within the hotelsrsquo kitchens and serve their own dishes to their employer Arabic TV stations are also availablerdquo
BRINGING IN BUSINESS
Further boosting MENA tourism to the UK on March 31 British Airways (BA) will launch an additional four flights to and from Amman increasing the frequency from dai-ly to 11 per week ldquoJordan is an important market for Brit-ish Airways and we are thrilled with the excellent growth we have seen here since re-introducing Amman to our route network We are keen to further enhance our op-erations to and from Jordan and the announcement only consolidates our commitment to the Jordanian marketrdquo commented Paolo De Renzis area commercial manager Middle East and Central Asia BA
In addition Qatar Airways has launched its inau-gural long-haul Boeing 787 Dreamliner service on the Doha - London Heathrow route becoming the first airline to operate regular scheduled flights onboard the state-of-the art aircraft to and from the UK
Akbar Al Baker CEO Qatar Airways said ldquoThe Doha - Heathrow route is one of our most popular interna-tional routes and it was only fitting that we deploy our new 787 to and from Londonrdquo
INVESTING IN THE UK
Heathrow Airport is hailed as the most popular gateway for travellers to the UK recording a total of 518 million passengers having passed through its terminal in Janu-ary alone a record for the month which saw an increase of 03 percent over the corresponding month in 2012
Meanwhile load factors also set a record for the month under review up 21 percentage points on Janu-ary 2012 reaching 70 percent Domestic traffic was down 58 percent however European traffic rose 18 percent and Middle Eastern traffic also climbed the trajectory level by 33 percent over the same month in 2012
Moreover Heathrow Airport recently announced GBP3 billion (USD46 billion) worth of investments in the airport in addition to the GBP11 billion (USD168 billion) which has been invested since 2003 and these form part of the establishmentrsquos business plans for Q6 the regulatory period which covers 2014-2019 and they represent one of the largest private-sector investments in UK infrastructure
The plans include the completion of Terminal 2 and the early works on extending the building the development of a new integrated baggage system and the construction of new taxiways and stands which will allow Heathrow Airport to accommodate more of the most modern aircraft
Colin Matthews CEO Heathrow Airport com-mented ldquoHeathrow is the UKrsquos only hub airport and a strategically important national infrastructure asset Heathrow faces stiff competition from other Europe-an hubs and we must continue to improve the service we offers passengers and airlines [] Our plan for a further GBP3 billion (USD46 billion) of private-sector investment will further improve the airport for pas-sengers The plan represents good value for money for airlines and passengers and comes at no cost to taxpayersrdquo
Guests from the UAE Turkey Egypt Saudi Arabia and Kuwait along with Cyprus contributed to two percent of the hotelrsquos total reservations percentage results for 2012 this according to Simmons who also reported a 20 percent year-on-year (y-o-y) increase in revenue ldquoOur hotel members benefit from a 90 per-cent increase on IDS (Internet distribution services) and direct connect bookings a 35 percent increase on GDS (global distribution systems) bookings and a 60 percent growth on CRO (central reservations of-fices) and voice bookingsrdquo
Commenting on the propertyrsquos latest develop-ments Simmons revealed the recently-launched MICE Desk which he pinpointed is an additional solution to HotelREZrsquos member hotels and will help boost revenue
ldquoAt HotelREZ we are very confident that our new MICE Desk will raise awareness and continue to increase reservations for our hotel members from meetings incentives conventions and events pack-ages To complete the consumer booking cycle Ho-telREZ is launching REZanalyst a new social media and review analytics tool for hotels to help manage their online reputationrdquo he concluded
Also showing signs of strong performance is Lon-don Hilton on Park Lane thanks to the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympics whose international committee chose the property as the headquarter ho-tel this according to Ashleigh Brayshaw marketing and communications manager London Hilton on Park Lane
With one out of four of the hotelrsquos guests hailing from the MENA region Brayshaw pointed out that in 2011 the property witnessed particularly high growth in visitor numbers from the region with a 21 percent y-
Moreover the UK especially London offers a full range of activities according to Brayshaw who observed that the Middle Eastern guest is increasingly organised with the time spent in the capital and one who enjoys combining a variety of activities ldquoPopular activities in-clude sending children to summer schools in Regentrsquos Park attending business meetings visiting property shopping for the latest trends and enjoying the rich va-riety of entertainment that London has to offer Families often use managers to organise their time with London Hilton on Park Lanersquos hotel management working di-rectly with guests to assistrdquo she further noted
Moreover Travelodge one of the UKrsquos leading hotel brands is set to benefit from a GBP223 million (USD341 million) brand investment with the opening of 14 new hotels which includes two properties in Spain the creation of 420 new jobs and the launch-ing of a new room concept which has been designed by its customers ldquoThis capital expenditure will help us to grow our business strengthen our product offer-ing and make Travelodge the best value hotel chain in the UKrdquo Grant Hearn CEO Travelodge revealed
ldquoAs part of this yearrsquos investment we have worked with our customers to create a new Travelodge room which offers more comfort quality and stylerdquo he contin-ued adding that this enhanced product combined with economy pricing will ensure Travelodge is the smart choice for leisure and business travellers
Furthermore in order to help attract new custom-ers Travelodge is also investing over GBP12 million (USD 182 million) in digital and online marketing this year as well as over GBP1 million (USD15 million) in a website refresh later this year
London
22 EXCLUSIVE Luxury Travel
MARCH 2013
Living the DreamLuxury travel is all about mak-ing guests feel unique and privi-leged It is about offering them the chance to get to know the world in extravagance and having them live above the ordinary It is about spoiling them with opulent travel and hospitality services something which is without doubt growing in size and quality
I n late December 2012 the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) released its Travel Trends Report 2013 developed in collaboration with UKrsquos Foreign and Commonwealth Office pre-dicting that consumers will continue to look for
good value in breaks for this year rather than cut back on their holidays
Mark Tanzer CEO ABTA stated that the majority of British holidaymakers are reluctant to give up their annual holiday under any circumstances while strong forward bookings for the luxury and all-inclusive sec-tors are being witnessed
Speaking at the 2011 edition of the annual Interna-tional Luxury Travel Market (ILTM)rsquos Ultratravel Forum Chris Sanderson strategy and insight director The Future Laboratory a trend forecasting company had announced predictions stating that the lsquoluxuriansrsquo of the future would not be interested in too much choice ldquoThere is an en-hanced sense of just being todayrsquos luxury consumer rath-er than being surrounded by possessionsrdquo he explained
AUTHENTICALLY PRIVILIGED
Views corroborating Sandersonrsquos were voiced by John McGee research and communications manager Ar-tisans of Leisure a luxury travel company specialis-ing in exclusive customised private tours around the world McGee believes that the primary reason his customers travel is to get authentic experiences that introduce them to the local traditions and people while high-quality hotels encourage them to travel but are not primary incentives further pinpointing the latter as being the interest in experiencing local
culture cuisine history and lifestyle With reference to the Middle East McGee noted
that his agency is intrigued by places like Abu Dhabi and its considered approach to developing new mu-seums and cultural attractions
Defining the demands and needs of luxury trav-ellers as being genuine and local experiences Filip Boyen chief operating officer Orient-Express said ldquoFor luxury tourists travel is not just about lying on a beach or by the pool anymore It is about combining relaxation in a beautiful setting with learning and dis-covery They want to come away with an experience or having learnt something new that they can come home and tell their friends all aboutrdquo
Boyen added that the Middle East is relatively new to the world of tourism a place many will want to discover and consequently this will create a demand for luxury ho-tels already emerging in many parts of the region
Travellers who spend a lot of money for their trip expect and demand the best they need to be cared for in every step of the way while feeling confident that they are dealing with someone experienced to respond to their requests according to Daniel Essex CEO Century Travel who also explained that many luxury travellers are looking for something small and attentive and a much more personal approach
LET US SPOIL YOU
The growing number of luxury hotels and amenities has led to an increased interest with Canadian travel-lers to the Middle East according to Kathy Stewart director of media and public relations Butterfield amp Robinson a Toronto-based agency Aside from authen-ticity she stressed the importance of maintaining the unique qualities of the region for further development
into a luxury destination for global travellers ldquoEspecial-ly North Americans who are travelling a long distance to the Middle East they are not looking for the same experience they can get at home They want Middle Eastern food people landscapes and architecture to be an integral part of the experiencerdquo
Hotel Missoni Kuwait benefits from a healthy lux-ury-demanding domestic market which represents 55 percent of its business followed by Saudi Arabia with 13 percent and the UAE with 10 percent accord-ing to Alfio Bernardini general manager Hotel Mis-soni Kuwait who said ldquo[At the hotel] everything con-tributes to the depth of the experience Hotel Missoni is designed to be genuine and uncomplicated offer-ing those luxury touches that really matter because they genuinely enrich the experience of stayingrdquo
Six Senses Zighy Bay the indigenous village style accommodation in Oman has observed an increase of 12 percent in occupancy levels throughout 2012 while the growth of the Middle East clientele is appar-ent after the development of family-specific offerings attested Guillaume de Lasteyrie executive assistant manager Six Senses Zighy Bay He believes that peace and calm is the most appreciated value of the property while the hotelrsquos offerings are tempting for guests cit-ing the example of the saltwater pool carrying a min-eral composition of 15-20 percent comparable to the Dead Sea whose concentration is 27 percent
Another instance of Arab opulence is Eastern Man-groves Hotel amp Spa by Anantara in Abu Dhabi a prop-erty which assures that luxury is interrelated with in-dulgence across all of its services offered with an acute focus on detail which Nehme Darwiche hotel manag-er Eastern Mangroves Hotel amp Spa by Anantara report-ed is of utter importance Darwiche further supports that the Middle East will not only continue to develop as a luxury destination but will sit on the top of luxury ranks and become a pioneer in such offerings ldquoThe de-mand on luxury products will continue to increase as the tastes of sophisticated societies continues to reach new limits Luxury will not be in big numbers but will be in the power to obtain rarity the Middle East under-stands that very well and the developments planned
Maria Kazeli writes
Hotel Missoni Kuwait
23EXCLUSIVELuxury Travel
MARCH 2013
from now until 2020 have luxury travellers as their tar-getrdquo Darwiche concluded
An upcoming superior property in the region is Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah set to open in May Rudi Jagersbacher president Middle East and Africa Hilton Worldwide explained that the hotel as an up-scale property will have to deliver on two counts experiences and expectations Observing that travel behaviour has changed in the past years and placing emphasis on value for money he further noted ldquo[Wal-dorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah] is palatial exclusive and will offer the highest level of service as well as state-of-the-art amenities but that is not enough We have to ensure that our guests consider their experience as an investment worth repeating and sharingrdquo
The peak of extravagance is reached with a variety of private jet services throughout the region which cater for business and leisure travellers alike Mark Hardman op-erations director ExecuJet Middle East pointed out that the companyrsquos clientele is as diverse as the regionrsquos popu-lation but private aviation offers valued features such as time efficiency security privacy and convenience
He admitted that the most popular destinations for Dubai-based ExecuJet are in the Middle East with Riyadh Jeddah Beirut and Baghdad occupying the top spots while Geneva London and Nice are the favoured European hubs
Similarly Hardy Sohanpal director NasJet agreed that Middle East travellers use private jet services for efficiency flexibility and privacy while he accurately underlined that through emphasising the luxury ben-efits many private jet users build relationships with their key business contacts and staff by giving them access to private aircraft
ON THE RISE
Providing her own view Stewart reiterated that it is important not to overdevelop and retain authenticity of the Arab culture in the region
Along parallel lines Essex believes that the major-ity across the region always had the opinion that big is beautiful but this is not enough he further stressed as the industry professionals in the Middle East need to consider the boutique options However he lauded Abu Dhabirsquos development on Saadiyat Island and the introduction of cultural arts which he believes will at-tract the international and discerning travellers
Boyen deems that the region will experience ad-vancement and will emerge as a luxury destination something he attributes to improved air connectivity ldquoDefinitely with new airline routes from the Middle East launching all the time such as Etihad Airwaysrsquo new routes to Washington and Satildeo Paulo which are
launching this year the destination is bound to de-velop furtherrdquo he continued
Sharing the same opinion that the expansion of airlines and airports lead to such positive develop-ments Bernardini claimed that despite the fact that the Middle East will develop further to become a des-tination for high-calibre tourists not all countries in the region have the capacity and the stability to do so However he further explained a few hotspots will enjoy this blessing due to the money available in this part of the world which will result in the building of super high-quality hotels and thus attract a good number of luxury travellers
De Lasteyrie pointed out that even though the region was under the spotlight for some time the future will see even greater lavish suggestions and-maintaining that ldquoThe Middle East has been since years a luxury destination to the eyes of many though the pinnacle of luxury is yet to come Smaller and personalised service hotels and resorts from around the world are now willing to implement themselves in untouched locations creating a new momentum Much of the Middle East is still in the first tiers of luxu-ry based on opulent luxury and the glitz and glamour that first come with wealth We are now beginning to see affluent luxury and more distinguished spending on art collectibles and sustainabilityrdquo
24 SPECIAL REPORT Waterparks
MARCH 2013
In for a RideWaterparks are a popular attraction among locals and tourist in the Middle East With promising weather throughout most of the year waterparks offer visitors a fun family outing in addition to an array of promotions and events Travel Trade Monthly explores what makes waterparks the perfect attraction
F rom fun rides food and beverage outlets and retail offerings to gaming outlets and social events waterparks offer a safe fun and friendly environment for the family groups and events planners from all walks of life
Wild Wadi Waterpark Dubai is a good example whose team is committed to providing a fun-filled service that will make a lasting impression according to Chris Perry general manager Wild Wadi Waterpark who added that there is a major focus on using every opportunity to ensure that the guestsrsquo decision to visit is rewarded with plenty of time to play less time to queue and more time on the rides
Meanwhile Ice Land Water Park Ras Al Khaimah is receiving full promotional support from the emir-atersquos government and especially by its tourism body this according to Vagelyn Federico deputy director Ice Land Waterpark who added that it has been high-lighted as one of the major destinations in the UAE by all concerned tourism entities
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is the latest entry into the regionrsquos proliferating world of waterparks and accord-ing to Mike Oswald general manager Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi it rivals the worldrsquos best waterparks offering 43 rides slides and attractions ldquoIt has been an incredible journey to this point and unbelievably satisfying to watch the peoplersquos reaction to what has been created We are
support of the tourism body in Ras Al Khaimahrdquo Federico stated
In the summer major visitors to the waterpark hail from Asia as well as locally whereas during the winter months the CIS market plays a big role in pro-moting the park with its tourists in the UAE
In order to boost visitor arrivals to the waterpark Federico pointed out that during the winter the team is currently working for a family barbecue night with some other attractions to lure in more families
Moreover she indicated that the months ahead seem even more vibrant as she further demonstrated ldquoThis year will be more promising as we strengthened our ties with more travel operators inbound and out-bound Additionally we are currently working with dif-ferent airlines travel operators hotels and other tour-ism entities to promote Ice Land giving them also more benefits in promoting us to different market segmentsrdquo
Giving something more to visitors the water-parkrsquos team is currently working with skilled games and other dry rides for people to enjoy at the facility after park operations ldquoWe are also a preferred venue for concerts as we have the perfect place to accom-modate up to 6000 people in one area Ice Land Wa-ter Park is just one of the offerings of WOWRAK and we are currently working with other expansions such as resorts ice skating cinema complex hypermarket and other amusement activities which are planned to open in the next few yearsrdquo concluded Federico
Likewise Perry also announced continuous growth over the years for Wild Wadi Waterpark with 2012 prov-ing very successful He attributed this achievement to events such as ladies nights Ramadan nights and the new Jumeirah Sceirah which launched in September 2012 having proved to be a favourite amongst thrill seekers whereby one drops through a trap door from a height of 32m into the waiting water tunnel and races down the slide at 80km per hour
ldquoWe aim for this trend to continue this year as we have a variety of new attractive promotions and events to suit all our guestsrsquo needsrdquo Perry further in-formed ldquoWe also launched our online ticketing system this month to offer faster entry to our guestsrdquo he added guaranteeing guests with a faster entry process allow-ing all those with a printed ticket to jump the queue
Wild Wadi Waterpark is open all year round and ca-ters to guests from all over the world ldquoDuring the hot summer months (May-October) most of our guests come from the GCC countries whereby during the colder season (November-April) our guests are mainly from Europe
ldquoThe park is also a popular destination for UAE resi-dents since we periodically offer discounts to all resi-dents as well as annualseason passes that allow them to visit as many times as they want for a cheaper raterdquo he said
Perry also pointed out that during the month of May the waterpark offers its very popular family-only mornings every Friday at discounted rates so that they can enjoy the full facilities of the park when it is not too busy and of course when it is more safe and secure a factor which he assured is of the highest priority
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi
Dominique Christou writes
confident that people will have seen nothing like it before and we look forward to the waves of visitors expected to arrive now that the park is officially openrdquo
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi which inaugurated on January 19 is built around a central character named Dana whose crew won the battle in its quest to re-store a pearl to its rightful place which has ensured prosperity to the mythical Emirati village and marked what is expected to be a successful start to Yas Water-world Abu Dhabirsquos commercial operations
Set across 15ha on Yas Island the park offers thrills for the whole family and visitors will experience fun and adventure on rides and attractions such as the worldrsquos longest fastest tornado waterslide the regionrsquos first looping waterslide and the worldrsquos first interactive water and laser rollercoaster According to Oswald Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is expected to welcome a total of 700000 in its first year of operation
CALLING ALL THRILL SEEKERS
During 2012 waterparks across the region expe-rienced a healthy increase in visitors across a variety of markets
ldquoThe waterpark performed better in 2012 compared to our first year in 2011 when it comes to statistics in vari-ous nationalities locally and internationally through the
26 INVESTIGATION
MARCH 2013
Visiting Friends amp Relatives
Maria Kazeli writes
T he annual review for 2011 by the World Travel amp Tourism Council (WTTC) attributes social and cultural benefits to tourism indicating that the industry directly helps to keep or bring families and social networks together
With special regards to the visiting friends and relatives (VFR) segment the review supports that a significant proportion of all international trips which reaches up to a third of all arrivals for some large de-veloped markets are made in order to visit friends andor relatives
Globalisation has caused people to spread all over the globe but returning back home occasion-ally is a necessity The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) draws direct links between migration and travelling to visit relatives and in the 2009 Executive Summary entitled Tourism and Migration ndash Explor-
year in review which covers up to September 2012 reveals that the highest figures for the VFR segment appeared in January 2012 with 267 percent of 47610 incoming tourists being reported as VFR
Egyptrsquos outbound travel market linked to VFR oc-cupies a major part of business for travel agencies Feryal El Gohary general manager Bahi Travel ex-plained adding that almost half of the agencyrsquos cli-entele are VFR She also expressed the view that this market is a growing force for airlines and hoteliers alike while the latter she pinpointed will succeed only if they create a new strategy of very advanta-geous attractive long-stay offers
Tarek Moshref managing director Pronto Tours an Egypt-based tour operator supported that the VFR market is the third largest segment after holiday and business and for this reason local travel agents and operators should improve their services in order to capture and develop its potential by offering new options and programmes
Stressing the cost-driven aspect of the VFR mar-ket Adel Taha general manager leisure travel Kimidar Tours an Egyptian travel agency destination manage-ment company and ground handler said that VFR travellers aim at low travel expenditures in order to spend their money on leisure activities at the destina-tion and not on transportation With regards to the accommodation factor he added ldquoMost of the travel-lers whether leisure or VFR would tend to seek hotel accommodation in order to benefit from services pro-vided such as room cleaning and meals instead of self-served apartments However we can say they still seek low-cost accommodations with some specificationsrdquo
VFR IN THE SKIES
Commenting on the results of the British CAArsquos study Harry Bush group director economic regulation UK CAA had said that air travel played a key role in enabling peoplersquos relocating principally through the emergence of low-cost air travel and that the result-ing VFR passengers are increasingly important con-sumers of air travel According to an aviation analysis report by CAPA - Centre for Aviation a provider of independent aviation market intelligence the Mid-dle Eastern low-cost carriers are trying to adapt their model to the regional situation with their higher den-sity configurations targeting migrant workers and VFR traffic flows from North Africa and South Asia into the Gulf region
Major airlines have taken this trend into consid-eration and cater for this market by tailoring their offers Paolo De Renzis area commercial manager Middle East and Central Asia British Airways said ldquoThe VFR segment is extremely important to British Airways particularly in the Middle East where a large number of our customers are VFR travellers This is a region where families are extremely close and this tight-knit family culture means that we see a lot of VFR traffic across our Middle Eastern routes We also have a large expat community in the UAE which con-tributes significantly to this segmentrdquo
Unconventional TravellersMany prefer to spend their holiday visiting their friends and relatives in their home country if they are expa-triates or some other destination in order to spend time with their loved ones The focus of the travel is not cultural sightseeing and luxury ac-commodation but low airfare and budget lodgings
ing the Relationship between Two Global Phenomena compiled by UNWTO the two concepts are analysed by stressing that growth in international tourism and mobility has given rise to tourism-led migration with examples including the movement of male labourers from South Asia to meet the construction demands of the tourism boom in the UAE
The research states that migration has led directly and indirectly to significant growth in tourism to both origin and destination countries through increased visibility especially in the VFR sector and to the de-velopment of new tourism infrastructure and trans-port routes in and between countries
UKrsquos Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) also lays empha-sis on the importance of the specific market having published an in-depth study on air passengers visiting friends or family The investigation report titled Interna-tional Relations ndash The Growth in Air Travel to Visit Friends or Relatives indicated that the robust growth in VFR re-flected trends such as labour mobility and migration while predicting that due to these trends the countryrsquos GDP will affect future VFR passenger traffic
VISITING MENA
At the 6th UNWTOPacific Asia Travel Association Fo-rum on Tourism Trends and Outlook held in October 2012 in China it was revealed that 36 percent of the Middle Eastrsquos outbound market constitutes the VFR segment
Some insights on inbound VFR trends concern-ing the hotel industry in the region were provided by Darroch Crawford managing director Middle East and Africa Premier Inn Hotels who highlighted that this market is highly important but also very difficult to measure as bookings of this nature come through different channels His estimations on guests travel-ling to visit family members in the region and residing in Premier Inn properties amount to seven percent of the total clientele Crawford further indicated that the largest Middle Eastern feeder markets for the brand are Lebanon Syria and Jordan
Meanwhile in Saudi Arabia domestic tourism has been the primary focus of tourism development pol-icy in the Kingdom and according to Saudi Tourism Outlook issued by the Tourism Information and Re-search Centre part of Saudi Commission for Tourism amp Antiquities which analyses July 2012rsquos figures the local segment contributed to 114 million overnight trips in the month under review out of which 398 percent hailed from the VFR segment In addition 293 percent of the 171 million outbound trips taken from Saudi Arabia during July 2012 were categorised as the VFR market
The Statistical Service of Cyprus disclosed that ac-cording to the latest data available concerning Sep-tember 2012 the island received 335352 visitors out of which 97 percent were VFR The same data for the
28 WHOS MOVED
MARCH 2013
ANDREW ABRAM
KONSTANTINOS KOUROTSIDIS
Andrew Abram has been named general manager at Raffles Dubai Abram joins the propertyrsquos team from Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group where over the past dec-ade he has held various positions He joined the company in 2003 as resident manager of The Excelsior Hotel Hong Kong and went on to lead the renovation and reopen-ing of Mandarin Oriental Jakarta holding the role of general man-ager for eight years He most re-cently served as general manager
of Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhavi in Chiang Mai Thailand Having also held the position of corporate director of sales and marketing at Jumeirah Group in the Middle East where he was responsible for the branding and launching of several projects Abram brings an insiderrsquos knowl-edge to Raffles Dubai
Konstantinos Kourotsidis has been named general manager at Radisson Blu Martinez Hotel Beirut Kourotsidis started his career in the hospitality industry in 1996 in food and beverage at Copthorne Hotel Hanover In 2000 he joined The Rezidor Ho-tel Group where he held various positions across Europe and the Middle East including at Radis-son Blu Hotel Hanover Radission
Blu Hotel amp Spa Galway Radisson Blu Resort Schloss Fleesensee Radisson Blu Resort El Quseir Radisson Blu Hotel Alexandria and Radisson Blu Resort Sharjah After several task force assign-ments in Egypt Libya and UAE Kourotsidis was promoted to general manager at Radisson Blu Al Mahary Hotel Tripoli Most re-cently he worked as acting gen-eral manager at Radisson Blu Re-sort Fujairah
Abram brings an insiderrsquos knowledge to
Raffles Dubai
MARCH 2013
30 TRAVEL TALK
MARCH 2013
LEON SALINEL
WAEL EL BEHI
KARIM NAHAS
Executive assistant manager of sales and marketing Dusit Thani Dubai
General manager Ramada Downtown Dubai
General managar Rose Rayhaan by Rotana
ldquo2012 was a very successful year for us We were not only successful in meeting our key performance indicators most notably by exceeding both our gross operating profit and gross operating revenue Working with Inves-tors in People throughout the year also ensured that we performed highly in our employee satisfaction survey we even ranked at the top of our group in this regards [hellip] We are now drawing to a close on our rooms renovation and have just welcomed our new general manager so it is an exciting year to come for us which will see some changerdquo
ldquoI am very pleased to be appointed as executive board mem-ber [of the Tunisian Business Council] I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress in [the cur-rent year] I hope to play a part in creating strong community bound by camaraderie accord and reliance among Tunisian nationals in the UAErdquo
ldquo2012 was a record year for Rose Rayhaan total revenue growth was almost 17 percent versus 2011 [hellip] The hotel continued to focus on the GCC markets with the Saudi market on the top list and strong performance of the UK France and Russian markets were witnessed UAE local market in both leisure and corporate seg-ments also performed very well We are planning to fo-cus on new emerging markets like South Africa Brazil and Turkey Competition will be indeed stiffen this year however I guess there will be business for everybodyrdquo
I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress
TRAVEL TALK IS YOUR SPACE ndash 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
editorialtraveltradeweeklytravel
trav
el t
alk
is
y
our
spac
e
31RENDEZVOUS
MARCH 2013
Q amp A with Rana El KhouryWith her recent appointment Rana El Khoury general manager Le Gray Beirut became one of Lebanonrsquos first women to hold such a high position at a five-star hotel and here she shares her views on the future prospects of the Lebanese hotel sector
Rana El KhouryGeneral manager Le Gray Beirut
Travel Trade Monthly How would you describe 2012 in a few words Rana El Khoury The best way to describe 2012 would certainly be lsquochallengingrsquo a challenge that could be called survival until we see better days Controlling costs while maintaining superior ser-vice quality and competitiveness is key to our con-tinuous success in the Lebanese market The hotel performance could be rated as fair for 2012 greatly impacted by high level of business during the first five months of the year This has allowed us to stay ahead of the game for the remainder of the year although November 2012 was the toughest month since the opening of the hotel in 2009 Despite all Le Gray has managed in 2012 to retain its number one position in occupancy and RevPAR in the Leba-nese market
Travel Trade Monthly The hotel will soon em-bark on a major extension project Tell us a little bit about this
Rana El Khoury Le Gray is preparing to kick off its extension that will include a larger lobby with a lob-by lounge a chocolate room banquet space a 35-seat movie theatre and an additional 18 rooms The project should reach completion by end of 2014
Travel Trade Monthly Prior to your appoint-ment you served as hotel manager How does your new position differ from your former role
Rana El Khoury My previous position as hotel manager was focused on the operations aspect of the hotel as general manager my responsibilities enclose a more general view of the hotel including the administrative and strategic side of the hotel as well as the link between the owning company and management company
My priorities for the coming year is diversify-ing our target markets on the international and local scene to maximise hotel occupancy and to strengthen the positioning of Le Gray on the lo-cal market as a destination for its restaurants and bars whilst building on the existing strong team at Le Gray and getting the right people together to move forward with positivity and vigilance to counter these challenging times
The advice I would give young women ready to climb the corporate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the dif-ferent positions they fill throughout their careers
Travel Trade Monthly Your appointment makes you one of the first Lebanese women to hold this position at a five-star hotel How challenging is it to hold such a high position at an already well-established hotel
Rana El Khoury The hospitality industry is very challenging and requires sacrifice on all levels What I can say is that women have their own speci-ficity and they can bring a different vision and new perspectives to the hospitality business The advice I would give young women ready to climb the cor-porate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the different positions they fill throughout their careers this can only make them stronger and certainly more cred-ible when they reach executive level positions
Travel Trade Monthly Over the past few years the Lebanese tourism industry has faced a num-ber of serious challenges What are your expec-tations for the current year Rana El Khoury Lebanon has always been a pre-ferred destination attracting tourists from the Arab and Gulf countries and with increasing stability and security we do see a solid recovery
Given the complexity of the Lebanese market improvement can occur overnight As seen in May 2008 following the Doha-agreement occupancy rates jumped back then from 30 to 90 percent within one week
This year remains uncertain due to the volatil-ity of the political situation in the region the key is to remain sustainable and be ready for the sudden surge in business
Le Gray Beirut
32 NEWS amp EVENTS
MARCH 2013
EVENTS Sponsored by
Following a refurbishment to better present the historical phases of the emiratersquos auto manu-facturing sector Sharjah Classic Cars Museum originally launched in 2008 by HH Sheikh Sul-tan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi ruler of Sharjah reopened in January by Sheikh Essam bin Saqr Al Qassimi chairman Sharjah rulerrsquos office
On the opening day of the event Manal Ataya director general Sharjah Museums Department said ldquoThe aim of refurbishing this museum was to allow us to re-evaluate the previous design and interpretation and improve it significantlyrdquo
She further pointed out that the museum now helps visitors to appreciate the aesthetic and historical value of classic cars in a space that inte-grates a new childrens interactive area and a gal-lery space for temporary exhibitions
The museum boasts 85 classic cars two mo-torcycles and five bicycles as well as a model of an old car and an engine to allow visitors to familiarise themselves with parts of an engine and their function while it is divided into five sections and features an area for activities and interactive games
Following the launch of the UAE branch of the Airline Owners and Pi-lotsrsquo Association (AOPA) at Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2012 Yousif Al Hammadi president AOPA UAE has invited representatives from international AOPA branches to attend a workshop dedicated to discussing and debating gen-eral aviation issues in the region
The meeting the first of its kind will run parallel to this yearrsquos Abu Dhabi Air Expo and will take place at the Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies Al Bateen Executive Airport on March 6
It is anticipated that up to 30 representatives from AOPA US AOPA UK AOPA Germany and AOPA France will meet with their colleagues from the UAE during the one-day event to share knowledge and debate a variety of topics including air space regulations aerial non-commercial operations certification and maintenance issues and pilot licensing
AOPA members will also be able to maximise their time by attending the Air Expo exhibition the Middle Eastrsquos only dedicated general aviation event to meet pilots from the region and learn about the latest trends
Sharjah Reopens Car Museum AOPA UAE to Hold Meeting with International Colleagues
ITB BerlinBerlin Germany March 6 ndash 10 2013(wwwitb-berlinde)A business-to-business platform for trade visitors which provides the possibility to discover the whole world within a few hours
MITT MoscowMoscow Russia March 20 ndash 23 2013(wwwmittru)Russiarsquos leading and largest travel exhibition with over 3000 participat-ing companies and 197 destinations a key meeting place for industry professionals
The Gulf Incentive Business Travel amp Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) Abu Dhabi UAE March 25 ndash 27 2013(wwwgibtmcom)A leading event for the meetings incentives and business travel industry in the GCC region which can truly unlock all participantsrsquo business potential
Saudi Travel amp Tourism Investment Market (STTIM)Riyadh Saudi Arabia March 31 ndash April 4 2013(wwwsttimcomsa)The event covers all travel and tourism investments aspects in the Kingdom through a combined conference and exhibition
International Destination Expo (IDE)Dubai UAE April 4 ndash 7 2013(wwwastaorgevents)Organised by the American Society of Travel Agents IDE is a destination training programme where participants can meet local suppliers and built profitable long-lasting relationships
Arabian Travel Market (ATM)Dubai UAE May 6 ndash 9 2013(wwwarabiantravelmarketcom)The travel and tourism event unlocking business potential within the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals
Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies
2 MARKET UPDATE
MARCH 2013
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY
UAE (AED)
Egypt (EGP)
Saudi Arabia (SAR)
Lebanon (LBP)
Bahrain (BHD)
Jordan (JOD)
Syria (SYP)
Kuwait (KWD)
Qatar (QAR)
Oman (OMR)
Tunisia (TND)
Morocco (MAD)
Iran (IRR)
Yemen (YER)
Algeria (DZD)
Libya (LYD)
Dirham
Pound
Riyal
Pound
Dinar
Dinar
Pound
Dinar
Riyal
Rial
Dinar
Dirham
Riyal
Rial
Dinar
Dinar
367
673
375
150400
037
071
7080
028
364
038
157
840
1228500
21431
7852
126
COUNTRY CURRENCY 1USD=
MENA EXCHANGE RATES
Accurate as of
25012013
Currencies shown in red are fixed against the US Dollar
MANAGING EDITORMary Kammitsi
marytraveltradeweeklytravel
JOURNALISTSStefanie Saghbini
Rita Kasziba Dominique Christou
Maria Kazeli
SALES amp MARKETING
Maria Demetriadou Pauline Shahabian
DESIGN amp LAYOUT
Elena Stylianou
DIRECTORSAndreas Constantinides
Mary Kammitsi
HEADQUARTERSTTW Travel Trade Weekly LTD
PO Box 25255 Nicosia 1308 Cyprus Tel +357 22 021607 Fax +357 22 210466
WEBSITE
wwwtraveltradeweeklytravel
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Email infocyprintcomcy
Etihad Airwaysrsquo Profit Surges 200 Percent Etihad Airways concluded 2012 with a net profit of USD42 million leaping 200 percent over 2011 driven by strong improvements in revenues pas-senger numbers and cost control
T he airlinersquos revenue increased 17 percent to USD48 billion while passenger num-bers rose 23 percent breaking the 10 mil-lion mark for the first time in its history to reach 103 million and seat factor jumped
24 percentage points to stand at 782 percent The numbers were also bolstered by the national carrierrsquos equity partnerships and codeshares delivering more than USD600 million in total revenue
James Hogan president Etihad Airways de-scribed 2012 as a game-changing year for the airline ldquoWe have delivered improved net profit the second consecutive year we have been in the black a remark-
Air Arabia Record Number Passengers in 2012Air Arabia has achieved yet another record after carrying a total of 5301484 passengers in 2012
The 13 percent growth in passenger volume reflects the airlinersquos ambitious expansion strategy which saw the carrier launching flights from its primary hub in Sharjah to nine new destinations including Kazan Taif Salalah Ufa Odes-sa Erbil Astana Basra and Rostow and increasing fre-quencies on a number of routes In addition Air Arabia also continued its expansion from its hubs in Morocco and Egypt reaching a global network of 82 cities
ldquoAir Arabia continues to witness significant year-on-year growth in passenger numbers and this demonstrates the growing popularity of the air-linersquos value for money servicesrdquo highlighted Adel Ali group CEO Air Arabia adding that as a pioneer of the low-cost concept in the region the airline remains committed to setting the standard for the low-cost travel segment offer-ing great fares to an ever-growing range of destinations
The 13 percent growth in passenger volume reflects the airlinersquos ambitious expansion
strategy
able achievement given the youth ambitious growth and ongoing investment made by this airline in a challenging global economic environmentrdquo he fur-ther commented adding that over the last months the airline has taken great strides in building the in-dustryrsquos first lsquoequity alliancersquo with its investments in airberlin Air Seychelles Virgin Australia and Aer Lin-gus which as Hogan stressed are contributing sig-nificant value to the business
ldquoAnd we have met our mandate of contributing to the economic development of Abu Dhabi growing its aviation sector and building trade and tourism con-nections across the globerdquo he concluded
Etihad Airways
4 VIEW Airports
MARCH 2013
T his year marks the 100th anniversary of commercial flights and over the century as Tony Tyler director general International Air Transport Association (IATA) noted through an ever-expanding network air transport
has utterly transformed the way we live work and trade providing jobs for some 57 million people and supporting USD22 trillion in economic activity by con-necting people and goods on 35000 routes
IATA anticipates that 31 billion passengers will cross the worldrsquos airport terminals this year and considering that 100 years ago that number was precisely zero the industryrsquos unprecedented growth and vital role in socio-economic development worldwide is indisputable
The Middle East is set to grow at an annual rate of 66 percent between 2012 and 2016 according to IATArsquos estimated regional figures with the number of passengers handled by the regionrsquos airports reaching 400 million by 2020
ldquoWith an estimated two-third of the worldrsquos popu-lation living within an eight-hour flight of the Middle East the region is ideally situated to provide efficient connections to a large segment of the worldrsquos popu-lationrdquo said Patti Chau regional director Asia Pacific Airports Council International (ACI)
ldquoWith many Middle Eastern airports serving as hubs between the East and West the regionrsquos airports have benefitted tremendously from the flow of traffic through their terminals and the rise in air travel in Asiardquo she con-tinued noting that determined to utilise the strategic location the regionrsquos governments including Dubai Abu Dhabi and Qatar have developed an integrated aviation strategy aimed at further fostering the sustained growth of the sector which is increasingly seen as a key pillar of their economic diversification drive
ldquoThe region also benefits from fast-growing local economies a large and young population as well as tourism all of which contribute to bolstering demandrdquo Chau added further stating that as a result the Middle East proved to be the fastest growing region over the last decade at an annual growth rate of nine percent
To cater to the anticipated demand as a study from Reed Travel Exhibitions reveals Middle Eastern govern-ments continue to allocate sizeable sums for the develop-ment of new and existing airports and related segments at an estimated cost of AED437 billion (USD119 billion)
RECORD AFTER RECORD
Over the past decade the UAErsquos aviation sector has experienced phenomenal growth with its three ma-jor airports in Dubai Abu Dhabi and Sharjah almost quadrupling their annual passenger volume from just over 20 million in 2002 to over 799 million in 2012 establishing aviation as a vital part of the coun-tryrsquos economy contributing more than AED145 billion (USD3947 billion) or 147 percent to the national GDP
ldquoThis amount is projected to grow further in the
Ready for Take-OffWith forecasts suggesting that the number of air pas-sengers will exceed the three billion mark for the first time this year and double by 2030 fuelled by multi-billion dol-lar investments the regionrsquos airports are set to undergo profound transformations in the coming years to become major global hubs catering to an anticipated 400 million passengers by 2020
coming years and as such justifies the countryrsquos huge investment in airports and airline networksrdquo predict-ed HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum presi-dent Dubai Civil Aviation Authority
In 2001 Dubai International barely made it to the top 100 airports worldwide ranking as the 90th in terms of international passenger volume though as Chau fur-ther highlighted in 2011 the airport already managed more than six times the population of the UAE while recently it has already leapfrogged Hong Kong Interna-tional Airport as the worldrsquos third busiest airport after welcoming a record 57684550 travellers in 2012
ldquoMoving into the top three is a fantastic achieve-ment for Dubai International and we have now Lon-donrsquos Heathrow and the number one spot firmly within our sightsrdquo declared Paul Griffiths CEO Dubai Airports revealing that this year some 654 million passengers are expected to pass through the airport
ldquoDubai International has grown at an average an-nual rate of 15 percent since its opening in 1960rdquo at-tested Ali Zaigham manager media relations Dubai Airports attributing the unprecedented progress largely to Dubairsquos aviation model which as Zaigham noted lsquorightly treatsrsquo aviation and logistics as the backbone of the national economy
ldquoBased on this approach Dubai provides a world-class infrastructure and capacity and a tax-free environ-ment to boost the aviation sector while promoting the open skies policy globallyrdquo added Zaigham who also remarked on the ways in which the destinationrsquos strate-gic location between growing economies such as India China and Russia on one side and consumer markets in the West helps positioning it as a global hub
Another key factor as Zaigham noted is the fast-paced expansion of the home-based carriers
Likewise 2012 also marked another record year for Abu Dhabi International Airport with over 147 million passengers announced Ahmed Al Haddabi chief op-
Dubai International Concourse A
Midfield Terminal Building Abu Dhabi
Rita Kasziba writes
5VIEWAirports
MARCH 2013
erating officer Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) Similarly today Jordanrsquos Queen Alia International
Airport (QAIA) caters to more passengers and airlines than ever with 40 carriers operating via the airport during the summer peak revealed Kjeld Binger CEO Airport International Group (AIG) reporting that 2012 marked another record-breaking year for QAIA with passenger traffic exceeding six million for the first time
Beirutrsquos Rafic Hariri International Airport welcomed over 596 million travellers compared to 560 million in 2011 Bahrain International Airport posted a 88 percent year-on-year growth with passenger numbers amount-ing to 848 million while Muscat International Airport also reached a new height after greeting over 75 mil-lion passengers for the first time in the airportrsquos history
Erbil International Airport (EIA) registered a 53 percent year-on-year improvement with passenger numbers hitting 947600 bringing the total number of travellers at the airport since the inauguration of the new terminal in September 2010 to 17 million The robust growth as Andrew Jones adviser com-mercial department communications and market-ing EIA explained is down to the proven link and relationship between economic development and airports ldquoThe economy here is growing fuelled by oil and gas bonanza hence traffic demand growsrdquo
THE BIGGER THE BETTER
Backed by heavy investments the regionrsquos aviation sector is vigorously working to develop collaborative policies in a quest to turn airports into the backbone of economic growth and foster their competitiveness on the global level
Jordan is gearing up for the opening of the new QAIA which as Binger explained was intuitively de-signed to match the worldrsquos leading airports in terms of traveller experience
ldquoThis new QAIA terminal will significantly increase the airportrsquos capacity [from 35 million passengers] to nine million passengers Future expansions which will be carried out as needed will allow the airport to reach a capacity of 12 million passengers per yearrdquo informed Binger
AIG has invested an estimated USD750 million in the construction of this landmark terminal in ad-dition to USD100 million that has been spent for the rehabilitation of the ailing facilities
ldquoIn launching the new terminal we will be clos-ing and demolishing the [previous] terminals to make way for further developments The opening of the new terminal and the subsequent closing of the old ones marks the most crucial milestone in the air-port development project since its opening in 1983rdquo stressed Binger who described the construction of the new terminal as a lsquonational projectrsquo which is set to bolster not only the Kingdomrsquos aviation industry but the nationrsquos economy as a whole
Heralding a new chapter in Qatarrsquos aviation indus-try Hamad International Airport formerly known as New Doha International Airport is set to welcome the first commercial flights on April 1 As HE Abdul Aziz
Al Noaimi chairman Qatar Civil Aviation Authority revealed the first phase of the USD155 billion project will involve 12 international airlines including low-cost carriers while Qatar Airways the operator of the airport will move its entire operations to the new facilities in the second half of the year The world-class airport as Al Noaimi noted will firmly put the country on the global stage and will accommodate 28 million passengers an-nually increasing to 50 million beyond 2015
ldquoThis will be a world-class facility that promises to propel our nation further on the international stagerdquo com-mented Akbar Al Baker CEO Qatar Airways stressing that the lsquostoryrsquo certainly will not end here
After handling over 576 million travellers in 2012 Dubai International is to soon approach its original ca-pacity of 60 million passengers per annum as Zaigham pinpointed adding that the timing of the opening of Concourse A in January was no coincidence as the new facility lifts the airportrsquos capacity to 75 million
ldquoWith 20 contact gates all capable of handling the superjumbo Concourse A will be home to Emir-atesrsquo fleet of A380s from where passengers will con-nect to more than 20 Emirates A380 destinations around the worldrdquo explained Zaigham saying that by 2020 Dubai Internationalrsquos passenger volume is expected to soar to 985 million In comparison traf-fic at London Heathrow the worldrsquos busiest airport for international passen-gers was close to 70 mil-lion in 2012
Within the next few years 20 million people are expected to be han-dled by Abu Dhabi Inter-national Airport therefore the construction of the 700000m2 Midfield Termi-nal Building (MTB) slated for completion by 2017 and the overall redevelop-ment and expansion of the airport forms a vital part in the governmentrsquos Abu Dhabi 2030 vision Located between the two runways the x-shaped complex will feature a full terminal building passenger and cargo facilities extensive duty-free area as well as food and beverage outlets and will cater to 27 - 40 mil-lion passengers annually
Kuwait Airports has also outlined plans to ex-pand the airportrsquos capacity from six million passengers to 20 million passengers per year and establish the airport as a major passen-ger and cargo hub The multi-billion project will
include a new USD3 billion terminal equipped with the latest technology as well as an additional USD3 billion to widen the runways enhance the control tower and build a new one as well as set up a new cargo facility
In Oman the new terminal at Muscat Internation-al Airport designed to handle 12 million passengers is scheduled for completion by 2014 with further ex-pansions planned in three subsequent phases which will ultimately bring the annual capacity to 24 36 and 48 million passengers At Salalah Airport where passenger volume exceeded the 06 million mark for the first time in 2012 the new terminal will increase capacity to one million once it becomes operational in 2014 with the design allowing further expansion to cater for two and later on six million passengers
Saudi Arabia is also planning to issue bonds to fund construction work at King Abdul Aziz Interna-tional Airport in Jeddah increasing its capacity to 30 million passengers as well as at King Khaled Airport in Riyadh Due for completion by April 2014 Basra Inter-national Airportrsquos upgrade will allow for safer landings and increased flights during the night and poor weath-er conditions further enhancing Iraqrsquos air connectivity
Bahrain Airports also plans to extend the pas-senger terminal at Bahrain International as part of an USD1 billion overhaul project which will bring capac-ity from the current nine million to 135 million
6 VISIT Egypt
MARCH 2013
W orld Tourism Organization (UNWTO)rsquos World Tourism Barometer released in January has shown that the sub-region of North Africa alongside Southeast Asia recorded the largest
increase in arrivals in 2012 swelling nine percent high-ly attributed to Tunisiarsquos and Egyptrsquos strong rebounds of 33 percent and 15 percent respectively following on 2011rsquos declines
Moreover UNWTOrsquos World Tourism Barometer November 2012 edition stated that North Africarsquos inbound tourism figures grew 102 percent between January and August over the corresponding months in 2011 a period during which the regionrsquos arrivals dropped 91 percent over 2010 results
The study further indicated that during 2012 North Africa regained the lead over advanced des-tinations thanks to certain countries such as Egypt whose increase in incoming international tourist numbers during the eight-month stretch reflected
a consolidation in figures of 20 percent following 2011rsquos 32 percent deterioration
Meanwhile in June 2012 Business Monitor In-ternational (BMI) issued a preliminary study enti-tled Egypt Tourism Report Q3 2012 with reference to the countryrsquos tourism prospects through to 2016 considering important issues which had been fac-ing the sector since the outbreaks of large-scale un-rest rocked Egypt in 2011 stating that it anticipated strong recovery in 2012 if these occurrences were to continue decreasing in frequency throughout the third quarter (Q3) and finally through to the end of the year under review
On a conclusive note during the first nine months of 2012 Egypt drew in a double-digit increase of 13 per-cent in tourism receipts according to the study while Magdi Gamil director of sales and marketing Fairmont Nile City Towers stated that some 81 million tourists vis-ited the country between January and September with 96 million overnight stays reported in Egyptian hotels injecting some USD10 billion into the economy
ldquoTourism is a vital pillar of the national economy representing 113 percent of Egyptrsquos GDP and 17 per-
cent of its foreign currency reserves in addition to 126 percent of the total manpower of the state with four million people directly employed in the industryrdquo Gamil explicated revealing that by the end of 2012 Egypt had welcomed 11 million tourists all-in-all
ldquoThis number is anticipated to reach 14 million this year with the Ministry of Tourism hoping for USD13 billion in tourism-generated incomeldquo he fur-ther revealed
REMAINING AFLOAT
The countryrsquos hotel sector saw healthy indications of improvement towards the end of 2012 according to data compiled by STR Global which had presented an escalation in occupancy levels of 245 percent
Stefanie Saghbini writes
ETERNAL ELEMENTS OF SURPRISE As the world watches over Egypt waiting to see what the future holds for a country submerged in ancient heritage profoundly resonant throughout its vast and deeply historical setting peppered with contemporary develop-ments tourists are steadily beginning to return to the land of genial promises
EGYPT IN BRIEF
Capital Cairo
Currency Egyptian Pound (EGP)
Language Arabic
Temple of Kom Ombo
Avenue of Human-headed Sphinxes
8 VISIT Egypt
MARCH 2013
reaching 456 percent in December 2012 reporting the largest increase in the Middle East
Meanwhile TRI Hospitality Consultingrsquos HotStats MENA Chain Hotel Market Review November 2012 a study on full-serviced hotels stated that while Sharm El Sheikh witnessed the highest occupancy rates Cairo posted record profits since the 2011 revolu-tion According to the survey the capitalrsquos hospitality segment showed signs of full recovery in the month under review registering a 743 percent increase in gross operating profit per available room (GOPPAR) to USD7175 while RevPAR grew 323 percent to USD6427 driven by a 143 percentage point improve-ment in occupancy to 55 percent masking the two percent decline in average room rate (ARR)
These results can be highly accredited to the re-gional market which proved somewhat irrepressible in the face of the unrest and whose commitment to Egypt could be seen in BMIrsquos revised growth fore-cast and views on total tourism nights recorded for the fourth quarter of 2012 which was said to reach around 24 percent y-o-y from the previous estima-tion of 15 percent
Marten Schwass general manager Kempinski Nile Hotel also noticed this changing trend describ-ing the locals and in particular the hotels of Cairo as resilient which throughout the past 12 months re-
lied on local business to bolster revenues while he added travellers were rescheduling trips around pe-riods of instability
Gamil also reported that during 2012 Fairmont Nile City Towersrsquo top three contributors to the prop-ertyrsquos clientele base hailed from Egypt itself followed by Saudi Arabia and Lebanon while in 2011 Egypt and Saudi Arabia also claimed first and second spot while the US followed in third
Analogous to Schwassrsquo view on the changing tourism trend across the capital Peter Goddard man-aging director TRI Hospitality Consulting Dubai also indicated that recovery in Cairo is evident albeit still suffering to a certain extent ldquoThe Cairo market has been resilient to continuous political upheaval with hotels in the city demonstrating that they have recov-ered as performance indicators return to pre-revolu-tion levelsrdquo he explained
Gamil affirmed his tenacity to claim his slice of the pie ldquoDespite the political unrest and recent clashes in Cairorsquos Tahrir Square inbound tourism appears to be on the rise and we will be keen to grab every opportu-nity that is out there to make it happenrdquo he asserted
A PROMINENT DESTINATION
A good example of the capitalrsquos buoyancy can be seen in the end-of-2012 re-sults of Fairmont Heli-opolis amp Towers which witnessed slight signs of recovery and progressed slowly in 2012 versus 2011 this according to Noha Mansour director of marketing and public relations Fairmont He-liopolis amp Towers Cairo who announced increas-ing y-o-y occupancy rates of seven percent and a y-o-y rise in Rev-PAR of 13 percent
With regards to feeder markets in 2011 Mansour listed Egyptian guests as the propertyrsquos most popular guests which she underlined generated the largest number of room nights than any other national-ity Following the local segment were Germa-ny Italy Morocco UK France and the US Man-sour continued adding that in 2012 the top six countries ranked based on room nights were Libya Germany Africa Italy UK and the US
In addition Kempinski Nile Hotel also remained on top of its league and in particular among the luxury segment during 2012 this according to Sch-wass who registered an increased number of visitors from the UK a market he described as traditional and which signals positive growth for this year
With regards to the hotelrsquos strongest contributors Schwass listed the GCC UK and US as top three stat-ing that a drop in overall number of visitors since the revolution has been witnessed however he contin-ued these three key markets have recently been re-covering and in terms of occupancy year-to-date the property remains in second place among its competi-tors in Cairo
ldquoAdditionally the business segment has been booming and we have attracted an increased flow of business visitors from Turkey and Korea The hotel recently hosted the Turkish government delegation and HE the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs as well as large groups of corporate visitors from East Asiardquo he further explained also confirming that the propertyrsquos social events are always well-attended making the ho-tel a meeting point for local socialites and dignitaries
InterContinental Cairo Citystars also recently hosted high-ranking officials from Malaysia which included Najib Razak prime minister of Malaysia and Anifah Aman minister of foreign affairs Malaysia alongside a group of businessmen and media repre-sentatives from the country
Upon his arrival to the hotel Razak was welcomed by Simon Stamper area general manager InterConti-nental Cairo Citystars InterContinental Residence Suites Cairo Citystars Holiday Inn Cairo Citystars and Stay-bridge Suites Cairo Citystars as well as Ibrahim Nashaat general manager InterContinental Cairo Citystars
ROUND THE CORNER
Revealing his forecasts for this year Gamil is antici-pating a breakdown of 37 percent in leisure travel 28 percent in corporate guests and 18 percent in groups for Fairmont Nile City Towers with expected room nights for the year to reach 75932 average oc-cupancy levels at 412 percent and average room rate fetching in EGY75232 (USD11174) The top three tar-geted nationalities for this year remain the local mar-ket as well as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait he revealed
Commenting on the upcoming developments Gamil said ldquoAlso opening soon is the Casino at Fair-mont Nile City that is built on an area of 850m2 and has top line machines including five Roulette five Black Jack five Poker one three-card Poker one Ponto Banko and over 30 digital slot machines The Casino has a VIP room that includes one Roulette one Poker and one Black Jack tablesrdquo
He also mentioned the recently-unveiled state-of-the-art Presidential Suite which he further informed is fashioned with contemporary elegant art deco furnishings offering what he described as the ulti-mate in urban chic ldquoIt is spacious comprising a bed-room two living rooms a dining area a kitchenette an office a butlersecretary bedroom and an open
9VISITEgypt
MARCH 2013
Lan Tania Fairmont Heliopolis amp Towers
concept bathroom [hellip] All suites feature high speed Internet access an interactive TV and complimentary coffee and tea Presidential Suite guests are provided with a personal butler for unrivalled comfortldquo
Mansour is also eyeing a positive year ahead with an increase in occupancy of 13 percent and an upsurge in RevPAR by 22 percent highly dependent as she inserted on the countryrsquos political and security stability The main targeted markets for the year re-main the propertyrsquos six leading contributors in 2012 Libya Germany Africa Italy UK and the US as well as the rest of Europe and the Middle East Mansour further informed
Urs Umbricht general manager Maritim Jolie Ville Kings Island Luxor also placed a strong emphasis on the reliance on the countryrsquos situation when stating his predictions for the year however his estimates seem somewhat optimistic with a modest surge in occupan-cy of five percent a slight boost in ARR of three per-cent and RevPAR growth of three percent for Maritim Jolie Ville Kings Island Luxor with all European North and South American Middle Eastern and local mar-kets high on the targeted list for the property
For Dina Naeem area director of public relations Egypt Starwood Hotels amp Resorts Worldwide the year is looking to be very positive for the hotel giant across all its propertyrsquos throughout the country as she com-mented adding that as an emerging market located at the nexus of the rapidly growing Africa and Middle East region it is expected that the country will stabi-lise in the second half of year
ldquoStarwood is expecting to see a growth in tourism to Egypt over the coming year The Starwood hotels in particular are pleased to announce some exciting new openings and renovations to excite both leisure and business travellers [This year] will see the open-ing of Le Meacuteridien Cairo Airport to entrench Star-woodrsquos presence in the capital The hotel is targeted primarily towards the business travellers and will be on an area of 23500m2 Located in front of the arrival passenger Terminal 3 Le Meacuteridien Cairo Airport is at-tached to the [main] building through an inter-con-necting bridge and consists of 330 rooms 19 suites three major restaurants banqueting conferences and meeting rooms in addition to swimming pools green areas health club and ample parking
ldquoTwo Le Meacuteridien hotels [namely] Le Meacuteridien Pyramids and Le Meacuteridien Dahab will open Egyptrsquos first two Explore Spas These are the first branded spas by Le Meacuteridien in Egypt offering a new perspec-tive on spa experience breaking away from how spa is viewed [hellip] The iconic Sheraton Cairo Hotel amp Ca-sino located on the west bank of the Nile River is un-dergoing a total revamp and is also set to open with 656 rooms in quarter four of [the year] The renova-tion which began in 2010 is considered one of the most comprehensive projects [hellip] and is targeted to-wards the discerning leisure traveller as well as busi-ness travellers who are looking for much more than just a business triprdquo she explained Starwood Hotels amp Resorts is also gearing up to open The St Regis Cairo in October 2014
PREPARE FOR THE RED SEA
Further south towards the world-renowned tourist re-gion of the Red Sea the coastal city of Sharm El Sheikh was blessed with the entry of the peak season in No-vember 2012 according to TRI Hospitality Consultingrsquos HotStats MENA Chain Hotel Market Review November 2012 as signs of improvement blos-somed throughout the destination during the month under review
According to the re-port occupancy rates swelled 77 percentage points to 797 percent pushing RevPAR up 54 percent to USD4166 despite a 47 percent decrease in ARR to USD5225 Meanwhile total RevPAR boosted 87 percent to USD7551 securely driven by an in-crease in food and bever-age revenue with GOP-PAR growing 52 percent to USD328
However Goddard believes that hotels in Sharm El Sheikh also ap-pear to be struggling as market-wide rate reduc-tions have negatively impacted financial re-sults ldquoAlthough occu-pancy in the region has increased the slashing of rates has had a dra-matic impact on their
peak seasonrsquos profit marginsrdquo he continuedSimilarly Umbricht highlighted that throughout
many tourist destinations across Egypt there exists an over-offer in hotel rooms which he believes re-sults in the very low pricing and thus is keeping Egypt very competitive against European competitors ldquoOn the other hand this is also resulting in a rate battle amongst the hotels which at the end is not healthy One of the losers will be the ecological and balanced tourism and finally naturerdquo he further underlined
On a positive note Marc Reissigner area general manager InterContinental The Palace Port Ghalib Re-sort Crowne Plaza Sahara Sands Port Ghalib Crowne Plaza Sahara Oasis Port Ghalib and Marian Lodge at Port Ghalib this year expects a 4268 percent in oc-cupancy levels equivalent to an increase of 1236 percent over 2012 with average daily rate to surge USD865 to USD4536 from USD3671 in 2012 This is all considering that MICE organisers place Egypt back into their event calendars according to Reissigner who emphasised that the international MICE market will continue to be one of the propertiesrsquo main targets and remain the number one feeder segment to Marsa Alam Port Ghalib destination
In addition the hotels will also be focusing on the corporate meetings and leisure markets the latter including the underwater adventure snorkelling
10 VISIT Egypt
MARCH 2013
families and romance and couples segments as well as wellbeing Reissigner further informed
ldquoNamed Egyptrsquos leading spa resort [] Six Senses Spa is [the countryrsquos] first on the Red Sea coast and is located among the splendid landscaped gardens lagoons stun-ning architecture and pure luxury of InterContinental The Palace Port Ghalib We have tailor-made a new hon-eymooners emotions experience with an inspired luxury palace of indulgence from the moment of arrival in Port Ghalib our lsquoemotionsrsquo experience takes clients on a jour-ney to the fascinating past blended with luxurious com-fortrdquo he continued
Steigenberger Al Dau Resort also recently celebrat-ed the traditional cornerstone placement of its new five-star Red Sea project Steigenberger Aqua Magic With construction works well underway Steigenberger Aqua Magic owned by Sami Saad Holding is slated for opening towards the end of the year and will operate under the flag of the renowned German hotel group Steigenberger Hotels The resort will run as a family hotel boasting 700 rooms in capacity a large swim-ming pool landscape extensive recreational facilities including its own Splash certified water park and an exclusive entertainment area
Moreover Soma Bay and in particular Kempin-ski Hotel Soma Bay is ready to welcome visitors to a place offering what Schwass described as beauti-
La Reacutesidence des Cascades
[the year] and the country enters an onoff transitional phase the second year post-revolution era is likely to re-sult in slow growth and a gradual return to pre-crisis lev-els by winter 20132014rdquo
However he recommends that anyone and eve-ryone visit Egypt ldquoEveryone must know that whatever happens in Tahrir Square the rest of Cairo and most of all the rest of Egypt and Red Sea are perfectly saferdquo he continued ldquoThis does not mean that the protests are not important but tourism-wise there are no complications at all If there is a demonstration on the same day you are in Cairo and you are concerned about your safety just come and enjoy the sun by the Red Sea Port Ghalib were luxury meets natureldquo
Naeem described Egypt as a safe and attractive tourist destination for international travellers and as-sured that Starwood Hotels amp Resorts Worldwide is committed to actively promoting tourism to the re-gion ldquoIn 2012 Starwood launched a dedicated web-site egypt-hospitalitycom to highlight the history of hospitality and services of all 10 Starwood hotels in the country [hellip] Egypt has culture diversity and stunning beauty which encompasses the countryrsquos history and which are still present todayrdquo
Sharing similar sentiments and reaffirming Star-wood Hotels amp Resorts Worldwidersquos top priority in implementing the hotel grouprsquos recovery campaign Hassan Ahdab vice president Africa and the Indian Ocean Starwood Hotels amp Resorts Worldwide said ldquoIt is very important after the recent events in Egypt that peoplersquos faith and trust in a country which has so much to offer be restored We are convinced that the campaign will make some noise and draw those of our loyal longstanding guests who have been wary of revisiting Egypt back to our resortsrdquo
ldquoOur personal message to travellers planning to visit is come and join usrdquo remarked Sherine Emara marketing manager La Reacutesidence Des Cascades ldquoOur hotels our beaches our golf courses our Cascades Spa and Thalasso our dive centre our wind surfing our kite surfing centre our Soma Bayrsquos Marina Centre with its restaurants and shops are all operational and ready to welcome yourdquo she added
Mansour believes that political and security stability are pre-requisites for tourism as she elaborated ldquoHaving tourism high on our president Mohamed Morsyrsquos agen-da in addition to the new initiatives taken by the ministry to boost tourism we expect tourism to regain its previ-ous position Moreover Egyptrsquos upcoming parliamentary elections will further enhance stability in Egyptrdquo
Tarek Moussa chairman Egypt amp Beyond Travel concurred ldquoStability and safety are the key words for tourists to come back to Egypt and unless the president and government of Egypt get it right and bring back sta-bility tourists will remain in much lower numbers Tour-ism in Egypt is very sick now but it will never dierdquo
Meanwhile Ibrahim Mohamed Ibrahim managing director Perfect Tours stressed that customers looking for the worldrsquos most enjoyable holidays to exotic desti-nations in Egypt and abroad do not have to do a single thing except of course to have a good time the rest he confirmed will be taken care of
ful sandy beaches and year-round sunshine which he informed remain the main attraction for tourists worldwide ldquoBy continuing to offer world-class service to our guests during the past 18 months Kempinski Hotel Soma Bay has also been able to recover from the dip in tourismrdquo he added
Also commenting on the resurgence Stephen Banks director of sales and marketing Africa Moumlven-pick Hotels amp Resorts said ldquoWe have seen occupan-cies steadily rise over the last year with our hotels on the Red Sea performing particularly wellrdquo
He added ldquoIn April this year Moumlvenpick Resort Soma Bay will open with 418 rooms on an unspoiled
stretch of white sandy beach in this increasingly popular destination on the Red Sea In addition Moumlvenpick Hotel amp Re-sort Cairo - Pyramids will open a further 132 rooms with an entirely new building aimed at the upscale business traveller and leisure guest
A PERSONAL MESSAGE
The 2011 revolution has certainly had a significant impact on Egyptrsquos tour-ism industry and this evi-dently continued in 2012 with direct impact on travel accommodation air transportation and tour-ist attractions with value growth rates across the board declining to dou-ble digit levels according to Reissigner who added ldquoOperators introduced heavy discounts in order to lure tourists back and prices remained low at the beginning of 2012 As unrest continues in Egypt with violence erupting again at the beginning of
11EXPLOREDubai
MARCH 2013
Why Dubai
DUBAI IN BRIEF
Country UAE
Currency UAE Dirham (AED)
Language Arabic
Dubairsquos astonishing rise from a small fishing and pearling community to one of the fastest growing metropolises continues to impress and inspire the world Welcome to the land of records and record-breakers where everything imaginable and unimaginable be-comes a reality
H ome to the worldrsquos tallest building largest shopping mall a collection of iconic artificial islands and some of the most instantly-recogniseable sights Dubai has established itself as the city of superlatives which con-tinuously strives for greater heights
Just when you think you have seen it all a new lsquoworldrsquos firstrsquo or lsquoworldrsquos mostrsquo project is announced inspiring visitors to return again and again
Propelled by multi-billion dollar investments in a space of just a few years Dubai has grown into the worldrsquos 13th most popular tourist destination as Euromonitor Internationalrsquos Top 100 Cities Destination Ranking shows far outperforming the likes of Shanghai Rome or Las Vegas
ldquoThe hospitality and tourism industry in Dubai is thrivingrdquo commented Nasser Fawzi director of sales and marketing Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates adding that Dubai has turned into one of the most sought-after destinations worldwide and thanks to the continuous efforts of the government and the Dubai Department of Tourism amp Commerce Marketing (DTCM) people are becoming more and more familiar with the emirate and what it has to offer ldquoVisitors can find both choice and value here making it the ideal destination for both leisure and business travellersrdquo he continued
In fact Dubairsquos hotel sector concluded 2012 with the highest profits in the MENA region for the third consecutive year according to TRI Hospitality Consult-ingrsquos HotStats survey which shows that despite the growing room inventory the destinationrsquos soaring popularity and uninterrupted string of events conferences and festivals helped maintain a steady stream of demand throughout the year lead-ing to an average annual occupancy level of 814 percent and a gross operating profit per available room surge of 133 percent over 2011 levels
ldquo2012 was a very good year for the hospitality industry where Dubai went again from strength to strengthrdquo confirmed Hazem Aouad cluster director of sales and marketing Radisson Royal Hotel Dubai and Radisson Blu Resort Fujairah
Karim Nahas general manager Rose Rayhaan by Rotana also described 2012 as a record year for the hotel when Dubairsquos hospitality industry in general witnessed a boom as the destination continued to benefit from the outcome of the Arab Spring and the governmentrsquos endeavours to market Dubai as a premier leisure destination
Sharing similar views Jan Siddiqi director of sales Ramada Plaza Jumeirah
JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai
Rita Kasziba writes
12 EXPLORE Dubai
MARCH 2013
Beach Residence and Ramada Sharjah attributed the over and above expectations performance to the col-lective result of various actions including political well-crafted initiatives
Praising the government and the tourism bodyrsquos continuous efforts Rupprecht Queitsch general man-ager JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai the worldrsquos tallest hotel at 355m said ldquoDTCM works very hard to raise the profile of Dubai as a destination for the con-vention business and leisure business and we work closely with them on these campaigns and sales tripsrdquo
Fawzi further added ldquo[The government along with DTCM] provide a lot of support to the hospital-ity industry through joint promotions sales and mar-keting initiatives and partnerships The government has positioned Dubai as one of the most sought-after destinations worldwide that has so much to offer and as a result demand for the destination continued to grow steadilyrdquo
TURNING AMBITION INTO ACTION
Just in a single generation Dubairsquos population has grown from just 10000 at the turn of the last century to over two million comprising more than 200 nation-alities by 2011 creating a characteristic destination of vibrant cultures and vivid contracts Demonstrating
the emiratersquos growing significance on regional and global levels everyday at present an average of three million people spend their day in Dubai including workers residing in other emirates and travellers visit-ing the destination on business or for pleasure
As Husseim Hachem cluster general manager Al Bustan and Al Murooj Rotana Dubai observed the emirate has consistently made its strong mark as one of the top destinations all over the world bolstered by widespread efforts of both the public and the pri-vate sector aimed at establishing Dubai as a desired place in every aspect
ldquoFirst the government is doing a great job in promoting the city internationally and secondly dif-ferent industries like hospitality travel tourism and more are working hand in hand to provide the best experiences to tourists and residents alike In addition to these factors Dubai as a city itself is a wonderful place with really nice peoplerdquo Hachem stressed
In fact Dubairsquos visionary leadership has long identified tourism as a central pillar of its economic diversification strategy hence the multi-billion dollar investments into the industry and related sectors in-cluding infrastructure transportation as well as pub-lic services have turned the emirate not only into a tourist hotspot but also into one of the best places to live in the MENA region topping the regional ranking
of Mercerrsquos rsquoQuality of Livingrsquo poll In addition the ease of doing business the close
proximity to key growth markets the centralised time zone best suited to both eastern and western busi-ness hours and the emiratersquos safe family-friendly and multicultural environment have all become a major draw for skilled professionals Consequently numer-ous multinational companies have chosen to set up their regional headquarters in Dubai making it a hub for trade and commerce and the number one desti-nation in the region for foreign direct investment
ldquoDubai continues to cement itself as a prime hub in terms of international businessrdquo confirmed Leon Salinel executive assistant manager sales and mar-keting Dusit Thani Dubai who explained that with its location in the Dubai International Financial Centre and in close proximity to Dubai World Trade Centre and the Dubai International Convention amp Exhibition Centre the hotel enjoys high and in fact growing guest volume from the corporate sector
ldquoHowever it is not just business travellers visit-ing the emiraterdquo Salinel stressed ldquoDubai remains a hotspot for leisure travellers it is the Las Vegas of the Middle East and somewhere people want to experi-ence at least once in their lifetimerdquo
Reflecting Dubairsquos dual appeal Robert Barker general manager Moumlvenpick Hotel amp Apartments
14 EXPLORE Dubai
MARCH 2013
Bur Dubai described Dubai as the Hong Kong of the Middle East adding that the unique model that has been created in the emirate and which continues to evolve with the ongoing reinvestment and planning is set to ensure Dubairsquos success and prosperity in the long-term
ENTERING NEW ERAS
Dubai started the new year on a high with a record 17 million visitors attending the Downtown Dubai New Yearsrsquo Eve Gala exceeding the reported attend-ance of one million at the world famous Times Square celebrations in New York City
The destinationrsquos abundant entertainment and amusement options coupled with its vast retail port-folio has long become a vital part of its appeal with Dubai Mall welcoming over 62 million visitors in 2012 and as a market research conducted by Reed Travel Exhibitions has revealed since the beginning of the year some 48 percent of the emiratersquos hotels were
Ocean View Hotel JA Resorts amp Hotels
Bluewaters Island project located off the Jumeirah Beach Residence coastline is envisaged to become one of the largest tourist hot spots in the world fea-turing demarcated retail residential hospitality and entertainment zones as well as the worldrsquos largest Ferris wheel at 210m named Dubai Eye
With construction due to commence in April the destination is set to further improve Dubairsquos competi-tiveness on the global stage as Abdullah Al Habbai chairman Meraas Holding the developer of the pro-ject suggested ldquoWe have a clear mission and vision to strengthen Dubairsquos global position in the tourism sec-tor This project will continue to build on the emiratersquos reputation as leaders in the global entertainment and retail landscaperdquo
Another megaproject Mohamed Bin Rashid City hailed as a city within the city is expected to set new benchmarks in urban development in the region Comprising four components the project will create an integrated environment for the development of entrepreneurship and innovation and will feature a
myriad of record-breaking leisure and entertainment options including a park 30 percent bigger than Londonrsquos Hyde Park designed to receive 35 million visitors per annum as well as the largest family cen-tre for leisure and entertainment in the region set up in collaboration with Universal Studios that will also include over 100 hotel facilities further to the largest arts gallery in the region and the worldrsquos largest retail complex Mall of the World
ldquoThe current facilities available in Dubai need to be scaled up in line with the future ambitions for the cityrdquo emphasised HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum ruler of Dubai remarking on the vital role of such projects in the emiratersquos Vision 2030 and boosting the UAE economy in order to enable it to enter a new era in which it will become the capital of entrepreneurship arts culture and family tourism for over two billion people
In fact the tourism sector in Dubai is growing by 13 percent annually and the accelerated growth rates require the emirate to prepare all sectors for the
future as passenger volume at Dubai International is set to surpass 90 million people per annum over the next five years ldquoOur development initiatives concern-ing infrastructure in all sectors should be aligned with this growth rate and we have the determination to reach our objectives and be the first in the region to achieve themrdquo concluded Al Maktoum
THE MANY FACES OF DUBAI
As a result of the joint efforts and heavy investments over the past decades Dubairsquos hospitality sector has utterly transformed according to David Thomson chief operating officer JA Resorts amp Hotels ldquoSince 2003 the emiratersquos hotel and hospitality sector has boomed launched new niche products developed new feeder markets and roared ahead with new vig-our after the slowdown of 20092010rdquo he said adding that today Dubai is considered a must-see destina-tion for many more reasons than just shopping and going to the beach which as Thomson stressed is vital for the sectorrsquos future growth
Echoing similar views Habib Khan CEO Planet Hospitality stated that people visiting Dubai can be segregated into three major categories namely lei-sure business and transients
ldquoWithin the leisure we have categorised the guests into travellers who come to witness the dra-matic achievements and modernisation of Dubai [hellip] whereas there are a smaller number but its rapidly growing of those intellectuals educational groups and individuals who seek better understanding of the Emirati and Arabic culturerdquo
Further commenting on the shifting trends Rose Ann Shetty CEO Galavantor which caters to a new generation of responsible travellers noted ldquoThe gov-ernment continues to invest and develop wonderful local and cultural experiences and while Dubairsquos focus continues to be a shopping and leisure destination the type of travellers has changed they are willing to stay longer and experience morerdquo Shetty explained adding that desert horseback riding Bedouin camp-ing trekking and rock climbing are continuously gaining popularity
In a bid to exploit another niche segment medi-cal and wellness tourism DTCM has recently teamed up with the Dubai Health Authority to promote Dubai as a premier medical destination capitalising on the emiratersquos advanced healthcare system and highly-skilled professors
ldquoWe are working to promote the medical tour-ism in Dubai since Dubai has an excellent infrastruc-ture modern hospitals and clinics offering a variety of medical [services] to visitors in search of quality health carerdquo explained Eyad Abdul Rahman execu-tive director media relations and business develop-ment DTCM
DTCM is also actively seeking ways to unleash the immerse potential of the burgeoning cruise tourism sector and secure its long-term growth by participat-ing in various international exhibitions with the aim of attracting more cruise liners
located within a 2km radius of one of the five mega-shopping malls of Dubai
Despite the stiffening competition hotels located in close proximity to shopping complexes continue to thrive as Fawzi confirmed revealing that 2012 proved to be one of the most successful years for the property since it opened seven years ago ldquoAs a city hotel Kem-pinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates offers a truly unique proposition which is well-liked by travellers from the Arab region What we add to Dubairsquos hospitality scene is a destination with entertainment for the whole fam-ily there is Ski Dubai and the new Penguin Encounter experience a great selection of dining options a cin-ema one of Dubairsquos most popular malls and a com-munity theatre all in one location that is literally on the doorstep of the hotelrdquo Fawzi further explained
In spite of the already overwhelming number of attractions in a quest to spur demand and support Dubairsquos bid to host the World Expo 2020 the emirate is forging ahead with a number of new megaprojects The recently approved AED6 billion (USD16 billion)
16 EXPLORE Dubai
MARCH 2013
Commenting on the strong economic fundamen-tals of the emirate and the breadth and unparalleled diversity of Dubairsquos tourism product Moussa El Hayek chief operating officer Al Bustan Centre amp Residence said ldquo[One of the] main reasons behind the prosperity in Dubai is the advanced infrastructure that tourists can enjoy here including luxurious hotels and restau-rants transportation malls entertainment venues parks furthermore security iconic buildings and to some extent the flexibility of the rulesrdquo
rently has 204 aircraft on order at a value USD73 billion Likewise as the second-largest airline operating
out of Dubai International flydubairsquos fast-paced ex-pansion has been a key catalyst in the emiratersquos un-precedented growth In the past two years the airline has more than doubled the number of destinations it flies to from 25 to over 50 a rate of more than one new destination per month and has increased its weekly services to over 1000
Since its inception the low-cost carrier which
served more than 51 million passengers in 2012 has laid great emphasis on connecting Dubai with fast-developing and previously untapped markets opening up new opportunities for travel and trade in emerging markets such as the CIS and Eastern Eu-rope in general In 2012 more than 40 percent of fly-dubairsquos route development concentrated on Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the CIS countries
ldquoWe have seen great demand on our routes within the CIS and CEE as more people seek afford-able fares and direct flights between Dubai and this regionrdquo informed Ghaith Al Ghaith CEO flydubai In addition today flydubai welcomes passengers to Dubai and beyond through its connecting flights to the Maldives Sri Lanka and other destinations
As a matter of fact in 2012 Russia and the CIS proved to be the second fastest expanding market in terms of passenger growth behind South America figures released by Dubai Airports have shown and Al Ghaith revealed a similar trend attesting that the car-rierrsquos total number of flights to the CIS and CEE network was 45 percent higher between October 2011 and Sep-tember 2012 compared to the previous 12 months
ldquoWe operated 109 percent more flights in the region in September 2012 compared to September 2011 illustrating the demand for travel between the nationsrdquo added Al Ghaith ldquoWe are constantly look-ing for new opportunities Our approach is to target destinations within a five-and-a-half hour radius of Dubai which puts us within reach of more than 25 billion people one third of the worldrsquos populationrdquo
Remarking on the airlinesrsquo major role in Dubairsquos development El Hayek highlighted ldquoFlight frequency to different cities all over the world made Dubai the hub of the world as Emirates flydubai and Air Ara-bia have all launched various routes to different cities while other lsquogiantrsquo airlines moved their operations to Dubai due to the advanced infrastructure and the ex-cellent services provided by Dubai Internationalrdquo
In line with the airlinesrsquo expansion strategy hotel-iers are increasingly focusing on reaching out to these new markets including the CIS and Russia which Shaff Butt director of marketing and communication Jumeirah Beach Hotel already listed among the ho-telrsquos key feeder markets
Besides the traditionally strong GCC and Europe-an markets mainly the UK and the German speaking countries demand from the CIS nations also contin-ues to be strong as Siddiqi explained
Reporting similar trends Salinel added ldquoThe GCC has always been a primary source market and has remained strong over the past few years Other source markets which have begun to show significant growth for us as a hotel [are] within the CIS region and Asian marketsrdquo
Butt further added ldquoOver the past few years we are seeing continued positive results from our main key markets such as Europe which continues to show good numbers as well as the GCC and wider Middle East For this year our main focus is the CIS market and we would also like to target Asia and Af-rica since we are getting good pick up as well as more repeat guests each yearrdquo
Nahas listed South Africa Brazil and Turkey among Rose Rayhaan by Rotanarsquos target emerging markets while others including Barker remarked on the growing demand from Far Eastern countries and mainly China
Likewise Hachem noted that China India and the rest of Asia have also started to make up for a big chunk of Al Bustan and Al Murooj Rotana Dubairsquos cli-entele while Aouad also added South America to the list of the markets lsquoto watchrsquo for Radisson Royal Hotel Dubai and Radisson Blu Resort Fujairah
Mohamed Taher director of sales and marketing Traders Hotel Dubai listed a number of emerging markets which hold great potential including the Middle East Africa Southeast Asia Australia Scandi-navia Algeria as well as Serbia
The constantly strong business levels from these markets set to balance demand with supply noted Taherw who anticipates a rise in both rates and over-all business levels ldquoDemand will offset the growth in the increased room inventories with more exhibitions being held in the city as well as the increased air traf-fic with the expansion of the airportrdquo
Hachem further added ldquoThis is admittedly a chal-lenging year as the markets get more and more pen-etrated In addition 2012 had been great which adds more pressure to the industry in general to maintain and exceed the previous achievementsrdquo
Echoing similar views Wael El Behi general man-ger Ramada Downtown Dubai concluded ldquoDubai is one of the most sought-after travel destinations in the world The hospitality sector is getting bigger and better every year Hotels are coming up with innova-tive facilities to ensure guest satisfaction and a travel-ler has a wide range of hotels to choose from Most hotels have increased their efficiency and profitability levels which is commendable We hope to continue this success [hellip] With the growing hospitality sector a traveller will be enticed to visit the city againrdquo
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE
Besides the government and the tourism organisa-tionrsquos vigorous work Dubairsquos advanced air connec-tivity and excellent infrastructure have also played a vital part in the destinationrsquos unprecedented growth as Fawzi noted
ldquoAnother contributing factor is the airlift into the destination and the continued growth of Dubai In-ternational and the UAErsquos airlines including Emirates Etihad Airways and flydubai who have also seen phenomenal growth over the past few years bringing more and more people to the destination [who] will be looking for accommodationrdquo elaborated Fawzi
In fact with its strategic location on the global axis between East and West connecting the devel-oped and the developing world Dubai boasts access to over 25 billion people within a four-hour flight as Queitsch pinpointed
Dubairsquos geographic location makes it a major global hub for trade commerce and tourism a key competitive advantage for Emirates An increasing proportion of the traffic between Europe and Asia now flies through the Middle East and the airline ex-pects this share to further grow taking into consider-ation that Dubairsquos location also facilitates rising trade flows to and from India China and Africa three of the carrierrsquos strongest markets
In the financial year 2011-12 Emirates carried a total of 34 million passengers leading to an average load factor of 80 percent while for the first six months of the financial year ending September 30 2012 pas-senger volume reached 187 million marking a year-on-year increase of 154 percent
Over the last year Emiratesrsquo network has grown rapidly bringing new countries cultures and experi-ences for customers to explore and of course opening up new markets for Dubai Reflecting Emiratersquos ambi-tious expansion plans for the future the company cur-
18 ONSITE Palestine
MARCH 2013
Forging Ahead with Pride PALESTINE IN BRIEF
Administrative Centres
Ramallah Gaza
Accepted Currencies
US Dollar (USD) Jordanian Dollar (JOD)
Language Arabic
Palestine rich in culture deep in history blessed with holy sites and highly worthy of its popularity amongst all travellers alike is a des-tination which never seizes to amaze the world of travel and tourismI n 2012 Palestine witnessed an increase in the
number of inbound tourism by some 225 mil-lion visitors 18 percent higher than that record-ed in 2011 and this paved the way for a boost of 25 percent in overnight stays in hotels and
guesthouses across the country to reach 18 millionIn order to keep visitor levels high the Ministry
of Tourism and Antiquities together with stakehold-ers have implemented numerous projects in a bid to increase traffic to the region
One example is Jenin Tourist Center which is scheduled to open later this year and is set to add to the improvement of Jenin as a tourist destination to attract both local and international visitors with a fo-cus on the quality of the arearsquos residential life and the creation of economic opportunities through tourism
With Poland being heralded as the destinationrsquos second major feeder market in 2012 having welcomed 200000 Polish visitors throughout the year Palestine acted as a partner country for the first time in one of
the global renowned travel trade shows TOUR SALON Poland which gave the Middle Eastern country the opportunity to showcase itself to what is being recog-nised as one of the most promising markets
With regards to Palestinersquos vast selection of accommo-dation offerings the country provides an array of friendly and welcoming hospitality services and this is evident in the healthy performance results reported in 2012
Grand Park Hotel which opened towards the end of September 2012 after a USD13 million renovation transformed it into a five-star property from a four-star recorded 50 percent occupancy in the first six months in operation this according to Mohammed Zomlot general manager Grand Park Hotel
ldquoWe expect perfor-mance to be much bet-ter this year as the hotel is very well-known and guests now know we have had this renovation and want to come and see the new lookrdquo he added
With the majority of the hotelrsquos guests hail-ing from Palestine itself Europe America and the Middle East Zomlot pointed out that the ho-tel attends international conferences sets out marketing strategies and also participates in exhi-bitions in order to keep figures high and promote the hotel as a perfect choice for travellers
Further growing its presence in the region Grand Park Hotel is set to open two new hotels in Palestine in the second quarter of the year and is to be the first local ho-tel chain in the country
Thomas Brugnatelli general manager The American Colony Hotel also revealed the recent
completion of what he described as the spectacular Palm House building alongside other changes which came onboard to cater to the propertyrsquos main clien-tele 45 percent of which Brugnatelli revealed hailed from Europe mostly from France Italy Germany UK and Spain while the US segment claimed a 35 percent market share ldquoFor over a hundred years The American Colony Hotel has a proud reputation of one of the most exceptional and famous hotels in the Middle Eastrdquo he concluded
Royal Court Suites Hotel is yet another property which completed a solid 2012 in terms of business performance as Joseph Ayoub general manager Royal Court Suites Hotel announced who further indicated that with new additions to management and plans for further upgrades the hotel expects its performance to continue to improve into the future ldquoThe Royal Court Suites Hotel will be undergoing re-modeling to our lobby and outside terrace which we are excited forrdquo he expressed
Catering to MENA guests of which 20 percent make up the propertyrsquos entire clientele base who pre-dominantly come from Jordan as well as Palestine it-self the hotel provides a highly service-orientated staff and a location that puts MENA travellers in the heart of Ramallah close to its best attractions and provides them with the opportunity to experience a land sacred to Muslims and Christians boasting holy sites scattered across its land Further to local and regional travellers the hotel is also popular among international organisa-tions non-governmental segments and business trav-ellers arriving from Europe US and Japan
Commenting on the ways through which fel-low professionals can work to improve visitor arriv-als Ayoub advised ldquoHotel operators in Palestine can boost the countryrsquos tourism industry by running well managed operations that provide high quality ser-vice and up to date properties that are exposed to the outside world through proper marketingrdquo
This year also looks to be better than 2012 for Golden Park Resort during which the property wit-nessed average performance levels and occupancy rates of 55 percent among the Czechs Slovakians Indians Sri Lankans Nigerians Polish and Egyp-tians according to Ibrahim Giacamam general man-ager Golden Park Resort who announced changes throughout the hotel in the coming months
ldquoWe are renovating parts of the hotel to compete with local marketsrdquo he revealed adding that this will include a full renovation of the lobby as well as the rooms ldquoThere is competition from new hotels open-ing in Bethlehem thus we want to keep our guests happyrdquo Giacamam concluded
Dominique Christou writes
19TOURUK
MARCH 2013
Dominique Christou writes
A ccording to the latest World Travel amp Tourism Council Economic Impact report published in 2012 direct contribution of travel and tourism to the UKrsquos GDP in 2011 reached GBP35 billion (USD54 billion) 23
percent of the countryrsquos total GDP with a forecasted rise of 13 percent in 2012 and an annual increase of 41 percent over the next decade when the indus-try is estimated to be contributing GBP531 billion (USD81 billion) to the UKrsquos GDP in 2022
Patricia Yates director of strategy VisitBritain ex-pected 31 million inbound visits to the UK for 2012 giving the destination as Yates described a perfect foundation to see continued strong growth in interna-tional tourism for this year contributing revenue to the UK economy and creating new jobs across the country
VisitBritain recently ventured yet again into the GCC following the successful execution and delivery of the BritAgent online training programme in the UAE Saudi Arabia and Kuwait
Meticulously Personalised
UK IN BRIEF
Capital London
Currency British Pound (GBP)
Language English
The UK has long been an admired choice among MENA travellers highly accredited to the typically distin-guished English hospitality world-renowned shopping outlets quality selection of entertainment plethora of family activities and last but not least the overabundance of pictur-esque parks scattered across the country
The UK tourism boardrsquos global online training initia-tive which has been designed to meet the needs of travel trade lsquofront-linersrsquo from new starters to experienced sales personnel was recently launched in Qatar at the British Embassy Doha a programme which upon completion grants the agents with BritAgent status signifying their expertise and knowledge about travel to Britain
ldquoBritain is already a major beneficiary of outbound travel from the Gulfrdquo confirmed Sumathi Ramanathan regional manager Asia Pacific and Middle East Visit-Britain ldquoVisitors from the Gulf region are a major source of revenue for the UK from January to September 2012 these visitors spent nearly AED55 billion (USD15 billion) already showing a seven percent increase over 2011 From 2006 through to 2011 Qatar has shown an outstanding increase in visitor numbers of 59 percent and the spend per night significantly outshines all the other countriesrdquo Ramanathan added
Official figures released by VistBritain reveal that in 2012 the UK witnessed the best November since 2007 with visitation figures a soaring nine percent higher than 2011 keeping the country on track to reach the 31 million mark by end-2012
November 2012 saw healthy results from nearly all the regions in the world exempt the US accord-ing to the study which stated that the UK welcomed 10 percent more tourists from Europe and 12 percent from the rest of the world
20 TOUR UK
MARCH 2013
Yates expressed great satisfaction for this success stressing that 2012 was no ordinary year for inbound tourism so to announce the best November in five years is an achievement
AN AMPLE CHOICE
These healthy results are evident in the hotel sector across the country partially attributed to the relative-ly strong MENA market as Daniel Simmons execu-tive director HotelREZ noted further indicating that the hotel currently has a presence in Dubai and as a result is strategically developing the MENA markets to support the membersrsquo growth
o-y improvement from the top five Middle Eastern mar-kets a 104 percent y-o-y upsurge from Saudi Arabian visitors and a 33 percent y-o-y rise from UAE visitors
Assuring that the MENA guest is well-catering to London Hilton on Park Lane trains its staff to pro-vide the welcome that visitors from the region have come to expect equipping the team with the skills to handle tailored requests according to Brayshaw who elaborated ldquoThere is a dedicated guest relations teams for Middle Eastern guests with Arabic-speak-ing team members Facilities are available for visitorsrsquo private chefs to cook within the hotelsrsquo kitchens and serve their own dishes to their employer Arabic TV stations are also availablerdquo
BRINGING IN BUSINESS
Further boosting MENA tourism to the UK on March 31 British Airways (BA) will launch an additional four flights to and from Amman increasing the frequency from dai-ly to 11 per week ldquoJordan is an important market for Brit-ish Airways and we are thrilled with the excellent growth we have seen here since re-introducing Amman to our route network We are keen to further enhance our op-erations to and from Jordan and the announcement only consolidates our commitment to the Jordanian marketrdquo commented Paolo De Renzis area commercial manager Middle East and Central Asia BA
In addition Qatar Airways has launched its inau-gural long-haul Boeing 787 Dreamliner service on the Doha - London Heathrow route becoming the first airline to operate regular scheduled flights onboard the state-of-the art aircraft to and from the UK
Akbar Al Baker CEO Qatar Airways said ldquoThe Doha - Heathrow route is one of our most popular interna-tional routes and it was only fitting that we deploy our new 787 to and from Londonrdquo
INVESTING IN THE UK
Heathrow Airport is hailed as the most popular gateway for travellers to the UK recording a total of 518 million passengers having passed through its terminal in Janu-ary alone a record for the month which saw an increase of 03 percent over the corresponding month in 2012
Meanwhile load factors also set a record for the month under review up 21 percentage points on Janu-ary 2012 reaching 70 percent Domestic traffic was down 58 percent however European traffic rose 18 percent and Middle Eastern traffic also climbed the trajectory level by 33 percent over the same month in 2012
Moreover Heathrow Airport recently announced GBP3 billion (USD46 billion) worth of investments in the airport in addition to the GBP11 billion (USD168 billion) which has been invested since 2003 and these form part of the establishmentrsquos business plans for Q6 the regulatory period which covers 2014-2019 and they represent one of the largest private-sector investments in UK infrastructure
The plans include the completion of Terminal 2 and the early works on extending the building the development of a new integrated baggage system and the construction of new taxiways and stands which will allow Heathrow Airport to accommodate more of the most modern aircraft
Colin Matthews CEO Heathrow Airport com-mented ldquoHeathrow is the UKrsquos only hub airport and a strategically important national infrastructure asset Heathrow faces stiff competition from other Europe-an hubs and we must continue to improve the service we offers passengers and airlines [] Our plan for a further GBP3 billion (USD46 billion) of private-sector investment will further improve the airport for pas-sengers The plan represents good value for money for airlines and passengers and comes at no cost to taxpayersrdquo
Guests from the UAE Turkey Egypt Saudi Arabia and Kuwait along with Cyprus contributed to two percent of the hotelrsquos total reservations percentage results for 2012 this according to Simmons who also reported a 20 percent year-on-year (y-o-y) increase in revenue ldquoOur hotel members benefit from a 90 per-cent increase on IDS (Internet distribution services) and direct connect bookings a 35 percent increase on GDS (global distribution systems) bookings and a 60 percent growth on CRO (central reservations of-fices) and voice bookingsrdquo
Commenting on the propertyrsquos latest develop-ments Simmons revealed the recently-launched MICE Desk which he pinpointed is an additional solution to HotelREZrsquos member hotels and will help boost revenue
ldquoAt HotelREZ we are very confident that our new MICE Desk will raise awareness and continue to increase reservations for our hotel members from meetings incentives conventions and events pack-ages To complete the consumer booking cycle Ho-telREZ is launching REZanalyst a new social media and review analytics tool for hotels to help manage their online reputationrdquo he concluded
Also showing signs of strong performance is Lon-don Hilton on Park Lane thanks to the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympics whose international committee chose the property as the headquarter ho-tel this according to Ashleigh Brayshaw marketing and communications manager London Hilton on Park Lane
With one out of four of the hotelrsquos guests hailing from the MENA region Brayshaw pointed out that in 2011 the property witnessed particularly high growth in visitor numbers from the region with a 21 percent y-
Moreover the UK especially London offers a full range of activities according to Brayshaw who observed that the Middle Eastern guest is increasingly organised with the time spent in the capital and one who enjoys combining a variety of activities ldquoPopular activities in-clude sending children to summer schools in Regentrsquos Park attending business meetings visiting property shopping for the latest trends and enjoying the rich va-riety of entertainment that London has to offer Families often use managers to organise their time with London Hilton on Park Lanersquos hotel management working di-rectly with guests to assistrdquo she further noted
Moreover Travelodge one of the UKrsquos leading hotel brands is set to benefit from a GBP223 million (USD341 million) brand investment with the opening of 14 new hotels which includes two properties in Spain the creation of 420 new jobs and the launch-ing of a new room concept which has been designed by its customers ldquoThis capital expenditure will help us to grow our business strengthen our product offer-ing and make Travelodge the best value hotel chain in the UKrdquo Grant Hearn CEO Travelodge revealed
ldquoAs part of this yearrsquos investment we have worked with our customers to create a new Travelodge room which offers more comfort quality and stylerdquo he contin-ued adding that this enhanced product combined with economy pricing will ensure Travelodge is the smart choice for leisure and business travellers
Furthermore in order to help attract new custom-ers Travelodge is also investing over GBP12 million (USD 182 million) in digital and online marketing this year as well as over GBP1 million (USD15 million) in a website refresh later this year
London
22 EXCLUSIVE Luxury Travel
MARCH 2013
Living the DreamLuxury travel is all about mak-ing guests feel unique and privi-leged It is about offering them the chance to get to know the world in extravagance and having them live above the ordinary It is about spoiling them with opulent travel and hospitality services something which is without doubt growing in size and quality
I n late December 2012 the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) released its Travel Trends Report 2013 developed in collaboration with UKrsquos Foreign and Commonwealth Office pre-dicting that consumers will continue to look for
good value in breaks for this year rather than cut back on their holidays
Mark Tanzer CEO ABTA stated that the majority of British holidaymakers are reluctant to give up their annual holiday under any circumstances while strong forward bookings for the luxury and all-inclusive sec-tors are being witnessed
Speaking at the 2011 edition of the annual Interna-tional Luxury Travel Market (ILTM)rsquos Ultratravel Forum Chris Sanderson strategy and insight director The Future Laboratory a trend forecasting company had announced predictions stating that the lsquoluxuriansrsquo of the future would not be interested in too much choice ldquoThere is an en-hanced sense of just being todayrsquos luxury consumer rath-er than being surrounded by possessionsrdquo he explained
AUTHENTICALLY PRIVILIGED
Views corroborating Sandersonrsquos were voiced by John McGee research and communications manager Ar-tisans of Leisure a luxury travel company specialis-ing in exclusive customised private tours around the world McGee believes that the primary reason his customers travel is to get authentic experiences that introduce them to the local traditions and people while high-quality hotels encourage them to travel but are not primary incentives further pinpointing the latter as being the interest in experiencing local
culture cuisine history and lifestyle With reference to the Middle East McGee noted
that his agency is intrigued by places like Abu Dhabi and its considered approach to developing new mu-seums and cultural attractions
Defining the demands and needs of luxury trav-ellers as being genuine and local experiences Filip Boyen chief operating officer Orient-Express said ldquoFor luxury tourists travel is not just about lying on a beach or by the pool anymore It is about combining relaxation in a beautiful setting with learning and dis-covery They want to come away with an experience or having learnt something new that they can come home and tell their friends all aboutrdquo
Boyen added that the Middle East is relatively new to the world of tourism a place many will want to discover and consequently this will create a demand for luxury ho-tels already emerging in many parts of the region
Travellers who spend a lot of money for their trip expect and demand the best they need to be cared for in every step of the way while feeling confident that they are dealing with someone experienced to respond to their requests according to Daniel Essex CEO Century Travel who also explained that many luxury travellers are looking for something small and attentive and a much more personal approach
LET US SPOIL YOU
The growing number of luxury hotels and amenities has led to an increased interest with Canadian travel-lers to the Middle East according to Kathy Stewart director of media and public relations Butterfield amp Robinson a Toronto-based agency Aside from authen-ticity she stressed the importance of maintaining the unique qualities of the region for further development
into a luxury destination for global travellers ldquoEspecial-ly North Americans who are travelling a long distance to the Middle East they are not looking for the same experience they can get at home They want Middle Eastern food people landscapes and architecture to be an integral part of the experiencerdquo
Hotel Missoni Kuwait benefits from a healthy lux-ury-demanding domestic market which represents 55 percent of its business followed by Saudi Arabia with 13 percent and the UAE with 10 percent accord-ing to Alfio Bernardini general manager Hotel Mis-soni Kuwait who said ldquo[At the hotel] everything con-tributes to the depth of the experience Hotel Missoni is designed to be genuine and uncomplicated offer-ing those luxury touches that really matter because they genuinely enrich the experience of stayingrdquo
Six Senses Zighy Bay the indigenous village style accommodation in Oman has observed an increase of 12 percent in occupancy levels throughout 2012 while the growth of the Middle East clientele is appar-ent after the development of family-specific offerings attested Guillaume de Lasteyrie executive assistant manager Six Senses Zighy Bay He believes that peace and calm is the most appreciated value of the property while the hotelrsquos offerings are tempting for guests cit-ing the example of the saltwater pool carrying a min-eral composition of 15-20 percent comparable to the Dead Sea whose concentration is 27 percent
Another instance of Arab opulence is Eastern Man-groves Hotel amp Spa by Anantara in Abu Dhabi a prop-erty which assures that luxury is interrelated with in-dulgence across all of its services offered with an acute focus on detail which Nehme Darwiche hotel manag-er Eastern Mangroves Hotel amp Spa by Anantara report-ed is of utter importance Darwiche further supports that the Middle East will not only continue to develop as a luxury destination but will sit on the top of luxury ranks and become a pioneer in such offerings ldquoThe de-mand on luxury products will continue to increase as the tastes of sophisticated societies continues to reach new limits Luxury will not be in big numbers but will be in the power to obtain rarity the Middle East under-stands that very well and the developments planned
Maria Kazeli writes
Hotel Missoni Kuwait
23EXCLUSIVELuxury Travel
MARCH 2013
from now until 2020 have luxury travellers as their tar-getrdquo Darwiche concluded
An upcoming superior property in the region is Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah set to open in May Rudi Jagersbacher president Middle East and Africa Hilton Worldwide explained that the hotel as an up-scale property will have to deliver on two counts experiences and expectations Observing that travel behaviour has changed in the past years and placing emphasis on value for money he further noted ldquo[Wal-dorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah] is palatial exclusive and will offer the highest level of service as well as state-of-the-art amenities but that is not enough We have to ensure that our guests consider their experience as an investment worth repeating and sharingrdquo
The peak of extravagance is reached with a variety of private jet services throughout the region which cater for business and leisure travellers alike Mark Hardman op-erations director ExecuJet Middle East pointed out that the companyrsquos clientele is as diverse as the regionrsquos popu-lation but private aviation offers valued features such as time efficiency security privacy and convenience
He admitted that the most popular destinations for Dubai-based ExecuJet are in the Middle East with Riyadh Jeddah Beirut and Baghdad occupying the top spots while Geneva London and Nice are the favoured European hubs
Similarly Hardy Sohanpal director NasJet agreed that Middle East travellers use private jet services for efficiency flexibility and privacy while he accurately underlined that through emphasising the luxury ben-efits many private jet users build relationships with their key business contacts and staff by giving them access to private aircraft
ON THE RISE
Providing her own view Stewart reiterated that it is important not to overdevelop and retain authenticity of the Arab culture in the region
Along parallel lines Essex believes that the major-ity across the region always had the opinion that big is beautiful but this is not enough he further stressed as the industry professionals in the Middle East need to consider the boutique options However he lauded Abu Dhabirsquos development on Saadiyat Island and the introduction of cultural arts which he believes will at-tract the international and discerning travellers
Boyen deems that the region will experience ad-vancement and will emerge as a luxury destination something he attributes to improved air connectivity ldquoDefinitely with new airline routes from the Middle East launching all the time such as Etihad Airwaysrsquo new routes to Washington and Satildeo Paulo which are
launching this year the destination is bound to de-velop furtherrdquo he continued
Sharing the same opinion that the expansion of airlines and airports lead to such positive develop-ments Bernardini claimed that despite the fact that the Middle East will develop further to become a des-tination for high-calibre tourists not all countries in the region have the capacity and the stability to do so However he further explained a few hotspots will enjoy this blessing due to the money available in this part of the world which will result in the building of super high-quality hotels and thus attract a good number of luxury travellers
De Lasteyrie pointed out that even though the region was under the spotlight for some time the future will see even greater lavish suggestions and-maintaining that ldquoThe Middle East has been since years a luxury destination to the eyes of many though the pinnacle of luxury is yet to come Smaller and personalised service hotels and resorts from around the world are now willing to implement themselves in untouched locations creating a new momentum Much of the Middle East is still in the first tiers of luxu-ry based on opulent luxury and the glitz and glamour that first come with wealth We are now beginning to see affluent luxury and more distinguished spending on art collectibles and sustainabilityrdquo
24 SPECIAL REPORT Waterparks
MARCH 2013
In for a RideWaterparks are a popular attraction among locals and tourist in the Middle East With promising weather throughout most of the year waterparks offer visitors a fun family outing in addition to an array of promotions and events Travel Trade Monthly explores what makes waterparks the perfect attraction
F rom fun rides food and beverage outlets and retail offerings to gaming outlets and social events waterparks offer a safe fun and friendly environment for the family groups and events planners from all walks of life
Wild Wadi Waterpark Dubai is a good example whose team is committed to providing a fun-filled service that will make a lasting impression according to Chris Perry general manager Wild Wadi Waterpark who added that there is a major focus on using every opportunity to ensure that the guestsrsquo decision to visit is rewarded with plenty of time to play less time to queue and more time on the rides
Meanwhile Ice Land Water Park Ras Al Khaimah is receiving full promotional support from the emir-atersquos government and especially by its tourism body this according to Vagelyn Federico deputy director Ice Land Waterpark who added that it has been high-lighted as one of the major destinations in the UAE by all concerned tourism entities
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is the latest entry into the regionrsquos proliferating world of waterparks and accord-ing to Mike Oswald general manager Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi it rivals the worldrsquos best waterparks offering 43 rides slides and attractions ldquoIt has been an incredible journey to this point and unbelievably satisfying to watch the peoplersquos reaction to what has been created We are
support of the tourism body in Ras Al Khaimahrdquo Federico stated
In the summer major visitors to the waterpark hail from Asia as well as locally whereas during the winter months the CIS market plays a big role in pro-moting the park with its tourists in the UAE
In order to boost visitor arrivals to the waterpark Federico pointed out that during the winter the team is currently working for a family barbecue night with some other attractions to lure in more families
Moreover she indicated that the months ahead seem even more vibrant as she further demonstrated ldquoThis year will be more promising as we strengthened our ties with more travel operators inbound and out-bound Additionally we are currently working with dif-ferent airlines travel operators hotels and other tour-ism entities to promote Ice Land giving them also more benefits in promoting us to different market segmentsrdquo
Giving something more to visitors the water-parkrsquos team is currently working with skilled games and other dry rides for people to enjoy at the facility after park operations ldquoWe are also a preferred venue for concerts as we have the perfect place to accom-modate up to 6000 people in one area Ice Land Wa-ter Park is just one of the offerings of WOWRAK and we are currently working with other expansions such as resorts ice skating cinema complex hypermarket and other amusement activities which are planned to open in the next few yearsrdquo concluded Federico
Likewise Perry also announced continuous growth over the years for Wild Wadi Waterpark with 2012 prov-ing very successful He attributed this achievement to events such as ladies nights Ramadan nights and the new Jumeirah Sceirah which launched in September 2012 having proved to be a favourite amongst thrill seekers whereby one drops through a trap door from a height of 32m into the waiting water tunnel and races down the slide at 80km per hour
ldquoWe aim for this trend to continue this year as we have a variety of new attractive promotions and events to suit all our guestsrsquo needsrdquo Perry further in-formed ldquoWe also launched our online ticketing system this month to offer faster entry to our guestsrdquo he added guaranteeing guests with a faster entry process allow-ing all those with a printed ticket to jump the queue
Wild Wadi Waterpark is open all year round and ca-ters to guests from all over the world ldquoDuring the hot summer months (May-October) most of our guests come from the GCC countries whereby during the colder season (November-April) our guests are mainly from Europe
ldquoThe park is also a popular destination for UAE resi-dents since we periodically offer discounts to all resi-dents as well as annualseason passes that allow them to visit as many times as they want for a cheaper raterdquo he said
Perry also pointed out that during the month of May the waterpark offers its very popular family-only mornings every Friday at discounted rates so that they can enjoy the full facilities of the park when it is not too busy and of course when it is more safe and secure a factor which he assured is of the highest priority
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi
Dominique Christou writes
confident that people will have seen nothing like it before and we look forward to the waves of visitors expected to arrive now that the park is officially openrdquo
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi which inaugurated on January 19 is built around a central character named Dana whose crew won the battle in its quest to re-store a pearl to its rightful place which has ensured prosperity to the mythical Emirati village and marked what is expected to be a successful start to Yas Water-world Abu Dhabirsquos commercial operations
Set across 15ha on Yas Island the park offers thrills for the whole family and visitors will experience fun and adventure on rides and attractions such as the worldrsquos longest fastest tornado waterslide the regionrsquos first looping waterslide and the worldrsquos first interactive water and laser rollercoaster According to Oswald Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is expected to welcome a total of 700000 in its first year of operation
CALLING ALL THRILL SEEKERS
During 2012 waterparks across the region expe-rienced a healthy increase in visitors across a variety of markets
ldquoThe waterpark performed better in 2012 compared to our first year in 2011 when it comes to statistics in vari-ous nationalities locally and internationally through the
26 INVESTIGATION
MARCH 2013
Visiting Friends amp Relatives
Maria Kazeli writes
T he annual review for 2011 by the World Travel amp Tourism Council (WTTC) attributes social and cultural benefits to tourism indicating that the industry directly helps to keep or bring families and social networks together
With special regards to the visiting friends and relatives (VFR) segment the review supports that a significant proportion of all international trips which reaches up to a third of all arrivals for some large de-veloped markets are made in order to visit friends andor relatives
Globalisation has caused people to spread all over the globe but returning back home occasion-ally is a necessity The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) draws direct links between migration and travelling to visit relatives and in the 2009 Executive Summary entitled Tourism and Migration ndash Explor-
year in review which covers up to September 2012 reveals that the highest figures for the VFR segment appeared in January 2012 with 267 percent of 47610 incoming tourists being reported as VFR
Egyptrsquos outbound travel market linked to VFR oc-cupies a major part of business for travel agencies Feryal El Gohary general manager Bahi Travel ex-plained adding that almost half of the agencyrsquos cli-entele are VFR She also expressed the view that this market is a growing force for airlines and hoteliers alike while the latter she pinpointed will succeed only if they create a new strategy of very advanta-geous attractive long-stay offers
Tarek Moshref managing director Pronto Tours an Egypt-based tour operator supported that the VFR market is the third largest segment after holiday and business and for this reason local travel agents and operators should improve their services in order to capture and develop its potential by offering new options and programmes
Stressing the cost-driven aspect of the VFR mar-ket Adel Taha general manager leisure travel Kimidar Tours an Egyptian travel agency destination manage-ment company and ground handler said that VFR travellers aim at low travel expenditures in order to spend their money on leisure activities at the destina-tion and not on transportation With regards to the accommodation factor he added ldquoMost of the travel-lers whether leisure or VFR would tend to seek hotel accommodation in order to benefit from services pro-vided such as room cleaning and meals instead of self-served apartments However we can say they still seek low-cost accommodations with some specificationsrdquo
VFR IN THE SKIES
Commenting on the results of the British CAArsquos study Harry Bush group director economic regulation UK CAA had said that air travel played a key role in enabling peoplersquos relocating principally through the emergence of low-cost air travel and that the result-ing VFR passengers are increasingly important con-sumers of air travel According to an aviation analysis report by CAPA - Centre for Aviation a provider of independent aviation market intelligence the Mid-dle Eastern low-cost carriers are trying to adapt their model to the regional situation with their higher den-sity configurations targeting migrant workers and VFR traffic flows from North Africa and South Asia into the Gulf region
Major airlines have taken this trend into consid-eration and cater for this market by tailoring their offers Paolo De Renzis area commercial manager Middle East and Central Asia British Airways said ldquoThe VFR segment is extremely important to British Airways particularly in the Middle East where a large number of our customers are VFR travellers This is a region where families are extremely close and this tight-knit family culture means that we see a lot of VFR traffic across our Middle Eastern routes We also have a large expat community in the UAE which con-tributes significantly to this segmentrdquo
Unconventional TravellersMany prefer to spend their holiday visiting their friends and relatives in their home country if they are expa-triates or some other destination in order to spend time with their loved ones The focus of the travel is not cultural sightseeing and luxury ac-commodation but low airfare and budget lodgings
ing the Relationship between Two Global Phenomena compiled by UNWTO the two concepts are analysed by stressing that growth in international tourism and mobility has given rise to tourism-led migration with examples including the movement of male labourers from South Asia to meet the construction demands of the tourism boom in the UAE
The research states that migration has led directly and indirectly to significant growth in tourism to both origin and destination countries through increased visibility especially in the VFR sector and to the de-velopment of new tourism infrastructure and trans-port routes in and between countries
UKrsquos Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) also lays empha-sis on the importance of the specific market having published an in-depth study on air passengers visiting friends or family The investigation report titled Interna-tional Relations ndash The Growth in Air Travel to Visit Friends or Relatives indicated that the robust growth in VFR re-flected trends such as labour mobility and migration while predicting that due to these trends the countryrsquos GDP will affect future VFR passenger traffic
VISITING MENA
At the 6th UNWTOPacific Asia Travel Association Fo-rum on Tourism Trends and Outlook held in October 2012 in China it was revealed that 36 percent of the Middle Eastrsquos outbound market constitutes the VFR segment
Some insights on inbound VFR trends concern-ing the hotel industry in the region were provided by Darroch Crawford managing director Middle East and Africa Premier Inn Hotels who highlighted that this market is highly important but also very difficult to measure as bookings of this nature come through different channels His estimations on guests travel-ling to visit family members in the region and residing in Premier Inn properties amount to seven percent of the total clientele Crawford further indicated that the largest Middle Eastern feeder markets for the brand are Lebanon Syria and Jordan
Meanwhile in Saudi Arabia domestic tourism has been the primary focus of tourism development pol-icy in the Kingdom and according to Saudi Tourism Outlook issued by the Tourism Information and Re-search Centre part of Saudi Commission for Tourism amp Antiquities which analyses July 2012rsquos figures the local segment contributed to 114 million overnight trips in the month under review out of which 398 percent hailed from the VFR segment In addition 293 percent of the 171 million outbound trips taken from Saudi Arabia during July 2012 were categorised as the VFR market
The Statistical Service of Cyprus disclosed that ac-cording to the latest data available concerning Sep-tember 2012 the island received 335352 visitors out of which 97 percent were VFR The same data for the
28 WHOS MOVED
MARCH 2013
ANDREW ABRAM
KONSTANTINOS KOUROTSIDIS
Andrew Abram has been named general manager at Raffles Dubai Abram joins the propertyrsquos team from Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group where over the past dec-ade he has held various positions He joined the company in 2003 as resident manager of The Excelsior Hotel Hong Kong and went on to lead the renovation and reopen-ing of Mandarin Oriental Jakarta holding the role of general man-ager for eight years He most re-cently served as general manager
of Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhavi in Chiang Mai Thailand Having also held the position of corporate director of sales and marketing at Jumeirah Group in the Middle East where he was responsible for the branding and launching of several projects Abram brings an insiderrsquos knowl-edge to Raffles Dubai
Konstantinos Kourotsidis has been named general manager at Radisson Blu Martinez Hotel Beirut Kourotsidis started his career in the hospitality industry in 1996 in food and beverage at Copthorne Hotel Hanover In 2000 he joined The Rezidor Ho-tel Group where he held various positions across Europe and the Middle East including at Radis-son Blu Hotel Hanover Radission
Blu Hotel amp Spa Galway Radisson Blu Resort Schloss Fleesensee Radisson Blu Resort El Quseir Radisson Blu Hotel Alexandria and Radisson Blu Resort Sharjah After several task force assign-ments in Egypt Libya and UAE Kourotsidis was promoted to general manager at Radisson Blu Al Mahary Hotel Tripoli Most re-cently he worked as acting gen-eral manager at Radisson Blu Re-sort Fujairah
Abram brings an insiderrsquos knowledge to
Raffles Dubai
MARCH 2013
30 TRAVEL TALK
MARCH 2013
LEON SALINEL
WAEL EL BEHI
KARIM NAHAS
Executive assistant manager of sales and marketing Dusit Thani Dubai
General manager Ramada Downtown Dubai
General managar Rose Rayhaan by Rotana
ldquo2012 was a very successful year for us We were not only successful in meeting our key performance indicators most notably by exceeding both our gross operating profit and gross operating revenue Working with Inves-tors in People throughout the year also ensured that we performed highly in our employee satisfaction survey we even ranked at the top of our group in this regards [hellip] We are now drawing to a close on our rooms renovation and have just welcomed our new general manager so it is an exciting year to come for us which will see some changerdquo
ldquoI am very pleased to be appointed as executive board mem-ber [of the Tunisian Business Council] I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress in [the cur-rent year] I hope to play a part in creating strong community bound by camaraderie accord and reliance among Tunisian nationals in the UAErdquo
ldquo2012 was a record year for Rose Rayhaan total revenue growth was almost 17 percent versus 2011 [hellip] The hotel continued to focus on the GCC markets with the Saudi market on the top list and strong performance of the UK France and Russian markets were witnessed UAE local market in both leisure and corporate seg-ments also performed very well We are planning to fo-cus on new emerging markets like South Africa Brazil and Turkey Competition will be indeed stiffen this year however I guess there will be business for everybodyrdquo
I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress
TRAVEL TALK IS YOUR SPACE ndash 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
editorialtraveltradeweeklytravel
trav
el t
alk
is
y
our
spac
e
31RENDEZVOUS
MARCH 2013
Q amp A with Rana El KhouryWith her recent appointment Rana El Khoury general manager Le Gray Beirut became one of Lebanonrsquos first women to hold such a high position at a five-star hotel and here she shares her views on the future prospects of the Lebanese hotel sector
Rana El KhouryGeneral manager Le Gray Beirut
Travel Trade Monthly How would you describe 2012 in a few words Rana El Khoury The best way to describe 2012 would certainly be lsquochallengingrsquo a challenge that could be called survival until we see better days Controlling costs while maintaining superior ser-vice quality and competitiveness is key to our con-tinuous success in the Lebanese market The hotel performance could be rated as fair for 2012 greatly impacted by high level of business during the first five months of the year This has allowed us to stay ahead of the game for the remainder of the year although November 2012 was the toughest month since the opening of the hotel in 2009 Despite all Le Gray has managed in 2012 to retain its number one position in occupancy and RevPAR in the Leba-nese market
Travel Trade Monthly The hotel will soon em-bark on a major extension project Tell us a little bit about this
Rana El Khoury Le Gray is preparing to kick off its extension that will include a larger lobby with a lob-by lounge a chocolate room banquet space a 35-seat movie theatre and an additional 18 rooms The project should reach completion by end of 2014
Travel Trade Monthly Prior to your appoint-ment you served as hotel manager How does your new position differ from your former role
Rana El Khoury My previous position as hotel manager was focused on the operations aspect of the hotel as general manager my responsibilities enclose a more general view of the hotel including the administrative and strategic side of the hotel as well as the link between the owning company and management company
My priorities for the coming year is diversify-ing our target markets on the international and local scene to maximise hotel occupancy and to strengthen the positioning of Le Gray on the lo-cal market as a destination for its restaurants and bars whilst building on the existing strong team at Le Gray and getting the right people together to move forward with positivity and vigilance to counter these challenging times
The advice I would give young women ready to climb the corporate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the dif-ferent positions they fill throughout their careers
Travel Trade Monthly Your appointment makes you one of the first Lebanese women to hold this position at a five-star hotel How challenging is it to hold such a high position at an already well-established hotel
Rana El Khoury The hospitality industry is very challenging and requires sacrifice on all levels What I can say is that women have their own speci-ficity and they can bring a different vision and new perspectives to the hospitality business The advice I would give young women ready to climb the cor-porate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the different positions they fill throughout their careers this can only make them stronger and certainly more cred-ible when they reach executive level positions
Travel Trade Monthly Over the past few years the Lebanese tourism industry has faced a num-ber of serious challenges What are your expec-tations for the current year Rana El Khoury Lebanon has always been a pre-ferred destination attracting tourists from the Arab and Gulf countries and with increasing stability and security we do see a solid recovery
Given the complexity of the Lebanese market improvement can occur overnight As seen in May 2008 following the Doha-agreement occupancy rates jumped back then from 30 to 90 percent within one week
This year remains uncertain due to the volatil-ity of the political situation in the region the key is to remain sustainable and be ready for the sudden surge in business
Le Gray Beirut
32 NEWS amp EVENTS
MARCH 2013
EVENTS Sponsored by
Following a refurbishment to better present the historical phases of the emiratersquos auto manu-facturing sector Sharjah Classic Cars Museum originally launched in 2008 by HH Sheikh Sul-tan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi ruler of Sharjah reopened in January by Sheikh Essam bin Saqr Al Qassimi chairman Sharjah rulerrsquos office
On the opening day of the event Manal Ataya director general Sharjah Museums Department said ldquoThe aim of refurbishing this museum was to allow us to re-evaluate the previous design and interpretation and improve it significantlyrdquo
She further pointed out that the museum now helps visitors to appreciate the aesthetic and historical value of classic cars in a space that inte-grates a new childrens interactive area and a gal-lery space for temporary exhibitions
The museum boasts 85 classic cars two mo-torcycles and five bicycles as well as a model of an old car and an engine to allow visitors to familiarise themselves with parts of an engine and their function while it is divided into five sections and features an area for activities and interactive games
Following the launch of the UAE branch of the Airline Owners and Pi-lotsrsquo Association (AOPA) at Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2012 Yousif Al Hammadi president AOPA UAE has invited representatives from international AOPA branches to attend a workshop dedicated to discussing and debating gen-eral aviation issues in the region
The meeting the first of its kind will run parallel to this yearrsquos Abu Dhabi Air Expo and will take place at the Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies Al Bateen Executive Airport on March 6
It is anticipated that up to 30 representatives from AOPA US AOPA UK AOPA Germany and AOPA France will meet with their colleagues from the UAE during the one-day event to share knowledge and debate a variety of topics including air space regulations aerial non-commercial operations certification and maintenance issues and pilot licensing
AOPA members will also be able to maximise their time by attending the Air Expo exhibition the Middle Eastrsquos only dedicated general aviation event to meet pilots from the region and learn about the latest trends
Sharjah Reopens Car Museum AOPA UAE to Hold Meeting with International Colleagues
ITB BerlinBerlin Germany March 6 ndash 10 2013(wwwitb-berlinde)A business-to-business platform for trade visitors which provides the possibility to discover the whole world within a few hours
MITT MoscowMoscow Russia March 20 ndash 23 2013(wwwmittru)Russiarsquos leading and largest travel exhibition with over 3000 participat-ing companies and 197 destinations a key meeting place for industry professionals
The Gulf Incentive Business Travel amp Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) Abu Dhabi UAE March 25 ndash 27 2013(wwwgibtmcom)A leading event for the meetings incentives and business travel industry in the GCC region which can truly unlock all participantsrsquo business potential
Saudi Travel amp Tourism Investment Market (STTIM)Riyadh Saudi Arabia March 31 ndash April 4 2013(wwwsttimcomsa)The event covers all travel and tourism investments aspects in the Kingdom through a combined conference and exhibition
International Destination Expo (IDE)Dubai UAE April 4 ndash 7 2013(wwwastaorgevents)Organised by the American Society of Travel Agents IDE is a destination training programme where participants can meet local suppliers and built profitable long-lasting relationships
Arabian Travel Market (ATM)Dubai UAE May 6 ndash 9 2013(wwwarabiantravelmarketcom)The travel and tourism event unlocking business potential within the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals
Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies
4 VIEW Airports
MARCH 2013
T his year marks the 100th anniversary of commercial flights and over the century as Tony Tyler director general International Air Transport Association (IATA) noted through an ever-expanding network air transport
has utterly transformed the way we live work and trade providing jobs for some 57 million people and supporting USD22 trillion in economic activity by con-necting people and goods on 35000 routes
IATA anticipates that 31 billion passengers will cross the worldrsquos airport terminals this year and considering that 100 years ago that number was precisely zero the industryrsquos unprecedented growth and vital role in socio-economic development worldwide is indisputable
The Middle East is set to grow at an annual rate of 66 percent between 2012 and 2016 according to IATArsquos estimated regional figures with the number of passengers handled by the regionrsquos airports reaching 400 million by 2020
ldquoWith an estimated two-third of the worldrsquos popu-lation living within an eight-hour flight of the Middle East the region is ideally situated to provide efficient connections to a large segment of the worldrsquos popu-lationrdquo said Patti Chau regional director Asia Pacific Airports Council International (ACI)
ldquoWith many Middle Eastern airports serving as hubs between the East and West the regionrsquos airports have benefitted tremendously from the flow of traffic through their terminals and the rise in air travel in Asiardquo she con-tinued noting that determined to utilise the strategic location the regionrsquos governments including Dubai Abu Dhabi and Qatar have developed an integrated aviation strategy aimed at further fostering the sustained growth of the sector which is increasingly seen as a key pillar of their economic diversification drive
ldquoThe region also benefits from fast-growing local economies a large and young population as well as tourism all of which contribute to bolstering demandrdquo Chau added further stating that as a result the Middle East proved to be the fastest growing region over the last decade at an annual growth rate of nine percent
To cater to the anticipated demand as a study from Reed Travel Exhibitions reveals Middle Eastern govern-ments continue to allocate sizeable sums for the develop-ment of new and existing airports and related segments at an estimated cost of AED437 billion (USD119 billion)
RECORD AFTER RECORD
Over the past decade the UAErsquos aviation sector has experienced phenomenal growth with its three ma-jor airports in Dubai Abu Dhabi and Sharjah almost quadrupling their annual passenger volume from just over 20 million in 2002 to over 799 million in 2012 establishing aviation as a vital part of the coun-tryrsquos economy contributing more than AED145 billion (USD3947 billion) or 147 percent to the national GDP
ldquoThis amount is projected to grow further in the
Ready for Take-OffWith forecasts suggesting that the number of air pas-sengers will exceed the three billion mark for the first time this year and double by 2030 fuelled by multi-billion dol-lar investments the regionrsquos airports are set to undergo profound transformations in the coming years to become major global hubs catering to an anticipated 400 million passengers by 2020
coming years and as such justifies the countryrsquos huge investment in airports and airline networksrdquo predict-ed HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum presi-dent Dubai Civil Aviation Authority
In 2001 Dubai International barely made it to the top 100 airports worldwide ranking as the 90th in terms of international passenger volume though as Chau fur-ther highlighted in 2011 the airport already managed more than six times the population of the UAE while recently it has already leapfrogged Hong Kong Interna-tional Airport as the worldrsquos third busiest airport after welcoming a record 57684550 travellers in 2012
ldquoMoving into the top three is a fantastic achieve-ment for Dubai International and we have now Lon-donrsquos Heathrow and the number one spot firmly within our sightsrdquo declared Paul Griffiths CEO Dubai Airports revealing that this year some 654 million passengers are expected to pass through the airport
ldquoDubai International has grown at an average an-nual rate of 15 percent since its opening in 1960rdquo at-tested Ali Zaigham manager media relations Dubai Airports attributing the unprecedented progress largely to Dubairsquos aviation model which as Zaigham noted lsquorightly treatsrsquo aviation and logistics as the backbone of the national economy
ldquoBased on this approach Dubai provides a world-class infrastructure and capacity and a tax-free environ-ment to boost the aviation sector while promoting the open skies policy globallyrdquo added Zaigham who also remarked on the ways in which the destinationrsquos strate-gic location between growing economies such as India China and Russia on one side and consumer markets in the West helps positioning it as a global hub
Another key factor as Zaigham noted is the fast-paced expansion of the home-based carriers
Likewise 2012 also marked another record year for Abu Dhabi International Airport with over 147 million passengers announced Ahmed Al Haddabi chief op-
Dubai International Concourse A
Midfield Terminal Building Abu Dhabi
Rita Kasziba writes
5VIEWAirports
MARCH 2013
erating officer Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) Similarly today Jordanrsquos Queen Alia International
Airport (QAIA) caters to more passengers and airlines than ever with 40 carriers operating via the airport during the summer peak revealed Kjeld Binger CEO Airport International Group (AIG) reporting that 2012 marked another record-breaking year for QAIA with passenger traffic exceeding six million for the first time
Beirutrsquos Rafic Hariri International Airport welcomed over 596 million travellers compared to 560 million in 2011 Bahrain International Airport posted a 88 percent year-on-year growth with passenger numbers amount-ing to 848 million while Muscat International Airport also reached a new height after greeting over 75 mil-lion passengers for the first time in the airportrsquos history
Erbil International Airport (EIA) registered a 53 percent year-on-year improvement with passenger numbers hitting 947600 bringing the total number of travellers at the airport since the inauguration of the new terminal in September 2010 to 17 million The robust growth as Andrew Jones adviser com-mercial department communications and market-ing EIA explained is down to the proven link and relationship between economic development and airports ldquoThe economy here is growing fuelled by oil and gas bonanza hence traffic demand growsrdquo
THE BIGGER THE BETTER
Backed by heavy investments the regionrsquos aviation sector is vigorously working to develop collaborative policies in a quest to turn airports into the backbone of economic growth and foster their competitiveness on the global level
Jordan is gearing up for the opening of the new QAIA which as Binger explained was intuitively de-signed to match the worldrsquos leading airports in terms of traveller experience
ldquoThis new QAIA terminal will significantly increase the airportrsquos capacity [from 35 million passengers] to nine million passengers Future expansions which will be carried out as needed will allow the airport to reach a capacity of 12 million passengers per yearrdquo informed Binger
AIG has invested an estimated USD750 million in the construction of this landmark terminal in ad-dition to USD100 million that has been spent for the rehabilitation of the ailing facilities
ldquoIn launching the new terminal we will be clos-ing and demolishing the [previous] terminals to make way for further developments The opening of the new terminal and the subsequent closing of the old ones marks the most crucial milestone in the air-port development project since its opening in 1983rdquo stressed Binger who described the construction of the new terminal as a lsquonational projectrsquo which is set to bolster not only the Kingdomrsquos aviation industry but the nationrsquos economy as a whole
Heralding a new chapter in Qatarrsquos aviation indus-try Hamad International Airport formerly known as New Doha International Airport is set to welcome the first commercial flights on April 1 As HE Abdul Aziz
Al Noaimi chairman Qatar Civil Aviation Authority revealed the first phase of the USD155 billion project will involve 12 international airlines including low-cost carriers while Qatar Airways the operator of the airport will move its entire operations to the new facilities in the second half of the year The world-class airport as Al Noaimi noted will firmly put the country on the global stage and will accommodate 28 million passengers an-nually increasing to 50 million beyond 2015
ldquoThis will be a world-class facility that promises to propel our nation further on the international stagerdquo com-mented Akbar Al Baker CEO Qatar Airways stressing that the lsquostoryrsquo certainly will not end here
After handling over 576 million travellers in 2012 Dubai International is to soon approach its original ca-pacity of 60 million passengers per annum as Zaigham pinpointed adding that the timing of the opening of Concourse A in January was no coincidence as the new facility lifts the airportrsquos capacity to 75 million
ldquoWith 20 contact gates all capable of handling the superjumbo Concourse A will be home to Emir-atesrsquo fleet of A380s from where passengers will con-nect to more than 20 Emirates A380 destinations around the worldrdquo explained Zaigham saying that by 2020 Dubai Internationalrsquos passenger volume is expected to soar to 985 million In comparison traf-fic at London Heathrow the worldrsquos busiest airport for international passen-gers was close to 70 mil-lion in 2012
Within the next few years 20 million people are expected to be han-dled by Abu Dhabi Inter-national Airport therefore the construction of the 700000m2 Midfield Termi-nal Building (MTB) slated for completion by 2017 and the overall redevelop-ment and expansion of the airport forms a vital part in the governmentrsquos Abu Dhabi 2030 vision Located between the two runways the x-shaped complex will feature a full terminal building passenger and cargo facilities extensive duty-free area as well as food and beverage outlets and will cater to 27 - 40 mil-lion passengers annually
Kuwait Airports has also outlined plans to ex-pand the airportrsquos capacity from six million passengers to 20 million passengers per year and establish the airport as a major passen-ger and cargo hub The multi-billion project will
include a new USD3 billion terminal equipped with the latest technology as well as an additional USD3 billion to widen the runways enhance the control tower and build a new one as well as set up a new cargo facility
In Oman the new terminal at Muscat Internation-al Airport designed to handle 12 million passengers is scheduled for completion by 2014 with further ex-pansions planned in three subsequent phases which will ultimately bring the annual capacity to 24 36 and 48 million passengers At Salalah Airport where passenger volume exceeded the 06 million mark for the first time in 2012 the new terminal will increase capacity to one million once it becomes operational in 2014 with the design allowing further expansion to cater for two and later on six million passengers
Saudi Arabia is also planning to issue bonds to fund construction work at King Abdul Aziz Interna-tional Airport in Jeddah increasing its capacity to 30 million passengers as well as at King Khaled Airport in Riyadh Due for completion by April 2014 Basra Inter-national Airportrsquos upgrade will allow for safer landings and increased flights during the night and poor weath-er conditions further enhancing Iraqrsquos air connectivity
Bahrain Airports also plans to extend the pas-senger terminal at Bahrain International as part of an USD1 billion overhaul project which will bring capac-ity from the current nine million to 135 million
6 VISIT Egypt
MARCH 2013
W orld Tourism Organization (UNWTO)rsquos World Tourism Barometer released in January has shown that the sub-region of North Africa alongside Southeast Asia recorded the largest
increase in arrivals in 2012 swelling nine percent high-ly attributed to Tunisiarsquos and Egyptrsquos strong rebounds of 33 percent and 15 percent respectively following on 2011rsquos declines
Moreover UNWTOrsquos World Tourism Barometer November 2012 edition stated that North Africarsquos inbound tourism figures grew 102 percent between January and August over the corresponding months in 2011 a period during which the regionrsquos arrivals dropped 91 percent over 2010 results
The study further indicated that during 2012 North Africa regained the lead over advanced des-tinations thanks to certain countries such as Egypt whose increase in incoming international tourist numbers during the eight-month stretch reflected
a consolidation in figures of 20 percent following 2011rsquos 32 percent deterioration
Meanwhile in June 2012 Business Monitor In-ternational (BMI) issued a preliminary study enti-tled Egypt Tourism Report Q3 2012 with reference to the countryrsquos tourism prospects through to 2016 considering important issues which had been fac-ing the sector since the outbreaks of large-scale un-rest rocked Egypt in 2011 stating that it anticipated strong recovery in 2012 if these occurrences were to continue decreasing in frequency throughout the third quarter (Q3) and finally through to the end of the year under review
On a conclusive note during the first nine months of 2012 Egypt drew in a double-digit increase of 13 per-cent in tourism receipts according to the study while Magdi Gamil director of sales and marketing Fairmont Nile City Towers stated that some 81 million tourists vis-ited the country between January and September with 96 million overnight stays reported in Egyptian hotels injecting some USD10 billion into the economy
ldquoTourism is a vital pillar of the national economy representing 113 percent of Egyptrsquos GDP and 17 per-
cent of its foreign currency reserves in addition to 126 percent of the total manpower of the state with four million people directly employed in the industryrdquo Gamil explicated revealing that by the end of 2012 Egypt had welcomed 11 million tourists all-in-all
ldquoThis number is anticipated to reach 14 million this year with the Ministry of Tourism hoping for USD13 billion in tourism-generated incomeldquo he fur-ther revealed
REMAINING AFLOAT
The countryrsquos hotel sector saw healthy indications of improvement towards the end of 2012 according to data compiled by STR Global which had presented an escalation in occupancy levels of 245 percent
Stefanie Saghbini writes
ETERNAL ELEMENTS OF SURPRISE As the world watches over Egypt waiting to see what the future holds for a country submerged in ancient heritage profoundly resonant throughout its vast and deeply historical setting peppered with contemporary develop-ments tourists are steadily beginning to return to the land of genial promises
EGYPT IN BRIEF
Capital Cairo
Currency Egyptian Pound (EGP)
Language Arabic
Temple of Kom Ombo
Avenue of Human-headed Sphinxes
8 VISIT Egypt
MARCH 2013
reaching 456 percent in December 2012 reporting the largest increase in the Middle East
Meanwhile TRI Hospitality Consultingrsquos HotStats MENA Chain Hotel Market Review November 2012 a study on full-serviced hotels stated that while Sharm El Sheikh witnessed the highest occupancy rates Cairo posted record profits since the 2011 revolu-tion According to the survey the capitalrsquos hospitality segment showed signs of full recovery in the month under review registering a 743 percent increase in gross operating profit per available room (GOPPAR) to USD7175 while RevPAR grew 323 percent to USD6427 driven by a 143 percentage point improve-ment in occupancy to 55 percent masking the two percent decline in average room rate (ARR)
These results can be highly accredited to the re-gional market which proved somewhat irrepressible in the face of the unrest and whose commitment to Egypt could be seen in BMIrsquos revised growth fore-cast and views on total tourism nights recorded for the fourth quarter of 2012 which was said to reach around 24 percent y-o-y from the previous estima-tion of 15 percent
Marten Schwass general manager Kempinski Nile Hotel also noticed this changing trend describ-ing the locals and in particular the hotels of Cairo as resilient which throughout the past 12 months re-
lied on local business to bolster revenues while he added travellers were rescheduling trips around pe-riods of instability
Gamil also reported that during 2012 Fairmont Nile City Towersrsquo top three contributors to the prop-ertyrsquos clientele base hailed from Egypt itself followed by Saudi Arabia and Lebanon while in 2011 Egypt and Saudi Arabia also claimed first and second spot while the US followed in third
Analogous to Schwassrsquo view on the changing tourism trend across the capital Peter Goddard man-aging director TRI Hospitality Consulting Dubai also indicated that recovery in Cairo is evident albeit still suffering to a certain extent ldquoThe Cairo market has been resilient to continuous political upheaval with hotels in the city demonstrating that they have recov-ered as performance indicators return to pre-revolu-tion levelsrdquo he explained
Gamil affirmed his tenacity to claim his slice of the pie ldquoDespite the political unrest and recent clashes in Cairorsquos Tahrir Square inbound tourism appears to be on the rise and we will be keen to grab every opportu-nity that is out there to make it happenrdquo he asserted
A PROMINENT DESTINATION
A good example of the capitalrsquos buoyancy can be seen in the end-of-2012 re-sults of Fairmont Heli-opolis amp Towers which witnessed slight signs of recovery and progressed slowly in 2012 versus 2011 this according to Noha Mansour director of marketing and public relations Fairmont He-liopolis amp Towers Cairo who announced increas-ing y-o-y occupancy rates of seven percent and a y-o-y rise in Rev-PAR of 13 percent
With regards to feeder markets in 2011 Mansour listed Egyptian guests as the propertyrsquos most popular guests which she underlined generated the largest number of room nights than any other national-ity Following the local segment were Germa-ny Italy Morocco UK France and the US Man-sour continued adding that in 2012 the top six countries ranked based on room nights were Libya Germany Africa Italy UK and the US
In addition Kempinski Nile Hotel also remained on top of its league and in particular among the luxury segment during 2012 this according to Sch-wass who registered an increased number of visitors from the UK a market he described as traditional and which signals positive growth for this year
With regards to the hotelrsquos strongest contributors Schwass listed the GCC UK and US as top three stat-ing that a drop in overall number of visitors since the revolution has been witnessed however he contin-ued these three key markets have recently been re-covering and in terms of occupancy year-to-date the property remains in second place among its competi-tors in Cairo
ldquoAdditionally the business segment has been booming and we have attracted an increased flow of business visitors from Turkey and Korea The hotel recently hosted the Turkish government delegation and HE the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs as well as large groups of corporate visitors from East Asiardquo he further explained also confirming that the propertyrsquos social events are always well-attended making the ho-tel a meeting point for local socialites and dignitaries
InterContinental Cairo Citystars also recently hosted high-ranking officials from Malaysia which included Najib Razak prime minister of Malaysia and Anifah Aman minister of foreign affairs Malaysia alongside a group of businessmen and media repre-sentatives from the country
Upon his arrival to the hotel Razak was welcomed by Simon Stamper area general manager InterConti-nental Cairo Citystars InterContinental Residence Suites Cairo Citystars Holiday Inn Cairo Citystars and Stay-bridge Suites Cairo Citystars as well as Ibrahim Nashaat general manager InterContinental Cairo Citystars
ROUND THE CORNER
Revealing his forecasts for this year Gamil is antici-pating a breakdown of 37 percent in leisure travel 28 percent in corporate guests and 18 percent in groups for Fairmont Nile City Towers with expected room nights for the year to reach 75932 average oc-cupancy levels at 412 percent and average room rate fetching in EGY75232 (USD11174) The top three tar-geted nationalities for this year remain the local mar-ket as well as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait he revealed
Commenting on the upcoming developments Gamil said ldquoAlso opening soon is the Casino at Fair-mont Nile City that is built on an area of 850m2 and has top line machines including five Roulette five Black Jack five Poker one three-card Poker one Ponto Banko and over 30 digital slot machines The Casino has a VIP room that includes one Roulette one Poker and one Black Jack tablesrdquo
He also mentioned the recently-unveiled state-of-the-art Presidential Suite which he further informed is fashioned with contemporary elegant art deco furnishings offering what he described as the ulti-mate in urban chic ldquoIt is spacious comprising a bed-room two living rooms a dining area a kitchenette an office a butlersecretary bedroom and an open
9VISITEgypt
MARCH 2013
Lan Tania Fairmont Heliopolis amp Towers
concept bathroom [hellip] All suites feature high speed Internet access an interactive TV and complimentary coffee and tea Presidential Suite guests are provided with a personal butler for unrivalled comfortldquo
Mansour is also eyeing a positive year ahead with an increase in occupancy of 13 percent and an upsurge in RevPAR by 22 percent highly dependent as she inserted on the countryrsquos political and security stability The main targeted markets for the year re-main the propertyrsquos six leading contributors in 2012 Libya Germany Africa Italy UK and the US as well as the rest of Europe and the Middle East Mansour further informed
Urs Umbricht general manager Maritim Jolie Ville Kings Island Luxor also placed a strong emphasis on the reliance on the countryrsquos situation when stating his predictions for the year however his estimates seem somewhat optimistic with a modest surge in occupan-cy of five percent a slight boost in ARR of three per-cent and RevPAR growth of three percent for Maritim Jolie Ville Kings Island Luxor with all European North and South American Middle Eastern and local mar-kets high on the targeted list for the property
For Dina Naeem area director of public relations Egypt Starwood Hotels amp Resorts Worldwide the year is looking to be very positive for the hotel giant across all its propertyrsquos throughout the country as she com-mented adding that as an emerging market located at the nexus of the rapidly growing Africa and Middle East region it is expected that the country will stabi-lise in the second half of year
ldquoStarwood is expecting to see a growth in tourism to Egypt over the coming year The Starwood hotels in particular are pleased to announce some exciting new openings and renovations to excite both leisure and business travellers [This year] will see the open-ing of Le Meacuteridien Cairo Airport to entrench Star-woodrsquos presence in the capital The hotel is targeted primarily towards the business travellers and will be on an area of 23500m2 Located in front of the arrival passenger Terminal 3 Le Meacuteridien Cairo Airport is at-tached to the [main] building through an inter-con-necting bridge and consists of 330 rooms 19 suites three major restaurants banqueting conferences and meeting rooms in addition to swimming pools green areas health club and ample parking
ldquoTwo Le Meacuteridien hotels [namely] Le Meacuteridien Pyramids and Le Meacuteridien Dahab will open Egyptrsquos first two Explore Spas These are the first branded spas by Le Meacuteridien in Egypt offering a new perspec-tive on spa experience breaking away from how spa is viewed [hellip] The iconic Sheraton Cairo Hotel amp Ca-sino located on the west bank of the Nile River is un-dergoing a total revamp and is also set to open with 656 rooms in quarter four of [the year] The renova-tion which began in 2010 is considered one of the most comprehensive projects [hellip] and is targeted to-wards the discerning leisure traveller as well as busi-ness travellers who are looking for much more than just a business triprdquo she explained Starwood Hotels amp Resorts is also gearing up to open The St Regis Cairo in October 2014
PREPARE FOR THE RED SEA
Further south towards the world-renowned tourist re-gion of the Red Sea the coastal city of Sharm El Sheikh was blessed with the entry of the peak season in No-vember 2012 according to TRI Hospitality Consultingrsquos HotStats MENA Chain Hotel Market Review November 2012 as signs of improvement blos-somed throughout the destination during the month under review
According to the re-port occupancy rates swelled 77 percentage points to 797 percent pushing RevPAR up 54 percent to USD4166 despite a 47 percent decrease in ARR to USD5225 Meanwhile total RevPAR boosted 87 percent to USD7551 securely driven by an in-crease in food and bever-age revenue with GOP-PAR growing 52 percent to USD328
However Goddard believes that hotels in Sharm El Sheikh also ap-pear to be struggling as market-wide rate reduc-tions have negatively impacted financial re-sults ldquoAlthough occu-pancy in the region has increased the slashing of rates has had a dra-matic impact on their
peak seasonrsquos profit marginsrdquo he continuedSimilarly Umbricht highlighted that throughout
many tourist destinations across Egypt there exists an over-offer in hotel rooms which he believes re-sults in the very low pricing and thus is keeping Egypt very competitive against European competitors ldquoOn the other hand this is also resulting in a rate battle amongst the hotels which at the end is not healthy One of the losers will be the ecological and balanced tourism and finally naturerdquo he further underlined
On a positive note Marc Reissigner area general manager InterContinental The Palace Port Ghalib Re-sort Crowne Plaza Sahara Sands Port Ghalib Crowne Plaza Sahara Oasis Port Ghalib and Marian Lodge at Port Ghalib this year expects a 4268 percent in oc-cupancy levels equivalent to an increase of 1236 percent over 2012 with average daily rate to surge USD865 to USD4536 from USD3671 in 2012 This is all considering that MICE organisers place Egypt back into their event calendars according to Reissigner who emphasised that the international MICE market will continue to be one of the propertiesrsquo main targets and remain the number one feeder segment to Marsa Alam Port Ghalib destination
In addition the hotels will also be focusing on the corporate meetings and leisure markets the latter including the underwater adventure snorkelling
10 VISIT Egypt
MARCH 2013
families and romance and couples segments as well as wellbeing Reissigner further informed
ldquoNamed Egyptrsquos leading spa resort [] Six Senses Spa is [the countryrsquos] first on the Red Sea coast and is located among the splendid landscaped gardens lagoons stun-ning architecture and pure luxury of InterContinental The Palace Port Ghalib We have tailor-made a new hon-eymooners emotions experience with an inspired luxury palace of indulgence from the moment of arrival in Port Ghalib our lsquoemotionsrsquo experience takes clients on a jour-ney to the fascinating past blended with luxurious com-fortrdquo he continued
Steigenberger Al Dau Resort also recently celebrat-ed the traditional cornerstone placement of its new five-star Red Sea project Steigenberger Aqua Magic With construction works well underway Steigenberger Aqua Magic owned by Sami Saad Holding is slated for opening towards the end of the year and will operate under the flag of the renowned German hotel group Steigenberger Hotels The resort will run as a family hotel boasting 700 rooms in capacity a large swim-ming pool landscape extensive recreational facilities including its own Splash certified water park and an exclusive entertainment area
Moreover Soma Bay and in particular Kempin-ski Hotel Soma Bay is ready to welcome visitors to a place offering what Schwass described as beauti-
La Reacutesidence des Cascades
[the year] and the country enters an onoff transitional phase the second year post-revolution era is likely to re-sult in slow growth and a gradual return to pre-crisis lev-els by winter 20132014rdquo
However he recommends that anyone and eve-ryone visit Egypt ldquoEveryone must know that whatever happens in Tahrir Square the rest of Cairo and most of all the rest of Egypt and Red Sea are perfectly saferdquo he continued ldquoThis does not mean that the protests are not important but tourism-wise there are no complications at all If there is a demonstration on the same day you are in Cairo and you are concerned about your safety just come and enjoy the sun by the Red Sea Port Ghalib were luxury meets natureldquo
Naeem described Egypt as a safe and attractive tourist destination for international travellers and as-sured that Starwood Hotels amp Resorts Worldwide is committed to actively promoting tourism to the re-gion ldquoIn 2012 Starwood launched a dedicated web-site egypt-hospitalitycom to highlight the history of hospitality and services of all 10 Starwood hotels in the country [hellip] Egypt has culture diversity and stunning beauty which encompasses the countryrsquos history and which are still present todayrdquo
Sharing similar sentiments and reaffirming Star-wood Hotels amp Resorts Worldwidersquos top priority in implementing the hotel grouprsquos recovery campaign Hassan Ahdab vice president Africa and the Indian Ocean Starwood Hotels amp Resorts Worldwide said ldquoIt is very important after the recent events in Egypt that peoplersquos faith and trust in a country which has so much to offer be restored We are convinced that the campaign will make some noise and draw those of our loyal longstanding guests who have been wary of revisiting Egypt back to our resortsrdquo
ldquoOur personal message to travellers planning to visit is come and join usrdquo remarked Sherine Emara marketing manager La Reacutesidence Des Cascades ldquoOur hotels our beaches our golf courses our Cascades Spa and Thalasso our dive centre our wind surfing our kite surfing centre our Soma Bayrsquos Marina Centre with its restaurants and shops are all operational and ready to welcome yourdquo she added
Mansour believes that political and security stability are pre-requisites for tourism as she elaborated ldquoHaving tourism high on our president Mohamed Morsyrsquos agen-da in addition to the new initiatives taken by the ministry to boost tourism we expect tourism to regain its previ-ous position Moreover Egyptrsquos upcoming parliamentary elections will further enhance stability in Egyptrdquo
Tarek Moussa chairman Egypt amp Beyond Travel concurred ldquoStability and safety are the key words for tourists to come back to Egypt and unless the president and government of Egypt get it right and bring back sta-bility tourists will remain in much lower numbers Tour-ism in Egypt is very sick now but it will never dierdquo
Meanwhile Ibrahim Mohamed Ibrahim managing director Perfect Tours stressed that customers looking for the worldrsquos most enjoyable holidays to exotic desti-nations in Egypt and abroad do not have to do a single thing except of course to have a good time the rest he confirmed will be taken care of
ful sandy beaches and year-round sunshine which he informed remain the main attraction for tourists worldwide ldquoBy continuing to offer world-class service to our guests during the past 18 months Kempinski Hotel Soma Bay has also been able to recover from the dip in tourismrdquo he added
Also commenting on the resurgence Stephen Banks director of sales and marketing Africa Moumlven-pick Hotels amp Resorts said ldquoWe have seen occupan-cies steadily rise over the last year with our hotels on the Red Sea performing particularly wellrdquo
He added ldquoIn April this year Moumlvenpick Resort Soma Bay will open with 418 rooms on an unspoiled
stretch of white sandy beach in this increasingly popular destination on the Red Sea In addition Moumlvenpick Hotel amp Re-sort Cairo - Pyramids will open a further 132 rooms with an entirely new building aimed at the upscale business traveller and leisure guest
A PERSONAL MESSAGE
The 2011 revolution has certainly had a significant impact on Egyptrsquos tour-ism industry and this evi-dently continued in 2012 with direct impact on travel accommodation air transportation and tour-ist attractions with value growth rates across the board declining to dou-ble digit levels according to Reissigner who added ldquoOperators introduced heavy discounts in order to lure tourists back and prices remained low at the beginning of 2012 As unrest continues in Egypt with violence erupting again at the beginning of
11EXPLOREDubai
MARCH 2013
Why Dubai
DUBAI IN BRIEF
Country UAE
Currency UAE Dirham (AED)
Language Arabic
Dubairsquos astonishing rise from a small fishing and pearling community to one of the fastest growing metropolises continues to impress and inspire the world Welcome to the land of records and record-breakers where everything imaginable and unimaginable be-comes a reality
H ome to the worldrsquos tallest building largest shopping mall a collection of iconic artificial islands and some of the most instantly-recogniseable sights Dubai has established itself as the city of superlatives which con-tinuously strives for greater heights
Just when you think you have seen it all a new lsquoworldrsquos firstrsquo or lsquoworldrsquos mostrsquo project is announced inspiring visitors to return again and again
Propelled by multi-billion dollar investments in a space of just a few years Dubai has grown into the worldrsquos 13th most popular tourist destination as Euromonitor Internationalrsquos Top 100 Cities Destination Ranking shows far outperforming the likes of Shanghai Rome or Las Vegas
ldquoThe hospitality and tourism industry in Dubai is thrivingrdquo commented Nasser Fawzi director of sales and marketing Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates adding that Dubai has turned into one of the most sought-after destinations worldwide and thanks to the continuous efforts of the government and the Dubai Department of Tourism amp Commerce Marketing (DTCM) people are becoming more and more familiar with the emirate and what it has to offer ldquoVisitors can find both choice and value here making it the ideal destination for both leisure and business travellersrdquo he continued
In fact Dubairsquos hotel sector concluded 2012 with the highest profits in the MENA region for the third consecutive year according to TRI Hospitality Consult-ingrsquos HotStats survey which shows that despite the growing room inventory the destinationrsquos soaring popularity and uninterrupted string of events conferences and festivals helped maintain a steady stream of demand throughout the year lead-ing to an average annual occupancy level of 814 percent and a gross operating profit per available room surge of 133 percent over 2011 levels
ldquo2012 was a very good year for the hospitality industry where Dubai went again from strength to strengthrdquo confirmed Hazem Aouad cluster director of sales and marketing Radisson Royal Hotel Dubai and Radisson Blu Resort Fujairah
Karim Nahas general manager Rose Rayhaan by Rotana also described 2012 as a record year for the hotel when Dubairsquos hospitality industry in general witnessed a boom as the destination continued to benefit from the outcome of the Arab Spring and the governmentrsquos endeavours to market Dubai as a premier leisure destination
Sharing similar views Jan Siddiqi director of sales Ramada Plaza Jumeirah
JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai
Rita Kasziba writes
12 EXPLORE Dubai
MARCH 2013
Beach Residence and Ramada Sharjah attributed the over and above expectations performance to the col-lective result of various actions including political well-crafted initiatives
Praising the government and the tourism bodyrsquos continuous efforts Rupprecht Queitsch general man-ager JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai the worldrsquos tallest hotel at 355m said ldquoDTCM works very hard to raise the profile of Dubai as a destination for the con-vention business and leisure business and we work closely with them on these campaigns and sales tripsrdquo
Fawzi further added ldquo[The government along with DTCM] provide a lot of support to the hospital-ity industry through joint promotions sales and mar-keting initiatives and partnerships The government has positioned Dubai as one of the most sought-after destinations worldwide that has so much to offer and as a result demand for the destination continued to grow steadilyrdquo
TURNING AMBITION INTO ACTION
Just in a single generation Dubairsquos population has grown from just 10000 at the turn of the last century to over two million comprising more than 200 nation-alities by 2011 creating a characteristic destination of vibrant cultures and vivid contracts Demonstrating
the emiratersquos growing significance on regional and global levels everyday at present an average of three million people spend their day in Dubai including workers residing in other emirates and travellers visit-ing the destination on business or for pleasure
As Husseim Hachem cluster general manager Al Bustan and Al Murooj Rotana Dubai observed the emirate has consistently made its strong mark as one of the top destinations all over the world bolstered by widespread efforts of both the public and the pri-vate sector aimed at establishing Dubai as a desired place in every aspect
ldquoFirst the government is doing a great job in promoting the city internationally and secondly dif-ferent industries like hospitality travel tourism and more are working hand in hand to provide the best experiences to tourists and residents alike In addition to these factors Dubai as a city itself is a wonderful place with really nice peoplerdquo Hachem stressed
In fact Dubairsquos visionary leadership has long identified tourism as a central pillar of its economic diversification strategy hence the multi-billion dollar investments into the industry and related sectors in-cluding infrastructure transportation as well as pub-lic services have turned the emirate not only into a tourist hotspot but also into one of the best places to live in the MENA region topping the regional ranking
of Mercerrsquos rsquoQuality of Livingrsquo poll In addition the ease of doing business the close
proximity to key growth markets the centralised time zone best suited to both eastern and western busi-ness hours and the emiratersquos safe family-friendly and multicultural environment have all become a major draw for skilled professionals Consequently numer-ous multinational companies have chosen to set up their regional headquarters in Dubai making it a hub for trade and commerce and the number one desti-nation in the region for foreign direct investment
ldquoDubai continues to cement itself as a prime hub in terms of international businessrdquo confirmed Leon Salinel executive assistant manager sales and mar-keting Dusit Thani Dubai who explained that with its location in the Dubai International Financial Centre and in close proximity to Dubai World Trade Centre and the Dubai International Convention amp Exhibition Centre the hotel enjoys high and in fact growing guest volume from the corporate sector
ldquoHowever it is not just business travellers visit-ing the emiraterdquo Salinel stressed ldquoDubai remains a hotspot for leisure travellers it is the Las Vegas of the Middle East and somewhere people want to experi-ence at least once in their lifetimerdquo
Reflecting Dubairsquos dual appeal Robert Barker general manager Moumlvenpick Hotel amp Apartments
14 EXPLORE Dubai
MARCH 2013
Bur Dubai described Dubai as the Hong Kong of the Middle East adding that the unique model that has been created in the emirate and which continues to evolve with the ongoing reinvestment and planning is set to ensure Dubairsquos success and prosperity in the long-term
ENTERING NEW ERAS
Dubai started the new year on a high with a record 17 million visitors attending the Downtown Dubai New Yearsrsquo Eve Gala exceeding the reported attend-ance of one million at the world famous Times Square celebrations in New York City
The destinationrsquos abundant entertainment and amusement options coupled with its vast retail port-folio has long become a vital part of its appeal with Dubai Mall welcoming over 62 million visitors in 2012 and as a market research conducted by Reed Travel Exhibitions has revealed since the beginning of the year some 48 percent of the emiratersquos hotels were
Ocean View Hotel JA Resorts amp Hotels
Bluewaters Island project located off the Jumeirah Beach Residence coastline is envisaged to become one of the largest tourist hot spots in the world fea-turing demarcated retail residential hospitality and entertainment zones as well as the worldrsquos largest Ferris wheel at 210m named Dubai Eye
With construction due to commence in April the destination is set to further improve Dubairsquos competi-tiveness on the global stage as Abdullah Al Habbai chairman Meraas Holding the developer of the pro-ject suggested ldquoWe have a clear mission and vision to strengthen Dubairsquos global position in the tourism sec-tor This project will continue to build on the emiratersquos reputation as leaders in the global entertainment and retail landscaperdquo
Another megaproject Mohamed Bin Rashid City hailed as a city within the city is expected to set new benchmarks in urban development in the region Comprising four components the project will create an integrated environment for the development of entrepreneurship and innovation and will feature a
myriad of record-breaking leisure and entertainment options including a park 30 percent bigger than Londonrsquos Hyde Park designed to receive 35 million visitors per annum as well as the largest family cen-tre for leisure and entertainment in the region set up in collaboration with Universal Studios that will also include over 100 hotel facilities further to the largest arts gallery in the region and the worldrsquos largest retail complex Mall of the World
ldquoThe current facilities available in Dubai need to be scaled up in line with the future ambitions for the cityrdquo emphasised HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum ruler of Dubai remarking on the vital role of such projects in the emiratersquos Vision 2030 and boosting the UAE economy in order to enable it to enter a new era in which it will become the capital of entrepreneurship arts culture and family tourism for over two billion people
In fact the tourism sector in Dubai is growing by 13 percent annually and the accelerated growth rates require the emirate to prepare all sectors for the
future as passenger volume at Dubai International is set to surpass 90 million people per annum over the next five years ldquoOur development initiatives concern-ing infrastructure in all sectors should be aligned with this growth rate and we have the determination to reach our objectives and be the first in the region to achieve themrdquo concluded Al Maktoum
THE MANY FACES OF DUBAI
As a result of the joint efforts and heavy investments over the past decades Dubairsquos hospitality sector has utterly transformed according to David Thomson chief operating officer JA Resorts amp Hotels ldquoSince 2003 the emiratersquos hotel and hospitality sector has boomed launched new niche products developed new feeder markets and roared ahead with new vig-our after the slowdown of 20092010rdquo he said adding that today Dubai is considered a must-see destina-tion for many more reasons than just shopping and going to the beach which as Thomson stressed is vital for the sectorrsquos future growth
Echoing similar views Habib Khan CEO Planet Hospitality stated that people visiting Dubai can be segregated into three major categories namely lei-sure business and transients
ldquoWithin the leisure we have categorised the guests into travellers who come to witness the dra-matic achievements and modernisation of Dubai [hellip] whereas there are a smaller number but its rapidly growing of those intellectuals educational groups and individuals who seek better understanding of the Emirati and Arabic culturerdquo
Further commenting on the shifting trends Rose Ann Shetty CEO Galavantor which caters to a new generation of responsible travellers noted ldquoThe gov-ernment continues to invest and develop wonderful local and cultural experiences and while Dubairsquos focus continues to be a shopping and leisure destination the type of travellers has changed they are willing to stay longer and experience morerdquo Shetty explained adding that desert horseback riding Bedouin camp-ing trekking and rock climbing are continuously gaining popularity
In a bid to exploit another niche segment medi-cal and wellness tourism DTCM has recently teamed up with the Dubai Health Authority to promote Dubai as a premier medical destination capitalising on the emiratersquos advanced healthcare system and highly-skilled professors
ldquoWe are working to promote the medical tour-ism in Dubai since Dubai has an excellent infrastruc-ture modern hospitals and clinics offering a variety of medical [services] to visitors in search of quality health carerdquo explained Eyad Abdul Rahman execu-tive director media relations and business develop-ment DTCM
DTCM is also actively seeking ways to unleash the immerse potential of the burgeoning cruise tourism sector and secure its long-term growth by participat-ing in various international exhibitions with the aim of attracting more cruise liners
located within a 2km radius of one of the five mega-shopping malls of Dubai
Despite the stiffening competition hotels located in close proximity to shopping complexes continue to thrive as Fawzi confirmed revealing that 2012 proved to be one of the most successful years for the property since it opened seven years ago ldquoAs a city hotel Kem-pinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates offers a truly unique proposition which is well-liked by travellers from the Arab region What we add to Dubairsquos hospitality scene is a destination with entertainment for the whole fam-ily there is Ski Dubai and the new Penguin Encounter experience a great selection of dining options a cin-ema one of Dubairsquos most popular malls and a com-munity theatre all in one location that is literally on the doorstep of the hotelrdquo Fawzi further explained
In spite of the already overwhelming number of attractions in a quest to spur demand and support Dubairsquos bid to host the World Expo 2020 the emirate is forging ahead with a number of new megaprojects The recently approved AED6 billion (USD16 billion)
16 EXPLORE Dubai
MARCH 2013
Commenting on the strong economic fundamen-tals of the emirate and the breadth and unparalleled diversity of Dubairsquos tourism product Moussa El Hayek chief operating officer Al Bustan Centre amp Residence said ldquo[One of the] main reasons behind the prosperity in Dubai is the advanced infrastructure that tourists can enjoy here including luxurious hotels and restau-rants transportation malls entertainment venues parks furthermore security iconic buildings and to some extent the flexibility of the rulesrdquo
rently has 204 aircraft on order at a value USD73 billion Likewise as the second-largest airline operating
out of Dubai International flydubairsquos fast-paced ex-pansion has been a key catalyst in the emiratersquos un-precedented growth In the past two years the airline has more than doubled the number of destinations it flies to from 25 to over 50 a rate of more than one new destination per month and has increased its weekly services to over 1000
Since its inception the low-cost carrier which
served more than 51 million passengers in 2012 has laid great emphasis on connecting Dubai with fast-developing and previously untapped markets opening up new opportunities for travel and trade in emerging markets such as the CIS and Eastern Eu-rope in general In 2012 more than 40 percent of fly-dubairsquos route development concentrated on Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the CIS countries
ldquoWe have seen great demand on our routes within the CIS and CEE as more people seek afford-able fares and direct flights between Dubai and this regionrdquo informed Ghaith Al Ghaith CEO flydubai In addition today flydubai welcomes passengers to Dubai and beyond through its connecting flights to the Maldives Sri Lanka and other destinations
As a matter of fact in 2012 Russia and the CIS proved to be the second fastest expanding market in terms of passenger growth behind South America figures released by Dubai Airports have shown and Al Ghaith revealed a similar trend attesting that the car-rierrsquos total number of flights to the CIS and CEE network was 45 percent higher between October 2011 and Sep-tember 2012 compared to the previous 12 months
ldquoWe operated 109 percent more flights in the region in September 2012 compared to September 2011 illustrating the demand for travel between the nationsrdquo added Al Ghaith ldquoWe are constantly look-ing for new opportunities Our approach is to target destinations within a five-and-a-half hour radius of Dubai which puts us within reach of more than 25 billion people one third of the worldrsquos populationrdquo
Remarking on the airlinesrsquo major role in Dubairsquos development El Hayek highlighted ldquoFlight frequency to different cities all over the world made Dubai the hub of the world as Emirates flydubai and Air Ara-bia have all launched various routes to different cities while other lsquogiantrsquo airlines moved their operations to Dubai due to the advanced infrastructure and the ex-cellent services provided by Dubai Internationalrdquo
In line with the airlinesrsquo expansion strategy hotel-iers are increasingly focusing on reaching out to these new markets including the CIS and Russia which Shaff Butt director of marketing and communication Jumeirah Beach Hotel already listed among the ho-telrsquos key feeder markets
Besides the traditionally strong GCC and Europe-an markets mainly the UK and the German speaking countries demand from the CIS nations also contin-ues to be strong as Siddiqi explained
Reporting similar trends Salinel added ldquoThe GCC has always been a primary source market and has remained strong over the past few years Other source markets which have begun to show significant growth for us as a hotel [are] within the CIS region and Asian marketsrdquo
Butt further added ldquoOver the past few years we are seeing continued positive results from our main key markets such as Europe which continues to show good numbers as well as the GCC and wider Middle East For this year our main focus is the CIS market and we would also like to target Asia and Af-rica since we are getting good pick up as well as more repeat guests each yearrdquo
Nahas listed South Africa Brazil and Turkey among Rose Rayhaan by Rotanarsquos target emerging markets while others including Barker remarked on the growing demand from Far Eastern countries and mainly China
Likewise Hachem noted that China India and the rest of Asia have also started to make up for a big chunk of Al Bustan and Al Murooj Rotana Dubairsquos cli-entele while Aouad also added South America to the list of the markets lsquoto watchrsquo for Radisson Royal Hotel Dubai and Radisson Blu Resort Fujairah
Mohamed Taher director of sales and marketing Traders Hotel Dubai listed a number of emerging markets which hold great potential including the Middle East Africa Southeast Asia Australia Scandi-navia Algeria as well as Serbia
The constantly strong business levels from these markets set to balance demand with supply noted Taherw who anticipates a rise in both rates and over-all business levels ldquoDemand will offset the growth in the increased room inventories with more exhibitions being held in the city as well as the increased air traf-fic with the expansion of the airportrdquo
Hachem further added ldquoThis is admittedly a chal-lenging year as the markets get more and more pen-etrated In addition 2012 had been great which adds more pressure to the industry in general to maintain and exceed the previous achievementsrdquo
Echoing similar views Wael El Behi general man-ger Ramada Downtown Dubai concluded ldquoDubai is one of the most sought-after travel destinations in the world The hospitality sector is getting bigger and better every year Hotels are coming up with innova-tive facilities to ensure guest satisfaction and a travel-ler has a wide range of hotels to choose from Most hotels have increased their efficiency and profitability levels which is commendable We hope to continue this success [hellip] With the growing hospitality sector a traveller will be enticed to visit the city againrdquo
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE
Besides the government and the tourism organisa-tionrsquos vigorous work Dubairsquos advanced air connec-tivity and excellent infrastructure have also played a vital part in the destinationrsquos unprecedented growth as Fawzi noted
ldquoAnother contributing factor is the airlift into the destination and the continued growth of Dubai In-ternational and the UAErsquos airlines including Emirates Etihad Airways and flydubai who have also seen phenomenal growth over the past few years bringing more and more people to the destination [who] will be looking for accommodationrdquo elaborated Fawzi
In fact with its strategic location on the global axis between East and West connecting the devel-oped and the developing world Dubai boasts access to over 25 billion people within a four-hour flight as Queitsch pinpointed
Dubairsquos geographic location makes it a major global hub for trade commerce and tourism a key competitive advantage for Emirates An increasing proportion of the traffic between Europe and Asia now flies through the Middle East and the airline ex-pects this share to further grow taking into consider-ation that Dubairsquos location also facilitates rising trade flows to and from India China and Africa three of the carrierrsquos strongest markets
In the financial year 2011-12 Emirates carried a total of 34 million passengers leading to an average load factor of 80 percent while for the first six months of the financial year ending September 30 2012 pas-senger volume reached 187 million marking a year-on-year increase of 154 percent
Over the last year Emiratesrsquo network has grown rapidly bringing new countries cultures and experi-ences for customers to explore and of course opening up new markets for Dubai Reflecting Emiratersquos ambi-tious expansion plans for the future the company cur-
18 ONSITE Palestine
MARCH 2013
Forging Ahead with Pride PALESTINE IN BRIEF
Administrative Centres
Ramallah Gaza
Accepted Currencies
US Dollar (USD) Jordanian Dollar (JOD)
Language Arabic
Palestine rich in culture deep in history blessed with holy sites and highly worthy of its popularity amongst all travellers alike is a des-tination which never seizes to amaze the world of travel and tourismI n 2012 Palestine witnessed an increase in the
number of inbound tourism by some 225 mil-lion visitors 18 percent higher than that record-ed in 2011 and this paved the way for a boost of 25 percent in overnight stays in hotels and
guesthouses across the country to reach 18 millionIn order to keep visitor levels high the Ministry
of Tourism and Antiquities together with stakehold-ers have implemented numerous projects in a bid to increase traffic to the region
One example is Jenin Tourist Center which is scheduled to open later this year and is set to add to the improvement of Jenin as a tourist destination to attract both local and international visitors with a fo-cus on the quality of the arearsquos residential life and the creation of economic opportunities through tourism
With Poland being heralded as the destinationrsquos second major feeder market in 2012 having welcomed 200000 Polish visitors throughout the year Palestine acted as a partner country for the first time in one of
the global renowned travel trade shows TOUR SALON Poland which gave the Middle Eastern country the opportunity to showcase itself to what is being recog-nised as one of the most promising markets
With regards to Palestinersquos vast selection of accommo-dation offerings the country provides an array of friendly and welcoming hospitality services and this is evident in the healthy performance results reported in 2012
Grand Park Hotel which opened towards the end of September 2012 after a USD13 million renovation transformed it into a five-star property from a four-star recorded 50 percent occupancy in the first six months in operation this according to Mohammed Zomlot general manager Grand Park Hotel
ldquoWe expect perfor-mance to be much bet-ter this year as the hotel is very well-known and guests now know we have had this renovation and want to come and see the new lookrdquo he added
With the majority of the hotelrsquos guests hail-ing from Palestine itself Europe America and the Middle East Zomlot pointed out that the ho-tel attends international conferences sets out marketing strategies and also participates in exhi-bitions in order to keep figures high and promote the hotel as a perfect choice for travellers
Further growing its presence in the region Grand Park Hotel is set to open two new hotels in Palestine in the second quarter of the year and is to be the first local ho-tel chain in the country
Thomas Brugnatelli general manager The American Colony Hotel also revealed the recent
completion of what he described as the spectacular Palm House building alongside other changes which came onboard to cater to the propertyrsquos main clien-tele 45 percent of which Brugnatelli revealed hailed from Europe mostly from France Italy Germany UK and Spain while the US segment claimed a 35 percent market share ldquoFor over a hundred years The American Colony Hotel has a proud reputation of one of the most exceptional and famous hotels in the Middle Eastrdquo he concluded
Royal Court Suites Hotel is yet another property which completed a solid 2012 in terms of business performance as Joseph Ayoub general manager Royal Court Suites Hotel announced who further indicated that with new additions to management and plans for further upgrades the hotel expects its performance to continue to improve into the future ldquoThe Royal Court Suites Hotel will be undergoing re-modeling to our lobby and outside terrace which we are excited forrdquo he expressed
Catering to MENA guests of which 20 percent make up the propertyrsquos entire clientele base who pre-dominantly come from Jordan as well as Palestine it-self the hotel provides a highly service-orientated staff and a location that puts MENA travellers in the heart of Ramallah close to its best attractions and provides them with the opportunity to experience a land sacred to Muslims and Christians boasting holy sites scattered across its land Further to local and regional travellers the hotel is also popular among international organisa-tions non-governmental segments and business trav-ellers arriving from Europe US and Japan
Commenting on the ways through which fel-low professionals can work to improve visitor arriv-als Ayoub advised ldquoHotel operators in Palestine can boost the countryrsquos tourism industry by running well managed operations that provide high quality ser-vice and up to date properties that are exposed to the outside world through proper marketingrdquo
This year also looks to be better than 2012 for Golden Park Resort during which the property wit-nessed average performance levels and occupancy rates of 55 percent among the Czechs Slovakians Indians Sri Lankans Nigerians Polish and Egyp-tians according to Ibrahim Giacamam general man-ager Golden Park Resort who announced changes throughout the hotel in the coming months
ldquoWe are renovating parts of the hotel to compete with local marketsrdquo he revealed adding that this will include a full renovation of the lobby as well as the rooms ldquoThere is competition from new hotels open-ing in Bethlehem thus we want to keep our guests happyrdquo Giacamam concluded
Dominique Christou writes
19TOURUK
MARCH 2013
Dominique Christou writes
A ccording to the latest World Travel amp Tourism Council Economic Impact report published in 2012 direct contribution of travel and tourism to the UKrsquos GDP in 2011 reached GBP35 billion (USD54 billion) 23
percent of the countryrsquos total GDP with a forecasted rise of 13 percent in 2012 and an annual increase of 41 percent over the next decade when the indus-try is estimated to be contributing GBP531 billion (USD81 billion) to the UKrsquos GDP in 2022
Patricia Yates director of strategy VisitBritain ex-pected 31 million inbound visits to the UK for 2012 giving the destination as Yates described a perfect foundation to see continued strong growth in interna-tional tourism for this year contributing revenue to the UK economy and creating new jobs across the country
VisitBritain recently ventured yet again into the GCC following the successful execution and delivery of the BritAgent online training programme in the UAE Saudi Arabia and Kuwait
Meticulously Personalised
UK IN BRIEF
Capital London
Currency British Pound (GBP)
Language English
The UK has long been an admired choice among MENA travellers highly accredited to the typically distin-guished English hospitality world-renowned shopping outlets quality selection of entertainment plethora of family activities and last but not least the overabundance of pictur-esque parks scattered across the country
The UK tourism boardrsquos global online training initia-tive which has been designed to meet the needs of travel trade lsquofront-linersrsquo from new starters to experienced sales personnel was recently launched in Qatar at the British Embassy Doha a programme which upon completion grants the agents with BritAgent status signifying their expertise and knowledge about travel to Britain
ldquoBritain is already a major beneficiary of outbound travel from the Gulfrdquo confirmed Sumathi Ramanathan regional manager Asia Pacific and Middle East Visit-Britain ldquoVisitors from the Gulf region are a major source of revenue for the UK from January to September 2012 these visitors spent nearly AED55 billion (USD15 billion) already showing a seven percent increase over 2011 From 2006 through to 2011 Qatar has shown an outstanding increase in visitor numbers of 59 percent and the spend per night significantly outshines all the other countriesrdquo Ramanathan added
Official figures released by VistBritain reveal that in 2012 the UK witnessed the best November since 2007 with visitation figures a soaring nine percent higher than 2011 keeping the country on track to reach the 31 million mark by end-2012
November 2012 saw healthy results from nearly all the regions in the world exempt the US accord-ing to the study which stated that the UK welcomed 10 percent more tourists from Europe and 12 percent from the rest of the world
20 TOUR UK
MARCH 2013
Yates expressed great satisfaction for this success stressing that 2012 was no ordinary year for inbound tourism so to announce the best November in five years is an achievement
AN AMPLE CHOICE
These healthy results are evident in the hotel sector across the country partially attributed to the relative-ly strong MENA market as Daniel Simmons execu-tive director HotelREZ noted further indicating that the hotel currently has a presence in Dubai and as a result is strategically developing the MENA markets to support the membersrsquo growth
o-y improvement from the top five Middle Eastern mar-kets a 104 percent y-o-y upsurge from Saudi Arabian visitors and a 33 percent y-o-y rise from UAE visitors
Assuring that the MENA guest is well-catering to London Hilton on Park Lane trains its staff to pro-vide the welcome that visitors from the region have come to expect equipping the team with the skills to handle tailored requests according to Brayshaw who elaborated ldquoThere is a dedicated guest relations teams for Middle Eastern guests with Arabic-speak-ing team members Facilities are available for visitorsrsquo private chefs to cook within the hotelsrsquo kitchens and serve their own dishes to their employer Arabic TV stations are also availablerdquo
BRINGING IN BUSINESS
Further boosting MENA tourism to the UK on March 31 British Airways (BA) will launch an additional four flights to and from Amman increasing the frequency from dai-ly to 11 per week ldquoJordan is an important market for Brit-ish Airways and we are thrilled with the excellent growth we have seen here since re-introducing Amman to our route network We are keen to further enhance our op-erations to and from Jordan and the announcement only consolidates our commitment to the Jordanian marketrdquo commented Paolo De Renzis area commercial manager Middle East and Central Asia BA
In addition Qatar Airways has launched its inau-gural long-haul Boeing 787 Dreamliner service on the Doha - London Heathrow route becoming the first airline to operate regular scheduled flights onboard the state-of-the art aircraft to and from the UK
Akbar Al Baker CEO Qatar Airways said ldquoThe Doha - Heathrow route is one of our most popular interna-tional routes and it was only fitting that we deploy our new 787 to and from Londonrdquo
INVESTING IN THE UK
Heathrow Airport is hailed as the most popular gateway for travellers to the UK recording a total of 518 million passengers having passed through its terminal in Janu-ary alone a record for the month which saw an increase of 03 percent over the corresponding month in 2012
Meanwhile load factors also set a record for the month under review up 21 percentage points on Janu-ary 2012 reaching 70 percent Domestic traffic was down 58 percent however European traffic rose 18 percent and Middle Eastern traffic also climbed the trajectory level by 33 percent over the same month in 2012
Moreover Heathrow Airport recently announced GBP3 billion (USD46 billion) worth of investments in the airport in addition to the GBP11 billion (USD168 billion) which has been invested since 2003 and these form part of the establishmentrsquos business plans for Q6 the regulatory period which covers 2014-2019 and they represent one of the largest private-sector investments in UK infrastructure
The plans include the completion of Terminal 2 and the early works on extending the building the development of a new integrated baggage system and the construction of new taxiways and stands which will allow Heathrow Airport to accommodate more of the most modern aircraft
Colin Matthews CEO Heathrow Airport com-mented ldquoHeathrow is the UKrsquos only hub airport and a strategically important national infrastructure asset Heathrow faces stiff competition from other Europe-an hubs and we must continue to improve the service we offers passengers and airlines [] Our plan for a further GBP3 billion (USD46 billion) of private-sector investment will further improve the airport for pas-sengers The plan represents good value for money for airlines and passengers and comes at no cost to taxpayersrdquo
Guests from the UAE Turkey Egypt Saudi Arabia and Kuwait along with Cyprus contributed to two percent of the hotelrsquos total reservations percentage results for 2012 this according to Simmons who also reported a 20 percent year-on-year (y-o-y) increase in revenue ldquoOur hotel members benefit from a 90 per-cent increase on IDS (Internet distribution services) and direct connect bookings a 35 percent increase on GDS (global distribution systems) bookings and a 60 percent growth on CRO (central reservations of-fices) and voice bookingsrdquo
Commenting on the propertyrsquos latest develop-ments Simmons revealed the recently-launched MICE Desk which he pinpointed is an additional solution to HotelREZrsquos member hotels and will help boost revenue
ldquoAt HotelREZ we are very confident that our new MICE Desk will raise awareness and continue to increase reservations for our hotel members from meetings incentives conventions and events pack-ages To complete the consumer booking cycle Ho-telREZ is launching REZanalyst a new social media and review analytics tool for hotels to help manage their online reputationrdquo he concluded
Also showing signs of strong performance is Lon-don Hilton on Park Lane thanks to the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympics whose international committee chose the property as the headquarter ho-tel this according to Ashleigh Brayshaw marketing and communications manager London Hilton on Park Lane
With one out of four of the hotelrsquos guests hailing from the MENA region Brayshaw pointed out that in 2011 the property witnessed particularly high growth in visitor numbers from the region with a 21 percent y-
Moreover the UK especially London offers a full range of activities according to Brayshaw who observed that the Middle Eastern guest is increasingly organised with the time spent in the capital and one who enjoys combining a variety of activities ldquoPopular activities in-clude sending children to summer schools in Regentrsquos Park attending business meetings visiting property shopping for the latest trends and enjoying the rich va-riety of entertainment that London has to offer Families often use managers to organise their time with London Hilton on Park Lanersquos hotel management working di-rectly with guests to assistrdquo she further noted
Moreover Travelodge one of the UKrsquos leading hotel brands is set to benefit from a GBP223 million (USD341 million) brand investment with the opening of 14 new hotels which includes two properties in Spain the creation of 420 new jobs and the launch-ing of a new room concept which has been designed by its customers ldquoThis capital expenditure will help us to grow our business strengthen our product offer-ing and make Travelodge the best value hotel chain in the UKrdquo Grant Hearn CEO Travelodge revealed
ldquoAs part of this yearrsquos investment we have worked with our customers to create a new Travelodge room which offers more comfort quality and stylerdquo he contin-ued adding that this enhanced product combined with economy pricing will ensure Travelodge is the smart choice for leisure and business travellers
Furthermore in order to help attract new custom-ers Travelodge is also investing over GBP12 million (USD 182 million) in digital and online marketing this year as well as over GBP1 million (USD15 million) in a website refresh later this year
London
22 EXCLUSIVE Luxury Travel
MARCH 2013
Living the DreamLuxury travel is all about mak-ing guests feel unique and privi-leged It is about offering them the chance to get to know the world in extravagance and having them live above the ordinary It is about spoiling them with opulent travel and hospitality services something which is without doubt growing in size and quality
I n late December 2012 the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) released its Travel Trends Report 2013 developed in collaboration with UKrsquos Foreign and Commonwealth Office pre-dicting that consumers will continue to look for
good value in breaks for this year rather than cut back on their holidays
Mark Tanzer CEO ABTA stated that the majority of British holidaymakers are reluctant to give up their annual holiday under any circumstances while strong forward bookings for the luxury and all-inclusive sec-tors are being witnessed
Speaking at the 2011 edition of the annual Interna-tional Luxury Travel Market (ILTM)rsquos Ultratravel Forum Chris Sanderson strategy and insight director The Future Laboratory a trend forecasting company had announced predictions stating that the lsquoluxuriansrsquo of the future would not be interested in too much choice ldquoThere is an en-hanced sense of just being todayrsquos luxury consumer rath-er than being surrounded by possessionsrdquo he explained
AUTHENTICALLY PRIVILIGED
Views corroborating Sandersonrsquos were voiced by John McGee research and communications manager Ar-tisans of Leisure a luxury travel company specialis-ing in exclusive customised private tours around the world McGee believes that the primary reason his customers travel is to get authentic experiences that introduce them to the local traditions and people while high-quality hotels encourage them to travel but are not primary incentives further pinpointing the latter as being the interest in experiencing local
culture cuisine history and lifestyle With reference to the Middle East McGee noted
that his agency is intrigued by places like Abu Dhabi and its considered approach to developing new mu-seums and cultural attractions
Defining the demands and needs of luxury trav-ellers as being genuine and local experiences Filip Boyen chief operating officer Orient-Express said ldquoFor luxury tourists travel is not just about lying on a beach or by the pool anymore It is about combining relaxation in a beautiful setting with learning and dis-covery They want to come away with an experience or having learnt something new that they can come home and tell their friends all aboutrdquo
Boyen added that the Middle East is relatively new to the world of tourism a place many will want to discover and consequently this will create a demand for luxury ho-tels already emerging in many parts of the region
Travellers who spend a lot of money for their trip expect and demand the best they need to be cared for in every step of the way while feeling confident that they are dealing with someone experienced to respond to their requests according to Daniel Essex CEO Century Travel who also explained that many luxury travellers are looking for something small and attentive and a much more personal approach
LET US SPOIL YOU
The growing number of luxury hotels and amenities has led to an increased interest with Canadian travel-lers to the Middle East according to Kathy Stewart director of media and public relations Butterfield amp Robinson a Toronto-based agency Aside from authen-ticity she stressed the importance of maintaining the unique qualities of the region for further development
into a luxury destination for global travellers ldquoEspecial-ly North Americans who are travelling a long distance to the Middle East they are not looking for the same experience they can get at home They want Middle Eastern food people landscapes and architecture to be an integral part of the experiencerdquo
Hotel Missoni Kuwait benefits from a healthy lux-ury-demanding domestic market which represents 55 percent of its business followed by Saudi Arabia with 13 percent and the UAE with 10 percent accord-ing to Alfio Bernardini general manager Hotel Mis-soni Kuwait who said ldquo[At the hotel] everything con-tributes to the depth of the experience Hotel Missoni is designed to be genuine and uncomplicated offer-ing those luxury touches that really matter because they genuinely enrich the experience of stayingrdquo
Six Senses Zighy Bay the indigenous village style accommodation in Oman has observed an increase of 12 percent in occupancy levels throughout 2012 while the growth of the Middle East clientele is appar-ent after the development of family-specific offerings attested Guillaume de Lasteyrie executive assistant manager Six Senses Zighy Bay He believes that peace and calm is the most appreciated value of the property while the hotelrsquos offerings are tempting for guests cit-ing the example of the saltwater pool carrying a min-eral composition of 15-20 percent comparable to the Dead Sea whose concentration is 27 percent
Another instance of Arab opulence is Eastern Man-groves Hotel amp Spa by Anantara in Abu Dhabi a prop-erty which assures that luxury is interrelated with in-dulgence across all of its services offered with an acute focus on detail which Nehme Darwiche hotel manag-er Eastern Mangroves Hotel amp Spa by Anantara report-ed is of utter importance Darwiche further supports that the Middle East will not only continue to develop as a luxury destination but will sit on the top of luxury ranks and become a pioneer in such offerings ldquoThe de-mand on luxury products will continue to increase as the tastes of sophisticated societies continues to reach new limits Luxury will not be in big numbers but will be in the power to obtain rarity the Middle East under-stands that very well and the developments planned
Maria Kazeli writes
Hotel Missoni Kuwait
23EXCLUSIVELuxury Travel
MARCH 2013
from now until 2020 have luxury travellers as their tar-getrdquo Darwiche concluded
An upcoming superior property in the region is Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah set to open in May Rudi Jagersbacher president Middle East and Africa Hilton Worldwide explained that the hotel as an up-scale property will have to deliver on two counts experiences and expectations Observing that travel behaviour has changed in the past years and placing emphasis on value for money he further noted ldquo[Wal-dorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah] is palatial exclusive and will offer the highest level of service as well as state-of-the-art amenities but that is not enough We have to ensure that our guests consider their experience as an investment worth repeating and sharingrdquo
The peak of extravagance is reached with a variety of private jet services throughout the region which cater for business and leisure travellers alike Mark Hardman op-erations director ExecuJet Middle East pointed out that the companyrsquos clientele is as diverse as the regionrsquos popu-lation but private aviation offers valued features such as time efficiency security privacy and convenience
He admitted that the most popular destinations for Dubai-based ExecuJet are in the Middle East with Riyadh Jeddah Beirut and Baghdad occupying the top spots while Geneva London and Nice are the favoured European hubs
Similarly Hardy Sohanpal director NasJet agreed that Middle East travellers use private jet services for efficiency flexibility and privacy while he accurately underlined that through emphasising the luxury ben-efits many private jet users build relationships with their key business contacts and staff by giving them access to private aircraft
ON THE RISE
Providing her own view Stewart reiterated that it is important not to overdevelop and retain authenticity of the Arab culture in the region
Along parallel lines Essex believes that the major-ity across the region always had the opinion that big is beautiful but this is not enough he further stressed as the industry professionals in the Middle East need to consider the boutique options However he lauded Abu Dhabirsquos development on Saadiyat Island and the introduction of cultural arts which he believes will at-tract the international and discerning travellers
Boyen deems that the region will experience ad-vancement and will emerge as a luxury destination something he attributes to improved air connectivity ldquoDefinitely with new airline routes from the Middle East launching all the time such as Etihad Airwaysrsquo new routes to Washington and Satildeo Paulo which are
launching this year the destination is bound to de-velop furtherrdquo he continued
Sharing the same opinion that the expansion of airlines and airports lead to such positive develop-ments Bernardini claimed that despite the fact that the Middle East will develop further to become a des-tination for high-calibre tourists not all countries in the region have the capacity and the stability to do so However he further explained a few hotspots will enjoy this blessing due to the money available in this part of the world which will result in the building of super high-quality hotels and thus attract a good number of luxury travellers
De Lasteyrie pointed out that even though the region was under the spotlight for some time the future will see even greater lavish suggestions and-maintaining that ldquoThe Middle East has been since years a luxury destination to the eyes of many though the pinnacle of luxury is yet to come Smaller and personalised service hotels and resorts from around the world are now willing to implement themselves in untouched locations creating a new momentum Much of the Middle East is still in the first tiers of luxu-ry based on opulent luxury and the glitz and glamour that first come with wealth We are now beginning to see affluent luxury and more distinguished spending on art collectibles and sustainabilityrdquo
24 SPECIAL REPORT Waterparks
MARCH 2013
In for a RideWaterparks are a popular attraction among locals and tourist in the Middle East With promising weather throughout most of the year waterparks offer visitors a fun family outing in addition to an array of promotions and events Travel Trade Monthly explores what makes waterparks the perfect attraction
F rom fun rides food and beverage outlets and retail offerings to gaming outlets and social events waterparks offer a safe fun and friendly environment for the family groups and events planners from all walks of life
Wild Wadi Waterpark Dubai is a good example whose team is committed to providing a fun-filled service that will make a lasting impression according to Chris Perry general manager Wild Wadi Waterpark who added that there is a major focus on using every opportunity to ensure that the guestsrsquo decision to visit is rewarded with plenty of time to play less time to queue and more time on the rides
Meanwhile Ice Land Water Park Ras Al Khaimah is receiving full promotional support from the emir-atersquos government and especially by its tourism body this according to Vagelyn Federico deputy director Ice Land Waterpark who added that it has been high-lighted as one of the major destinations in the UAE by all concerned tourism entities
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is the latest entry into the regionrsquos proliferating world of waterparks and accord-ing to Mike Oswald general manager Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi it rivals the worldrsquos best waterparks offering 43 rides slides and attractions ldquoIt has been an incredible journey to this point and unbelievably satisfying to watch the peoplersquos reaction to what has been created We are
support of the tourism body in Ras Al Khaimahrdquo Federico stated
In the summer major visitors to the waterpark hail from Asia as well as locally whereas during the winter months the CIS market plays a big role in pro-moting the park with its tourists in the UAE
In order to boost visitor arrivals to the waterpark Federico pointed out that during the winter the team is currently working for a family barbecue night with some other attractions to lure in more families
Moreover she indicated that the months ahead seem even more vibrant as she further demonstrated ldquoThis year will be more promising as we strengthened our ties with more travel operators inbound and out-bound Additionally we are currently working with dif-ferent airlines travel operators hotels and other tour-ism entities to promote Ice Land giving them also more benefits in promoting us to different market segmentsrdquo
Giving something more to visitors the water-parkrsquos team is currently working with skilled games and other dry rides for people to enjoy at the facility after park operations ldquoWe are also a preferred venue for concerts as we have the perfect place to accom-modate up to 6000 people in one area Ice Land Wa-ter Park is just one of the offerings of WOWRAK and we are currently working with other expansions such as resorts ice skating cinema complex hypermarket and other amusement activities which are planned to open in the next few yearsrdquo concluded Federico
Likewise Perry also announced continuous growth over the years for Wild Wadi Waterpark with 2012 prov-ing very successful He attributed this achievement to events such as ladies nights Ramadan nights and the new Jumeirah Sceirah which launched in September 2012 having proved to be a favourite amongst thrill seekers whereby one drops through a trap door from a height of 32m into the waiting water tunnel and races down the slide at 80km per hour
ldquoWe aim for this trend to continue this year as we have a variety of new attractive promotions and events to suit all our guestsrsquo needsrdquo Perry further in-formed ldquoWe also launched our online ticketing system this month to offer faster entry to our guestsrdquo he added guaranteeing guests with a faster entry process allow-ing all those with a printed ticket to jump the queue
Wild Wadi Waterpark is open all year round and ca-ters to guests from all over the world ldquoDuring the hot summer months (May-October) most of our guests come from the GCC countries whereby during the colder season (November-April) our guests are mainly from Europe
ldquoThe park is also a popular destination for UAE resi-dents since we periodically offer discounts to all resi-dents as well as annualseason passes that allow them to visit as many times as they want for a cheaper raterdquo he said
Perry also pointed out that during the month of May the waterpark offers its very popular family-only mornings every Friday at discounted rates so that they can enjoy the full facilities of the park when it is not too busy and of course when it is more safe and secure a factor which he assured is of the highest priority
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi
Dominique Christou writes
confident that people will have seen nothing like it before and we look forward to the waves of visitors expected to arrive now that the park is officially openrdquo
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi which inaugurated on January 19 is built around a central character named Dana whose crew won the battle in its quest to re-store a pearl to its rightful place which has ensured prosperity to the mythical Emirati village and marked what is expected to be a successful start to Yas Water-world Abu Dhabirsquos commercial operations
Set across 15ha on Yas Island the park offers thrills for the whole family and visitors will experience fun and adventure on rides and attractions such as the worldrsquos longest fastest tornado waterslide the regionrsquos first looping waterslide and the worldrsquos first interactive water and laser rollercoaster According to Oswald Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is expected to welcome a total of 700000 in its first year of operation
CALLING ALL THRILL SEEKERS
During 2012 waterparks across the region expe-rienced a healthy increase in visitors across a variety of markets
ldquoThe waterpark performed better in 2012 compared to our first year in 2011 when it comes to statistics in vari-ous nationalities locally and internationally through the
26 INVESTIGATION
MARCH 2013
Visiting Friends amp Relatives
Maria Kazeli writes
T he annual review for 2011 by the World Travel amp Tourism Council (WTTC) attributes social and cultural benefits to tourism indicating that the industry directly helps to keep or bring families and social networks together
With special regards to the visiting friends and relatives (VFR) segment the review supports that a significant proportion of all international trips which reaches up to a third of all arrivals for some large de-veloped markets are made in order to visit friends andor relatives
Globalisation has caused people to spread all over the globe but returning back home occasion-ally is a necessity The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) draws direct links between migration and travelling to visit relatives and in the 2009 Executive Summary entitled Tourism and Migration ndash Explor-
year in review which covers up to September 2012 reveals that the highest figures for the VFR segment appeared in January 2012 with 267 percent of 47610 incoming tourists being reported as VFR
Egyptrsquos outbound travel market linked to VFR oc-cupies a major part of business for travel agencies Feryal El Gohary general manager Bahi Travel ex-plained adding that almost half of the agencyrsquos cli-entele are VFR She also expressed the view that this market is a growing force for airlines and hoteliers alike while the latter she pinpointed will succeed only if they create a new strategy of very advanta-geous attractive long-stay offers
Tarek Moshref managing director Pronto Tours an Egypt-based tour operator supported that the VFR market is the third largest segment after holiday and business and for this reason local travel agents and operators should improve their services in order to capture and develop its potential by offering new options and programmes
Stressing the cost-driven aspect of the VFR mar-ket Adel Taha general manager leisure travel Kimidar Tours an Egyptian travel agency destination manage-ment company and ground handler said that VFR travellers aim at low travel expenditures in order to spend their money on leisure activities at the destina-tion and not on transportation With regards to the accommodation factor he added ldquoMost of the travel-lers whether leisure or VFR would tend to seek hotel accommodation in order to benefit from services pro-vided such as room cleaning and meals instead of self-served apartments However we can say they still seek low-cost accommodations with some specificationsrdquo
VFR IN THE SKIES
Commenting on the results of the British CAArsquos study Harry Bush group director economic regulation UK CAA had said that air travel played a key role in enabling peoplersquos relocating principally through the emergence of low-cost air travel and that the result-ing VFR passengers are increasingly important con-sumers of air travel According to an aviation analysis report by CAPA - Centre for Aviation a provider of independent aviation market intelligence the Mid-dle Eastern low-cost carriers are trying to adapt their model to the regional situation with their higher den-sity configurations targeting migrant workers and VFR traffic flows from North Africa and South Asia into the Gulf region
Major airlines have taken this trend into consid-eration and cater for this market by tailoring their offers Paolo De Renzis area commercial manager Middle East and Central Asia British Airways said ldquoThe VFR segment is extremely important to British Airways particularly in the Middle East where a large number of our customers are VFR travellers This is a region where families are extremely close and this tight-knit family culture means that we see a lot of VFR traffic across our Middle Eastern routes We also have a large expat community in the UAE which con-tributes significantly to this segmentrdquo
Unconventional TravellersMany prefer to spend their holiday visiting their friends and relatives in their home country if they are expa-triates or some other destination in order to spend time with their loved ones The focus of the travel is not cultural sightseeing and luxury ac-commodation but low airfare and budget lodgings
ing the Relationship between Two Global Phenomena compiled by UNWTO the two concepts are analysed by stressing that growth in international tourism and mobility has given rise to tourism-led migration with examples including the movement of male labourers from South Asia to meet the construction demands of the tourism boom in the UAE
The research states that migration has led directly and indirectly to significant growth in tourism to both origin and destination countries through increased visibility especially in the VFR sector and to the de-velopment of new tourism infrastructure and trans-port routes in and between countries
UKrsquos Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) also lays empha-sis on the importance of the specific market having published an in-depth study on air passengers visiting friends or family The investigation report titled Interna-tional Relations ndash The Growth in Air Travel to Visit Friends or Relatives indicated that the robust growth in VFR re-flected trends such as labour mobility and migration while predicting that due to these trends the countryrsquos GDP will affect future VFR passenger traffic
VISITING MENA
At the 6th UNWTOPacific Asia Travel Association Fo-rum on Tourism Trends and Outlook held in October 2012 in China it was revealed that 36 percent of the Middle Eastrsquos outbound market constitutes the VFR segment
Some insights on inbound VFR trends concern-ing the hotel industry in the region were provided by Darroch Crawford managing director Middle East and Africa Premier Inn Hotels who highlighted that this market is highly important but also very difficult to measure as bookings of this nature come through different channels His estimations on guests travel-ling to visit family members in the region and residing in Premier Inn properties amount to seven percent of the total clientele Crawford further indicated that the largest Middle Eastern feeder markets for the brand are Lebanon Syria and Jordan
Meanwhile in Saudi Arabia domestic tourism has been the primary focus of tourism development pol-icy in the Kingdom and according to Saudi Tourism Outlook issued by the Tourism Information and Re-search Centre part of Saudi Commission for Tourism amp Antiquities which analyses July 2012rsquos figures the local segment contributed to 114 million overnight trips in the month under review out of which 398 percent hailed from the VFR segment In addition 293 percent of the 171 million outbound trips taken from Saudi Arabia during July 2012 were categorised as the VFR market
The Statistical Service of Cyprus disclosed that ac-cording to the latest data available concerning Sep-tember 2012 the island received 335352 visitors out of which 97 percent were VFR The same data for the
28 WHOS MOVED
MARCH 2013
ANDREW ABRAM
KONSTANTINOS KOUROTSIDIS
Andrew Abram has been named general manager at Raffles Dubai Abram joins the propertyrsquos team from Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group where over the past dec-ade he has held various positions He joined the company in 2003 as resident manager of The Excelsior Hotel Hong Kong and went on to lead the renovation and reopen-ing of Mandarin Oriental Jakarta holding the role of general man-ager for eight years He most re-cently served as general manager
of Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhavi in Chiang Mai Thailand Having also held the position of corporate director of sales and marketing at Jumeirah Group in the Middle East where he was responsible for the branding and launching of several projects Abram brings an insiderrsquos knowl-edge to Raffles Dubai
Konstantinos Kourotsidis has been named general manager at Radisson Blu Martinez Hotel Beirut Kourotsidis started his career in the hospitality industry in 1996 in food and beverage at Copthorne Hotel Hanover In 2000 he joined The Rezidor Ho-tel Group where he held various positions across Europe and the Middle East including at Radis-son Blu Hotel Hanover Radission
Blu Hotel amp Spa Galway Radisson Blu Resort Schloss Fleesensee Radisson Blu Resort El Quseir Radisson Blu Hotel Alexandria and Radisson Blu Resort Sharjah After several task force assign-ments in Egypt Libya and UAE Kourotsidis was promoted to general manager at Radisson Blu Al Mahary Hotel Tripoli Most re-cently he worked as acting gen-eral manager at Radisson Blu Re-sort Fujairah
Abram brings an insiderrsquos knowledge to
Raffles Dubai
MARCH 2013
30 TRAVEL TALK
MARCH 2013
LEON SALINEL
WAEL EL BEHI
KARIM NAHAS
Executive assistant manager of sales and marketing Dusit Thani Dubai
General manager Ramada Downtown Dubai
General managar Rose Rayhaan by Rotana
ldquo2012 was a very successful year for us We were not only successful in meeting our key performance indicators most notably by exceeding both our gross operating profit and gross operating revenue Working with Inves-tors in People throughout the year also ensured that we performed highly in our employee satisfaction survey we even ranked at the top of our group in this regards [hellip] We are now drawing to a close on our rooms renovation and have just welcomed our new general manager so it is an exciting year to come for us which will see some changerdquo
ldquoI am very pleased to be appointed as executive board mem-ber [of the Tunisian Business Council] I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress in [the cur-rent year] I hope to play a part in creating strong community bound by camaraderie accord and reliance among Tunisian nationals in the UAErdquo
ldquo2012 was a record year for Rose Rayhaan total revenue growth was almost 17 percent versus 2011 [hellip] The hotel continued to focus on the GCC markets with the Saudi market on the top list and strong performance of the UK France and Russian markets were witnessed UAE local market in both leisure and corporate seg-ments also performed very well We are planning to fo-cus on new emerging markets like South Africa Brazil and Turkey Competition will be indeed stiffen this year however I guess there will be business for everybodyrdquo
I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress
TRAVEL TALK IS YOUR SPACE ndash 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
editorialtraveltradeweeklytravel
trav
el t
alk
is
y
our
spac
e
31RENDEZVOUS
MARCH 2013
Q amp A with Rana El KhouryWith her recent appointment Rana El Khoury general manager Le Gray Beirut became one of Lebanonrsquos first women to hold such a high position at a five-star hotel and here she shares her views on the future prospects of the Lebanese hotel sector
Rana El KhouryGeneral manager Le Gray Beirut
Travel Trade Monthly How would you describe 2012 in a few words Rana El Khoury The best way to describe 2012 would certainly be lsquochallengingrsquo a challenge that could be called survival until we see better days Controlling costs while maintaining superior ser-vice quality and competitiveness is key to our con-tinuous success in the Lebanese market The hotel performance could be rated as fair for 2012 greatly impacted by high level of business during the first five months of the year This has allowed us to stay ahead of the game for the remainder of the year although November 2012 was the toughest month since the opening of the hotel in 2009 Despite all Le Gray has managed in 2012 to retain its number one position in occupancy and RevPAR in the Leba-nese market
Travel Trade Monthly The hotel will soon em-bark on a major extension project Tell us a little bit about this
Rana El Khoury Le Gray is preparing to kick off its extension that will include a larger lobby with a lob-by lounge a chocolate room banquet space a 35-seat movie theatre and an additional 18 rooms The project should reach completion by end of 2014
Travel Trade Monthly Prior to your appoint-ment you served as hotel manager How does your new position differ from your former role
Rana El Khoury My previous position as hotel manager was focused on the operations aspect of the hotel as general manager my responsibilities enclose a more general view of the hotel including the administrative and strategic side of the hotel as well as the link between the owning company and management company
My priorities for the coming year is diversify-ing our target markets on the international and local scene to maximise hotel occupancy and to strengthen the positioning of Le Gray on the lo-cal market as a destination for its restaurants and bars whilst building on the existing strong team at Le Gray and getting the right people together to move forward with positivity and vigilance to counter these challenging times
The advice I would give young women ready to climb the corporate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the dif-ferent positions they fill throughout their careers
Travel Trade Monthly Your appointment makes you one of the first Lebanese women to hold this position at a five-star hotel How challenging is it to hold such a high position at an already well-established hotel
Rana El Khoury The hospitality industry is very challenging and requires sacrifice on all levels What I can say is that women have their own speci-ficity and they can bring a different vision and new perspectives to the hospitality business The advice I would give young women ready to climb the cor-porate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the different positions they fill throughout their careers this can only make them stronger and certainly more cred-ible when they reach executive level positions
Travel Trade Monthly Over the past few years the Lebanese tourism industry has faced a num-ber of serious challenges What are your expec-tations for the current year Rana El Khoury Lebanon has always been a pre-ferred destination attracting tourists from the Arab and Gulf countries and with increasing stability and security we do see a solid recovery
Given the complexity of the Lebanese market improvement can occur overnight As seen in May 2008 following the Doha-agreement occupancy rates jumped back then from 30 to 90 percent within one week
This year remains uncertain due to the volatil-ity of the political situation in the region the key is to remain sustainable and be ready for the sudden surge in business
Le Gray Beirut
32 NEWS amp EVENTS
MARCH 2013
EVENTS Sponsored by
Following a refurbishment to better present the historical phases of the emiratersquos auto manu-facturing sector Sharjah Classic Cars Museum originally launched in 2008 by HH Sheikh Sul-tan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi ruler of Sharjah reopened in January by Sheikh Essam bin Saqr Al Qassimi chairman Sharjah rulerrsquos office
On the opening day of the event Manal Ataya director general Sharjah Museums Department said ldquoThe aim of refurbishing this museum was to allow us to re-evaluate the previous design and interpretation and improve it significantlyrdquo
She further pointed out that the museum now helps visitors to appreciate the aesthetic and historical value of classic cars in a space that inte-grates a new childrens interactive area and a gal-lery space for temporary exhibitions
The museum boasts 85 classic cars two mo-torcycles and five bicycles as well as a model of an old car and an engine to allow visitors to familiarise themselves with parts of an engine and their function while it is divided into five sections and features an area for activities and interactive games
Following the launch of the UAE branch of the Airline Owners and Pi-lotsrsquo Association (AOPA) at Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2012 Yousif Al Hammadi president AOPA UAE has invited representatives from international AOPA branches to attend a workshop dedicated to discussing and debating gen-eral aviation issues in the region
The meeting the first of its kind will run parallel to this yearrsquos Abu Dhabi Air Expo and will take place at the Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies Al Bateen Executive Airport on March 6
It is anticipated that up to 30 representatives from AOPA US AOPA UK AOPA Germany and AOPA France will meet with their colleagues from the UAE during the one-day event to share knowledge and debate a variety of topics including air space regulations aerial non-commercial operations certification and maintenance issues and pilot licensing
AOPA members will also be able to maximise their time by attending the Air Expo exhibition the Middle Eastrsquos only dedicated general aviation event to meet pilots from the region and learn about the latest trends
Sharjah Reopens Car Museum AOPA UAE to Hold Meeting with International Colleagues
ITB BerlinBerlin Germany March 6 ndash 10 2013(wwwitb-berlinde)A business-to-business platform for trade visitors which provides the possibility to discover the whole world within a few hours
MITT MoscowMoscow Russia March 20 ndash 23 2013(wwwmittru)Russiarsquos leading and largest travel exhibition with over 3000 participat-ing companies and 197 destinations a key meeting place for industry professionals
The Gulf Incentive Business Travel amp Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) Abu Dhabi UAE March 25 ndash 27 2013(wwwgibtmcom)A leading event for the meetings incentives and business travel industry in the GCC region which can truly unlock all participantsrsquo business potential
Saudi Travel amp Tourism Investment Market (STTIM)Riyadh Saudi Arabia March 31 ndash April 4 2013(wwwsttimcomsa)The event covers all travel and tourism investments aspects in the Kingdom through a combined conference and exhibition
International Destination Expo (IDE)Dubai UAE April 4 ndash 7 2013(wwwastaorgevents)Organised by the American Society of Travel Agents IDE is a destination training programme where participants can meet local suppliers and built profitable long-lasting relationships
Arabian Travel Market (ATM)Dubai UAE May 6 ndash 9 2013(wwwarabiantravelmarketcom)The travel and tourism event unlocking business potential within the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals
Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies
5VIEWAirports
MARCH 2013
erating officer Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) Similarly today Jordanrsquos Queen Alia International
Airport (QAIA) caters to more passengers and airlines than ever with 40 carriers operating via the airport during the summer peak revealed Kjeld Binger CEO Airport International Group (AIG) reporting that 2012 marked another record-breaking year for QAIA with passenger traffic exceeding six million for the first time
Beirutrsquos Rafic Hariri International Airport welcomed over 596 million travellers compared to 560 million in 2011 Bahrain International Airport posted a 88 percent year-on-year growth with passenger numbers amount-ing to 848 million while Muscat International Airport also reached a new height after greeting over 75 mil-lion passengers for the first time in the airportrsquos history
Erbil International Airport (EIA) registered a 53 percent year-on-year improvement with passenger numbers hitting 947600 bringing the total number of travellers at the airport since the inauguration of the new terminal in September 2010 to 17 million The robust growth as Andrew Jones adviser com-mercial department communications and market-ing EIA explained is down to the proven link and relationship between economic development and airports ldquoThe economy here is growing fuelled by oil and gas bonanza hence traffic demand growsrdquo
THE BIGGER THE BETTER
Backed by heavy investments the regionrsquos aviation sector is vigorously working to develop collaborative policies in a quest to turn airports into the backbone of economic growth and foster their competitiveness on the global level
Jordan is gearing up for the opening of the new QAIA which as Binger explained was intuitively de-signed to match the worldrsquos leading airports in terms of traveller experience
ldquoThis new QAIA terminal will significantly increase the airportrsquos capacity [from 35 million passengers] to nine million passengers Future expansions which will be carried out as needed will allow the airport to reach a capacity of 12 million passengers per yearrdquo informed Binger
AIG has invested an estimated USD750 million in the construction of this landmark terminal in ad-dition to USD100 million that has been spent for the rehabilitation of the ailing facilities
ldquoIn launching the new terminal we will be clos-ing and demolishing the [previous] terminals to make way for further developments The opening of the new terminal and the subsequent closing of the old ones marks the most crucial milestone in the air-port development project since its opening in 1983rdquo stressed Binger who described the construction of the new terminal as a lsquonational projectrsquo which is set to bolster not only the Kingdomrsquos aviation industry but the nationrsquos economy as a whole
Heralding a new chapter in Qatarrsquos aviation indus-try Hamad International Airport formerly known as New Doha International Airport is set to welcome the first commercial flights on April 1 As HE Abdul Aziz
Al Noaimi chairman Qatar Civil Aviation Authority revealed the first phase of the USD155 billion project will involve 12 international airlines including low-cost carriers while Qatar Airways the operator of the airport will move its entire operations to the new facilities in the second half of the year The world-class airport as Al Noaimi noted will firmly put the country on the global stage and will accommodate 28 million passengers an-nually increasing to 50 million beyond 2015
ldquoThis will be a world-class facility that promises to propel our nation further on the international stagerdquo com-mented Akbar Al Baker CEO Qatar Airways stressing that the lsquostoryrsquo certainly will not end here
After handling over 576 million travellers in 2012 Dubai International is to soon approach its original ca-pacity of 60 million passengers per annum as Zaigham pinpointed adding that the timing of the opening of Concourse A in January was no coincidence as the new facility lifts the airportrsquos capacity to 75 million
ldquoWith 20 contact gates all capable of handling the superjumbo Concourse A will be home to Emir-atesrsquo fleet of A380s from where passengers will con-nect to more than 20 Emirates A380 destinations around the worldrdquo explained Zaigham saying that by 2020 Dubai Internationalrsquos passenger volume is expected to soar to 985 million In comparison traf-fic at London Heathrow the worldrsquos busiest airport for international passen-gers was close to 70 mil-lion in 2012
Within the next few years 20 million people are expected to be han-dled by Abu Dhabi Inter-national Airport therefore the construction of the 700000m2 Midfield Termi-nal Building (MTB) slated for completion by 2017 and the overall redevelop-ment and expansion of the airport forms a vital part in the governmentrsquos Abu Dhabi 2030 vision Located between the two runways the x-shaped complex will feature a full terminal building passenger and cargo facilities extensive duty-free area as well as food and beverage outlets and will cater to 27 - 40 mil-lion passengers annually
Kuwait Airports has also outlined plans to ex-pand the airportrsquos capacity from six million passengers to 20 million passengers per year and establish the airport as a major passen-ger and cargo hub The multi-billion project will
include a new USD3 billion terminal equipped with the latest technology as well as an additional USD3 billion to widen the runways enhance the control tower and build a new one as well as set up a new cargo facility
In Oman the new terminal at Muscat Internation-al Airport designed to handle 12 million passengers is scheduled for completion by 2014 with further ex-pansions planned in three subsequent phases which will ultimately bring the annual capacity to 24 36 and 48 million passengers At Salalah Airport where passenger volume exceeded the 06 million mark for the first time in 2012 the new terminal will increase capacity to one million once it becomes operational in 2014 with the design allowing further expansion to cater for two and later on six million passengers
Saudi Arabia is also planning to issue bonds to fund construction work at King Abdul Aziz Interna-tional Airport in Jeddah increasing its capacity to 30 million passengers as well as at King Khaled Airport in Riyadh Due for completion by April 2014 Basra Inter-national Airportrsquos upgrade will allow for safer landings and increased flights during the night and poor weath-er conditions further enhancing Iraqrsquos air connectivity
Bahrain Airports also plans to extend the pas-senger terminal at Bahrain International as part of an USD1 billion overhaul project which will bring capac-ity from the current nine million to 135 million
6 VISIT Egypt
MARCH 2013
W orld Tourism Organization (UNWTO)rsquos World Tourism Barometer released in January has shown that the sub-region of North Africa alongside Southeast Asia recorded the largest
increase in arrivals in 2012 swelling nine percent high-ly attributed to Tunisiarsquos and Egyptrsquos strong rebounds of 33 percent and 15 percent respectively following on 2011rsquos declines
Moreover UNWTOrsquos World Tourism Barometer November 2012 edition stated that North Africarsquos inbound tourism figures grew 102 percent between January and August over the corresponding months in 2011 a period during which the regionrsquos arrivals dropped 91 percent over 2010 results
The study further indicated that during 2012 North Africa regained the lead over advanced des-tinations thanks to certain countries such as Egypt whose increase in incoming international tourist numbers during the eight-month stretch reflected
a consolidation in figures of 20 percent following 2011rsquos 32 percent deterioration
Meanwhile in June 2012 Business Monitor In-ternational (BMI) issued a preliminary study enti-tled Egypt Tourism Report Q3 2012 with reference to the countryrsquos tourism prospects through to 2016 considering important issues which had been fac-ing the sector since the outbreaks of large-scale un-rest rocked Egypt in 2011 stating that it anticipated strong recovery in 2012 if these occurrences were to continue decreasing in frequency throughout the third quarter (Q3) and finally through to the end of the year under review
On a conclusive note during the first nine months of 2012 Egypt drew in a double-digit increase of 13 per-cent in tourism receipts according to the study while Magdi Gamil director of sales and marketing Fairmont Nile City Towers stated that some 81 million tourists vis-ited the country between January and September with 96 million overnight stays reported in Egyptian hotels injecting some USD10 billion into the economy
ldquoTourism is a vital pillar of the national economy representing 113 percent of Egyptrsquos GDP and 17 per-
cent of its foreign currency reserves in addition to 126 percent of the total manpower of the state with four million people directly employed in the industryrdquo Gamil explicated revealing that by the end of 2012 Egypt had welcomed 11 million tourists all-in-all
ldquoThis number is anticipated to reach 14 million this year with the Ministry of Tourism hoping for USD13 billion in tourism-generated incomeldquo he fur-ther revealed
REMAINING AFLOAT
The countryrsquos hotel sector saw healthy indications of improvement towards the end of 2012 according to data compiled by STR Global which had presented an escalation in occupancy levels of 245 percent
Stefanie Saghbini writes
ETERNAL ELEMENTS OF SURPRISE As the world watches over Egypt waiting to see what the future holds for a country submerged in ancient heritage profoundly resonant throughout its vast and deeply historical setting peppered with contemporary develop-ments tourists are steadily beginning to return to the land of genial promises
EGYPT IN BRIEF
Capital Cairo
Currency Egyptian Pound (EGP)
Language Arabic
Temple of Kom Ombo
Avenue of Human-headed Sphinxes
8 VISIT Egypt
MARCH 2013
reaching 456 percent in December 2012 reporting the largest increase in the Middle East
Meanwhile TRI Hospitality Consultingrsquos HotStats MENA Chain Hotel Market Review November 2012 a study on full-serviced hotels stated that while Sharm El Sheikh witnessed the highest occupancy rates Cairo posted record profits since the 2011 revolu-tion According to the survey the capitalrsquos hospitality segment showed signs of full recovery in the month under review registering a 743 percent increase in gross operating profit per available room (GOPPAR) to USD7175 while RevPAR grew 323 percent to USD6427 driven by a 143 percentage point improve-ment in occupancy to 55 percent masking the two percent decline in average room rate (ARR)
These results can be highly accredited to the re-gional market which proved somewhat irrepressible in the face of the unrest and whose commitment to Egypt could be seen in BMIrsquos revised growth fore-cast and views on total tourism nights recorded for the fourth quarter of 2012 which was said to reach around 24 percent y-o-y from the previous estima-tion of 15 percent
Marten Schwass general manager Kempinski Nile Hotel also noticed this changing trend describ-ing the locals and in particular the hotels of Cairo as resilient which throughout the past 12 months re-
lied on local business to bolster revenues while he added travellers were rescheduling trips around pe-riods of instability
Gamil also reported that during 2012 Fairmont Nile City Towersrsquo top three contributors to the prop-ertyrsquos clientele base hailed from Egypt itself followed by Saudi Arabia and Lebanon while in 2011 Egypt and Saudi Arabia also claimed first and second spot while the US followed in third
Analogous to Schwassrsquo view on the changing tourism trend across the capital Peter Goddard man-aging director TRI Hospitality Consulting Dubai also indicated that recovery in Cairo is evident albeit still suffering to a certain extent ldquoThe Cairo market has been resilient to continuous political upheaval with hotels in the city demonstrating that they have recov-ered as performance indicators return to pre-revolu-tion levelsrdquo he explained
Gamil affirmed his tenacity to claim his slice of the pie ldquoDespite the political unrest and recent clashes in Cairorsquos Tahrir Square inbound tourism appears to be on the rise and we will be keen to grab every opportu-nity that is out there to make it happenrdquo he asserted
A PROMINENT DESTINATION
A good example of the capitalrsquos buoyancy can be seen in the end-of-2012 re-sults of Fairmont Heli-opolis amp Towers which witnessed slight signs of recovery and progressed slowly in 2012 versus 2011 this according to Noha Mansour director of marketing and public relations Fairmont He-liopolis amp Towers Cairo who announced increas-ing y-o-y occupancy rates of seven percent and a y-o-y rise in Rev-PAR of 13 percent
With regards to feeder markets in 2011 Mansour listed Egyptian guests as the propertyrsquos most popular guests which she underlined generated the largest number of room nights than any other national-ity Following the local segment were Germa-ny Italy Morocco UK France and the US Man-sour continued adding that in 2012 the top six countries ranked based on room nights were Libya Germany Africa Italy UK and the US
In addition Kempinski Nile Hotel also remained on top of its league and in particular among the luxury segment during 2012 this according to Sch-wass who registered an increased number of visitors from the UK a market he described as traditional and which signals positive growth for this year
With regards to the hotelrsquos strongest contributors Schwass listed the GCC UK and US as top three stat-ing that a drop in overall number of visitors since the revolution has been witnessed however he contin-ued these three key markets have recently been re-covering and in terms of occupancy year-to-date the property remains in second place among its competi-tors in Cairo
ldquoAdditionally the business segment has been booming and we have attracted an increased flow of business visitors from Turkey and Korea The hotel recently hosted the Turkish government delegation and HE the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs as well as large groups of corporate visitors from East Asiardquo he further explained also confirming that the propertyrsquos social events are always well-attended making the ho-tel a meeting point for local socialites and dignitaries
InterContinental Cairo Citystars also recently hosted high-ranking officials from Malaysia which included Najib Razak prime minister of Malaysia and Anifah Aman minister of foreign affairs Malaysia alongside a group of businessmen and media repre-sentatives from the country
Upon his arrival to the hotel Razak was welcomed by Simon Stamper area general manager InterConti-nental Cairo Citystars InterContinental Residence Suites Cairo Citystars Holiday Inn Cairo Citystars and Stay-bridge Suites Cairo Citystars as well as Ibrahim Nashaat general manager InterContinental Cairo Citystars
ROUND THE CORNER
Revealing his forecasts for this year Gamil is antici-pating a breakdown of 37 percent in leisure travel 28 percent in corporate guests and 18 percent in groups for Fairmont Nile City Towers with expected room nights for the year to reach 75932 average oc-cupancy levels at 412 percent and average room rate fetching in EGY75232 (USD11174) The top three tar-geted nationalities for this year remain the local mar-ket as well as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait he revealed
Commenting on the upcoming developments Gamil said ldquoAlso opening soon is the Casino at Fair-mont Nile City that is built on an area of 850m2 and has top line machines including five Roulette five Black Jack five Poker one three-card Poker one Ponto Banko and over 30 digital slot machines The Casino has a VIP room that includes one Roulette one Poker and one Black Jack tablesrdquo
He also mentioned the recently-unveiled state-of-the-art Presidential Suite which he further informed is fashioned with contemporary elegant art deco furnishings offering what he described as the ulti-mate in urban chic ldquoIt is spacious comprising a bed-room two living rooms a dining area a kitchenette an office a butlersecretary bedroom and an open
9VISITEgypt
MARCH 2013
Lan Tania Fairmont Heliopolis amp Towers
concept bathroom [hellip] All suites feature high speed Internet access an interactive TV and complimentary coffee and tea Presidential Suite guests are provided with a personal butler for unrivalled comfortldquo
Mansour is also eyeing a positive year ahead with an increase in occupancy of 13 percent and an upsurge in RevPAR by 22 percent highly dependent as she inserted on the countryrsquos political and security stability The main targeted markets for the year re-main the propertyrsquos six leading contributors in 2012 Libya Germany Africa Italy UK and the US as well as the rest of Europe and the Middle East Mansour further informed
Urs Umbricht general manager Maritim Jolie Ville Kings Island Luxor also placed a strong emphasis on the reliance on the countryrsquos situation when stating his predictions for the year however his estimates seem somewhat optimistic with a modest surge in occupan-cy of five percent a slight boost in ARR of three per-cent and RevPAR growth of three percent for Maritim Jolie Ville Kings Island Luxor with all European North and South American Middle Eastern and local mar-kets high on the targeted list for the property
For Dina Naeem area director of public relations Egypt Starwood Hotels amp Resorts Worldwide the year is looking to be very positive for the hotel giant across all its propertyrsquos throughout the country as she com-mented adding that as an emerging market located at the nexus of the rapidly growing Africa and Middle East region it is expected that the country will stabi-lise in the second half of year
ldquoStarwood is expecting to see a growth in tourism to Egypt over the coming year The Starwood hotels in particular are pleased to announce some exciting new openings and renovations to excite both leisure and business travellers [This year] will see the open-ing of Le Meacuteridien Cairo Airport to entrench Star-woodrsquos presence in the capital The hotel is targeted primarily towards the business travellers and will be on an area of 23500m2 Located in front of the arrival passenger Terminal 3 Le Meacuteridien Cairo Airport is at-tached to the [main] building through an inter-con-necting bridge and consists of 330 rooms 19 suites three major restaurants banqueting conferences and meeting rooms in addition to swimming pools green areas health club and ample parking
ldquoTwo Le Meacuteridien hotels [namely] Le Meacuteridien Pyramids and Le Meacuteridien Dahab will open Egyptrsquos first two Explore Spas These are the first branded spas by Le Meacuteridien in Egypt offering a new perspec-tive on spa experience breaking away from how spa is viewed [hellip] The iconic Sheraton Cairo Hotel amp Ca-sino located on the west bank of the Nile River is un-dergoing a total revamp and is also set to open with 656 rooms in quarter four of [the year] The renova-tion which began in 2010 is considered one of the most comprehensive projects [hellip] and is targeted to-wards the discerning leisure traveller as well as busi-ness travellers who are looking for much more than just a business triprdquo she explained Starwood Hotels amp Resorts is also gearing up to open The St Regis Cairo in October 2014
PREPARE FOR THE RED SEA
Further south towards the world-renowned tourist re-gion of the Red Sea the coastal city of Sharm El Sheikh was blessed with the entry of the peak season in No-vember 2012 according to TRI Hospitality Consultingrsquos HotStats MENA Chain Hotel Market Review November 2012 as signs of improvement blos-somed throughout the destination during the month under review
According to the re-port occupancy rates swelled 77 percentage points to 797 percent pushing RevPAR up 54 percent to USD4166 despite a 47 percent decrease in ARR to USD5225 Meanwhile total RevPAR boosted 87 percent to USD7551 securely driven by an in-crease in food and bever-age revenue with GOP-PAR growing 52 percent to USD328
However Goddard believes that hotels in Sharm El Sheikh also ap-pear to be struggling as market-wide rate reduc-tions have negatively impacted financial re-sults ldquoAlthough occu-pancy in the region has increased the slashing of rates has had a dra-matic impact on their
peak seasonrsquos profit marginsrdquo he continuedSimilarly Umbricht highlighted that throughout
many tourist destinations across Egypt there exists an over-offer in hotel rooms which he believes re-sults in the very low pricing and thus is keeping Egypt very competitive against European competitors ldquoOn the other hand this is also resulting in a rate battle amongst the hotels which at the end is not healthy One of the losers will be the ecological and balanced tourism and finally naturerdquo he further underlined
On a positive note Marc Reissigner area general manager InterContinental The Palace Port Ghalib Re-sort Crowne Plaza Sahara Sands Port Ghalib Crowne Plaza Sahara Oasis Port Ghalib and Marian Lodge at Port Ghalib this year expects a 4268 percent in oc-cupancy levels equivalent to an increase of 1236 percent over 2012 with average daily rate to surge USD865 to USD4536 from USD3671 in 2012 This is all considering that MICE organisers place Egypt back into their event calendars according to Reissigner who emphasised that the international MICE market will continue to be one of the propertiesrsquo main targets and remain the number one feeder segment to Marsa Alam Port Ghalib destination
In addition the hotels will also be focusing on the corporate meetings and leisure markets the latter including the underwater adventure snorkelling
10 VISIT Egypt
MARCH 2013
families and romance and couples segments as well as wellbeing Reissigner further informed
ldquoNamed Egyptrsquos leading spa resort [] Six Senses Spa is [the countryrsquos] first on the Red Sea coast and is located among the splendid landscaped gardens lagoons stun-ning architecture and pure luxury of InterContinental The Palace Port Ghalib We have tailor-made a new hon-eymooners emotions experience with an inspired luxury palace of indulgence from the moment of arrival in Port Ghalib our lsquoemotionsrsquo experience takes clients on a jour-ney to the fascinating past blended with luxurious com-fortrdquo he continued
Steigenberger Al Dau Resort also recently celebrat-ed the traditional cornerstone placement of its new five-star Red Sea project Steigenberger Aqua Magic With construction works well underway Steigenberger Aqua Magic owned by Sami Saad Holding is slated for opening towards the end of the year and will operate under the flag of the renowned German hotel group Steigenberger Hotels The resort will run as a family hotel boasting 700 rooms in capacity a large swim-ming pool landscape extensive recreational facilities including its own Splash certified water park and an exclusive entertainment area
Moreover Soma Bay and in particular Kempin-ski Hotel Soma Bay is ready to welcome visitors to a place offering what Schwass described as beauti-
La Reacutesidence des Cascades
[the year] and the country enters an onoff transitional phase the second year post-revolution era is likely to re-sult in slow growth and a gradual return to pre-crisis lev-els by winter 20132014rdquo
However he recommends that anyone and eve-ryone visit Egypt ldquoEveryone must know that whatever happens in Tahrir Square the rest of Cairo and most of all the rest of Egypt and Red Sea are perfectly saferdquo he continued ldquoThis does not mean that the protests are not important but tourism-wise there are no complications at all If there is a demonstration on the same day you are in Cairo and you are concerned about your safety just come and enjoy the sun by the Red Sea Port Ghalib were luxury meets natureldquo
Naeem described Egypt as a safe and attractive tourist destination for international travellers and as-sured that Starwood Hotels amp Resorts Worldwide is committed to actively promoting tourism to the re-gion ldquoIn 2012 Starwood launched a dedicated web-site egypt-hospitalitycom to highlight the history of hospitality and services of all 10 Starwood hotels in the country [hellip] Egypt has culture diversity and stunning beauty which encompasses the countryrsquos history and which are still present todayrdquo
Sharing similar sentiments and reaffirming Star-wood Hotels amp Resorts Worldwidersquos top priority in implementing the hotel grouprsquos recovery campaign Hassan Ahdab vice president Africa and the Indian Ocean Starwood Hotels amp Resorts Worldwide said ldquoIt is very important after the recent events in Egypt that peoplersquos faith and trust in a country which has so much to offer be restored We are convinced that the campaign will make some noise and draw those of our loyal longstanding guests who have been wary of revisiting Egypt back to our resortsrdquo
ldquoOur personal message to travellers planning to visit is come and join usrdquo remarked Sherine Emara marketing manager La Reacutesidence Des Cascades ldquoOur hotels our beaches our golf courses our Cascades Spa and Thalasso our dive centre our wind surfing our kite surfing centre our Soma Bayrsquos Marina Centre with its restaurants and shops are all operational and ready to welcome yourdquo she added
Mansour believes that political and security stability are pre-requisites for tourism as she elaborated ldquoHaving tourism high on our president Mohamed Morsyrsquos agen-da in addition to the new initiatives taken by the ministry to boost tourism we expect tourism to regain its previ-ous position Moreover Egyptrsquos upcoming parliamentary elections will further enhance stability in Egyptrdquo
Tarek Moussa chairman Egypt amp Beyond Travel concurred ldquoStability and safety are the key words for tourists to come back to Egypt and unless the president and government of Egypt get it right and bring back sta-bility tourists will remain in much lower numbers Tour-ism in Egypt is very sick now but it will never dierdquo
Meanwhile Ibrahim Mohamed Ibrahim managing director Perfect Tours stressed that customers looking for the worldrsquos most enjoyable holidays to exotic desti-nations in Egypt and abroad do not have to do a single thing except of course to have a good time the rest he confirmed will be taken care of
ful sandy beaches and year-round sunshine which he informed remain the main attraction for tourists worldwide ldquoBy continuing to offer world-class service to our guests during the past 18 months Kempinski Hotel Soma Bay has also been able to recover from the dip in tourismrdquo he added
Also commenting on the resurgence Stephen Banks director of sales and marketing Africa Moumlven-pick Hotels amp Resorts said ldquoWe have seen occupan-cies steadily rise over the last year with our hotels on the Red Sea performing particularly wellrdquo
He added ldquoIn April this year Moumlvenpick Resort Soma Bay will open with 418 rooms on an unspoiled
stretch of white sandy beach in this increasingly popular destination on the Red Sea In addition Moumlvenpick Hotel amp Re-sort Cairo - Pyramids will open a further 132 rooms with an entirely new building aimed at the upscale business traveller and leisure guest
A PERSONAL MESSAGE
The 2011 revolution has certainly had a significant impact on Egyptrsquos tour-ism industry and this evi-dently continued in 2012 with direct impact on travel accommodation air transportation and tour-ist attractions with value growth rates across the board declining to dou-ble digit levels according to Reissigner who added ldquoOperators introduced heavy discounts in order to lure tourists back and prices remained low at the beginning of 2012 As unrest continues in Egypt with violence erupting again at the beginning of
11EXPLOREDubai
MARCH 2013
Why Dubai
DUBAI IN BRIEF
Country UAE
Currency UAE Dirham (AED)
Language Arabic
Dubairsquos astonishing rise from a small fishing and pearling community to one of the fastest growing metropolises continues to impress and inspire the world Welcome to the land of records and record-breakers where everything imaginable and unimaginable be-comes a reality
H ome to the worldrsquos tallest building largest shopping mall a collection of iconic artificial islands and some of the most instantly-recogniseable sights Dubai has established itself as the city of superlatives which con-tinuously strives for greater heights
Just when you think you have seen it all a new lsquoworldrsquos firstrsquo or lsquoworldrsquos mostrsquo project is announced inspiring visitors to return again and again
Propelled by multi-billion dollar investments in a space of just a few years Dubai has grown into the worldrsquos 13th most popular tourist destination as Euromonitor Internationalrsquos Top 100 Cities Destination Ranking shows far outperforming the likes of Shanghai Rome or Las Vegas
ldquoThe hospitality and tourism industry in Dubai is thrivingrdquo commented Nasser Fawzi director of sales and marketing Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates adding that Dubai has turned into one of the most sought-after destinations worldwide and thanks to the continuous efforts of the government and the Dubai Department of Tourism amp Commerce Marketing (DTCM) people are becoming more and more familiar with the emirate and what it has to offer ldquoVisitors can find both choice and value here making it the ideal destination for both leisure and business travellersrdquo he continued
In fact Dubairsquos hotel sector concluded 2012 with the highest profits in the MENA region for the third consecutive year according to TRI Hospitality Consult-ingrsquos HotStats survey which shows that despite the growing room inventory the destinationrsquos soaring popularity and uninterrupted string of events conferences and festivals helped maintain a steady stream of demand throughout the year lead-ing to an average annual occupancy level of 814 percent and a gross operating profit per available room surge of 133 percent over 2011 levels
ldquo2012 was a very good year for the hospitality industry where Dubai went again from strength to strengthrdquo confirmed Hazem Aouad cluster director of sales and marketing Radisson Royal Hotel Dubai and Radisson Blu Resort Fujairah
Karim Nahas general manager Rose Rayhaan by Rotana also described 2012 as a record year for the hotel when Dubairsquos hospitality industry in general witnessed a boom as the destination continued to benefit from the outcome of the Arab Spring and the governmentrsquos endeavours to market Dubai as a premier leisure destination
Sharing similar views Jan Siddiqi director of sales Ramada Plaza Jumeirah
JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai
Rita Kasziba writes
12 EXPLORE Dubai
MARCH 2013
Beach Residence and Ramada Sharjah attributed the over and above expectations performance to the col-lective result of various actions including political well-crafted initiatives
Praising the government and the tourism bodyrsquos continuous efforts Rupprecht Queitsch general man-ager JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai the worldrsquos tallest hotel at 355m said ldquoDTCM works very hard to raise the profile of Dubai as a destination for the con-vention business and leisure business and we work closely with them on these campaigns and sales tripsrdquo
Fawzi further added ldquo[The government along with DTCM] provide a lot of support to the hospital-ity industry through joint promotions sales and mar-keting initiatives and partnerships The government has positioned Dubai as one of the most sought-after destinations worldwide that has so much to offer and as a result demand for the destination continued to grow steadilyrdquo
TURNING AMBITION INTO ACTION
Just in a single generation Dubairsquos population has grown from just 10000 at the turn of the last century to over two million comprising more than 200 nation-alities by 2011 creating a characteristic destination of vibrant cultures and vivid contracts Demonstrating
the emiratersquos growing significance on regional and global levels everyday at present an average of three million people spend their day in Dubai including workers residing in other emirates and travellers visit-ing the destination on business or for pleasure
As Husseim Hachem cluster general manager Al Bustan and Al Murooj Rotana Dubai observed the emirate has consistently made its strong mark as one of the top destinations all over the world bolstered by widespread efforts of both the public and the pri-vate sector aimed at establishing Dubai as a desired place in every aspect
ldquoFirst the government is doing a great job in promoting the city internationally and secondly dif-ferent industries like hospitality travel tourism and more are working hand in hand to provide the best experiences to tourists and residents alike In addition to these factors Dubai as a city itself is a wonderful place with really nice peoplerdquo Hachem stressed
In fact Dubairsquos visionary leadership has long identified tourism as a central pillar of its economic diversification strategy hence the multi-billion dollar investments into the industry and related sectors in-cluding infrastructure transportation as well as pub-lic services have turned the emirate not only into a tourist hotspot but also into one of the best places to live in the MENA region topping the regional ranking
of Mercerrsquos rsquoQuality of Livingrsquo poll In addition the ease of doing business the close
proximity to key growth markets the centralised time zone best suited to both eastern and western busi-ness hours and the emiratersquos safe family-friendly and multicultural environment have all become a major draw for skilled professionals Consequently numer-ous multinational companies have chosen to set up their regional headquarters in Dubai making it a hub for trade and commerce and the number one desti-nation in the region for foreign direct investment
ldquoDubai continues to cement itself as a prime hub in terms of international businessrdquo confirmed Leon Salinel executive assistant manager sales and mar-keting Dusit Thani Dubai who explained that with its location in the Dubai International Financial Centre and in close proximity to Dubai World Trade Centre and the Dubai International Convention amp Exhibition Centre the hotel enjoys high and in fact growing guest volume from the corporate sector
ldquoHowever it is not just business travellers visit-ing the emiraterdquo Salinel stressed ldquoDubai remains a hotspot for leisure travellers it is the Las Vegas of the Middle East and somewhere people want to experi-ence at least once in their lifetimerdquo
Reflecting Dubairsquos dual appeal Robert Barker general manager Moumlvenpick Hotel amp Apartments
14 EXPLORE Dubai
MARCH 2013
Bur Dubai described Dubai as the Hong Kong of the Middle East adding that the unique model that has been created in the emirate and which continues to evolve with the ongoing reinvestment and planning is set to ensure Dubairsquos success and prosperity in the long-term
ENTERING NEW ERAS
Dubai started the new year on a high with a record 17 million visitors attending the Downtown Dubai New Yearsrsquo Eve Gala exceeding the reported attend-ance of one million at the world famous Times Square celebrations in New York City
The destinationrsquos abundant entertainment and amusement options coupled with its vast retail port-folio has long become a vital part of its appeal with Dubai Mall welcoming over 62 million visitors in 2012 and as a market research conducted by Reed Travel Exhibitions has revealed since the beginning of the year some 48 percent of the emiratersquos hotels were
Ocean View Hotel JA Resorts amp Hotels
Bluewaters Island project located off the Jumeirah Beach Residence coastline is envisaged to become one of the largest tourist hot spots in the world fea-turing demarcated retail residential hospitality and entertainment zones as well as the worldrsquos largest Ferris wheel at 210m named Dubai Eye
With construction due to commence in April the destination is set to further improve Dubairsquos competi-tiveness on the global stage as Abdullah Al Habbai chairman Meraas Holding the developer of the pro-ject suggested ldquoWe have a clear mission and vision to strengthen Dubairsquos global position in the tourism sec-tor This project will continue to build on the emiratersquos reputation as leaders in the global entertainment and retail landscaperdquo
Another megaproject Mohamed Bin Rashid City hailed as a city within the city is expected to set new benchmarks in urban development in the region Comprising four components the project will create an integrated environment for the development of entrepreneurship and innovation and will feature a
myriad of record-breaking leisure and entertainment options including a park 30 percent bigger than Londonrsquos Hyde Park designed to receive 35 million visitors per annum as well as the largest family cen-tre for leisure and entertainment in the region set up in collaboration with Universal Studios that will also include over 100 hotel facilities further to the largest arts gallery in the region and the worldrsquos largest retail complex Mall of the World
ldquoThe current facilities available in Dubai need to be scaled up in line with the future ambitions for the cityrdquo emphasised HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum ruler of Dubai remarking on the vital role of such projects in the emiratersquos Vision 2030 and boosting the UAE economy in order to enable it to enter a new era in which it will become the capital of entrepreneurship arts culture and family tourism for over two billion people
In fact the tourism sector in Dubai is growing by 13 percent annually and the accelerated growth rates require the emirate to prepare all sectors for the
future as passenger volume at Dubai International is set to surpass 90 million people per annum over the next five years ldquoOur development initiatives concern-ing infrastructure in all sectors should be aligned with this growth rate and we have the determination to reach our objectives and be the first in the region to achieve themrdquo concluded Al Maktoum
THE MANY FACES OF DUBAI
As a result of the joint efforts and heavy investments over the past decades Dubairsquos hospitality sector has utterly transformed according to David Thomson chief operating officer JA Resorts amp Hotels ldquoSince 2003 the emiratersquos hotel and hospitality sector has boomed launched new niche products developed new feeder markets and roared ahead with new vig-our after the slowdown of 20092010rdquo he said adding that today Dubai is considered a must-see destina-tion for many more reasons than just shopping and going to the beach which as Thomson stressed is vital for the sectorrsquos future growth
Echoing similar views Habib Khan CEO Planet Hospitality stated that people visiting Dubai can be segregated into three major categories namely lei-sure business and transients
ldquoWithin the leisure we have categorised the guests into travellers who come to witness the dra-matic achievements and modernisation of Dubai [hellip] whereas there are a smaller number but its rapidly growing of those intellectuals educational groups and individuals who seek better understanding of the Emirati and Arabic culturerdquo
Further commenting on the shifting trends Rose Ann Shetty CEO Galavantor which caters to a new generation of responsible travellers noted ldquoThe gov-ernment continues to invest and develop wonderful local and cultural experiences and while Dubairsquos focus continues to be a shopping and leisure destination the type of travellers has changed they are willing to stay longer and experience morerdquo Shetty explained adding that desert horseback riding Bedouin camp-ing trekking and rock climbing are continuously gaining popularity
In a bid to exploit another niche segment medi-cal and wellness tourism DTCM has recently teamed up with the Dubai Health Authority to promote Dubai as a premier medical destination capitalising on the emiratersquos advanced healthcare system and highly-skilled professors
ldquoWe are working to promote the medical tour-ism in Dubai since Dubai has an excellent infrastruc-ture modern hospitals and clinics offering a variety of medical [services] to visitors in search of quality health carerdquo explained Eyad Abdul Rahman execu-tive director media relations and business develop-ment DTCM
DTCM is also actively seeking ways to unleash the immerse potential of the burgeoning cruise tourism sector and secure its long-term growth by participat-ing in various international exhibitions with the aim of attracting more cruise liners
located within a 2km radius of one of the five mega-shopping malls of Dubai
Despite the stiffening competition hotels located in close proximity to shopping complexes continue to thrive as Fawzi confirmed revealing that 2012 proved to be one of the most successful years for the property since it opened seven years ago ldquoAs a city hotel Kem-pinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates offers a truly unique proposition which is well-liked by travellers from the Arab region What we add to Dubairsquos hospitality scene is a destination with entertainment for the whole fam-ily there is Ski Dubai and the new Penguin Encounter experience a great selection of dining options a cin-ema one of Dubairsquos most popular malls and a com-munity theatre all in one location that is literally on the doorstep of the hotelrdquo Fawzi further explained
In spite of the already overwhelming number of attractions in a quest to spur demand and support Dubairsquos bid to host the World Expo 2020 the emirate is forging ahead with a number of new megaprojects The recently approved AED6 billion (USD16 billion)
16 EXPLORE Dubai
MARCH 2013
Commenting on the strong economic fundamen-tals of the emirate and the breadth and unparalleled diversity of Dubairsquos tourism product Moussa El Hayek chief operating officer Al Bustan Centre amp Residence said ldquo[One of the] main reasons behind the prosperity in Dubai is the advanced infrastructure that tourists can enjoy here including luxurious hotels and restau-rants transportation malls entertainment venues parks furthermore security iconic buildings and to some extent the flexibility of the rulesrdquo
rently has 204 aircraft on order at a value USD73 billion Likewise as the second-largest airline operating
out of Dubai International flydubairsquos fast-paced ex-pansion has been a key catalyst in the emiratersquos un-precedented growth In the past two years the airline has more than doubled the number of destinations it flies to from 25 to over 50 a rate of more than one new destination per month and has increased its weekly services to over 1000
Since its inception the low-cost carrier which
served more than 51 million passengers in 2012 has laid great emphasis on connecting Dubai with fast-developing and previously untapped markets opening up new opportunities for travel and trade in emerging markets such as the CIS and Eastern Eu-rope in general In 2012 more than 40 percent of fly-dubairsquos route development concentrated on Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the CIS countries
ldquoWe have seen great demand on our routes within the CIS and CEE as more people seek afford-able fares and direct flights between Dubai and this regionrdquo informed Ghaith Al Ghaith CEO flydubai In addition today flydubai welcomes passengers to Dubai and beyond through its connecting flights to the Maldives Sri Lanka and other destinations
As a matter of fact in 2012 Russia and the CIS proved to be the second fastest expanding market in terms of passenger growth behind South America figures released by Dubai Airports have shown and Al Ghaith revealed a similar trend attesting that the car-rierrsquos total number of flights to the CIS and CEE network was 45 percent higher between October 2011 and Sep-tember 2012 compared to the previous 12 months
ldquoWe operated 109 percent more flights in the region in September 2012 compared to September 2011 illustrating the demand for travel between the nationsrdquo added Al Ghaith ldquoWe are constantly look-ing for new opportunities Our approach is to target destinations within a five-and-a-half hour radius of Dubai which puts us within reach of more than 25 billion people one third of the worldrsquos populationrdquo
Remarking on the airlinesrsquo major role in Dubairsquos development El Hayek highlighted ldquoFlight frequency to different cities all over the world made Dubai the hub of the world as Emirates flydubai and Air Ara-bia have all launched various routes to different cities while other lsquogiantrsquo airlines moved their operations to Dubai due to the advanced infrastructure and the ex-cellent services provided by Dubai Internationalrdquo
In line with the airlinesrsquo expansion strategy hotel-iers are increasingly focusing on reaching out to these new markets including the CIS and Russia which Shaff Butt director of marketing and communication Jumeirah Beach Hotel already listed among the ho-telrsquos key feeder markets
Besides the traditionally strong GCC and Europe-an markets mainly the UK and the German speaking countries demand from the CIS nations also contin-ues to be strong as Siddiqi explained
Reporting similar trends Salinel added ldquoThe GCC has always been a primary source market and has remained strong over the past few years Other source markets which have begun to show significant growth for us as a hotel [are] within the CIS region and Asian marketsrdquo
Butt further added ldquoOver the past few years we are seeing continued positive results from our main key markets such as Europe which continues to show good numbers as well as the GCC and wider Middle East For this year our main focus is the CIS market and we would also like to target Asia and Af-rica since we are getting good pick up as well as more repeat guests each yearrdquo
Nahas listed South Africa Brazil and Turkey among Rose Rayhaan by Rotanarsquos target emerging markets while others including Barker remarked on the growing demand from Far Eastern countries and mainly China
Likewise Hachem noted that China India and the rest of Asia have also started to make up for a big chunk of Al Bustan and Al Murooj Rotana Dubairsquos cli-entele while Aouad also added South America to the list of the markets lsquoto watchrsquo for Radisson Royal Hotel Dubai and Radisson Blu Resort Fujairah
Mohamed Taher director of sales and marketing Traders Hotel Dubai listed a number of emerging markets which hold great potential including the Middle East Africa Southeast Asia Australia Scandi-navia Algeria as well as Serbia
The constantly strong business levels from these markets set to balance demand with supply noted Taherw who anticipates a rise in both rates and over-all business levels ldquoDemand will offset the growth in the increased room inventories with more exhibitions being held in the city as well as the increased air traf-fic with the expansion of the airportrdquo
Hachem further added ldquoThis is admittedly a chal-lenging year as the markets get more and more pen-etrated In addition 2012 had been great which adds more pressure to the industry in general to maintain and exceed the previous achievementsrdquo
Echoing similar views Wael El Behi general man-ger Ramada Downtown Dubai concluded ldquoDubai is one of the most sought-after travel destinations in the world The hospitality sector is getting bigger and better every year Hotels are coming up with innova-tive facilities to ensure guest satisfaction and a travel-ler has a wide range of hotels to choose from Most hotels have increased their efficiency and profitability levels which is commendable We hope to continue this success [hellip] With the growing hospitality sector a traveller will be enticed to visit the city againrdquo
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE
Besides the government and the tourism organisa-tionrsquos vigorous work Dubairsquos advanced air connec-tivity and excellent infrastructure have also played a vital part in the destinationrsquos unprecedented growth as Fawzi noted
ldquoAnother contributing factor is the airlift into the destination and the continued growth of Dubai In-ternational and the UAErsquos airlines including Emirates Etihad Airways and flydubai who have also seen phenomenal growth over the past few years bringing more and more people to the destination [who] will be looking for accommodationrdquo elaborated Fawzi
In fact with its strategic location on the global axis between East and West connecting the devel-oped and the developing world Dubai boasts access to over 25 billion people within a four-hour flight as Queitsch pinpointed
Dubairsquos geographic location makes it a major global hub for trade commerce and tourism a key competitive advantage for Emirates An increasing proportion of the traffic between Europe and Asia now flies through the Middle East and the airline ex-pects this share to further grow taking into consider-ation that Dubairsquos location also facilitates rising trade flows to and from India China and Africa three of the carrierrsquos strongest markets
In the financial year 2011-12 Emirates carried a total of 34 million passengers leading to an average load factor of 80 percent while for the first six months of the financial year ending September 30 2012 pas-senger volume reached 187 million marking a year-on-year increase of 154 percent
Over the last year Emiratesrsquo network has grown rapidly bringing new countries cultures and experi-ences for customers to explore and of course opening up new markets for Dubai Reflecting Emiratersquos ambi-tious expansion plans for the future the company cur-
18 ONSITE Palestine
MARCH 2013
Forging Ahead with Pride PALESTINE IN BRIEF
Administrative Centres
Ramallah Gaza
Accepted Currencies
US Dollar (USD) Jordanian Dollar (JOD)
Language Arabic
Palestine rich in culture deep in history blessed with holy sites and highly worthy of its popularity amongst all travellers alike is a des-tination which never seizes to amaze the world of travel and tourismI n 2012 Palestine witnessed an increase in the
number of inbound tourism by some 225 mil-lion visitors 18 percent higher than that record-ed in 2011 and this paved the way for a boost of 25 percent in overnight stays in hotels and
guesthouses across the country to reach 18 millionIn order to keep visitor levels high the Ministry
of Tourism and Antiquities together with stakehold-ers have implemented numerous projects in a bid to increase traffic to the region
One example is Jenin Tourist Center which is scheduled to open later this year and is set to add to the improvement of Jenin as a tourist destination to attract both local and international visitors with a fo-cus on the quality of the arearsquos residential life and the creation of economic opportunities through tourism
With Poland being heralded as the destinationrsquos second major feeder market in 2012 having welcomed 200000 Polish visitors throughout the year Palestine acted as a partner country for the first time in one of
the global renowned travel trade shows TOUR SALON Poland which gave the Middle Eastern country the opportunity to showcase itself to what is being recog-nised as one of the most promising markets
With regards to Palestinersquos vast selection of accommo-dation offerings the country provides an array of friendly and welcoming hospitality services and this is evident in the healthy performance results reported in 2012
Grand Park Hotel which opened towards the end of September 2012 after a USD13 million renovation transformed it into a five-star property from a four-star recorded 50 percent occupancy in the first six months in operation this according to Mohammed Zomlot general manager Grand Park Hotel
ldquoWe expect perfor-mance to be much bet-ter this year as the hotel is very well-known and guests now know we have had this renovation and want to come and see the new lookrdquo he added
With the majority of the hotelrsquos guests hail-ing from Palestine itself Europe America and the Middle East Zomlot pointed out that the ho-tel attends international conferences sets out marketing strategies and also participates in exhi-bitions in order to keep figures high and promote the hotel as a perfect choice for travellers
Further growing its presence in the region Grand Park Hotel is set to open two new hotels in Palestine in the second quarter of the year and is to be the first local ho-tel chain in the country
Thomas Brugnatelli general manager The American Colony Hotel also revealed the recent
completion of what he described as the spectacular Palm House building alongside other changes which came onboard to cater to the propertyrsquos main clien-tele 45 percent of which Brugnatelli revealed hailed from Europe mostly from France Italy Germany UK and Spain while the US segment claimed a 35 percent market share ldquoFor over a hundred years The American Colony Hotel has a proud reputation of one of the most exceptional and famous hotels in the Middle Eastrdquo he concluded
Royal Court Suites Hotel is yet another property which completed a solid 2012 in terms of business performance as Joseph Ayoub general manager Royal Court Suites Hotel announced who further indicated that with new additions to management and plans for further upgrades the hotel expects its performance to continue to improve into the future ldquoThe Royal Court Suites Hotel will be undergoing re-modeling to our lobby and outside terrace which we are excited forrdquo he expressed
Catering to MENA guests of which 20 percent make up the propertyrsquos entire clientele base who pre-dominantly come from Jordan as well as Palestine it-self the hotel provides a highly service-orientated staff and a location that puts MENA travellers in the heart of Ramallah close to its best attractions and provides them with the opportunity to experience a land sacred to Muslims and Christians boasting holy sites scattered across its land Further to local and regional travellers the hotel is also popular among international organisa-tions non-governmental segments and business trav-ellers arriving from Europe US and Japan
Commenting on the ways through which fel-low professionals can work to improve visitor arriv-als Ayoub advised ldquoHotel operators in Palestine can boost the countryrsquos tourism industry by running well managed operations that provide high quality ser-vice and up to date properties that are exposed to the outside world through proper marketingrdquo
This year also looks to be better than 2012 for Golden Park Resort during which the property wit-nessed average performance levels and occupancy rates of 55 percent among the Czechs Slovakians Indians Sri Lankans Nigerians Polish and Egyp-tians according to Ibrahim Giacamam general man-ager Golden Park Resort who announced changes throughout the hotel in the coming months
ldquoWe are renovating parts of the hotel to compete with local marketsrdquo he revealed adding that this will include a full renovation of the lobby as well as the rooms ldquoThere is competition from new hotels open-ing in Bethlehem thus we want to keep our guests happyrdquo Giacamam concluded
Dominique Christou writes
19TOURUK
MARCH 2013
Dominique Christou writes
A ccording to the latest World Travel amp Tourism Council Economic Impact report published in 2012 direct contribution of travel and tourism to the UKrsquos GDP in 2011 reached GBP35 billion (USD54 billion) 23
percent of the countryrsquos total GDP with a forecasted rise of 13 percent in 2012 and an annual increase of 41 percent over the next decade when the indus-try is estimated to be contributing GBP531 billion (USD81 billion) to the UKrsquos GDP in 2022
Patricia Yates director of strategy VisitBritain ex-pected 31 million inbound visits to the UK for 2012 giving the destination as Yates described a perfect foundation to see continued strong growth in interna-tional tourism for this year contributing revenue to the UK economy and creating new jobs across the country
VisitBritain recently ventured yet again into the GCC following the successful execution and delivery of the BritAgent online training programme in the UAE Saudi Arabia and Kuwait
Meticulously Personalised
UK IN BRIEF
Capital London
Currency British Pound (GBP)
Language English
The UK has long been an admired choice among MENA travellers highly accredited to the typically distin-guished English hospitality world-renowned shopping outlets quality selection of entertainment plethora of family activities and last but not least the overabundance of pictur-esque parks scattered across the country
The UK tourism boardrsquos global online training initia-tive which has been designed to meet the needs of travel trade lsquofront-linersrsquo from new starters to experienced sales personnel was recently launched in Qatar at the British Embassy Doha a programme which upon completion grants the agents with BritAgent status signifying their expertise and knowledge about travel to Britain
ldquoBritain is already a major beneficiary of outbound travel from the Gulfrdquo confirmed Sumathi Ramanathan regional manager Asia Pacific and Middle East Visit-Britain ldquoVisitors from the Gulf region are a major source of revenue for the UK from January to September 2012 these visitors spent nearly AED55 billion (USD15 billion) already showing a seven percent increase over 2011 From 2006 through to 2011 Qatar has shown an outstanding increase in visitor numbers of 59 percent and the spend per night significantly outshines all the other countriesrdquo Ramanathan added
Official figures released by VistBritain reveal that in 2012 the UK witnessed the best November since 2007 with visitation figures a soaring nine percent higher than 2011 keeping the country on track to reach the 31 million mark by end-2012
November 2012 saw healthy results from nearly all the regions in the world exempt the US accord-ing to the study which stated that the UK welcomed 10 percent more tourists from Europe and 12 percent from the rest of the world
20 TOUR UK
MARCH 2013
Yates expressed great satisfaction for this success stressing that 2012 was no ordinary year for inbound tourism so to announce the best November in five years is an achievement
AN AMPLE CHOICE
These healthy results are evident in the hotel sector across the country partially attributed to the relative-ly strong MENA market as Daniel Simmons execu-tive director HotelREZ noted further indicating that the hotel currently has a presence in Dubai and as a result is strategically developing the MENA markets to support the membersrsquo growth
o-y improvement from the top five Middle Eastern mar-kets a 104 percent y-o-y upsurge from Saudi Arabian visitors and a 33 percent y-o-y rise from UAE visitors
Assuring that the MENA guest is well-catering to London Hilton on Park Lane trains its staff to pro-vide the welcome that visitors from the region have come to expect equipping the team with the skills to handle tailored requests according to Brayshaw who elaborated ldquoThere is a dedicated guest relations teams for Middle Eastern guests with Arabic-speak-ing team members Facilities are available for visitorsrsquo private chefs to cook within the hotelsrsquo kitchens and serve their own dishes to their employer Arabic TV stations are also availablerdquo
BRINGING IN BUSINESS
Further boosting MENA tourism to the UK on March 31 British Airways (BA) will launch an additional four flights to and from Amman increasing the frequency from dai-ly to 11 per week ldquoJordan is an important market for Brit-ish Airways and we are thrilled with the excellent growth we have seen here since re-introducing Amman to our route network We are keen to further enhance our op-erations to and from Jordan and the announcement only consolidates our commitment to the Jordanian marketrdquo commented Paolo De Renzis area commercial manager Middle East and Central Asia BA
In addition Qatar Airways has launched its inau-gural long-haul Boeing 787 Dreamliner service on the Doha - London Heathrow route becoming the first airline to operate regular scheduled flights onboard the state-of-the art aircraft to and from the UK
Akbar Al Baker CEO Qatar Airways said ldquoThe Doha - Heathrow route is one of our most popular interna-tional routes and it was only fitting that we deploy our new 787 to and from Londonrdquo
INVESTING IN THE UK
Heathrow Airport is hailed as the most popular gateway for travellers to the UK recording a total of 518 million passengers having passed through its terminal in Janu-ary alone a record for the month which saw an increase of 03 percent over the corresponding month in 2012
Meanwhile load factors also set a record for the month under review up 21 percentage points on Janu-ary 2012 reaching 70 percent Domestic traffic was down 58 percent however European traffic rose 18 percent and Middle Eastern traffic also climbed the trajectory level by 33 percent over the same month in 2012
Moreover Heathrow Airport recently announced GBP3 billion (USD46 billion) worth of investments in the airport in addition to the GBP11 billion (USD168 billion) which has been invested since 2003 and these form part of the establishmentrsquos business plans for Q6 the regulatory period which covers 2014-2019 and they represent one of the largest private-sector investments in UK infrastructure
The plans include the completion of Terminal 2 and the early works on extending the building the development of a new integrated baggage system and the construction of new taxiways and stands which will allow Heathrow Airport to accommodate more of the most modern aircraft
Colin Matthews CEO Heathrow Airport com-mented ldquoHeathrow is the UKrsquos only hub airport and a strategically important national infrastructure asset Heathrow faces stiff competition from other Europe-an hubs and we must continue to improve the service we offers passengers and airlines [] Our plan for a further GBP3 billion (USD46 billion) of private-sector investment will further improve the airport for pas-sengers The plan represents good value for money for airlines and passengers and comes at no cost to taxpayersrdquo
Guests from the UAE Turkey Egypt Saudi Arabia and Kuwait along with Cyprus contributed to two percent of the hotelrsquos total reservations percentage results for 2012 this according to Simmons who also reported a 20 percent year-on-year (y-o-y) increase in revenue ldquoOur hotel members benefit from a 90 per-cent increase on IDS (Internet distribution services) and direct connect bookings a 35 percent increase on GDS (global distribution systems) bookings and a 60 percent growth on CRO (central reservations of-fices) and voice bookingsrdquo
Commenting on the propertyrsquos latest develop-ments Simmons revealed the recently-launched MICE Desk which he pinpointed is an additional solution to HotelREZrsquos member hotels and will help boost revenue
ldquoAt HotelREZ we are very confident that our new MICE Desk will raise awareness and continue to increase reservations for our hotel members from meetings incentives conventions and events pack-ages To complete the consumer booking cycle Ho-telREZ is launching REZanalyst a new social media and review analytics tool for hotels to help manage their online reputationrdquo he concluded
Also showing signs of strong performance is Lon-don Hilton on Park Lane thanks to the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympics whose international committee chose the property as the headquarter ho-tel this according to Ashleigh Brayshaw marketing and communications manager London Hilton on Park Lane
With one out of four of the hotelrsquos guests hailing from the MENA region Brayshaw pointed out that in 2011 the property witnessed particularly high growth in visitor numbers from the region with a 21 percent y-
Moreover the UK especially London offers a full range of activities according to Brayshaw who observed that the Middle Eastern guest is increasingly organised with the time spent in the capital and one who enjoys combining a variety of activities ldquoPopular activities in-clude sending children to summer schools in Regentrsquos Park attending business meetings visiting property shopping for the latest trends and enjoying the rich va-riety of entertainment that London has to offer Families often use managers to organise their time with London Hilton on Park Lanersquos hotel management working di-rectly with guests to assistrdquo she further noted
Moreover Travelodge one of the UKrsquos leading hotel brands is set to benefit from a GBP223 million (USD341 million) brand investment with the opening of 14 new hotels which includes two properties in Spain the creation of 420 new jobs and the launch-ing of a new room concept which has been designed by its customers ldquoThis capital expenditure will help us to grow our business strengthen our product offer-ing and make Travelodge the best value hotel chain in the UKrdquo Grant Hearn CEO Travelodge revealed
ldquoAs part of this yearrsquos investment we have worked with our customers to create a new Travelodge room which offers more comfort quality and stylerdquo he contin-ued adding that this enhanced product combined with economy pricing will ensure Travelodge is the smart choice for leisure and business travellers
Furthermore in order to help attract new custom-ers Travelodge is also investing over GBP12 million (USD 182 million) in digital and online marketing this year as well as over GBP1 million (USD15 million) in a website refresh later this year
London
22 EXCLUSIVE Luxury Travel
MARCH 2013
Living the DreamLuxury travel is all about mak-ing guests feel unique and privi-leged It is about offering them the chance to get to know the world in extravagance and having them live above the ordinary It is about spoiling them with opulent travel and hospitality services something which is without doubt growing in size and quality
I n late December 2012 the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) released its Travel Trends Report 2013 developed in collaboration with UKrsquos Foreign and Commonwealth Office pre-dicting that consumers will continue to look for
good value in breaks for this year rather than cut back on their holidays
Mark Tanzer CEO ABTA stated that the majority of British holidaymakers are reluctant to give up their annual holiday under any circumstances while strong forward bookings for the luxury and all-inclusive sec-tors are being witnessed
Speaking at the 2011 edition of the annual Interna-tional Luxury Travel Market (ILTM)rsquos Ultratravel Forum Chris Sanderson strategy and insight director The Future Laboratory a trend forecasting company had announced predictions stating that the lsquoluxuriansrsquo of the future would not be interested in too much choice ldquoThere is an en-hanced sense of just being todayrsquos luxury consumer rath-er than being surrounded by possessionsrdquo he explained
AUTHENTICALLY PRIVILIGED
Views corroborating Sandersonrsquos were voiced by John McGee research and communications manager Ar-tisans of Leisure a luxury travel company specialis-ing in exclusive customised private tours around the world McGee believes that the primary reason his customers travel is to get authentic experiences that introduce them to the local traditions and people while high-quality hotels encourage them to travel but are not primary incentives further pinpointing the latter as being the interest in experiencing local
culture cuisine history and lifestyle With reference to the Middle East McGee noted
that his agency is intrigued by places like Abu Dhabi and its considered approach to developing new mu-seums and cultural attractions
Defining the demands and needs of luxury trav-ellers as being genuine and local experiences Filip Boyen chief operating officer Orient-Express said ldquoFor luxury tourists travel is not just about lying on a beach or by the pool anymore It is about combining relaxation in a beautiful setting with learning and dis-covery They want to come away with an experience or having learnt something new that they can come home and tell their friends all aboutrdquo
Boyen added that the Middle East is relatively new to the world of tourism a place many will want to discover and consequently this will create a demand for luxury ho-tels already emerging in many parts of the region
Travellers who spend a lot of money for their trip expect and demand the best they need to be cared for in every step of the way while feeling confident that they are dealing with someone experienced to respond to their requests according to Daniel Essex CEO Century Travel who also explained that many luxury travellers are looking for something small and attentive and a much more personal approach
LET US SPOIL YOU
The growing number of luxury hotels and amenities has led to an increased interest with Canadian travel-lers to the Middle East according to Kathy Stewart director of media and public relations Butterfield amp Robinson a Toronto-based agency Aside from authen-ticity she stressed the importance of maintaining the unique qualities of the region for further development
into a luxury destination for global travellers ldquoEspecial-ly North Americans who are travelling a long distance to the Middle East they are not looking for the same experience they can get at home They want Middle Eastern food people landscapes and architecture to be an integral part of the experiencerdquo
Hotel Missoni Kuwait benefits from a healthy lux-ury-demanding domestic market which represents 55 percent of its business followed by Saudi Arabia with 13 percent and the UAE with 10 percent accord-ing to Alfio Bernardini general manager Hotel Mis-soni Kuwait who said ldquo[At the hotel] everything con-tributes to the depth of the experience Hotel Missoni is designed to be genuine and uncomplicated offer-ing those luxury touches that really matter because they genuinely enrich the experience of stayingrdquo
Six Senses Zighy Bay the indigenous village style accommodation in Oman has observed an increase of 12 percent in occupancy levels throughout 2012 while the growth of the Middle East clientele is appar-ent after the development of family-specific offerings attested Guillaume de Lasteyrie executive assistant manager Six Senses Zighy Bay He believes that peace and calm is the most appreciated value of the property while the hotelrsquos offerings are tempting for guests cit-ing the example of the saltwater pool carrying a min-eral composition of 15-20 percent comparable to the Dead Sea whose concentration is 27 percent
Another instance of Arab opulence is Eastern Man-groves Hotel amp Spa by Anantara in Abu Dhabi a prop-erty which assures that luxury is interrelated with in-dulgence across all of its services offered with an acute focus on detail which Nehme Darwiche hotel manag-er Eastern Mangroves Hotel amp Spa by Anantara report-ed is of utter importance Darwiche further supports that the Middle East will not only continue to develop as a luxury destination but will sit on the top of luxury ranks and become a pioneer in such offerings ldquoThe de-mand on luxury products will continue to increase as the tastes of sophisticated societies continues to reach new limits Luxury will not be in big numbers but will be in the power to obtain rarity the Middle East under-stands that very well and the developments planned
Maria Kazeli writes
Hotel Missoni Kuwait
23EXCLUSIVELuxury Travel
MARCH 2013
from now until 2020 have luxury travellers as their tar-getrdquo Darwiche concluded
An upcoming superior property in the region is Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah set to open in May Rudi Jagersbacher president Middle East and Africa Hilton Worldwide explained that the hotel as an up-scale property will have to deliver on two counts experiences and expectations Observing that travel behaviour has changed in the past years and placing emphasis on value for money he further noted ldquo[Wal-dorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah] is palatial exclusive and will offer the highest level of service as well as state-of-the-art amenities but that is not enough We have to ensure that our guests consider their experience as an investment worth repeating and sharingrdquo
The peak of extravagance is reached with a variety of private jet services throughout the region which cater for business and leisure travellers alike Mark Hardman op-erations director ExecuJet Middle East pointed out that the companyrsquos clientele is as diverse as the regionrsquos popu-lation but private aviation offers valued features such as time efficiency security privacy and convenience
He admitted that the most popular destinations for Dubai-based ExecuJet are in the Middle East with Riyadh Jeddah Beirut and Baghdad occupying the top spots while Geneva London and Nice are the favoured European hubs
Similarly Hardy Sohanpal director NasJet agreed that Middle East travellers use private jet services for efficiency flexibility and privacy while he accurately underlined that through emphasising the luxury ben-efits many private jet users build relationships with their key business contacts and staff by giving them access to private aircraft
ON THE RISE
Providing her own view Stewart reiterated that it is important not to overdevelop and retain authenticity of the Arab culture in the region
Along parallel lines Essex believes that the major-ity across the region always had the opinion that big is beautiful but this is not enough he further stressed as the industry professionals in the Middle East need to consider the boutique options However he lauded Abu Dhabirsquos development on Saadiyat Island and the introduction of cultural arts which he believes will at-tract the international and discerning travellers
Boyen deems that the region will experience ad-vancement and will emerge as a luxury destination something he attributes to improved air connectivity ldquoDefinitely with new airline routes from the Middle East launching all the time such as Etihad Airwaysrsquo new routes to Washington and Satildeo Paulo which are
launching this year the destination is bound to de-velop furtherrdquo he continued
Sharing the same opinion that the expansion of airlines and airports lead to such positive develop-ments Bernardini claimed that despite the fact that the Middle East will develop further to become a des-tination for high-calibre tourists not all countries in the region have the capacity and the stability to do so However he further explained a few hotspots will enjoy this blessing due to the money available in this part of the world which will result in the building of super high-quality hotels and thus attract a good number of luxury travellers
De Lasteyrie pointed out that even though the region was under the spotlight for some time the future will see even greater lavish suggestions and-maintaining that ldquoThe Middle East has been since years a luxury destination to the eyes of many though the pinnacle of luxury is yet to come Smaller and personalised service hotels and resorts from around the world are now willing to implement themselves in untouched locations creating a new momentum Much of the Middle East is still in the first tiers of luxu-ry based on opulent luxury and the glitz and glamour that first come with wealth We are now beginning to see affluent luxury and more distinguished spending on art collectibles and sustainabilityrdquo
24 SPECIAL REPORT Waterparks
MARCH 2013
In for a RideWaterparks are a popular attraction among locals and tourist in the Middle East With promising weather throughout most of the year waterparks offer visitors a fun family outing in addition to an array of promotions and events Travel Trade Monthly explores what makes waterparks the perfect attraction
F rom fun rides food and beverage outlets and retail offerings to gaming outlets and social events waterparks offer a safe fun and friendly environment for the family groups and events planners from all walks of life
Wild Wadi Waterpark Dubai is a good example whose team is committed to providing a fun-filled service that will make a lasting impression according to Chris Perry general manager Wild Wadi Waterpark who added that there is a major focus on using every opportunity to ensure that the guestsrsquo decision to visit is rewarded with plenty of time to play less time to queue and more time on the rides
Meanwhile Ice Land Water Park Ras Al Khaimah is receiving full promotional support from the emir-atersquos government and especially by its tourism body this according to Vagelyn Federico deputy director Ice Land Waterpark who added that it has been high-lighted as one of the major destinations in the UAE by all concerned tourism entities
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is the latest entry into the regionrsquos proliferating world of waterparks and accord-ing to Mike Oswald general manager Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi it rivals the worldrsquos best waterparks offering 43 rides slides and attractions ldquoIt has been an incredible journey to this point and unbelievably satisfying to watch the peoplersquos reaction to what has been created We are
support of the tourism body in Ras Al Khaimahrdquo Federico stated
In the summer major visitors to the waterpark hail from Asia as well as locally whereas during the winter months the CIS market plays a big role in pro-moting the park with its tourists in the UAE
In order to boost visitor arrivals to the waterpark Federico pointed out that during the winter the team is currently working for a family barbecue night with some other attractions to lure in more families
Moreover she indicated that the months ahead seem even more vibrant as she further demonstrated ldquoThis year will be more promising as we strengthened our ties with more travel operators inbound and out-bound Additionally we are currently working with dif-ferent airlines travel operators hotels and other tour-ism entities to promote Ice Land giving them also more benefits in promoting us to different market segmentsrdquo
Giving something more to visitors the water-parkrsquos team is currently working with skilled games and other dry rides for people to enjoy at the facility after park operations ldquoWe are also a preferred venue for concerts as we have the perfect place to accom-modate up to 6000 people in one area Ice Land Wa-ter Park is just one of the offerings of WOWRAK and we are currently working with other expansions such as resorts ice skating cinema complex hypermarket and other amusement activities which are planned to open in the next few yearsrdquo concluded Federico
Likewise Perry also announced continuous growth over the years for Wild Wadi Waterpark with 2012 prov-ing very successful He attributed this achievement to events such as ladies nights Ramadan nights and the new Jumeirah Sceirah which launched in September 2012 having proved to be a favourite amongst thrill seekers whereby one drops through a trap door from a height of 32m into the waiting water tunnel and races down the slide at 80km per hour
ldquoWe aim for this trend to continue this year as we have a variety of new attractive promotions and events to suit all our guestsrsquo needsrdquo Perry further in-formed ldquoWe also launched our online ticketing system this month to offer faster entry to our guestsrdquo he added guaranteeing guests with a faster entry process allow-ing all those with a printed ticket to jump the queue
Wild Wadi Waterpark is open all year round and ca-ters to guests from all over the world ldquoDuring the hot summer months (May-October) most of our guests come from the GCC countries whereby during the colder season (November-April) our guests are mainly from Europe
ldquoThe park is also a popular destination for UAE resi-dents since we periodically offer discounts to all resi-dents as well as annualseason passes that allow them to visit as many times as they want for a cheaper raterdquo he said
Perry also pointed out that during the month of May the waterpark offers its very popular family-only mornings every Friday at discounted rates so that they can enjoy the full facilities of the park when it is not too busy and of course when it is more safe and secure a factor which he assured is of the highest priority
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi
Dominique Christou writes
confident that people will have seen nothing like it before and we look forward to the waves of visitors expected to arrive now that the park is officially openrdquo
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi which inaugurated on January 19 is built around a central character named Dana whose crew won the battle in its quest to re-store a pearl to its rightful place which has ensured prosperity to the mythical Emirati village and marked what is expected to be a successful start to Yas Water-world Abu Dhabirsquos commercial operations
Set across 15ha on Yas Island the park offers thrills for the whole family and visitors will experience fun and adventure on rides and attractions such as the worldrsquos longest fastest tornado waterslide the regionrsquos first looping waterslide and the worldrsquos first interactive water and laser rollercoaster According to Oswald Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is expected to welcome a total of 700000 in its first year of operation
CALLING ALL THRILL SEEKERS
During 2012 waterparks across the region expe-rienced a healthy increase in visitors across a variety of markets
ldquoThe waterpark performed better in 2012 compared to our first year in 2011 when it comes to statistics in vari-ous nationalities locally and internationally through the
26 INVESTIGATION
MARCH 2013
Visiting Friends amp Relatives
Maria Kazeli writes
T he annual review for 2011 by the World Travel amp Tourism Council (WTTC) attributes social and cultural benefits to tourism indicating that the industry directly helps to keep or bring families and social networks together
With special regards to the visiting friends and relatives (VFR) segment the review supports that a significant proportion of all international trips which reaches up to a third of all arrivals for some large de-veloped markets are made in order to visit friends andor relatives
Globalisation has caused people to spread all over the globe but returning back home occasion-ally is a necessity The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) draws direct links between migration and travelling to visit relatives and in the 2009 Executive Summary entitled Tourism and Migration ndash Explor-
year in review which covers up to September 2012 reveals that the highest figures for the VFR segment appeared in January 2012 with 267 percent of 47610 incoming tourists being reported as VFR
Egyptrsquos outbound travel market linked to VFR oc-cupies a major part of business for travel agencies Feryal El Gohary general manager Bahi Travel ex-plained adding that almost half of the agencyrsquos cli-entele are VFR She also expressed the view that this market is a growing force for airlines and hoteliers alike while the latter she pinpointed will succeed only if they create a new strategy of very advanta-geous attractive long-stay offers
Tarek Moshref managing director Pronto Tours an Egypt-based tour operator supported that the VFR market is the third largest segment after holiday and business and for this reason local travel agents and operators should improve their services in order to capture and develop its potential by offering new options and programmes
Stressing the cost-driven aspect of the VFR mar-ket Adel Taha general manager leisure travel Kimidar Tours an Egyptian travel agency destination manage-ment company and ground handler said that VFR travellers aim at low travel expenditures in order to spend their money on leisure activities at the destina-tion and not on transportation With regards to the accommodation factor he added ldquoMost of the travel-lers whether leisure or VFR would tend to seek hotel accommodation in order to benefit from services pro-vided such as room cleaning and meals instead of self-served apartments However we can say they still seek low-cost accommodations with some specificationsrdquo
VFR IN THE SKIES
Commenting on the results of the British CAArsquos study Harry Bush group director economic regulation UK CAA had said that air travel played a key role in enabling peoplersquos relocating principally through the emergence of low-cost air travel and that the result-ing VFR passengers are increasingly important con-sumers of air travel According to an aviation analysis report by CAPA - Centre for Aviation a provider of independent aviation market intelligence the Mid-dle Eastern low-cost carriers are trying to adapt their model to the regional situation with their higher den-sity configurations targeting migrant workers and VFR traffic flows from North Africa and South Asia into the Gulf region
Major airlines have taken this trend into consid-eration and cater for this market by tailoring their offers Paolo De Renzis area commercial manager Middle East and Central Asia British Airways said ldquoThe VFR segment is extremely important to British Airways particularly in the Middle East where a large number of our customers are VFR travellers This is a region where families are extremely close and this tight-knit family culture means that we see a lot of VFR traffic across our Middle Eastern routes We also have a large expat community in the UAE which con-tributes significantly to this segmentrdquo
Unconventional TravellersMany prefer to spend their holiday visiting their friends and relatives in their home country if they are expa-triates or some other destination in order to spend time with their loved ones The focus of the travel is not cultural sightseeing and luxury ac-commodation but low airfare and budget lodgings
ing the Relationship between Two Global Phenomena compiled by UNWTO the two concepts are analysed by stressing that growth in international tourism and mobility has given rise to tourism-led migration with examples including the movement of male labourers from South Asia to meet the construction demands of the tourism boom in the UAE
The research states that migration has led directly and indirectly to significant growth in tourism to both origin and destination countries through increased visibility especially in the VFR sector and to the de-velopment of new tourism infrastructure and trans-port routes in and between countries
UKrsquos Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) also lays empha-sis on the importance of the specific market having published an in-depth study on air passengers visiting friends or family The investigation report titled Interna-tional Relations ndash The Growth in Air Travel to Visit Friends or Relatives indicated that the robust growth in VFR re-flected trends such as labour mobility and migration while predicting that due to these trends the countryrsquos GDP will affect future VFR passenger traffic
VISITING MENA
At the 6th UNWTOPacific Asia Travel Association Fo-rum on Tourism Trends and Outlook held in October 2012 in China it was revealed that 36 percent of the Middle Eastrsquos outbound market constitutes the VFR segment
Some insights on inbound VFR trends concern-ing the hotel industry in the region were provided by Darroch Crawford managing director Middle East and Africa Premier Inn Hotels who highlighted that this market is highly important but also very difficult to measure as bookings of this nature come through different channels His estimations on guests travel-ling to visit family members in the region and residing in Premier Inn properties amount to seven percent of the total clientele Crawford further indicated that the largest Middle Eastern feeder markets for the brand are Lebanon Syria and Jordan
Meanwhile in Saudi Arabia domestic tourism has been the primary focus of tourism development pol-icy in the Kingdom and according to Saudi Tourism Outlook issued by the Tourism Information and Re-search Centre part of Saudi Commission for Tourism amp Antiquities which analyses July 2012rsquos figures the local segment contributed to 114 million overnight trips in the month under review out of which 398 percent hailed from the VFR segment In addition 293 percent of the 171 million outbound trips taken from Saudi Arabia during July 2012 were categorised as the VFR market
The Statistical Service of Cyprus disclosed that ac-cording to the latest data available concerning Sep-tember 2012 the island received 335352 visitors out of which 97 percent were VFR The same data for the
28 WHOS MOVED
MARCH 2013
ANDREW ABRAM
KONSTANTINOS KOUROTSIDIS
Andrew Abram has been named general manager at Raffles Dubai Abram joins the propertyrsquos team from Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group where over the past dec-ade he has held various positions He joined the company in 2003 as resident manager of The Excelsior Hotel Hong Kong and went on to lead the renovation and reopen-ing of Mandarin Oriental Jakarta holding the role of general man-ager for eight years He most re-cently served as general manager
of Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhavi in Chiang Mai Thailand Having also held the position of corporate director of sales and marketing at Jumeirah Group in the Middle East where he was responsible for the branding and launching of several projects Abram brings an insiderrsquos knowl-edge to Raffles Dubai
Konstantinos Kourotsidis has been named general manager at Radisson Blu Martinez Hotel Beirut Kourotsidis started his career in the hospitality industry in 1996 in food and beverage at Copthorne Hotel Hanover In 2000 he joined The Rezidor Ho-tel Group where he held various positions across Europe and the Middle East including at Radis-son Blu Hotel Hanover Radission
Blu Hotel amp Spa Galway Radisson Blu Resort Schloss Fleesensee Radisson Blu Resort El Quseir Radisson Blu Hotel Alexandria and Radisson Blu Resort Sharjah After several task force assign-ments in Egypt Libya and UAE Kourotsidis was promoted to general manager at Radisson Blu Al Mahary Hotel Tripoli Most re-cently he worked as acting gen-eral manager at Radisson Blu Re-sort Fujairah
Abram brings an insiderrsquos knowledge to
Raffles Dubai
MARCH 2013
30 TRAVEL TALK
MARCH 2013
LEON SALINEL
WAEL EL BEHI
KARIM NAHAS
Executive assistant manager of sales and marketing Dusit Thani Dubai
General manager Ramada Downtown Dubai
General managar Rose Rayhaan by Rotana
ldquo2012 was a very successful year for us We were not only successful in meeting our key performance indicators most notably by exceeding both our gross operating profit and gross operating revenue Working with Inves-tors in People throughout the year also ensured that we performed highly in our employee satisfaction survey we even ranked at the top of our group in this regards [hellip] We are now drawing to a close on our rooms renovation and have just welcomed our new general manager so it is an exciting year to come for us which will see some changerdquo
ldquoI am very pleased to be appointed as executive board mem-ber [of the Tunisian Business Council] I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress in [the cur-rent year] I hope to play a part in creating strong community bound by camaraderie accord and reliance among Tunisian nationals in the UAErdquo
ldquo2012 was a record year for Rose Rayhaan total revenue growth was almost 17 percent versus 2011 [hellip] The hotel continued to focus on the GCC markets with the Saudi market on the top list and strong performance of the UK France and Russian markets were witnessed UAE local market in both leisure and corporate seg-ments also performed very well We are planning to fo-cus on new emerging markets like South Africa Brazil and Turkey Competition will be indeed stiffen this year however I guess there will be business for everybodyrdquo
I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress
TRAVEL TALK IS YOUR SPACE ndash 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
editorialtraveltradeweeklytravel
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el t
alk
is
y
our
spac
e
31RENDEZVOUS
MARCH 2013
Q amp A with Rana El KhouryWith her recent appointment Rana El Khoury general manager Le Gray Beirut became one of Lebanonrsquos first women to hold such a high position at a five-star hotel and here she shares her views on the future prospects of the Lebanese hotel sector
Rana El KhouryGeneral manager Le Gray Beirut
Travel Trade Monthly How would you describe 2012 in a few words Rana El Khoury The best way to describe 2012 would certainly be lsquochallengingrsquo a challenge that could be called survival until we see better days Controlling costs while maintaining superior ser-vice quality and competitiveness is key to our con-tinuous success in the Lebanese market The hotel performance could be rated as fair for 2012 greatly impacted by high level of business during the first five months of the year This has allowed us to stay ahead of the game for the remainder of the year although November 2012 was the toughest month since the opening of the hotel in 2009 Despite all Le Gray has managed in 2012 to retain its number one position in occupancy and RevPAR in the Leba-nese market
Travel Trade Monthly The hotel will soon em-bark on a major extension project Tell us a little bit about this
Rana El Khoury Le Gray is preparing to kick off its extension that will include a larger lobby with a lob-by lounge a chocolate room banquet space a 35-seat movie theatre and an additional 18 rooms The project should reach completion by end of 2014
Travel Trade Monthly Prior to your appoint-ment you served as hotel manager How does your new position differ from your former role
Rana El Khoury My previous position as hotel manager was focused on the operations aspect of the hotel as general manager my responsibilities enclose a more general view of the hotel including the administrative and strategic side of the hotel as well as the link between the owning company and management company
My priorities for the coming year is diversify-ing our target markets on the international and local scene to maximise hotel occupancy and to strengthen the positioning of Le Gray on the lo-cal market as a destination for its restaurants and bars whilst building on the existing strong team at Le Gray and getting the right people together to move forward with positivity and vigilance to counter these challenging times
The advice I would give young women ready to climb the corporate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the dif-ferent positions they fill throughout their careers
Travel Trade Monthly Your appointment makes you one of the first Lebanese women to hold this position at a five-star hotel How challenging is it to hold such a high position at an already well-established hotel
Rana El Khoury The hospitality industry is very challenging and requires sacrifice on all levels What I can say is that women have their own speci-ficity and they can bring a different vision and new perspectives to the hospitality business The advice I would give young women ready to climb the cor-porate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the different positions they fill throughout their careers this can only make them stronger and certainly more cred-ible when they reach executive level positions
Travel Trade Monthly Over the past few years the Lebanese tourism industry has faced a num-ber of serious challenges What are your expec-tations for the current year Rana El Khoury Lebanon has always been a pre-ferred destination attracting tourists from the Arab and Gulf countries and with increasing stability and security we do see a solid recovery
Given the complexity of the Lebanese market improvement can occur overnight As seen in May 2008 following the Doha-agreement occupancy rates jumped back then from 30 to 90 percent within one week
This year remains uncertain due to the volatil-ity of the political situation in the region the key is to remain sustainable and be ready for the sudden surge in business
Le Gray Beirut
32 NEWS amp EVENTS
MARCH 2013
EVENTS Sponsored by
Following a refurbishment to better present the historical phases of the emiratersquos auto manu-facturing sector Sharjah Classic Cars Museum originally launched in 2008 by HH Sheikh Sul-tan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi ruler of Sharjah reopened in January by Sheikh Essam bin Saqr Al Qassimi chairman Sharjah rulerrsquos office
On the opening day of the event Manal Ataya director general Sharjah Museums Department said ldquoThe aim of refurbishing this museum was to allow us to re-evaluate the previous design and interpretation and improve it significantlyrdquo
She further pointed out that the museum now helps visitors to appreciate the aesthetic and historical value of classic cars in a space that inte-grates a new childrens interactive area and a gal-lery space for temporary exhibitions
The museum boasts 85 classic cars two mo-torcycles and five bicycles as well as a model of an old car and an engine to allow visitors to familiarise themselves with parts of an engine and their function while it is divided into five sections and features an area for activities and interactive games
Following the launch of the UAE branch of the Airline Owners and Pi-lotsrsquo Association (AOPA) at Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2012 Yousif Al Hammadi president AOPA UAE has invited representatives from international AOPA branches to attend a workshop dedicated to discussing and debating gen-eral aviation issues in the region
The meeting the first of its kind will run parallel to this yearrsquos Abu Dhabi Air Expo and will take place at the Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies Al Bateen Executive Airport on March 6
It is anticipated that up to 30 representatives from AOPA US AOPA UK AOPA Germany and AOPA France will meet with their colleagues from the UAE during the one-day event to share knowledge and debate a variety of topics including air space regulations aerial non-commercial operations certification and maintenance issues and pilot licensing
AOPA members will also be able to maximise their time by attending the Air Expo exhibition the Middle Eastrsquos only dedicated general aviation event to meet pilots from the region and learn about the latest trends
Sharjah Reopens Car Museum AOPA UAE to Hold Meeting with International Colleagues
ITB BerlinBerlin Germany March 6 ndash 10 2013(wwwitb-berlinde)A business-to-business platform for trade visitors which provides the possibility to discover the whole world within a few hours
MITT MoscowMoscow Russia March 20 ndash 23 2013(wwwmittru)Russiarsquos leading and largest travel exhibition with over 3000 participat-ing companies and 197 destinations a key meeting place for industry professionals
The Gulf Incentive Business Travel amp Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) Abu Dhabi UAE March 25 ndash 27 2013(wwwgibtmcom)A leading event for the meetings incentives and business travel industry in the GCC region which can truly unlock all participantsrsquo business potential
Saudi Travel amp Tourism Investment Market (STTIM)Riyadh Saudi Arabia March 31 ndash April 4 2013(wwwsttimcomsa)The event covers all travel and tourism investments aspects in the Kingdom through a combined conference and exhibition
International Destination Expo (IDE)Dubai UAE April 4 ndash 7 2013(wwwastaorgevents)Organised by the American Society of Travel Agents IDE is a destination training programme where participants can meet local suppliers and built profitable long-lasting relationships
Arabian Travel Market (ATM)Dubai UAE May 6 ndash 9 2013(wwwarabiantravelmarketcom)The travel and tourism event unlocking business potential within the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals
Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies
6 VISIT Egypt
MARCH 2013
W orld Tourism Organization (UNWTO)rsquos World Tourism Barometer released in January has shown that the sub-region of North Africa alongside Southeast Asia recorded the largest
increase in arrivals in 2012 swelling nine percent high-ly attributed to Tunisiarsquos and Egyptrsquos strong rebounds of 33 percent and 15 percent respectively following on 2011rsquos declines
Moreover UNWTOrsquos World Tourism Barometer November 2012 edition stated that North Africarsquos inbound tourism figures grew 102 percent between January and August over the corresponding months in 2011 a period during which the regionrsquos arrivals dropped 91 percent over 2010 results
The study further indicated that during 2012 North Africa regained the lead over advanced des-tinations thanks to certain countries such as Egypt whose increase in incoming international tourist numbers during the eight-month stretch reflected
a consolidation in figures of 20 percent following 2011rsquos 32 percent deterioration
Meanwhile in June 2012 Business Monitor In-ternational (BMI) issued a preliminary study enti-tled Egypt Tourism Report Q3 2012 with reference to the countryrsquos tourism prospects through to 2016 considering important issues which had been fac-ing the sector since the outbreaks of large-scale un-rest rocked Egypt in 2011 stating that it anticipated strong recovery in 2012 if these occurrences were to continue decreasing in frequency throughout the third quarter (Q3) and finally through to the end of the year under review
On a conclusive note during the first nine months of 2012 Egypt drew in a double-digit increase of 13 per-cent in tourism receipts according to the study while Magdi Gamil director of sales and marketing Fairmont Nile City Towers stated that some 81 million tourists vis-ited the country between January and September with 96 million overnight stays reported in Egyptian hotels injecting some USD10 billion into the economy
ldquoTourism is a vital pillar of the national economy representing 113 percent of Egyptrsquos GDP and 17 per-
cent of its foreign currency reserves in addition to 126 percent of the total manpower of the state with four million people directly employed in the industryrdquo Gamil explicated revealing that by the end of 2012 Egypt had welcomed 11 million tourists all-in-all
ldquoThis number is anticipated to reach 14 million this year with the Ministry of Tourism hoping for USD13 billion in tourism-generated incomeldquo he fur-ther revealed
REMAINING AFLOAT
The countryrsquos hotel sector saw healthy indications of improvement towards the end of 2012 according to data compiled by STR Global which had presented an escalation in occupancy levels of 245 percent
Stefanie Saghbini writes
ETERNAL ELEMENTS OF SURPRISE As the world watches over Egypt waiting to see what the future holds for a country submerged in ancient heritage profoundly resonant throughout its vast and deeply historical setting peppered with contemporary develop-ments tourists are steadily beginning to return to the land of genial promises
EGYPT IN BRIEF
Capital Cairo
Currency Egyptian Pound (EGP)
Language Arabic
Temple of Kom Ombo
Avenue of Human-headed Sphinxes
8 VISIT Egypt
MARCH 2013
reaching 456 percent in December 2012 reporting the largest increase in the Middle East
Meanwhile TRI Hospitality Consultingrsquos HotStats MENA Chain Hotel Market Review November 2012 a study on full-serviced hotels stated that while Sharm El Sheikh witnessed the highest occupancy rates Cairo posted record profits since the 2011 revolu-tion According to the survey the capitalrsquos hospitality segment showed signs of full recovery in the month under review registering a 743 percent increase in gross operating profit per available room (GOPPAR) to USD7175 while RevPAR grew 323 percent to USD6427 driven by a 143 percentage point improve-ment in occupancy to 55 percent masking the two percent decline in average room rate (ARR)
These results can be highly accredited to the re-gional market which proved somewhat irrepressible in the face of the unrest and whose commitment to Egypt could be seen in BMIrsquos revised growth fore-cast and views on total tourism nights recorded for the fourth quarter of 2012 which was said to reach around 24 percent y-o-y from the previous estima-tion of 15 percent
Marten Schwass general manager Kempinski Nile Hotel also noticed this changing trend describ-ing the locals and in particular the hotels of Cairo as resilient which throughout the past 12 months re-
lied on local business to bolster revenues while he added travellers were rescheduling trips around pe-riods of instability
Gamil also reported that during 2012 Fairmont Nile City Towersrsquo top three contributors to the prop-ertyrsquos clientele base hailed from Egypt itself followed by Saudi Arabia and Lebanon while in 2011 Egypt and Saudi Arabia also claimed first and second spot while the US followed in third
Analogous to Schwassrsquo view on the changing tourism trend across the capital Peter Goddard man-aging director TRI Hospitality Consulting Dubai also indicated that recovery in Cairo is evident albeit still suffering to a certain extent ldquoThe Cairo market has been resilient to continuous political upheaval with hotels in the city demonstrating that they have recov-ered as performance indicators return to pre-revolu-tion levelsrdquo he explained
Gamil affirmed his tenacity to claim his slice of the pie ldquoDespite the political unrest and recent clashes in Cairorsquos Tahrir Square inbound tourism appears to be on the rise and we will be keen to grab every opportu-nity that is out there to make it happenrdquo he asserted
A PROMINENT DESTINATION
A good example of the capitalrsquos buoyancy can be seen in the end-of-2012 re-sults of Fairmont Heli-opolis amp Towers which witnessed slight signs of recovery and progressed slowly in 2012 versus 2011 this according to Noha Mansour director of marketing and public relations Fairmont He-liopolis amp Towers Cairo who announced increas-ing y-o-y occupancy rates of seven percent and a y-o-y rise in Rev-PAR of 13 percent
With regards to feeder markets in 2011 Mansour listed Egyptian guests as the propertyrsquos most popular guests which she underlined generated the largest number of room nights than any other national-ity Following the local segment were Germa-ny Italy Morocco UK France and the US Man-sour continued adding that in 2012 the top six countries ranked based on room nights were Libya Germany Africa Italy UK and the US
In addition Kempinski Nile Hotel also remained on top of its league and in particular among the luxury segment during 2012 this according to Sch-wass who registered an increased number of visitors from the UK a market he described as traditional and which signals positive growth for this year
With regards to the hotelrsquos strongest contributors Schwass listed the GCC UK and US as top three stat-ing that a drop in overall number of visitors since the revolution has been witnessed however he contin-ued these three key markets have recently been re-covering and in terms of occupancy year-to-date the property remains in second place among its competi-tors in Cairo
ldquoAdditionally the business segment has been booming and we have attracted an increased flow of business visitors from Turkey and Korea The hotel recently hosted the Turkish government delegation and HE the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs as well as large groups of corporate visitors from East Asiardquo he further explained also confirming that the propertyrsquos social events are always well-attended making the ho-tel a meeting point for local socialites and dignitaries
InterContinental Cairo Citystars also recently hosted high-ranking officials from Malaysia which included Najib Razak prime minister of Malaysia and Anifah Aman minister of foreign affairs Malaysia alongside a group of businessmen and media repre-sentatives from the country
Upon his arrival to the hotel Razak was welcomed by Simon Stamper area general manager InterConti-nental Cairo Citystars InterContinental Residence Suites Cairo Citystars Holiday Inn Cairo Citystars and Stay-bridge Suites Cairo Citystars as well as Ibrahim Nashaat general manager InterContinental Cairo Citystars
ROUND THE CORNER
Revealing his forecasts for this year Gamil is antici-pating a breakdown of 37 percent in leisure travel 28 percent in corporate guests and 18 percent in groups for Fairmont Nile City Towers with expected room nights for the year to reach 75932 average oc-cupancy levels at 412 percent and average room rate fetching in EGY75232 (USD11174) The top three tar-geted nationalities for this year remain the local mar-ket as well as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait he revealed
Commenting on the upcoming developments Gamil said ldquoAlso opening soon is the Casino at Fair-mont Nile City that is built on an area of 850m2 and has top line machines including five Roulette five Black Jack five Poker one three-card Poker one Ponto Banko and over 30 digital slot machines The Casino has a VIP room that includes one Roulette one Poker and one Black Jack tablesrdquo
He also mentioned the recently-unveiled state-of-the-art Presidential Suite which he further informed is fashioned with contemporary elegant art deco furnishings offering what he described as the ulti-mate in urban chic ldquoIt is spacious comprising a bed-room two living rooms a dining area a kitchenette an office a butlersecretary bedroom and an open
9VISITEgypt
MARCH 2013
Lan Tania Fairmont Heliopolis amp Towers
concept bathroom [hellip] All suites feature high speed Internet access an interactive TV and complimentary coffee and tea Presidential Suite guests are provided with a personal butler for unrivalled comfortldquo
Mansour is also eyeing a positive year ahead with an increase in occupancy of 13 percent and an upsurge in RevPAR by 22 percent highly dependent as she inserted on the countryrsquos political and security stability The main targeted markets for the year re-main the propertyrsquos six leading contributors in 2012 Libya Germany Africa Italy UK and the US as well as the rest of Europe and the Middle East Mansour further informed
Urs Umbricht general manager Maritim Jolie Ville Kings Island Luxor also placed a strong emphasis on the reliance on the countryrsquos situation when stating his predictions for the year however his estimates seem somewhat optimistic with a modest surge in occupan-cy of five percent a slight boost in ARR of three per-cent and RevPAR growth of three percent for Maritim Jolie Ville Kings Island Luxor with all European North and South American Middle Eastern and local mar-kets high on the targeted list for the property
For Dina Naeem area director of public relations Egypt Starwood Hotels amp Resorts Worldwide the year is looking to be very positive for the hotel giant across all its propertyrsquos throughout the country as she com-mented adding that as an emerging market located at the nexus of the rapidly growing Africa and Middle East region it is expected that the country will stabi-lise in the second half of year
ldquoStarwood is expecting to see a growth in tourism to Egypt over the coming year The Starwood hotels in particular are pleased to announce some exciting new openings and renovations to excite both leisure and business travellers [This year] will see the open-ing of Le Meacuteridien Cairo Airport to entrench Star-woodrsquos presence in the capital The hotel is targeted primarily towards the business travellers and will be on an area of 23500m2 Located in front of the arrival passenger Terminal 3 Le Meacuteridien Cairo Airport is at-tached to the [main] building through an inter-con-necting bridge and consists of 330 rooms 19 suites three major restaurants banqueting conferences and meeting rooms in addition to swimming pools green areas health club and ample parking
ldquoTwo Le Meacuteridien hotels [namely] Le Meacuteridien Pyramids and Le Meacuteridien Dahab will open Egyptrsquos first two Explore Spas These are the first branded spas by Le Meacuteridien in Egypt offering a new perspec-tive on spa experience breaking away from how spa is viewed [hellip] The iconic Sheraton Cairo Hotel amp Ca-sino located on the west bank of the Nile River is un-dergoing a total revamp and is also set to open with 656 rooms in quarter four of [the year] The renova-tion which began in 2010 is considered one of the most comprehensive projects [hellip] and is targeted to-wards the discerning leisure traveller as well as busi-ness travellers who are looking for much more than just a business triprdquo she explained Starwood Hotels amp Resorts is also gearing up to open The St Regis Cairo in October 2014
PREPARE FOR THE RED SEA
Further south towards the world-renowned tourist re-gion of the Red Sea the coastal city of Sharm El Sheikh was blessed with the entry of the peak season in No-vember 2012 according to TRI Hospitality Consultingrsquos HotStats MENA Chain Hotel Market Review November 2012 as signs of improvement blos-somed throughout the destination during the month under review
According to the re-port occupancy rates swelled 77 percentage points to 797 percent pushing RevPAR up 54 percent to USD4166 despite a 47 percent decrease in ARR to USD5225 Meanwhile total RevPAR boosted 87 percent to USD7551 securely driven by an in-crease in food and bever-age revenue with GOP-PAR growing 52 percent to USD328
However Goddard believes that hotels in Sharm El Sheikh also ap-pear to be struggling as market-wide rate reduc-tions have negatively impacted financial re-sults ldquoAlthough occu-pancy in the region has increased the slashing of rates has had a dra-matic impact on their
peak seasonrsquos profit marginsrdquo he continuedSimilarly Umbricht highlighted that throughout
many tourist destinations across Egypt there exists an over-offer in hotel rooms which he believes re-sults in the very low pricing and thus is keeping Egypt very competitive against European competitors ldquoOn the other hand this is also resulting in a rate battle amongst the hotels which at the end is not healthy One of the losers will be the ecological and balanced tourism and finally naturerdquo he further underlined
On a positive note Marc Reissigner area general manager InterContinental The Palace Port Ghalib Re-sort Crowne Plaza Sahara Sands Port Ghalib Crowne Plaza Sahara Oasis Port Ghalib and Marian Lodge at Port Ghalib this year expects a 4268 percent in oc-cupancy levels equivalent to an increase of 1236 percent over 2012 with average daily rate to surge USD865 to USD4536 from USD3671 in 2012 This is all considering that MICE organisers place Egypt back into their event calendars according to Reissigner who emphasised that the international MICE market will continue to be one of the propertiesrsquo main targets and remain the number one feeder segment to Marsa Alam Port Ghalib destination
In addition the hotels will also be focusing on the corporate meetings and leisure markets the latter including the underwater adventure snorkelling
10 VISIT Egypt
MARCH 2013
families and romance and couples segments as well as wellbeing Reissigner further informed
ldquoNamed Egyptrsquos leading spa resort [] Six Senses Spa is [the countryrsquos] first on the Red Sea coast and is located among the splendid landscaped gardens lagoons stun-ning architecture and pure luxury of InterContinental The Palace Port Ghalib We have tailor-made a new hon-eymooners emotions experience with an inspired luxury palace of indulgence from the moment of arrival in Port Ghalib our lsquoemotionsrsquo experience takes clients on a jour-ney to the fascinating past blended with luxurious com-fortrdquo he continued
Steigenberger Al Dau Resort also recently celebrat-ed the traditional cornerstone placement of its new five-star Red Sea project Steigenberger Aqua Magic With construction works well underway Steigenberger Aqua Magic owned by Sami Saad Holding is slated for opening towards the end of the year and will operate under the flag of the renowned German hotel group Steigenberger Hotels The resort will run as a family hotel boasting 700 rooms in capacity a large swim-ming pool landscape extensive recreational facilities including its own Splash certified water park and an exclusive entertainment area
Moreover Soma Bay and in particular Kempin-ski Hotel Soma Bay is ready to welcome visitors to a place offering what Schwass described as beauti-
La Reacutesidence des Cascades
[the year] and the country enters an onoff transitional phase the second year post-revolution era is likely to re-sult in slow growth and a gradual return to pre-crisis lev-els by winter 20132014rdquo
However he recommends that anyone and eve-ryone visit Egypt ldquoEveryone must know that whatever happens in Tahrir Square the rest of Cairo and most of all the rest of Egypt and Red Sea are perfectly saferdquo he continued ldquoThis does not mean that the protests are not important but tourism-wise there are no complications at all If there is a demonstration on the same day you are in Cairo and you are concerned about your safety just come and enjoy the sun by the Red Sea Port Ghalib were luxury meets natureldquo
Naeem described Egypt as a safe and attractive tourist destination for international travellers and as-sured that Starwood Hotels amp Resorts Worldwide is committed to actively promoting tourism to the re-gion ldquoIn 2012 Starwood launched a dedicated web-site egypt-hospitalitycom to highlight the history of hospitality and services of all 10 Starwood hotels in the country [hellip] Egypt has culture diversity and stunning beauty which encompasses the countryrsquos history and which are still present todayrdquo
Sharing similar sentiments and reaffirming Star-wood Hotels amp Resorts Worldwidersquos top priority in implementing the hotel grouprsquos recovery campaign Hassan Ahdab vice president Africa and the Indian Ocean Starwood Hotels amp Resorts Worldwide said ldquoIt is very important after the recent events in Egypt that peoplersquos faith and trust in a country which has so much to offer be restored We are convinced that the campaign will make some noise and draw those of our loyal longstanding guests who have been wary of revisiting Egypt back to our resortsrdquo
ldquoOur personal message to travellers planning to visit is come and join usrdquo remarked Sherine Emara marketing manager La Reacutesidence Des Cascades ldquoOur hotels our beaches our golf courses our Cascades Spa and Thalasso our dive centre our wind surfing our kite surfing centre our Soma Bayrsquos Marina Centre with its restaurants and shops are all operational and ready to welcome yourdquo she added
Mansour believes that political and security stability are pre-requisites for tourism as she elaborated ldquoHaving tourism high on our president Mohamed Morsyrsquos agen-da in addition to the new initiatives taken by the ministry to boost tourism we expect tourism to regain its previ-ous position Moreover Egyptrsquos upcoming parliamentary elections will further enhance stability in Egyptrdquo
Tarek Moussa chairman Egypt amp Beyond Travel concurred ldquoStability and safety are the key words for tourists to come back to Egypt and unless the president and government of Egypt get it right and bring back sta-bility tourists will remain in much lower numbers Tour-ism in Egypt is very sick now but it will never dierdquo
Meanwhile Ibrahim Mohamed Ibrahim managing director Perfect Tours stressed that customers looking for the worldrsquos most enjoyable holidays to exotic desti-nations in Egypt and abroad do not have to do a single thing except of course to have a good time the rest he confirmed will be taken care of
ful sandy beaches and year-round sunshine which he informed remain the main attraction for tourists worldwide ldquoBy continuing to offer world-class service to our guests during the past 18 months Kempinski Hotel Soma Bay has also been able to recover from the dip in tourismrdquo he added
Also commenting on the resurgence Stephen Banks director of sales and marketing Africa Moumlven-pick Hotels amp Resorts said ldquoWe have seen occupan-cies steadily rise over the last year with our hotels on the Red Sea performing particularly wellrdquo
He added ldquoIn April this year Moumlvenpick Resort Soma Bay will open with 418 rooms on an unspoiled
stretch of white sandy beach in this increasingly popular destination on the Red Sea In addition Moumlvenpick Hotel amp Re-sort Cairo - Pyramids will open a further 132 rooms with an entirely new building aimed at the upscale business traveller and leisure guest
A PERSONAL MESSAGE
The 2011 revolution has certainly had a significant impact on Egyptrsquos tour-ism industry and this evi-dently continued in 2012 with direct impact on travel accommodation air transportation and tour-ist attractions with value growth rates across the board declining to dou-ble digit levels according to Reissigner who added ldquoOperators introduced heavy discounts in order to lure tourists back and prices remained low at the beginning of 2012 As unrest continues in Egypt with violence erupting again at the beginning of
11EXPLOREDubai
MARCH 2013
Why Dubai
DUBAI IN BRIEF
Country UAE
Currency UAE Dirham (AED)
Language Arabic
Dubairsquos astonishing rise from a small fishing and pearling community to one of the fastest growing metropolises continues to impress and inspire the world Welcome to the land of records and record-breakers where everything imaginable and unimaginable be-comes a reality
H ome to the worldrsquos tallest building largest shopping mall a collection of iconic artificial islands and some of the most instantly-recogniseable sights Dubai has established itself as the city of superlatives which con-tinuously strives for greater heights
Just when you think you have seen it all a new lsquoworldrsquos firstrsquo or lsquoworldrsquos mostrsquo project is announced inspiring visitors to return again and again
Propelled by multi-billion dollar investments in a space of just a few years Dubai has grown into the worldrsquos 13th most popular tourist destination as Euromonitor Internationalrsquos Top 100 Cities Destination Ranking shows far outperforming the likes of Shanghai Rome or Las Vegas
ldquoThe hospitality and tourism industry in Dubai is thrivingrdquo commented Nasser Fawzi director of sales and marketing Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates adding that Dubai has turned into one of the most sought-after destinations worldwide and thanks to the continuous efforts of the government and the Dubai Department of Tourism amp Commerce Marketing (DTCM) people are becoming more and more familiar with the emirate and what it has to offer ldquoVisitors can find both choice and value here making it the ideal destination for both leisure and business travellersrdquo he continued
In fact Dubairsquos hotel sector concluded 2012 with the highest profits in the MENA region for the third consecutive year according to TRI Hospitality Consult-ingrsquos HotStats survey which shows that despite the growing room inventory the destinationrsquos soaring popularity and uninterrupted string of events conferences and festivals helped maintain a steady stream of demand throughout the year lead-ing to an average annual occupancy level of 814 percent and a gross operating profit per available room surge of 133 percent over 2011 levels
ldquo2012 was a very good year for the hospitality industry where Dubai went again from strength to strengthrdquo confirmed Hazem Aouad cluster director of sales and marketing Radisson Royal Hotel Dubai and Radisson Blu Resort Fujairah
Karim Nahas general manager Rose Rayhaan by Rotana also described 2012 as a record year for the hotel when Dubairsquos hospitality industry in general witnessed a boom as the destination continued to benefit from the outcome of the Arab Spring and the governmentrsquos endeavours to market Dubai as a premier leisure destination
Sharing similar views Jan Siddiqi director of sales Ramada Plaza Jumeirah
JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai
Rita Kasziba writes
12 EXPLORE Dubai
MARCH 2013
Beach Residence and Ramada Sharjah attributed the over and above expectations performance to the col-lective result of various actions including political well-crafted initiatives
Praising the government and the tourism bodyrsquos continuous efforts Rupprecht Queitsch general man-ager JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai the worldrsquos tallest hotel at 355m said ldquoDTCM works very hard to raise the profile of Dubai as a destination for the con-vention business and leisure business and we work closely with them on these campaigns and sales tripsrdquo
Fawzi further added ldquo[The government along with DTCM] provide a lot of support to the hospital-ity industry through joint promotions sales and mar-keting initiatives and partnerships The government has positioned Dubai as one of the most sought-after destinations worldwide that has so much to offer and as a result demand for the destination continued to grow steadilyrdquo
TURNING AMBITION INTO ACTION
Just in a single generation Dubairsquos population has grown from just 10000 at the turn of the last century to over two million comprising more than 200 nation-alities by 2011 creating a characteristic destination of vibrant cultures and vivid contracts Demonstrating
the emiratersquos growing significance on regional and global levels everyday at present an average of three million people spend their day in Dubai including workers residing in other emirates and travellers visit-ing the destination on business or for pleasure
As Husseim Hachem cluster general manager Al Bustan and Al Murooj Rotana Dubai observed the emirate has consistently made its strong mark as one of the top destinations all over the world bolstered by widespread efforts of both the public and the pri-vate sector aimed at establishing Dubai as a desired place in every aspect
ldquoFirst the government is doing a great job in promoting the city internationally and secondly dif-ferent industries like hospitality travel tourism and more are working hand in hand to provide the best experiences to tourists and residents alike In addition to these factors Dubai as a city itself is a wonderful place with really nice peoplerdquo Hachem stressed
In fact Dubairsquos visionary leadership has long identified tourism as a central pillar of its economic diversification strategy hence the multi-billion dollar investments into the industry and related sectors in-cluding infrastructure transportation as well as pub-lic services have turned the emirate not only into a tourist hotspot but also into one of the best places to live in the MENA region topping the regional ranking
of Mercerrsquos rsquoQuality of Livingrsquo poll In addition the ease of doing business the close
proximity to key growth markets the centralised time zone best suited to both eastern and western busi-ness hours and the emiratersquos safe family-friendly and multicultural environment have all become a major draw for skilled professionals Consequently numer-ous multinational companies have chosen to set up their regional headquarters in Dubai making it a hub for trade and commerce and the number one desti-nation in the region for foreign direct investment
ldquoDubai continues to cement itself as a prime hub in terms of international businessrdquo confirmed Leon Salinel executive assistant manager sales and mar-keting Dusit Thani Dubai who explained that with its location in the Dubai International Financial Centre and in close proximity to Dubai World Trade Centre and the Dubai International Convention amp Exhibition Centre the hotel enjoys high and in fact growing guest volume from the corporate sector
ldquoHowever it is not just business travellers visit-ing the emiraterdquo Salinel stressed ldquoDubai remains a hotspot for leisure travellers it is the Las Vegas of the Middle East and somewhere people want to experi-ence at least once in their lifetimerdquo
Reflecting Dubairsquos dual appeal Robert Barker general manager Moumlvenpick Hotel amp Apartments
14 EXPLORE Dubai
MARCH 2013
Bur Dubai described Dubai as the Hong Kong of the Middle East adding that the unique model that has been created in the emirate and which continues to evolve with the ongoing reinvestment and planning is set to ensure Dubairsquos success and prosperity in the long-term
ENTERING NEW ERAS
Dubai started the new year on a high with a record 17 million visitors attending the Downtown Dubai New Yearsrsquo Eve Gala exceeding the reported attend-ance of one million at the world famous Times Square celebrations in New York City
The destinationrsquos abundant entertainment and amusement options coupled with its vast retail port-folio has long become a vital part of its appeal with Dubai Mall welcoming over 62 million visitors in 2012 and as a market research conducted by Reed Travel Exhibitions has revealed since the beginning of the year some 48 percent of the emiratersquos hotels were
Ocean View Hotel JA Resorts amp Hotels
Bluewaters Island project located off the Jumeirah Beach Residence coastline is envisaged to become one of the largest tourist hot spots in the world fea-turing demarcated retail residential hospitality and entertainment zones as well as the worldrsquos largest Ferris wheel at 210m named Dubai Eye
With construction due to commence in April the destination is set to further improve Dubairsquos competi-tiveness on the global stage as Abdullah Al Habbai chairman Meraas Holding the developer of the pro-ject suggested ldquoWe have a clear mission and vision to strengthen Dubairsquos global position in the tourism sec-tor This project will continue to build on the emiratersquos reputation as leaders in the global entertainment and retail landscaperdquo
Another megaproject Mohamed Bin Rashid City hailed as a city within the city is expected to set new benchmarks in urban development in the region Comprising four components the project will create an integrated environment for the development of entrepreneurship and innovation and will feature a
myriad of record-breaking leisure and entertainment options including a park 30 percent bigger than Londonrsquos Hyde Park designed to receive 35 million visitors per annum as well as the largest family cen-tre for leisure and entertainment in the region set up in collaboration with Universal Studios that will also include over 100 hotel facilities further to the largest arts gallery in the region and the worldrsquos largest retail complex Mall of the World
ldquoThe current facilities available in Dubai need to be scaled up in line with the future ambitions for the cityrdquo emphasised HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum ruler of Dubai remarking on the vital role of such projects in the emiratersquos Vision 2030 and boosting the UAE economy in order to enable it to enter a new era in which it will become the capital of entrepreneurship arts culture and family tourism for over two billion people
In fact the tourism sector in Dubai is growing by 13 percent annually and the accelerated growth rates require the emirate to prepare all sectors for the
future as passenger volume at Dubai International is set to surpass 90 million people per annum over the next five years ldquoOur development initiatives concern-ing infrastructure in all sectors should be aligned with this growth rate and we have the determination to reach our objectives and be the first in the region to achieve themrdquo concluded Al Maktoum
THE MANY FACES OF DUBAI
As a result of the joint efforts and heavy investments over the past decades Dubairsquos hospitality sector has utterly transformed according to David Thomson chief operating officer JA Resorts amp Hotels ldquoSince 2003 the emiratersquos hotel and hospitality sector has boomed launched new niche products developed new feeder markets and roared ahead with new vig-our after the slowdown of 20092010rdquo he said adding that today Dubai is considered a must-see destina-tion for many more reasons than just shopping and going to the beach which as Thomson stressed is vital for the sectorrsquos future growth
Echoing similar views Habib Khan CEO Planet Hospitality stated that people visiting Dubai can be segregated into three major categories namely lei-sure business and transients
ldquoWithin the leisure we have categorised the guests into travellers who come to witness the dra-matic achievements and modernisation of Dubai [hellip] whereas there are a smaller number but its rapidly growing of those intellectuals educational groups and individuals who seek better understanding of the Emirati and Arabic culturerdquo
Further commenting on the shifting trends Rose Ann Shetty CEO Galavantor which caters to a new generation of responsible travellers noted ldquoThe gov-ernment continues to invest and develop wonderful local and cultural experiences and while Dubairsquos focus continues to be a shopping and leisure destination the type of travellers has changed they are willing to stay longer and experience morerdquo Shetty explained adding that desert horseback riding Bedouin camp-ing trekking and rock climbing are continuously gaining popularity
In a bid to exploit another niche segment medi-cal and wellness tourism DTCM has recently teamed up with the Dubai Health Authority to promote Dubai as a premier medical destination capitalising on the emiratersquos advanced healthcare system and highly-skilled professors
ldquoWe are working to promote the medical tour-ism in Dubai since Dubai has an excellent infrastruc-ture modern hospitals and clinics offering a variety of medical [services] to visitors in search of quality health carerdquo explained Eyad Abdul Rahman execu-tive director media relations and business develop-ment DTCM
DTCM is also actively seeking ways to unleash the immerse potential of the burgeoning cruise tourism sector and secure its long-term growth by participat-ing in various international exhibitions with the aim of attracting more cruise liners
located within a 2km radius of one of the five mega-shopping malls of Dubai
Despite the stiffening competition hotels located in close proximity to shopping complexes continue to thrive as Fawzi confirmed revealing that 2012 proved to be one of the most successful years for the property since it opened seven years ago ldquoAs a city hotel Kem-pinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates offers a truly unique proposition which is well-liked by travellers from the Arab region What we add to Dubairsquos hospitality scene is a destination with entertainment for the whole fam-ily there is Ski Dubai and the new Penguin Encounter experience a great selection of dining options a cin-ema one of Dubairsquos most popular malls and a com-munity theatre all in one location that is literally on the doorstep of the hotelrdquo Fawzi further explained
In spite of the already overwhelming number of attractions in a quest to spur demand and support Dubairsquos bid to host the World Expo 2020 the emirate is forging ahead with a number of new megaprojects The recently approved AED6 billion (USD16 billion)
16 EXPLORE Dubai
MARCH 2013
Commenting on the strong economic fundamen-tals of the emirate and the breadth and unparalleled diversity of Dubairsquos tourism product Moussa El Hayek chief operating officer Al Bustan Centre amp Residence said ldquo[One of the] main reasons behind the prosperity in Dubai is the advanced infrastructure that tourists can enjoy here including luxurious hotels and restau-rants transportation malls entertainment venues parks furthermore security iconic buildings and to some extent the flexibility of the rulesrdquo
rently has 204 aircraft on order at a value USD73 billion Likewise as the second-largest airline operating
out of Dubai International flydubairsquos fast-paced ex-pansion has been a key catalyst in the emiratersquos un-precedented growth In the past two years the airline has more than doubled the number of destinations it flies to from 25 to over 50 a rate of more than one new destination per month and has increased its weekly services to over 1000
Since its inception the low-cost carrier which
served more than 51 million passengers in 2012 has laid great emphasis on connecting Dubai with fast-developing and previously untapped markets opening up new opportunities for travel and trade in emerging markets such as the CIS and Eastern Eu-rope in general In 2012 more than 40 percent of fly-dubairsquos route development concentrated on Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the CIS countries
ldquoWe have seen great demand on our routes within the CIS and CEE as more people seek afford-able fares and direct flights between Dubai and this regionrdquo informed Ghaith Al Ghaith CEO flydubai In addition today flydubai welcomes passengers to Dubai and beyond through its connecting flights to the Maldives Sri Lanka and other destinations
As a matter of fact in 2012 Russia and the CIS proved to be the second fastest expanding market in terms of passenger growth behind South America figures released by Dubai Airports have shown and Al Ghaith revealed a similar trend attesting that the car-rierrsquos total number of flights to the CIS and CEE network was 45 percent higher between October 2011 and Sep-tember 2012 compared to the previous 12 months
ldquoWe operated 109 percent more flights in the region in September 2012 compared to September 2011 illustrating the demand for travel between the nationsrdquo added Al Ghaith ldquoWe are constantly look-ing for new opportunities Our approach is to target destinations within a five-and-a-half hour radius of Dubai which puts us within reach of more than 25 billion people one third of the worldrsquos populationrdquo
Remarking on the airlinesrsquo major role in Dubairsquos development El Hayek highlighted ldquoFlight frequency to different cities all over the world made Dubai the hub of the world as Emirates flydubai and Air Ara-bia have all launched various routes to different cities while other lsquogiantrsquo airlines moved their operations to Dubai due to the advanced infrastructure and the ex-cellent services provided by Dubai Internationalrdquo
In line with the airlinesrsquo expansion strategy hotel-iers are increasingly focusing on reaching out to these new markets including the CIS and Russia which Shaff Butt director of marketing and communication Jumeirah Beach Hotel already listed among the ho-telrsquos key feeder markets
Besides the traditionally strong GCC and Europe-an markets mainly the UK and the German speaking countries demand from the CIS nations also contin-ues to be strong as Siddiqi explained
Reporting similar trends Salinel added ldquoThe GCC has always been a primary source market and has remained strong over the past few years Other source markets which have begun to show significant growth for us as a hotel [are] within the CIS region and Asian marketsrdquo
Butt further added ldquoOver the past few years we are seeing continued positive results from our main key markets such as Europe which continues to show good numbers as well as the GCC and wider Middle East For this year our main focus is the CIS market and we would also like to target Asia and Af-rica since we are getting good pick up as well as more repeat guests each yearrdquo
Nahas listed South Africa Brazil and Turkey among Rose Rayhaan by Rotanarsquos target emerging markets while others including Barker remarked on the growing demand from Far Eastern countries and mainly China
Likewise Hachem noted that China India and the rest of Asia have also started to make up for a big chunk of Al Bustan and Al Murooj Rotana Dubairsquos cli-entele while Aouad also added South America to the list of the markets lsquoto watchrsquo for Radisson Royal Hotel Dubai and Radisson Blu Resort Fujairah
Mohamed Taher director of sales and marketing Traders Hotel Dubai listed a number of emerging markets which hold great potential including the Middle East Africa Southeast Asia Australia Scandi-navia Algeria as well as Serbia
The constantly strong business levels from these markets set to balance demand with supply noted Taherw who anticipates a rise in both rates and over-all business levels ldquoDemand will offset the growth in the increased room inventories with more exhibitions being held in the city as well as the increased air traf-fic with the expansion of the airportrdquo
Hachem further added ldquoThis is admittedly a chal-lenging year as the markets get more and more pen-etrated In addition 2012 had been great which adds more pressure to the industry in general to maintain and exceed the previous achievementsrdquo
Echoing similar views Wael El Behi general man-ger Ramada Downtown Dubai concluded ldquoDubai is one of the most sought-after travel destinations in the world The hospitality sector is getting bigger and better every year Hotels are coming up with innova-tive facilities to ensure guest satisfaction and a travel-ler has a wide range of hotels to choose from Most hotels have increased their efficiency and profitability levels which is commendable We hope to continue this success [hellip] With the growing hospitality sector a traveller will be enticed to visit the city againrdquo
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE
Besides the government and the tourism organisa-tionrsquos vigorous work Dubairsquos advanced air connec-tivity and excellent infrastructure have also played a vital part in the destinationrsquos unprecedented growth as Fawzi noted
ldquoAnother contributing factor is the airlift into the destination and the continued growth of Dubai In-ternational and the UAErsquos airlines including Emirates Etihad Airways and flydubai who have also seen phenomenal growth over the past few years bringing more and more people to the destination [who] will be looking for accommodationrdquo elaborated Fawzi
In fact with its strategic location on the global axis between East and West connecting the devel-oped and the developing world Dubai boasts access to over 25 billion people within a four-hour flight as Queitsch pinpointed
Dubairsquos geographic location makes it a major global hub for trade commerce and tourism a key competitive advantage for Emirates An increasing proportion of the traffic between Europe and Asia now flies through the Middle East and the airline ex-pects this share to further grow taking into consider-ation that Dubairsquos location also facilitates rising trade flows to and from India China and Africa three of the carrierrsquos strongest markets
In the financial year 2011-12 Emirates carried a total of 34 million passengers leading to an average load factor of 80 percent while for the first six months of the financial year ending September 30 2012 pas-senger volume reached 187 million marking a year-on-year increase of 154 percent
Over the last year Emiratesrsquo network has grown rapidly bringing new countries cultures and experi-ences for customers to explore and of course opening up new markets for Dubai Reflecting Emiratersquos ambi-tious expansion plans for the future the company cur-
18 ONSITE Palestine
MARCH 2013
Forging Ahead with Pride PALESTINE IN BRIEF
Administrative Centres
Ramallah Gaza
Accepted Currencies
US Dollar (USD) Jordanian Dollar (JOD)
Language Arabic
Palestine rich in culture deep in history blessed with holy sites and highly worthy of its popularity amongst all travellers alike is a des-tination which never seizes to amaze the world of travel and tourismI n 2012 Palestine witnessed an increase in the
number of inbound tourism by some 225 mil-lion visitors 18 percent higher than that record-ed in 2011 and this paved the way for a boost of 25 percent in overnight stays in hotels and
guesthouses across the country to reach 18 millionIn order to keep visitor levels high the Ministry
of Tourism and Antiquities together with stakehold-ers have implemented numerous projects in a bid to increase traffic to the region
One example is Jenin Tourist Center which is scheduled to open later this year and is set to add to the improvement of Jenin as a tourist destination to attract both local and international visitors with a fo-cus on the quality of the arearsquos residential life and the creation of economic opportunities through tourism
With Poland being heralded as the destinationrsquos second major feeder market in 2012 having welcomed 200000 Polish visitors throughout the year Palestine acted as a partner country for the first time in one of
the global renowned travel trade shows TOUR SALON Poland which gave the Middle Eastern country the opportunity to showcase itself to what is being recog-nised as one of the most promising markets
With regards to Palestinersquos vast selection of accommo-dation offerings the country provides an array of friendly and welcoming hospitality services and this is evident in the healthy performance results reported in 2012
Grand Park Hotel which opened towards the end of September 2012 after a USD13 million renovation transformed it into a five-star property from a four-star recorded 50 percent occupancy in the first six months in operation this according to Mohammed Zomlot general manager Grand Park Hotel
ldquoWe expect perfor-mance to be much bet-ter this year as the hotel is very well-known and guests now know we have had this renovation and want to come and see the new lookrdquo he added
With the majority of the hotelrsquos guests hail-ing from Palestine itself Europe America and the Middle East Zomlot pointed out that the ho-tel attends international conferences sets out marketing strategies and also participates in exhi-bitions in order to keep figures high and promote the hotel as a perfect choice for travellers
Further growing its presence in the region Grand Park Hotel is set to open two new hotels in Palestine in the second quarter of the year and is to be the first local ho-tel chain in the country
Thomas Brugnatelli general manager The American Colony Hotel also revealed the recent
completion of what he described as the spectacular Palm House building alongside other changes which came onboard to cater to the propertyrsquos main clien-tele 45 percent of which Brugnatelli revealed hailed from Europe mostly from France Italy Germany UK and Spain while the US segment claimed a 35 percent market share ldquoFor over a hundred years The American Colony Hotel has a proud reputation of one of the most exceptional and famous hotels in the Middle Eastrdquo he concluded
Royal Court Suites Hotel is yet another property which completed a solid 2012 in terms of business performance as Joseph Ayoub general manager Royal Court Suites Hotel announced who further indicated that with new additions to management and plans for further upgrades the hotel expects its performance to continue to improve into the future ldquoThe Royal Court Suites Hotel will be undergoing re-modeling to our lobby and outside terrace which we are excited forrdquo he expressed
Catering to MENA guests of which 20 percent make up the propertyrsquos entire clientele base who pre-dominantly come from Jordan as well as Palestine it-self the hotel provides a highly service-orientated staff and a location that puts MENA travellers in the heart of Ramallah close to its best attractions and provides them with the opportunity to experience a land sacred to Muslims and Christians boasting holy sites scattered across its land Further to local and regional travellers the hotel is also popular among international organisa-tions non-governmental segments and business trav-ellers arriving from Europe US and Japan
Commenting on the ways through which fel-low professionals can work to improve visitor arriv-als Ayoub advised ldquoHotel operators in Palestine can boost the countryrsquos tourism industry by running well managed operations that provide high quality ser-vice and up to date properties that are exposed to the outside world through proper marketingrdquo
This year also looks to be better than 2012 for Golden Park Resort during which the property wit-nessed average performance levels and occupancy rates of 55 percent among the Czechs Slovakians Indians Sri Lankans Nigerians Polish and Egyp-tians according to Ibrahim Giacamam general man-ager Golden Park Resort who announced changes throughout the hotel in the coming months
ldquoWe are renovating parts of the hotel to compete with local marketsrdquo he revealed adding that this will include a full renovation of the lobby as well as the rooms ldquoThere is competition from new hotels open-ing in Bethlehem thus we want to keep our guests happyrdquo Giacamam concluded
Dominique Christou writes
19TOURUK
MARCH 2013
Dominique Christou writes
A ccording to the latest World Travel amp Tourism Council Economic Impact report published in 2012 direct contribution of travel and tourism to the UKrsquos GDP in 2011 reached GBP35 billion (USD54 billion) 23
percent of the countryrsquos total GDP with a forecasted rise of 13 percent in 2012 and an annual increase of 41 percent over the next decade when the indus-try is estimated to be contributing GBP531 billion (USD81 billion) to the UKrsquos GDP in 2022
Patricia Yates director of strategy VisitBritain ex-pected 31 million inbound visits to the UK for 2012 giving the destination as Yates described a perfect foundation to see continued strong growth in interna-tional tourism for this year contributing revenue to the UK economy and creating new jobs across the country
VisitBritain recently ventured yet again into the GCC following the successful execution and delivery of the BritAgent online training programme in the UAE Saudi Arabia and Kuwait
Meticulously Personalised
UK IN BRIEF
Capital London
Currency British Pound (GBP)
Language English
The UK has long been an admired choice among MENA travellers highly accredited to the typically distin-guished English hospitality world-renowned shopping outlets quality selection of entertainment plethora of family activities and last but not least the overabundance of pictur-esque parks scattered across the country
The UK tourism boardrsquos global online training initia-tive which has been designed to meet the needs of travel trade lsquofront-linersrsquo from new starters to experienced sales personnel was recently launched in Qatar at the British Embassy Doha a programme which upon completion grants the agents with BritAgent status signifying their expertise and knowledge about travel to Britain
ldquoBritain is already a major beneficiary of outbound travel from the Gulfrdquo confirmed Sumathi Ramanathan regional manager Asia Pacific and Middle East Visit-Britain ldquoVisitors from the Gulf region are a major source of revenue for the UK from January to September 2012 these visitors spent nearly AED55 billion (USD15 billion) already showing a seven percent increase over 2011 From 2006 through to 2011 Qatar has shown an outstanding increase in visitor numbers of 59 percent and the spend per night significantly outshines all the other countriesrdquo Ramanathan added
Official figures released by VistBritain reveal that in 2012 the UK witnessed the best November since 2007 with visitation figures a soaring nine percent higher than 2011 keeping the country on track to reach the 31 million mark by end-2012
November 2012 saw healthy results from nearly all the regions in the world exempt the US accord-ing to the study which stated that the UK welcomed 10 percent more tourists from Europe and 12 percent from the rest of the world
20 TOUR UK
MARCH 2013
Yates expressed great satisfaction for this success stressing that 2012 was no ordinary year for inbound tourism so to announce the best November in five years is an achievement
AN AMPLE CHOICE
These healthy results are evident in the hotel sector across the country partially attributed to the relative-ly strong MENA market as Daniel Simmons execu-tive director HotelREZ noted further indicating that the hotel currently has a presence in Dubai and as a result is strategically developing the MENA markets to support the membersrsquo growth
o-y improvement from the top five Middle Eastern mar-kets a 104 percent y-o-y upsurge from Saudi Arabian visitors and a 33 percent y-o-y rise from UAE visitors
Assuring that the MENA guest is well-catering to London Hilton on Park Lane trains its staff to pro-vide the welcome that visitors from the region have come to expect equipping the team with the skills to handle tailored requests according to Brayshaw who elaborated ldquoThere is a dedicated guest relations teams for Middle Eastern guests with Arabic-speak-ing team members Facilities are available for visitorsrsquo private chefs to cook within the hotelsrsquo kitchens and serve their own dishes to their employer Arabic TV stations are also availablerdquo
BRINGING IN BUSINESS
Further boosting MENA tourism to the UK on March 31 British Airways (BA) will launch an additional four flights to and from Amman increasing the frequency from dai-ly to 11 per week ldquoJordan is an important market for Brit-ish Airways and we are thrilled with the excellent growth we have seen here since re-introducing Amman to our route network We are keen to further enhance our op-erations to and from Jordan and the announcement only consolidates our commitment to the Jordanian marketrdquo commented Paolo De Renzis area commercial manager Middle East and Central Asia BA
In addition Qatar Airways has launched its inau-gural long-haul Boeing 787 Dreamliner service on the Doha - London Heathrow route becoming the first airline to operate regular scheduled flights onboard the state-of-the art aircraft to and from the UK
Akbar Al Baker CEO Qatar Airways said ldquoThe Doha - Heathrow route is one of our most popular interna-tional routes and it was only fitting that we deploy our new 787 to and from Londonrdquo
INVESTING IN THE UK
Heathrow Airport is hailed as the most popular gateway for travellers to the UK recording a total of 518 million passengers having passed through its terminal in Janu-ary alone a record for the month which saw an increase of 03 percent over the corresponding month in 2012
Meanwhile load factors also set a record for the month under review up 21 percentage points on Janu-ary 2012 reaching 70 percent Domestic traffic was down 58 percent however European traffic rose 18 percent and Middle Eastern traffic also climbed the trajectory level by 33 percent over the same month in 2012
Moreover Heathrow Airport recently announced GBP3 billion (USD46 billion) worth of investments in the airport in addition to the GBP11 billion (USD168 billion) which has been invested since 2003 and these form part of the establishmentrsquos business plans for Q6 the regulatory period which covers 2014-2019 and they represent one of the largest private-sector investments in UK infrastructure
The plans include the completion of Terminal 2 and the early works on extending the building the development of a new integrated baggage system and the construction of new taxiways and stands which will allow Heathrow Airport to accommodate more of the most modern aircraft
Colin Matthews CEO Heathrow Airport com-mented ldquoHeathrow is the UKrsquos only hub airport and a strategically important national infrastructure asset Heathrow faces stiff competition from other Europe-an hubs and we must continue to improve the service we offers passengers and airlines [] Our plan for a further GBP3 billion (USD46 billion) of private-sector investment will further improve the airport for pas-sengers The plan represents good value for money for airlines and passengers and comes at no cost to taxpayersrdquo
Guests from the UAE Turkey Egypt Saudi Arabia and Kuwait along with Cyprus contributed to two percent of the hotelrsquos total reservations percentage results for 2012 this according to Simmons who also reported a 20 percent year-on-year (y-o-y) increase in revenue ldquoOur hotel members benefit from a 90 per-cent increase on IDS (Internet distribution services) and direct connect bookings a 35 percent increase on GDS (global distribution systems) bookings and a 60 percent growth on CRO (central reservations of-fices) and voice bookingsrdquo
Commenting on the propertyrsquos latest develop-ments Simmons revealed the recently-launched MICE Desk which he pinpointed is an additional solution to HotelREZrsquos member hotels and will help boost revenue
ldquoAt HotelREZ we are very confident that our new MICE Desk will raise awareness and continue to increase reservations for our hotel members from meetings incentives conventions and events pack-ages To complete the consumer booking cycle Ho-telREZ is launching REZanalyst a new social media and review analytics tool for hotels to help manage their online reputationrdquo he concluded
Also showing signs of strong performance is Lon-don Hilton on Park Lane thanks to the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympics whose international committee chose the property as the headquarter ho-tel this according to Ashleigh Brayshaw marketing and communications manager London Hilton on Park Lane
With one out of four of the hotelrsquos guests hailing from the MENA region Brayshaw pointed out that in 2011 the property witnessed particularly high growth in visitor numbers from the region with a 21 percent y-
Moreover the UK especially London offers a full range of activities according to Brayshaw who observed that the Middle Eastern guest is increasingly organised with the time spent in the capital and one who enjoys combining a variety of activities ldquoPopular activities in-clude sending children to summer schools in Regentrsquos Park attending business meetings visiting property shopping for the latest trends and enjoying the rich va-riety of entertainment that London has to offer Families often use managers to organise their time with London Hilton on Park Lanersquos hotel management working di-rectly with guests to assistrdquo she further noted
Moreover Travelodge one of the UKrsquos leading hotel brands is set to benefit from a GBP223 million (USD341 million) brand investment with the opening of 14 new hotels which includes two properties in Spain the creation of 420 new jobs and the launch-ing of a new room concept which has been designed by its customers ldquoThis capital expenditure will help us to grow our business strengthen our product offer-ing and make Travelodge the best value hotel chain in the UKrdquo Grant Hearn CEO Travelodge revealed
ldquoAs part of this yearrsquos investment we have worked with our customers to create a new Travelodge room which offers more comfort quality and stylerdquo he contin-ued adding that this enhanced product combined with economy pricing will ensure Travelodge is the smart choice for leisure and business travellers
Furthermore in order to help attract new custom-ers Travelodge is also investing over GBP12 million (USD 182 million) in digital and online marketing this year as well as over GBP1 million (USD15 million) in a website refresh later this year
London
22 EXCLUSIVE Luxury Travel
MARCH 2013
Living the DreamLuxury travel is all about mak-ing guests feel unique and privi-leged It is about offering them the chance to get to know the world in extravagance and having them live above the ordinary It is about spoiling them with opulent travel and hospitality services something which is without doubt growing in size and quality
I n late December 2012 the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) released its Travel Trends Report 2013 developed in collaboration with UKrsquos Foreign and Commonwealth Office pre-dicting that consumers will continue to look for
good value in breaks for this year rather than cut back on their holidays
Mark Tanzer CEO ABTA stated that the majority of British holidaymakers are reluctant to give up their annual holiday under any circumstances while strong forward bookings for the luxury and all-inclusive sec-tors are being witnessed
Speaking at the 2011 edition of the annual Interna-tional Luxury Travel Market (ILTM)rsquos Ultratravel Forum Chris Sanderson strategy and insight director The Future Laboratory a trend forecasting company had announced predictions stating that the lsquoluxuriansrsquo of the future would not be interested in too much choice ldquoThere is an en-hanced sense of just being todayrsquos luxury consumer rath-er than being surrounded by possessionsrdquo he explained
AUTHENTICALLY PRIVILIGED
Views corroborating Sandersonrsquos were voiced by John McGee research and communications manager Ar-tisans of Leisure a luxury travel company specialis-ing in exclusive customised private tours around the world McGee believes that the primary reason his customers travel is to get authentic experiences that introduce them to the local traditions and people while high-quality hotels encourage them to travel but are not primary incentives further pinpointing the latter as being the interest in experiencing local
culture cuisine history and lifestyle With reference to the Middle East McGee noted
that his agency is intrigued by places like Abu Dhabi and its considered approach to developing new mu-seums and cultural attractions
Defining the demands and needs of luxury trav-ellers as being genuine and local experiences Filip Boyen chief operating officer Orient-Express said ldquoFor luxury tourists travel is not just about lying on a beach or by the pool anymore It is about combining relaxation in a beautiful setting with learning and dis-covery They want to come away with an experience or having learnt something new that they can come home and tell their friends all aboutrdquo
Boyen added that the Middle East is relatively new to the world of tourism a place many will want to discover and consequently this will create a demand for luxury ho-tels already emerging in many parts of the region
Travellers who spend a lot of money for their trip expect and demand the best they need to be cared for in every step of the way while feeling confident that they are dealing with someone experienced to respond to their requests according to Daniel Essex CEO Century Travel who also explained that many luxury travellers are looking for something small and attentive and a much more personal approach
LET US SPOIL YOU
The growing number of luxury hotels and amenities has led to an increased interest with Canadian travel-lers to the Middle East according to Kathy Stewart director of media and public relations Butterfield amp Robinson a Toronto-based agency Aside from authen-ticity she stressed the importance of maintaining the unique qualities of the region for further development
into a luxury destination for global travellers ldquoEspecial-ly North Americans who are travelling a long distance to the Middle East they are not looking for the same experience they can get at home They want Middle Eastern food people landscapes and architecture to be an integral part of the experiencerdquo
Hotel Missoni Kuwait benefits from a healthy lux-ury-demanding domestic market which represents 55 percent of its business followed by Saudi Arabia with 13 percent and the UAE with 10 percent accord-ing to Alfio Bernardini general manager Hotel Mis-soni Kuwait who said ldquo[At the hotel] everything con-tributes to the depth of the experience Hotel Missoni is designed to be genuine and uncomplicated offer-ing those luxury touches that really matter because they genuinely enrich the experience of stayingrdquo
Six Senses Zighy Bay the indigenous village style accommodation in Oman has observed an increase of 12 percent in occupancy levels throughout 2012 while the growth of the Middle East clientele is appar-ent after the development of family-specific offerings attested Guillaume de Lasteyrie executive assistant manager Six Senses Zighy Bay He believes that peace and calm is the most appreciated value of the property while the hotelrsquos offerings are tempting for guests cit-ing the example of the saltwater pool carrying a min-eral composition of 15-20 percent comparable to the Dead Sea whose concentration is 27 percent
Another instance of Arab opulence is Eastern Man-groves Hotel amp Spa by Anantara in Abu Dhabi a prop-erty which assures that luxury is interrelated with in-dulgence across all of its services offered with an acute focus on detail which Nehme Darwiche hotel manag-er Eastern Mangroves Hotel amp Spa by Anantara report-ed is of utter importance Darwiche further supports that the Middle East will not only continue to develop as a luxury destination but will sit on the top of luxury ranks and become a pioneer in such offerings ldquoThe de-mand on luxury products will continue to increase as the tastes of sophisticated societies continues to reach new limits Luxury will not be in big numbers but will be in the power to obtain rarity the Middle East under-stands that very well and the developments planned
Maria Kazeli writes
Hotel Missoni Kuwait
23EXCLUSIVELuxury Travel
MARCH 2013
from now until 2020 have luxury travellers as their tar-getrdquo Darwiche concluded
An upcoming superior property in the region is Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah set to open in May Rudi Jagersbacher president Middle East and Africa Hilton Worldwide explained that the hotel as an up-scale property will have to deliver on two counts experiences and expectations Observing that travel behaviour has changed in the past years and placing emphasis on value for money he further noted ldquo[Wal-dorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah] is palatial exclusive and will offer the highest level of service as well as state-of-the-art amenities but that is not enough We have to ensure that our guests consider their experience as an investment worth repeating and sharingrdquo
The peak of extravagance is reached with a variety of private jet services throughout the region which cater for business and leisure travellers alike Mark Hardman op-erations director ExecuJet Middle East pointed out that the companyrsquos clientele is as diverse as the regionrsquos popu-lation but private aviation offers valued features such as time efficiency security privacy and convenience
He admitted that the most popular destinations for Dubai-based ExecuJet are in the Middle East with Riyadh Jeddah Beirut and Baghdad occupying the top spots while Geneva London and Nice are the favoured European hubs
Similarly Hardy Sohanpal director NasJet agreed that Middle East travellers use private jet services for efficiency flexibility and privacy while he accurately underlined that through emphasising the luxury ben-efits many private jet users build relationships with their key business contacts and staff by giving them access to private aircraft
ON THE RISE
Providing her own view Stewart reiterated that it is important not to overdevelop and retain authenticity of the Arab culture in the region
Along parallel lines Essex believes that the major-ity across the region always had the opinion that big is beautiful but this is not enough he further stressed as the industry professionals in the Middle East need to consider the boutique options However he lauded Abu Dhabirsquos development on Saadiyat Island and the introduction of cultural arts which he believes will at-tract the international and discerning travellers
Boyen deems that the region will experience ad-vancement and will emerge as a luxury destination something he attributes to improved air connectivity ldquoDefinitely with new airline routes from the Middle East launching all the time such as Etihad Airwaysrsquo new routes to Washington and Satildeo Paulo which are
launching this year the destination is bound to de-velop furtherrdquo he continued
Sharing the same opinion that the expansion of airlines and airports lead to such positive develop-ments Bernardini claimed that despite the fact that the Middle East will develop further to become a des-tination for high-calibre tourists not all countries in the region have the capacity and the stability to do so However he further explained a few hotspots will enjoy this blessing due to the money available in this part of the world which will result in the building of super high-quality hotels and thus attract a good number of luxury travellers
De Lasteyrie pointed out that even though the region was under the spotlight for some time the future will see even greater lavish suggestions and-maintaining that ldquoThe Middle East has been since years a luxury destination to the eyes of many though the pinnacle of luxury is yet to come Smaller and personalised service hotels and resorts from around the world are now willing to implement themselves in untouched locations creating a new momentum Much of the Middle East is still in the first tiers of luxu-ry based on opulent luxury and the glitz and glamour that first come with wealth We are now beginning to see affluent luxury and more distinguished spending on art collectibles and sustainabilityrdquo
24 SPECIAL REPORT Waterparks
MARCH 2013
In for a RideWaterparks are a popular attraction among locals and tourist in the Middle East With promising weather throughout most of the year waterparks offer visitors a fun family outing in addition to an array of promotions and events Travel Trade Monthly explores what makes waterparks the perfect attraction
F rom fun rides food and beverage outlets and retail offerings to gaming outlets and social events waterparks offer a safe fun and friendly environment for the family groups and events planners from all walks of life
Wild Wadi Waterpark Dubai is a good example whose team is committed to providing a fun-filled service that will make a lasting impression according to Chris Perry general manager Wild Wadi Waterpark who added that there is a major focus on using every opportunity to ensure that the guestsrsquo decision to visit is rewarded with plenty of time to play less time to queue and more time on the rides
Meanwhile Ice Land Water Park Ras Al Khaimah is receiving full promotional support from the emir-atersquos government and especially by its tourism body this according to Vagelyn Federico deputy director Ice Land Waterpark who added that it has been high-lighted as one of the major destinations in the UAE by all concerned tourism entities
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is the latest entry into the regionrsquos proliferating world of waterparks and accord-ing to Mike Oswald general manager Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi it rivals the worldrsquos best waterparks offering 43 rides slides and attractions ldquoIt has been an incredible journey to this point and unbelievably satisfying to watch the peoplersquos reaction to what has been created We are
support of the tourism body in Ras Al Khaimahrdquo Federico stated
In the summer major visitors to the waterpark hail from Asia as well as locally whereas during the winter months the CIS market plays a big role in pro-moting the park with its tourists in the UAE
In order to boost visitor arrivals to the waterpark Federico pointed out that during the winter the team is currently working for a family barbecue night with some other attractions to lure in more families
Moreover she indicated that the months ahead seem even more vibrant as she further demonstrated ldquoThis year will be more promising as we strengthened our ties with more travel operators inbound and out-bound Additionally we are currently working with dif-ferent airlines travel operators hotels and other tour-ism entities to promote Ice Land giving them also more benefits in promoting us to different market segmentsrdquo
Giving something more to visitors the water-parkrsquos team is currently working with skilled games and other dry rides for people to enjoy at the facility after park operations ldquoWe are also a preferred venue for concerts as we have the perfect place to accom-modate up to 6000 people in one area Ice Land Wa-ter Park is just one of the offerings of WOWRAK and we are currently working with other expansions such as resorts ice skating cinema complex hypermarket and other amusement activities which are planned to open in the next few yearsrdquo concluded Federico
Likewise Perry also announced continuous growth over the years for Wild Wadi Waterpark with 2012 prov-ing very successful He attributed this achievement to events such as ladies nights Ramadan nights and the new Jumeirah Sceirah which launched in September 2012 having proved to be a favourite amongst thrill seekers whereby one drops through a trap door from a height of 32m into the waiting water tunnel and races down the slide at 80km per hour
ldquoWe aim for this trend to continue this year as we have a variety of new attractive promotions and events to suit all our guestsrsquo needsrdquo Perry further in-formed ldquoWe also launched our online ticketing system this month to offer faster entry to our guestsrdquo he added guaranteeing guests with a faster entry process allow-ing all those with a printed ticket to jump the queue
Wild Wadi Waterpark is open all year round and ca-ters to guests from all over the world ldquoDuring the hot summer months (May-October) most of our guests come from the GCC countries whereby during the colder season (November-April) our guests are mainly from Europe
ldquoThe park is also a popular destination for UAE resi-dents since we periodically offer discounts to all resi-dents as well as annualseason passes that allow them to visit as many times as they want for a cheaper raterdquo he said
Perry also pointed out that during the month of May the waterpark offers its very popular family-only mornings every Friday at discounted rates so that they can enjoy the full facilities of the park when it is not too busy and of course when it is more safe and secure a factor which he assured is of the highest priority
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi
Dominique Christou writes
confident that people will have seen nothing like it before and we look forward to the waves of visitors expected to arrive now that the park is officially openrdquo
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi which inaugurated on January 19 is built around a central character named Dana whose crew won the battle in its quest to re-store a pearl to its rightful place which has ensured prosperity to the mythical Emirati village and marked what is expected to be a successful start to Yas Water-world Abu Dhabirsquos commercial operations
Set across 15ha on Yas Island the park offers thrills for the whole family and visitors will experience fun and adventure on rides and attractions such as the worldrsquos longest fastest tornado waterslide the regionrsquos first looping waterslide and the worldrsquos first interactive water and laser rollercoaster According to Oswald Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is expected to welcome a total of 700000 in its first year of operation
CALLING ALL THRILL SEEKERS
During 2012 waterparks across the region expe-rienced a healthy increase in visitors across a variety of markets
ldquoThe waterpark performed better in 2012 compared to our first year in 2011 when it comes to statistics in vari-ous nationalities locally and internationally through the
26 INVESTIGATION
MARCH 2013
Visiting Friends amp Relatives
Maria Kazeli writes
T he annual review for 2011 by the World Travel amp Tourism Council (WTTC) attributes social and cultural benefits to tourism indicating that the industry directly helps to keep or bring families and social networks together
With special regards to the visiting friends and relatives (VFR) segment the review supports that a significant proportion of all international trips which reaches up to a third of all arrivals for some large de-veloped markets are made in order to visit friends andor relatives
Globalisation has caused people to spread all over the globe but returning back home occasion-ally is a necessity The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) draws direct links between migration and travelling to visit relatives and in the 2009 Executive Summary entitled Tourism and Migration ndash Explor-
year in review which covers up to September 2012 reveals that the highest figures for the VFR segment appeared in January 2012 with 267 percent of 47610 incoming tourists being reported as VFR
Egyptrsquos outbound travel market linked to VFR oc-cupies a major part of business for travel agencies Feryal El Gohary general manager Bahi Travel ex-plained adding that almost half of the agencyrsquos cli-entele are VFR She also expressed the view that this market is a growing force for airlines and hoteliers alike while the latter she pinpointed will succeed only if they create a new strategy of very advanta-geous attractive long-stay offers
Tarek Moshref managing director Pronto Tours an Egypt-based tour operator supported that the VFR market is the third largest segment after holiday and business and for this reason local travel agents and operators should improve their services in order to capture and develop its potential by offering new options and programmes
Stressing the cost-driven aspect of the VFR mar-ket Adel Taha general manager leisure travel Kimidar Tours an Egyptian travel agency destination manage-ment company and ground handler said that VFR travellers aim at low travel expenditures in order to spend their money on leisure activities at the destina-tion and not on transportation With regards to the accommodation factor he added ldquoMost of the travel-lers whether leisure or VFR would tend to seek hotel accommodation in order to benefit from services pro-vided such as room cleaning and meals instead of self-served apartments However we can say they still seek low-cost accommodations with some specificationsrdquo
VFR IN THE SKIES
Commenting on the results of the British CAArsquos study Harry Bush group director economic regulation UK CAA had said that air travel played a key role in enabling peoplersquos relocating principally through the emergence of low-cost air travel and that the result-ing VFR passengers are increasingly important con-sumers of air travel According to an aviation analysis report by CAPA - Centre for Aviation a provider of independent aviation market intelligence the Mid-dle Eastern low-cost carriers are trying to adapt their model to the regional situation with their higher den-sity configurations targeting migrant workers and VFR traffic flows from North Africa and South Asia into the Gulf region
Major airlines have taken this trend into consid-eration and cater for this market by tailoring their offers Paolo De Renzis area commercial manager Middle East and Central Asia British Airways said ldquoThe VFR segment is extremely important to British Airways particularly in the Middle East where a large number of our customers are VFR travellers This is a region where families are extremely close and this tight-knit family culture means that we see a lot of VFR traffic across our Middle Eastern routes We also have a large expat community in the UAE which con-tributes significantly to this segmentrdquo
Unconventional TravellersMany prefer to spend their holiday visiting their friends and relatives in their home country if they are expa-triates or some other destination in order to spend time with their loved ones The focus of the travel is not cultural sightseeing and luxury ac-commodation but low airfare and budget lodgings
ing the Relationship between Two Global Phenomena compiled by UNWTO the two concepts are analysed by stressing that growth in international tourism and mobility has given rise to tourism-led migration with examples including the movement of male labourers from South Asia to meet the construction demands of the tourism boom in the UAE
The research states that migration has led directly and indirectly to significant growth in tourism to both origin and destination countries through increased visibility especially in the VFR sector and to the de-velopment of new tourism infrastructure and trans-port routes in and between countries
UKrsquos Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) also lays empha-sis on the importance of the specific market having published an in-depth study on air passengers visiting friends or family The investigation report titled Interna-tional Relations ndash The Growth in Air Travel to Visit Friends or Relatives indicated that the robust growth in VFR re-flected trends such as labour mobility and migration while predicting that due to these trends the countryrsquos GDP will affect future VFR passenger traffic
VISITING MENA
At the 6th UNWTOPacific Asia Travel Association Fo-rum on Tourism Trends and Outlook held in October 2012 in China it was revealed that 36 percent of the Middle Eastrsquos outbound market constitutes the VFR segment
Some insights on inbound VFR trends concern-ing the hotel industry in the region were provided by Darroch Crawford managing director Middle East and Africa Premier Inn Hotels who highlighted that this market is highly important but also very difficult to measure as bookings of this nature come through different channels His estimations on guests travel-ling to visit family members in the region and residing in Premier Inn properties amount to seven percent of the total clientele Crawford further indicated that the largest Middle Eastern feeder markets for the brand are Lebanon Syria and Jordan
Meanwhile in Saudi Arabia domestic tourism has been the primary focus of tourism development pol-icy in the Kingdom and according to Saudi Tourism Outlook issued by the Tourism Information and Re-search Centre part of Saudi Commission for Tourism amp Antiquities which analyses July 2012rsquos figures the local segment contributed to 114 million overnight trips in the month under review out of which 398 percent hailed from the VFR segment In addition 293 percent of the 171 million outbound trips taken from Saudi Arabia during July 2012 were categorised as the VFR market
The Statistical Service of Cyprus disclosed that ac-cording to the latest data available concerning Sep-tember 2012 the island received 335352 visitors out of which 97 percent were VFR The same data for the
28 WHOS MOVED
MARCH 2013
ANDREW ABRAM
KONSTANTINOS KOUROTSIDIS
Andrew Abram has been named general manager at Raffles Dubai Abram joins the propertyrsquos team from Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group where over the past dec-ade he has held various positions He joined the company in 2003 as resident manager of The Excelsior Hotel Hong Kong and went on to lead the renovation and reopen-ing of Mandarin Oriental Jakarta holding the role of general man-ager for eight years He most re-cently served as general manager
of Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhavi in Chiang Mai Thailand Having also held the position of corporate director of sales and marketing at Jumeirah Group in the Middle East where he was responsible for the branding and launching of several projects Abram brings an insiderrsquos knowl-edge to Raffles Dubai
Konstantinos Kourotsidis has been named general manager at Radisson Blu Martinez Hotel Beirut Kourotsidis started his career in the hospitality industry in 1996 in food and beverage at Copthorne Hotel Hanover In 2000 he joined The Rezidor Ho-tel Group where he held various positions across Europe and the Middle East including at Radis-son Blu Hotel Hanover Radission
Blu Hotel amp Spa Galway Radisson Blu Resort Schloss Fleesensee Radisson Blu Resort El Quseir Radisson Blu Hotel Alexandria and Radisson Blu Resort Sharjah After several task force assign-ments in Egypt Libya and UAE Kourotsidis was promoted to general manager at Radisson Blu Al Mahary Hotel Tripoli Most re-cently he worked as acting gen-eral manager at Radisson Blu Re-sort Fujairah
Abram brings an insiderrsquos knowledge to
Raffles Dubai
MARCH 2013
30 TRAVEL TALK
MARCH 2013
LEON SALINEL
WAEL EL BEHI
KARIM NAHAS
Executive assistant manager of sales and marketing Dusit Thani Dubai
General manager Ramada Downtown Dubai
General managar Rose Rayhaan by Rotana
ldquo2012 was a very successful year for us We were not only successful in meeting our key performance indicators most notably by exceeding both our gross operating profit and gross operating revenue Working with Inves-tors in People throughout the year also ensured that we performed highly in our employee satisfaction survey we even ranked at the top of our group in this regards [hellip] We are now drawing to a close on our rooms renovation and have just welcomed our new general manager so it is an exciting year to come for us which will see some changerdquo
ldquoI am very pleased to be appointed as executive board mem-ber [of the Tunisian Business Council] I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress in [the cur-rent year] I hope to play a part in creating strong community bound by camaraderie accord and reliance among Tunisian nationals in the UAErdquo
ldquo2012 was a record year for Rose Rayhaan total revenue growth was almost 17 percent versus 2011 [hellip] The hotel continued to focus on the GCC markets with the Saudi market on the top list and strong performance of the UK France and Russian markets were witnessed UAE local market in both leisure and corporate seg-ments also performed very well We are planning to fo-cus on new emerging markets like South Africa Brazil and Turkey Competition will be indeed stiffen this year however I guess there will be business for everybodyrdquo
I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress
TRAVEL TALK IS YOUR SPACE ndash 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
editorialtraveltradeweeklytravel
trav
el t
alk
is
y
our
spac
e
31RENDEZVOUS
MARCH 2013
Q amp A with Rana El KhouryWith her recent appointment Rana El Khoury general manager Le Gray Beirut became one of Lebanonrsquos first women to hold such a high position at a five-star hotel and here she shares her views on the future prospects of the Lebanese hotel sector
Rana El KhouryGeneral manager Le Gray Beirut
Travel Trade Monthly How would you describe 2012 in a few words Rana El Khoury The best way to describe 2012 would certainly be lsquochallengingrsquo a challenge that could be called survival until we see better days Controlling costs while maintaining superior ser-vice quality and competitiveness is key to our con-tinuous success in the Lebanese market The hotel performance could be rated as fair for 2012 greatly impacted by high level of business during the first five months of the year This has allowed us to stay ahead of the game for the remainder of the year although November 2012 was the toughest month since the opening of the hotel in 2009 Despite all Le Gray has managed in 2012 to retain its number one position in occupancy and RevPAR in the Leba-nese market
Travel Trade Monthly The hotel will soon em-bark on a major extension project Tell us a little bit about this
Rana El Khoury Le Gray is preparing to kick off its extension that will include a larger lobby with a lob-by lounge a chocolate room banquet space a 35-seat movie theatre and an additional 18 rooms The project should reach completion by end of 2014
Travel Trade Monthly Prior to your appoint-ment you served as hotel manager How does your new position differ from your former role
Rana El Khoury My previous position as hotel manager was focused on the operations aspect of the hotel as general manager my responsibilities enclose a more general view of the hotel including the administrative and strategic side of the hotel as well as the link between the owning company and management company
My priorities for the coming year is diversify-ing our target markets on the international and local scene to maximise hotel occupancy and to strengthen the positioning of Le Gray on the lo-cal market as a destination for its restaurants and bars whilst building on the existing strong team at Le Gray and getting the right people together to move forward with positivity and vigilance to counter these challenging times
The advice I would give young women ready to climb the corporate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the dif-ferent positions they fill throughout their careers
Travel Trade Monthly Your appointment makes you one of the first Lebanese women to hold this position at a five-star hotel How challenging is it to hold such a high position at an already well-established hotel
Rana El Khoury The hospitality industry is very challenging and requires sacrifice on all levels What I can say is that women have their own speci-ficity and they can bring a different vision and new perspectives to the hospitality business The advice I would give young women ready to climb the cor-porate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the different positions they fill throughout their careers this can only make them stronger and certainly more cred-ible when they reach executive level positions
Travel Trade Monthly Over the past few years the Lebanese tourism industry has faced a num-ber of serious challenges What are your expec-tations for the current year Rana El Khoury Lebanon has always been a pre-ferred destination attracting tourists from the Arab and Gulf countries and with increasing stability and security we do see a solid recovery
Given the complexity of the Lebanese market improvement can occur overnight As seen in May 2008 following the Doha-agreement occupancy rates jumped back then from 30 to 90 percent within one week
This year remains uncertain due to the volatil-ity of the political situation in the region the key is to remain sustainable and be ready for the sudden surge in business
Le Gray Beirut
32 NEWS amp EVENTS
MARCH 2013
EVENTS Sponsored by
Following a refurbishment to better present the historical phases of the emiratersquos auto manu-facturing sector Sharjah Classic Cars Museum originally launched in 2008 by HH Sheikh Sul-tan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi ruler of Sharjah reopened in January by Sheikh Essam bin Saqr Al Qassimi chairman Sharjah rulerrsquos office
On the opening day of the event Manal Ataya director general Sharjah Museums Department said ldquoThe aim of refurbishing this museum was to allow us to re-evaluate the previous design and interpretation and improve it significantlyrdquo
She further pointed out that the museum now helps visitors to appreciate the aesthetic and historical value of classic cars in a space that inte-grates a new childrens interactive area and a gal-lery space for temporary exhibitions
The museum boasts 85 classic cars two mo-torcycles and five bicycles as well as a model of an old car and an engine to allow visitors to familiarise themselves with parts of an engine and their function while it is divided into five sections and features an area for activities and interactive games
Following the launch of the UAE branch of the Airline Owners and Pi-lotsrsquo Association (AOPA) at Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2012 Yousif Al Hammadi president AOPA UAE has invited representatives from international AOPA branches to attend a workshop dedicated to discussing and debating gen-eral aviation issues in the region
The meeting the first of its kind will run parallel to this yearrsquos Abu Dhabi Air Expo and will take place at the Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies Al Bateen Executive Airport on March 6
It is anticipated that up to 30 representatives from AOPA US AOPA UK AOPA Germany and AOPA France will meet with their colleagues from the UAE during the one-day event to share knowledge and debate a variety of topics including air space regulations aerial non-commercial operations certification and maintenance issues and pilot licensing
AOPA members will also be able to maximise their time by attending the Air Expo exhibition the Middle Eastrsquos only dedicated general aviation event to meet pilots from the region and learn about the latest trends
Sharjah Reopens Car Museum AOPA UAE to Hold Meeting with International Colleagues
ITB BerlinBerlin Germany March 6 ndash 10 2013(wwwitb-berlinde)A business-to-business platform for trade visitors which provides the possibility to discover the whole world within a few hours
MITT MoscowMoscow Russia March 20 ndash 23 2013(wwwmittru)Russiarsquos leading and largest travel exhibition with over 3000 participat-ing companies and 197 destinations a key meeting place for industry professionals
The Gulf Incentive Business Travel amp Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) Abu Dhabi UAE March 25 ndash 27 2013(wwwgibtmcom)A leading event for the meetings incentives and business travel industry in the GCC region which can truly unlock all participantsrsquo business potential
Saudi Travel amp Tourism Investment Market (STTIM)Riyadh Saudi Arabia March 31 ndash April 4 2013(wwwsttimcomsa)The event covers all travel and tourism investments aspects in the Kingdom through a combined conference and exhibition
International Destination Expo (IDE)Dubai UAE April 4 ndash 7 2013(wwwastaorgevents)Organised by the American Society of Travel Agents IDE is a destination training programme where participants can meet local suppliers and built profitable long-lasting relationships
Arabian Travel Market (ATM)Dubai UAE May 6 ndash 9 2013(wwwarabiantravelmarketcom)The travel and tourism event unlocking business potential within the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals
Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies
8 VISIT Egypt
MARCH 2013
reaching 456 percent in December 2012 reporting the largest increase in the Middle East
Meanwhile TRI Hospitality Consultingrsquos HotStats MENA Chain Hotel Market Review November 2012 a study on full-serviced hotels stated that while Sharm El Sheikh witnessed the highest occupancy rates Cairo posted record profits since the 2011 revolu-tion According to the survey the capitalrsquos hospitality segment showed signs of full recovery in the month under review registering a 743 percent increase in gross operating profit per available room (GOPPAR) to USD7175 while RevPAR grew 323 percent to USD6427 driven by a 143 percentage point improve-ment in occupancy to 55 percent masking the two percent decline in average room rate (ARR)
These results can be highly accredited to the re-gional market which proved somewhat irrepressible in the face of the unrest and whose commitment to Egypt could be seen in BMIrsquos revised growth fore-cast and views on total tourism nights recorded for the fourth quarter of 2012 which was said to reach around 24 percent y-o-y from the previous estima-tion of 15 percent
Marten Schwass general manager Kempinski Nile Hotel also noticed this changing trend describ-ing the locals and in particular the hotels of Cairo as resilient which throughout the past 12 months re-
lied on local business to bolster revenues while he added travellers were rescheduling trips around pe-riods of instability
Gamil also reported that during 2012 Fairmont Nile City Towersrsquo top three contributors to the prop-ertyrsquos clientele base hailed from Egypt itself followed by Saudi Arabia and Lebanon while in 2011 Egypt and Saudi Arabia also claimed first and second spot while the US followed in third
Analogous to Schwassrsquo view on the changing tourism trend across the capital Peter Goddard man-aging director TRI Hospitality Consulting Dubai also indicated that recovery in Cairo is evident albeit still suffering to a certain extent ldquoThe Cairo market has been resilient to continuous political upheaval with hotels in the city demonstrating that they have recov-ered as performance indicators return to pre-revolu-tion levelsrdquo he explained
Gamil affirmed his tenacity to claim his slice of the pie ldquoDespite the political unrest and recent clashes in Cairorsquos Tahrir Square inbound tourism appears to be on the rise and we will be keen to grab every opportu-nity that is out there to make it happenrdquo he asserted
A PROMINENT DESTINATION
A good example of the capitalrsquos buoyancy can be seen in the end-of-2012 re-sults of Fairmont Heli-opolis amp Towers which witnessed slight signs of recovery and progressed slowly in 2012 versus 2011 this according to Noha Mansour director of marketing and public relations Fairmont He-liopolis amp Towers Cairo who announced increas-ing y-o-y occupancy rates of seven percent and a y-o-y rise in Rev-PAR of 13 percent
With regards to feeder markets in 2011 Mansour listed Egyptian guests as the propertyrsquos most popular guests which she underlined generated the largest number of room nights than any other national-ity Following the local segment were Germa-ny Italy Morocco UK France and the US Man-sour continued adding that in 2012 the top six countries ranked based on room nights were Libya Germany Africa Italy UK and the US
In addition Kempinski Nile Hotel also remained on top of its league and in particular among the luxury segment during 2012 this according to Sch-wass who registered an increased number of visitors from the UK a market he described as traditional and which signals positive growth for this year
With regards to the hotelrsquos strongest contributors Schwass listed the GCC UK and US as top three stat-ing that a drop in overall number of visitors since the revolution has been witnessed however he contin-ued these three key markets have recently been re-covering and in terms of occupancy year-to-date the property remains in second place among its competi-tors in Cairo
ldquoAdditionally the business segment has been booming and we have attracted an increased flow of business visitors from Turkey and Korea The hotel recently hosted the Turkish government delegation and HE the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs as well as large groups of corporate visitors from East Asiardquo he further explained also confirming that the propertyrsquos social events are always well-attended making the ho-tel a meeting point for local socialites and dignitaries
InterContinental Cairo Citystars also recently hosted high-ranking officials from Malaysia which included Najib Razak prime minister of Malaysia and Anifah Aman minister of foreign affairs Malaysia alongside a group of businessmen and media repre-sentatives from the country
Upon his arrival to the hotel Razak was welcomed by Simon Stamper area general manager InterConti-nental Cairo Citystars InterContinental Residence Suites Cairo Citystars Holiday Inn Cairo Citystars and Stay-bridge Suites Cairo Citystars as well as Ibrahim Nashaat general manager InterContinental Cairo Citystars
ROUND THE CORNER
Revealing his forecasts for this year Gamil is antici-pating a breakdown of 37 percent in leisure travel 28 percent in corporate guests and 18 percent in groups for Fairmont Nile City Towers with expected room nights for the year to reach 75932 average oc-cupancy levels at 412 percent and average room rate fetching in EGY75232 (USD11174) The top three tar-geted nationalities for this year remain the local mar-ket as well as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait he revealed
Commenting on the upcoming developments Gamil said ldquoAlso opening soon is the Casino at Fair-mont Nile City that is built on an area of 850m2 and has top line machines including five Roulette five Black Jack five Poker one three-card Poker one Ponto Banko and over 30 digital slot machines The Casino has a VIP room that includes one Roulette one Poker and one Black Jack tablesrdquo
He also mentioned the recently-unveiled state-of-the-art Presidential Suite which he further informed is fashioned with contemporary elegant art deco furnishings offering what he described as the ulti-mate in urban chic ldquoIt is spacious comprising a bed-room two living rooms a dining area a kitchenette an office a butlersecretary bedroom and an open
9VISITEgypt
MARCH 2013
Lan Tania Fairmont Heliopolis amp Towers
concept bathroom [hellip] All suites feature high speed Internet access an interactive TV and complimentary coffee and tea Presidential Suite guests are provided with a personal butler for unrivalled comfortldquo
Mansour is also eyeing a positive year ahead with an increase in occupancy of 13 percent and an upsurge in RevPAR by 22 percent highly dependent as she inserted on the countryrsquos political and security stability The main targeted markets for the year re-main the propertyrsquos six leading contributors in 2012 Libya Germany Africa Italy UK and the US as well as the rest of Europe and the Middle East Mansour further informed
Urs Umbricht general manager Maritim Jolie Ville Kings Island Luxor also placed a strong emphasis on the reliance on the countryrsquos situation when stating his predictions for the year however his estimates seem somewhat optimistic with a modest surge in occupan-cy of five percent a slight boost in ARR of three per-cent and RevPAR growth of three percent for Maritim Jolie Ville Kings Island Luxor with all European North and South American Middle Eastern and local mar-kets high on the targeted list for the property
For Dina Naeem area director of public relations Egypt Starwood Hotels amp Resorts Worldwide the year is looking to be very positive for the hotel giant across all its propertyrsquos throughout the country as she com-mented adding that as an emerging market located at the nexus of the rapidly growing Africa and Middle East region it is expected that the country will stabi-lise in the second half of year
ldquoStarwood is expecting to see a growth in tourism to Egypt over the coming year The Starwood hotels in particular are pleased to announce some exciting new openings and renovations to excite both leisure and business travellers [This year] will see the open-ing of Le Meacuteridien Cairo Airport to entrench Star-woodrsquos presence in the capital The hotel is targeted primarily towards the business travellers and will be on an area of 23500m2 Located in front of the arrival passenger Terminal 3 Le Meacuteridien Cairo Airport is at-tached to the [main] building through an inter-con-necting bridge and consists of 330 rooms 19 suites three major restaurants banqueting conferences and meeting rooms in addition to swimming pools green areas health club and ample parking
ldquoTwo Le Meacuteridien hotels [namely] Le Meacuteridien Pyramids and Le Meacuteridien Dahab will open Egyptrsquos first two Explore Spas These are the first branded spas by Le Meacuteridien in Egypt offering a new perspec-tive on spa experience breaking away from how spa is viewed [hellip] The iconic Sheraton Cairo Hotel amp Ca-sino located on the west bank of the Nile River is un-dergoing a total revamp and is also set to open with 656 rooms in quarter four of [the year] The renova-tion which began in 2010 is considered one of the most comprehensive projects [hellip] and is targeted to-wards the discerning leisure traveller as well as busi-ness travellers who are looking for much more than just a business triprdquo she explained Starwood Hotels amp Resorts is also gearing up to open The St Regis Cairo in October 2014
PREPARE FOR THE RED SEA
Further south towards the world-renowned tourist re-gion of the Red Sea the coastal city of Sharm El Sheikh was blessed with the entry of the peak season in No-vember 2012 according to TRI Hospitality Consultingrsquos HotStats MENA Chain Hotel Market Review November 2012 as signs of improvement blos-somed throughout the destination during the month under review
According to the re-port occupancy rates swelled 77 percentage points to 797 percent pushing RevPAR up 54 percent to USD4166 despite a 47 percent decrease in ARR to USD5225 Meanwhile total RevPAR boosted 87 percent to USD7551 securely driven by an in-crease in food and bever-age revenue with GOP-PAR growing 52 percent to USD328
However Goddard believes that hotels in Sharm El Sheikh also ap-pear to be struggling as market-wide rate reduc-tions have negatively impacted financial re-sults ldquoAlthough occu-pancy in the region has increased the slashing of rates has had a dra-matic impact on their
peak seasonrsquos profit marginsrdquo he continuedSimilarly Umbricht highlighted that throughout
many tourist destinations across Egypt there exists an over-offer in hotel rooms which he believes re-sults in the very low pricing and thus is keeping Egypt very competitive against European competitors ldquoOn the other hand this is also resulting in a rate battle amongst the hotels which at the end is not healthy One of the losers will be the ecological and balanced tourism and finally naturerdquo he further underlined
On a positive note Marc Reissigner area general manager InterContinental The Palace Port Ghalib Re-sort Crowne Plaza Sahara Sands Port Ghalib Crowne Plaza Sahara Oasis Port Ghalib and Marian Lodge at Port Ghalib this year expects a 4268 percent in oc-cupancy levels equivalent to an increase of 1236 percent over 2012 with average daily rate to surge USD865 to USD4536 from USD3671 in 2012 This is all considering that MICE organisers place Egypt back into their event calendars according to Reissigner who emphasised that the international MICE market will continue to be one of the propertiesrsquo main targets and remain the number one feeder segment to Marsa Alam Port Ghalib destination
In addition the hotels will also be focusing on the corporate meetings and leisure markets the latter including the underwater adventure snorkelling
10 VISIT Egypt
MARCH 2013
families and romance and couples segments as well as wellbeing Reissigner further informed
ldquoNamed Egyptrsquos leading spa resort [] Six Senses Spa is [the countryrsquos] first on the Red Sea coast and is located among the splendid landscaped gardens lagoons stun-ning architecture and pure luxury of InterContinental The Palace Port Ghalib We have tailor-made a new hon-eymooners emotions experience with an inspired luxury palace of indulgence from the moment of arrival in Port Ghalib our lsquoemotionsrsquo experience takes clients on a jour-ney to the fascinating past blended with luxurious com-fortrdquo he continued
Steigenberger Al Dau Resort also recently celebrat-ed the traditional cornerstone placement of its new five-star Red Sea project Steigenberger Aqua Magic With construction works well underway Steigenberger Aqua Magic owned by Sami Saad Holding is slated for opening towards the end of the year and will operate under the flag of the renowned German hotel group Steigenberger Hotels The resort will run as a family hotel boasting 700 rooms in capacity a large swim-ming pool landscape extensive recreational facilities including its own Splash certified water park and an exclusive entertainment area
Moreover Soma Bay and in particular Kempin-ski Hotel Soma Bay is ready to welcome visitors to a place offering what Schwass described as beauti-
La Reacutesidence des Cascades
[the year] and the country enters an onoff transitional phase the second year post-revolution era is likely to re-sult in slow growth and a gradual return to pre-crisis lev-els by winter 20132014rdquo
However he recommends that anyone and eve-ryone visit Egypt ldquoEveryone must know that whatever happens in Tahrir Square the rest of Cairo and most of all the rest of Egypt and Red Sea are perfectly saferdquo he continued ldquoThis does not mean that the protests are not important but tourism-wise there are no complications at all If there is a demonstration on the same day you are in Cairo and you are concerned about your safety just come and enjoy the sun by the Red Sea Port Ghalib were luxury meets natureldquo
Naeem described Egypt as a safe and attractive tourist destination for international travellers and as-sured that Starwood Hotels amp Resorts Worldwide is committed to actively promoting tourism to the re-gion ldquoIn 2012 Starwood launched a dedicated web-site egypt-hospitalitycom to highlight the history of hospitality and services of all 10 Starwood hotels in the country [hellip] Egypt has culture diversity and stunning beauty which encompasses the countryrsquos history and which are still present todayrdquo
Sharing similar sentiments and reaffirming Star-wood Hotels amp Resorts Worldwidersquos top priority in implementing the hotel grouprsquos recovery campaign Hassan Ahdab vice president Africa and the Indian Ocean Starwood Hotels amp Resorts Worldwide said ldquoIt is very important after the recent events in Egypt that peoplersquos faith and trust in a country which has so much to offer be restored We are convinced that the campaign will make some noise and draw those of our loyal longstanding guests who have been wary of revisiting Egypt back to our resortsrdquo
ldquoOur personal message to travellers planning to visit is come and join usrdquo remarked Sherine Emara marketing manager La Reacutesidence Des Cascades ldquoOur hotels our beaches our golf courses our Cascades Spa and Thalasso our dive centre our wind surfing our kite surfing centre our Soma Bayrsquos Marina Centre with its restaurants and shops are all operational and ready to welcome yourdquo she added
Mansour believes that political and security stability are pre-requisites for tourism as she elaborated ldquoHaving tourism high on our president Mohamed Morsyrsquos agen-da in addition to the new initiatives taken by the ministry to boost tourism we expect tourism to regain its previ-ous position Moreover Egyptrsquos upcoming parliamentary elections will further enhance stability in Egyptrdquo
Tarek Moussa chairman Egypt amp Beyond Travel concurred ldquoStability and safety are the key words for tourists to come back to Egypt and unless the president and government of Egypt get it right and bring back sta-bility tourists will remain in much lower numbers Tour-ism in Egypt is very sick now but it will never dierdquo
Meanwhile Ibrahim Mohamed Ibrahim managing director Perfect Tours stressed that customers looking for the worldrsquos most enjoyable holidays to exotic desti-nations in Egypt and abroad do not have to do a single thing except of course to have a good time the rest he confirmed will be taken care of
ful sandy beaches and year-round sunshine which he informed remain the main attraction for tourists worldwide ldquoBy continuing to offer world-class service to our guests during the past 18 months Kempinski Hotel Soma Bay has also been able to recover from the dip in tourismrdquo he added
Also commenting on the resurgence Stephen Banks director of sales and marketing Africa Moumlven-pick Hotels amp Resorts said ldquoWe have seen occupan-cies steadily rise over the last year with our hotels on the Red Sea performing particularly wellrdquo
He added ldquoIn April this year Moumlvenpick Resort Soma Bay will open with 418 rooms on an unspoiled
stretch of white sandy beach in this increasingly popular destination on the Red Sea In addition Moumlvenpick Hotel amp Re-sort Cairo - Pyramids will open a further 132 rooms with an entirely new building aimed at the upscale business traveller and leisure guest
A PERSONAL MESSAGE
The 2011 revolution has certainly had a significant impact on Egyptrsquos tour-ism industry and this evi-dently continued in 2012 with direct impact on travel accommodation air transportation and tour-ist attractions with value growth rates across the board declining to dou-ble digit levels according to Reissigner who added ldquoOperators introduced heavy discounts in order to lure tourists back and prices remained low at the beginning of 2012 As unrest continues in Egypt with violence erupting again at the beginning of
11EXPLOREDubai
MARCH 2013
Why Dubai
DUBAI IN BRIEF
Country UAE
Currency UAE Dirham (AED)
Language Arabic
Dubairsquos astonishing rise from a small fishing and pearling community to one of the fastest growing metropolises continues to impress and inspire the world Welcome to the land of records and record-breakers where everything imaginable and unimaginable be-comes a reality
H ome to the worldrsquos tallest building largest shopping mall a collection of iconic artificial islands and some of the most instantly-recogniseable sights Dubai has established itself as the city of superlatives which con-tinuously strives for greater heights
Just when you think you have seen it all a new lsquoworldrsquos firstrsquo or lsquoworldrsquos mostrsquo project is announced inspiring visitors to return again and again
Propelled by multi-billion dollar investments in a space of just a few years Dubai has grown into the worldrsquos 13th most popular tourist destination as Euromonitor Internationalrsquos Top 100 Cities Destination Ranking shows far outperforming the likes of Shanghai Rome or Las Vegas
ldquoThe hospitality and tourism industry in Dubai is thrivingrdquo commented Nasser Fawzi director of sales and marketing Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates adding that Dubai has turned into one of the most sought-after destinations worldwide and thanks to the continuous efforts of the government and the Dubai Department of Tourism amp Commerce Marketing (DTCM) people are becoming more and more familiar with the emirate and what it has to offer ldquoVisitors can find both choice and value here making it the ideal destination for both leisure and business travellersrdquo he continued
In fact Dubairsquos hotel sector concluded 2012 with the highest profits in the MENA region for the third consecutive year according to TRI Hospitality Consult-ingrsquos HotStats survey which shows that despite the growing room inventory the destinationrsquos soaring popularity and uninterrupted string of events conferences and festivals helped maintain a steady stream of demand throughout the year lead-ing to an average annual occupancy level of 814 percent and a gross operating profit per available room surge of 133 percent over 2011 levels
ldquo2012 was a very good year for the hospitality industry where Dubai went again from strength to strengthrdquo confirmed Hazem Aouad cluster director of sales and marketing Radisson Royal Hotel Dubai and Radisson Blu Resort Fujairah
Karim Nahas general manager Rose Rayhaan by Rotana also described 2012 as a record year for the hotel when Dubairsquos hospitality industry in general witnessed a boom as the destination continued to benefit from the outcome of the Arab Spring and the governmentrsquos endeavours to market Dubai as a premier leisure destination
Sharing similar views Jan Siddiqi director of sales Ramada Plaza Jumeirah
JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai
Rita Kasziba writes
12 EXPLORE Dubai
MARCH 2013
Beach Residence and Ramada Sharjah attributed the over and above expectations performance to the col-lective result of various actions including political well-crafted initiatives
Praising the government and the tourism bodyrsquos continuous efforts Rupprecht Queitsch general man-ager JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai the worldrsquos tallest hotel at 355m said ldquoDTCM works very hard to raise the profile of Dubai as a destination for the con-vention business and leisure business and we work closely with them on these campaigns and sales tripsrdquo
Fawzi further added ldquo[The government along with DTCM] provide a lot of support to the hospital-ity industry through joint promotions sales and mar-keting initiatives and partnerships The government has positioned Dubai as one of the most sought-after destinations worldwide that has so much to offer and as a result demand for the destination continued to grow steadilyrdquo
TURNING AMBITION INTO ACTION
Just in a single generation Dubairsquos population has grown from just 10000 at the turn of the last century to over two million comprising more than 200 nation-alities by 2011 creating a characteristic destination of vibrant cultures and vivid contracts Demonstrating
the emiratersquos growing significance on regional and global levels everyday at present an average of three million people spend their day in Dubai including workers residing in other emirates and travellers visit-ing the destination on business or for pleasure
As Husseim Hachem cluster general manager Al Bustan and Al Murooj Rotana Dubai observed the emirate has consistently made its strong mark as one of the top destinations all over the world bolstered by widespread efforts of both the public and the pri-vate sector aimed at establishing Dubai as a desired place in every aspect
ldquoFirst the government is doing a great job in promoting the city internationally and secondly dif-ferent industries like hospitality travel tourism and more are working hand in hand to provide the best experiences to tourists and residents alike In addition to these factors Dubai as a city itself is a wonderful place with really nice peoplerdquo Hachem stressed
In fact Dubairsquos visionary leadership has long identified tourism as a central pillar of its economic diversification strategy hence the multi-billion dollar investments into the industry and related sectors in-cluding infrastructure transportation as well as pub-lic services have turned the emirate not only into a tourist hotspot but also into one of the best places to live in the MENA region topping the regional ranking
of Mercerrsquos rsquoQuality of Livingrsquo poll In addition the ease of doing business the close
proximity to key growth markets the centralised time zone best suited to both eastern and western busi-ness hours and the emiratersquos safe family-friendly and multicultural environment have all become a major draw for skilled professionals Consequently numer-ous multinational companies have chosen to set up their regional headquarters in Dubai making it a hub for trade and commerce and the number one desti-nation in the region for foreign direct investment
ldquoDubai continues to cement itself as a prime hub in terms of international businessrdquo confirmed Leon Salinel executive assistant manager sales and mar-keting Dusit Thani Dubai who explained that with its location in the Dubai International Financial Centre and in close proximity to Dubai World Trade Centre and the Dubai International Convention amp Exhibition Centre the hotel enjoys high and in fact growing guest volume from the corporate sector
ldquoHowever it is not just business travellers visit-ing the emiraterdquo Salinel stressed ldquoDubai remains a hotspot for leisure travellers it is the Las Vegas of the Middle East and somewhere people want to experi-ence at least once in their lifetimerdquo
Reflecting Dubairsquos dual appeal Robert Barker general manager Moumlvenpick Hotel amp Apartments
14 EXPLORE Dubai
MARCH 2013
Bur Dubai described Dubai as the Hong Kong of the Middle East adding that the unique model that has been created in the emirate and which continues to evolve with the ongoing reinvestment and planning is set to ensure Dubairsquos success and prosperity in the long-term
ENTERING NEW ERAS
Dubai started the new year on a high with a record 17 million visitors attending the Downtown Dubai New Yearsrsquo Eve Gala exceeding the reported attend-ance of one million at the world famous Times Square celebrations in New York City
The destinationrsquos abundant entertainment and amusement options coupled with its vast retail port-folio has long become a vital part of its appeal with Dubai Mall welcoming over 62 million visitors in 2012 and as a market research conducted by Reed Travel Exhibitions has revealed since the beginning of the year some 48 percent of the emiratersquos hotels were
Ocean View Hotel JA Resorts amp Hotels
Bluewaters Island project located off the Jumeirah Beach Residence coastline is envisaged to become one of the largest tourist hot spots in the world fea-turing demarcated retail residential hospitality and entertainment zones as well as the worldrsquos largest Ferris wheel at 210m named Dubai Eye
With construction due to commence in April the destination is set to further improve Dubairsquos competi-tiveness on the global stage as Abdullah Al Habbai chairman Meraas Holding the developer of the pro-ject suggested ldquoWe have a clear mission and vision to strengthen Dubairsquos global position in the tourism sec-tor This project will continue to build on the emiratersquos reputation as leaders in the global entertainment and retail landscaperdquo
Another megaproject Mohamed Bin Rashid City hailed as a city within the city is expected to set new benchmarks in urban development in the region Comprising four components the project will create an integrated environment for the development of entrepreneurship and innovation and will feature a
myriad of record-breaking leisure and entertainment options including a park 30 percent bigger than Londonrsquos Hyde Park designed to receive 35 million visitors per annum as well as the largest family cen-tre for leisure and entertainment in the region set up in collaboration with Universal Studios that will also include over 100 hotel facilities further to the largest arts gallery in the region and the worldrsquos largest retail complex Mall of the World
ldquoThe current facilities available in Dubai need to be scaled up in line with the future ambitions for the cityrdquo emphasised HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum ruler of Dubai remarking on the vital role of such projects in the emiratersquos Vision 2030 and boosting the UAE economy in order to enable it to enter a new era in which it will become the capital of entrepreneurship arts culture and family tourism for over two billion people
In fact the tourism sector in Dubai is growing by 13 percent annually and the accelerated growth rates require the emirate to prepare all sectors for the
future as passenger volume at Dubai International is set to surpass 90 million people per annum over the next five years ldquoOur development initiatives concern-ing infrastructure in all sectors should be aligned with this growth rate and we have the determination to reach our objectives and be the first in the region to achieve themrdquo concluded Al Maktoum
THE MANY FACES OF DUBAI
As a result of the joint efforts and heavy investments over the past decades Dubairsquos hospitality sector has utterly transformed according to David Thomson chief operating officer JA Resorts amp Hotels ldquoSince 2003 the emiratersquos hotel and hospitality sector has boomed launched new niche products developed new feeder markets and roared ahead with new vig-our after the slowdown of 20092010rdquo he said adding that today Dubai is considered a must-see destina-tion for many more reasons than just shopping and going to the beach which as Thomson stressed is vital for the sectorrsquos future growth
Echoing similar views Habib Khan CEO Planet Hospitality stated that people visiting Dubai can be segregated into three major categories namely lei-sure business and transients
ldquoWithin the leisure we have categorised the guests into travellers who come to witness the dra-matic achievements and modernisation of Dubai [hellip] whereas there are a smaller number but its rapidly growing of those intellectuals educational groups and individuals who seek better understanding of the Emirati and Arabic culturerdquo
Further commenting on the shifting trends Rose Ann Shetty CEO Galavantor which caters to a new generation of responsible travellers noted ldquoThe gov-ernment continues to invest and develop wonderful local and cultural experiences and while Dubairsquos focus continues to be a shopping and leisure destination the type of travellers has changed they are willing to stay longer and experience morerdquo Shetty explained adding that desert horseback riding Bedouin camp-ing trekking and rock climbing are continuously gaining popularity
In a bid to exploit another niche segment medi-cal and wellness tourism DTCM has recently teamed up with the Dubai Health Authority to promote Dubai as a premier medical destination capitalising on the emiratersquos advanced healthcare system and highly-skilled professors
ldquoWe are working to promote the medical tour-ism in Dubai since Dubai has an excellent infrastruc-ture modern hospitals and clinics offering a variety of medical [services] to visitors in search of quality health carerdquo explained Eyad Abdul Rahman execu-tive director media relations and business develop-ment DTCM
DTCM is also actively seeking ways to unleash the immerse potential of the burgeoning cruise tourism sector and secure its long-term growth by participat-ing in various international exhibitions with the aim of attracting more cruise liners
located within a 2km radius of one of the five mega-shopping malls of Dubai
Despite the stiffening competition hotels located in close proximity to shopping complexes continue to thrive as Fawzi confirmed revealing that 2012 proved to be one of the most successful years for the property since it opened seven years ago ldquoAs a city hotel Kem-pinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates offers a truly unique proposition which is well-liked by travellers from the Arab region What we add to Dubairsquos hospitality scene is a destination with entertainment for the whole fam-ily there is Ski Dubai and the new Penguin Encounter experience a great selection of dining options a cin-ema one of Dubairsquos most popular malls and a com-munity theatre all in one location that is literally on the doorstep of the hotelrdquo Fawzi further explained
In spite of the already overwhelming number of attractions in a quest to spur demand and support Dubairsquos bid to host the World Expo 2020 the emirate is forging ahead with a number of new megaprojects The recently approved AED6 billion (USD16 billion)
16 EXPLORE Dubai
MARCH 2013
Commenting on the strong economic fundamen-tals of the emirate and the breadth and unparalleled diversity of Dubairsquos tourism product Moussa El Hayek chief operating officer Al Bustan Centre amp Residence said ldquo[One of the] main reasons behind the prosperity in Dubai is the advanced infrastructure that tourists can enjoy here including luxurious hotels and restau-rants transportation malls entertainment venues parks furthermore security iconic buildings and to some extent the flexibility of the rulesrdquo
rently has 204 aircraft on order at a value USD73 billion Likewise as the second-largest airline operating
out of Dubai International flydubairsquos fast-paced ex-pansion has been a key catalyst in the emiratersquos un-precedented growth In the past two years the airline has more than doubled the number of destinations it flies to from 25 to over 50 a rate of more than one new destination per month and has increased its weekly services to over 1000
Since its inception the low-cost carrier which
served more than 51 million passengers in 2012 has laid great emphasis on connecting Dubai with fast-developing and previously untapped markets opening up new opportunities for travel and trade in emerging markets such as the CIS and Eastern Eu-rope in general In 2012 more than 40 percent of fly-dubairsquos route development concentrated on Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the CIS countries
ldquoWe have seen great demand on our routes within the CIS and CEE as more people seek afford-able fares and direct flights between Dubai and this regionrdquo informed Ghaith Al Ghaith CEO flydubai In addition today flydubai welcomes passengers to Dubai and beyond through its connecting flights to the Maldives Sri Lanka and other destinations
As a matter of fact in 2012 Russia and the CIS proved to be the second fastest expanding market in terms of passenger growth behind South America figures released by Dubai Airports have shown and Al Ghaith revealed a similar trend attesting that the car-rierrsquos total number of flights to the CIS and CEE network was 45 percent higher between October 2011 and Sep-tember 2012 compared to the previous 12 months
ldquoWe operated 109 percent more flights in the region in September 2012 compared to September 2011 illustrating the demand for travel between the nationsrdquo added Al Ghaith ldquoWe are constantly look-ing for new opportunities Our approach is to target destinations within a five-and-a-half hour radius of Dubai which puts us within reach of more than 25 billion people one third of the worldrsquos populationrdquo
Remarking on the airlinesrsquo major role in Dubairsquos development El Hayek highlighted ldquoFlight frequency to different cities all over the world made Dubai the hub of the world as Emirates flydubai and Air Ara-bia have all launched various routes to different cities while other lsquogiantrsquo airlines moved their operations to Dubai due to the advanced infrastructure and the ex-cellent services provided by Dubai Internationalrdquo
In line with the airlinesrsquo expansion strategy hotel-iers are increasingly focusing on reaching out to these new markets including the CIS and Russia which Shaff Butt director of marketing and communication Jumeirah Beach Hotel already listed among the ho-telrsquos key feeder markets
Besides the traditionally strong GCC and Europe-an markets mainly the UK and the German speaking countries demand from the CIS nations also contin-ues to be strong as Siddiqi explained
Reporting similar trends Salinel added ldquoThe GCC has always been a primary source market and has remained strong over the past few years Other source markets which have begun to show significant growth for us as a hotel [are] within the CIS region and Asian marketsrdquo
Butt further added ldquoOver the past few years we are seeing continued positive results from our main key markets such as Europe which continues to show good numbers as well as the GCC and wider Middle East For this year our main focus is the CIS market and we would also like to target Asia and Af-rica since we are getting good pick up as well as more repeat guests each yearrdquo
Nahas listed South Africa Brazil and Turkey among Rose Rayhaan by Rotanarsquos target emerging markets while others including Barker remarked on the growing demand from Far Eastern countries and mainly China
Likewise Hachem noted that China India and the rest of Asia have also started to make up for a big chunk of Al Bustan and Al Murooj Rotana Dubairsquos cli-entele while Aouad also added South America to the list of the markets lsquoto watchrsquo for Radisson Royal Hotel Dubai and Radisson Blu Resort Fujairah
Mohamed Taher director of sales and marketing Traders Hotel Dubai listed a number of emerging markets which hold great potential including the Middle East Africa Southeast Asia Australia Scandi-navia Algeria as well as Serbia
The constantly strong business levels from these markets set to balance demand with supply noted Taherw who anticipates a rise in both rates and over-all business levels ldquoDemand will offset the growth in the increased room inventories with more exhibitions being held in the city as well as the increased air traf-fic with the expansion of the airportrdquo
Hachem further added ldquoThis is admittedly a chal-lenging year as the markets get more and more pen-etrated In addition 2012 had been great which adds more pressure to the industry in general to maintain and exceed the previous achievementsrdquo
Echoing similar views Wael El Behi general man-ger Ramada Downtown Dubai concluded ldquoDubai is one of the most sought-after travel destinations in the world The hospitality sector is getting bigger and better every year Hotels are coming up with innova-tive facilities to ensure guest satisfaction and a travel-ler has a wide range of hotels to choose from Most hotels have increased their efficiency and profitability levels which is commendable We hope to continue this success [hellip] With the growing hospitality sector a traveller will be enticed to visit the city againrdquo
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE
Besides the government and the tourism organisa-tionrsquos vigorous work Dubairsquos advanced air connec-tivity and excellent infrastructure have also played a vital part in the destinationrsquos unprecedented growth as Fawzi noted
ldquoAnother contributing factor is the airlift into the destination and the continued growth of Dubai In-ternational and the UAErsquos airlines including Emirates Etihad Airways and flydubai who have also seen phenomenal growth over the past few years bringing more and more people to the destination [who] will be looking for accommodationrdquo elaborated Fawzi
In fact with its strategic location on the global axis between East and West connecting the devel-oped and the developing world Dubai boasts access to over 25 billion people within a four-hour flight as Queitsch pinpointed
Dubairsquos geographic location makes it a major global hub for trade commerce and tourism a key competitive advantage for Emirates An increasing proportion of the traffic between Europe and Asia now flies through the Middle East and the airline ex-pects this share to further grow taking into consider-ation that Dubairsquos location also facilitates rising trade flows to and from India China and Africa three of the carrierrsquos strongest markets
In the financial year 2011-12 Emirates carried a total of 34 million passengers leading to an average load factor of 80 percent while for the first six months of the financial year ending September 30 2012 pas-senger volume reached 187 million marking a year-on-year increase of 154 percent
Over the last year Emiratesrsquo network has grown rapidly bringing new countries cultures and experi-ences for customers to explore and of course opening up new markets for Dubai Reflecting Emiratersquos ambi-tious expansion plans for the future the company cur-
18 ONSITE Palestine
MARCH 2013
Forging Ahead with Pride PALESTINE IN BRIEF
Administrative Centres
Ramallah Gaza
Accepted Currencies
US Dollar (USD) Jordanian Dollar (JOD)
Language Arabic
Palestine rich in culture deep in history blessed with holy sites and highly worthy of its popularity amongst all travellers alike is a des-tination which never seizes to amaze the world of travel and tourismI n 2012 Palestine witnessed an increase in the
number of inbound tourism by some 225 mil-lion visitors 18 percent higher than that record-ed in 2011 and this paved the way for a boost of 25 percent in overnight stays in hotels and
guesthouses across the country to reach 18 millionIn order to keep visitor levels high the Ministry
of Tourism and Antiquities together with stakehold-ers have implemented numerous projects in a bid to increase traffic to the region
One example is Jenin Tourist Center which is scheduled to open later this year and is set to add to the improvement of Jenin as a tourist destination to attract both local and international visitors with a fo-cus on the quality of the arearsquos residential life and the creation of economic opportunities through tourism
With Poland being heralded as the destinationrsquos second major feeder market in 2012 having welcomed 200000 Polish visitors throughout the year Palestine acted as a partner country for the first time in one of
the global renowned travel trade shows TOUR SALON Poland which gave the Middle Eastern country the opportunity to showcase itself to what is being recog-nised as one of the most promising markets
With regards to Palestinersquos vast selection of accommo-dation offerings the country provides an array of friendly and welcoming hospitality services and this is evident in the healthy performance results reported in 2012
Grand Park Hotel which opened towards the end of September 2012 after a USD13 million renovation transformed it into a five-star property from a four-star recorded 50 percent occupancy in the first six months in operation this according to Mohammed Zomlot general manager Grand Park Hotel
ldquoWe expect perfor-mance to be much bet-ter this year as the hotel is very well-known and guests now know we have had this renovation and want to come and see the new lookrdquo he added
With the majority of the hotelrsquos guests hail-ing from Palestine itself Europe America and the Middle East Zomlot pointed out that the ho-tel attends international conferences sets out marketing strategies and also participates in exhi-bitions in order to keep figures high and promote the hotel as a perfect choice for travellers
Further growing its presence in the region Grand Park Hotel is set to open two new hotels in Palestine in the second quarter of the year and is to be the first local ho-tel chain in the country
Thomas Brugnatelli general manager The American Colony Hotel also revealed the recent
completion of what he described as the spectacular Palm House building alongside other changes which came onboard to cater to the propertyrsquos main clien-tele 45 percent of which Brugnatelli revealed hailed from Europe mostly from France Italy Germany UK and Spain while the US segment claimed a 35 percent market share ldquoFor over a hundred years The American Colony Hotel has a proud reputation of one of the most exceptional and famous hotels in the Middle Eastrdquo he concluded
Royal Court Suites Hotel is yet another property which completed a solid 2012 in terms of business performance as Joseph Ayoub general manager Royal Court Suites Hotel announced who further indicated that with new additions to management and plans for further upgrades the hotel expects its performance to continue to improve into the future ldquoThe Royal Court Suites Hotel will be undergoing re-modeling to our lobby and outside terrace which we are excited forrdquo he expressed
Catering to MENA guests of which 20 percent make up the propertyrsquos entire clientele base who pre-dominantly come from Jordan as well as Palestine it-self the hotel provides a highly service-orientated staff and a location that puts MENA travellers in the heart of Ramallah close to its best attractions and provides them with the opportunity to experience a land sacred to Muslims and Christians boasting holy sites scattered across its land Further to local and regional travellers the hotel is also popular among international organisa-tions non-governmental segments and business trav-ellers arriving from Europe US and Japan
Commenting on the ways through which fel-low professionals can work to improve visitor arriv-als Ayoub advised ldquoHotel operators in Palestine can boost the countryrsquos tourism industry by running well managed operations that provide high quality ser-vice and up to date properties that are exposed to the outside world through proper marketingrdquo
This year also looks to be better than 2012 for Golden Park Resort during which the property wit-nessed average performance levels and occupancy rates of 55 percent among the Czechs Slovakians Indians Sri Lankans Nigerians Polish and Egyp-tians according to Ibrahim Giacamam general man-ager Golden Park Resort who announced changes throughout the hotel in the coming months
ldquoWe are renovating parts of the hotel to compete with local marketsrdquo he revealed adding that this will include a full renovation of the lobby as well as the rooms ldquoThere is competition from new hotels open-ing in Bethlehem thus we want to keep our guests happyrdquo Giacamam concluded
Dominique Christou writes
19TOURUK
MARCH 2013
Dominique Christou writes
A ccording to the latest World Travel amp Tourism Council Economic Impact report published in 2012 direct contribution of travel and tourism to the UKrsquos GDP in 2011 reached GBP35 billion (USD54 billion) 23
percent of the countryrsquos total GDP with a forecasted rise of 13 percent in 2012 and an annual increase of 41 percent over the next decade when the indus-try is estimated to be contributing GBP531 billion (USD81 billion) to the UKrsquos GDP in 2022
Patricia Yates director of strategy VisitBritain ex-pected 31 million inbound visits to the UK for 2012 giving the destination as Yates described a perfect foundation to see continued strong growth in interna-tional tourism for this year contributing revenue to the UK economy and creating new jobs across the country
VisitBritain recently ventured yet again into the GCC following the successful execution and delivery of the BritAgent online training programme in the UAE Saudi Arabia and Kuwait
Meticulously Personalised
UK IN BRIEF
Capital London
Currency British Pound (GBP)
Language English
The UK has long been an admired choice among MENA travellers highly accredited to the typically distin-guished English hospitality world-renowned shopping outlets quality selection of entertainment plethora of family activities and last but not least the overabundance of pictur-esque parks scattered across the country
The UK tourism boardrsquos global online training initia-tive which has been designed to meet the needs of travel trade lsquofront-linersrsquo from new starters to experienced sales personnel was recently launched in Qatar at the British Embassy Doha a programme which upon completion grants the agents with BritAgent status signifying their expertise and knowledge about travel to Britain
ldquoBritain is already a major beneficiary of outbound travel from the Gulfrdquo confirmed Sumathi Ramanathan regional manager Asia Pacific and Middle East Visit-Britain ldquoVisitors from the Gulf region are a major source of revenue for the UK from January to September 2012 these visitors spent nearly AED55 billion (USD15 billion) already showing a seven percent increase over 2011 From 2006 through to 2011 Qatar has shown an outstanding increase in visitor numbers of 59 percent and the spend per night significantly outshines all the other countriesrdquo Ramanathan added
Official figures released by VistBritain reveal that in 2012 the UK witnessed the best November since 2007 with visitation figures a soaring nine percent higher than 2011 keeping the country on track to reach the 31 million mark by end-2012
November 2012 saw healthy results from nearly all the regions in the world exempt the US accord-ing to the study which stated that the UK welcomed 10 percent more tourists from Europe and 12 percent from the rest of the world
20 TOUR UK
MARCH 2013
Yates expressed great satisfaction for this success stressing that 2012 was no ordinary year for inbound tourism so to announce the best November in five years is an achievement
AN AMPLE CHOICE
These healthy results are evident in the hotel sector across the country partially attributed to the relative-ly strong MENA market as Daniel Simmons execu-tive director HotelREZ noted further indicating that the hotel currently has a presence in Dubai and as a result is strategically developing the MENA markets to support the membersrsquo growth
o-y improvement from the top five Middle Eastern mar-kets a 104 percent y-o-y upsurge from Saudi Arabian visitors and a 33 percent y-o-y rise from UAE visitors
Assuring that the MENA guest is well-catering to London Hilton on Park Lane trains its staff to pro-vide the welcome that visitors from the region have come to expect equipping the team with the skills to handle tailored requests according to Brayshaw who elaborated ldquoThere is a dedicated guest relations teams for Middle Eastern guests with Arabic-speak-ing team members Facilities are available for visitorsrsquo private chefs to cook within the hotelsrsquo kitchens and serve their own dishes to their employer Arabic TV stations are also availablerdquo
BRINGING IN BUSINESS
Further boosting MENA tourism to the UK on March 31 British Airways (BA) will launch an additional four flights to and from Amman increasing the frequency from dai-ly to 11 per week ldquoJordan is an important market for Brit-ish Airways and we are thrilled with the excellent growth we have seen here since re-introducing Amman to our route network We are keen to further enhance our op-erations to and from Jordan and the announcement only consolidates our commitment to the Jordanian marketrdquo commented Paolo De Renzis area commercial manager Middle East and Central Asia BA
In addition Qatar Airways has launched its inau-gural long-haul Boeing 787 Dreamliner service on the Doha - London Heathrow route becoming the first airline to operate regular scheduled flights onboard the state-of-the art aircraft to and from the UK
Akbar Al Baker CEO Qatar Airways said ldquoThe Doha - Heathrow route is one of our most popular interna-tional routes and it was only fitting that we deploy our new 787 to and from Londonrdquo
INVESTING IN THE UK
Heathrow Airport is hailed as the most popular gateway for travellers to the UK recording a total of 518 million passengers having passed through its terminal in Janu-ary alone a record for the month which saw an increase of 03 percent over the corresponding month in 2012
Meanwhile load factors also set a record for the month under review up 21 percentage points on Janu-ary 2012 reaching 70 percent Domestic traffic was down 58 percent however European traffic rose 18 percent and Middle Eastern traffic also climbed the trajectory level by 33 percent over the same month in 2012
Moreover Heathrow Airport recently announced GBP3 billion (USD46 billion) worth of investments in the airport in addition to the GBP11 billion (USD168 billion) which has been invested since 2003 and these form part of the establishmentrsquos business plans for Q6 the regulatory period which covers 2014-2019 and they represent one of the largest private-sector investments in UK infrastructure
The plans include the completion of Terminal 2 and the early works on extending the building the development of a new integrated baggage system and the construction of new taxiways and stands which will allow Heathrow Airport to accommodate more of the most modern aircraft
Colin Matthews CEO Heathrow Airport com-mented ldquoHeathrow is the UKrsquos only hub airport and a strategically important national infrastructure asset Heathrow faces stiff competition from other Europe-an hubs and we must continue to improve the service we offers passengers and airlines [] Our plan for a further GBP3 billion (USD46 billion) of private-sector investment will further improve the airport for pas-sengers The plan represents good value for money for airlines and passengers and comes at no cost to taxpayersrdquo
Guests from the UAE Turkey Egypt Saudi Arabia and Kuwait along with Cyprus contributed to two percent of the hotelrsquos total reservations percentage results for 2012 this according to Simmons who also reported a 20 percent year-on-year (y-o-y) increase in revenue ldquoOur hotel members benefit from a 90 per-cent increase on IDS (Internet distribution services) and direct connect bookings a 35 percent increase on GDS (global distribution systems) bookings and a 60 percent growth on CRO (central reservations of-fices) and voice bookingsrdquo
Commenting on the propertyrsquos latest develop-ments Simmons revealed the recently-launched MICE Desk which he pinpointed is an additional solution to HotelREZrsquos member hotels and will help boost revenue
ldquoAt HotelREZ we are very confident that our new MICE Desk will raise awareness and continue to increase reservations for our hotel members from meetings incentives conventions and events pack-ages To complete the consumer booking cycle Ho-telREZ is launching REZanalyst a new social media and review analytics tool for hotels to help manage their online reputationrdquo he concluded
Also showing signs of strong performance is Lon-don Hilton on Park Lane thanks to the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympics whose international committee chose the property as the headquarter ho-tel this according to Ashleigh Brayshaw marketing and communications manager London Hilton on Park Lane
With one out of four of the hotelrsquos guests hailing from the MENA region Brayshaw pointed out that in 2011 the property witnessed particularly high growth in visitor numbers from the region with a 21 percent y-
Moreover the UK especially London offers a full range of activities according to Brayshaw who observed that the Middle Eastern guest is increasingly organised with the time spent in the capital and one who enjoys combining a variety of activities ldquoPopular activities in-clude sending children to summer schools in Regentrsquos Park attending business meetings visiting property shopping for the latest trends and enjoying the rich va-riety of entertainment that London has to offer Families often use managers to organise their time with London Hilton on Park Lanersquos hotel management working di-rectly with guests to assistrdquo she further noted
Moreover Travelodge one of the UKrsquos leading hotel brands is set to benefit from a GBP223 million (USD341 million) brand investment with the opening of 14 new hotels which includes two properties in Spain the creation of 420 new jobs and the launch-ing of a new room concept which has been designed by its customers ldquoThis capital expenditure will help us to grow our business strengthen our product offer-ing and make Travelodge the best value hotel chain in the UKrdquo Grant Hearn CEO Travelodge revealed
ldquoAs part of this yearrsquos investment we have worked with our customers to create a new Travelodge room which offers more comfort quality and stylerdquo he contin-ued adding that this enhanced product combined with economy pricing will ensure Travelodge is the smart choice for leisure and business travellers
Furthermore in order to help attract new custom-ers Travelodge is also investing over GBP12 million (USD 182 million) in digital and online marketing this year as well as over GBP1 million (USD15 million) in a website refresh later this year
London
22 EXCLUSIVE Luxury Travel
MARCH 2013
Living the DreamLuxury travel is all about mak-ing guests feel unique and privi-leged It is about offering them the chance to get to know the world in extravagance and having them live above the ordinary It is about spoiling them with opulent travel and hospitality services something which is without doubt growing in size and quality
I n late December 2012 the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) released its Travel Trends Report 2013 developed in collaboration with UKrsquos Foreign and Commonwealth Office pre-dicting that consumers will continue to look for
good value in breaks for this year rather than cut back on their holidays
Mark Tanzer CEO ABTA stated that the majority of British holidaymakers are reluctant to give up their annual holiday under any circumstances while strong forward bookings for the luxury and all-inclusive sec-tors are being witnessed
Speaking at the 2011 edition of the annual Interna-tional Luxury Travel Market (ILTM)rsquos Ultratravel Forum Chris Sanderson strategy and insight director The Future Laboratory a trend forecasting company had announced predictions stating that the lsquoluxuriansrsquo of the future would not be interested in too much choice ldquoThere is an en-hanced sense of just being todayrsquos luxury consumer rath-er than being surrounded by possessionsrdquo he explained
AUTHENTICALLY PRIVILIGED
Views corroborating Sandersonrsquos were voiced by John McGee research and communications manager Ar-tisans of Leisure a luxury travel company specialis-ing in exclusive customised private tours around the world McGee believes that the primary reason his customers travel is to get authentic experiences that introduce them to the local traditions and people while high-quality hotels encourage them to travel but are not primary incentives further pinpointing the latter as being the interest in experiencing local
culture cuisine history and lifestyle With reference to the Middle East McGee noted
that his agency is intrigued by places like Abu Dhabi and its considered approach to developing new mu-seums and cultural attractions
Defining the demands and needs of luxury trav-ellers as being genuine and local experiences Filip Boyen chief operating officer Orient-Express said ldquoFor luxury tourists travel is not just about lying on a beach or by the pool anymore It is about combining relaxation in a beautiful setting with learning and dis-covery They want to come away with an experience or having learnt something new that they can come home and tell their friends all aboutrdquo
Boyen added that the Middle East is relatively new to the world of tourism a place many will want to discover and consequently this will create a demand for luxury ho-tels already emerging in many parts of the region
Travellers who spend a lot of money for their trip expect and demand the best they need to be cared for in every step of the way while feeling confident that they are dealing with someone experienced to respond to their requests according to Daniel Essex CEO Century Travel who also explained that many luxury travellers are looking for something small and attentive and a much more personal approach
LET US SPOIL YOU
The growing number of luxury hotels and amenities has led to an increased interest with Canadian travel-lers to the Middle East according to Kathy Stewart director of media and public relations Butterfield amp Robinson a Toronto-based agency Aside from authen-ticity she stressed the importance of maintaining the unique qualities of the region for further development
into a luxury destination for global travellers ldquoEspecial-ly North Americans who are travelling a long distance to the Middle East they are not looking for the same experience they can get at home They want Middle Eastern food people landscapes and architecture to be an integral part of the experiencerdquo
Hotel Missoni Kuwait benefits from a healthy lux-ury-demanding domestic market which represents 55 percent of its business followed by Saudi Arabia with 13 percent and the UAE with 10 percent accord-ing to Alfio Bernardini general manager Hotel Mis-soni Kuwait who said ldquo[At the hotel] everything con-tributes to the depth of the experience Hotel Missoni is designed to be genuine and uncomplicated offer-ing those luxury touches that really matter because they genuinely enrich the experience of stayingrdquo
Six Senses Zighy Bay the indigenous village style accommodation in Oman has observed an increase of 12 percent in occupancy levels throughout 2012 while the growth of the Middle East clientele is appar-ent after the development of family-specific offerings attested Guillaume de Lasteyrie executive assistant manager Six Senses Zighy Bay He believes that peace and calm is the most appreciated value of the property while the hotelrsquos offerings are tempting for guests cit-ing the example of the saltwater pool carrying a min-eral composition of 15-20 percent comparable to the Dead Sea whose concentration is 27 percent
Another instance of Arab opulence is Eastern Man-groves Hotel amp Spa by Anantara in Abu Dhabi a prop-erty which assures that luxury is interrelated with in-dulgence across all of its services offered with an acute focus on detail which Nehme Darwiche hotel manag-er Eastern Mangroves Hotel amp Spa by Anantara report-ed is of utter importance Darwiche further supports that the Middle East will not only continue to develop as a luxury destination but will sit on the top of luxury ranks and become a pioneer in such offerings ldquoThe de-mand on luxury products will continue to increase as the tastes of sophisticated societies continues to reach new limits Luxury will not be in big numbers but will be in the power to obtain rarity the Middle East under-stands that very well and the developments planned
Maria Kazeli writes
Hotel Missoni Kuwait
23EXCLUSIVELuxury Travel
MARCH 2013
from now until 2020 have luxury travellers as their tar-getrdquo Darwiche concluded
An upcoming superior property in the region is Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah set to open in May Rudi Jagersbacher president Middle East and Africa Hilton Worldwide explained that the hotel as an up-scale property will have to deliver on two counts experiences and expectations Observing that travel behaviour has changed in the past years and placing emphasis on value for money he further noted ldquo[Wal-dorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah] is palatial exclusive and will offer the highest level of service as well as state-of-the-art amenities but that is not enough We have to ensure that our guests consider their experience as an investment worth repeating and sharingrdquo
The peak of extravagance is reached with a variety of private jet services throughout the region which cater for business and leisure travellers alike Mark Hardman op-erations director ExecuJet Middle East pointed out that the companyrsquos clientele is as diverse as the regionrsquos popu-lation but private aviation offers valued features such as time efficiency security privacy and convenience
He admitted that the most popular destinations for Dubai-based ExecuJet are in the Middle East with Riyadh Jeddah Beirut and Baghdad occupying the top spots while Geneva London and Nice are the favoured European hubs
Similarly Hardy Sohanpal director NasJet agreed that Middle East travellers use private jet services for efficiency flexibility and privacy while he accurately underlined that through emphasising the luxury ben-efits many private jet users build relationships with their key business contacts and staff by giving them access to private aircraft
ON THE RISE
Providing her own view Stewart reiterated that it is important not to overdevelop and retain authenticity of the Arab culture in the region
Along parallel lines Essex believes that the major-ity across the region always had the opinion that big is beautiful but this is not enough he further stressed as the industry professionals in the Middle East need to consider the boutique options However he lauded Abu Dhabirsquos development on Saadiyat Island and the introduction of cultural arts which he believes will at-tract the international and discerning travellers
Boyen deems that the region will experience ad-vancement and will emerge as a luxury destination something he attributes to improved air connectivity ldquoDefinitely with new airline routes from the Middle East launching all the time such as Etihad Airwaysrsquo new routes to Washington and Satildeo Paulo which are
launching this year the destination is bound to de-velop furtherrdquo he continued
Sharing the same opinion that the expansion of airlines and airports lead to such positive develop-ments Bernardini claimed that despite the fact that the Middle East will develop further to become a des-tination for high-calibre tourists not all countries in the region have the capacity and the stability to do so However he further explained a few hotspots will enjoy this blessing due to the money available in this part of the world which will result in the building of super high-quality hotels and thus attract a good number of luxury travellers
De Lasteyrie pointed out that even though the region was under the spotlight for some time the future will see even greater lavish suggestions and-maintaining that ldquoThe Middle East has been since years a luxury destination to the eyes of many though the pinnacle of luxury is yet to come Smaller and personalised service hotels and resorts from around the world are now willing to implement themselves in untouched locations creating a new momentum Much of the Middle East is still in the first tiers of luxu-ry based on opulent luxury and the glitz and glamour that first come with wealth We are now beginning to see affluent luxury and more distinguished spending on art collectibles and sustainabilityrdquo
24 SPECIAL REPORT Waterparks
MARCH 2013
In for a RideWaterparks are a popular attraction among locals and tourist in the Middle East With promising weather throughout most of the year waterparks offer visitors a fun family outing in addition to an array of promotions and events Travel Trade Monthly explores what makes waterparks the perfect attraction
F rom fun rides food and beverage outlets and retail offerings to gaming outlets and social events waterparks offer a safe fun and friendly environment for the family groups and events planners from all walks of life
Wild Wadi Waterpark Dubai is a good example whose team is committed to providing a fun-filled service that will make a lasting impression according to Chris Perry general manager Wild Wadi Waterpark who added that there is a major focus on using every opportunity to ensure that the guestsrsquo decision to visit is rewarded with plenty of time to play less time to queue and more time on the rides
Meanwhile Ice Land Water Park Ras Al Khaimah is receiving full promotional support from the emir-atersquos government and especially by its tourism body this according to Vagelyn Federico deputy director Ice Land Waterpark who added that it has been high-lighted as one of the major destinations in the UAE by all concerned tourism entities
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is the latest entry into the regionrsquos proliferating world of waterparks and accord-ing to Mike Oswald general manager Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi it rivals the worldrsquos best waterparks offering 43 rides slides and attractions ldquoIt has been an incredible journey to this point and unbelievably satisfying to watch the peoplersquos reaction to what has been created We are
support of the tourism body in Ras Al Khaimahrdquo Federico stated
In the summer major visitors to the waterpark hail from Asia as well as locally whereas during the winter months the CIS market plays a big role in pro-moting the park with its tourists in the UAE
In order to boost visitor arrivals to the waterpark Federico pointed out that during the winter the team is currently working for a family barbecue night with some other attractions to lure in more families
Moreover she indicated that the months ahead seem even more vibrant as she further demonstrated ldquoThis year will be more promising as we strengthened our ties with more travel operators inbound and out-bound Additionally we are currently working with dif-ferent airlines travel operators hotels and other tour-ism entities to promote Ice Land giving them also more benefits in promoting us to different market segmentsrdquo
Giving something more to visitors the water-parkrsquos team is currently working with skilled games and other dry rides for people to enjoy at the facility after park operations ldquoWe are also a preferred venue for concerts as we have the perfect place to accom-modate up to 6000 people in one area Ice Land Wa-ter Park is just one of the offerings of WOWRAK and we are currently working with other expansions such as resorts ice skating cinema complex hypermarket and other amusement activities which are planned to open in the next few yearsrdquo concluded Federico
Likewise Perry also announced continuous growth over the years for Wild Wadi Waterpark with 2012 prov-ing very successful He attributed this achievement to events such as ladies nights Ramadan nights and the new Jumeirah Sceirah which launched in September 2012 having proved to be a favourite amongst thrill seekers whereby one drops through a trap door from a height of 32m into the waiting water tunnel and races down the slide at 80km per hour
ldquoWe aim for this trend to continue this year as we have a variety of new attractive promotions and events to suit all our guestsrsquo needsrdquo Perry further in-formed ldquoWe also launched our online ticketing system this month to offer faster entry to our guestsrdquo he added guaranteeing guests with a faster entry process allow-ing all those with a printed ticket to jump the queue
Wild Wadi Waterpark is open all year round and ca-ters to guests from all over the world ldquoDuring the hot summer months (May-October) most of our guests come from the GCC countries whereby during the colder season (November-April) our guests are mainly from Europe
ldquoThe park is also a popular destination for UAE resi-dents since we periodically offer discounts to all resi-dents as well as annualseason passes that allow them to visit as many times as they want for a cheaper raterdquo he said
Perry also pointed out that during the month of May the waterpark offers its very popular family-only mornings every Friday at discounted rates so that they can enjoy the full facilities of the park when it is not too busy and of course when it is more safe and secure a factor which he assured is of the highest priority
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi
Dominique Christou writes
confident that people will have seen nothing like it before and we look forward to the waves of visitors expected to arrive now that the park is officially openrdquo
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi which inaugurated on January 19 is built around a central character named Dana whose crew won the battle in its quest to re-store a pearl to its rightful place which has ensured prosperity to the mythical Emirati village and marked what is expected to be a successful start to Yas Water-world Abu Dhabirsquos commercial operations
Set across 15ha on Yas Island the park offers thrills for the whole family and visitors will experience fun and adventure on rides and attractions such as the worldrsquos longest fastest tornado waterslide the regionrsquos first looping waterslide and the worldrsquos first interactive water and laser rollercoaster According to Oswald Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is expected to welcome a total of 700000 in its first year of operation
CALLING ALL THRILL SEEKERS
During 2012 waterparks across the region expe-rienced a healthy increase in visitors across a variety of markets
ldquoThe waterpark performed better in 2012 compared to our first year in 2011 when it comes to statistics in vari-ous nationalities locally and internationally through the
26 INVESTIGATION
MARCH 2013
Visiting Friends amp Relatives
Maria Kazeli writes
T he annual review for 2011 by the World Travel amp Tourism Council (WTTC) attributes social and cultural benefits to tourism indicating that the industry directly helps to keep or bring families and social networks together
With special regards to the visiting friends and relatives (VFR) segment the review supports that a significant proportion of all international trips which reaches up to a third of all arrivals for some large de-veloped markets are made in order to visit friends andor relatives
Globalisation has caused people to spread all over the globe but returning back home occasion-ally is a necessity The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) draws direct links between migration and travelling to visit relatives and in the 2009 Executive Summary entitled Tourism and Migration ndash Explor-
year in review which covers up to September 2012 reveals that the highest figures for the VFR segment appeared in January 2012 with 267 percent of 47610 incoming tourists being reported as VFR
Egyptrsquos outbound travel market linked to VFR oc-cupies a major part of business for travel agencies Feryal El Gohary general manager Bahi Travel ex-plained adding that almost half of the agencyrsquos cli-entele are VFR She also expressed the view that this market is a growing force for airlines and hoteliers alike while the latter she pinpointed will succeed only if they create a new strategy of very advanta-geous attractive long-stay offers
Tarek Moshref managing director Pronto Tours an Egypt-based tour operator supported that the VFR market is the third largest segment after holiday and business and for this reason local travel agents and operators should improve their services in order to capture and develop its potential by offering new options and programmes
Stressing the cost-driven aspect of the VFR mar-ket Adel Taha general manager leisure travel Kimidar Tours an Egyptian travel agency destination manage-ment company and ground handler said that VFR travellers aim at low travel expenditures in order to spend their money on leisure activities at the destina-tion and not on transportation With regards to the accommodation factor he added ldquoMost of the travel-lers whether leisure or VFR would tend to seek hotel accommodation in order to benefit from services pro-vided such as room cleaning and meals instead of self-served apartments However we can say they still seek low-cost accommodations with some specificationsrdquo
VFR IN THE SKIES
Commenting on the results of the British CAArsquos study Harry Bush group director economic regulation UK CAA had said that air travel played a key role in enabling peoplersquos relocating principally through the emergence of low-cost air travel and that the result-ing VFR passengers are increasingly important con-sumers of air travel According to an aviation analysis report by CAPA - Centre for Aviation a provider of independent aviation market intelligence the Mid-dle Eastern low-cost carriers are trying to adapt their model to the regional situation with their higher den-sity configurations targeting migrant workers and VFR traffic flows from North Africa and South Asia into the Gulf region
Major airlines have taken this trend into consid-eration and cater for this market by tailoring their offers Paolo De Renzis area commercial manager Middle East and Central Asia British Airways said ldquoThe VFR segment is extremely important to British Airways particularly in the Middle East where a large number of our customers are VFR travellers This is a region where families are extremely close and this tight-knit family culture means that we see a lot of VFR traffic across our Middle Eastern routes We also have a large expat community in the UAE which con-tributes significantly to this segmentrdquo
Unconventional TravellersMany prefer to spend their holiday visiting their friends and relatives in their home country if they are expa-triates or some other destination in order to spend time with their loved ones The focus of the travel is not cultural sightseeing and luxury ac-commodation but low airfare and budget lodgings
ing the Relationship between Two Global Phenomena compiled by UNWTO the two concepts are analysed by stressing that growth in international tourism and mobility has given rise to tourism-led migration with examples including the movement of male labourers from South Asia to meet the construction demands of the tourism boom in the UAE
The research states that migration has led directly and indirectly to significant growth in tourism to both origin and destination countries through increased visibility especially in the VFR sector and to the de-velopment of new tourism infrastructure and trans-port routes in and between countries
UKrsquos Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) also lays empha-sis on the importance of the specific market having published an in-depth study on air passengers visiting friends or family The investigation report titled Interna-tional Relations ndash The Growth in Air Travel to Visit Friends or Relatives indicated that the robust growth in VFR re-flected trends such as labour mobility and migration while predicting that due to these trends the countryrsquos GDP will affect future VFR passenger traffic
VISITING MENA
At the 6th UNWTOPacific Asia Travel Association Fo-rum on Tourism Trends and Outlook held in October 2012 in China it was revealed that 36 percent of the Middle Eastrsquos outbound market constitutes the VFR segment
Some insights on inbound VFR trends concern-ing the hotel industry in the region were provided by Darroch Crawford managing director Middle East and Africa Premier Inn Hotels who highlighted that this market is highly important but also very difficult to measure as bookings of this nature come through different channels His estimations on guests travel-ling to visit family members in the region and residing in Premier Inn properties amount to seven percent of the total clientele Crawford further indicated that the largest Middle Eastern feeder markets for the brand are Lebanon Syria and Jordan
Meanwhile in Saudi Arabia domestic tourism has been the primary focus of tourism development pol-icy in the Kingdom and according to Saudi Tourism Outlook issued by the Tourism Information and Re-search Centre part of Saudi Commission for Tourism amp Antiquities which analyses July 2012rsquos figures the local segment contributed to 114 million overnight trips in the month under review out of which 398 percent hailed from the VFR segment In addition 293 percent of the 171 million outbound trips taken from Saudi Arabia during July 2012 were categorised as the VFR market
The Statistical Service of Cyprus disclosed that ac-cording to the latest data available concerning Sep-tember 2012 the island received 335352 visitors out of which 97 percent were VFR The same data for the
28 WHOS MOVED
MARCH 2013
ANDREW ABRAM
KONSTANTINOS KOUROTSIDIS
Andrew Abram has been named general manager at Raffles Dubai Abram joins the propertyrsquos team from Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group where over the past dec-ade he has held various positions He joined the company in 2003 as resident manager of The Excelsior Hotel Hong Kong and went on to lead the renovation and reopen-ing of Mandarin Oriental Jakarta holding the role of general man-ager for eight years He most re-cently served as general manager
of Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhavi in Chiang Mai Thailand Having also held the position of corporate director of sales and marketing at Jumeirah Group in the Middle East where he was responsible for the branding and launching of several projects Abram brings an insiderrsquos knowl-edge to Raffles Dubai
Konstantinos Kourotsidis has been named general manager at Radisson Blu Martinez Hotel Beirut Kourotsidis started his career in the hospitality industry in 1996 in food and beverage at Copthorne Hotel Hanover In 2000 he joined The Rezidor Ho-tel Group where he held various positions across Europe and the Middle East including at Radis-son Blu Hotel Hanover Radission
Blu Hotel amp Spa Galway Radisson Blu Resort Schloss Fleesensee Radisson Blu Resort El Quseir Radisson Blu Hotel Alexandria and Radisson Blu Resort Sharjah After several task force assign-ments in Egypt Libya and UAE Kourotsidis was promoted to general manager at Radisson Blu Al Mahary Hotel Tripoli Most re-cently he worked as acting gen-eral manager at Radisson Blu Re-sort Fujairah
Abram brings an insiderrsquos knowledge to
Raffles Dubai
MARCH 2013
30 TRAVEL TALK
MARCH 2013
LEON SALINEL
WAEL EL BEHI
KARIM NAHAS
Executive assistant manager of sales and marketing Dusit Thani Dubai
General manager Ramada Downtown Dubai
General managar Rose Rayhaan by Rotana
ldquo2012 was a very successful year for us We were not only successful in meeting our key performance indicators most notably by exceeding both our gross operating profit and gross operating revenue Working with Inves-tors in People throughout the year also ensured that we performed highly in our employee satisfaction survey we even ranked at the top of our group in this regards [hellip] We are now drawing to a close on our rooms renovation and have just welcomed our new general manager so it is an exciting year to come for us which will see some changerdquo
ldquoI am very pleased to be appointed as executive board mem-ber [of the Tunisian Business Council] I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress in [the cur-rent year] I hope to play a part in creating strong community bound by camaraderie accord and reliance among Tunisian nationals in the UAErdquo
ldquo2012 was a record year for Rose Rayhaan total revenue growth was almost 17 percent versus 2011 [hellip] The hotel continued to focus on the GCC markets with the Saudi market on the top list and strong performance of the UK France and Russian markets were witnessed UAE local market in both leisure and corporate seg-ments also performed very well We are planning to fo-cus on new emerging markets like South Africa Brazil and Turkey Competition will be indeed stiffen this year however I guess there will be business for everybodyrdquo
I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress
TRAVEL TALK IS YOUR SPACE ndash 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
editorialtraveltradeweeklytravel
trav
el t
alk
is
y
our
spac
e
31RENDEZVOUS
MARCH 2013
Q amp A with Rana El KhouryWith her recent appointment Rana El Khoury general manager Le Gray Beirut became one of Lebanonrsquos first women to hold such a high position at a five-star hotel and here she shares her views on the future prospects of the Lebanese hotel sector
Rana El KhouryGeneral manager Le Gray Beirut
Travel Trade Monthly How would you describe 2012 in a few words Rana El Khoury The best way to describe 2012 would certainly be lsquochallengingrsquo a challenge that could be called survival until we see better days Controlling costs while maintaining superior ser-vice quality and competitiveness is key to our con-tinuous success in the Lebanese market The hotel performance could be rated as fair for 2012 greatly impacted by high level of business during the first five months of the year This has allowed us to stay ahead of the game for the remainder of the year although November 2012 was the toughest month since the opening of the hotel in 2009 Despite all Le Gray has managed in 2012 to retain its number one position in occupancy and RevPAR in the Leba-nese market
Travel Trade Monthly The hotel will soon em-bark on a major extension project Tell us a little bit about this
Rana El Khoury Le Gray is preparing to kick off its extension that will include a larger lobby with a lob-by lounge a chocolate room banquet space a 35-seat movie theatre and an additional 18 rooms The project should reach completion by end of 2014
Travel Trade Monthly Prior to your appoint-ment you served as hotel manager How does your new position differ from your former role
Rana El Khoury My previous position as hotel manager was focused on the operations aspect of the hotel as general manager my responsibilities enclose a more general view of the hotel including the administrative and strategic side of the hotel as well as the link between the owning company and management company
My priorities for the coming year is diversify-ing our target markets on the international and local scene to maximise hotel occupancy and to strengthen the positioning of Le Gray on the lo-cal market as a destination for its restaurants and bars whilst building on the existing strong team at Le Gray and getting the right people together to move forward with positivity and vigilance to counter these challenging times
The advice I would give young women ready to climb the corporate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the dif-ferent positions they fill throughout their careers
Travel Trade Monthly Your appointment makes you one of the first Lebanese women to hold this position at a five-star hotel How challenging is it to hold such a high position at an already well-established hotel
Rana El Khoury The hospitality industry is very challenging and requires sacrifice on all levels What I can say is that women have their own speci-ficity and they can bring a different vision and new perspectives to the hospitality business The advice I would give young women ready to climb the cor-porate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the different positions they fill throughout their careers this can only make them stronger and certainly more cred-ible when they reach executive level positions
Travel Trade Monthly Over the past few years the Lebanese tourism industry has faced a num-ber of serious challenges What are your expec-tations for the current year Rana El Khoury Lebanon has always been a pre-ferred destination attracting tourists from the Arab and Gulf countries and with increasing stability and security we do see a solid recovery
Given the complexity of the Lebanese market improvement can occur overnight As seen in May 2008 following the Doha-agreement occupancy rates jumped back then from 30 to 90 percent within one week
This year remains uncertain due to the volatil-ity of the political situation in the region the key is to remain sustainable and be ready for the sudden surge in business
Le Gray Beirut
32 NEWS amp EVENTS
MARCH 2013
EVENTS Sponsored by
Following a refurbishment to better present the historical phases of the emiratersquos auto manu-facturing sector Sharjah Classic Cars Museum originally launched in 2008 by HH Sheikh Sul-tan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi ruler of Sharjah reopened in January by Sheikh Essam bin Saqr Al Qassimi chairman Sharjah rulerrsquos office
On the opening day of the event Manal Ataya director general Sharjah Museums Department said ldquoThe aim of refurbishing this museum was to allow us to re-evaluate the previous design and interpretation and improve it significantlyrdquo
She further pointed out that the museum now helps visitors to appreciate the aesthetic and historical value of classic cars in a space that inte-grates a new childrens interactive area and a gal-lery space for temporary exhibitions
The museum boasts 85 classic cars two mo-torcycles and five bicycles as well as a model of an old car and an engine to allow visitors to familiarise themselves with parts of an engine and their function while it is divided into five sections and features an area for activities and interactive games
Following the launch of the UAE branch of the Airline Owners and Pi-lotsrsquo Association (AOPA) at Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2012 Yousif Al Hammadi president AOPA UAE has invited representatives from international AOPA branches to attend a workshop dedicated to discussing and debating gen-eral aviation issues in the region
The meeting the first of its kind will run parallel to this yearrsquos Abu Dhabi Air Expo and will take place at the Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies Al Bateen Executive Airport on March 6
It is anticipated that up to 30 representatives from AOPA US AOPA UK AOPA Germany and AOPA France will meet with their colleagues from the UAE during the one-day event to share knowledge and debate a variety of topics including air space regulations aerial non-commercial operations certification and maintenance issues and pilot licensing
AOPA members will also be able to maximise their time by attending the Air Expo exhibition the Middle Eastrsquos only dedicated general aviation event to meet pilots from the region and learn about the latest trends
Sharjah Reopens Car Museum AOPA UAE to Hold Meeting with International Colleagues
ITB BerlinBerlin Germany March 6 ndash 10 2013(wwwitb-berlinde)A business-to-business platform for trade visitors which provides the possibility to discover the whole world within a few hours
MITT MoscowMoscow Russia March 20 ndash 23 2013(wwwmittru)Russiarsquos leading and largest travel exhibition with over 3000 participat-ing companies and 197 destinations a key meeting place for industry professionals
The Gulf Incentive Business Travel amp Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) Abu Dhabi UAE March 25 ndash 27 2013(wwwgibtmcom)A leading event for the meetings incentives and business travel industry in the GCC region which can truly unlock all participantsrsquo business potential
Saudi Travel amp Tourism Investment Market (STTIM)Riyadh Saudi Arabia March 31 ndash April 4 2013(wwwsttimcomsa)The event covers all travel and tourism investments aspects in the Kingdom through a combined conference and exhibition
International Destination Expo (IDE)Dubai UAE April 4 ndash 7 2013(wwwastaorgevents)Organised by the American Society of Travel Agents IDE is a destination training programme where participants can meet local suppliers and built profitable long-lasting relationships
Arabian Travel Market (ATM)Dubai UAE May 6 ndash 9 2013(wwwarabiantravelmarketcom)The travel and tourism event unlocking business potential within the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals
Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies
9VISITEgypt
MARCH 2013
Lan Tania Fairmont Heliopolis amp Towers
concept bathroom [hellip] All suites feature high speed Internet access an interactive TV and complimentary coffee and tea Presidential Suite guests are provided with a personal butler for unrivalled comfortldquo
Mansour is also eyeing a positive year ahead with an increase in occupancy of 13 percent and an upsurge in RevPAR by 22 percent highly dependent as she inserted on the countryrsquos political and security stability The main targeted markets for the year re-main the propertyrsquos six leading contributors in 2012 Libya Germany Africa Italy UK and the US as well as the rest of Europe and the Middle East Mansour further informed
Urs Umbricht general manager Maritim Jolie Ville Kings Island Luxor also placed a strong emphasis on the reliance on the countryrsquos situation when stating his predictions for the year however his estimates seem somewhat optimistic with a modest surge in occupan-cy of five percent a slight boost in ARR of three per-cent and RevPAR growth of three percent for Maritim Jolie Ville Kings Island Luxor with all European North and South American Middle Eastern and local mar-kets high on the targeted list for the property
For Dina Naeem area director of public relations Egypt Starwood Hotels amp Resorts Worldwide the year is looking to be very positive for the hotel giant across all its propertyrsquos throughout the country as she com-mented adding that as an emerging market located at the nexus of the rapidly growing Africa and Middle East region it is expected that the country will stabi-lise in the second half of year
ldquoStarwood is expecting to see a growth in tourism to Egypt over the coming year The Starwood hotels in particular are pleased to announce some exciting new openings and renovations to excite both leisure and business travellers [This year] will see the open-ing of Le Meacuteridien Cairo Airport to entrench Star-woodrsquos presence in the capital The hotel is targeted primarily towards the business travellers and will be on an area of 23500m2 Located in front of the arrival passenger Terminal 3 Le Meacuteridien Cairo Airport is at-tached to the [main] building through an inter-con-necting bridge and consists of 330 rooms 19 suites three major restaurants banqueting conferences and meeting rooms in addition to swimming pools green areas health club and ample parking
ldquoTwo Le Meacuteridien hotels [namely] Le Meacuteridien Pyramids and Le Meacuteridien Dahab will open Egyptrsquos first two Explore Spas These are the first branded spas by Le Meacuteridien in Egypt offering a new perspec-tive on spa experience breaking away from how spa is viewed [hellip] The iconic Sheraton Cairo Hotel amp Ca-sino located on the west bank of the Nile River is un-dergoing a total revamp and is also set to open with 656 rooms in quarter four of [the year] The renova-tion which began in 2010 is considered one of the most comprehensive projects [hellip] and is targeted to-wards the discerning leisure traveller as well as busi-ness travellers who are looking for much more than just a business triprdquo she explained Starwood Hotels amp Resorts is also gearing up to open The St Regis Cairo in October 2014
PREPARE FOR THE RED SEA
Further south towards the world-renowned tourist re-gion of the Red Sea the coastal city of Sharm El Sheikh was blessed with the entry of the peak season in No-vember 2012 according to TRI Hospitality Consultingrsquos HotStats MENA Chain Hotel Market Review November 2012 as signs of improvement blos-somed throughout the destination during the month under review
According to the re-port occupancy rates swelled 77 percentage points to 797 percent pushing RevPAR up 54 percent to USD4166 despite a 47 percent decrease in ARR to USD5225 Meanwhile total RevPAR boosted 87 percent to USD7551 securely driven by an in-crease in food and bever-age revenue with GOP-PAR growing 52 percent to USD328
However Goddard believes that hotels in Sharm El Sheikh also ap-pear to be struggling as market-wide rate reduc-tions have negatively impacted financial re-sults ldquoAlthough occu-pancy in the region has increased the slashing of rates has had a dra-matic impact on their
peak seasonrsquos profit marginsrdquo he continuedSimilarly Umbricht highlighted that throughout
many tourist destinations across Egypt there exists an over-offer in hotel rooms which he believes re-sults in the very low pricing and thus is keeping Egypt very competitive against European competitors ldquoOn the other hand this is also resulting in a rate battle amongst the hotels which at the end is not healthy One of the losers will be the ecological and balanced tourism and finally naturerdquo he further underlined
On a positive note Marc Reissigner area general manager InterContinental The Palace Port Ghalib Re-sort Crowne Plaza Sahara Sands Port Ghalib Crowne Plaza Sahara Oasis Port Ghalib and Marian Lodge at Port Ghalib this year expects a 4268 percent in oc-cupancy levels equivalent to an increase of 1236 percent over 2012 with average daily rate to surge USD865 to USD4536 from USD3671 in 2012 This is all considering that MICE organisers place Egypt back into their event calendars according to Reissigner who emphasised that the international MICE market will continue to be one of the propertiesrsquo main targets and remain the number one feeder segment to Marsa Alam Port Ghalib destination
In addition the hotels will also be focusing on the corporate meetings and leisure markets the latter including the underwater adventure snorkelling
10 VISIT Egypt
MARCH 2013
families and romance and couples segments as well as wellbeing Reissigner further informed
ldquoNamed Egyptrsquos leading spa resort [] Six Senses Spa is [the countryrsquos] first on the Red Sea coast and is located among the splendid landscaped gardens lagoons stun-ning architecture and pure luxury of InterContinental The Palace Port Ghalib We have tailor-made a new hon-eymooners emotions experience with an inspired luxury palace of indulgence from the moment of arrival in Port Ghalib our lsquoemotionsrsquo experience takes clients on a jour-ney to the fascinating past blended with luxurious com-fortrdquo he continued
Steigenberger Al Dau Resort also recently celebrat-ed the traditional cornerstone placement of its new five-star Red Sea project Steigenberger Aqua Magic With construction works well underway Steigenberger Aqua Magic owned by Sami Saad Holding is slated for opening towards the end of the year and will operate under the flag of the renowned German hotel group Steigenberger Hotels The resort will run as a family hotel boasting 700 rooms in capacity a large swim-ming pool landscape extensive recreational facilities including its own Splash certified water park and an exclusive entertainment area
Moreover Soma Bay and in particular Kempin-ski Hotel Soma Bay is ready to welcome visitors to a place offering what Schwass described as beauti-
La Reacutesidence des Cascades
[the year] and the country enters an onoff transitional phase the second year post-revolution era is likely to re-sult in slow growth and a gradual return to pre-crisis lev-els by winter 20132014rdquo
However he recommends that anyone and eve-ryone visit Egypt ldquoEveryone must know that whatever happens in Tahrir Square the rest of Cairo and most of all the rest of Egypt and Red Sea are perfectly saferdquo he continued ldquoThis does not mean that the protests are not important but tourism-wise there are no complications at all If there is a demonstration on the same day you are in Cairo and you are concerned about your safety just come and enjoy the sun by the Red Sea Port Ghalib were luxury meets natureldquo
Naeem described Egypt as a safe and attractive tourist destination for international travellers and as-sured that Starwood Hotels amp Resorts Worldwide is committed to actively promoting tourism to the re-gion ldquoIn 2012 Starwood launched a dedicated web-site egypt-hospitalitycom to highlight the history of hospitality and services of all 10 Starwood hotels in the country [hellip] Egypt has culture diversity and stunning beauty which encompasses the countryrsquos history and which are still present todayrdquo
Sharing similar sentiments and reaffirming Star-wood Hotels amp Resorts Worldwidersquos top priority in implementing the hotel grouprsquos recovery campaign Hassan Ahdab vice president Africa and the Indian Ocean Starwood Hotels amp Resorts Worldwide said ldquoIt is very important after the recent events in Egypt that peoplersquos faith and trust in a country which has so much to offer be restored We are convinced that the campaign will make some noise and draw those of our loyal longstanding guests who have been wary of revisiting Egypt back to our resortsrdquo
ldquoOur personal message to travellers planning to visit is come and join usrdquo remarked Sherine Emara marketing manager La Reacutesidence Des Cascades ldquoOur hotels our beaches our golf courses our Cascades Spa and Thalasso our dive centre our wind surfing our kite surfing centre our Soma Bayrsquos Marina Centre with its restaurants and shops are all operational and ready to welcome yourdquo she added
Mansour believes that political and security stability are pre-requisites for tourism as she elaborated ldquoHaving tourism high on our president Mohamed Morsyrsquos agen-da in addition to the new initiatives taken by the ministry to boost tourism we expect tourism to regain its previ-ous position Moreover Egyptrsquos upcoming parliamentary elections will further enhance stability in Egyptrdquo
Tarek Moussa chairman Egypt amp Beyond Travel concurred ldquoStability and safety are the key words for tourists to come back to Egypt and unless the president and government of Egypt get it right and bring back sta-bility tourists will remain in much lower numbers Tour-ism in Egypt is very sick now but it will never dierdquo
Meanwhile Ibrahim Mohamed Ibrahim managing director Perfect Tours stressed that customers looking for the worldrsquos most enjoyable holidays to exotic desti-nations in Egypt and abroad do not have to do a single thing except of course to have a good time the rest he confirmed will be taken care of
ful sandy beaches and year-round sunshine which he informed remain the main attraction for tourists worldwide ldquoBy continuing to offer world-class service to our guests during the past 18 months Kempinski Hotel Soma Bay has also been able to recover from the dip in tourismrdquo he added
Also commenting on the resurgence Stephen Banks director of sales and marketing Africa Moumlven-pick Hotels amp Resorts said ldquoWe have seen occupan-cies steadily rise over the last year with our hotels on the Red Sea performing particularly wellrdquo
He added ldquoIn April this year Moumlvenpick Resort Soma Bay will open with 418 rooms on an unspoiled
stretch of white sandy beach in this increasingly popular destination on the Red Sea In addition Moumlvenpick Hotel amp Re-sort Cairo - Pyramids will open a further 132 rooms with an entirely new building aimed at the upscale business traveller and leisure guest
A PERSONAL MESSAGE
The 2011 revolution has certainly had a significant impact on Egyptrsquos tour-ism industry and this evi-dently continued in 2012 with direct impact on travel accommodation air transportation and tour-ist attractions with value growth rates across the board declining to dou-ble digit levels according to Reissigner who added ldquoOperators introduced heavy discounts in order to lure tourists back and prices remained low at the beginning of 2012 As unrest continues in Egypt with violence erupting again at the beginning of
11EXPLOREDubai
MARCH 2013
Why Dubai
DUBAI IN BRIEF
Country UAE
Currency UAE Dirham (AED)
Language Arabic
Dubairsquos astonishing rise from a small fishing and pearling community to one of the fastest growing metropolises continues to impress and inspire the world Welcome to the land of records and record-breakers where everything imaginable and unimaginable be-comes a reality
H ome to the worldrsquos tallest building largest shopping mall a collection of iconic artificial islands and some of the most instantly-recogniseable sights Dubai has established itself as the city of superlatives which con-tinuously strives for greater heights
Just when you think you have seen it all a new lsquoworldrsquos firstrsquo or lsquoworldrsquos mostrsquo project is announced inspiring visitors to return again and again
Propelled by multi-billion dollar investments in a space of just a few years Dubai has grown into the worldrsquos 13th most popular tourist destination as Euromonitor Internationalrsquos Top 100 Cities Destination Ranking shows far outperforming the likes of Shanghai Rome or Las Vegas
ldquoThe hospitality and tourism industry in Dubai is thrivingrdquo commented Nasser Fawzi director of sales and marketing Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates adding that Dubai has turned into one of the most sought-after destinations worldwide and thanks to the continuous efforts of the government and the Dubai Department of Tourism amp Commerce Marketing (DTCM) people are becoming more and more familiar with the emirate and what it has to offer ldquoVisitors can find both choice and value here making it the ideal destination for both leisure and business travellersrdquo he continued
In fact Dubairsquos hotel sector concluded 2012 with the highest profits in the MENA region for the third consecutive year according to TRI Hospitality Consult-ingrsquos HotStats survey which shows that despite the growing room inventory the destinationrsquos soaring popularity and uninterrupted string of events conferences and festivals helped maintain a steady stream of demand throughout the year lead-ing to an average annual occupancy level of 814 percent and a gross operating profit per available room surge of 133 percent over 2011 levels
ldquo2012 was a very good year for the hospitality industry where Dubai went again from strength to strengthrdquo confirmed Hazem Aouad cluster director of sales and marketing Radisson Royal Hotel Dubai and Radisson Blu Resort Fujairah
Karim Nahas general manager Rose Rayhaan by Rotana also described 2012 as a record year for the hotel when Dubairsquos hospitality industry in general witnessed a boom as the destination continued to benefit from the outcome of the Arab Spring and the governmentrsquos endeavours to market Dubai as a premier leisure destination
Sharing similar views Jan Siddiqi director of sales Ramada Plaza Jumeirah
JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai
Rita Kasziba writes
12 EXPLORE Dubai
MARCH 2013
Beach Residence and Ramada Sharjah attributed the over and above expectations performance to the col-lective result of various actions including political well-crafted initiatives
Praising the government and the tourism bodyrsquos continuous efforts Rupprecht Queitsch general man-ager JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai the worldrsquos tallest hotel at 355m said ldquoDTCM works very hard to raise the profile of Dubai as a destination for the con-vention business and leisure business and we work closely with them on these campaigns and sales tripsrdquo
Fawzi further added ldquo[The government along with DTCM] provide a lot of support to the hospital-ity industry through joint promotions sales and mar-keting initiatives and partnerships The government has positioned Dubai as one of the most sought-after destinations worldwide that has so much to offer and as a result demand for the destination continued to grow steadilyrdquo
TURNING AMBITION INTO ACTION
Just in a single generation Dubairsquos population has grown from just 10000 at the turn of the last century to over two million comprising more than 200 nation-alities by 2011 creating a characteristic destination of vibrant cultures and vivid contracts Demonstrating
the emiratersquos growing significance on regional and global levels everyday at present an average of three million people spend their day in Dubai including workers residing in other emirates and travellers visit-ing the destination on business or for pleasure
As Husseim Hachem cluster general manager Al Bustan and Al Murooj Rotana Dubai observed the emirate has consistently made its strong mark as one of the top destinations all over the world bolstered by widespread efforts of both the public and the pri-vate sector aimed at establishing Dubai as a desired place in every aspect
ldquoFirst the government is doing a great job in promoting the city internationally and secondly dif-ferent industries like hospitality travel tourism and more are working hand in hand to provide the best experiences to tourists and residents alike In addition to these factors Dubai as a city itself is a wonderful place with really nice peoplerdquo Hachem stressed
In fact Dubairsquos visionary leadership has long identified tourism as a central pillar of its economic diversification strategy hence the multi-billion dollar investments into the industry and related sectors in-cluding infrastructure transportation as well as pub-lic services have turned the emirate not only into a tourist hotspot but also into one of the best places to live in the MENA region topping the regional ranking
of Mercerrsquos rsquoQuality of Livingrsquo poll In addition the ease of doing business the close
proximity to key growth markets the centralised time zone best suited to both eastern and western busi-ness hours and the emiratersquos safe family-friendly and multicultural environment have all become a major draw for skilled professionals Consequently numer-ous multinational companies have chosen to set up their regional headquarters in Dubai making it a hub for trade and commerce and the number one desti-nation in the region for foreign direct investment
ldquoDubai continues to cement itself as a prime hub in terms of international businessrdquo confirmed Leon Salinel executive assistant manager sales and mar-keting Dusit Thani Dubai who explained that with its location in the Dubai International Financial Centre and in close proximity to Dubai World Trade Centre and the Dubai International Convention amp Exhibition Centre the hotel enjoys high and in fact growing guest volume from the corporate sector
ldquoHowever it is not just business travellers visit-ing the emiraterdquo Salinel stressed ldquoDubai remains a hotspot for leisure travellers it is the Las Vegas of the Middle East and somewhere people want to experi-ence at least once in their lifetimerdquo
Reflecting Dubairsquos dual appeal Robert Barker general manager Moumlvenpick Hotel amp Apartments
14 EXPLORE Dubai
MARCH 2013
Bur Dubai described Dubai as the Hong Kong of the Middle East adding that the unique model that has been created in the emirate and which continues to evolve with the ongoing reinvestment and planning is set to ensure Dubairsquos success and prosperity in the long-term
ENTERING NEW ERAS
Dubai started the new year on a high with a record 17 million visitors attending the Downtown Dubai New Yearsrsquo Eve Gala exceeding the reported attend-ance of one million at the world famous Times Square celebrations in New York City
The destinationrsquos abundant entertainment and amusement options coupled with its vast retail port-folio has long become a vital part of its appeal with Dubai Mall welcoming over 62 million visitors in 2012 and as a market research conducted by Reed Travel Exhibitions has revealed since the beginning of the year some 48 percent of the emiratersquos hotels were
Ocean View Hotel JA Resorts amp Hotels
Bluewaters Island project located off the Jumeirah Beach Residence coastline is envisaged to become one of the largest tourist hot spots in the world fea-turing demarcated retail residential hospitality and entertainment zones as well as the worldrsquos largest Ferris wheel at 210m named Dubai Eye
With construction due to commence in April the destination is set to further improve Dubairsquos competi-tiveness on the global stage as Abdullah Al Habbai chairman Meraas Holding the developer of the pro-ject suggested ldquoWe have a clear mission and vision to strengthen Dubairsquos global position in the tourism sec-tor This project will continue to build on the emiratersquos reputation as leaders in the global entertainment and retail landscaperdquo
Another megaproject Mohamed Bin Rashid City hailed as a city within the city is expected to set new benchmarks in urban development in the region Comprising four components the project will create an integrated environment for the development of entrepreneurship and innovation and will feature a
myriad of record-breaking leisure and entertainment options including a park 30 percent bigger than Londonrsquos Hyde Park designed to receive 35 million visitors per annum as well as the largest family cen-tre for leisure and entertainment in the region set up in collaboration with Universal Studios that will also include over 100 hotel facilities further to the largest arts gallery in the region and the worldrsquos largest retail complex Mall of the World
ldquoThe current facilities available in Dubai need to be scaled up in line with the future ambitions for the cityrdquo emphasised HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum ruler of Dubai remarking on the vital role of such projects in the emiratersquos Vision 2030 and boosting the UAE economy in order to enable it to enter a new era in which it will become the capital of entrepreneurship arts culture and family tourism for over two billion people
In fact the tourism sector in Dubai is growing by 13 percent annually and the accelerated growth rates require the emirate to prepare all sectors for the
future as passenger volume at Dubai International is set to surpass 90 million people per annum over the next five years ldquoOur development initiatives concern-ing infrastructure in all sectors should be aligned with this growth rate and we have the determination to reach our objectives and be the first in the region to achieve themrdquo concluded Al Maktoum
THE MANY FACES OF DUBAI
As a result of the joint efforts and heavy investments over the past decades Dubairsquos hospitality sector has utterly transformed according to David Thomson chief operating officer JA Resorts amp Hotels ldquoSince 2003 the emiratersquos hotel and hospitality sector has boomed launched new niche products developed new feeder markets and roared ahead with new vig-our after the slowdown of 20092010rdquo he said adding that today Dubai is considered a must-see destina-tion for many more reasons than just shopping and going to the beach which as Thomson stressed is vital for the sectorrsquos future growth
Echoing similar views Habib Khan CEO Planet Hospitality stated that people visiting Dubai can be segregated into three major categories namely lei-sure business and transients
ldquoWithin the leisure we have categorised the guests into travellers who come to witness the dra-matic achievements and modernisation of Dubai [hellip] whereas there are a smaller number but its rapidly growing of those intellectuals educational groups and individuals who seek better understanding of the Emirati and Arabic culturerdquo
Further commenting on the shifting trends Rose Ann Shetty CEO Galavantor which caters to a new generation of responsible travellers noted ldquoThe gov-ernment continues to invest and develop wonderful local and cultural experiences and while Dubairsquos focus continues to be a shopping and leisure destination the type of travellers has changed they are willing to stay longer and experience morerdquo Shetty explained adding that desert horseback riding Bedouin camp-ing trekking and rock climbing are continuously gaining popularity
In a bid to exploit another niche segment medi-cal and wellness tourism DTCM has recently teamed up with the Dubai Health Authority to promote Dubai as a premier medical destination capitalising on the emiratersquos advanced healthcare system and highly-skilled professors
ldquoWe are working to promote the medical tour-ism in Dubai since Dubai has an excellent infrastruc-ture modern hospitals and clinics offering a variety of medical [services] to visitors in search of quality health carerdquo explained Eyad Abdul Rahman execu-tive director media relations and business develop-ment DTCM
DTCM is also actively seeking ways to unleash the immerse potential of the burgeoning cruise tourism sector and secure its long-term growth by participat-ing in various international exhibitions with the aim of attracting more cruise liners
located within a 2km radius of one of the five mega-shopping malls of Dubai
Despite the stiffening competition hotels located in close proximity to shopping complexes continue to thrive as Fawzi confirmed revealing that 2012 proved to be one of the most successful years for the property since it opened seven years ago ldquoAs a city hotel Kem-pinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates offers a truly unique proposition which is well-liked by travellers from the Arab region What we add to Dubairsquos hospitality scene is a destination with entertainment for the whole fam-ily there is Ski Dubai and the new Penguin Encounter experience a great selection of dining options a cin-ema one of Dubairsquos most popular malls and a com-munity theatre all in one location that is literally on the doorstep of the hotelrdquo Fawzi further explained
In spite of the already overwhelming number of attractions in a quest to spur demand and support Dubairsquos bid to host the World Expo 2020 the emirate is forging ahead with a number of new megaprojects The recently approved AED6 billion (USD16 billion)
16 EXPLORE Dubai
MARCH 2013
Commenting on the strong economic fundamen-tals of the emirate and the breadth and unparalleled diversity of Dubairsquos tourism product Moussa El Hayek chief operating officer Al Bustan Centre amp Residence said ldquo[One of the] main reasons behind the prosperity in Dubai is the advanced infrastructure that tourists can enjoy here including luxurious hotels and restau-rants transportation malls entertainment venues parks furthermore security iconic buildings and to some extent the flexibility of the rulesrdquo
rently has 204 aircraft on order at a value USD73 billion Likewise as the second-largest airline operating
out of Dubai International flydubairsquos fast-paced ex-pansion has been a key catalyst in the emiratersquos un-precedented growth In the past two years the airline has more than doubled the number of destinations it flies to from 25 to over 50 a rate of more than one new destination per month and has increased its weekly services to over 1000
Since its inception the low-cost carrier which
served more than 51 million passengers in 2012 has laid great emphasis on connecting Dubai with fast-developing and previously untapped markets opening up new opportunities for travel and trade in emerging markets such as the CIS and Eastern Eu-rope in general In 2012 more than 40 percent of fly-dubairsquos route development concentrated on Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the CIS countries
ldquoWe have seen great demand on our routes within the CIS and CEE as more people seek afford-able fares and direct flights between Dubai and this regionrdquo informed Ghaith Al Ghaith CEO flydubai In addition today flydubai welcomes passengers to Dubai and beyond through its connecting flights to the Maldives Sri Lanka and other destinations
As a matter of fact in 2012 Russia and the CIS proved to be the second fastest expanding market in terms of passenger growth behind South America figures released by Dubai Airports have shown and Al Ghaith revealed a similar trend attesting that the car-rierrsquos total number of flights to the CIS and CEE network was 45 percent higher between October 2011 and Sep-tember 2012 compared to the previous 12 months
ldquoWe operated 109 percent more flights in the region in September 2012 compared to September 2011 illustrating the demand for travel between the nationsrdquo added Al Ghaith ldquoWe are constantly look-ing for new opportunities Our approach is to target destinations within a five-and-a-half hour radius of Dubai which puts us within reach of more than 25 billion people one third of the worldrsquos populationrdquo
Remarking on the airlinesrsquo major role in Dubairsquos development El Hayek highlighted ldquoFlight frequency to different cities all over the world made Dubai the hub of the world as Emirates flydubai and Air Ara-bia have all launched various routes to different cities while other lsquogiantrsquo airlines moved their operations to Dubai due to the advanced infrastructure and the ex-cellent services provided by Dubai Internationalrdquo
In line with the airlinesrsquo expansion strategy hotel-iers are increasingly focusing on reaching out to these new markets including the CIS and Russia which Shaff Butt director of marketing and communication Jumeirah Beach Hotel already listed among the ho-telrsquos key feeder markets
Besides the traditionally strong GCC and Europe-an markets mainly the UK and the German speaking countries demand from the CIS nations also contin-ues to be strong as Siddiqi explained
Reporting similar trends Salinel added ldquoThe GCC has always been a primary source market and has remained strong over the past few years Other source markets which have begun to show significant growth for us as a hotel [are] within the CIS region and Asian marketsrdquo
Butt further added ldquoOver the past few years we are seeing continued positive results from our main key markets such as Europe which continues to show good numbers as well as the GCC and wider Middle East For this year our main focus is the CIS market and we would also like to target Asia and Af-rica since we are getting good pick up as well as more repeat guests each yearrdquo
Nahas listed South Africa Brazil and Turkey among Rose Rayhaan by Rotanarsquos target emerging markets while others including Barker remarked on the growing demand from Far Eastern countries and mainly China
Likewise Hachem noted that China India and the rest of Asia have also started to make up for a big chunk of Al Bustan and Al Murooj Rotana Dubairsquos cli-entele while Aouad also added South America to the list of the markets lsquoto watchrsquo for Radisson Royal Hotel Dubai and Radisson Blu Resort Fujairah
Mohamed Taher director of sales and marketing Traders Hotel Dubai listed a number of emerging markets which hold great potential including the Middle East Africa Southeast Asia Australia Scandi-navia Algeria as well as Serbia
The constantly strong business levels from these markets set to balance demand with supply noted Taherw who anticipates a rise in both rates and over-all business levels ldquoDemand will offset the growth in the increased room inventories with more exhibitions being held in the city as well as the increased air traf-fic with the expansion of the airportrdquo
Hachem further added ldquoThis is admittedly a chal-lenging year as the markets get more and more pen-etrated In addition 2012 had been great which adds more pressure to the industry in general to maintain and exceed the previous achievementsrdquo
Echoing similar views Wael El Behi general man-ger Ramada Downtown Dubai concluded ldquoDubai is one of the most sought-after travel destinations in the world The hospitality sector is getting bigger and better every year Hotels are coming up with innova-tive facilities to ensure guest satisfaction and a travel-ler has a wide range of hotels to choose from Most hotels have increased their efficiency and profitability levels which is commendable We hope to continue this success [hellip] With the growing hospitality sector a traveller will be enticed to visit the city againrdquo
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE
Besides the government and the tourism organisa-tionrsquos vigorous work Dubairsquos advanced air connec-tivity and excellent infrastructure have also played a vital part in the destinationrsquos unprecedented growth as Fawzi noted
ldquoAnother contributing factor is the airlift into the destination and the continued growth of Dubai In-ternational and the UAErsquos airlines including Emirates Etihad Airways and flydubai who have also seen phenomenal growth over the past few years bringing more and more people to the destination [who] will be looking for accommodationrdquo elaborated Fawzi
In fact with its strategic location on the global axis between East and West connecting the devel-oped and the developing world Dubai boasts access to over 25 billion people within a four-hour flight as Queitsch pinpointed
Dubairsquos geographic location makes it a major global hub for trade commerce and tourism a key competitive advantage for Emirates An increasing proportion of the traffic between Europe and Asia now flies through the Middle East and the airline ex-pects this share to further grow taking into consider-ation that Dubairsquos location also facilitates rising trade flows to and from India China and Africa three of the carrierrsquos strongest markets
In the financial year 2011-12 Emirates carried a total of 34 million passengers leading to an average load factor of 80 percent while for the first six months of the financial year ending September 30 2012 pas-senger volume reached 187 million marking a year-on-year increase of 154 percent
Over the last year Emiratesrsquo network has grown rapidly bringing new countries cultures and experi-ences for customers to explore and of course opening up new markets for Dubai Reflecting Emiratersquos ambi-tious expansion plans for the future the company cur-
18 ONSITE Palestine
MARCH 2013
Forging Ahead with Pride PALESTINE IN BRIEF
Administrative Centres
Ramallah Gaza
Accepted Currencies
US Dollar (USD) Jordanian Dollar (JOD)
Language Arabic
Palestine rich in culture deep in history blessed with holy sites and highly worthy of its popularity amongst all travellers alike is a des-tination which never seizes to amaze the world of travel and tourismI n 2012 Palestine witnessed an increase in the
number of inbound tourism by some 225 mil-lion visitors 18 percent higher than that record-ed in 2011 and this paved the way for a boost of 25 percent in overnight stays in hotels and
guesthouses across the country to reach 18 millionIn order to keep visitor levels high the Ministry
of Tourism and Antiquities together with stakehold-ers have implemented numerous projects in a bid to increase traffic to the region
One example is Jenin Tourist Center which is scheduled to open later this year and is set to add to the improvement of Jenin as a tourist destination to attract both local and international visitors with a fo-cus on the quality of the arearsquos residential life and the creation of economic opportunities through tourism
With Poland being heralded as the destinationrsquos second major feeder market in 2012 having welcomed 200000 Polish visitors throughout the year Palestine acted as a partner country for the first time in one of
the global renowned travel trade shows TOUR SALON Poland which gave the Middle Eastern country the opportunity to showcase itself to what is being recog-nised as one of the most promising markets
With regards to Palestinersquos vast selection of accommo-dation offerings the country provides an array of friendly and welcoming hospitality services and this is evident in the healthy performance results reported in 2012
Grand Park Hotel which opened towards the end of September 2012 after a USD13 million renovation transformed it into a five-star property from a four-star recorded 50 percent occupancy in the first six months in operation this according to Mohammed Zomlot general manager Grand Park Hotel
ldquoWe expect perfor-mance to be much bet-ter this year as the hotel is very well-known and guests now know we have had this renovation and want to come and see the new lookrdquo he added
With the majority of the hotelrsquos guests hail-ing from Palestine itself Europe America and the Middle East Zomlot pointed out that the ho-tel attends international conferences sets out marketing strategies and also participates in exhi-bitions in order to keep figures high and promote the hotel as a perfect choice for travellers
Further growing its presence in the region Grand Park Hotel is set to open two new hotels in Palestine in the second quarter of the year and is to be the first local ho-tel chain in the country
Thomas Brugnatelli general manager The American Colony Hotel also revealed the recent
completion of what he described as the spectacular Palm House building alongside other changes which came onboard to cater to the propertyrsquos main clien-tele 45 percent of which Brugnatelli revealed hailed from Europe mostly from France Italy Germany UK and Spain while the US segment claimed a 35 percent market share ldquoFor over a hundred years The American Colony Hotel has a proud reputation of one of the most exceptional and famous hotels in the Middle Eastrdquo he concluded
Royal Court Suites Hotel is yet another property which completed a solid 2012 in terms of business performance as Joseph Ayoub general manager Royal Court Suites Hotel announced who further indicated that with new additions to management and plans for further upgrades the hotel expects its performance to continue to improve into the future ldquoThe Royal Court Suites Hotel will be undergoing re-modeling to our lobby and outside terrace which we are excited forrdquo he expressed
Catering to MENA guests of which 20 percent make up the propertyrsquos entire clientele base who pre-dominantly come from Jordan as well as Palestine it-self the hotel provides a highly service-orientated staff and a location that puts MENA travellers in the heart of Ramallah close to its best attractions and provides them with the opportunity to experience a land sacred to Muslims and Christians boasting holy sites scattered across its land Further to local and regional travellers the hotel is also popular among international organisa-tions non-governmental segments and business trav-ellers arriving from Europe US and Japan
Commenting on the ways through which fel-low professionals can work to improve visitor arriv-als Ayoub advised ldquoHotel operators in Palestine can boost the countryrsquos tourism industry by running well managed operations that provide high quality ser-vice and up to date properties that are exposed to the outside world through proper marketingrdquo
This year also looks to be better than 2012 for Golden Park Resort during which the property wit-nessed average performance levels and occupancy rates of 55 percent among the Czechs Slovakians Indians Sri Lankans Nigerians Polish and Egyp-tians according to Ibrahim Giacamam general man-ager Golden Park Resort who announced changes throughout the hotel in the coming months
ldquoWe are renovating parts of the hotel to compete with local marketsrdquo he revealed adding that this will include a full renovation of the lobby as well as the rooms ldquoThere is competition from new hotels open-ing in Bethlehem thus we want to keep our guests happyrdquo Giacamam concluded
Dominique Christou writes
19TOURUK
MARCH 2013
Dominique Christou writes
A ccording to the latest World Travel amp Tourism Council Economic Impact report published in 2012 direct contribution of travel and tourism to the UKrsquos GDP in 2011 reached GBP35 billion (USD54 billion) 23
percent of the countryrsquos total GDP with a forecasted rise of 13 percent in 2012 and an annual increase of 41 percent over the next decade when the indus-try is estimated to be contributing GBP531 billion (USD81 billion) to the UKrsquos GDP in 2022
Patricia Yates director of strategy VisitBritain ex-pected 31 million inbound visits to the UK for 2012 giving the destination as Yates described a perfect foundation to see continued strong growth in interna-tional tourism for this year contributing revenue to the UK economy and creating new jobs across the country
VisitBritain recently ventured yet again into the GCC following the successful execution and delivery of the BritAgent online training programme in the UAE Saudi Arabia and Kuwait
Meticulously Personalised
UK IN BRIEF
Capital London
Currency British Pound (GBP)
Language English
The UK has long been an admired choice among MENA travellers highly accredited to the typically distin-guished English hospitality world-renowned shopping outlets quality selection of entertainment plethora of family activities and last but not least the overabundance of pictur-esque parks scattered across the country
The UK tourism boardrsquos global online training initia-tive which has been designed to meet the needs of travel trade lsquofront-linersrsquo from new starters to experienced sales personnel was recently launched in Qatar at the British Embassy Doha a programme which upon completion grants the agents with BritAgent status signifying their expertise and knowledge about travel to Britain
ldquoBritain is already a major beneficiary of outbound travel from the Gulfrdquo confirmed Sumathi Ramanathan regional manager Asia Pacific and Middle East Visit-Britain ldquoVisitors from the Gulf region are a major source of revenue for the UK from January to September 2012 these visitors spent nearly AED55 billion (USD15 billion) already showing a seven percent increase over 2011 From 2006 through to 2011 Qatar has shown an outstanding increase in visitor numbers of 59 percent and the spend per night significantly outshines all the other countriesrdquo Ramanathan added
Official figures released by VistBritain reveal that in 2012 the UK witnessed the best November since 2007 with visitation figures a soaring nine percent higher than 2011 keeping the country on track to reach the 31 million mark by end-2012
November 2012 saw healthy results from nearly all the regions in the world exempt the US accord-ing to the study which stated that the UK welcomed 10 percent more tourists from Europe and 12 percent from the rest of the world
20 TOUR UK
MARCH 2013
Yates expressed great satisfaction for this success stressing that 2012 was no ordinary year for inbound tourism so to announce the best November in five years is an achievement
AN AMPLE CHOICE
These healthy results are evident in the hotel sector across the country partially attributed to the relative-ly strong MENA market as Daniel Simmons execu-tive director HotelREZ noted further indicating that the hotel currently has a presence in Dubai and as a result is strategically developing the MENA markets to support the membersrsquo growth
o-y improvement from the top five Middle Eastern mar-kets a 104 percent y-o-y upsurge from Saudi Arabian visitors and a 33 percent y-o-y rise from UAE visitors
Assuring that the MENA guest is well-catering to London Hilton on Park Lane trains its staff to pro-vide the welcome that visitors from the region have come to expect equipping the team with the skills to handle tailored requests according to Brayshaw who elaborated ldquoThere is a dedicated guest relations teams for Middle Eastern guests with Arabic-speak-ing team members Facilities are available for visitorsrsquo private chefs to cook within the hotelsrsquo kitchens and serve their own dishes to their employer Arabic TV stations are also availablerdquo
BRINGING IN BUSINESS
Further boosting MENA tourism to the UK on March 31 British Airways (BA) will launch an additional four flights to and from Amman increasing the frequency from dai-ly to 11 per week ldquoJordan is an important market for Brit-ish Airways and we are thrilled with the excellent growth we have seen here since re-introducing Amman to our route network We are keen to further enhance our op-erations to and from Jordan and the announcement only consolidates our commitment to the Jordanian marketrdquo commented Paolo De Renzis area commercial manager Middle East and Central Asia BA
In addition Qatar Airways has launched its inau-gural long-haul Boeing 787 Dreamliner service on the Doha - London Heathrow route becoming the first airline to operate regular scheduled flights onboard the state-of-the art aircraft to and from the UK
Akbar Al Baker CEO Qatar Airways said ldquoThe Doha - Heathrow route is one of our most popular interna-tional routes and it was only fitting that we deploy our new 787 to and from Londonrdquo
INVESTING IN THE UK
Heathrow Airport is hailed as the most popular gateway for travellers to the UK recording a total of 518 million passengers having passed through its terminal in Janu-ary alone a record for the month which saw an increase of 03 percent over the corresponding month in 2012
Meanwhile load factors also set a record for the month under review up 21 percentage points on Janu-ary 2012 reaching 70 percent Domestic traffic was down 58 percent however European traffic rose 18 percent and Middle Eastern traffic also climbed the trajectory level by 33 percent over the same month in 2012
Moreover Heathrow Airport recently announced GBP3 billion (USD46 billion) worth of investments in the airport in addition to the GBP11 billion (USD168 billion) which has been invested since 2003 and these form part of the establishmentrsquos business plans for Q6 the regulatory period which covers 2014-2019 and they represent one of the largest private-sector investments in UK infrastructure
The plans include the completion of Terminal 2 and the early works on extending the building the development of a new integrated baggage system and the construction of new taxiways and stands which will allow Heathrow Airport to accommodate more of the most modern aircraft
Colin Matthews CEO Heathrow Airport com-mented ldquoHeathrow is the UKrsquos only hub airport and a strategically important national infrastructure asset Heathrow faces stiff competition from other Europe-an hubs and we must continue to improve the service we offers passengers and airlines [] Our plan for a further GBP3 billion (USD46 billion) of private-sector investment will further improve the airport for pas-sengers The plan represents good value for money for airlines and passengers and comes at no cost to taxpayersrdquo
Guests from the UAE Turkey Egypt Saudi Arabia and Kuwait along with Cyprus contributed to two percent of the hotelrsquos total reservations percentage results for 2012 this according to Simmons who also reported a 20 percent year-on-year (y-o-y) increase in revenue ldquoOur hotel members benefit from a 90 per-cent increase on IDS (Internet distribution services) and direct connect bookings a 35 percent increase on GDS (global distribution systems) bookings and a 60 percent growth on CRO (central reservations of-fices) and voice bookingsrdquo
Commenting on the propertyrsquos latest develop-ments Simmons revealed the recently-launched MICE Desk which he pinpointed is an additional solution to HotelREZrsquos member hotels and will help boost revenue
ldquoAt HotelREZ we are very confident that our new MICE Desk will raise awareness and continue to increase reservations for our hotel members from meetings incentives conventions and events pack-ages To complete the consumer booking cycle Ho-telREZ is launching REZanalyst a new social media and review analytics tool for hotels to help manage their online reputationrdquo he concluded
Also showing signs of strong performance is Lon-don Hilton on Park Lane thanks to the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympics whose international committee chose the property as the headquarter ho-tel this according to Ashleigh Brayshaw marketing and communications manager London Hilton on Park Lane
With one out of four of the hotelrsquos guests hailing from the MENA region Brayshaw pointed out that in 2011 the property witnessed particularly high growth in visitor numbers from the region with a 21 percent y-
Moreover the UK especially London offers a full range of activities according to Brayshaw who observed that the Middle Eastern guest is increasingly organised with the time spent in the capital and one who enjoys combining a variety of activities ldquoPopular activities in-clude sending children to summer schools in Regentrsquos Park attending business meetings visiting property shopping for the latest trends and enjoying the rich va-riety of entertainment that London has to offer Families often use managers to organise their time with London Hilton on Park Lanersquos hotel management working di-rectly with guests to assistrdquo she further noted
Moreover Travelodge one of the UKrsquos leading hotel brands is set to benefit from a GBP223 million (USD341 million) brand investment with the opening of 14 new hotels which includes two properties in Spain the creation of 420 new jobs and the launch-ing of a new room concept which has been designed by its customers ldquoThis capital expenditure will help us to grow our business strengthen our product offer-ing and make Travelodge the best value hotel chain in the UKrdquo Grant Hearn CEO Travelodge revealed
ldquoAs part of this yearrsquos investment we have worked with our customers to create a new Travelodge room which offers more comfort quality and stylerdquo he contin-ued adding that this enhanced product combined with economy pricing will ensure Travelodge is the smart choice for leisure and business travellers
Furthermore in order to help attract new custom-ers Travelodge is also investing over GBP12 million (USD 182 million) in digital and online marketing this year as well as over GBP1 million (USD15 million) in a website refresh later this year
London
22 EXCLUSIVE Luxury Travel
MARCH 2013
Living the DreamLuxury travel is all about mak-ing guests feel unique and privi-leged It is about offering them the chance to get to know the world in extravagance and having them live above the ordinary It is about spoiling them with opulent travel and hospitality services something which is without doubt growing in size and quality
I n late December 2012 the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) released its Travel Trends Report 2013 developed in collaboration with UKrsquos Foreign and Commonwealth Office pre-dicting that consumers will continue to look for
good value in breaks for this year rather than cut back on their holidays
Mark Tanzer CEO ABTA stated that the majority of British holidaymakers are reluctant to give up their annual holiday under any circumstances while strong forward bookings for the luxury and all-inclusive sec-tors are being witnessed
Speaking at the 2011 edition of the annual Interna-tional Luxury Travel Market (ILTM)rsquos Ultratravel Forum Chris Sanderson strategy and insight director The Future Laboratory a trend forecasting company had announced predictions stating that the lsquoluxuriansrsquo of the future would not be interested in too much choice ldquoThere is an en-hanced sense of just being todayrsquos luxury consumer rath-er than being surrounded by possessionsrdquo he explained
AUTHENTICALLY PRIVILIGED
Views corroborating Sandersonrsquos were voiced by John McGee research and communications manager Ar-tisans of Leisure a luxury travel company specialis-ing in exclusive customised private tours around the world McGee believes that the primary reason his customers travel is to get authentic experiences that introduce them to the local traditions and people while high-quality hotels encourage them to travel but are not primary incentives further pinpointing the latter as being the interest in experiencing local
culture cuisine history and lifestyle With reference to the Middle East McGee noted
that his agency is intrigued by places like Abu Dhabi and its considered approach to developing new mu-seums and cultural attractions
Defining the demands and needs of luxury trav-ellers as being genuine and local experiences Filip Boyen chief operating officer Orient-Express said ldquoFor luxury tourists travel is not just about lying on a beach or by the pool anymore It is about combining relaxation in a beautiful setting with learning and dis-covery They want to come away with an experience or having learnt something new that they can come home and tell their friends all aboutrdquo
Boyen added that the Middle East is relatively new to the world of tourism a place many will want to discover and consequently this will create a demand for luxury ho-tels already emerging in many parts of the region
Travellers who spend a lot of money for their trip expect and demand the best they need to be cared for in every step of the way while feeling confident that they are dealing with someone experienced to respond to their requests according to Daniel Essex CEO Century Travel who also explained that many luxury travellers are looking for something small and attentive and a much more personal approach
LET US SPOIL YOU
The growing number of luxury hotels and amenities has led to an increased interest with Canadian travel-lers to the Middle East according to Kathy Stewart director of media and public relations Butterfield amp Robinson a Toronto-based agency Aside from authen-ticity she stressed the importance of maintaining the unique qualities of the region for further development
into a luxury destination for global travellers ldquoEspecial-ly North Americans who are travelling a long distance to the Middle East they are not looking for the same experience they can get at home They want Middle Eastern food people landscapes and architecture to be an integral part of the experiencerdquo
Hotel Missoni Kuwait benefits from a healthy lux-ury-demanding domestic market which represents 55 percent of its business followed by Saudi Arabia with 13 percent and the UAE with 10 percent accord-ing to Alfio Bernardini general manager Hotel Mis-soni Kuwait who said ldquo[At the hotel] everything con-tributes to the depth of the experience Hotel Missoni is designed to be genuine and uncomplicated offer-ing those luxury touches that really matter because they genuinely enrich the experience of stayingrdquo
Six Senses Zighy Bay the indigenous village style accommodation in Oman has observed an increase of 12 percent in occupancy levels throughout 2012 while the growth of the Middle East clientele is appar-ent after the development of family-specific offerings attested Guillaume de Lasteyrie executive assistant manager Six Senses Zighy Bay He believes that peace and calm is the most appreciated value of the property while the hotelrsquos offerings are tempting for guests cit-ing the example of the saltwater pool carrying a min-eral composition of 15-20 percent comparable to the Dead Sea whose concentration is 27 percent
Another instance of Arab opulence is Eastern Man-groves Hotel amp Spa by Anantara in Abu Dhabi a prop-erty which assures that luxury is interrelated with in-dulgence across all of its services offered with an acute focus on detail which Nehme Darwiche hotel manag-er Eastern Mangroves Hotel amp Spa by Anantara report-ed is of utter importance Darwiche further supports that the Middle East will not only continue to develop as a luxury destination but will sit on the top of luxury ranks and become a pioneer in such offerings ldquoThe de-mand on luxury products will continue to increase as the tastes of sophisticated societies continues to reach new limits Luxury will not be in big numbers but will be in the power to obtain rarity the Middle East under-stands that very well and the developments planned
Maria Kazeli writes
Hotel Missoni Kuwait
23EXCLUSIVELuxury Travel
MARCH 2013
from now until 2020 have luxury travellers as their tar-getrdquo Darwiche concluded
An upcoming superior property in the region is Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah set to open in May Rudi Jagersbacher president Middle East and Africa Hilton Worldwide explained that the hotel as an up-scale property will have to deliver on two counts experiences and expectations Observing that travel behaviour has changed in the past years and placing emphasis on value for money he further noted ldquo[Wal-dorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah] is palatial exclusive and will offer the highest level of service as well as state-of-the-art amenities but that is not enough We have to ensure that our guests consider their experience as an investment worth repeating and sharingrdquo
The peak of extravagance is reached with a variety of private jet services throughout the region which cater for business and leisure travellers alike Mark Hardman op-erations director ExecuJet Middle East pointed out that the companyrsquos clientele is as diverse as the regionrsquos popu-lation but private aviation offers valued features such as time efficiency security privacy and convenience
He admitted that the most popular destinations for Dubai-based ExecuJet are in the Middle East with Riyadh Jeddah Beirut and Baghdad occupying the top spots while Geneva London and Nice are the favoured European hubs
Similarly Hardy Sohanpal director NasJet agreed that Middle East travellers use private jet services for efficiency flexibility and privacy while he accurately underlined that through emphasising the luxury ben-efits many private jet users build relationships with their key business contacts and staff by giving them access to private aircraft
ON THE RISE
Providing her own view Stewart reiterated that it is important not to overdevelop and retain authenticity of the Arab culture in the region
Along parallel lines Essex believes that the major-ity across the region always had the opinion that big is beautiful but this is not enough he further stressed as the industry professionals in the Middle East need to consider the boutique options However he lauded Abu Dhabirsquos development on Saadiyat Island and the introduction of cultural arts which he believes will at-tract the international and discerning travellers
Boyen deems that the region will experience ad-vancement and will emerge as a luxury destination something he attributes to improved air connectivity ldquoDefinitely with new airline routes from the Middle East launching all the time such as Etihad Airwaysrsquo new routes to Washington and Satildeo Paulo which are
launching this year the destination is bound to de-velop furtherrdquo he continued
Sharing the same opinion that the expansion of airlines and airports lead to such positive develop-ments Bernardini claimed that despite the fact that the Middle East will develop further to become a des-tination for high-calibre tourists not all countries in the region have the capacity and the stability to do so However he further explained a few hotspots will enjoy this blessing due to the money available in this part of the world which will result in the building of super high-quality hotels and thus attract a good number of luxury travellers
De Lasteyrie pointed out that even though the region was under the spotlight for some time the future will see even greater lavish suggestions and-maintaining that ldquoThe Middle East has been since years a luxury destination to the eyes of many though the pinnacle of luxury is yet to come Smaller and personalised service hotels and resorts from around the world are now willing to implement themselves in untouched locations creating a new momentum Much of the Middle East is still in the first tiers of luxu-ry based on opulent luxury and the glitz and glamour that first come with wealth We are now beginning to see affluent luxury and more distinguished spending on art collectibles and sustainabilityrdquo
24 SPECIAL REPORT Waterparks
MARCH 2013
In for a RideWaterparks are a popular attraction among locals and tourist in the Middle East With promising weather throughout most of the year waterparks offer visitors a fun family outing in addition to an array of promotions and events Travel Trade Monthly explores what makes waterparks the perfect attraction
F rom fun rides food and beverage outlets and retail offerings to gaming outlets and social events waterparks offer a safe fun and friendly environment for the family groups and events planners from all walks of life
Wild Wadi Waterpark Dubai is a good example whose team is committed to providing a fun-filled service that will make a lasting impression according to Chris Perry general manager Wild Wadi Waterpark who added that there is a major focus on using every opportunity to ensure that the guestsrsquo decision to visit is rewarded with plenty of time to play less time to queue and more time on the rides
Meanwhile Ice Land Water Park Ras Al Khaimah is receiving full promotional support from the emir-atersquos government and especially by its tourism body this according to Vagelyn Federico deputy director Ice Land Waterpark who added that it has been high-lighted as one of the major destinations in the UAE by all concerned tourism entities
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is the latest entry into the regionrsquos proliferating world of waterparks and accord-ing to Mike Oswald general manager Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi it rivals the worldrsquos best waterparks offering 43 rides slides and attractions ldquoIt has been an incredible journey to this point and unbelievably satisfying to watch the peoplersquos reaction to what has been created We are
support of the tourism body in Ras Al Khaimahrdquo Federico stated
In the summer major visitors to the waterpark hail from Asia as well as locally whereas during the winter months the CIS market plays a big role in pro-moting the park with its tourists in the UAE
In order to boost visitor arrivals to the waterpark Federico pointed out that during the winter the team is currently working for a family barbecue night with some other attractions to lure in more families
Moreover she indicated that the months ahead seem even more vibrant as she further demonstrated ldquoThis year will be more promising as we strengthened our ties with more travel operators inbound and out-bound Additionally we are currently working with dif-ferent airlines travel operators hotels and other tour-ism entities to promote Ice Land giving them also more benefits in promoting us to different market segmentsrdquo
Giving something more to visitors the water-parkrsquos team is currently working with skilled games and other dry rides for people to enjoy at the facility after park operations ldquoWe are also a preferred venue for concerts as we have the perfect place to accom-modate up to 6000 people in one area Ice Land Wa-ter Park is just one of the offerings of WOWRAK and we are currently working with other expansions such as resorts ice skating cinema complex hypermarket and other amusement activities which are planned to open in the next few yearsrdquo concluded Federico
Likewise Perry also announced continuous growth over the years for Wild Wadi Waterpark with 2012 prov-ing very successful He attributed this achievement to events such as ladies nights Ramadan nights and the new Jumeirah Sceirah which launched in September 2012 having proved to be a favourite amongst thrill seekers whereby one drops through a trap door from a height of 32m into the waiting water tunnel and races down the slide at 80km per hour
ldquoWe aim for this trend to continue this year as we have a variety of new attractive promotions and events to suit all our guestsrsquo needsrdquo Perry further in-formed ldquoWe also launched our online ticketing system this month to offer faster entry to our guestsrdquo he added guaranteeing guests with a faster entry process allow-ing all those with a printed ticket to jump the queue
Wild Wadi Waterpark is open all year round and ca-ters to guests from all over the world ldquoDuring the hot summer months (May-October) most of our guests come from the GCC countries whereby during the colder season (November-April) our guests are mainly from Europe
ldquoThe park is also a popular destination for UAE resi-dents since we periodically offer discounts to all resi-dents as well as annualseason passes that allow them to visit as many times as they want for a cheaper raterdquo he said
Perry also pointed out that during the month of May the waterpark offers its very popular family-only mornings every Friday at discounted rates so that they can enjoy the full facilities of the park when it is not too busy and of course when it is more safe and secure a factor which he assured is of the highest priority
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi
Dominique Christou writes
confident that people will have seen nothing like it before and we look forward to the waves of visitors expected to arrive now that the park is officially openrdquo
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi which inaugurated on January 19 is built around a central character named Dana whose crew won the battle in its quest to re-store a pearl to its rightful place which has ensured prosperity to the mythical Emirati village and marked what is expected to be a successful start to Yas Water-world Abu Dhabirsquos commercial operations
Set across 15ha on Yas Island the park offers thrills for the whole family and visitors will experience fun and adventure on rides and attractions such as the worldrsquos longest fastest tornado waterslide the regionrsquos first looping waterslide and the worldrsquos first interactive water and laser rollercoaster According to Oswald Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is expected to welcome a total of 700000 in its first year of operation
CALLING ALL THRILL SEEKERS
During 2012 waterparks across the region expe-rienced a healthy increase in visitors across a variety of markets
ldquoThe waterpark performed better in 2012 compared to our first year in 2011 when it comes to statistics in vari-ous nationalities locally and internationally through the
26 INVESTIGATION
MARCH 2013
Visiting Friends amp Relatives
Maria Kazeli writes
T he annual review for 2011 by the World Travel amp Tourism Council (WTTC) attributes social and cultural benefits to tourism indicating that the industry directly helps to keep or bring families and social networks together
With special regards to the visiting friends and relatives (VFR) segment the review supports that a significant proportion of all international trips which reaches up to a third of all arrivals for some large de-veloped markets are made in order to visit friends andor relatives
Globalisation has caused people to spread all over the globe but returning back home occasion-ally is a necessity The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) draws direct links between migration and travelling to visit relatives and in the 2009 Executive Summary entitled Tourism and Migration ndash Explor-
year in review which covers up to September 2012 reveals that the highest figures for the VFR segment appeared in January 2012 with 267 percent of 47610 incoming tourists being reported as VFR
Egyptrsquos outbound travel market linked to VFR oc-cupies a major part of business for travel agencies Feryal El Gohary general manager Bahi Travel ex-plained adding that almost half of the agencyrsquos cli-entele are VFR She also expressed the view that this market is a growing force for airlines and hoteliers alike while the latter she pinpointed will succeed only if they create a new strategy of very advanta-geous attractive long-stay offers
Tarek Moshref managing director Pronto Tours an Egypt-based tour operator supported that the VFR market is the third largest segment after holiday and business and for this reason local travel agents and operators should improve their services in order to capture and develop its potential by offering new options and programmes
Stressing the cost-driven aspect of the VFR mar-ket Adel Taha general manager leisure travel Kimidar Tours an Egyptian travel agency destination manage-ment company and ground handler said that VFR travellers aim at low travel expenditures in order to spend their money on leisure activities at the destina-tion and not on transportation With regards to the accommodation factor he added ldquoMost of the travel-lers whether leisure or VFR would tend to seek hotel accommodation in order to benefit from services pro-vided such as room cleaning and meals instead of self-served apartments However we can say they still seek low-cost accommodations with some specificationsrdquo
VFR IN THE SKIES
Commenting on the results of the British CAArsquos study Harry Bush group director economic regulation UK CAA had said that air travel played a key role in enabling peoplersquos relocating principally through the emergence of low-cost air travel and that the result-ing VFR passengers are increasingly important con-sumers of air travel According to an aviation analysis report by CAPA - Centre for Aviation a provider of independent aviation market intelligence the Mid-dle Eastern low-cost carriers are trying to adapt their model to the regional situation with their higher den-sity configurations targeting migrant workers and VFR traffic flows from North Africa and South Asia into the Gulf region
Major airlines have taken this trend into consid-eration and cater for this market by tailoring their offers Paolo De Renzis area commercial manager Middle East and Central Asia British Airways said ldquoThe VFR segment is extremely important to British Airways particularly in the Middle East where a large number of our customers are VFR travellers This is a region where families are extremely close and this tight-knit family culture means that we see a lot of VFR traffic across our Middle Eastern routes We also have a large expat community in the UAE which con-tributes significantly to this segmentrdquo
Unconventional TravellersMany prefer to spend their holiday visiting their friends and relatives in their home country if they are expa-triates or some other destination in order to spend time with their loved ones The focus of the travel is not cultural sightseeing and luxury ac-commodation but low airfare and budget lodgings
ing the Relationship between Two Global Phenomena compiled by UNWTO the two concepts are analysed by stressing that growth in international tourism and mobility has given rise to tourism-led migration with examples including the movement of male labourers from South Asia to meet the construction demands of the tourism boom in the UAE
The research states that migration has led directly and indirectly to significant growth in tourism to both origin and destination countries through increased visibility especially in the VFR sector and to the de-velopment of new tourism infrastructure and trans-port routes in and between countries
UKrsquos Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) also lays empha-sis on the importance of the specific market having published an in-depth study on air passengers visiting friends or family The investigation report titled Interna-tional Relations ndash The Growth in Air Travel to Visit Friends or Relatives indicated that the robust growth in VFR re-flected trends such as labour mobility and migration while predicting that due to these trends the countryrsquos GDP will affect future VFR passenger traffic
VISITING MENA
At the 6th UNWTOPacific Asia Travel Association Fo-rum on Tourism Trends and Outlook held in October 2012 in China it was revealed that 36 percent of the Middle Eastrsquos outbound market constitutes the VFR segment
Some insights on inbound VFR trends concern-ing the hotel industry in the region were provided by Darroch Crawford managing director Middle East and Africa Premier Inn Hotels who highlighted that this market is highly important but also very difficult to measure as bookings of this nature come through different channels His estimations on guests travel-ling to visit family members in the region and residing in Premier Inn properties amount to seven percent of the total clientele Crawford further indicated that the largest Middle Eastern feeder markets for the brand are Lebanon Syria and Jordan
Meanwhile in Saudi Arabia domestic tourism has been the primary focus of tourism development pol-icy in the Kingdom and according to Saudi Tourism Outlook issued by the Tourism Information and Re-search Centre part of Saudi Commission for Tourism amp Antiquities which analyses July 2012rsquos figures the local segment contributed to 114 million overnight trips in the month under review out of which 398 percent hailed from the VFR segment In addition 293 percent of the 171 million outbound trips taken from Saudi Arabia during July 2012 were categorised as the VFR market
The Statistical Service of Cyprus disclosed that ac-cording to the latest data available concerning Sep-tember 2012 the island received 335352 visitors out of which 97 percent were VFR The same data for the
28 WHOS MOVED
MARCH 2013
ANDREW ABRAM
KONSTANTINOS KOUROTSIDIS
Andrew Abram has been named general manager at Raffles Dubai Abram joins the propertyrsquos team from Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group where over the past dec-ade he has held various positions He joined the company in 2003 as resident manager of The Excelsior Hotel Hong Kong and went on to lead the renovation and reopen-ing of Mandarin Oriental Jakarta holding the role of general man-ager for eight years He most re-cently served as general manager
of Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhavi in Chiang Mai Thailand Having also held the position of corporate director of sales and marketing at Jumeirah Group in the Middle East where he was responsible for the branding and launching of several projects Abram brings an insiderrsquos knowl-edge to Raffles Dubai
Konstantinos Kourotsidis has been named general manager at Radisson Blu Martinez Hotel Beirut Kourotsidis started his career in the hospitality industry in 1996 in food and beverage at Copthorne Hotel Hanover In 2000 he joined The Rezidor Ho-tel Group where he held various positions across Europe and the Middle East including at Radis-son Blu Hotel Hanover Radission
Blu Hotel amp Spa Galway Radisson Blu Resort Schloss Fleesensee Radisson Blu Resort El Quseir Radisson Blu Hotel Alexandria and Radisson Blu Resort Sharjah After several task force assign-ments in Egypt Libya and UAE Kourotsidis was promoted to general manager at Radisson Blu Al Mahary Hotel Tripoli Most re-cently he worked as acting gen-eral manager at Radisson Blu Re-sort Fujairah
Abram brings an insiderrsquos knowledge to
Raffles Dubai
MARCH 2013
30 TRAVEL TALK
MARCH 2013
LEON SALINEL
WAEL EL BEHI
KARIM NAHAS
Executive assistant manager of sales and marketing Dusit Thani Dubai
General manager Ramada Downtown Dubai
General managar Rose Rayhaan by Rotana
ldquo2012 was a very successful year for us We were not only successful in meeting our key performance indicators most notably by exceeding both our gross operating profit and gross operating revenue Working with Inves-tors in People throughout the year also ensured that we performed highly in our employee satisfaction survey we even ranked at the top of our group in this regards [hellip] We are now drawing to a close on our rooms renovation and have just welcomed our new general manager so it is an exciting year to come for us which will see some changerdquo
ldquoI am very pleased to be appointed as executive board mem-ber [of the Tunisian Business Council] I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress in [the cur-rent year] I hope to play a part in creating strong community bound by camaraderie accord and reliance among Tunisian nationals in the UAErdquo
ldquo2012 was a record year for Rose Rayhaan total revenue growth was almost 17 percent versus 2011 [hellip] The hotel continued to focus on the GCC markets with the Saudi market on the top list and strong performance of the UK France and Russian markets were witnessed UAE local market in both leisure and corporate seg-ments also performed very well We are planning to fo-cus on new emerging markets like South Africa Brazil and Turkey Competition will be indeed stiffen this year however I guess there will be business for everybodyrdquo
I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress
TRAVEL TALK IS YOUR SPACE ndash 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
editorialtraveltradeweeklytravel
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el t
alk
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our
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e
31RENDEZVOUS
MARCH 2013
Q amp A with Rana El KhouryWith her recent appointment Rana El Khoury general manager Le Gray Beirut became one of Lebanonrsquos first women to hold such a high position at a five-star hotel and here she shares her views on the future prospects of the Lebanese hotel sector
Rana El KhouryGeneral manager Le Gray Beirut
Travel Trade Monthly How would you describe 2012 in a few words Rana El Khoury The best way to describe 2012 would certainly be lsquochallengingrsquo a challenge that could be called survival until we see better days Controlling costs while maintaining superior ser-vice quality and competitiveness is key to our con-tinuous success in the Lebanese market The hotel performance could be rated as fair for 2012 greatly impacted by high level of business during the first five months of the year This has allowed us to stay ahead of the game for the remainder of the year although November 2012 was the toughest month since the opening of the hotel in 2009 Despite all Le Gray has managed in 2012 to retain its number one position in occupancy and RevPAR in the Leba-nese market
Travel Trade Monthly The hotel will soon em-bark on a major extension project Tell us a little bit about this
Rana El Khoury Le Gray is preparing to kick off its extension that will include a larger lobby with a lob-by lounge a chocolate room banquet space a 35-seat movie theatre and an additional 18 rooms The project should reach completion by end of 2014
Travel Trade Monthly Prior to your appoint-ment you served as hotel manager How does your new position differ from your former role
Rana El Khoury My previous position as hotel manager was focused on the operations aspect of the hotel as general manager my responsibilities enclose a more general view of the hotel including the administrative and strategic side of the hotel as well as the link between the owning company and management company
My priorities for the coming year is diversify-ing our target markets on the international and local scene to maximise hotel occupancy and to strengthen the positioning of Le Gray on the lo-cal market as a destination for its restaurants and bars whilst building on the existing strong team at Le Gray and getting the right people together to move forward with positivity and vigilance to counter these challenging times
The advice I would give young women ready to climb the corporate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the dif-ferent positions they fill throughout their careers
Travel Trade Monthly Your appointment makes you one of the first Lebanese women to hold this position at a five-star hotel How challenging is it to hold such a high position at an already well-established hotel
Rana El Khoury The hospitality industry is very challenging and requires sacrifice on all levels What I can say is that women have their own speci-ficity and they can bring a different vision and new perspectives to the hospitality business The advice I would give young women ready to climb the cor-porate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the different positions they fill throughout their careers this can only make them stronger and certainly more cred-ible when they reach executive level positions
Travel Trade Monthly Over the past few years the Lebanese tourism industry has faced a num-ber of serious challenges What are your expec-tations for the current year Rana El Khoury Lebanon has always been a pre-ferred destination attracting tourists from the Arab and Gulf countries and with increasing stability and security we do see a solid recovery
Given the complexity of the Lebanese market improvement can occur overnight As seen in May 2008 following the Doha-agreement occupancy rates jumped back then from 30 to 90 percent within one week
This year remains uncertain due to the volatil-ity of the political situation in the region the key is to remain sustainable and be ready for the sudden surge in business
Le Gray Beirut
32 NEWS amp EVENTS
MARCH 2013
EVENTS Sponsored by
Following a refurbishment to better present the historical phases of the emiratersquos auto manu-facturing sector Sharjah Classic Cars Museum originally launched in 2008 by HH Sheikh Sul-tan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi ruler of Sharjah reopened in January by Sheikh Essam bin Saqr Al Qassimi chairman Sharjah rulerrsquos office
On the opening day of the event Manal Ataya director general Sharjah Museums Department said ldquoThe aim of refurbishing this museum was to allow us to re-evaluate the previous design and interpretation and improve it significantlyrdquo
She further pointed out that the museum now helps visitors to appreciate the aesthetic and historical value of classic cars in a space that inte-grates a new childrens interactive area and a gal-lery space for temporary exhibitions
The museum boasts 85 classic cars two mo-torcycles and five bicycles as well as a model of an old car and an engine to allow visitors to familiarise themselves with parts of an engine and their function while it is divided into five sections and features an area for activities and interactive games
Following the launch of the UAE branch of the Airline Owners and Pi-lotsrsquo Association (AOPA) at Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2012 Yousif Al Hammadi president AOPA UAE has invited representatives from international AOPA branches to attend a workshop dedicated to discussing and debating gen-eral aviation issues in the region
The meeting the first of its kind will run parallel to this yearrsquos Abu Dhabi Air Expo and will take place at the Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies Al Bateen Executive Airport on March 6
It is anticipated that up to 30 representatives from AOPA US AOPA UK AOPA Germany and AOPA France will meet with their colleagues from the UAE during the one-day event to share knowledge and debate a variety of topics including air space regulations aerial non-commercial operations certification and maintenance issues and pilot licensing
AOPA members will also be able to maximise their time by attending the Air Expo exhibition the Middle Eastrsquos only dedicated general aviation event to meet pilots from the region and learn about the latest trends
Sharjah Reopens Car Museum AOPA UAE to Hold Meeting with International Colleagues
ITB BerlinBerlin Germany March 6 ndash 10 2013(wwwitb-berlinde)A business-to-business platform for trade visitors which provides the possibility to discover the whole world within a few hours
MITT MoscowMoscow Russia March 20 ndash 23 2013(wwwmittru)Russiarsquos leading and largest travel exhibition with over 3000 participat-ing companies and 197 destinations a key meeting place for industry professionals
The Gulf Incentive Business Travel amp Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) Abu Dhabi UAE March 25 ndash 27 2013(wwwgibtmcom)A leading event for the meetings incentives and business travel industry in the GCC region which can truly unlock all participantsrsquo business potential
Saudi Travel amp Tourism Investment Market (STTIM)Riyadh Saudi Arabia March 31 ndash April 4 2013(wwwsttimcomsa)The event covers all travel and tourism investments aspects in the Kingdom through a combined conference and exhibition
International Destination Expo (IDE)Dubai UAE April 4 ndash 7 2013(wwwastaorgevents)Organised by the American Society of Travel Agents IDE is a destination training programme where participants can meet local suppliers and built profitable long-lasting relationships
Arabian Travel Market (ATM)Dubai UAE May 6 ndash 9 2013(wwwarabiantravelmarketcom)The travel and tourism event unlocking business potential within the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals
Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies
10 VISIT Egypt
MARCH 2013
families and romance and couples segments as well as wellbeing Reissigner further informed
ldquoNamed Egyptrsquos leading spa resort [] Six Senses Spa is [the countryrsquos] first on the Red Sea coast and is located among the splendid landscaped gardens lagoons stun-ning architecture and pure luxury of InterContinental The Palace Port Ghalib We have tailor-made a new hon-eymooners emotions experience with an inspired luxury palace of indulgence from the moment of arrival in Port Ghalib our lsquoemotionsrsquo experience takes clients on a jour-ney to the fascinating past blended with luxurious com-fortrdquo he continued
Steigenberger Al Dau Resort also recently celebrat-ed the traditional cornerstone placement of its new five-star Red Sea project Steigenberger Aqua Magic With construction works well underway Steigenberger Aqua Magic owned by Sami Saad Holding is slated for opening towards the end of the year and will operate under the flag of the renowned German hotel group Steigenberger Hotels The resort will run as a family hotel boasting 700 rooms in capacity a large swim-ming pool landscape extensive recreational facilities including its own Splash certified water park and an exclusive entertainment area
Moreover Soma Bay and in particular Kempin-ski Hotel Soma Bay is ready to welcome visitors to a place offering what Schwass described as beauti-
La Reacutesidence des Cascades
[the year] and the country enters an onoff transitional phase the second year post-revolution era is likely to re-sult in slow growth and a gradual return to pre-crisis lev-els by winter 20132014rdquo
However he recommends that anyone and eve-ryone visit Egypt ldquoEveryone must know that whatever happens in Tahrir Square the rest of Cairo and most of all the rest of Egypt and Red Sea are perfectly saferdquo he continued ldquoThis does not mean that the protests are not important but tourism-wise there are no complications at all If there is a demonstration on the same day you are in Cairo and you are concerned about your safety just come and enjoy the sun by the Red Sea Port Ghalib were luxury meets natureldquo
Naeem described Egypt as a safe and attractive tourist destination for international travellers and as-sured that Starwood Hotels amp Resorts Worldwide is committed to actively promoting tourism to the re-gion ldquoIn 2012 Starwood launched a dedicated web-site egypt-hospitalitycom to highlight the history of hospitality and services of all 10 Starwood hotels in the country [hellip] Egypt has culture diversity and stunning beauty which encompasses the countryrsquos history and which are still present todayrdquo
Sharing similar sentiments and reaffirming Star-wood Hotels amp Resorts Worldwidersquos top priority in implementing the hotel grouprsquos recovery campaign Hassan Ahdab vice president Africa and the Indian Ocean Starwood Hotels amp Resorts Worldwide said ldquoIt is very important after the recent events in Egypt that peoplersquos faith and trust in a country which has so much to offer be restored We are convinced that the campaign will make some noise and draw those of our loyal longstanding guests who have been wary of revisiting Egypt back to our resortsrdquo
ldquoOur personal message to travellers planning to visit is come and join usrdquo remarked Sherine Emara marketing manager La Reacutesidence Des Cascades ldquoOur hotels our beaches our golf courses our Cascades Spa and Thalasso our dive centre our wind surfing our kite surfing centre our Soma Bayrsquos Marina Centre with its restaurants and shops are all operational and ready to welcome yourdquo she added
Mansour believes that political and security stability are pre-requisites for tourism as she elaborated ldquoHaving tourism high on our president Mohamed Morsyrsquos agen-da in addition to the new initiatives taken by the ministry to boost tourism we expect tourism to regain its previ-ous position Moreover Egyptrsquos upcoming parliamentary elections will further enhance stability in Egyptrdquo
Tarek Moussa chairman Egypt amp Beyond Travel concurred ldquoStability and safety are the key words for tourists to come back to Egypt and unless the president and government of Egypt get it right and bring back sta-bility tourists will remain in much lower numbers Tour-ism in Egypt is very sick now but it will never dierdquo
Meanwhile Ibrahim Mohamed Ibrahim managing director Perfect Tours stressed that customers looking for the worldrsquos most enjoyable holidays to exotic desti-nations in Egypt and abroad do not have to do a single thing except of course to have a good time the rest he confirmed will be taken care of
ful sandy beaches and year-round sunshine which he informed remain the main attraction for tourists worldwide ldquoBy continuing to offer world-class service to our guests during the past 18 months Kempinski Hotel Soma Bay has also been able to recover from the dip in tourismrdquo he added
Also commenting on the resurgence Stephen Banks director of sales and marketing Africa Moumlven-pick Hotels amp Resorts said ldquoWe have seen occupan-cies steadily rise over the last year with our hotels on the Red Sea performing particularly wellrdquo
He added ldquoIn April this year Moumlvenpick Resort Soma Bay will open with 418 rooms on an unspoiled
stretch of white sandy beach in this increasingly popular destination on the Red Sea In addition Moumlvenpick Hotel amp Re-sort Cairo - Pyramids will open a further 132 rooms with an entirely new building aimed at the upscale business traveller and leisure guest
A PERSONAL MESSAGE
The 2011 revolution has certainly had a significant impact on Egyptrsquos tour-ism industry and this evi-dently continued in 2012 with direct impact on travel accommodation air transportation and tour-ist attractions with value growth rates across the board declining to dou-ble digit levels according to Reissigner who added ldquoOperators introduced heavy discounts in order to lure tourists back and prices remained low at the beginning of 2012 As unrest continues in Egypt with violence erupting again at the beginning of
11EXPLOREDubai
MARCH 2013
Why Dubai
DUBAI IN BRIEF
Country UAE
Currency UAE Dirham (AED)
Language Arabic
Dubairsquos astonishing rise from a small fishing and pearling community to one of the fastest growing metropolises continues to impress and inspire the world Welcome to the land of records and record-breakers where everything imaginable and unimaginable be-comes a reality
H ome to the worldrsquos tallest building largest shopping mall a collection of iconic artificial islands and some of the most instantly-recogniseable sights Dubai has established itself as the city of superlatives which con-tinuously strives for greater heights
Just when you think you have seen it all a new lsquoworldrsquos firstrsquo or lsquoworldrsquos mostrsquo project is announced inspiring visitors to return again and again
Propelled by multi-billion dollar investments in a space of just a few years Dubai has grown into the worldrsquos 13th most popular tourist destination as Euromonitor Internationalrsquos Top 100 Cities Destination Ranking shows far outperforming the likes of Shanghai Rome or Las Vegas
ldquoThe hospitality and tourism industry in Dubai is thrivingrdquo commented Nasser Fawzi director of sales and marketing Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates adding that Dubai has turned into one of the most sought-after destinations worldwide and thanks to the continuous efforts of the government and the Dubai Department of Tourism amp Commerce Marketing (DTCM) people are becoming more and more familiar with the emirate and what it has to offer ldquoVisitors can find both choice and value here making it the ideal destination for both leisure and business travellersrdquo he continued
In fact Dubairsquos hotel sector concluded 2012 with the highest profits in the MENA region for the third consecutive year according to TRI Hospitality Consult-ingrsquos HotStats survey which shows that despite the growing room inventory the destinationrsquos soaring popularity and uninterrupted string of events conferences and festivals helped maintain a steady stream of demand throughout the year lead-ing to an average annual occupancy level of 814 percent and a gross operating profit per available room surge of 133 percent over 2011 levels
ldquo2012 was a very good year for the hospitality industry where Dubai went again from strength to strengthrdquo confirmed Hazem Aouad cluster director of sales and marketing Radisson Royal Hotel Dubai and Radisson Blu Resort Fujairah
Karim Nahas general manager Rose Rayhaan by Rotana also described 2012 as a record year for the hotel when Dubairsquos hospitality industry in general witnessed a boom as the destination continued to benefit from the outcome of the Arab Spring and the governmentrsquos endeavours to market Dubai as a premier leisure destination
Sharing similar views Jan Siddiqi director of sales Ramada Plaza Jumeirah
JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai
Rita Kasziba writes
12 EXPLORE Dubai
MARCH 2013
Beach Residence and Ramada Sharjah attributed the over and above expectations performance to the col-lective result of various actions including political well-crafted initiatives
Praising the government and the tourism bodyrsquos continuous efforts Rupprecht Queitsch general man-ager JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai the worldrsquos tallest hotel at 355m said ldquoDTCM works very hard to raise the profile of Dubai as a destination for the con-vention business and leisure business and we work closely with them on these campaigns and sales tripsrdquo
Fawzi further added ldquo[The government along with DTCM] provide a lot of support to the hospital-ity industry through joint promotions sales and mar-keting initiatives and partnerships The government has positioned Dubai as one of the most sought-after destinations worldwide that has so much to offer and as a result demand for the destination continued to grow steadilyrdquo
TURNING AMBITION INTO ACTION
Just in a single generation Dubairsquos population has grown from just 10000 at the turn of the last century to over two million comprising more than 200 nation-alities by 2011 creating a characteristic destination of vibrant cultures and vivid contracts Demonstrating
the emiratersquos growing significance on regional and global levels everyday at present an average of three million people spend their day in Dubai including workers residing in other emirates and travellers visit-ing the destination on business or for pleasure
As Husseim Hachem cluster general manager Al Bustan and Al Murooj Rotana Dubai observed the emirate has consistently made its strong mark as one of the top destinations all over the world bolstered by widespread efforts of both the public and the pri-vate sector aimed at establishing Dubai as a desired place in every aspect
ldquoFirst the government is doing a great job in promoting the city internationally and secondly dif-ferent industries like hospitality travel tourism and more are working hand in hand to provide the best experiences to tourists and residents alike In addition to these factors Dubai as a city itself is a wonderful place with really nice peoplerdquo Hachem stressed
In fact Dubairsquos visionary leadership has long identified tourism as a central pillar of its economic diversification strategy hence the multi-billion dollar investments into the industry and related sectors in-cluding infrastructure transportation as well as pub-lic services have turned the emirate not only into a tourist hotspot but also into one of the best places to live in the MENA region topping the regional ranking
of Mercerrsquos rsquoQuality of Livingrsquo poll In addition the ease of doing business the close
proximity to key growth markets the centralised time zone best suited to both eastern and western busi-ness hours and the emiratersquos safe family-friendly and multicultural environment have all become a major draw for skilled professionals Consequently numer-ous multinational companies have chosen to set up their regional headquarters in Dubai making it a hub for trade and commerce and the number one desti-nation in the region for foreign direct investment
ldquoDubai continues to cement itself as a prime hub in terms of international businessrdquo confirmed Leon Salinel executive assistant manager sales and mar-keting Dusit Thani Dubai who explained that with its location in the Dubai International Financial Centre and in close proximity to Dubai World Trade Centre and the Dubai International Convention amp Exhibition Centre the hotel enjoys high and in fact growing guest volume from the corporate sector
ldquoHowever it is not just business travellers visit-ing the emiraterdquo Salinel stressed ldquoDubai remains a hotspot for leisure travellers it is the Las Vegas of the Middle East and somewhere people want to experi-ence at least once in their lifetimerdquo
Reflecting Dubairsquos dual appeal Robert Barker general manager Moumlvenpick Hotel amp Apartments
14 EXPLORE Dubai
MARCH 2013
Bur Dubai described Dubai as the Hong Kong of the Middle East adding that the unique model that has been created in the emirate and which continues to evolve with the ongoing reinvestment and planning is set to ensure Dubairsquos success and prosperity in the long-term
ENTERING NEW ERAS
Dubai started the new year on a high with a record 17 million visitors attending the Downtown Dubai New Yearsrsquo Eve Gala exceeding the reported attend-ance of one million at the world famous Times Square celebrations in New York City
The destinationrsquos abundant entertainment and amusement options coupled with its vast retail port-folio has long become a vital part of its appeal with Dubai Mall welcoming over 62 million visitors in 2012 and as a market research conducted by Reed Travel Exhibitions has revealed since the beginning of the year some 48 percent of the emiratersquos hotels were
Ocean View Hotel JA Resorts amp Hotels
Bluewaters Island project located off the Jumeirah Beach Residence coastline is envisaged to become one of the largest tourist hot spots in the world fea-turing demarcated retail residential hospitality and entertainment zones as well as the worldrsquos largest Ferris wheel at 210m named Dubai Eye
With construction due to commence in April the destination is set to further improve Dubairsquos competi-tiveness on the global stage as Abdullah Al Habbai chairman Meraas Holding the developer of the pro-ject suggested ldquoWe have a clear mission and vision to strengthen Dubairsquos global position in the tourism sec-tor This project will continue to build on the emiratersquos reputation as leaders in the global entertainment and retail landscaperdquo
Another megaproject Mohamed Bin Rashid City hailed as a city within the city is expected to set new benchmarks in urban development in the region Comprising four components the project will create an integrated environment for the development of entrepreneurship and innovation and will feature a
myriad of record-breaking leisure and entertainment options including a park 30 percent bigger than Londonrsquos Hyde Park designed to receive 35 million visitors per annum as well as the largest family cen-tre for leisure and entertainment in the region set up in collaboration with Universal Studios that will also include over 100 hotel facilities further to the largest arts gallery in the region and the worldrsquos largest retail complex Mall of the World
ldquoThe current facilities available in Dubai need to be scaled up in line with the future ambitions for the cityrdquo emphasised HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum ruler of Dubai remarking on the vital role of such projects in the emiratersquos Vision 2030 and boosting the UAE economy in order to enable it to enter a new era in which it will become the capital of entrepreneurship arts culture and family tourism for over two billion people
In fact the tourism sector in Dubai is growing by 13 percent annually and the accelerated growth rates require the emirate to prepare all sectors for the
future as passenger volume at Dubai International is set to surpass 90 million people per annum over the next five years ldquoOur development initiatives concern-ing infrastructure in all sectors should be aligned with this growth rate and we have the determination to reach our objectives and be the first in the region to achieve themrdquo concluded Al Maktoum
THE MANY FACES OF DUBAI
As a result of the joint efforts and heavy investments over the past decades Dubairsquos hospitality sector has utterly transformed according to David Thomson chief operating officer JA Resorts amp Hotels ldquoSince 2003 the emiratersquos hotel and hospitality sector has boomed launched new niche products developed new feeder markets and roared ahead with new vig-our after the slowdown of 20092010rdquo he said adding that today Dubai is considered a must-see destina-tion for many more reasons than just shopping and going to the beach which as Thomson stressed is vital for the sectorrsquos future growth
Echoing similar views Habib Khan CEO Planet Hospitality stated that people visiting Dubai can be segregated into three major categories namely lei-sure business and transients
ldquoWithin the leisure we have categorised the guests into travellers who come to witness the dra-matic achievements and modernisation of Dubai [hellip] whereas there are a smaller number but its rapidly growing of those intellectuals educational groups and individuals who seek better understanding of the Emirati and Arabic culturerdquo
Further commenting on the shifting trends Rose Ann Shetty CEO Galavantor which caters to a new generation of responsible travellers noted ldquoThe gov-ernment continues to invest and develop wonderful local and cultural experiences and while Dubairsquos focus continues to be a shopping and leisure destination the type of travellers has changed they are willing to stay longer and experience morerdquo Shetty explained adding that desert horseback riding Bedouin camp-ing trekking and rock climbing are continuously gaining popularity
In a bid to exploit another niche segment medi-cal and wellness tourism DTCM has recently teamed up with the Dubai Health Authority to promote Dubai as a premier medical destination capitalising on the emiratersquos advanced healthcare system and highly-skilled professors
ldquoWe are working to promote the medical tour-ism in Dubai since Dubai has an excellent infrastruc-ture modern hospitals and clinics offering a variety of medical [services] to visitors in search of quality health carerdquo explained Eyad Abdul Rahman execu-tive director media relations and business develop-ment DTCM
DTCM is also actively seeking ways to unleash the immerse potential of the burgeoning cruise tourism sector and secure its long-term growth by participat-ing in various international exhibitions with the aim of attracting more cruise liners
located within a 2km radius of one of the five mega-shopping malls of Dubai
Despite the stiffening competition hotels located in close proximity to shopping complexes continue to thrive as Fawzi confirmed revealing that 2012 proved to be one of the most successful years for the property since it opened seven years ago ldquoAs a city hotel Kem-pinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates offers a truly unique proposition which is well-liked by travellers from the Arab region What we add to Dubairsquos hospitality scene is a destination with entertainment for the whole fam-ily there is Ski Dubai and the new Penguin Encounter experience a great selection of dining options a cin-ema one of Dubairsquos most popular malls and a com-munity theatre all in one location that is literally on the doorstep of the hotelrdquo Fawzi further explained
In spite of the already overwhelming number of attractions in a quest to spur demand and support Dubairsquos bid to host the World Expo 2020 the emirate is forging ahead with a number of new megaprojects The recently approved AED6 billion (USD16 billion)
16 EXPLORE Dubai
MARCH 2013
Commenting on the strong economic fundamen-tals of the emirate and the breadth and unparalleled diversity of Dubairsquos tourism product Moussa El Hayek chief operating officer Al Bustan Centre amp Residence said ldquo[One of the] main reasons behind the prosperity in Dubai is the advanced infrastructure that tourists can enjoy here including luxurious hotels and restau-rants transportation malls entertainment venues parks furthermore security iconic buildings and to some extent the flexibility of the rulesrdquo
rently has 204 aircraft on order at a value USD73 billion Likewise as the second-largest airline operating
out of Dubai International flydubairsquos fast-paced ex-pansion has been a key catalyst in the emiratersquos un-precedented growth In the past two years the airline has more than doubled the number of destinations it flies to from 25 to over 50 a rate of more than one new destination per month and has increased its weekly services to over 1000
Since its inception the low-cost carrier which
served more than 51 million passengers in 2012 has laid great emphasis on connecting Dubai with fast-developing and previously untapped markets opening up new opportunities for travel and trade in emerging markets such as the CIS and Eastern Eu-rope in general In 2012 more than 40 percent of fly-dubairsquos route development concentrated on Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the CIS countries
ldquoWe have seen great demand on our routes within the CIS and CEE as more people seek afford-able fares and direct flights between Dubai and this regionrdquo informed Ghaith Al Ghaith CEO flydubai In addition today flydubai welcomes passengers to Dubai and beyond through its connecting flights to the Maldives Sri Lanka and other destinations
As a matter of fact in 2012 Russia and the CIS proved to be the second fastest expanding market in terms of passenger growth behind South America figures released by Dubai Airports have shown and Al Ghaith revealed a similar trend attesting that the car-rierrsquos total number of flights to the CIS and CEE network was 45 percent higher between October 2011 and Sep-tember 2012 compared to the previous 12 months
ldquoWe operated 109 percent more flights in the region in September 2012 compared to September 2011 illustrating the demand for travel between the nationsrdquo added Al Ghaith ldquoWe are constantly look-ing for new opportunities Our approach is to target destinations within a five-and-a-half hour radius of Dubai which puts us within reach of more than 25 billion people one third of the worldrsquos populationrdquo
Remarking on the airlinesrsquo major role in Dubairsquos development El Hayek highlighted ldquoFlight frequency to different cities all over the world made Dubai the hub of the world as Emirates flydubai and Air Ara-bia have all launched various routes to different cities while other lsquogiantrsquo airlines moved their operations to Dubai due to the advanced infrastructure and the ex-cellent services provided by Dubai Internationalrdquo
In line with the airlinesrsquo expansion strategy hotel-iers are increasingly focusing on reaching out to these new markets including the CIS and Russia which Shaff Butt director of marketing and communication Jumeirah Beach Hotel already listed among the ho-telrsquos key feeder markets
Besides the traditionally strong GCC and Europe-an markets mainly the UK and the German speaking countries demand from the CIS nations also contin-ues to be strong as Siddiqi explained
Reporting similar trends Salinel added ldquoThe GCC has always been a primary source market and has remained strong over the past few years Other source markets which have begun to show significant growth for us as a hotel [are] within the CIS region and Asian marketsrdquo
Butt further added ldquoOver the past few years we are seeing continued positive results from our main key markets such as Europe which continues to show good numbers as well as the GCC and wider Middle East For this year our main focus is the CIS market and we would also like to target Asia and Af-rica since we are getting good pick up as well as more repeat guests each yearrdquo
Nahas listed South Africa Brazil and Turkey among Rose Rayhaan by Rotanarsquos target emerging markets while others including Barker remarked on the growing demand from Far Eastern countries and mainly China
Likewise Hachem noted that China India and the rest of Asia have also started to make up for a big chunk of Al Bustan and Al Murooj Rotana Dubairsquos cli-entele while Aouad also added South America to the list of the markets lsquoto watchrsquo for Radisson Royal Hotel Dubai and Radisson Blu Resort Fujairah
Mohamed Taher director of sales and marketing Traders Hotel Dubai listed a number of emerging markets which hold great potential including the Middle East Africa Southeast Asia Australia Scandi-navia Algeria as well as Serbia
The constantly strong business levels from these markets set to balance demand with supply noted Taherw who anticipates a rise in both rates and over-all business levels ldquoDemand will offset the growth in the increased room inventories with more exhibitions being held in the city as well as the increased air traf-fic with the expansion of the airportrdquo
Hachem further added ldquoThis is admittedly a chal-lenging year as the markets get more and more pen-etrated In addition 2012 had been great which adds more pressure to the industry in general to maintain and exceed the previous achievementsrdquo
Echoing similar views Wael El Behi general man-ger Ramada Downtown Dubai concluded ldquoDubai is one of the most sought-after travel destinations in the world The hospitality sector is getting bigger and better every year Hotels are coming up with innova-tive facilities to ensure guest satisfaction and a travel-ler has a wide range of hotels to choose from Most hotels have increased their efficiency and profitability levels which is commendable We hope to continue this success [hellip] With the growing hospitality sector a traveller will be enticed to visit the city againrdquo
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE
Besides the government and the tourism organisa-tionrsquos vigorous work Dubairsquos advanced air connec-tivity and excellent infrastructure have also played a vital part in the destinationrsquos unprecedented growth as Fawzi noted
ldquoAnother contributing factor is the airlift into the destination and the continued growth of Dubai In-ternational and the UAErsquos airlines including Emirates Etihad Airways and flydubai who have also seen phenomenal growth over the past few years bringing more and more people to the destination [who] will be looking for accommodationrdquo elaborated Fawzi
In fact with its strategic location on the global axis between East and West connecting the devel-oped and the developing world Dubai boasts access to over 25 billion people within a four-hour flight as Queitsch pinpointed
Dubairsquos geographic location makes it a major global hub for trade commerce and tourism a key competitive advantage for Emirates An increasing proportion of the traffic between Europe and Asia now flies through the Middle East and the airline ex-pects this share to further grow taking into consider-ation that Dubairsquos location also facilitates rising trade flows to and from India China and Africa three of the carrierrsquos strongest markets
In the financial year 2011-12 Emirates carried a total of 34 million passengers leading to an average load factor of 80 percent while for the first six months of the financial year ending September 30 2012 pas-senger volume reached 187 million marking a year-on-year increase of 154 percent
Over the last year Emiratesrsquo network has grown rapidly bringing new countries cultures and experi-ences for customers to explore and of course opening up new markets for Dubai Reflecting Emiratersquos ambi-tious expansion plans for the future the company cur-
18 ONSITE Palestine
MARCH 2013
Forging Ahead with Pride PALESTINE IN BRIEF
Administrative Centres
Ramallah Gaza
Accepted Currencies
US Dollar (USD) Jordanian Dollar (JOD)
Language Arabic
Palestine rich in culture deep in history blessed with holy sites and highly worthy of its popularity amongst all travellers alike is a des-tination which never seizes to amaze the world of travel and tourismI n 2012 Palestine witnessed an increase in the
number of inbound tourism by some 225 mil-lion visitors 18 percent higher than that record-ed in 2011 and this paved the way for a boost of 25 percent in overnight stays in hotels and
guesthouses across the country to reach 18 millionIn order to keep visitor levels high the Ministry
of Tourism and Antiquities together with stakehold-ers have implemented numerous projects in a bid to increase traffic to the region
One example is Jenin Tourist Center which is scheduled to open later this year and is set to add to the improvement of Jenin as a tourist destination to attract both local and international visitors with a fo-cus on the quality of the arearsquos residential life and the creation of economic opportunities through tourism
With Poland being heralded as the destinationrsquos second major feeder market in 2012 having welcomed 200000 Polish visitors throughout the year Palestine acted as a partner country for the first time in one of
the global renowned travel trade shows TOUR SALON Poland which gave the Middle Eastern country the opportunity to showcase itself to what is being recog-nised as one of the most promising markets
With regards to Palestinersquos vast selection of accommo-dation offerings the country provides an array of friendly and welcoming hospitality services and this is evident in the healthy performance results reported in 2012
Grand Park Hotel which opened towards the end of September 2012 after a USD13 million renovation transformed it into a five-star property from a four-star recorded 50 percent occupancy in the first six months in operation this according to Mohammed Zomlot general manager Grand Park Hotel
ldquoWe expect perfor-mance to be much bet-ter this year as the hotel is very well-known and guests now know we have had this renovation and want to come and see the new lookrdquo he added
With the majority of the hotelrsquos guests hail-ing from Palestine itself Europe America and the Middle East Zomlot pointed out that the ho-tel attends international conferences sets out marketing strategies and also participates in exhi-bitions in order to keep figures high and promote the hotel as a perfect choice for travellers
Further growing its presence in the region Grand Park Hotel is set to open two new hotels in Palestine in the second quarter of the year and is to be the first local ho-tel chain in the country
Thomas Brugnatelli general manager The American Colony Hotel also revealed the recent
completion of what he described as the spectacular Palm House building alongside other changes which came onboard to cater to the propertyrsquos main clien-tele 45 percent of which Brugnatelli revealed hailed from Europe mostly from France Italy Germany UK and Spain while the US segment claimed a 35 percent market share ldquoFor over a hundred years The American Colony Hotel has a proud reputation of one of the most exceptional and famous hotels in the Middle Eastrdquo he concluded
Royal Court Suites Hotel is yet another property which completed a solid 2012 in terms of business performance as Joseph Ayoub general manager Royal Court Suites Hotel announced who further indicated that with new additions to management and plans for further upgrades the hotel expects its performance to continue to improve into the future ldquoThe Royal Court Suites Hotel will be undergoing re-modeling to our lobby and outside terrace which we are excited forrdquo he expressed
Catering to MENA guests of which 20 percent make up the propertyrsquos entire clientele base who pre-dominantly come from Jordan as well as Palestine it-self the hotel provides a highly service-orientated staff and a location that puts MENA travellers in the heart of Ramallah close to its best attractions and provides them with the opportunity to experience a land sacred to Muslims and Christians boasting holy sites scattered across its land Further to local and regional travellers the hotel is also popular among international organisa-tions non-governmental segments and business trav-ellers arriving from Europe US and Japan
Commenting on the ways through which fel-low professionals can work to improve visitor arriv-als Ayoub advised ldquoHotel operators in Palestine can boost the countryrsquos tourism industry by running well managed operations that provide high quality ser-vice and up to date properties that are exposed to the outside world through proper marketingrdquo
This year also looks to be better than 2012 for Golden Park Resort during which the property wit-nessed average performance levels and occupancy rates of 55 percent among the Czechs Slovakians Indians Sri Lankans Nigerians Polish and Egyp-tians according to Ibrahim Giacamam general man-ager Golden Park Resort who announced changes throughout the hotel in the coming months
ldquoWe are renovating parts of the hotel to compete with local marketsrdquo he revealed adding that this will include a full renovation of the lobby as well as the rooms ldquoThere is competition from new hotels open-ing in Bethlehem thus we want to keep our guests happyrdquo Giacamam concluded
Dominique Christou writes
19TOURUK
MARCH 2013
Dominique Christou writes
A ccording to the latest World Travel amp Tourism Council Economic Impact report published in 2012 direct contribution of travel and tourism to the UKrsquos GDP in 2011 reached GBP35 billion (USD54 billion) 23
percent of the countryrsquos total GDP with a forecasted rise of 13 percent in 2012 and an annual increase of 41 percent over the next decade when the indus-try is estimated to be contributing GBP531 billion (USD81 billion) to the UKrsquos GDP in 2022
Patricia Yates director of strategy VisitBritain ex-pected 31 million inbound visits to the UK for 2012 giving the destination as Yates described a perfect foundation to see continued strong growth in interna-tional tourism for this year contributing revenue to the UK economy and creating new jobs across the country
VisitBritain recently ventured yet again into the GCC following the successful execution and delivery of the BritAgent online training programme in the UAE Saudi Arabia and Kuwait
Meticulously Personalised
UK IN BRIEF
Capital London
Currency British Pound (GBP)
Language English
The UK has long been an admired choice among MENA travellers highly accredited to the typically distin-guished English hospitality world-renowned shopping outlets quality selection of entertainment plethora of family activities and last but not least the overabundance of pictur-esque parks scattered across the country
The UK tourism boardrsquos global online training initia-tive which has been designed to meet the needs of travel trade lsquofront-linersrsquo from new starters to experienced sales personnel was recently launched in Qatar at the British Embassy Doha a programme which upon completion grants the agents with BritAgent status signifying their expertise and knowledge about travel to Britain
ldquoBritain is already a major beneficiary of outbound travel from the Gulfrdquo confirmed Sumathi Ramanathan regional manager Asia Pacific and Middle East Visit-Britain ldquoVisitors from the Gulf region are a major source of revenue for the UK from January to September 2012 these visitors spent nearly AED55 billion (USD15 billion) already showing a seven percent increase over 2011 From 2006 through to 2011 Qatar has shown an outstanding increase in visitor numbers of 59 percent and the spend per night significantly outshines all the other countriesrdquo Ramanathan added
Official figures released by VistBritain reveal that in 2012 the UK witnessed the best November since 2007 with visitation figures a soaring nine percent higher than 2011 keeping the country on track to reach the 31 million mark by end-2012
November 2012 saw healthy results from nearly all the regions in the world exempt the US accord-ing to the study which stated that the UK welcomed 10 percent more tourists from Europe and 12 percent from the rest of the world
20 TOUR UK
MARCH 2013
Yates expressed great satisfaction for this success stressing that 2012 was no ordinary year for inbound tourism so to announce the best November in five years is an achievement
AN AMPLE CHOICE
These healthy results are evident in the hotel sector across the country partially attributed to the relative-ly strong MENA market as Daniel Simmons execu-tive director HotelREZ noted further indicating that the hotel currently has a presence in Dubai and as a result is strategically developing the MENA markets to support the membersrsquo growth
o-y improvement from the top five Middle Eastern mar-kets a 104 percent y-o-y upsurge from Saudi Arabian visitors and a 33 percent y-o-y rise from UAE visitors
Assuring that the MENA guest is well-catering to London Hilton on Park Lane trains its staff to pro-vide the welcome that visitors from the region have come to expect equipping the team with the skills to handle tailored requests according to Brayshaw who elaborated ldquoThere is a dedicated guest relations teams for Middle Eastern guests with Arabic-speak-ing team members Facilities are available for visitorsrsquo private chefs to cook within the hotelsrsquo kitchens and serve their own dishes to their employer Arabic TV stations are also availablerdquo
BRINGING IN BUSINESS
Further boosting MENA tourism to the UK on March 31 British Airways (BA) will launch an additional four flights to and from Amman increasing the frequency from dai-ly to 11 per week ldquoJordan is an important market for Brit-ish Airways and we are thrilled with the excellent growth we have seen here since re-introducing Amman to our route network We are keen to further enhance our op-erations to and from Jordan and the announcement only consolidates our commitment to the Jordanian marketrdquo commented Paolo De Renzis area commercial manager Middle East and Central Asia BA
In addition Qatar Airways has launched its inau-gural long-haul Boeing 787 Dreamliner service on the Doha - London Heathrow route becoming the first airline to operate regular scheduled flights onboard the state-of-the art aircraft to and from the UK
Akbar Al Baker CEO Qatar Airways said ldquoThe Doha - Heathrow route is one of our most popular interna-tional routes and it was only fitting that we deploy our new 787 to and from Londonrdquo
INVESTING IN THE UK
Heathrow Airport is hailed as the most popular gateway for travellers to the UK recording a total of 518 million passengers having passed through its terminal in Janu-ary alone a record for the month which saw an increase of 03 percent over the corresponding month in 2012
Meanwhile load factors also set a record for the month under review up 21 percentage points on Janu-ary 2012 reaching 70 percent Domestic traffic was down 58 percent however European traffic rose 18 percent and Middle Eastern traffic also climbed the trajectory level by 33 percent over the same month in 2012
Moreover Heathrow Airport recently announced GBP3 billion (USD46 billion) worth of investments in the airport in addition to the GBP11 billion (USD168 billion) which has been invested since 2003 and these form part of the establishmentrsquos business plans for Q6 the regulatory period which covers 2014-2019 and they represent one of the largest private-sector investments in UK infrastructure
The plans include the completion of Terminal 2 and the early works on extending the building the development of a new integrated baggage system and the construction of new taxiways and stands which will allow Heathrow Airport to accommodate more of the most modern aircraft
Colin Matthews CEO Heathrow Airport com-mented ldquoHeathrow is the UKrsquos only hub airport and a strategically important national infrastructure asset Heathrow faces stiff competition from other Europe-an hubs and we must continue to improve the service we offers passengers and airlines [] Our plan for a further GBP3 billion (USD46 billion) of private-sector investment will further improve the airport for pas-sengers The plan represents good value for money for airlines and passengers and comes at no cost to taxpayersrdquo
Guests from the UAE Turkey Egypt Saudi Arabia and Kuwait along with Cyprus contributed to two percent of the hotelrsquos total reservations percentage results for 2012 this according to Simmons who also reported a 20 percent year-on-year (y-o-y) increase in revenue ldquoOur hotel members benefit from a 90 per-cent increase on IDS (Internet distribution services) and direct connect bookings a 35 percent increase on GDS (global distribution systems) bookings and a 60 percent growth on CRO (central reservations of-fices) and voice bookingsrdquo
Commenting on the propertyrsquos latest develop-ments Simmons revealed the recently-launched MICE Desk which he pinpointed is an additional solution to HotelREZrsquos member hotels and will help boost revenue
ldquoAt HotelREZ we are very confident that our new MICE Desk will raise awareness and continue to increase reservations for our hotel members from meetings incentives conventions and events pack-ages To complete the consumer booking cycle Ho-telREZ is launching REZanalyst a new social media and review analytics tool for hotels to help manage their online reputationrdquo he concluded
Also showing signs of strong performance is Lon-don Hilton on Park Lane thanks to the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympics whose international committee chose the property as the headquarter ho-tel this according to Ashleigh Brayshaw marketing and communications manager London Hilton on Park Lane
With one out of four of the hotelrsquos guests hailing from the MENA region Brayshaw pointed out that in 2011 the property witnessed particularly high growth in visitor numbers from the region with a 21 percent y-
Moreover the UK especially London offers a full range of activities according to Brayshaw who observed that the Middle Eastern guest is increasingly organised with the time spent in the capital and one who enjoys combining a variety of activities ldquoPopular activities in-clude sending children to summer schools in Regentrsquos Park attending business meetings visiting property shopping for the latest trends and enjoying the rich va-riety of entertainment that London has to offer Families often use managers to organise their time with London Hilton on Park Lanersquos hotel management working di-rectly with guests to assistrdquo she further noted
Moreover Travelodge one of the UKrsquos leading hotel brands is set to benefit from a GBP223 million (USD341 million) brand investment with the opening of 14 new hotels which includes two properties in Spain the creation of 420 new jobs and the launch-ing of a new room concept which has been designed by its customers ldquoThis capital expenditure will help us to grow our business strengthen our product offer-ing and make Travelodge the best value hotel chain in the UKrdquo Grant Hearn CEO Travelodge revealed
ldquoAs part of this yearrsquos investment we have worked with our customers to create a new Travelodge room which offers more comfort quality and stylerdquo he contin-ued adding that this enhanced product combined with economy pricing will ensure Travelodge is the smart choice for leisure and business travellers
Furthermore in order to help attract new custom-ers Travelodge is also investing over GBP12 million (USD 182 million) in digital and online marketing this year as well as over GBP1 million (USD15 million) in a website refresh later this year
London
22 EXCLUSIVE Luxury Travel
MARCH 2013
Living the DreamLuxury travel is all about mak-ing guests feel unique and privi-leged It is about offering them the chance to get to know the world in extravagance and having them live above the ordinary It is about spoiling them with opulent travel and hospitality services something which is without doubt growing in size and quality
I n late December 2012 the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) released its Travel Trends Report 2013 developed in collaboration with UKrsquos Foreign and Commonwealth Office pre-dicting that consumers will continue to look for
good value in breaks for this year rather than cut back on their holidays
Mark Tanzer CEO ABTA stated that the majority of British holidaymakers are reluctant to give up their annual holiday under any circumstances while strong forward bookings for the luxury and all-inclusive sec-tors are being witnessed
Speaking at the 2011 edition of the annual Interna-tional Luxury Travel Market (ILTM)rsquos Ultratravel Forum Chris Sanderson strategy and insight director The Future Laboratory a trend forecasting company had announced predictions stating that the lsquoluxuriansrsquo of the future would not be interested in too much choice ldquoThere is an en-hanced sense of just being todayrsquos luxury consumer rath-er than being surrounded by possessionsrdquo he explained
AUTHENTICALLY PRIVILIGED
Views corroborating Sandersonrsquos were voiced by John McGee research and communications manager Ar-tisans of Leisure a luxury travel company specialis-ing in exclusive customised private tours around the world McGee believes that the primary reason his customers travel is to get authentic experiences that introduce them to the local traditions and people while high-quality hotels encourage them to travel but are not primary incentives further pinpointing the latter as being the interest in experiencing local
culture cuisine history and lifestyle With reference to the Middle East McGee noted
that his agency is intrigued by places like Abu Dhabi and its considered approach to developing new mu-seums and cultural attractions
Defining the demands and needs of luxury trav-ellers as being genuine and local experiences Filip Boyen chief operating officer Orient-Express said ldquoFor luxury tourists travel is not just about lying on a beach or by the pool anymore It is about combining relaxation in a beautiful setting with learning and dis-covery They want to come away with an experience or having learnt something new that they can come home and tell their friends all aboutrdquo
Boyen added that the Middle East is relatively new to the world of tourism a place many will want to discover and consequently this will create a demand for luxury ho-tels already emerging in many parts of the region
Travellers who spend a lot of money for their trip expect and demand the best they need to be cared for in every step of the way while feeling confident that they are dealing with someone experienced to respond to their requests according to Daniel Essex CEO Century Travel who also explained that many luxury travellers are looking for something small and attentive and a much more personal approach
LET US SPOIL YOU
The growing number of luxury hotels and amenities has led to an increased interest with Canadian travel-lers to the Middle East according to Kathy Stewart director of media and public relations Butterfield amp Robinson a Toronto-based agency Aside from authen-ticity she stressed the importance of maintaining the unique qualities of the region for further development
into a luxury destination for global travellers ldquoEspecial-ly North Americans who are travelling a long distance to the Middle East they are not looking for the same experience they can get at home They want Middle Eastern food people landscapes and architecture to be an integral part of the experiencerdquo
Hotel Missoni Kuwait benefits from a healthy lux-ury-demanding domestic market which represents 55 percent of its business followed by Saudi Arabia with 13 percent and the UAE with 10 percent accord-ing to Alfio Bernardini general manager Hotel Mis-soni Kuwait who said ldquo[At the hotel] everything con-tributes to the depth of the experience Hotel Missoni is designed to be genuine and uncomplicated offer-ing those luxury touches that really matter because they genuinely enrich the experience of stayingrdquo
Six Senses Zighy Bay the indigenous village style accommodation in Oman has observed an increase of 12 percent in occupancy levels throughout 2012 while the growth of the Middle East clientele is appar-ent after the development of family-specific offerings attested Guillaume de Lasteyrie executive assistant manager Six Senses Zighy Bay He believes that peace and calm is the most appreciated value of the property while the hotelrsquos offerings are tempting for guests cit-ing the example of the saltwater pool carrying a min-eral composition of 15-20 percent comparable to the Dead Sea whose concentration is 27 percent
Another instance of Arab opulence is Eastern Man-groves Hotel amp Spa by Anantara in Abu Dhabi a prop-erty which assures that luxury is interrelated with in-dulgence across all of its services offered with an acute focus on detail which Nehme Darwiche hotel manag-er Eastern Mangroves Hotel amp Spa by Anantara report-ed is of utter importance Darwiche further supports that the Middle East will not only continue to develop as a luxury destination but will sit on the top of luxury ranks and become a pioneer in such offerings ldquoThe de-mand on luxury products will continue to increase as the tastes of sophisticated societies continues to reach new limits Luxury will not be in big numbers but will be in the power to obtain rarity the Middle East under-stands that very well and the developments planned
Maria Kazeli writes
Hotel Missoni Kuwait
23EXCLUSIVELuxury Travel
MARCH 2013
from now until 2020 have luxury travellers as their tar-getrdquo Darwiche concluded
An upcoming superior property in the region is Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah set to open in May Rudi Jagersbacher president Middle East and Africa Hilton Worldwide explained that the hotel as an up-scale property will have to deliver on two counts experiences and expectations Observing that travel behaviour has changed in the past years and placing emphasis on value for money he further noted ldquo[Wal-dorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah] is palatial exclusive and will offer the highest level of service as well as state-of-the-art amenities but that is not enough We have to ensure that our guests consider their experience as an investment worth repeating and sharingrdquo
The peak of extravagance is reached with a variety of private jet services throughout the region which cater for business and leisure travellers alike Mark Hardman op-erations director ExecuJet Middle East pointed out that the companyrsquos clientele is as diverse as the regionrsquos popu-lation but private aviation offers valued features such as time efficiency security privacy and convenience
He admitted that the most popular destinations for Dubai-based ExecuJet are in the Middle East with Riyadh Jeddah Beirut and Baghdad occupying the top spots while Geneva London and Nice are the favoured European hubs
Similarly Hardy Sohanpal director NasJet agreed that Middle East travellers use private jet services for efficiency flexibility and privacy while he accurately underlined that through emphasising the luxury ben-efits many private jet users build relationships with their key business contacts and staff by giving them access to private aircraft
ON THE RISE
Providing her own view Stewart reiterated that it is important not to overdevelop and retain authenticity of the Arab culture in the region
Along parallel lines Essex believes that the major-ity across the region always had the opinion that big is beautiful but this is not enough he further stressed as the industry professionals in the Middle East need to consider the boutique options However he lauded Abu Dhabirsquos development on Saadiyat Island and the introduction of cultural arts which he believes will at-tract the international and discerning travellers
Boyen deems that the region will experience ad-vancement and will emerge as a luxury destination something he attributes to improved air connectivity ldquoDefinitely with new airline routes from the Middle East launching all the time such as Etihad Airwaysrsquo new routes to Washington and Satildeo Paulo which are
launching this year the destination is bound to de-velop furtherrdquo he continued
Sharing the same opinion that the expansion of airlines and airports lead to such positive develop-ments Bernardini claimed that despite the fact that the Middle East will develop further to become a des-tination for high-calibre tourists not all countries in the region have the capacity and the stability to do so However he further explained a few hotspots will enjoy this blessing due to the money available in this part of the world which will result in the building of super high-quality hotels and thus attract a good number of luxury travellers
De Lasteyrie pointed out that even though the region was under the spotlight for some time the future will see even greater lavish suggestions and-maintaining that ldquoThe Middle East has been since years a luxury destination to the eyes of many though the pinnacle of luxury is yet to come Smaller and personalised service hotels and resorts from around the world are now willing to implement themselves in untouched locations creating a new momentum Much of the Middle East is still in the first tiers of luxu-ry based on opulent luxury and the glitz and glamour that first come with wealth We are now beginning to see affluent luxury and more distinguished spending on art collectibles and sustainabilityrdquo
24 SPECIAL REPORT Waterparks
MARCH 2013
In for a RideWaterparks are a popular attraction among locals and tourist in the Middle East With promising weather throughout most of the year waterparks offer visitors a fun family outing in addition to an array of promotions and events Travel Trade Monthly explores what makes waterparks the perfect attraction
F rom fun rides food and beverage outlets and retail offerings to gaming outlets and social events waterparks offer a safe fun and friendly environment for the family groups and events planners from all walks of life
Wild Wadi Waterpark Dubai is a good example whose team is committed to providing a fun-filled service that will make a lasting impression according to Chris Perry general manager Wild Wadi Waterpark who added that there is a major focus on using every opportunity to ensure that the guestsrsquo decision to visit is rewarded with plenty of time to play less time to queue and more time on the rides
Meanwhile Ice Land Water Park Ras Al Khaimah is receiving full promotional support from the emir-atersquos government and especially by its tourism body this according to Vagelyn Federico deputy director Ice Land Waterpark who added that it has been high-lighted as one of the major destinations in the UAE by all concerned tourism entities
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is the latest entry into the regionrsquos proliferating world of waterparks and accord-ing to Mike Oswald general manager Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi it rivals the worldrsquos best waterparks offering 43 rides slides and attractions ldquoIt has been an incredible journey to this point and unbelievably satisfying to watch the peoplersquos reaction to what has been created We are
support of the tourism body in Ras Al Khaimahrdquo Federico stated
In the summer major visitors to the waterpark hail from Asia as well as locally whereas during the winter months the CIS market plays a big role in pro-moting the park with its tourists in the UAE
In order to boost visitor arrivals to the waterpark Federico pointed out that during the winter the team is currently working for a family barbecue night with some other attractions to lure in more families
Moreover she indicated that the months ahead seem even more vibrant as she further demonstrated ldquoThis year will be more promising as we strengthened our ties with more travel operators inbound and out-bound Additionally we are currently working with dif-ferent airlines travel operators hotels and other tour-ism entities to promote Ice Land giving them also more benefits in promoting us to different market segmentsrdquo
Giving something more to visitors the water-parkrsquos team is currently working with skilled games and other dry rides for people to enjoy at the facility after park operations ldquoWe are also a preferred venue for concerts as we have the perfect place to accom-modate up to 6000 people in one area Ice Land Wa-ter Park is just one of the offerings of WOWRAK and we are currently working with other expansions such as resorts ice skating cinema complex hypermarket and other amusement activities which are planned to open in the next few yearsrdquo concluded Federico
Likewise Perry also announced continuous growth over the years for Wild Wadi Waterpark with 2012 prov-ing very successful He attributed this achievement to events such as ladies nights Ramadan nights and the new Jumeirah Sceirah which launched in September 2012 having proved to be a favourite amongst thrill seekers whereby one drops through a trap door from a height of 32m into the waiting water tunnel and races down the slide at 80km per hour
ldquoWe aim for this trend to continue this year as we have a variety of new attractive promotions and events to suit all our guestsrsquo needsrdquo Perry further in-formed ldquoWe also launched our online ticketing system this month to offer faster entry to our guestsrdquo he added guaranteeing guests with a faster entry process allow-ing all those with a printed ticket to jump the queue
Wild Wadi Waterpark is open all year round and ca-ters to guests from all over the world ldquoDuring the hot summer months (May-October) most of our guests come from the GCC countries whereby during the colder season (November-April) our guests are mainly from Europe
ldquoThe park is also a popular destination for UAE resi-dents since we periodically offer discounts to all resi-dents as well as annualseason passes that allow them to visit as many times as they want for a cheaper raterdquo he said
Perry also pointed out that during the month of May the waterpark offers its very popular family-only mornings every Friday at discounted rates so that they can enjoy the full facilities of the park when it is not too busy and of course when it is more safe and secure a factor which he assured is of the highest priority
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi
Dominique Christou writes
confident that people will have seen nothing like it before and we look forward to the waves of visitors expected to arrive now that the park is officially openrdquo
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi which inaugurated on January 19 is built around a central character named Dana whose crew won the battle in its quest to re-store a pearl to its rightful place which has ensured prosperity to the mythical Emirati village and marked what is expected to be a successful start to Yas Water-world Abu Dhabirsquos commercial operations
Set across 15ha on Yas Island the park offers thrills for the whole family and visitors will experience fun and adventure on rides and attractions such as the worldrsquos longest fastest tornado waterslide the regionrsquos first looping waterslide and the worldrsquos first interactive water and laser rollercoaster According to Oswald Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is expected to welcome a total of 700000 in its first year of operation
CALLING ALL THRILL SEEKERS
During 2012 waterparks across the region expe-rienced a healthy increase in visitors across a variety of markets
ldquoThe waterpark performed better in 2012 compared to our first year in 2011 when it comes to statistics in vari-ous nationalities locally and internationally through the
26 INVESTIGATION
MARCH 2013
Visiting Friends amp Relatives
Maria Kazeli writes
T he annual review for 2011 by the World Travel amp Tourism Council (WTTC) attributes social and cultural benefits to tourism indicating that the industry directly helps to keep or bring families and social networks together
With special regards to the visiting friends and relatives (VFR) segment the review supports that a significant proportion of all international trips which reaches up to a third of all arrivals for some large de-veloped markets are made in order to visit friends andor relatives
Globalisation has caused people to spread all over the globe but returning back home occasion-ally is a necessity The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) draws direct links between migration and travelling to visit relatives and in the 2009 Executive Summary entitled Tourism and Migration ndash Explor-
year in review which covers up to September 2012 reveals that the highest figures for the VFR segment appeared in January 2012 with 267 percent of 47610 incoming tourists being reported as VFR
Egyptrsquos outbound travel market linked to VFR oc-cupies a major part of business for travel agencies Feryal El Gohary general manager Bahi Travel ex-plained adding that almost half of the agencyrsquos cli-entele are VFR She also expressed the view that this market is a growing force for airlines and hoteliers alike while the latter she pinpointed will succeed only if they create a new strategy of very advanta-geous attractive long-stay offers
Tarek Moshref managing director Pronto Tours an Egypt-based tour operator supported that the VFR market is the third largest segment after holiday and business and for this reason local travel agents and operators should improve their services in order to capture and develop its potential by offering new options and programmes
Stressing the cost-driven aspect of the VFR mar-ket Adel Taha general manager leisure travel Kimidar Tours an Egyptian travel agency destination manage-ment company and ground handler said that VFR travellers aim at low travel expenditures in order to spend their money on leisure activities at the destina-tion and not on transportation With regards to the accommodation factor he added ldquoMost of the travel-lers whether leisure or VFR would tend to seek hotel accommodation in order to benefit from services pro-vided such as room cleaning and meals instead of self-served apartments However we can say they still seek low-cost accommodations with some specificationsrdquo
VFR IN THE SKIES
Commenting on the results of the British CAArsquos study Harry Bush group director economic regulation UK CAA had said that air travel played a key role in enabling peoplersquos relocating principally through the emergence of low-cost air travel and that the result-ing VFR passengers are increasingly important con-sumers of air travel According to an aviation analysis report by CAPA - Centre for Aviation a provider of independent aviation market intelligence the Mid-dle Eastern low-cost carriers are trying to adapt their model to the regional situation with their higher den-sity configurations targeting migrant workers and VFR traffic flows from North Africa and South Asia into the Gulf region
Major airlines have taken this trend into consid-eration and cater for this market by tailoring their offers Paolo De Renzis area commercial manager Middle East and Central Asia British Airways said ldquoThe VFR segment is extremely important to British Airways particularly in the Middle East where a large number of our customers are VFR travellers This is a region where families are extremely close and this tight-knit family culture means that we see a lot of VFR traffic across our Middle Eastern routes We also have a large expat community in the UAE which con-tributes significantly to this segmentrdquo
Unconventional TravellersMany prefer to spend their holiday visiting their friends and relatives in their home country if they are expa-triates or some other destination in order to spend time with their loved ones The focus of the travel is not cultural sightseeing and luxury ac-commodation but low airfare and budget lodgings
ing the Relationship between Two Global Phenomena compiled by UNWTO the two concepts are analysed by stressing that growth in international tourism and mobility has given rise to tourism-led migration with examples including the movement of male labourers from South Asia to meet the construction demands of the tourism boom in the UAE
The research states that migration has led directly and indirectly to significant growth in tourism to both origin and destination countries through increased visibility especially in the VFR sector and to the de-velopment of new tourism infrastructure and trans-port routes in and between countries
UKrsquos Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) also lays empha-sis on the importance of the specific market having published an in-depth study on air passengers visiting friends or family The investigation report titled Interna-tional Relations ndash The Growth in Air Travel to Visit Friends or Relatives indicated that the robust growth in VFR re-flected trends such as labour mobility and migration while predicting that due to these trends the countryrsquos GDP will affect future VFR passenger traffic
VISITING MENA
At the 6th UNWTOPacific Asia Travel Association Fo-rum on Tourism Trends and Outlook held in October 2012 in China it was revealed that 36 percent of the Middle Eastrsquos outbound market constitutes the VFR segment
Some insights on inbound VFR trends concern-ing the hotel industry in the region were provided by Darroch Crawford managing director Middle East and Africa Premier Inn Hotels who highlighted that this market is highly important but also very difficult to measure as bookings of this nature come through different channels His estimations on guests travel-ling to visit family members in the region and residing in Premier Inn properties amount to seven percent of the total clientele Crawford further indicated that the largest Middle Eastern feeder markets for the brand are Lebanon Syria and Jordan
Meanwhile in Saudi Arabia domestic tourism has been the primary focus of tourism development pol-icy in the Kingdom and according to Saudi Tourism Outlook issued by the Tourism Information and Re-search Centre part of Saudi Commission for Tourism amp Antiquities which analyses July 2012rsquos figures the local segment contributed to 114 million overnight trips in the month under review out of which 398 percent hailed from the VFR segment In addition 293 percent of the 171 million outbound trips taken from Saudi Arabia during July 2012 were categorised as the VFR market
The Statistical Service of Cyprus disclosed that ac-cording to the latest data available concerning Sep-tember 2012 the island received 335352 visitors out of which 97 percent were VFR The same data for the
28 WHOS MOVED
MARCH 2013
ANDREW ABRAM
KONSTANTINOS KOUROTSIDIS
Andrew Abram has been named general manager at Raffles Dubai Abram joins the propertyrsquos team from Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group where over the past dec-ade he has held various positions He joined the company in 2003 as resident manager of The Excelsior Hotel Hong Kong and went on to lead the renovation and reopen-ing of Mandarin Oriental Jakarta holding the role of general man-ager for eight years He most re-cently served as general manager
of Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhavi in Chiang Mai Thailand Having also held the position of corporate director of sales and marketing at Jumeirah Group in the Middle East where he was responsible for the branding and launching of several projects Abram brings an insiderrsquos knowl-edge to Raffles Dubai
Konstantinos Kourotsidis has been named general manager at Radisson Blu Martinez Hotel Beirut Kourotsidis started his career in the hospitality industry in 1996 in food and beverage at Copthorne Hotel Hanover In 2000 he joined The Rezidor Ho-tel Group where he held various positions across Europe and the Middle East including at Radis-son Blu Hotel Hanover Radission
Blu Hotel amp Spa Galway Radisson Blu Resort Schloss Fleesensee Radisson Blu Resort El Quseir Radisson Blu Hotel Alexandria and Radisson Blu Resort Sharjah After several task force assign-ments in Egypt Libya and UAE Kourotsidis was promoted to general manager at Radisson Blu Al Mahary Hotel Tripoli Most re-cently he worked as acting gen-eral manager at Radisson Blu Re-sort Fujairah
Abram brings an insiderrsquos knowledge to
Raffles Dubai
MARCH 2013
30 TRAVEL TALK
MARCH 2013
LEON SALINEL
WAEL EL BEHI
KARIM NAHAS
Executive assistant manager of sales and marketing Dusit Thani Dubai
General manager Ramada Downtown Dubai
General managar Rose Rayhaan by Rotana
ldquo2012 was a very successful year for us We were not only successful in meeting our key performance indicators most notably by exceeding both our gross operating profit and gross operating revenue Working with Inves-tors in People throughout the year also ensured that we performed highly in our employee satisfaction survey we even ranked at the top of our group in this regards [hellip] We are now drawing to a close on our rooms renovation and have just welcomed our new general manager so it is an exciting year to come for us which will see some changerdquo
ldquoI am very pleased to be appointed as executive board mem-ber [of the Tunisian Business Council] I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress in [the cur-rent year] I hope to play a part in creating strong community bound by camaraderie accord and reliance among Tunisian nationals in the UAErdquo
ldquo2012 was a record year for Rose Rayhaan total revenue growth was almost 17 percent versus 2011 [hellip] The hotel continued to focus on the GCC markets with the Saudi market on the top list and strong performance of the UK France and Russian markets were witnessed UAE local market in both leisure and corporate seg-ments also performed very well We are planning to fo-cus on new emerging markets like South Africa Brazil and Turkey Competition will be indeed stiffen this year however I guess there will be business for everybodyrdquo
I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress
TRAVEL TALK IS YOUR SPACE ndash 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
editorialtraveltradeweeklytravel
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el t
alk
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our
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e
31RENDEZVOUS
MARCH 2013
Q amp A with Rana El KhouryWith her recent appointment Rana El Khoury general manager Le Gray Beirut became one of Lebanonrsquos first women to hold such a high position at a five-star hotel and here she shares her views on the future prospects of the Lebanese hotel sector
Rana El KhouryGeneral manager Le Gray Beirut
Travel Trade Monthly How would you describe 2012 in a few words Rana El Khoury The best way to describe 2012 would certainly be lsquochallengingrsquo a challenge that could be called survival until we see better days Controlling costs while maintaining superior ser-vice quality and competitiveness is key to our con-tinuous success in the Lebanese market The hotel performance could be rated as fair for 2012 greatly impacted by high level of business during the first five months of the year This has allowed us to stay ahead of the game for the remainder of the year although November 2012 was the toughest month since the opening of the hotel in 2009 Despite all Le Gray has managed in 2012 to retain its number one position in occupancy and RevPAR in the Leba-nese market
Travel Trade Monthly The hotel will soon em-bark on a major extension project Tell us a little bit about this
Rana El Khoury Le Gray is preparing to kick off its extension that will include a larger lobby with a lob-by lounge a chocolate room banquet space a 35-seat movie theatre and an additional 18 rooms The project should reach completion by end of 2014
Travel Trade Monthly Prior to your appoint-ment you served as hotel manager How does your new position differ from your former role
Rana El Khoury My previous position as hotel manager was focused on the operations aspect of the hotel as general manager my responsibilities enclose a more general view of the hotel including the administrative and strategic side of the hotel as well as the link between the owning company and management company
My priorities for the coming year is diversify-ing our target markets on the international and local scene to maximise hotel occupancy and to strengthen the positioning of Le Gray on the lo-cal market as a destination for its restaurants and bars whilst building on the existing strong team at Le Gray and getting the right people together to move forward with positivity and vigilance to counter these challenging times
The advice I would give young women ready to climb the corporate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the dif-ferent positions they fill throughout their careers
Travel Trade Monthly Your appointment makes you one of the first Lebanese women to hold this position at a five-star hotel How challenging is it to hold such a high position at an already well-established hotel
Rana El Khoury The hospitality industry is very challenging and requires sacrifice on all levels What I can say is that women have their own speci-ficity and they can bring a different vision and new perspectives to the hospitality business The advice I would give young women ready to climb the cor-porate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the different positions they fill throughout their careers this can only make them stronger and certainly more cred-ible when they reach executive level positions
Travel Trade Monthly Over the past few years the Lebanese tourism industry has faced a num-ber of serious challenges What are your expec-tations for the current year Rana El Khoury Lebanon has always been a pre-ferred destination attracting tourists from the Arab and Gulf countries and with increasing stability and security we do see a solid recovery
Given the complexity of the Lebanese market improvement can occur overnight As seen in May 2008 following the Doha-agreement occupancy rates jumped back then from 30 to 90 percent within one week
This year remains uncertain due to the volatil-ity of the political situation in the region the key is to remain sustainable and be ready for the sudden surge in business
Le Gray Beirut
32 NEWS amp EVENTS
MARCH 2013
EVENTS Sponsored by
Following a refurbishment to better present the historical phases of the emiratersquos auto manu-facturing sector Sharjah Classic Cars Museum originally launched in 2008 by HH Sheikh Sul-tan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi ruler of Sharjah reopened in January by Sheikh Essam bin Saqr Al Qassimi chairman Sharjah rulerrsquos office
On the opening day of the event Manal Ataya director general Sharjah Museums Department said ldquoThe aim of refurbishing this museum was to allow us to re-evaluate the previous design and interpretation and improve it significantlyrdquo
She further pointed out that the museum now helps visitors to appreciate the aesthetic and historical value of classic cars in a space that inte-grates a new childrens interactive area and a gal-lery space for temporary exhibitions
The museum boasts 85 classic cars two mo-torcycles and five bicycles as well as a model of an old car and an engine to allow visitors to familiarise themselves with parts of an engine and their function while it is divided into five sections and features an area for activities and interactive games
Following the launch of the UAE branch of the Airline Owners and Pi-lotsrsquo Association (AOPA) at Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2012 Yousif Al Hammadi president AOPA UAE has invited representatives from international AOPA branches to attend a workshop dedicated to discussing and debating gen-eral aviation issues in the region
The meeting the first of its kind will run parallel to this yearrsquos Abu Dhabi Air Expo and will take place at the Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies Al Bateen Executive Airport on March 6
It is anticipated that up to 30 representatives from AOPA US AOPA UK AOPA Germany and AOPA France will meet with their colleagues from the UAE during the one-day event to share knowledge and debate a variety of topics including air space regulations aerial non-commercial operations certification and maintenance issues and pilot licensing
AOPA members will also be able to maximise their time by attending the Air Expo exhibition the Middle Eastrsquos only dedicated general aviation event to meet pilots from the region and learn about the latest trends
Sharjah Reopens Car Museum AOPA UAE to Hold Meeting with International Colleagues
ITB BerlinBerlin Germany March 6 ndash 10 2013(wwwitb-berlinde)A business-to-business platform for trade visitors which provides the possibility to discover the whole world within a few hours
MITT MoscowMoscow Russia March 20 ndash 23 2013(wwwmittru)Russiarsquos leading and largest travel exhibition with over 3000 participat-ing companies and 197 destinations a key meeting place for industry professionals
The Gulf Incentive Business Travel amp Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) Abu Dhabi UAE March 25 ndash 27 2013(wwwgibtmcom)A leading event for the meetings incentives and business travel industry in the GCC region which can truly unlock all participantsrsquo business potential
Saudi Travel amp Tourism Investment Market (STTIM)Riyadh Saudi Arabia March 31 ndash April 4 2013(wwwsttimcomsa)The event covers all travel and tourism investments aspects in the Kingdom through a combined conference and exhibition
International Destination Expo (IDE)Dubai UAE April 4 ndash 7 2013(wwwastaorgevents)Organised by the American Society of Travel Agents IDE is a destination training programme where participants can meet local suppliers and built profitable long-lasting relationships
Arabian Travel Market (ATM)Dubai UAE May 6 ndash 9 2013(wwwarabiantravelmarketcom)The travel and tourism event unlocking business potential within the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals
Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies
11EXPLOREDubai
MARCH 2013
Why Dubai
DUBAI IN BRIEF
Country UAE
Currency UAE Dirham (AED)
Language Arabic
Dubairsquos astonishing rise from a small fishing and pearling community to one of the fastest growing metropolises continues to impress and inspire the world Welcome to the land of records and record-breakers where everything imaginable and unimaginable be-comes a reality
H ome to the worldrsquos tallest building largest shopping mall a collection of iconic artificial islands and some of the most instantly-recogniseable sights Dubai has established itself as the city of superlatives which con-tinuously strives for greater heights
Just when you think you have seen it all a new lsquoworldrsquos firstrsquo or lsquoworldrsquos mostrsquo project is announced inspiring visitors to return again and again
Propelled by multi-billion dollar investments in a space of just a few years Dubai has grown into the worldrsquos 13th most popular tourist destination as Euromonitor Internationalrsquos Top 100 Cities Destination Ranking shows far outperforming the likes of Shanghai Rome or Las Vegas
ldquoThe hospitality and tourism industry in Dubai is thrivingrdquo commented Nasser Fawzi director of sales and marketing Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates adding that Dubai has turned into one of the most sought-after destinations worldwide and thanks to the continuous efforts of the government and the Dubai Department of Tourism amp Commerce Marketing (DTCM) people are becoming more and more familiar with the emirate and what it has to offer ldquoVisitors can find both choice and value here making it the ideal destination for both leisure and business travellersrdquo he continued
In fact Dubairsquos hotel sector concluded 2012 with the highest profits in the MENA region for the third consecutive year according to TRI Hospitality Consult-ingrsquos HotStats survey which shows that despite the growing room inventory the destinationrsquos soaring popularity and uninterrupted string of events conferences and festivals helped maintain a steady stream of demand throughout the year lead-ing to an average annual occupancy level of 814 percent and a gross operating profit per available room surge of 133 percent over 2011 levels
ldquo2012 was a very good year for the hospitality industry where Dubai went again from strength to strengthrdquo confirmed Hazem Aouad cluster director of sales and marketing Radisson Royal Hotel Dubai and Radisson Blu Resort Fujairah
Karim Nahas general manager Rose Rayhaan by Rotana also described 2012 as a record year for the hotel when Dubairsquos hospitality industry in general witnessed a boom as the destination continued to benefit from the outcome of the Arab Spring and the governmentrsquos endeavours to market Dubai as a premier leisure destination
Sharing similar views Jan Siddiqi director of sales Ramada Plaza Jumeirah
JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai
Rita Kasziba writes
12 EXPLORE Dubai
MARCH 2013
Beach Residence and Ramada Sharjah attributed the over and above expectations performance to the col-lective result of various actions including political well-crafted initiatives
Praising the government and the tourism bodyrsquos continuous efforts Rupprecht Queitsch general man-ager JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai the worldrsquos tallest hotel at 355m said ldquoDTCM works very hard to raise the profile of Dubai as a destination for the con-vention business and leisure business and we work closely with them on these campaigns and sales tripsrdquo
Fawzi further added ldquo[The government along with DTCM] provide a lot of support to the hospital-ity industry through joint promotions sales and mar-keting initiatives and partnerships The government has positioned Dubai as one of the most sought-after destinations worldwide that has so much to offer and as a result demand for the destination continued to grow steadilyrdquo
TURNING AMBITION INTO ACTION
Just in a single generation Dubairsquos population has grown from just 10000 at the turn of the last century to over two million comprising more than 200 nation-alities by 2011 creating a characteristic destination of vibrant cultures and vivid contracts Demonstrating
the emiratersquos growing significance on regional and global levels everyday at present an average of three million people spend their day in Dubai including workers residing in other emirates and travellers visit-ing the destination on business or for pleasure
As Husseim Hachem cluster general manager Al Bustan and Al Murooj Rotana Dubai observed the emirate has consistently made its strong mark as one of the top destinations all over the world bolstered by widespread efforts of both the public and the pri-vate sector aimed at establishing Dubai as a desired place in every aspect
ldquoFirst the government is doing a great job in promoting the city internationally and secondly dif-ferent industries like hospitality travel tourism and more are working hand in hand to provide the best experiences to tourists and residents alike In addition to these factors Dubai as a city itself is a wonderful place with really nice peoplerdquo Hachem stressed
In fact Dubairsquos visionary leadership has long identified tourism as a central pillar of its economic diversification strategy hence the multi-billion dollar investments into the industry and related sectors in-cluding infrastructure transportation as well as pub-lic services have turned the emirate not only into a tourist hotspot but also into one of the best places to live in the MENA region topping the regional ranking
of Mercerrsquos rsquoQuality of Livingrsquo poll In addition the ease of doing business the close
proximity to key growth markets the centralised time zone best suited to both eastern and western busi-ness hours and the emiratersquos safe family-friendly and multicultural environment have all become a major draw for skilled professionals Consequently numer-ous multinational companies have chosen to set up their regional headquarters in Dubai making it a hub for trade and commerce and the number one desti-nation in the region for foreign direct investment
ldquoDubai continues to cement itself as a prime hub in terms of international businessrdquo confirmed Leon Salinel executive assistant manager sales and mar-keting Dusit Thani Dubai who explained that with its location in the Dubai International Financial Centre and in close proximity to Dubai World Trade Centre and the Dubai International Convention amp Exhibition Centre the hotel enjoys high and in fact growing guest volume from the corporate sector
ldquoHowever it is not just business travellers visit-ing the emiraterdquo Salinel stressed ldquoDubai remains a hotspot for leisure travellers it is the Las Vegas of the Middle East and somewhere people want to experi-ence at least once in their lifetimerdquo
Reflecting Dubairsquos dual appeal Robert Barker general manager Moumlvenpick Hotel amp Apartments
14 EXPLORE Dubai
MARCH 2013
Bur Dubai described Dubai as the Hong Kong of the Middle East adding that the unique model that has been created in the emirate and which continues to evolve with the ongoing reinvestment and planning is set to ensure Dubairsquos success and prosperity in the long-term
ENTERING NEW ERAS
Dubai started the new year on a high with a record 17 million visitors attending the Downtown Dubai New Yearsrsquo Eve Gala exceeding the reported attend-ance of one million at the world famous Times Square celebrations in New York City
The destinationrsquos abundant entertainment and amusement options coupled with its vast retail port-folio has long become a vital part of its appeal with Dubai Mall welcoming over 62 million visitors in 2012 and as a market research conducted by Reed Travel Exhibitions has revealed since the beginning of the year some 48 percent of the emiratersquos hotels were
Ocean View Hotel JA Resorts amp Hotels
Bluewaters Island project located off the Jumeirah Beach Residence coastline is envisaged to become one of the largest tourist hot spots in the world fea-turing demarcated retail residential hospitality and entertainment zones as well as the worldrsquos largest Ferris wheel at 210m named Dubai Eye
With construction due to commence in April the destination is set to further improve Dubairsquos competi-tiveness on the global stage as Abdullah Al Habbai chairman Meraas Holding the developer of the pro-ject suggested ldquoWe have a clear mission and vision to strengthen Dubairsquos global position in the tourism sec-tor This project will continue to build on the emiratersquos reputation as leaders in the global entertainment and retail landscaperdquo
Another megaproject Mohamed Bin Rashid City hailed as a city within the city is expected to set new benchmarks in urban development in the region Comprising four components the project will create an integrated environment for the development of entrepreneurship and innovation and will feature a
myriad of record-breaking leisure and entertainment options including a park 30 percent bigger than Londonrsquos Hyde Park designed to receive 35 million visitors per annum as well as the largest family cen-tre for leisure and entertainment in the region set up in collaboration with Universal Studios that will also include over 100 hotel facilities further to the largest arts gallery in the region and the worldrsquos largest retail complex Mall of the World
ldquoThe current facilities available in Dubai need to be scaled up in line with the future ambitions for the cityrdquo emphasised HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum ruler of Dubai remarking on the vital role of such projects in the emiratersquos Vision 2030 and boosting the UAE economy in order to enable it to enter a new era in which it will become the capital of entrepreneurship arts culture and family tourism for over two billion people
In fact the tourism sector in Dubai is growing by 13 percent annually and the accelerated growth rates require the emirate to prepare all sectors for the
future as passenger volume at Dubai International is set to surpass 90 million people per annum over the next five years ldquoOur development initiatives concern-ing infrastructure in all sectors should be aligned with this growth rate and we have the determination to reach our objectives and be the first in the region to achieve themrdquo concluded Al Maktoum
THE MANY FACES OF DUBAI
As a result of the joint efforts and heavy investments over the past decades Dubairsquos hospitality sector has utterly transformed according to David Thomson chief operating officer JA Resorts amp Hotels ldquoSince 2003 the emiratersquos hotel and hospitality sector has boomed launched new niche products developed new feeder markets and roared ahead with new vig-our after the slowdown of 20092010rdquo he said adding that today Dubai is considered a must-see destina-tion for many more reasons than just shopping and going to the beach which as Thomson stressed is vital for the sectorrsquos future growth
Echoing similar views Habib Khan CEO Planet Hospitality stated that people visiting Dubai can be segregated into three major categories namely lei-sure business and transients
ldquoWithin the leisure we have categorised the guests into travellers who come to witness the dra-matic achievements and modernisation of Dubai [hellip] whereas there are a smaller number but its rapidly growing of those intellectuals educational groups and individuals who seek better understanding of the Emirati and Arabic culturerdquo
Further commenting on the shifting trends Rose Ann Shetty CEO Galavantor which caters to a new generation of responsible travellers noted ldquoThe gov-ernment continues to invest and develop wonderful local and cultural experiences and while Dubairsquos focus continues to be a shopping and leisure destination the type of travellers has changed they are willing to stay longer and experience morerdquo Shetty explained adding that desert horseback riding Bedouin camp-ing trekking and rock climbing are continuously gaining popularity
In a bid to exploit another niche segment medi-cal and wellness tourism DTCM has recently teamed up with the Dubai Health Authority to promote Dubai as a premier medical destination capitalising on the emiratersquos advanced healthcare system and highly-skilled professors
ldquoWe are working to promote the medical tour-ism in Dubai since Dubai has an excellent infrastruc-ture modern hospitals and clinics offering a variety of medical [services] to visitors in search of quality health carerdquo explained Eyad Abdul Rahman execu-tive director media relations and business develop-ment DTCM
DTCM is also actively seeking ways to unleash the immerse potential of the burgeoning cruise tourism sector and secure its long-term growth by participat-ing in various international exhibitions with the aim of attracting more cruise liners
located within a 2km radius of one of the five mega-shopping malls of Dubai
Despite the stiffening competition hotels located in close proximity to shopping complexes continue to thrive as Fawzi confirmed revealing that 2012 proved to be one of the most successful years for the property since it opened seven years ago ldquoAs a city hotel Kem-pinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates offers a truly unique proposition which is well-liked by travellers from the Arab region What we add to Dubairsquos hospitality scene is a destination with entertainment for the whole fam-ily there is Ski Dubai and the new Penguin Encounter experience a great selection of dining options a cin-ema one of Dubairsquos most popular malls and a com-munity theatre all in one location that is literally on the doorstep of the hotelrdquo Fawzi further explained
In spite of the already overwhelming number of attractions in a quest to spur demand and support Dubairsquos bid to host the World Expo 2020 the emirate is forging ahead with a number of new megaprojects The recently approved AED6 billion (USD16 billion)
16 EXPLORE Dubai
MARCH 2013
Commenting on the strong economic fundamen-tals of the emirate and the breadth and unparalleled diversity of Dubairsquos tourism product Moussa El Hayek chief operating officer Al Bustan Centre amp Residence said ldquo[One of the] main reasons behind the prosperity in Dubai is the advanced infrastructure that tourists can enjoy here including luxurious hotels and restau-rants transportation malls entertainment venues parks furthermore security iconic buildings and to some extent the flexibility of the rulesrdquo
rently has 204 aircraft on order at a value USD73 billion Likewise as the second-largest airline operating
out of Dubai International flydubairsquos fast-paced ex-pansion has been a key catalyst in the emiratersquos un-precedented growth In the past two years the airline has more than doubled the number of destinations it flies to from 25 to over 50 a rate of more than one new destination per month and has increased its weekly services to over 1000
Since its inception the low-cost carrier which
served more than 51 million passengers in 2012 has laid great emphasis on connecting Dubai with fast-developing and previously untapped markets opening up new opportunities for travel and trade in emerging markets such as the CIS and Eastern Eu-rope in general In 2012 more than 40 percent of fly-dubairsquos route development concentrated on Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the CIS countries
ldquoWe have seen great demand on our routes within the CIS and CEE as more people seek afford-able fares and direct flights between Dubai and this regionrdquo informed Ghaith Al Ghaith CEO flydubai In addition today flydubai welcomes passengers to Dubai and beyond through its connecting flights to the Maldives Sri Lanka and other destinations
As a matter of fact in 2012 Russia and the CIS proved to be the second fastest expanding market in terms of passenger growth behind South America figures released by Dubai Airports have shown and Al Ghaith revealed a similar trend attesting that the car-rierrsquos total number of flights to the CIS and CEE network was 45 percent higher between October 2011 and Sep-tember 2012 compared to the previous 12 months
ldquoWe operated 109 percent more flights in the region in September 2012 compared to September 2011 illustrating the demand for travel between the nationsrdquo added Al Ghaith ldquoWe are constantly look-ing for new opportunities Our approach is to target destinations within a five-and-a-half hour radius of Dubai which puts us within reach of more than 25 billion people one third of the worldrsquos populationrdquo
Remarking on the airlinesrsquo major role in Dubairsquos development El Hayek highlighted ldquoFlight frequency to different cities all over the world made Dubai the hub of the world as Emirates flydubai and Air Ara-bia have all launched various routes to different cities while other lsquogiantrsquo airlines moved their operations to Dubai due to the advanced infrastructure and the ex-cellent services provided by Dubai Internationalrdquo
In line with the airlinesrsquo expansion strategy hotel-iers are increasingly focusing on reaching out to these new markets including the CIS and Russia which Shaff Butt director of marketing and communication Jumeirah Beach Hotel already listed among the ho-telrsquos key feeder markets
Besides the traditionally strong GCC and Europe-an markets mainly the UK and the German speaking countries demand from the CIS nations also contin-ues to be strong as Siddiqi explained
Reporting similar trends Salinel added ldquoThe GCC has always been a primary source market and has remained strong over the past few years Other source markets which have begun to show significant growth for us as a hotel [are] within the CIS region and Asian marketsrdquo
Butt further added ldquoOver the past few years we are seeing continued positive results from our main key markets such as Europe which continues to show good numbers as well as the GCC and wider Middle East For this year our main focus is the CIS market and we would also like to target Asia and Af-rica since we are getting good pick up as well as more repeat guests each yearrdquo
Nahas listed South Africa Brazil and Turkey among Rose Rayhaan by Rotanarsquos target emerging markets while others including Barker remarked on the growing demand from Far Eastern countries and mainly China
Likewise Hachem noted that China India and the rest of Asia have also started to make up for a big chunk of Al Bustan and Al Murooj Rotana Dubairsquos cli-entele while Aouad also added South America to the list of the markets lsquoto watchrsquo for Radisson Royal Hotel Dubai and Radisson Blu Resort Fujairah
Mohamed Taher director of sales and marketing Traders Hotel Dubai listed a number of emerging markets which hold great potential including the Middle East Africa Southeast Asia Australia Scandi-navia Algeria as well as Serbia
The constantly strong business levels from these markets set to balance demand with supply noted Taherw who anticipates a rise in both rates and over-all business levels ldquoDemand will offset the growth in the increased room inventories with more exhibitions being held in the city as well as the increased air traf-fic with the expansion of the airportrdquo
Hachem further added ldquoThis is admittedly a chal-lenging year as the markets get more and more pen-etrated In addition 2012 had been great which adds more pressure to the industry in general to maintain and exceed the previous achievementsrdquo
Echoing similar views Wael El Behi general man-ger Ramada Downtown Dubai concluded ldquoDubai is one of the most sought-after travel destinations in the world The hospitality sector is getting bigger and better every year Hotels are coming up with innova-tive facilities to ensure guest satisfaction and a travel-ler has a wide range of hotels to choose from Most hotels have increased their efficiency and profitability levels which is commendable We hope to continue this success [hellip] With the growing hospitality sector a traveller will be enticed to visit the city againrdquo
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE
Besides the government and the tourism organisa-tionrsquos vigorous work Dubairsquos advanced air connec-tivity and excellent infrastructure have also played a vital part in the destinationrsquos unprecedented growth as Fawzi noted
ldquoAnother contributing factor is the airlift into the destination and the continued growth of Dubai In-ternational and the UAErsquos airlines including Emirates Etihad Airways and flydubai who have also seen phenomenal growth over the past few years bringing more and more people to the destination [who] will be looking for accommodationrdquo elaborated Fawzi
In fact with its strategic location on the global axis between East and West connecting the devel-oped and the developing world Dubai boasts access to over 25 billion people within a four-hour flight as Queitsch pinpointed
Dubairsquos geographic location makes it a major global hub for trade commerce and tourism a key competitive advantage for Emirates An increasing proportion of the traffic between Europe and Asia now flies through the Middle East and the airline ex-pects this share to further grow taking into consider-ation that Dubairsquos location also facilitates rising trade flows to and from India China and Africa three of the carrierrsquos strongest markets
In the financial year 2011-12 Emirates carried a total of 34 million passengers leading to an average load factor of 80 percent while for the first six months of the financial year ending September 30 2012 pas-senger volume reached 187 million marking a year-on-year increase of 154 percent
Over the last year Emiratesrsquo network has grown rapidly bringing new countries cultures and experi-ences for customers to explore and of course opening up new markets for Dubai Reflecting Emiratersquos ambi-tious expansion plans for the future the company cur-
18 ONSITE Palestine
MARCH 2013
Forging Ahead with Pride PALESTINE IN BRIEF
Administrative Centres
Ramallah Gaza
Accepted Currencies
US Dollar (USD) Jordanian Dollar (JOD)
Language Arabic
Palestine rich in culture deep in history blessed with holy sites and highly worthy of its popularity amongst all travellers alike is a des-tination which never seizes to amaze the world of travel and tourismI n 2012 Palestine witnessed an increase in the
number of inbound tourism by some 225 mil-lion visitors 18 percent higher than that record-ed in 2011 and this paved the way for a boost of 25 percent in overnight stays in hotels and
guesthouses across the country to reach 18 millionIn order to keep visitor levels high the Ministry
of Tourism and Antiquities together with stakehold-ers have implemented numerous projects in a bid to increase traffic to the region
One example is Jenin Tourist Center which is scheduled to open later this year and is set to add to the improvement of Jenin as a tourist destination to attract both local and international visitors with a fo-cus on the quality of the arearsquos residential life and the creation of economic opportunities through tourism
With Poland being heralded as the destinationrsquos second major feeder market in 2012 having welcomed 200000 Polish visitors throughout the year Palestine acted as a partner country for the first time in one of
the global renowned travel trade shows TOUR SALON Poland which gave the Middle Eastern country the opportunity to showcase itself to what is being recog-nised as one of the most promising markets
With regards to Palestinersquos vast selection of accommo-dation offerings the country provides an array of friendly and welcoming hospitality services and this is evident in the healthy performance results reported in 2012
Grand Park Hotel which opened towards the end of September 2012 after a USD13 million renovation transformed it into a five-star property from a four-star recorded 50 percent occupancy in the first six months in operation this according to Mohammed Zomlot general manager Grand Park Hotel
ldquoWe expect perfor-mance to be much bet-ter this year as the hotel is very well-known and guests now know we have had this renovation and want to come and see the new lookrdquo he added
With the majority of the hotelrsquos guests hail-ing from Palestine itself Europe America and the Middle East Zomlot pointed out that the ho-tel attends international conferences sets out marketing strategies and also participates in exhi-bitions in order to keep figures high and promote the hotel as a perfect choice for travellers
Further growing its presence in the region Grand Park Hotel is set to open two new hotels in Palestine in the second quarter of the year and is to be the first local ho-tel chain in the country
Thomas Brugnatelli general manager The American Colony Hotel also revealed the recent
completion of what he described as the spectacular Palm House building alongside other changes which came onboard to cater to the propertyrsquos main clien-tele 45 percent of which Brugnatelli revealed hailed from Europe mostly from France Italy Germany UK and Spain while the US segment claimed a 35 percent market share ldquoFor over a hundred years The American Colony Hotel has a proud reputation of one of the most exceptional and famous hotels in the Middle Eastrdquo he concluded
Royal Court Suites Hotel is yet another property which completed a solid 2012 in terms of business performance as Joseph Ayoub general manager Royal Court Suites Hotel announced who further indicated that with new additions to management and plans for further upgrades the hotel expects its performance to continue to improve into the future ldquoThe Royal Court Suites Hotel will be undergoing re-modeling to our lobby and outside terrace which we are excited forrdquo he expressed
Catering to MENA guests of which 20 percent make up the propertyrsquos entire clientele base who pre-dominantly come from Jordan as well as Palestine it-self the hotel provides a highly service-orientated staff and a location that puts MENA travellers in the heart of Ramallah close to its best attractions and provides them with the opportunity to experience a land sacred to Muslims and Christians boasting holy sites scattered across its land Further to local and regional travellers the hotel is also popular among international organisa-tions non-governmental segments and business trav-ellers arriving from Europe US and Japan
Commenting on the ways through which fel-low professionals can work to improve visitor arriv-als Ayoub advised ldquoHotel operators in Palestine can boost the countryrsquos tourism industry by running well managed operations that provide high quality ser-vice and up to date properties that are exposed to the outside world through proper marketingrdquo
This year also looks to be better than 2012 for Golden Park Resort during which the property wit-nessed average performance levels and occupancy rates of 55 percent among the Czechs Slovakians Indians Sri Lankans Nigerians Polish and Egyp-tians according to Ibrahim Giacamam general man-ager Golden Park Resort who announced changes throughout the hotel in the coming months
ldquoWe are renovating parts of the hotel to compete with local marketsrdquo he revealed adding that this will include a full renovation of the lobby as well as the rooms ldquoThere is competition from new hotels open-ing in Bethlehem thus we want to keep our guests happyrdquo Giacamam concluded
Dominique Christou writes
19TOURUK
MARCH 2013
Dominique Christou writes
A ccording to the latest World Travel amp Tourism Council Economic Impact report published in 2012 direct contribution of travel and tourism to the UKrsquos GDP in 2011 reached GBP35 billion (USD54 billion) 23
percent of the countryrsquos total GDP with a forecasted rise of 13 percent in 2012 and an annual increase of 41 percent over the next decade when the indus-try is estimated to be contributing GBP531 billion (USD81 billion) to the UKrsquos GDP in 2022
Patricia Yates director of strategy VisitBritain ex-pected 31 million inbound visits to the UK for 2012 giving the destination as Yates described a perfect foundation to see continued strong growth in interna-tional tourism for this year contributing revenue to the UK economy and creating new jobs across the country
VisitBritain recently ventured yet again into the GCC following the successful execution and delivery of the BritAgent online training programme in the UAE Saudi Arabia and Kuwait
Meticulously Personalised
UK IN BRIEF
Capital London
Currency British Pound (GBP)
Language English
The UK has long been an admired choice among MENA travellers highly accredited to the typically distin-guished English hospitality world-renowned shopping outlets quality selection of entertainment plethora of family activities and last but not least the overabundance of pictur-esque parks scattered across the country
The UK tourism boardrsquos global online training initia-tive which has been designed to meet the needs of travel trade lsquofront-linersrsquo from new starters to experienced sales personnel was recently launched in Qatar at the British Embassy Doha a programme which upon completion grants the agents with BritAgent status signifying their expertise and knowledge about travel to Britain
ldquoBritain is already a major beneficiary of outbound travel from the Gulfrdquo confirmed Sumathi Ramanathan regional manager Asia Pacific and Middle East Visit-Britain ldquoVisitors from the Gulf region are a major source of revenue for the UK from January to September 2012 these visitors spent nearly AED55 billion (USD15 billion) already showing a seven percent increase over 2011 From 2006 through to 2011 Qatar has shown an outstanding increase in visitor numbers of 59 percent and the spend per night significantly outshines all the other countriesrdquo Ramanathan added
Official figures released by VistBritain reveal that in 2012 the UK witnessed the best November since 2007 with visitation figures a soaring nine percent higher than 2011 keeping the country on track to reach the 31 million mark by end-2012
November 2012 saw healthy results from nearly all the regions in the world exempt the US accord-ing to the study which stated that the UK welcomed 10 percent more tourists from Europe and 12 percent from the rest of the world
20 TOUR UK
MARCH 2013
Yates expressed great satisfaction for this success stressing that 2012 was no ordinary year for inbound tourism so to announce the best November in five years is an achievement
AN AMPLE CHOICE
These healthy results are evident in the hotel sector across the country partially attributed to the relative-ly strong MENA market as Daniel Simmons execu-tive director HotelREZ noted further indicating that the hotel currently has a presence in Dubai and as a result is strategically developing the MENA markets to support the membersrsquo growth
o-y improvement from the top five Middle Eastern mar-kets a 104 percent y-o-y upsurge from Saudi Arabian visitors and a 33 percent y-o-y rise from UAE visitors
Assuring that the MENA guest is well-catering to London Hilton on Park Lane trains its staff to pro-vide the welcome that visitors from the region have come to expect equipping the team with the skills to handle tailored requests according to Brayshaw who elaborated ldquoThere is a dedicated guest relations teams for Middle Eastern guests with Arabic-speak-ing team members Facilities are available for visitorsrsquo private chefs to cook within the hotelsrsquo kitchens and serve their own dishes to their employer Arabic TV stations are also availablerdquo
BRINGING IN BUSINESS
Further boosting MENA tourism to the UK on March 31 British Airways (BA) will launch an additional four flights to and from Amman increasing the frequency from dai-ly to 11 per week ldquoJordan is an important market for Brit-ish Airways and we are thrilled with the excellent growth we have seen here since re-introducing Amman to our route network We are keen to further enhance our op-erations to and from Jordan and the announcement only consolidates our commitment to the Jordanian marketrdquo commented Paolo De Renzis area commercial manager Middle East and Central Asia BA
In addition Qatar Airways has launched its inau-gural long-haul Boeing 787 Dreamliner service on the Doha - London Heathrow route becoming the first airline to operate regular scheduled flights onboard the state-of-the art aircraft to and from the UK
Akbar Al Baker CEO Qatar Airways said ldquoThe Doha - Heathrow route is one of our most popular interna-tional routes and it was only fitting that we deploy our new 787 to and from Londonrdquo
INVESTING IN THE UK
Heathrow Airport is hailed as the most popular gateway for travellers to the UK recording a total of 518 million passengers having passed through its terminal in Janu-ary alone a record for the month which saw an increase of 03 percent over the corresponding month in 2012
Meanwhile load factors also set a record for the month under review up 21 percentage points on Janu-ary 2012 reaching 70 percent Domestic traffic was down 58 percent however European traffic rose 18 percent and Middle Eastern traffic also climbed the trajectory level by 33 percent over the same month in 2012
Moreover Heathrow Airport recently announced GBP3 billion (USD46 billion) worth of investments in the airport in addition to the GBP11 billion (USD168 billion) which has been invested since 2003 and these form part of the establishmentrsquos business plans for Q6 the regulatory period which covers 2014-2019 and they represent one of the largest private-sector investments in UK infrastructure
The plans include the completion of Terminal 2 and the early works on extending the building the development of a new integrated baggage system and the construction of new taxiways and stands which will allow Heathrow Airport to accommodate more of the most modern aircraft
Colin Matthews CEO Heathrow Airport com-mented ldquoHeathrow is the UKrsquos only hub airport and a strategically important national infrastructure asset Heathrow faces stiff competition from other Europe-an hubs and we must continue to improve the service we offers passengers and airlines [] Our plan for a further GBP3 billion (USD46 billion) of private-sector investment will further improve the airport for pas-sengers The plan represents good value for money for airlines and passengers and comes at no cost to taxpayersrdquo
Guests from the UAE Turkey Egypt Saudi Arabia and Kuwait along with Cyprus contributed to two percent of the hotelrsquos total reservations percentage results for 2012 this according to Simmons who also reported a 20 percent year-on-year (y-o-y) increase in revenue ldquoOur hotel members benefit from a 90 per-cent increase on IDS (Internet distribution services) and direct connect bookings a 35 percent increase on GDS (global distribution systems) bookings and a 60 percent growth on CRO (central reservations of-fices) and voice bookingsrdquo
Commenting on the propertyrsquos latest develop-ments Simmons revealed the recently-launched MICE Desk which he pinpointed is an additional solution to HotelREZrsquos member hotels and will help boost revenue
ldquoAt HotelREZ we are very confident that our new MICE Desk will raise awareness and continue to increase reservations for our hotel members from meetings incentives conventions and events pack-ages To complete the consumer booking cycle Ho-telREZ is launching REZanalyst a new social media and review analytics tool for hotels to help manage their online reputationrdquo he concluded
Also showing signs of strong performance is Lon-don Hilton on Park Lane thanks to the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympics whose international committee chose the property as the headquarter ho-tel this according to Ashleigh Brayshaw marketing and communications manager London Hilton on Park Lane
With one out of four of the hotelrsquos guests hailing from the MENA region Brayshaw pointed out that in 2011 the property witnessed particularly high growth in visitor numbers from the region with a 21 percent y-
Moreover the UK especially London offers a full range of activities according to Brayshaw who observed that the Middle Eastern guest is increasingly organised with the time spent in the capital and one who enjoys combining a variety of activities ldquoPopular activities in-clude sending children to summer schools in Regentrsquos Park attending business meetings visiting property shopping for the latest trends and enjoying the rich va-riety of entertainment that London has to offer Families often use managers to organise their time with London Hilton on Park Lanersquos hotel management working di-rectly with guests to assistrdquo she further noted
Moreover Travelodge one of the UKrsquos leading hotel brands is set to benefit from a GBP223 million (USD341 million) brand investment with the opening of 14 new hotels which includes two properties in Spain the creation of 420 new jobs and the launch-ing of a new room concept which has been designed by its customers ldquoThis capital expenditure will help us to grow our business strengthen our product offer-ing and make Travelodge the best value hotel chain in the UKrdquo Grant Hearn CEO Travelodge revealed
ldquoAs part of this yearrsquos investment we have worked with our customers to create a new Travelodge room which offers more comfort quality and stylerdquo he contin-ued adding that this enhanced product combined with economy pricing will ensure Travelodge is the smart choice for leisure and business travellers
Furthermore in order to help attract new custom-ers Travelodge is also investing over GBP12 million (USD 182 million) in digital and online marketing this year as well as over GBP1 million (USD15 million) in a website refresh later this year
London
22 EXCLUSIVE Luxury Travel
MARCH 2013
Living the DreamLuxury travel is all about mak-ing guests feel unique and privi-leged It is about offering them the chance to get to know the world in extravagance and having them live above the ordinary It is about spoiling them with opulent travel and hospitality services something which is without doubt growing in size and quality
I n late December 2012 the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) released its Travel Trends Report 2013 developed in collaboration with UKrsquos Foreign and Commonwealth Office pre-dicting that consumers will continue to look for
good value in breaks for this year rather than cut back on their holidays
Mark Tanzer CEO ABTA stated that the majority of British holidaymakers are reluctant to give up their annual holiday under any circumstances while strong forward bookings for the luxury and all-inclusive sec-tors are being witnessed
Speaking at the 2011 edition of the annual Interna-tional Luxury Travel Market (ILTM)rsquos Ultratravel Forum Chris Sanderson strategy and insight director The Future Laboratory a trend forecasting company had announced predictions stating that the lsquoluxuriansrsquo of the future would not be interested in too much choice ldquoThere is an en-hanced sense of just being todayrsquos luxury consumer rath-er than being surrounded by possessionsrdquo he explained
AUTHENTICALLY PRIVILIGED
Views corroborating Sandersonrsquos were voiced by John McGee research and communications manager Ar-tisans of Leisure a luxury travel company specialis-ing in exclusive customised private tours around the world McGee believes that the primary reason his customers travel is to get authentic experiences that introduce them to the local traditions and people while high-quality hotels encourage them to travel but are not primary incentives further pinpointing the latter as being the interest in experiencing local
culture cuisine history and lifestyle With reference to the Middle East McGee noted
that his agency is intrigued by places like Abu Dhabi and its considered approach to developing new mu-seums and cultural attractions
Defining the demands and needs of luxury trav-ellers as being genuine and local experiences Filip Boyen chief operating officer Orient-Express said ldquoFor luxury tourists travel is not just about lying on a beach or by the pool anymore It is about combining relaxation in a beautiful setting with learning and dis-covery They want to come away with an experience or having learnt something new that they can come home and tell their friends all aboutrdquo
Boyen added that the Middle East is relatively new to the world of tourism a place many will want to discover and consequently this will create a demand for luxury ho-tels already emerging in many parts of the region
Travellers who spend a lot of money for their trip expect and demand the best they need to be cared for in every step of the way while feeling confident that they are dealing with someone experienced to respond to their requests according to Daniel Essex CEO Century Travel who also explained that many luxury travellers are looking for something small and attentive and a much more personal approach
LET US SPOIL YOU
The growing number of luxury hotels and amenities has led to an increased interest with Canadian travel-lers to the Middle East according to Kathy Stewart director of media and public relations Butterfield amp Robinson a Toronto-based agency Aside from authen-ticity she stressed the importance of maintaining the unique qualities of the region for further development
into a luxury destination for global travellers ldquoEspecial-ly North Americans who are travelling a long distance to the Middle East they are not looking for the same experience they can get at home They want Middle Eastern food people landscapes and architecture to be an integral part of the experiencerdquo
Hotel Missoni Kuwait benefits from a healthy lux-ury-demanding domestic market which represents 55 percent of its business followed by Saudi Arabia with 13 percent and the UAE with 10 percent accord-ing to Alfio Bernardini general manager Hotel Mis-soni Kuwait who said ldquo[At the hotel] everything con-tributes to the depth of the experience Hotel Missoni is designed to be genuine and uncomplicated offer-ing those luxury touches that really matter because they genuinely enrich the experience of stayingrdquo
Six Senses Zighy Bay the indigenous village style accommodation in Oman has observed an increase of 12 percent in occupancy levels throughout 2012 while the growth of the Middle East clientele is appar-ent after the development of family-specific offerings attested Guillaume de Lasteyrie executive assistant manager Six Senses Zighy Bay He believes that peace and calm is the most appreciated value of the property while the hotelrsquos offerings are tempting for guests cit-ing the example of the saltwater pool carrying a min-eral composition of 15-20 percent comparable to the Dead Sea whose concentration is 27 percent
Another instance of Arab opulence is Eastern Man-groves Hotel amp Spa by Anantara in Abu Dhabi a prop-erty which assures that luxury is interrelated with in-dulgence across all of its services offered with an acute focus on detail which Nehme Darwiche hotel manag-er Eastern Mangroves Hotel amp Spa by Anantara report-ed is of utter importance Darwiche further supports that the Middle East will not only continue to develop as a luxury destination but will sit on the top of luxury ranks and become a pioneer in such offerings ldquoThe de-mand on luxury products will continue to increase as the tastes of sophisticated societies continues to reach new limits Luxury will not be in big numbers but will be in the power to obtain rarity the Middle East under-stands that very well and the developments planned
Maria Kazeli writes
Hotel Missoni Kuwait
23EXCLUSIVELuxury Travel
MARCH 2013
from now until 2020 have luxury travellers as their tar-getrdquo Darwiche concluded
An upcoming superior property in the region is Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah set to open in May Rudi Jagersbacher president Middle East and Africa Hilton Worldwide explained that the hotel as an up-scale property will have to deliver on two counts experiences and expectations Observing that travel behaviour has changed in the past years and placing emphasis on value for money he further noted ldquo[Wal-dorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah] is palatial exclusive and will offer the highest level of service as well as state-of-the-art amenities but that is not enough We have to ensure that our guests consider their experience as an investment worth repeating and sharingrdquo
The peak of extravagance is reached with a variety of private jet services throughout the region which cater for business and leisure travellers alike Mark Hardman op-erations director ExecuJet Middle East pointed out that the companyrsquos clientele is as diverse as the regionrsquos popu-lation but private aviation offers valued features such as time efficiency security privacy and convenience
He admitted that the most popular destinations for Dubai-based ExecuJet are in the Middle East with Riyadh Jeddah Beirut and Baghdad occupying the top spots while Geneva London and Nice are the favoured European hubs
Similarly Hardy Sohanpal director NasJet agreed that Middle East travellers use private jet services for efficiency flexibility and privacy while he accurately underlined that through emphasising the luxury ben-efits many private jet users build relationships with their key business contacts and staff by giving them access to private aircraft
ON THE RISE
Providing her own view Stewart reiterated that it is important not to overdevelop and retain authenticity of the Arab culture in the region
Along parallel lines Essex believes that the major-ity across the region always had the opinion that big is beautiful but this is not enough he further stressed as the industry professionals in the Middle East need to consider the boutique options However he lauded Abu Dhabirsquos development on Saadiyat Island and the introduction of cultural arts which he believes will at-tract the international and discerning travellers
Boyen deems that the region will experience ad-vancement and will emerge as a luxury destination something he attributes to improved air connectivity ldquoDefinitely with new airline routes from the Middle East launching all the time such as Etihad Airwaysrsquo new routes to Washington and Satildeo Paulo which are
launching this year the destination is bound to de-velop furtherrdquo he continued
Sharing the same opinion that the expansion of airlines and airports lead to such positive develop-ments Bernardini claimed that despite the fact that the Middle East will develop further to become a des-tination for high-calibre tourists not all countries in the region have the capacity and the stability to do so However he further explained a few hotspots will enjoy this blessing due to the money available in this part of the world which will result in the building of super high-quality hotels and thus attract a good number of luxury travellers
De Lasteyrie pointed out that even though the region was under the spotlight for some time the future will see even greater lavish suggestions and-maintaining that ldquoThe Middle East has been since years a luxury destination to the eyes of many though the pinnacle of luxury is yet to come Smaller and personalised service hotels and resorts from around the world are now willing to implement themselves in untouched locations creating a new momentum Much of the Middle East is still in the first tiers of luxu-ry based on opulent luxury and the glitz and glamour that first come with wealth We are now beginning to see affluent luxury and more distinguished spending on art collectibles and sustainabilityrdquo
24 SPECIAL REPORT Waterparks
MARCH 2013
In for a RideWaterparks are a popular attraction among locals and tourist in the Middle East With promising weather throughout most of the year waterparks offer visitors a fun family outing in addition to an array of promotions and events Travel Trade Monthly explores what makes waterparks the perfect attraction
F rom fun rides food and beverage outlets and retail offerings to gaming outlets and social events waterparks offer a safe fun and friendly environment for the family groups and events planners from all walks of life
Wild Wadi Waterpark Dubai is a good example whose team is committed to providing a fun-filled service that will make a lasting impression according to Chris Perry general manager Wild Wadi Waterpark who added that there is a major focus on using every opportunity to ensure that the guestsrsquo decision to visit is rewarded with plenty of time to play less time to queue and more time on the rides
Meanwhile Ice Land Water Park Ras Al Khaimah is receiving full promotional support from the emir-atersquos government and especially by its tourism body this according to Vagelyn Federico deputy director Ice Land Waterpark who added that it has been high-lighted as one of the major destinations in the UAE by all concerned tourism entities
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is the latest entry into the regionrsquos proliferating world of waterparks and accord-ing to Mike Oswald general manager Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi it rivals the worldrsquos best waterparks offering 43 rides slides and attractions ldquoIt has been an incredible journey to this point and unbelievably satisfying to watch the peoplersquos reaction to what has been created We are
support of the tourism body in Ras Al Khaimahrdquo Federico stated
In the summer major visitors to the waterpark hail from Asia as well as locally whereas during the winter months the CIS market plays a big role in pro-moting the park with its tourists in the UAE
In order to boost visitor arrivals to the waterpark Federico pointed out that during the winter the team is currently working for a family barbecue night with some other attractions to lure in more families
Moreover she indicated that the months ahead seem even more vibrant as she further demonstrated ldquoThis year will be more promising as we strengthened our ties with more travel operators inbound and out-bound Additionally we are currently working with dif-ferent airlines travel operators hotels and other tour-ism entities to promote Ice Land giving them also more benefits in promoting us to different market segmentsrdquo
Giving something more to visitors the water-parkrsquos team is currently working with skilled games and other dry rides for people to enjoy at the facility after park operations ldquoWe are also a preferred venue for concerts as we have the perfect place to accom-modate up to 6000 people in one area Ice Land Wa-ter Park is just one of the offerings of WOWRAK and we are currently working with other expansions such as resorts ice skating cinema complex hypermarket and other amusement activities which are planned to open in the next few yearsrdquo concluded Federico
Likewise Perry also announced continuous growth over the years for Wild Wadi Waterpark with 2012 prov-ing very successful He attributed this achievement to events such as ladies nights Ramadan nights and the new Jumeirah Sceirah which launched in September 2012 having proved to be a favourite amongst thrill seekers whereby one drops through a trap door from a height of 32m into the waiting water tunnel and races down the slide at 80km per hour
ldquoWe aim for this trend to continue this year as we have a variety of new attractive promotions and events to suit all our guestsrsquo needsrdquo Perry further in-formed ldquoWe also launched our online ticketing system this month to offer faster entry to our guestsrdquo he added guaranteeing guests with a faster entry process allow-ing all those with a printed ticket to jump the queue
Wild Wadi Waterpark is open all year round and ca-ters to guests from all over the world ldquoDuring the hot summer months (May-October) most of our guests come from the GCC countries whereby during the colder season (November-April) our guests are mainly from Europe
ldquoThe park is also a popular destination for UAE resi-dents since we periodically offer discounts to all resi-dents as well as annualseason passes that allow them to visit as many times as they want for a cheaper raterdquo he said
Perry also pointed out that during the month of May the waterpark offers its very popular family-only mornings every Friday at discounted rates so that they can enjoy the full facilities of the park when it is not too busy and of course when it is more safe and secure a factor which he assured is of the highest priority
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi
Dominique Christou writes
confident that people will have seen nothing like it before and we look forward to the waves of visitors expected to arrive now that the park is officially openrdquo
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi which inaugurated on January 19 is built around a central character named Dana whose crew won the battle in its quest to re-store a pearl to its rightful place which has ensured prosperity to the mythical Emirati village and marked what is expected to be a successful start to Yas Water-world Abu Dhabirsquos commercial operations
Set across 15ha on Yas Island the park offers thrills for the whole family and visitors will experience fun and adventure on rides and attractions such as the worldrsquos longest fastest tornado waterslide the regionrsquos first looping waterslide and the worldrsquos first interactive water and laser rollercoaster According to Oswald Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is expected to welcome a total of 700000 in its first year of operation
CALLING ALL THRILL SEEKERS
During 2012 waterparks across the region expe-rienced a healthy increase in visitors across a variety of markets
ldquoThe waterpark performed better in 2012 compared to our first year in 2011 when it comes to statistics in vari-ous nationalities locally and internationally through the
26 INVESTIGATION
MARCH 2013
Visiting Friends amp Relatives
Maria Kazeli writes
T he annual review for 2011 by the World Travel amp Tourism Council (WTTC) attributes social and cultural benefits to tourism indicating that the industry directly helps to keep or bring families and social networks together
With special regards to the visiting friends and relatives (VFR) segment the review supports that a significant proportion of all international trips which reaches up to a third of all arrivals for some large de-veloped markets are made in order to visit friends andor relatives
Globalisation has caused people to spread all over the globe but returning back home occasion-ally is a necessity The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) draws direct links between migration and travelling to visit relatives and in the 2009 Executive Summary entitled Tourism and Migration ndash Explor-
year in review which covers up to September 2012 reveals that the highest figures for the VFR segment appeared in January 2012 with 267 percent of 47610 incoming tourists being reported as VFR
Egyptrsquos outbound travel market linked to VFR oc-cupies a major part of business for travel agencies Feryal El Gohary general manager Bahi Travel ex-plained adding that almost half of the agencyrsquos cli-entele are VFR She also expressed the view that this market is a growing force for airlines and hoteliers alike while the latter she pinpointed will succeed only if they create a new strategy of very advanta-geous attractive long-stay offers
Tarek Moshref managing director Pronto Tours an Egypt-based tour operator supported that the VFR market is the third largest segment after holiday and business and for this reason local travel agents and operators should improve their services in order to capture and develop its potential by offering new options and programmes
Stressing the cost-driven aspect of the VFR mar-ket Adel Taha general manager leisure travel Kimidar Tours an Egyptian travel agency destination manage-ment company and ground handler said that VFR travellers aim at low travel expenditures in order to spend their money on leisure activities at the destina-tion and not on transportation With regards to the accommodation factor he added ldquoMost of the travel-lers whether leisure or VFR would tend to seek hotel accommodation in order to benefit from services pro-vided such as room cleaning and meals instead of self-served apartments However we can say they still seek low-cost accommodations with some specificationsrdquo
VFR IN THE SKIES
Commenting on the results of the British CAArsquos study Harry Bush group director economic regulation UK CAA had said that air travel played a key role in enabling peoplersquos relocating principally through the emergence of low-cost air travel and that the result-ing VFR passengers are increasingly important con-sumers of air travel According to an aviation analysis report by CAPA - Centre for Aviation a provider of independent aviation market intelligence the Mid-dle Eastern low-cost carriers are trying to adapt their model to the regional situation with their higher den-sity configurations targeting migrant workers and VFR traffic flows from North Africa and South Asia into the Gulf region
Major airlines have taken this trend into consid-eration and cater for this market by tailoring their offers Paolo De Renzis area commercial manager Middle East and Central Asia British Airways said ldquoThe VFR segment is extremely important to British Airways particularly in the Middle East where a large number of our customers are VFR travellers This is a region where families are extremely close and this tight-knit family culture means that we see a lot of VFR traffic across our Middle Eastern routes We also have a large expat community in the UAE which con-tributes significantly to this segmentrdquo
Unconventional TravellersMany prefer to spend their holiday visiting their friends and relatives in their home country if they are expa-triates or some other destination in order to spend time with their loved ones The focus of the travel is not cultural sightseeing and luxury ac-commodation but low airfare and budget lodgings
ing the Relationship between Two Global Phenomena compiled by UNWTO the two concepts are analysed by stressing that growth in international tourism and mobility has given rise to tourism-led migration with examples including the movement of male labourers from South Asia to meet the construction demands of the tourism boom in the UAE
The research states that migration has led directly and indirectly to significant growth in tourism to both origin and destination countries through increased visibility especially in the VFR sector and to the de-velopment of new tourism infrastructure and trans-port routes in and between countries
UKrsquos Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) also lays empha-sis on the importance of the specific market having published an in-depth study on air passengers visiting friends or family The investigation report titled Interna-tional Relations ndash The Growth in Air Travel to Visit Friends or Relatives indicated that the robust growth in VFR re-flected trends such as labour mobility and migration while predicting that due to these trends the countryrsquos GDP will affect future VFR passenger traffic
VISITING MENA
At the 6th UNWTOPacific Asia Travel Association Fo-rum on Tourism Trends and Outlook held in October 2012 in China it was revealed that 36 percent of the Middle Eastrsquos outbound market constitutes the VFR segment
Some insights on inbound VFR trends concern-ing the hotel industry in the region were provided by Darroch Crawford managing director Middle East and Africa Premier Inn Hotels who highlighted that this market is highly important but also very difficult to measure as bookings of this nature come through different channels His estimations on guests travel-ling to visit family members in the region and residing in Premier Inn properties amount to seven percent of the total clientele Crawford further indicated that the largest Middle Eastern feeder markets for the brand are Lebanon Syria and Jordan
Meanwhile in Saudi Arabia domestic tourism has been the primary focus of tourism development pol-icy in the Kingdom and according to Saudi Tourism Outlook issued by the Tourism Information and Re-search Centre part of Saudi Commission for Tourism amp Antiquities which analyses July 2012rsquos figures the local segment contributed to 114 million overnight trips in the month under review out of which 398 percent hailed from the VFR segment In addition 293 percent of the 171 million outbound trips taken from Saudi Arabia during July 2012 were categorised as the VFR market
The Statistical Service of Cyprus disclosed that ac-cording to the latest data available concerning Sep-tember 2012 the island received 335352 visitors out of which 97 percent were VFR The same data for the
28 WHOS MOVED
MARCH 2013
ANDREW ABRAM
KONSTANTINOS KOUROTSIDIS
Andrew Abram has been named general manager at Raffles Dubai Abram joins the propertyrsquos team from Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group where over the past dec-ade he has held various positions He joined the company in 2003 as resident manager of The Excelsior Hotel Hong Kong and went on to lead the renovation and reopen-ing of Mandarin Oriental Jakarta holding the role of general man-ager for eight years He most re-cently served as general manager
of Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhavi in Chiang Mai Thailand Having also held the position of corporate director of sales and marketing at Jumeirah Group in the Middle East where he was responsible for the branding and launching of several projects Abram brings an insiderrsquos knowl-edge to Raffles Dubai
Konstantinos Kourotsidis has been named general manager at Radisson Blu Martinez Hotel Beirut Kourotsidis started his career in the hospitality industry in 1996 in food and beverage at Copthorne Hotel Hanover In 2000 he joined The Rezidor Ho-tel Group where he held various positions across Europe and the Middle East including at Radis-son Blu Hotel Hanover Radission
Blu Hotel amp Spa Galway Radisson Blu Resort Schloss Fleesensee Radisson Blu Resort El Quseir Radisson Blu Hotel Alexandria and Radisson Blu Resort Sharjah After several task force assign-ments in Egypt Libya and UAE Kourotsidis was promoted to general manager at Radisson Blu Al Mahary Hotel Tripoli Most re-cently he worked as acting gen-eral manager at Radisson Blu Re-sort Fujairah
Abram brings an insiderrsquos knowledge to
Raffles Dubai
MARCH 2013
30 TRAVEL TALK
MARCH 2013
LEON SALINEL
WAEL EL BEHI
KARIM NAHAS
Executive assistant manager of sales and marketing Dusit Thani Dubai
General manager Ramada Downtown Dubai
General managar Rose Rayhaan by Rotana
ldquo2012 was a very successful year for us We were not only successful in meeting our key performance indicators most notably by exceeding both our gross operating profit and gross operating revenue Working with Inves-tors in People throughout the year also ensured that we performed highly in our employee satisfaction survey we even ranked at the top of our group in this regards [hellip] We are now drawing to a close on our rooms renovation and have just welcomed our new general manager so it is an exciting year to come for us which will see some changerdquo
ldquoI am very pleased to be appointed as executive board mem-ber [of the Tunisian Business Council] I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress in [the cur-rent year] I hope to play a part in creating strong community bound by camaraderie accord and reliance among Tunisian nationals in the UAErdquo
ldquo2012 was a record year for Rose Rayhaan total revenue growth was almost 17 percent versus 2011 [hellip] The hotel continued to focus on the GCC markets with the Saudi market on the top list and strong performance of the UK France and Russian markets were witnessed UAE local market in both leisure and corporate seg-ments also performed very well We are planning to fo-cus on new emerging markets like South Africa Brazil and Turkey Competition will be indeed stiffen this year however I guess there will be business for everybodyrdquo
I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress
TRAVEL TALK IS YOUR SPACE ndash 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
editorialtraveltradeweeklytravel
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el t
alk
is
y
our
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e
31RENDEZVOUS
MARCH 2013
Q amp A with Rana El KhouryWith her recent appointment Rana El Khoury general manager Le Gray Beirut became one of Lebanonrsquos first women to hold such a high position at a five-star hotel and here she shares her views on the future prospects of the Lebanese hotel sector
Rana El KhouryGeneral manager Le Gray Beirut
Travel Trade Monthly How would you describe 2012 in a few words Rana El Khoury The best way to describe 2012 would certainly be lsquochallengingrsquo a challenge that could be called survival until we see better days Controlling costs while maintaining superior ser-vice quality and competitiveness is key to our con-tinuous success in the Lebanese market The hotel performance could be rated as fair for 2012 greatly impacted by high level of business during the first five months of the year This has allowed us to stay ahead of the game for the remainder of the year although November 2012 was the toughest month since the opening of the hotel in 2009 Despite all Le Gray has managed in 2012 to retain its number one position in occupancy and RevPAR in the Leba-nese market
Travel Trade Monthly The hotel will soon em-bark on a major extension project Tell us a little bit about this
Rana El Khoury Le Gray is preparing to kick off its extension that will include a larger lobby with a lob-by lounge a chocolate room banquet space a 35-seat movie theatre and an additional 18 rooms The project should reach completion by end of 2014
Travel Trade Monthly Prior to your appoint-ment you served as hotel manager How does your new position differ from your former role
Rana El Khoury My previous position as hotel manager was focused on the operations aspect of the hotel as general manager my responsibilities enclose a more general view of the hotel including the administrative and strategic side of the hotel as well as the link between the owning company and management company
My priorities for the coming year is diversify-ing our target markets on the international and local scene to maximise hotel occupancy and to strengthen the positioning of Le Gray on the lo-cal market as a destination for its restaurants and bars whilst building on the existing strong team at Le Gray and getting the right people together to move forward with positivity and vigilance to counter these challenging times
The advice I would give young women ready to climb the corporate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the dif-ferent positions they fill throughout their careers
Travel Trade Monthly Your appointment makes you one of the first Lebanese women to hold this position at a five-star hotel How challenging is it to hold such a high position at an already well-established hotel
Rana El Khoury The hospitality industry is very challenging and requires sacrifice on all levels What I can say is that women have their own speci-ficity and they can bring a different vision and new perspectives to the hospitality business The advice I would give young women ready to climb the cor-porate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the different positions they fill throughout their careers this can only make them stronger and certainly more cred-ible when they reach executive level positions
Travel Trade Monthly Over the past few years the Lebanese tourism industry has faced a num-ber of serious challenges What are your expec-tations for the current year Rana El Khoury Lebanon has always been a pre-ferred destination attracting tourists from the Arab and Gulf countries and with increasing stability and security we do see a solid recovery
Given the complexity of the Lebanese market improvement can occur overnight As seen in May 2008 following the Doha-agreement occupancy rates jumped back then from 30 to 90 percent within one week
This year remains uncertain due to the volatil-ity of the political situation in the region the key is to remain sustainable and be ready for the sudden surge in business
Le Gray Beirut
32 NEWS amp EVENTS
MARCH 2013
EVENTS Sponsored by
Following a refurbishment to better present the historical phases of the emiratersquos auto manu-facturing sector Sharjah Classic Cars Museum originally launched in 2008 by HH Sheikh Sul-tan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi ruler of Sharjah reopened in January by Sheikh Essam bin Saqr Al Qassimi chairman Sharjah rulerrsquos office
On the opening day of the event Manal Ataya director general Sharjah Museums Department said ldquoThe aim of refurbishing this museum was to allow us to re-evaluate the previous design and interpretation and improve it significantlyrdquo
She further pointed out that the museum now helps visitors to appreciate the aesthetic and historical value of classic cars in a space that inte-grates a new childrens interactive area and a gal-lery space for temporary exhibitions
The museum boasts 85 classic cars two mo-torcycles and five bicycles as well as a model of an old car and an engine to allow visitors to familiarise themselves with parts of an engine and their function while it is divided into five sections and features an area for activities and interactive games
Following the launch of the UAE branch of the Airline Owners and Pi-lotsrsquo Association (AOPA) at Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2012 Yousif Al Hammadi president AOPA UAE has invited representatives from international AOPA branches to attend a workshop dedicated to discussing and debating gen-eral aviation issues in the region
The meeting the first of its kind will run parallel to this yearrsquos Abu Dhabi Air Expo and will take place at the Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies Al Bateen Executive Airport on March 6
It is anticipated that up to 30 representatives from AOPA US AOPA UK AOPA Germany and AOPA France will meet with their colleagues from the UAE during the one-day event to share knowledge and debate a variety of topics including air space regulations aerial non-commercial operations certification and maintenance issues and pilot licensing
AOPA members will also be able to maximise their time by attending the Air Expo exhibition the Middle Eastrsquos only dedicated general aviation event to meet pilots from the region and learn about the latest trends
Sharjah Reopens Car Museum AOPA UAE to Hold Meeting with International Colleagues
ITB BerlinBerlin Germany March 6 ndash 10 2013(wwwitb-berlinde)A business-to-business platform for trade visitors which provides the possibility to discover the whole world within a few hours
MITT MoscowMoscow Russia March 20 ndash 23 2013(wwwmittru)Russiarsquos leading and largest travel exhibition with over 3000 participat-ing companies and 197 destinations a key meeting place for industry professionals
The Gulf Incentive Business Travel amp Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) Abu Dhabi UAE March 25 ndash 27 2013(wwwgibtmcom)A leading event for the meetings incentives and business travel industry in the GCC region which can truly unlock all participantsrsquo business potential
Saudi Travel amp Tourism Investment Market (STTIM)Riyadh Saudi Arabia March 31 ndash April 4 2013(wwwsttimcomsa)The event covers all travel and tourism investments aspects in the Kingdom through a combined conference and exhibition
International Destination Expo (IDE)Dubai UAE April 4 ndash 7 2013(wwwastaorgevents)Organised by the American Society of Travel Agents IDE is a destination training programme where participants can meet local suppliers and built profitable long-lasting relationships
Arabian Travel Market (ATM)Dubai UAE May 6 ndash 9 2013(wwwarabiantravelmarketcom)The travel and tourism event unlocking business potential within the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals
Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies
12 EXPLORE Dubai
MARCH 2013
Beach Residence and Ramada Sharjah attributed the over and above expectations performance to the col-lective result of various actions including political well-crafted initiatives
Praising the government and the tourism bodyrsquos continuous efforts Rupprecht Queitsch general man-ager JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai the worldrsquos tallest hotel at 355m said ldquoDTCM works very hard to raise the profile of Dubai as a destination for the con-vention business and leisure business and we work closely with them on these campaigns and sales tripsrdquo
Fawzi further added ldquo[The government along with DTCM] provide a lot of support to the hospital-ity industry through joint promotions sales and mar-keting initiatives and partnerships The government has positioned Dubai as one of the most sought-after destinations worldwide that has so much to offer and as a result demand for the destination continued to grow steadilyrdquo
TURNING AMBITION INTO ACTION
Just in a single generation Dubairsquos population has grown from just 10000 at the turn of the last century to over two million comprising more than 200 nation-alities by 2011 creating a characteristic destination of vibrant cultures and vivid contracts Demonstrating
the emiratersquos growing significance on regional and global levels everyday at present an average of three million people spend their day in Dubai including workers residing in other emirates and travellers visit-ing the destination on business or for pleasure
As Husseim Hachem cluster general manager Al Bustan and Al Murooj Rotana Dubai observed the emirate has consistently made its strong mark as one of the top destinations all over the world bolstered by widespread efforts of both the public and the pri-vate sector aimed at establishing Dubai as a desired place in every aspect
ldquoFirst the government is doing a great job in promoting the city internationally and secondly dif-ferent industries like hospitality travel tourism and more are working hand in hand to provide the best experiences to tourists and residents alike In addition to these factors Dubai as a city itself is a wonderful place with really nice peoplerdquo Hachem stressed
In fact Dubairsquos visionary leadership has long identified tourism as a central pillar of its economic diversification strategy hence the multi-billion dollar investments into the industry and related sectors in-cluding infrastructure transportation as well as pub-lic services have turned the emirate not only into a tourist hotspot but also into one of the best places to live in the MENA region topping the regional ranking
of Mercerrsquos rsquoQuality of Livingrsquo poll In addition the ease of doing business the close
proximity to key growth markets the centralised time zone best suited to both eastern and western busi-ness hours and the emiratersquos safe family-friendly and multicultural environment have all become a major draw for skilled professionals Consequently numer-ous multinational companies have chosen to set up their regional headquarters in Dubai making it a hub for trade and commerce and the number one desti-nation in the region for foreign direct investment
ldquoDubai continues to cement itself as a prime hub in terms of international businessrdquo confirmed Leon Salinel executive assistant manager sales and mar-keting Dusit Thani Dubai who explained that with its location in the Dubai International Financial Centre and in close proximity to Dubai World Trade Centre and the Dubai International Convention amp Exhibition Centre the hotel enjoys high and in fact growing guest volume from the corporate sector
ldquoHowever it is not just business travellers visit-ing the emiraterdquo Salinel stressed ldquoDubai remains a hotspot for leisure travellers it is the Las Vegas of the Middle East and somewhere people want to experi-ence at least once in their lifetimerdquo
Reflecting Dubairsquos dual appeal Robert Barker general manager Moumlvenpick Hotel amp Apartments
14 EXPLORE Dubai
MARCH 2013
Bur Dubai described Dubai as the Hong Kong of the Middle East adding that the unique model that has been created in the emirate and which continues to evolve with the ongoing reinvestment and planning is set to ensure Dubairsquos success and prosperity in the long-term
ENTERING NEW ERAS
Dubai started the new year on a high with a record 17 million visitors attending the Downtown Dubai New Yearsrsquo Eve Gala exceeding the reported attend-ance of one million at the world famous Times Square celebrations in New York City
The destinationrsquos abundant entertainment and amusement options coupled with its vast retail port-folio has long become a vital part of its appeal with Dubai Mall welcoming over 62 million visitors in 2012 and as a market research conducted by Reed Travel Exhibitions has revealed since the beginning of the year some 48 percent of the emiratersquos hotels were
Ocean View Hotel JA Resorts amp Hotels
Bluewaters Island project located off the Jumeirah Beach Residence coastline is envisaged to become one of the largest tourist hot spots in the world fea-turing demarcated retail residential hospitality and entertainment zones as well as the worldrsquos largest Ferris wheel at 210m named Dubai Eye
With construction due to commence in April the destination is set to further improve Dubairsquos competi-tiveness on the global stage as Abdullah Al Habbai chairman Meraas Holding the developer of the pro-ject suggested ldquoWe have a clear mission and vision to strengthen Dubairsquos global position in the tourism sec-tor This project will continue to build on the emiratersquos reputation as leaders in the global entertainment and retail landscaperdquo
Another megaproject Mohamed Bin Rashid City hailed as a city within the city is expected to set new benchmarks in urban development in the region Comprising four components the project will create an integrated environment for the development of entrepreneurship and innovation and will feature a
myriad of record-breaking leisure and entertainment options including a park 30 percent bigger than Londonrsquos Hyde Park designed to receive 35 million visitors per annum as well as the largest family cen-tre for leisure and entertainment in the region set up in collaboration with Universal Studios that will also include over 100 hotel facilities further to the largest arts gallery in the region and the worldrsquos largest retail complex Mall of the World
ldquoThe current facilities available in Dubai need to be scaled up in line with the future ambitions for the cityrdquo emphasised HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum ruler of Dubai remarking on the vital role of such projects in the emiratersquos Vision 2030 and boosting the UAE economy in order to enable it to enter a new era in which it will become the capital of entrepreneurship arts culture and family tourism for over two billion people
In fact the tourism sector in Dubai is growing by 13 percent annually and the accelerated growth rates require the emirate to prepare all sectors for the
future as passenger volume at Dubai International is set to surpass 90 million people per annum over the next five years ldquoOur development initiatives concern-ing infrastructure in all sectors should be aligned with this growth rate and we have the determination to reach our objectives and be the first in the region to achieve themrdquo concluded Al Maktoum
THE MANY FACES OF DUBAI
As a result of the joint efforts and heavy investments over the past decades Dubairsquos hospitality sector has utterly transformed according to David Thomson chief operating officer JA Resorts amp Hotels ldquoSince 2003 the emiratersquos hotel and hospitality sector has boomed launched new niche products developed new feeder markets and roared ahead with new vig-our after the slowdown of 20092010rdquo he said adding that today Dubai is considered a must-see destina-tion for many more reasons than just shopping and going to the beach which as Thomson stressed is vital for the sectorrsquos future growth
Echoing similar views Habib Khan CEO Planet Hospitality stated that people visiting Dubai can be segregated into three major categories namely lei-sure business and transients
ldquoWithin the leisure we have categorised the guests into travellers who come to witness the dra-matic achievements and modernisation of Dubai [hellip] whereas there are a smaller number but its rapidly growing of those intellectuals educational groups and individuals who seek better understanding of the Emirati and Arabic culturerdquo
Further commenting on the shifting trends Rose Ann Shetty CEO Galavantor which caters to a new generation of responsible travellers noted ldquoThe gov-ernment continues to invest and develop wonderful local and cultural experiences and while Dubairsquos focus continues to be a shopping and leisure destination the type of travellers has changed they are willing to stay longer and experience morerdquo Shetty explained adding that desert horseback riding Bedouin camp-ing trekking and rock climbing are continuously gaining popularity
In a bid to exploit another niche segment medi-cal and wellness tourism DTCM has recently teamed up with the Dubai Health Authority to promote Dubai as a premier medical destination capitalising on the emiratersquos advanced healthcare system and highly-skilled professors
ldquoWe are working to promote the medical tour-ism in Dubai since Dubai has an excellent infrastruc-ture modern hospitals and clinics offering a variety of medical [services] to visitors in search of quality health carerdquo explained Eyad Abdul Rahman execu-tive director media relations and business develop-ment DTCM
DTCM is also actively seeking ways to unleash the immerse potential of the burgeoning cruise tourism sector and secure its long-term growth by participat-ing in various international exhibitions with the aim of attracting more cruise liners
located within a 2km radius of one of the five mega-shopping malls of Dubai
Despite the stiffening competition hotels located in close proximity to shopping complexes continue to thrive as Fawzi confirmed revealing that 2012 proved to be one of the most successful years for the property since it opened seven years ago ldquoAs a city hotel Kem-pinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates offers a truly unique proposition which is well-liked by travellers from the Arab region What we add to Dubairsquos hospitality scene is a destination with entertainment for the whole fam-ily there is Ski Dubai and the new Penguin Encounter experience a great selection of dining options a cin-ema one of Dubairsquos most popular malls and a com-munity theatre all in one location that is literally on the doorstep of the hotelrdquo Fawzi further explained
In spite of the already overwhelming number of attractions in a quest to spur demand and support Dubairsquos bid to host the World Expo 2020 the emirate is forging ahead with a number of new megaprojects The recently approved AED6 billion (USD16 billion)
16 EXPLORE Dubai
MARCH 2013
Commenting on the strong economic fundamen-tals of the emirate and the breadth and unparalleled diversity of Dubairsquos tourism product Moussa El Hayek chief operating officer Al Bustan Centre amp Residence said ldquo[One of the] main reasons behind the prosperity in Dubai is the advanced infrastructure that tourists can enjoy here including luxurious hotels and restau-rants transportation malls entertainment venues parks furthermore security iconic buildings and to some extent the flexibility of the rulesrdquo
rently has 204 aircraft on order at a value USD73 billion Likewise as the second-largest airline operating
out of Dubai International flydubairsquos fast-paced ex-pansion has been a key catalyst in the emiratersquos un-precedented growth In the past two years the airline has more than doubled the number of destinations it flies to from 25 to over 50 a rate of more than one new destination per month and has increased its weekly services to over 1000
Since its inception the low-cost carrier which
served more than 51 million passengers in 2012 has laid great emphasis on connecting Dubai with fast-developing and previously untapped markets opening up new opportunities for travel and trade in emerging markets such as the CIS and Eastern Eu-rope in general In 2012 more than 40 percent of fly-dubairsquos route development concentrated on Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the CIS countries
ldquoWe have seen great demand on our routes within the CIS and CEE as more people seek afford-able fares and direct flights between Dubai and this regionrdquo informed Ghaith Al Ghaith CEO flydubai In addition today flydubai welcomes passengers to Dubai and beyond through its connecting flights to the Maldives Sri Lanka and other destinations
As a matter of fact in 2012 Russia and the CIS proved to be the second fastest expanding market in terms of passenger growth behind South America figures released by Dubai Airports have shown and Al Ghaith revealed a similar trend attesting that the car-rierrsquos total number of flights to the CIS and CEE network was 45 percent higher between October 2011 and Sep-tember 2012 compared to the previous 12 months
ldquoWe operated 109 percent more flights in the region in September 2012 compared to September 2011 illustrating the demand for travel between the nationsrdquo added Al Ghaith ldquoWe are constantly look-ing for new opportunities Our approach is to target destinations within a five-and-a-half hour radius of Dubai which puts us within reach of more than 25 billion people one third of the worldrsquos populationrdquo
Remarking on the airlinesrsquo major role in Dubairsquos development El Hayek highlighted ldquoFlight frequency to different cities all over the world made Dubai the hub of the world as Emirates flydubai and Air Ara-bia have all launched various routes to different cities while other lsquogiantrsquo airlines moved their operations to Dubai due to the advanced infrastructure and the ex-cellent services provided by Dubai Internationalrdquo
In line with the airlinesrsquo expansion strategy hotel-iers are increasingly focusing on reaching out to these new markets including the CIS and Russia which Shaff Butt director of marketing and communication Jumeirah Beach Hotel already listed among the ho-telrsquos key feeder markets
Besides the traditionally strong GCC and Europe-an markets mainly the UK and the German speaking countries demand from the CIS nations also contin-ues to be strong as Siddiqi explained
Reporting similar trends Salinel added ldquoThe GCC has always been a primary source market and has remained strong over the past few years Other source markets which have begun to show significant growth for us as a hotel [are] within the CIS region and Asian marketsrdquo
Butt further added ldquoOver the past few years we are seeing continued positive results from our main key markets such as Europe which continues to show good numbers as well as the GCC and wider Middle East For this year our main focus is the CIS market and we would also like to target Asia and Af-rica since we are getting good pick up as well as more repeat guests each yearrdquo
Nahas listed South Africa Brazil and Turkey among Rose Rayhaan by Rotanarsquos target emerging markets while others including Barker remarked on the growing demand from Far Eastern countries and mainly China
Likewise Hachem noted that China India and the rest of Asia have also started to make up for a big chunk of Al Bustan and Al Murooj Rotana Dubairsquos cli-entele while Aouad also added South America to the list of the markets lsquoto watchrsquo for Radisson Royal Hotel Dubai and Radisson Blu Resort Fujairah
Mohamed Taher director of sales and marketing Traders Hotel Dubai listed a number of emerging markets which hold great potential including the Middle East Africa Southeast Asia Australia Scandi-navia Algeria as well as Serbia
The constantly strong business levels from these markets set to balance demand with supply noted Taherw who anticipates a rise in both rates and over-all business levels ldquoDemand will offset the growth in the increased room inventories with more exhibitions being held in the city as well as the increased air traf-fic with the expansion of the airportrdquo
Hachem further added ldquoThis is admittedly a chal-lenging year as the markets get more and more pen-etrated In addition 2012 had been great which adds more pressure to the industry in general to maintain and exceed the previous achievementsrdquo
Echoing similar views Wael El Behi general man-ger Ramada Downtown Dubai concluded ldquoDubai is one of the most sought-after travel destinations in the world The hospitality sector is getting bigger and better every year Hotels are coming up with innova-tive facilities to ensure guest satisfaction and a travel-ler has a wide range of hotels to choose from Most hotels have increased their efficiency and profitability levels which is commendable We hope to continue this success [hellip] With the growing hospitality sector a traveller will be enticed to visit the city againrdquo
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE
Besides the government and the tourism organisa-tionrsquos vigorous work Dubairsquos advanced air connec-tivity and excellent infrastructure have also played a vital part in the destinationrsquos unprecedented growth as Fawzi noted
ldquoAnother contributing factor is the airlift into the destination and the continued growth of Dubai In-ternational and the UAErsquos airlines including Emirates Etihad Airways and flydubai who have also seen phenomenal growth over the past few years bringing more and more people to the destination [who] will be looking for accommodationrdquo elaborated Fawzi
In fact with its strategic location on the global axis between East and West connecting the devel-oped and the developing world Dubai boasts access to over 25 billion people within a four-hour flight as Queitsch pinpointed
Dubairsquos geographic location makes it a major global hub for trade commerce and tourism a key competitive advantage for Emirates An increasing proportion of the traffic between Europe and Asia now flies through the Middle East and the airline ex-pects this share to further grow taking into consider-ation that Dubairsquos location also facilitates rising trade flows to and from India China and Africa three of the carrierrsquos strongest markets
In the financial year 2011-12 Emirates carried a total of 34 million passengers leading to an average load factor of 80 percent while for the first six months of the financial year ending September 30 2012 pas-senger volume reached 187 million marking a year-on-year increase of 154 percent
Over the last year Emiratesrsquo network has grown rapidly bringing new countries cultures and experi-ences for customers to explore and of course opening up new markets for Dubai Reflecting Emiratersquos ambi-tious expansion plans for the future the company cur-
18 ONSITE Palestine
MARCH 2013
Forging Ahead with Pride PALESTINE IN BRIEF
Administrative Centres
Ramallah Gaza
Accepted Currencies
US Dollar (USD) Jordanian Dollar (JOD)
Language Arabic
Palestine rich in culture deep in history blessed with holy sites and highly worthy of its popularity amongst all travellers alike is a des-tination which never seizes to amaze the world of travel and tourismI n 2012 Palestine witnessed an increase in the
number of inbound tourism by some 225 mil-lion visitors 18 percent higher than that record-ed in 2011 and this paved the way for a boost of 25 percent in overnight stays in hotels and
guesthouses across the country to reach 18 millionIn order to keep visitor levels high the Ministry
of Tourism and Antiquities together with stakehold-ers have implemented numerous projects in a bid to increase traffic to the region
One example is Jenin Tourist Center which is scheduled to open later this year and is set to add to the improvement of Jenin as a tourist destination to attract both local and international visitors with a fo-cus on the quality of the arearsquos residential life and the creation of economic opportunities through tourism
With Poland being heralded as the destinationrsquos second major feeder market in 2012 having welcomed 200000 Polish visitors throughout the year Palestine acted as a partner country for the first time in one of
the global renowned travel trade shows TOUR SALON Poland which gave the Middle Eastern country the opportunity to showcase itself to what is being recog-nised as one of the most promising markets
With regards to Palestinersquos vast selection of accommo-dation offerings the country provides an array of friendly and welcoming hospitality services and this is evident in the healthy performance results reported in 2012
Grand Park Hotel which opened towards the end of September 2012 after a USD13 million renovation transformed it into a five-star property from a four-star recorded 50 percent occupancy in the first six months in operation this according to Mohammed Zomlot general manager Grand Park Hotel
ldquoWe expect perfor-mance to be much bet-ter this year as the hotel is very well-known and guests now know we have had this renovation and want to come and see the new lookrdquo he added
With the majority of the hotelrsquos guests hail-ing from Palestine itself Europe America and the Middle East Zomlot pointed out that the ho-tel attends international conferences sets out marketing strategies and also participates in exhi-bitions in order to keep figures high and promote the hotel as a perfect choice for travellers
Further growing its presence in the region Grand Park Hotel is set to open two new hotels in Palestine in the second quarter of the year and is to be the first local ho-tel chain in the country
Thomas Brugnatelli general manager The American Colony Hotel also revealed the recent
completion of what he described as the spectacular Palm House building alongside other changes which came onboard to cater to the propertyrsquos main clien-tele 45 percent of which Brugnatelli revealed hailed from Europe mostly from France Italy Germany UK and Spain while the US segment claimed a 35 percent market share ldquoFor over a hundred years The American Colony Hotel has a proud reputation of one of the most exceptional and famous hotels in the Middle Eastrdquo he concluded
Royal Court Suites Hotel is yet another property which completed a solid 2012 in terms of business performance as Joseph Ayoub general manager Royal Court Suites Hotel announced who further indicated that with new additions to management and plans for further upgrades the hotel expects its performance to continue to improve into the future ldquoThe Royal Court Suites Hotel will be undergoing re-modeling to our lobby and outside terrace which we are excited forrdquo he expressed
Catering to MENA guests of which 20 percent make up the propertyrsquos entire clientele base who pre-dominantly come from Jordan as well as Palestine it-self the hotel provides a highly service-orientated staff and a location that puts MENA travellers in the heart of Ramallah close to its best attractions and provides them with the opportunity to experience a land sacred to Muslims and Christians boasting holy sites scattered across its land Further to local and regional travellers the hotel is also popular among international organisa-tions non-governmental segments and business trav-ellers arriving from Europe US and Japan
Commenting on the ways through which fel-low professionals can work to improve visitor arriv-als Ayoub advised ldquoHotel operators in Palestine can boost the countryrsquos tourism industry by running well managed operations that provide high quality ser-vice and up to date properties that are exposed to the outside world through proper marketingrdquo
This year also looks to be better than 2012 for Golden Park Resort during which the property wit-nessed average performance levels and occupancy rates of 55 percent among the Czechs Slovakians Indians Sri Lankans Nigerians Polish and Egyp-tians according to Ibrahim Giacamam general man-ager Golden Park Resort who announced changes throughout the hotel in the coming months
ldquoWe are renovating parts of the hotel to compete with local marketsrdquo he revealed adding that this will include a full renovation of the lobby as well as the rooms ldquoThere is competition from new hotels open-ing in Bethlehem thus we want to keep our guests happyrdquo Giacamam concluded
Dominique Christou writes
19TOURUK
MARCH 2013
Dominique Christou writes
A ccording to the latest World Travel amp Tourism Council Economic Impact report published in 2012 direct contribution of travel and tourism to the UKrsquos GDP in 2011 reached GBP35 billion (USD54 billion) 23
percent of the countryrsquos total GDP with a forecasted rise of 13 percent in 2012 and an annual increase of 41 percent over the next decade when the indus-try is estimated to be contributing GBP531 billion (USD81 billion) to the UKrsquos GDP in 2022
Patricia Yates director of strategy VisitBritain ex-pected 31 million inbound visits to the UK for 2012 giving the destination as Yates described a perfect foundation to see continued strong growth in interna-tional tourism for this year contributing revenue to the UK economy and creating new jobs across the country
VisitBritain recently ventured yet again into the GCC following the successful execution and delivery of the BritAgent online training programme in the UAE Saudi Arabia and Kuwait
Meticulously Personalised
UK IN BRIEF
Capital London
Currency British Pound (GBP)
Language English
The UK has long been an admired choice among MENA travellers highly accredited to the typically distin-guished English hospitality world-renowned shopping outlets quality selection of entertainment plethora of family activities and last but not least the overabundance of pictur-esque parks scattered across the country
The UK tourism boardrsquos global online training initia-tive which has been designed to meet the needs of travel trade lsquofront-linersrsquo from new starters to experienced sales personnel was recently launched in Qatar at the British Embassy Doha a programme which upon completion grants the agents with BritAgent status signifying their expertise and knowledge about travel to Britain
ldquoBritain is already a major beneficiary of outbound travel from the Gulfrdquo confirmed Sumathi Ramanathan regional manager Asia Pacific and Middle East Visit-Britain ldquoVisitors from the Gulf region are a major source of revenue for the UK from January to September 2012 these visitors spent nearly AED55 billion (USD15 billion) already showing a seven percent increase over 2011 From 2006 through to 2011 Qatar has shown an outstanding increase in visitor numbers of 59 percent and the spend per night significantly outshines all the other countriesrdquo Ramanathan added
Official figures released by VistBritain reveal that in 2012 the UK witnessed the best November since 2007 with visitation figures a soaring nine percent higher than 2011 keeping the country on track to reach the 31 million mark by end-2012
November 2012 saw healthy results from nearly all the regions in the world exempt the US accord-ing to the study which stated that the UK welcomed 10 percent more tourists from Europe and 12 percent from the rest of the world
20 TOUR UK
MARCH 2013
Yates expressed great satisfaction for this success stressing that 2012 was no ordinary year for inbound tourism so to announce the best November in five years is an achievement
AN AMPLE CHOICE
These healthy results are evident in the hotel sector across the country partially attributed to the relative-ly strong MENA market as Daniel Simmons execu-tive director HotelREZ noted further indicating that the hotel currently has a presence in Dubai and as a result is strategically developing the MENA markets to support the membersrsquo growth
o-y improvement from the top five Middle Eastern mar-kets a 104 percent y-o-y upsurge from Saudi Arabian visitors and a 33 percent y-o-y rise from UAE visitors
Assuring that the MENA guest is well-catering to London Hilton on Park Lane trains its staff to pro-vide the welcome that visitors from the region have come to expect equipping the team with the skills to handle tailored requests according to Brayshaw who elaborated ldquoThere is a dedicated guest relations teams for Middle Eastern guests with Arabic-speak-ing team members Facilities are available for visitorsrsquo private chefs to cook within the hotelsrsquo kitchens and serve their own dishes to their employer Arabic TV stations are also availablerdquo
BRINGING IN BUSINESS
Further boosting MENA tourism to the UK on March 31 British Airways (BA) will launch an additional four flights to and from Amman increasing the frequency from dai-ly to 11 per week ldquoJordan is an important market for Brit-ish Airways and we are thrilled with the excellent growth we have seen here since re-introducing Amman to our route network We are keen to further enhance our op-erations to and from Jordan and the announcement only consolidates our commitment to the Jordanian marketrdquo commented Paolo De Renzis area commercial manager Middle East and Central Asia BA
In addition Qatar Airways has launched its inau-gural long-haul Boeing 787 Dreamliner service on the Doha - London Heathrow route becoming the first airline to operate regular scheduled flights onboard the state-of-the art aircraft to and from the UK
Akbar Al Baker CEO Qatar Airways said ldquoThe Doha - Heathrow route is one of our most popular interna-tional routes and it was only fitting that we deploy our new 787 to and from Londonrdquo
INVESTING IN THE UK
Heathrow Airport is hailed as the most popular gateway for travellers to the UK recording a total of 518 million passengers having passed through its terminal in Janu-ary alone a record for the month which saw an increase of 03 percent over the corresponding month in 2012
Meanwhile load factors also set a record for the month under review up 21 percentage points on Janu-ary 2012 reaching 70 percent Domestic traffic was down 58 percent however European traffic rose 18 percent and Middle Eastern traffic also climbed the trajectory level by 33 percent over the same month in 2012
Moreover Heathrow Airport recently announced GBP3 billion (USD46 billion) worth of investments in the airport in addition to the GBP11 billion (USD168 billion) which has been invested since 2003 and these form part of the establishmentrsquos business plans for Q6 the regulatory period which covers 2014-2019 and they represent one of the largest private-sector investments in UK infrastructure
The plans include the completion of Terminal 2 and the early works on extending the building the development of a new integrated baggage system and the construction of new taxiways and stands which will allow Heathrow Airport to accommodate more of the most modern aircraft
Colin Matthews CEO Heathrow Airport com-mented ldquoHeathrow is the UKrsquos only hub airport and a strategically important national infrastructure asset Heathrow faces stiff competition from other Europe-an hubs and we must continue to improve the service we offers passengers and airlines [] Our plan for a further GBP3 billion (USD46 billion) of private-sector investment will further improve the airport for pas-sengers The plan represents good value for money for airlines and passengers and comes at no cost to taxpayersrdquo
Guests from the UAE Turkey Egypt Saudi Arabia and Kuwait along with Cyprus contributed to two percent of the hotelrsquos total reservations percentage results for 2012 this according to Simmons who also reported a 20 percent year-on-year (y-o-y) increase in revenue ldquoOur hotel members benefit from a 90 per-cent increase on IDS (Internet distribution services) and direct connect bookings a 35 percent increase on GDS (global distribution systems) bookings and a 60 percent growth on CRO (central reservations of-fices) and voice bookingsrdquo
Commenting on the propertyrsquos latest develop-ments Simmons revealed the recently-launched MICE Desk which he pinpointed is an additional solution to HotelREZrsquos member hotels and will help boost revenue
ldquoAt HotelREZ we are very confident that our new MICE Desk will raise awareness and continue to increase reservations for our hotel members from meetings incentives conventions and events pack-ages To complete the consumer booking cycle Ho-telREZ is launching REZanalyst a new social media and review analytics tool for hotels to help manage their online reputationrdquo he concluded
Also showing signs of strong performance is Lon-don Hilton on Park Lane thanks to the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympics whose international committee chose the property as the headquarter ho-tel this according to Ashleigh Brayshaw marketing and communications manager London Hilton on Park Lane
With one out of four of the hotelrsquos guests hailing from the MENA region Brayshaw pointed out that in 2011 the property witnessed particularly high growth in visitor numbers from the region with a 21 percent y-
Moreover the UK especially London offers a full range of activities according to Brayshaw who observed that the Middle Eastern guest is increasingly organised with the time spent in the capital and one who enjoys combining a variety of activities ldquoPopular activities in-clude sending children to summer schools in Regentrsquos Park attending business meetings visiting property shopping for the latest trends and enjoying the rich va-riety of entertainment that London has to offer Families often use managers to organise their time with London Hilton on Park Lanersquos hotel management working di-rectly with guests to assistrdquo she further noted
Moreover Travelodge one of the UKrsquos leading hotel brands is set to benefit from a GBP223 million (USD341 million) brand investment with the opening of 14 new hotels which includes two properties in Spain the creation of 420 new jobs and the launch-ing of a new room concept which has been designed by its customers ldquoThis capital expenditure will help us to grow our business strengthen our product offer-ing and make Travelodge the best value hotel chain in the UKrdquo Grant Hearn CEO Travelodge revealed
ldquoAs part of this yearrsquos investment we have worked with our customers to create a new Travelodge room which offers more comfort quality and stylerdquo he contin-ued adding that this enhanced product combined with economy pricing will ensure Travelodge is the smart choice for leisure and business travellers
Furthermore in order to help attract new custom-ers Travelodge is also investing over GBP12 million (USD 182 million) in digital and online marketing this year as well as over GBP1 million (USD15 million) in a website refresh later this year
London
22 EXCLUSIVE Luxury Travel
MARCH 2013
Living the DreamLuxury travel is all about mak-ing guests feel unique and privi-leged It is about offering them the chance to get to know the world in extravagance and having them live above the ordinary It is about spoiling them with opulent travel and hospitality services something which is without doubt growing in size and quality
I n late December 2012 the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) released its Travel Trends Report 2013 developed in collaboration with UKrsquos Foreign and Commonwealth Office pre-dicting that consumers will continue to look for
good value in breaks for this year rather than cut back on their holidays
Mark Tanzer CEO ABTA stated that the majority of British holidaymakers are reluctant to give up their annual holiday under any circumstances while strong forward bookings for the luxury and all-inclusive sec-tors are being witnessed
Speaking at the 2011 edition of the annual Interna-tional Luxury Travel Market (ILTM)rsquos Ultratravel Forum Chris Sanderson strategy and insight director The Future Laboratory a trend forecasting company had announced predictions stating that the lsquoluxuriansrsquo of the future would not be interested in too much choice ldquoThere is an en-hanced sense of just being todayrsquos luxury consumer rath-er than being surrounded by possessionsrdquo he explained
AUTHENTICALLY PRIVILIGED
Views corroborating Sandersonrsquos were voiced by John McGee research and communications manager Ar-tisans of Leisure a luxury travel company specialis-ing in exclusive customised private tours around the world McGee believes that the primary reason his customers travel is to get authentic experiences that introduce them to the local traditions and people while high-quality hotels encourage them to travel but are not primary incentives further pinpointing the latter as being the interest in experiencing local
culture cuisine history and lifestyle With reference to the Middle East McGee noted
that his agency is intrigued by places like Abu Dhabi and its considered approach to developing new mu-seums and cultural attractions
Defining the demands and needs of luxury trav-ellers as being genuine and local experiences Filip Boyen chief operating officer Orient-Express said ldquoFor luxury tourists travel is not just about lying on a beach or by the pool anymore It is about combining relaxation in a beautiful setting with learning and dis-covery They want to come away with an experience or having learnt something new that they can come home and tell their friends all aboutrdquo
Boyen added that the Middle East is relatively new to the world of tourism a place many will want to discover and consequently this will create a demand for luxury ho-tels already emerging in many parts of the region
Travellers who spend a lot of money for their trip expect and demand the best they need to be cared for in every step of the way while feeling confident that they are dealing with someone experienced to respond to their requests according to Daniel Essex CEO Century Travel who also explained that many luxury travellers are looking for something small and attentive and a much more personal approach
LET US SPOIL YOU
The growing number of luxury hotels and amenities has led to an increased interest with Canadian travel-lers to the Middle East according to Kathy Stewart director of media and public relations Butterfield amp Robinson a Toronto-based agency Aside from authen-ticity she stressed the importance of maintaining the unique qualities of the region for further development
into a luxury destination for global travellers ldquoEspecial-ly North Americans who are travelling a long distance to the Middle East they are not looking for the same experience they can get at home They want Middle Eastern food people landscapes and architecture to be an integral part of the experiencerdquo
Hotel Missoni Kuwait benefits from a healthy lux-ury-demanding domestic market which represents 55 percent of its business followed by Saudi Arabia with 13 percent and the UAE with 10 percent accord-ing to Alfio Bernardini general manager Hotel Mis-soni Kuwait who said ldquo[At the hotel] everything con-tributes to the depth of the experience Hotel Missoni is designed to be genuine and uncomplicated offer-ing those luxury touches that really matter because they genuinely enrich the experience of stayingrdquo
Six Senses Zighy Bay the indigenous village style accommodation in Oman has observed an increase of 12 percent in occupancy levels throughout 2012 while the growth of the Middle East clientele is appar-ent after the development of family-specific offerings attested Guillaume de Lasteyrie executive assistant manager Six Senses Zighy Bay He believes that peace and calm is the most appreciated value of the property while the hotelrsquos offerings are tempting for guests cit-ing the example of the saltwater pool carrying a min-eral composition of 15-20 percent comparable to the Dead Sea whose concentration is 27 percent
Another instance of Arab opulence is Eastern Man-groves Hotel amp Spa by Anantara in Abu Dhabi a prop-erty which assures that luxury is interrelated with in-dulgence across all of its services offered with an acute focus on detail which Nehme Darwiche hotel manag-er Eastern Mangroves Hotel amp Spa by Anantara report-ed is of utter importance Darwiche further supports that the Middle East will not only continue to develop as a luxury destination but will sit on the top of luxury ranks and become a pioneer in such offerings ldquoThe de-mand on luxury products will continue to increase as the tastes of sophisticated societies continues to reach new limits Luxury will not be in big numbers but will be in the power to obtain rarity the Middle East under-stands that very well and the developments planned
Maria Kazeli writes
Hotel Missoni Kuwait
23EXCLUSIVELuxury Travel
MARCH 2013
from now until 2020 have luxury travellers as their tar-getrdquo Darwiche concluded
An upcoming superior property in the region is Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah set to open in May Rudi Jagersbacher president Middle East and Africa Hilton Worldwide explained that the hotel as an up-scale property will have to deliver on two counts experiences and expectations Observing that travel behaviour has changed in the past years and placing emphasis on value for money he further noted ldquo[Wal-dorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah] is palatial exclusive and will offer the highest level of service as well as state-of-the-art amenities but that is not enough We have to ensure that our guests consider their experience as an investment worth repeating and sharingrdquo
The peak of extravagance is reached with a variety of private jet services throughout the region which cater for business and leisure travellers alike Mark Hardman op-erations director ExecuJet Middle East pointed out that the companyrsquos clientele is as diverse as the regionrsquos popu-lation but private aviation offers valued features such as time efficiency security privacy and convenience
He admitted that the most popular destinations for Dubai-based ExecuJet are in the Middle East with Riyadh Jeddah Beirut and Baghdad occupying the top spots while Geneva London and Nice are the favoured European hubs
Similarly Hardy Sohanpal director NasJet agreed that Middle East travellers use private jet services for efficiency flexibility and privacy while he accurately underlined that through emphasising the luxury ben-efits many private jet users build relationships with their key business contacts and staff by giving them access to private aircraft
ON THE RISE
Providing her own view Stewart reiterated that it is important not to overdevelop and retain authenticity of the Arab culture in the region
Along parallel lines Essex believes that the major-ity across the region always had the opinion that big is beautiful but this is not enough he further stressed as the industry professionals in the Middle East need to consider the boutique options However he lauded Abu Dhabirsquos development on Saadiyat Island and the introduction of cultural arts which he believes will at-tract the international and discerning travellers
Boyen deems that the region will experience ad-vancement and will emerge as a luxury destination something he attributes to improved air connectivity ldquoDefinitely with new airline routes from the Middle East launching all the time such as Etihad Airwaysrsquo new routes to Washington and Satildeo Paulo which are
launching this year the destination is bound to de-velop furtherrdquo he continued
Sharing the same opinion that the expansion of airlines and airports lead to such positive develop-ments Bernardini claimed that despite the fact that the Middle East will develop further to become a des-tination for high-calibre tourists not all countries in the region have the capacity and the stability to do so However he further explained a few hotspots will enjoy this blessing due to the money available in this part of the world which will result in the building of super high-quality hotels and thus attract a good number of luxury travellers
De Lasteyrie pointed out that even though the region was under the spotlight for some time the future will see even greater lavish suggestions and-maintaining that ldquoThe Middle East has been since years a luxury destination to the eyes of many though the pinnacle of luxury is yet to come Smaller and personalised service hotels and resorts from around the world are now willing to implement themselves in untouched locations creating a new momentum Much of the Middle East is still in the first tiers of luxu-ry based on opulent luxury and the glitz and glamour that first come with wealth We are now beginning to see affluent luxury and more distinguished spending on art collectibles and sustainabilityrdquo
24 SPECIAL REPORT Waterparks
MARCH 2013
In for a RideWaterparks are a popular attraction among locals and tourist in the Middle East With promising weather throughout most of the year waterparks offer visitors a fun family outing in addition to an array of promotions and events Travel Trade Monthly explores what makes waterparks the perfect attraction
F rom fun rides food and beverage outlets and retail offerings to gaming outlets and social events waterparks offer a safe fun and friendly environment for the family groups and events planners from all walks of life
Wild Wadi Waterpark Dubai is a good example whose team is committed to providing a fun-filled service that will make a lasting impression according to Chris Perry general manager Wild Wadi Waterpark who added that there is a major focus on using every opportunity to ensure that the guestsrsquo decision to visit is rewarded with plenty of time to play less time to queue and more time on the rides
Meanwhile Ice Land Water Park Ras Al Khaimah is receiving full promotional support from the emir-atersquos government and especially by its tourism body this according to Vagelyn Federico deputy director Ice Land Waterpark who added that it has been high-lighted as one of the major destinations in the UAE by all concerned tourism entities
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is the latest entry into the regionrsquos proliferating world of waterparks and accord-ing to Mike Oswald general manager Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi it rivals the worldrsquos best waterparks offering 43 rides slides and attractions ldquoIt has been an incredible journey to this point and unbelievably satisfying to watch the peoplersquos reaction to what has been created We are
support of the tourism body in Ras Al Khaimahrdquo Federico stated
In the summer major visitors to the waterpark hail from Asia as well as locally whereas during the winter months the CIS market plays a big role in pro-moting the park with its tourists in the UAE
In order to boost visitor arrivals to the waterpark Federico pointed out that during the winter the team is currently working for a family barbecue night with some other attractions to lure in more families
Moreover she indicated that the months ahead seem even more vibrant as she further demonstrated ldquoThis year will be more promising as we strengthened our ties with more travel operators inbound and out-bound Additionally we are currently working with dif-ferent airlines travel operators hotels and other tour-ism entities to promote Ice Land giving them also more benefits in promoting us to different market segmentsrdquo
Giving something more to visitors the water-parkrsquos team is currently working with skilled games and other dry rides for people to enjoy at the facility after park operations ldquoWe are also a preferred venue for concerts as we have the perfect place to accom-modate up to 6000 people in one area Ice Land Wa-ter Park is just one of the offerings of WOWRAK and we are currently working with other expansions such as resorts ice skating cinema complex hypermarket and other amusement activities which are planned to open in the next few yearsrdquo concluded Federico
Likewise Perry also announced continuous growth over the years for Wild Wadi Waterpark with 2012 prov-ing very successful He attributed this achievement to events such as ladies nights Ramadan nights and the new Jumeirah Sceirah which launched in September 2012 having proved to be a favourite amongst thrill seekers whereby one drops through a trap door from a height of 32m into the waiting water tunnel and races down the slide at 80km per hour
ldquoWe aim for this trend to continue this year as we have a variety of new attractive promotions and events to suit all our guestsrsquo needsrdquo Perry further in-formed ldquoWe also launched our online ticketing system this month to offer faster entry to our guestsrdquo he added guaranteeing guests with a faster entry process allow-ing all those with a printed ticket to jump the queue
Wild Wadi Waterpark is open all year round and ca-ters to guests from all over the world ldquoDuring the hot summer months (May-October) most of our guests come from the GCC countries whereby during the colder season (November-April) our guests are mainly from Europe
ldquoThe park is also a popular destination for UAE resi-dents since we periodically offer discounts to all resi-dents as well as annualseason passes that allow them to visit as many times as they want for a cheaper raterdquo he said
Perry also pointed out that during the month of May the waterpark offers its very popular family-only mornings every Friday at discounted rates so that they can enjoy the full facilities of the park when it is not too busy and of course when it is more safe and secure a factor which he assured is of the highest priority
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi
Dominique Christou writes
confident that people will have seen nothing like it before and we look forward to the waves of visitors expected to arrive now that the park is officially openrdquo
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi which inaugurated on January 19 is built around a central character named Dana whose crew won the battle in its quest to re-store a pearl to its rightful place which has ensured prosperity to the mythical Emirati village and marked what is expected to be a successful start to Yas Water-world Abu Dhabirsquos commercial operations
Set across 15ha on Yas Island the park offers thrills for the whole family and visitors will experience fun and adventure on rides and attractions such as the worldrsquos longest fastest tornado waterslide the regionrsquos first looping waterslide and the worldrsquos first interactive water and laser rollercoaster According to Oswald Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is expected to welcome a total of 700000 in its first year of operation
CALLING ALL THRILL SEEKERS
During 2012 waterparks across the region expe-rienced a healthy increase in visitors across a variety of markets
ldquoThe waterpark performed better in 2012 compared to our first year in 2011 when it comes to statistics in vari-ous nationalities locally and internationally through the
26 INVESTIGATION
MARCH 2013
Visiting Friends amp Relatives
Maria Kazeli writes
T he annual review for 2011 by the World Travel amp Tourism Council (WTTC) attributes social and cultural benefits to tourism indicating that the industry directly helps to keep or bring families and social networks together
With special regards to the visiting friends and relatives (VFR) segment the review supports that a significant proportion of all international trips which reaches up to a third of all arrivals for some large de-veloped markets are made in order to visit friends andor relatives
Globalisation has caused people to spread all over the globe but returning back home occasion-ally is a necessity The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) draws direct links between migration and travelling to visit relatives and in the 2009 Executive Summary entitled Tourism and Migration ndash Explor-
year in review which covers up to September 2012 reveals that the highest figures for the VFR segment appeared in January 2012 with 267 percent of 47610 incoming tourists being reported as VFR
Egyptrsquos outbound travel market linked to VFR oc-cupies a major part of business for travel agencies Feryal El Gohary general manager Bahi Travel ex-plained adding that almost half of the agencyrsquos cli-entele are VFR She also expressed the view that this market is a growing force for airlines and hoteliers alike while the latter she pinpointed will succeed only if they create a new strategy of very advanta-geous attractive long-stay offers
Tarek Moshref managing director Pronto Tours an Egypt-based tour operator supported that the VFR market is the third largest segment after holiday and business and for this reason local travel agents and operators should improve their services in order to capture and develop its potential by offering new options and programmes
Stressing the cost-driven aspect of the VFR mar-ket Adel Taha general manager leisure travel Kimidar Tours an Egyptian travel agency destination manage-ment company and ground handler said that VFR travellers aim at low travel expenditures in order to spend their money on leisure activities at the destina-tion and not on transportation With regards to the accommodation factor he added ldquoMost of the travel-lers whether leisure or VFR would tend to seek hotel accommodation in order to benefit from services pro-vided such as room cleaning and meals instead of self-served apartments However we can say they still seek low-cost accommodations with some specificationsrdquo
VFR IN THE SKIES
Commenting on the results of the British CAArsquos study Harry Bush group director economic regulation UK CAA had said that air travel played a key role in enabling peoplersquos relocating principally through the emergence of low-cost air travel and that the result-ing VFR passengers are increasingly important con-sumers of air travel According to an aviation analysis report by CAPA - Centre for Aviation a provider of independent aviation market intelligence the Mid-dle Eastern low-cost carriers are trying to adapt their model to the regional situation with their higher den-sity configurations targeting migrant workers and VFR traffic flows from North Africa and South Asia into the Gulf region
Major airlines have taken this trend into consid-eration and cater for this market by tailoring their offers Paolo De Renzis area commercial manager Middle East and Central Asia British Airways said ldquoThe VFR segment is extremely important to British Airways particularly in the Middle East where a large number of our customers are VFR travellers This is a region where families are extremely close and this tight-knit family culture means that we see a lot of VFR traffic across our Middle Eastern routes We also have a large expat community in the UAE which con-tributes significantly to this segmentrdquo
Unconventional TravellersMany prefer to spend their holiday visiting their friends and relatives in their home country if they are expa-triates or some other destination in order to spend time with their loved ones The focus of the travel is not cultural sightseeing and luxury ac-commodation but low airfare and budget lodgings
ing the Relationship between Two Global Phenomena compiled by UNWTO the two concepts are analysed by stressing that growth in international tourism and mobility has given rise to tourism-led migration with examples including the movement of male labourers from South Asia to meet the construction demands of the tourism boom in the UAE
The research states that migration has led directly and indirectly to significant growth in tourism to both origin and destination countries through increased visibility especially in the VFR sector and to the de-velopment of new tourism infrastructure and trans-port routes in and between countries
UKrsquos Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) also lays empha-sis on the importance of the specific market having published an in-depth study on air passengers visiting friends or family The investigation report titled Interna-tional Relations ndash The Growth in Air Travel to Visit Friends or Relatives indicated that the robust growth in VFR re-flected trends such as labour mobility and migration while predicting that due to these trends the countryrsquos GDP will affect future VFR passenger traffic
VISITING MENA
At the 6th UNWTOPacific Asia Travel Association Fo-rum on Tourism Trends and Outlook held in October 2012 in China it was revealed that 36 percent of the Middle Eastrsquos outbound market constitutes the VFR segment
Some insights on inbound VFR trends concern-ing the hotel industry in the region were provided by Darroch Crawford managing director Middle East and Africa Premier Inn Hotels who highlighted that this market is highly important but also very difficult to measure as bookings of this nature come through different channels His estimations on guests travel-ling to visit family members in the region and residing in Premier Inn properties amount to seven percent of the total clientele Crawford further indicated that the largest Middle Eastern feeder markets for the brand are Lebanon Syria and Jordan
Meanwhile in Saudi Arabia domestic tourism has been the primary focus of tourism development pol-icy in the Kingdom and according to Saudi Tourism Outlook issued by the Tourism Information and Re-search Centre part of Saudi Commission for Tourism amp Antiquities which analyses July 2012rsquos figures the local segment contributed to 114 million overnight trips in the month under review out of which 398 percent hailed from the VFR segment In addition 293 percent of the 171 million outbound trips taken from Saudi Arabia during July 2012 were categorised as the VFR market
The Statistical Service of Cyprus disclosed that ac-cording to the latest data available concerning Sep-tember 2012 the island received 335352 visitors out of which 97 percent were VFR The same data for the
28 WHOS MOVED
MARCH 2013
ANDREW ABRAM
KONSTANTINOS KOUROTSIDIS
Andrew Abram has been named general manager at Raffles Dubai Abram joins the propertyrsquos team from Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group where over the past dec-ade he has held various positions He joined the company in 2003 as resident manager of The Excelsior Hotel Hong Kong and went on to lead the renovation and reopen-ing of Mandarin Oriental Jakarta holding the role of general man-ager for eight years He most re-cently served as general manager
of Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhavi in Chiang Mai Thailand Having also held the position of corporate director of sales and marketing at Jumeirah Group in the Middle East where he was responsible for the branding and launching of several projects Abram brings an insiderrsquos knowl-edge to Raffles Dubai
Konstantinos Kourotsidis has been named general manager at Radisson Blu Martinez Hotel Beirut Kourotsidis started his career in the hospitality industry in 1996 in food and beverage at Copthorne Hotel Hanover In 2000 he joined The Rezidor Ho-tel Group where he held various positions across Europe and the Middle East including at Radis-son Blu Hotel Hanover Radission
Blu Hotel amp Spa Galway Radisson Blu Resort Schloss Fleesensee Radisson Blu Resort El Quseir Radisson Blu Hotel Alexandria and Radisson Blu Resort Sharjah After several task force assign-ments in Egypt Libya and UAE Kourotsidis was promoted to general manager at Radisson Blu Al Mahary Hotel Tripoli Most re-cently he worked as acting gen-eral manager at Radisson Blu Re-sort Fujairah
Abram brings an insiderrsquos knowledge to
Raffles Dubai
MARCH 2013
30 TRAVEL TALK
MARCH 2013
LEON SALINEL
WAEL EL BEHI
KARIM NAHAS
Executive assistant manager of sales and marketing Dusit Thani Dubai
General manager Ramada Downtown Dubai
General managar Rose Rayhaan by Rotana
ldquo2012 was a very successful year for us We were not only successful in meeting our key performance indicators most notably by exceeding both our gross operating profit and gross operating revenue Working with Inves-tors in People throughout the year also ensured that we performed highly in our employee satisfaction survey we even ranked at the top of our group in this regards [hellip] We are now drawing to a close on our rooms renovation and have just welcomed our new general manager so it is an exciting year to come for us which will see some changerdquo
ldquoI am very pleased to be appointed as executive board mem-ber [of the Tunisian Business Council] I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress in [the cur-rent year] I hope to play a part in creating strong community bound by camaraderie accord and reliance among Tunisian nationals in the UAErdquo
ldquo2012 was a record year for Rose Rayhaan total revenue growth was almost 17 percent versus 2011 [hellip] The hotel continued to focus on the GCC markets with the Saudi market on the top list and strong performance of the UK France and Russian markets were witnessed UAE local market in both leisure and corporate seg-ments also performed very well We are planning to fo-cus on new emerging markets like South Africa Brazil and Turkey Competition will be indeed stiffen this year however I guess there will be business for everybodyrdquo
I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress
TRAVEL TALK IS YOUR SPACE ndash 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
editorialtraveltradeweeklytravel
trav
el t
alk
is
y
our
spac
e
31RENDEZVOUS
MARCH 2013
Q amp A with Rana El KhouryWith her recent appointment Rana El Khoury general manager Le Gray Beirut became one of Lebanonrsquos first women to hold such a high position at a five-star hotel and here she shares her views on the future prospects of the Lebanese hotel sector
Rana El KhouryGeneral manager Le Gray Beirut
Travel Trade Monthly How would you describe 2012 in a few words Rana El Khoury The best way to describe 2012 would certainly be lsquochallengingrsquo a challenge that could be called survival until we see better days Controlling costs while maintaining superior ser-vice quality and competitiveness is key to our con-tinuous success in the Lebanese market The hotel performance could be rated as fair for 2012 greatly impacted by high level of business during the first five months of the year This has allowed us to stay ahead of the game for the remainder of the year although November 2012 was the toughest month since the opening of the hotel in 2009 Despite all Le Gray has managed in 2012 to retain its number one position in occupancy and RevPAR in the Leba-nese market
Travel Trade Monthly The hotel will soon em-bark on a major extension project Tell us a little bit about this
Rana El Khoury Le Gray is preparing to kick off its extension that will include a larger lobby with a lob-by lounge a chocolate room banquet space a 35-seat movie theatre and an additional 18 rooms The project should reach completion by end of 2014
Travel Trade Monthly Prior to your appoint-ment you served as hotel manager How does your new position differ from your former role
Rana El Khoury My previous position as hotel manager was focused on the operations aspect of the hotel as general manager my responsibilities enclose a more general view of the hotel including the administrative and strategic side of the hotel as well as the link between the owning company and management company
My priorities for the coming year is diversify-ing our target markets on the international and local scene to maximise hotel occupancy and to strengthen the positioning of Le Gray on the lo-cal market as a destination for its restaurants and bars whilst building on the existing strong team at Le Gray and getting the right people together to move forward with positivity and vigilance to counter these challenging times
The advice I would give young women ready to climb the corporate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the dif-ferent positions they fill throughout their careers
Travel Trade Monthly Your appointment makes you one of the first Lebanese women to hold this position at a five-star hotel How challenging is it to hold such a high position at an already well-established hotel
Rana El Khoury The hospitality industry is very challenging and requires sacrifice on all levels What I can say is that women have their own speci-ficity and they can bring a different vision and new perspectives to the hospitality business The advice I would give young women ready to climb the cor-porate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the different positions they fill throughout their careers this can only make them stronger and certainly more cred-ible when they reach executive level positions
Travel Trade Monthly Over the past few years the Lebanese tourism industry has faced a num-ber of serious challenges What are your expec-tations for the current year Rana El Khoury Lebanon has always been a pre-ferred destination attracting tourists from the Arab and Gulf countries and with increasing stability and security we do see a solid recovery
Given the complexity of the Lebanese market improvement can occur overnight As seen in May 2008 following the Doha-agreement occupancy rates jumped back then from 30 to 90 percent within one week
This year remains uncertain due to the volatil-ity of the political situation in the region the key is to remain sustainable and be ready for the sudden surge in business
Le Gray Beirut
32 NEWS amp EVENTS
MARCH 2013
EVENTS Sponsored by
Following a refurbishment to better present the historical phases of the emiratersquos auto manu-facturing sector Sharjah Classic Cars Museum originally launched in 2008 by HH Sheikh Sul-tan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi ruler of Sharjah reopened in January by Sheikh Essam bin Saqr Al Qassimi chairman Sharjah rulerrsquos office
On the opening day of the event Manal Ataya director general Sharjah Museums Department said ldquoThe aim of refurbishing this museum was to allow us to re-evaluate the previous design and interpretation and improve it significantlyrdquo
She further pointed out that the museum now helps visitors to appreciate the aesthetic and historical value of classic cars in a space that inte-grates a new childrens interactive area and a gal-lery space for temporary exhibitions
The museum boasts 85 classic cars two mo-torcycles and five bicycles as well as a model of an old car and an engine to allow visitors to familiarise themselves with parts of an engine and their function while it is divided into five sections and features an area for activities and interactive games
Following the launch of the UAE branch of the Airline Owners and Pi-lotsrsquo Association (AOPA) at Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2012 Yousif Al Hammadi president AOPA UAE has invited representatives from international AOPA branches to attend a workshop dedicated to discussing and debating gen-eral aviation issues in the region
The meeting the first of its kind will run parallel to this yearrsquos Abu Dhabi Air Expo and will take place at the Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies Al Bateen Executive Airport on March 6
It is anticipated that up to 30 representatives from AOPA US AOPA UK AOPA Germany and AOPA France will meet with their colleagues from the UAE during the one-day event to share knowledge and debate a variety of topics including air space regulations aerial non-commercial operations certification and maintenance issues and pilot licensing
AOPA members will also be able to maximise their time by attending the Air Expo exhibition the Middle Eastrsquos only dedicated general aviation event to meet pilots from the region and learn about the latest trends
Sharjah Reopens Car Museum AOPA UAE to Hold Meeting with International Colleagues
ITB BerlinBerlin Germany March 6 ndash 10 2013(wwwitb-berlinde)A business-to-business platform for trade visitors which provides the possibility to discover the whole world within a few hours
MITT MoscowMoscow Russia March 20 ndash 23 2013(wwwmittru)Russiarsquos leading and largest travel exhibition with over 3000 participat-ing companies and 197 destinations a key meeting place for industry professionals
The Gulf Incentive Business Travel amp Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) Abu Dhabi UAE March 25 ndash 27 2013(wwwgibtmcom)A leading event for the meetings incentives and business travel industry in the GCC region which can truly unlock all participantsrsquo business potential
Saudi Travel amp Tourism Investment Market (STTIM)Riyadh Saudi Arabia March 31 ndash April 4 2013(wwwsttimcomsa)The event covers all travel and tourism investments aspects in the Kingdom through a combined conference and exhibition
International Destination Expo (IDE)Dubai UAE April 4 ndash 7 2013(wwwastaorgevents)Organised by the American Society of Travel Agents IDE is a destination training programme where participants can meet local suppliers and built profitable long-lasting relationships
Arabian Travel Market (ATM)Dubai UAE May 6 ndash 9 2013(wwwarabiantravelmarketcom)The travel and tourism event unlocking business potential within the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals
Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies
14 EXPLORE Dubai
MARCH 2013
Bur Dubai described Dubai as the Hong Kong of the Middle East adding that the unique model that has been created in the emirate and which continues to evolve with the ongoing reinvestment and planning is set to ensure Dubairsquos success and prosperity in the long-term
ENTERING NEW ERAS
Dubai started the new year on a high with a record 17 million visitors attending the Downtown Dubai New Yearsrsquo Eve Gala exceeding the reported attend-ance of one million at the world famous Times Square celebrations in New York City
The destinationrsquos abundant entertainment and amusement options coupled with its vast retail port-folio has long become a vital part of its appeal with Dubai Mall welcoming over 62 million visitors in 2012 and as a market research conducted by Reed Travel Exhibitions has revealed since the beginning of the year some 48 percent of the emiratersquos hotels were
Ocean View Hotel JA Resorts amp Hotels
Bluewaters Island project located off the Jumeirah Beach Residence coastline is envisaged to become one of the largest tourist hot spots in the world fea-turing demarcated retail residential hospitality and entertainment zones as well as the worldrsquos largest Ferris wheel at 210m named Dubai Eye
With construction due to commence in April the destination is set to further improve Dubairsquos competi-tiveness on the global stage as Abdullah Al Habbai chairman Meraas Holding the developer of the pro-ject suggested ldquoWe have a clear mission and vision to strengthen Dubairsquos global position in the tourism sec-tor This project will continue to build on the emiratersquos reputation as leaders in the global entertainment and retail landscaperdquo
Another megaproject Mohamed Bin Rashid City hailed as a city within the city is expected to set new benchmarks in urban development in the region Comprising four components the project will create an integrated environment for the development of entrepreneurship and innovation and will feature a
myriad of record-breaking leisure and entertainment options including a park 30 percent bigger than Londonrsquos Hyde Park designed to receive 35 million visitors per annum as well as the largest family cen-tre for leisure and entertainment in the region set up in collaboration with Universal Studios that will also include over 100 hotel facilities further to the largest arts gallery in the region and the worldrsquos largest retail complex Mall of the World
ldquoThe current facilities available in Dubai need to be scaled up in line with the future ambitions for the cityrdquo emphasised HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum ruler of Dubai remarking on the vital role of such projects in the emiratersquos Vision 2030 and boosting the UAE economy in order to enable it to enter a new era in which it will become the capital of entrepreneurship arts culture and family tourism for over two billion people
In fact the tourism sector in Dubai is growing by 13 percent annually and the accelerated growth rates require the emirate to prepare all sectors for the
future as passenger volume at Dubai International is set to surpass 90 million people per annum over the next five years ldquoOur development initiatives concern-ing infrastructure in all sectors should be aligned with this growth rate and we have the determination to reach our objectives and be the first in the region to achieve themrdquo concluded Al Maktoum
THE MANY FACES OF DUBAI
As a result of the joint efforts and heavy investments over the past decades Dubairsquos hospitality sector has utterly transformed according to David Thomson chief operating officer JA Resorts amp Hotels ldquoSince 2003 the emiratersquos hotel and hospitality sector has boomed launched new niche products developed new feeder markets and roared ahead with new vig-our after the slowdown of 20092010rdquo he said adding that today Dubai is considered a must-see destina-tion for many more reasons than just shopping and going to the beach which as Thomson stressed is vital for the sectorrsquos future growth
Echoing similar views Habib Khan CEO Planet Hospitality stated that people visiting Dubai can be segregated into three major categories namely lei-sure business and transients
ldquoWithin the leisure we have categorised the guests into travellers who come to witness the dra-matic achievements and modernisation of Dubai [hellip] whereas there are a smaller number but its rapidly growing of those intellectuals educational groups and individuals who seek better understanding of the Emirati and Arabic culturerdquo
Further commenting on the shifting trends Rose Ann Shetty CEO Galavantor which caters to a new generation of responsible travellers noted ldquoThe gov-ernment continues to invest and develop wonderful local and cultural experiences and while Dubairsquos focus continues to be a shopping and leisure destination the type of travellers has changed they are willing to stay longer and experience morerdquo Shetty explained adding that desert horseback riding Bedouin camp-ing trekking and rock climbing are continuously gaining popularity
In a bid to exploit another niche segment medi-cal and wellness tourism DTCM has recently teamed up with the Dubai Health Authority to promote Dubai as a premier medical destination capitalising on the emiratersquos advanced healthcare system and highly-skilled professors
ldquoWe are working to promote the medical tour-ism in Dubai since Dubai has an excellent infrastruc-ture modern hospitals and clinics offering a variety of medical [services] to visitors in search of quality health carerdquo explained Eyad Abdul Rahman execu-tive director media relations and business develop-ment DTCM
DTCM is also actively seeking ways to unleash the immerse potential of the burgeoning cruise tourism sector and secure its long-term growth by participat-ing in various international exhibitions with the aim of attracting more cruise liners
located within a 2km radius of one of the five mega-shopping malls of Dubai
Despite the stiffening competition hotels located in close proximity to shopping complexes continue to thrive as Fawzi confirmed revealing that 2012 proved to be one of the most successful years for the property since it opened seven years ago ldquoAs a city hotel Kem-pinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates offers a truly unique proposition which is well-liked by travellers from the Arab region What we add to Dubairsquos hospitality scene is a destination with entertainment for the whole fam-ily there is Ski Dubai and the new Penguin Encounter experience a great selection of dining options a cin-ema one of Dubairsquos most popular malls and a com-munity theatre all in one location that is literally on the doorstep of the hotelrdquo Fawzi further explained
In spite of the already overwhelming number of attractions in a quest to spur demand and support Dubairsquos bid to host the World Expo 2020 the emirate is forging ahead with a number of new megaprojects The recently approved AED6 billion (USD16 billion)
16 EXPLORE Dubai
MARCH 2013
Commenting on the strong economic fundamen-tals of the emirate and the breadth and unparalleled diversity of Dubairsquos tourism product Moussa El Hayek chief operating officer Al Bustan Centre amp Residence said ldquo[One of the] main reasons behind the prosperity in Dubai is the advanced infrastructure that tourists can enjoy here including luxurious hotels and restau-rants transportation malls entertainment venues parks furthermore security iconic buildings and to some extent the flexibility of the rulesrdquo
rently has 204 aircraft on order at a value USD73 billion Likewise as the second-largest airline operating
out of Dubai International flydubairsquos fast-paced ex-pansion has been a key catalyst in the emiratersquos un-precedented growth In the past two years the airline has more than doubled the number of destinations it flies to from 25 to over 50 a rate of more than one new destination per month and has increased its weekly services to over 1000
Since its inception the low-cost carrier which
served more than 51 million passengers in 2012 has laid great emphasis on connecting Dubai with fast-developing and previously untapped markets opening up new opportunities for travel and trade in emerging markets such as the CIS and Eastern Eu-rope in general In 2012 more than 40 percent of fly-dubairsquos route development concentrated on Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the CIS countries
ldquoWe have seen great demand on our routes within the CIS and CEE as more people seek afford-able fares and direct flights between Dubai and this regionrdquo informed Ghaith Al Ghaith CEO flydubai In addition today flydubai welcomes passengers to Dubai and beyond through its connecting flights to the Maldives Sri Lanka and other destinations
As a matter of fact in 2012 Russia and the CIS proved to be the second fastest expanding market in terms of passenger growth behind South America figures released by Dubai Airports have shown and Al Ghaith revealed a similar trend attesting that the car-rierrsquos total number of flights to the CIS and CEE network was 45 percent higher between October 2011 and Sep-tember 2012 compared to the previous 12 months
ldquoWe operated 109 percent more flights in the region in September 2012 compared to September 2011 illustrating the demand for travel between the nationsrdquo added Al Ghaith ldquoWe are constantly look-ing for new opportunities Our approach is to target destinations within a five-and-a-half hour radius of Dubai which puts us within reach of more than 25 billion people one third of the worldrsquos populationrdquo
Remarking on the airlinesrsquo major role in Dubairsquos development El Hayek highlighted ldquoFlight frequency to different cities all over the world made Dubai the hub of the world as Emirates flydubai and Air Ara-bia have all launched various routes to different cities while other lsquogiantrsquo airlines moved their operations to Dubai due to the advanced infrastructure and the ex-cellent services provided by Dubai Internationalrdquo
In line with the airlinesrsquo expansion strategy hotel-iers are increasingly focusing on reaching out to these new markets including the CIS and Russia which Shaff Butt director of marketing and communication Jumeirah Beach Hotel already listed among the ho-telrsquos key feeder markets
Besides the traditionally strong GCC and Europe-an markets mainly the UK and the German speaking countries demand from the CIS nations also contin-ues to be strong as Siddiqi explained
Reporting similar trends Salinel added ldquoThe GCC has always been a primary source market and has remained strong over the past few years Other source markets which have begun to show significant growth for us as a hotel [are] within the CIS region and Asian marketsrdquo
Butt further added ldquoOver the past few years we are seeing continued positive results from our main key markets such as Europe which continues to show good numbers as well as the GCC and wider Middle East For this year our main focus is the CIS market and we would also like to target Asia and Af-rica since we are getting good pick up as well as more repeat guests each yearrdquo
Nahas listed South Africa Brazil and Turkey among Rose Rayhaan by Rotanarsquos target emerging markets while others including Barker remarked on the growing demand from Far Eastern countries and mainly China
Likewise Hachem noted that China India and the rest of Asia have also started to make up for a big chunk of Al Bustan and Al Murooj Rotana Dubairsquos cli-entele while Aouad also added South America to the list of the markets lsquoto watchrsquo for Radisson Royal Hotel Dubai and Radisson Blu Resort Fujairah
Mohamed Taher director of sales and marketing Traders Hotel Dubai listed a number of emerging markets which hold great potential including the Middle East Africa Southeast Asia Australia Scandi-navia Algeria as well as Serbia
The constantly strong business levels from these markets set to balance demand with supply noted Taherw who anticipates a rise in both rates and over-all business levels ldquoDemand will offset the growth in the increased room inventories with more exhibitions being held in the city as well as the increased air traf-fic with the expansion of the airportrdquo
Hachem further added ldquoThis is admittedly a chal-lenging year as the markets get more and more pen-etrated In addition 2012 had been great which adds more pressure to the industry in general to maintain and exceed the previous achievementsrdquo
Echoing similar views Wael El Behi general man-ger Ramada Downtown Dubai concluded ldquoDubai is one of the most sought-after travel destinations in the world The hospitality sector is getting bigger and better every year Hotels are coming up with innova-tive facilities to ensure guest satisfaction and a travel-ler has a wide range of hotels to choose from Most hotels have increased their efficiency and profitability levels which is commendable We hope to continue this success [hellip] With the growing hospitality sector a traveller will be enticed to visit the city againrdquo
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE
Besides the government and the tourism organisa-tionrsquos vigorous work Dubairsquos advanced air connec-tivity and excellent infrastructure have also played a vital part in the destinationrsquos unprecedented growth as Fawzi noted
ldquoAnother contributing factor is the airlift into the destination and the continued growth of Dubai In-ternational and the UAErsquos airlines including Emirates Etihad Airways and flydubai who have also seen phenomenal growth over the past few years bringing more and more people to the destination [who] will be looking for accommodationrdquo elaborated Fawzi
In fact with its strategic location on the global axis between East and West connecting the devel-oped and the developing world Dubai boasts access to over 25 billion people within a four-hour flight as Queitsch pinpointed
Dubairsquos geographic location makes it a major global hub for trade commerce and tourism a key competitive advantage for Emirates An increasing proportion of the traffic between Europe and Asia now flies through the Middle East and the airline ex-pects this share to further grow taking into consider-ation that Dubairsquos location also facilitates rising trade flows to and from India China and Africa three of the carrierrsquos strongest markets
In the financial year 2011-12 Emirates carried a total of 34 million passengers leading to an average load factor of 80 percent while for the first six months of the financial year ending September 30 2012 pas-senger volume reached 187 million marking a year-on-year increase of 154 percent
Over the last year Emiratesrsquo network has grown rapidly bringing new countries cultures and experi-ences for customers to explore and of course opening up new markets for Dubai Reflecting Emiratersquos ambi-tious expansion plans for the future the company cur-
18 ONSITE Palestine
MARCH 2013
Forging Ahead with Pride PALESTINE IN BRIEF
Administrative Centres
Ramallah Gaza
Accepted Currencies
US Dollar (USD) Jordanian Dollar (JOD)
Language Arabic
Palestine rich in culture deep in history blessed with holy sites and highly worthy of its popularity amongst all travellers alike is a des-tination which never seizes to amaze the world of travel and tourismI n 2012 Palestine witnessed an increase in the
number of inbound tourism by some 225 mil-lion visitors 18 percent higher than that record-ed in 2011 and this paved the way for a boost of 25 percent in overnight stays in hotels and
guesthouses across the country to reach 18 millionIn order to keep visitor levels high the Ministry
of Tourism and Antiquities together with stakehold-ers have implemented numerous projects in a bid to increase traffic to the region
One example is Jenin Tourist Center which is scheduled to open later this year and is set to add to the improvement of Jenin as a tourist destination to attract both local and international visitors with a fo-cus on the quality of the arearsquos residential life and the creation of economic opportunities through tourism
With Poland being heralded as the destinationrsquos second major feeder market in 2012 having welcomed 200000 Polish visitors throughout the year Palestine acted as a partner country for the first time in one of
the global renowned travel trade shows TOUR SALON Poland which gave the Middle Eastern country the opportunity to showcase itself to what is being recog-nised as one of the most promising markets
With regards to Palestinersquos vast selection of accommo-dation offerings the country provides an array of friendly and welcoming hospitality services and this is evident in the healthy performance results reported in 2012
Grand Park Hotel which opened towards the end of September 2012 after a USD13 million renovation transformed it into a five-star property from a four-star recorded 50 percent occupancy in the first six months in operation this according to Mohammed Zomlot general manager Grand Park Hotel
ldquoWe expect perfor-mance to be much bet-ter this year as the hotel is very well-known and guests now know we have had this renovation and want to come and see the new lookrdquo he added
With the majority of the hotelrsquos guests hail-ing from Palestine itself Europe America and the Middle East Zomlot pointed out that the ho-tel attends international conferences sets out marketing strategies and also participates in exhi-bitions in order to keep figures high and promote the hotel as a perfect choice for travellers
Further growing its presence in the region Grand Park Hotel is set to open two new hotels in Palestine in the second quarter of the year and is to be the first local ho-tel chain in the country
Thomas Brugnatelli general manager The American Colony Hotel also revealed the recent
completion of what he described as the spectacular Palm House building alongside other changes which came onboard to cater to the propertyrsquos main clien-tele 45 percent of which Brugnatelli revealed hailed from Europe mostly from France Italy Germany UK and Spain while the US segment claimed a 35 percent market share ldquoFor over a hundred years The American Colony Hotel has a proud reputation of one of the most exceptional and famous hotels in the Middle Eastrdquo he concluded
Royal Court Suites Hotel is yet another property which completed a solid 2012 in terms of business performance as Joseph Ayoub general manager Royal Court Suites Hotel announced who further indicated that with new additions to management and plans for further upgrades the hotel expects its performance to continue to improve into the future ldquoThe Royal Court Suites Hotel will be undergoing re-modeling to our lobby and outside terrace which we are excited forrdquo he expressed
Catering to MENA guests of which 20 percent make up the propertyrsquos entire clientele base who pre-dominantly come from Jordan as well as Palestine it-self the hotel provides a highly service-orientated staff and a location that puts MENA travellers in the heart of Ramallah close to its best attractions and provides them with the opportunity to experience a land sacred to Muslims and Christians boasting holy sites scattered across its land Further to local and regional travellers the hotel is also popular among international organisa-tions non-governmental segments and business trav-ellers arriving from Europe US and Japan
Commenting on the ways through which fel-low professionals can work to improve visitor arriv-als Ayoub advised ldquoHotel operators in Palestine can boost the countryrsquos tourism industry by running well managed operations that provide high quality ser-vice and up to date properties that are exposed to the outside world through proper marketingrdquo
This year also looks to be better than 2012 for Golden Park Resort during which the property wit-nessed average performance levels and occupancy rates of 55 percent among the Czechs Slovakians Indians Sri Lankans Nigerians Polish and Egyp-tians according to Ibrahim Giacamam general man-ager Golden Park Resort who announced changes throughout the hotel in the coming months
ldquoWe are renovating parts of the hotel to compete with local marketsrdquo he revealed adding that this will include a full renovation of the lobby as well as the rooms ldquoThere is competition from new hotels open-ing in Bethlehem thus we want to keep our guests happyrdquo Giacamam concluded
Dominique Christou writes
19TOURUK
MARCH 2013
Dominique Christou writes
A ccording to the latest World Travel amp Tourism Council Economic Impact report published in 2012 direct contribution of travel and tourism to the UKrsquos GDP in 2011 reached GBP35 billion (USD54 billion) 23
percent of the countryrsquos total GDP with a forecasted rise of 13 percent in 2012 and an annual increase of 41 percent over the next decade when the indus-try is estimated to be contributing GBP531 billion (USD81 billion) to the UKrsquos GDP in 2022
Patricia Yates director of strategy VisitBritain ex-pected 31 million inbound visits to the UK for 2012 giving the destination as Yates described a perfect foundation to see continued strong growth in interna-tional tourism for this year contributing revenue to the UK economy and creating new jobs across the country
VisitBritain recently ventured yet again into the GCC following the successful execution and delivery of the BritAgent online training programme in the UAE Saudi Arabia and Kuwait
Meticulously Personalised
UK IN BRIEF
Capital London
Currency British Pound (GBP)
Language English
The UK has long been an admired choice among MENA travellers highly accredited to the typically distin-guished English hospitality world-renowned shopping outlets quality selection of entertainment plethora of family activities and last but not least the overabundance of pictur-esque parks scattered across the country
The UK tourism boardrsquos global online training initia-tive which has been designed to meet the needs of travel trade lsquofront-linersrsquo from new starters to experienced sales personnel was recently launched in Qatar at the British Embassy Doha a programme which upon completion grants the agents with BritAgent status signifying their expertise and knowledge about travel to Britain
ldquoBritain is already a major beneficiary of outbound travel from the Gulfrdquo confirmed Sumathi Ramanathan regional manager Asia Pacific and Middle East Visit-Britain ldquoVisitors from the Gulf region are a major source of revenue for the UK from January to September 2012 these visitors spent nearly AED55 billion (USD15 billion) already showing a seven percent increase over 2011 From 2006 through to 2011 Qatar has shown an outstanding increase in visitor numbers of 59 percent and the spend per night significantly outshines all the other countriesrdquo Ramanathan added
Official figures released by VistBritain reveal that in 2012 the UK witnessed the best November since 2007 with visitation figures a soaring nine percent higher than 2011 keeping the country on track to reach the 31 million mark by end-2012
November 2012 saw healthy results from nearly all the regions in the world exempt the US accord-ing to the study which stated that the UK welcomed 10 percent more tourists from Europe and 12 percent from the rest of the world
20 TOUR UK
MARCH 2013
Yates expressed great satisfaction for this success stressing that 2012 was no ordinary year for inbound tourism so to announce the best November in five years is an achievement
AN AMPLE CHOICE
These healthy results are evident in the hotel sector across the country partially attributed to the relative-ly strong MENA market as Daniel Simmons execu-tive director HotelREZ noted further indicating that the hotel currently has a presence in Dubai and as a result is strategically developing the MENA markets to support the membersrsquo growth
o-y improvement from the top five Middle Eastern mar-kets a 104 percent y-o-y upsurge from Saudi Arabian visitors and a 33 percent y-o-y rise from UAE visitors
Assuring that the MENA guest is well-catering to London Hilton on Park Lane trains its staff to pro-vide the welcome that visitors from the region have come to expect equipping the team with the skills to handle tailored requests according to Brayshaw who elaborated ldquoThere is a dedicated guest relations teams for Middle Eastern guests with Arabic-speak-ing team members Facilities are available for visitorsrsquo private chefs to cook within the hotelsrsquo kitchens and serve their own dishes to their employer Arabic TV stations are also availablerdquo
BRINGING IN BUSINESS
Further boosting MENA tourism to the UK on March 31 British Airways (BA) will launch an additional four flights to and from Amman increasing the frequency from dai-ly to 11 per week ldquoJordan is an important market for Brit-ish Airways and we are thrilled with the excellent growth we have seen here since re-introducing Amman to our route network We are keen to further enhance our op-erations to and from Jordan and the announcement only consolidates our commitment to the Jordanian marketrdquo commented Paolo De Renzis area commercial manager Middle East and Central Asia BA
In addition Qatar Airways has launched its inau-gural long-haul Boeing 787 Dreamliner service on the Doha - London Heathrow route becoming the first airline to operate regular scheduled flights onboard the state-of-the art aircraft to and from the UK
Akbar Al Baker CEO Qatar Airways said ldquoThe Doha - Heathrow route is one of our most popular interna-tional routes and it was only fitting that we deploy our new 787 to and from Londonrdquo
INVESTING IN THE UK
Heathrow Airport is hailed as the most popular gateway for travellers to the UK recording a total of 518 million passengers having passed through its terminal in Janu-ary alone a record for the month which saw an increase of 03 percent over the corresponding month in 2012
Meanwhile load factors also set a record for the month under review up 21 percentage points on Janu-ary 2012 reaching 70 percent Domestic traffic was down 58 percent however European traffic rose 18 percent and Middle Eastern traffic also climbed the trajectory level by 33 percent over the same month in 2012
Moreover Heathrow Airport recently announced GBP3 billion (USD46 billion) worth of investments in the airport in addition to the GBP11 billion (USD168 billion) which has been invested since 2003 and these form part of the establishmentrsquos business plans for Q6 the regulatory period which covers 2014-2019 and they represent one of the largest private-sector investments in UK infrastructure
The plans include the completion of Terminal 2 and the early works on extending the building the development of a new integrated baggage system and the construction of new taxiways and stands which will allow Heathrow Airport to accommodate more of the most modern aircraft
Colin Matthews CEO Heathrow Airport com-mented ldquoHeathrow is the UKrsquos only hub airport and a strategically important national infrastructure asset Heathrow faces stiff competition from other Europe-an hubs and we must continue to improve the service we offers passengers and airlines [] Our plan for a further GBP3 billion (USD46 billion) of private-sector investment will further improve the airport for pas-sengers The plan represents good value for money for airlines and passengers and comes at no cost to taxpayersrdquo
Guests from the UAE Turkey Egypt Saudi Arabia and Kuwait along with Cyprus contributed to two percent of the hotelrsquos total reservations percentage results for 2012 this according to Simmons who also reported a 20 percent year-on-year (y-o-y) increase in revenue ldquoOur hotel members benefit from a 90 per-cent increase on IDS (Internet distribution services) and direct connect bookings a 35 percent increase on GDS (global distribution systems) bookings and a 60 percent growth on CRO (central reservations of-fices) and voice bookingsrdquo
Commenting on the propertyrsquos latest develop-ments Simmons revealed the recently-launched MICE Desk which he pinpointed is an additional solution to HotelREZrsquos member hotels and will help boost revenue
ldquoAt HotelREZ we are very confident that our new MICE Desk will raise awareness and continue to increase reservations for our hotel members from meetings incentives conventions and events pack-ages To complete the consumer booking cycle Ho-telREZ is launching REZanalyst a new social media and review analytics tool for hotels to help manage their online reputationrdquo he concluded
Also showing signs of strong performance is Lon-don Hilton on Park Lane thanks to the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympics whose international committee chose the property as the headquarter ho-tel this according to Ashleigh Brayshaw marketing and communications manager London Hilton on Park Lane
With one out of four of the hotelrsquos guests hailing from the MENA region Brayshaw pointed out that in 2011 the property witnessed particularly high growth in visitor numbers from the region with a 21 percent y-
Moreover the UK especially London offers a full range of activities according to Brayshaw who observed that the Middle Eastern guest is increasingly organised with the time spent in the capital and one who enjoys combining a variety of activities ldquoPopular activities in-clude sending children to summer schools in Regentrsquos Park attending business meetings visiting property shopping for the latest trends and enjoying the rich va-riety of entertainment that London has to offer Families often use managers to organise their time with London Hilton on Park Lanersquos hotel management working di-rectly with guests to assistrdquo she further noted
Moreover Travelodge one of the UKrsquos leading hotel brands is set to benefit from a GBP223 million (USD341 million) brand investment with the opening of 14 new hotels which includes two properties in Spain the creation of 420 new jobs and the launch-ing of a new room concept which has been designed by its customers ldquoThis capital expenditure will help us to grow our business strengthen our product offer-ing and make Travelodge the best value hotel chain in the UKrdquo Grant Hearn CEO Travelodge revealed
ldquoAs part of this yearrsquos investment we have worked with our customers to create a new Travelodge room which offers more comfort quality and stylerdquo he contin-ued adding that this enhanced product combined with economy pricing will ensure Travelodge is the smart choice for leisure and business travellers
Furthermore in order to help attract new custom-ers Travelodge is also investing over GBP12 million (USD 182 million) in digital and online marketing this year as well as over GBP1 million (USD15 million) in a website refresh later this year
London
22 EXCLUSIVE Luxury Travel
MARCH 2013
Living the DreamLuxury travel is all about mak-ing guests feel unique and privi-leged It is about offering them the chance to get to know the world in extravagance and having them live above the ordinary It is about spoiling them with opulent travel and hospitality services something which is without doubt growing in size and quality
I n late December 2012 the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) released its Travel Trends Report 2013 developed in collaboration with UKrsquos Foreign and Commonwealth Office pre-dicting that consumers will continue to look for
good value in breaks for this year rather than cut back on their holidays
Mark Tanzer CEO ABTA stated that the majority of British holidaymakers are reluctant to give up their annual holiday under any circumstances while strong forward bookings for the luxury and all-inclusive sec-tors are being witnessed
Speaking at the 2011 edition of the annual Interna-tional Luxury Travel Market (ILTM)rsquos Ultratravel Forum Chris Sanderson strategy and insight director The Future Laboratory a trend forecasting company had announced predictions stating that the lsquoluxuriansrsquo of the future would not be interested in too much choice ldquoThere is an en-hanced sense of just being todayrsquos luxury consumer rath-er than being surrounded by possessionsrdquo he explained
AUTHENTICALLY PRIVILIGED
Views corroborating Sandersonrsquos were voiced by John McGee research and communications manager Ar-tisans of Leisure a luxury travel company specialis-ing in exclusive customised private tours around the world McGee believes that the primary reason his customers travel is to get authentic experiences that introduce them to the local traditions and people while high-quality hotels encourage them to travel but are not primary incentives further pinpointing the latter as being the interest in experiencing local
culture cuisine history and lifestyle With reference to the Middle East McGee noted
that his agency is intrigued by places like Abu Dhabi and its considered approach to developing new mu-seums and cultural attractions
Defining the demands and needs of luxury trav-ellers as being genuine and local experiences Filip Boyen chief operating officer Orient-Express said ldquoFor luxury tourists travel is not just about lying on a beach or by the pool anymore It is about combining relaxation in a beautiful setting with learning and dis-covery They want to come away with an experience or having learnt something new that they can come home and tell their friends all aboutrdquo
Boyen added that the Middle East is relatively new to the world of tourism a place many will want to discover and consequently this will create a demand for luxury ho-tels already emerging in many parts of the region
Travellers who spend a lot of money for their trip expect and demand the best they need to be cared for in every step of the way while feeling confident that they are dealing with someone experienced to respond to their requests according to Daniel Essex CEO Century Travel who also explained that many luxury travellers are looking for something small and attentive and a much more personal approach
LET US SPOIL YOU
The growing number of luxury hotels and amenities has led to an increased interest with Canadian travel-lers to the Middle East according to Kathy Stewart director of media and public relations Butterfield amp Robinson a Toronto-based agency Aside from authen-ticity she stressed the importance of maintaining the unique qualities of the region for further development
into a luxury destination for global travellers ldquoEspecial-ly North Americans who are travelling a long distance to the Middle East they are not looking for the same experience they can get at home They want Middle Eastern food people landscapes and architecture to be an integral part of the experiencerdquo
Hotel Missoni Kuwait benefits from a healthy lux-ury-demanding domestic market which represents 55 percent of its business followed by Saudi Arabia with 13 percent and the UAE with 10 percent accord-ing to Alfio Bernardini general manager Hotel Mis-soni Kuwait who said ldquo[At the hotel] everything con-tributes to the depth of the experience Hotel Missoni is designed to be genuine and uncomplicated offer-ing those luxury touches that really matter because they genuinely enrich the experience of stayingrdquo
Six Senses Zighy Bay the indigenous village style accommodation in Oman has observed an increase of 12 percent in occupancy levels throughout 2012 while the growth of the Middle East clientele is appar-ent after the development of family-specific offerings attested Guillaume de Lasteyrie executive assistant manager Six Senses Zighy Bay He believes that peace and calm is the most appreciated value of the property while the hotelrsquos offerings are tempting for guests cit-ing the example of the saltwater pool carrying a min-eral composition of 15-20 percent comparable to the Dead Sea whose concentration is 27 percent
Another instance of Arab opulence is Eastern Man-groves Hotel amp Spa by Anantara in Abu Dhabi a prop-erty which assures that luxury is interrelated with in-dulgence across all of its services offered with an acute focus on detail which Nehme Darwiche hotel manag-er Eastern Mangroves Hotel amp Spa by Anantara report-ed is of utter importance Darwiche further supports that the Middle East will not only continue to develop as a luxury destination but will sit on the top of luxury ranks and become a pioneer in such offerings ldquoThe de-mand on luxury products will continue to increase as the tastes of sophisticated societies continues to reach new limits Luxury will not be in big numbers but will be in the power to obtain rarity the Middle East under-stands that very well and the developments planned
Maria Kazeli writes
Hotel Missoni Kuwait
23EXCLUSIVELuxury Travel
MARCH 2013
from now until 2020 have luxury travellers as their tar-getrdquo Darwiche concluded
An upcoming superior property in the region is Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah set to open in May Rudi Jagersbacher president Middle East and Africa Hilton Worldwide explained that the hotel as an up-scale property will have to deliver on two counts experiences and expectations Observing that travel behaviour has changed in the past years and placing emphasis on value for money he further noted ldquo[Wal-dorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah] is palatial exclusive and will offer the highest level of service as well as state-of-the-art amenities but that is not enough We have to ensure that our guests consider their experience as an investment worth repeating and sharingrdquo
The peak of extravagance is reached with a variety of private jet services throughout the region which cater for business and leisure travellers alike Mark Hardman op-erations director ExecuJet Middle East pointed out that the companyrsquos clientele is as diverse as the regionrsquos popu-lation but private aviation offers valued features such as time efficiency security privacy and convenience
He admitted that the most popular destinations for Dubai-based ExecuJet are in the Middle East with Riyadh Jeddah Beirut and Baghdad occupying the top spots while Geneva London and Nice are the favoured European hubs
Similarly Hardy Sohanpal director NasJet agreed that Middle East travellers use private jet services for efficiency flexibility and privacy while he accurately underlined that through emphasising the luxury ben-efits many private jet users build relationships with their key business contacts and staff by giving them access to private aircraft
ON THE RISE
Providing her own view Stewart reiterated that it is important not to overdevelop and retain authenticity of the Arab culture in the region
Along parallel lines Essex believes that the major-ity across the region always had the opinion that big is beautiful but this is not enough he further stressed as the industry professionals in the Middle East need to consider the boutique options However he lauded Abu Dhabirsquos development on Saadiyat Island and the introduction of cultural arts which he believes will at-tract the international and discerning travellers
Boyen deems that the region will experience ad-vancement and will emerge as a luxury destination something he attributes to improved air connectivity ldquoDefinitely with new airline routes from the Middle East launching all the time such as Etihad Airwaysrsquo new routes to Washington and Satildeo Paulo which are
launching this year the destination is bound to de-velop furtherrdquo he continued
Sharing the same opinion that the expansion of airlines and airports lead to such positive develop-ments Bernardini claimed that despite the fact that the Middle East will develop further to become a des-tination for high-calibre tourists not all countries in the region have the capacity and the stability to do so However he further explained a few hotspots will enjoy this blessing due to the money available in this part of the world which will result in the building of super high-quality hotels and thus attract a good number of luxury travellers
De Lasteyrie pointed out that even though the region was under the spotlight for some time the future will see even greater lavish suggestions and-maintaining that ldquoThe Middle East has been since years a luxury destination to the eyes of many though the pinnacle of luxury is yet to come Smaller and personalised service hotels and resorts from around the world are now willing to implement themselves in untouched locations creating a new momentum Much of the Middle East is still in the first tiers of luxu-ry based on opulent luxury and the glitz and glamour that first come with wealth We are now beginning to see affluent luxury and more distinguished spending on art collectibles and sustainabilityrdquo
24 SPECIAL REPORT Waterparks
MARCH 2013
In for a RideWaterparks are a popular attraction among locals and tourist in the Middle East With promising weather throughout most of the year waterparks offer visitors a fun family outing in addition to an array of promotions and events Travel Trade Monthly explores what makes waterparks the perfect attraction
F rom fun rides food and beverage outlets and retail offerings to gaming outlets and social events waterparks offer a safe fun and friendly environment for the family groups and events planners from all walks of life
Wild Wadi Waterpark Dubai is a good example whose team is committed to providing a fun-filled service that will make a lasting impression according to Chris Perry general manager Wild Wadi Waterpark who added that there is a major focus on using every opportunity to ensure that the guestsrsquo decision to visit is rewarded with plenty of time to play less time to queue and more time on the rides
Meanwhile Ice Land Water Park Ras Al Khaimah is receiving full promotional support from the emir-atersquos government and especially by its tourism body this according to Vagelyn Federico deputy director Ice Land Waterpark who added that it has been high-lighted as one of the major destinations in the UAE by all concerned tourism entities
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is the latest entry into the regionrsquos proliferating world of waterparks and accord-ing to Mike Oswald general manager Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi it rivals the worldrsquos best waterparks offering 43 rides slides and attractions ldquoIt has been an incredible journey to this point and unbelievably satisfying to watch the peoplersquos reaction to what has been created We are
support of the tourism body in Ras Al Khaimahrdquo Federico stated
In the summer major visitors to the waterpark hail from Asia as well as locally whereas during the winter months the CIS market plays a big role in pro-moting the park with its tourists in the UAE
In order to boost visitor arrivals to the waterpark Federico pointed out that during the winter the team is currently working for a family barbecue night with some other attractions to lure in more families
Moreover she indicated that the months ahead seem even more vibrant as she further demonstrated ldquoThis year will be more promising as we strengthened our ties with more travel operators inbound and out-bound Additionally we are currently working with dif-ferent airlines travel operators hotels and other tour-ism entities to promote Ice Land giving them also more benefits in promoting us to different market segmentsrdquo
Giving something more to visitors the water-parkrsquos team is currently working with skilled games and other dry rides for people to enjoy at the facility after park operations ldquoWe are also a preferred venue for concerts as we have the perfect place to accom-modate up to 6000 people in one area Ice Land Wa-ter Park is just one of the offerings of WOWRAK and we are currently working with other expansions such as resorts ice skating cinema complex hypermarket and other amusement activities which are planned to open in the next few yearsrdquo concluded Federico
Likewise Perry also announced continuous growth over the years for Wild Wadi Waterpark with 2012 prov-ing very successful He attributed this achievement to events such as ladies nights Ramadan nights and the new Jumeirah Sceirah which launched in September 2012 having proved to be a favourite amongst thrill seekers whereby one drops through a trap door from a height of 32m into the waiting water tunnel and races down the slide at 80km per hour
ldquoWe aim for this trend to continue this year as we have a variety of new attractive promotions and events to suit all our guestsrsquo needsrdquo Perry further in-formed ldquoWe also launched our online ticketing system this month to offer faster entry to our guestsrdquo he added guaranteeing guests with a faster entry process allow-ing all those with a printed ticket to jump the queue
Wild Wadi Waterpark is open all year round and ca-ters to guests from all over the world ldquoDuring the hot summer months (May-October) most of our guests come from the GCC countries whereby during the colder season (November-April) our guests are mainly from Europe
ldquoThe park is also a popular destination for UAE resi-dents since we periodically offer discounts to all resi-dents as well as annualseason passes that allow them to visit as many times as they want for a cheaper raterdquo he said
Perry also pointed out that during the month of May the waterpark offers its very popular family-only mornings every Friday at discounted rates so that they can enjoy the full facilities of the park when it is not too busy and of course when it is more safe and secure a factor which he assured is of the highest priority
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi
Dominique Christou writes
confident that people will have seen nothing like it before and we look forward to the waves of visitors expected to arrive now that the park is officially openrdquo
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi which inaugurated on January 19 is built around a central character named Dana whose crew won the battle in its quest to re-store a pearl to its rightful place which has ensured prosperity to the mythical Emirati village and marked what is expected to be a successful start to Yas Water-world Abu Dhabirsquos commercial operations
Set across 15ha on Yas Island the park offers thrills for the whole family and visitors will experience fun and adventure on rides and attractions such as the worldrsquos longest fastest tornado waterslide the regionrsquos first looping waterslide and the worldrsquos first interactive water and laser rollercoaster According to Oswald Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is expected to welcome a total of 700000 in its first year of operation
CALLING ALL THRILL SEEKERS
During 2012 waterparks across the region expe-rienced a healthy increase in visitors across a variety of markets
ldquoThe waterpark performed better in 2012 compared to our first year in 2011 when it comes to statistics in vari-ous nationalities locally and internationally through the
26 INVESTIGATION
MARCH 2013
Visiting Friends amp Relatives
Maria Kazeli writes
T he annual review for 2011 by the World Travel amp Tourism Council (WTTC) attributes social and cultural benefits to tourism indicating that the industry directly helps to keep or bring families and social networks together
With special regards to the visiting friends and relatives (VFR) segment the review supports that a significant proportion of all international trips which reaches up to a third of all arrivals for some large de-veloped markets are made in order to visit friends andor relatives
Globalisation has caused people to spread all over the globe but returning back home occasion-ally is a necessity The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) draws direct links between migration and travelling to visit relatives and in the 2009 Executive Summary entitled Tourism and Migration ndash Explor-
year in review which covers up to September 2012 reveals that the highest figures for the VFR segment appeared in January 2012 with 267 percent of 47610 incoming tourists being reported as VFR
Egyptrsquos outbound travel market linked to VFR oc-cupies a major part of business for travel agencies Feryal El Gohary general manager Bahi Travel ex-plained adding that almost half of the agencyrsquos cli-entele are VFR She also expressed the view that this market is a growing force for airlines and hoteliers alike while the latter she pinpointed will succeed only if they create a new strategy of very advanta-geous attractive long-stay offers
Tarek Moshref managing director Pronto Tours an Egypt-based tour operator supported that the VFR market is the third largest segment after holiday and business and for this reason local travel agents and operators should improve their services in order to capture and develop its potential by offering new options and programmes
Stressing the cost-driven aspect of the VFR mar-ket Adel Taha general manager leisure travel Kimidar Tours an Egyptian travel agency destination manage-ment company and ground handler said that VFR travellers aim at low travel expenditures in order to spend their money on leisure activities at the destina-tion and not on transportation With regards to the accommodation factor he added ldquoMost of the travel-lers whether leisure or VFR would tend to seek hotel accommodation in order to benefit from services pro-vided such as room cleaning and meals instead of self-served apartments However we can say they still seek low-cost accommodations with some specificationsrdquo
VFR IN THE SKIES
Commenting on the results of the British CAArsquos study Harry Bush group director economic regulation UK CAA had said that air travel played a key role in enabling peoplersquos relocating principally through the emergence of low-cost air travel and that the result-ing VFR passengers are increasingly important con-sumers of air travel According to an aviation analysis report by CAPA - Centre for Aviation a provider of independent aviation market intelligence the Mid-dle Eastern low-cost carriers are trying to adapt their model to the regional situation with their higher den-sity configurations targeting migrant workers and VFR traffic flows from North Africa and South Asia into the Gulf region
Major airlines have taken this trend into consid-eration and cater for this market by tailoring their offers Paolo De Renzis area commercial manager Middle East and Central Asia British Airways said ldquoThe VFR segment is extremely important to British Airways particularly in the Middle East where a large number of our customers are VFR travellers This is a region where families are extremely close and this tight-knit family culture means that we see a lot of VFR traffic across our Middle Eastern routes We also have a large expat community in the UAE which con-tributes significantly to this segmentrdquo
Unconventional TravellersMany prefer to spend their holiday visiting their friends and relatives in their home country if they are expa-triates or some other destination in order to spend time with their loved ones The focus of the travel is not cultural sightseeing and luxury ac-commodation but low airfare and budget lodgings
ing the Relationship between Two Global Phenomena compiled by UNWTO the two concepts are analysed by stressing that growth in international tourism and mobility has given rise to tourism-led migration with examples including the movement of male labourers from South Asia to meet the construction demands of the tourism boom in the UAE
The research states that migration has led directly and indirectly to significant growth in tourism to both origin and destination countries through increased visibility especially in the VFR sector and to the de-velopment of new tourism infrastructure and trans-port routes in and between countries
UKrsquos Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) also lays empha-sis on the importance of the specific market having published an in-depth study on air passengers visiting friends or family The investigation report titled Interna-tional Relations ndash The Growth in Air Travel to Visit Friends or Relatives indicated that the robust growth in VFR re-flected trends such as labour mobility and migration while predicting that due to these trends the countryrsquos GDP will affect future VFR passenger traffic
VISITING MENA
At the 6th UNWTOPacific Asia Travel Association Fo-rum on Tourism Trends and Outlook held in October 2012 in China it was revealed that 36 percent of the Middle Eastrsquos outbound market constitutes the VFR segment
Some insights on inbound VFR trends concern-ing the hotel industry in the region were provided by Darroch Crawford managing director Middle East and Africa Premier Inn Hotels who highlighted that this market is highly important but also very difficult to measure as bookings of this nature come through different channels His estimations on guests travel-ling to visit family members in the region and residing in Premier Inn properties amount to seven percent of the total clientele Crawford further indicated that the largest Middle Eastern feeder markets for the brand are Lebanon Syria and Jordan
Meanwhile in Saudi Arabia domestic tourism has been the primary focus of tourism development pol-icy in the Kingdom and according to Saudi Tourism Outlook issued by the Tourism Information and Re-search Centre part of Saudi Commission for Tourism amp Antiquities which analyses July 2012rsquos figures the local segment contributed to 114 million overnight trips in the month under review out of which 398 percent hailed from the VFR segment In addition 293 percent of the 171 million outbound trips taken from Saudi Arabia during July 2012 were categorised as the VFR market
The Statistical Service of Cyprus disclosed that ac-cording to the latest data available concerning Sep-tember 2012 the island received 335352 visitors out of which 97 percent were VFR The same data for the
28 WHOS MOVED
MARCH 2013
ANDREW ABRAM
KONSTANTINOS KOUROTSIDIS
Andrew Abram has been named general manager at Raffles Dubai Abram joins the propertyrsquos team from Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group where over the past dec-ade he has held various positions He joined the company in 2003 as resident manager of The Excelsior Hotel Hong Kong and went on to lead the renovation and reopen-ing of Mandarin Oriental Jakarta holding the role of general man-ager for eight years He most re-cently served as general manager
of Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhavi in Chiang Mai Thailand Having also held the position of corporate director of sales and marketing at Jumeirah Group in the Middle East where he was responsible for the branding and launching of several projects Abram brings an insiderrsquos knowl-edge to Raffles Dubai
Konstantinos Kourotsidis has been named general manager at Radisson Blu Martinez Hotel Beirut Kourotsidis started his career in the hospitality industry in 1996 in food and beverage at Copthorne Hotel Hanover In 2000 he joined The Rezidor Ho-tel Group where he held various positions across Europe and the Middle East including at Radis-son Blu Hotel Hanover Radission
Blu Hotel amp Spa Galway Radisson Blu Resort Schloss Fleesensee Radisson Blu Resort El Quseir Radisson Blu Hotel Alexandria and Radisson Blu Resort Sharjah After several task force assign-ments in Egypt Libya and UAE Kourotsidis was promoted to general manager at Radisson Blu Al Mahary Hotel Tripoli Most re-cently he worked as acting gen-eral manager at Radisson Blu Re-sort Fujairah
Abram brings an insiderrsquos knowledge to
Raffles Dubai
MARCH 2013
30 TRAVEL TALK
MARCH 2013
LEON SALINEL
WAEL EL BEHI
KARIM NAHAS
Executive assistant manager of sales and marketing Dusit Thani Dubai
General manager Ramada Downtown Dubai
General managar Rose Rayhaan by Rotana
ldquo2012 was a very successful year for us We were not only successful in meeting our key performance indicators most notably by exceeding both our gross operating profit and gross operating revenue Working with Inves-tors in People throughout the year also ensured that we performed highly in our employee satisfaction survey we even ranked at the top of our group in this regards [hellip] We are now drawing to a close on our rooms renovation and have just welcomed our new general manager so it is an exciting year to come for us which will see some changerdquo
ldquoI am very pleased to be appointed as executive board mem-ber [of the Tunisian Business Council] I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress in [the cur-rent year] I hope to play a part in creating strong community bound by camaraderie accord and reliance among Tunisian nationals in the UAErdquo
ldquo2012 was a record year for Rose Rayhaan total revenue growth was almost 17 percent versus 2011 [hellip] The hotel continued to focus on the GCC markets with the Saudi market on the top list and strong performance of the UK France and Russian markets were witnessed UAE local market in both leisure and corporate seg-ments also performed very well We are planning to fo-cus on new emerging markets like South Africa Brazil and Turkey Competition will be indeed stiffen this year however I guess there will be business for everybodyrdquo
I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress
TRAVEL TALK IS YOUR SPACE ndash 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
editorialtraveltradeweeklytravel
trav
el t
alk
is
y
our
spac
e
31RENDEZVOUS
MARCH 2013
Q amp A with Rana El KhouryWith her recent appointment Rana El Khoury general manager Le Gray Beirut became one of Lebanonrsquos first women to hold such a high position at a five-star hotel and here she shares her views on the future prospects of the Lebanese hotel sector
Rana El KhouryGeneral manager Le Gray Beirut
Travel Trade Monthly How would you describe 2012 in a few words Rana El Khoury The best way to describe 2012 would certainly be lsquochallengingrsquo a challenge that could be called survival until we see better days Controlling costs while maintaining superior ser-vice quality and competitiveness is key to our con-tinuous success in the Lebanese market The hotel performance could be rated as fair for 2012 greatly impacted by high level of business during the first five months of the year This has allowed us to stay ahead of the game for the remainder of the year although November 2012 was the toughest month since the opening of the hotel in 2009 Despite all Le Gray has managed in 2012 to retain its number one position in occupancy and RevPAR in the Leba-nese market
Travel Trade Monthly The hotel will soon em-bark on a major extension project Tell us a little bit about this
Rana El Khoury Le Gray is preparing to kick off its extension that will include a larger lobby with a lob-by lounge a chocolate room banquet space a 35-seat movie theatre and an additional 18 rooms The project should reach completion by end of 2014
Travel Trade Monthly Prior to your appoint-ment you served as hotel manager How does your new position differ from your former role
Rana El Khoury My previous position as hotel manager was focused on the operations aspect of the hotel as general manager my responsibilities enclose a more general view of the hotel including the administrative and strategic side of the hotel as well as the link between the owning company and management company
My priorities for the coming year is diversify-ing our target markets on the international and local scene to maximise hotel occupancy and to strengthen the positioning of Le Gray on the lo-cal market as a destination for its restaurants and bars whilst building on the existing strong team at Le Gray and getting the right people together to move forward with positivity and vigilance to counter these challenging times
The advice I would give young women ready to climb the corporate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the dif-ferent positions they fill throughout their careers
Travel Trade Monthly Your appointment makes you one of the first Lebanese women to hold this position at a five-star hotel How challenging is it to hold such a high position at an already well-established hotel
Rana El Khoury The hospitality industry is very challenging and requires sacrifice on all levels What I can say is that women have their own speci-ficity and they can bring a different vision and new perspectives to the hospitality business The advice I would give young women ready to climb the cor-porate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the different positions they fill throughout their careers this can only make them stronger and certainly more cred-ible when they reach executive level positions
Travel Trade Monthly Over the past few years the Lebanese tourism industry has faced a num-ber of serious challenges What are your expec-tations for the current year Rana El Khoury Lebanon has always been a pre-ferred destination attracting tourists from the Arab and Gulf countries and with increasing stability and security we do see a solid recovery
Given the complexity of the Lebanese market improvement can occur overnight As seen in May 2008 following the Doha-agreement occupancy rates jumped back then from 30 to 90 percent within one week
This year remains uncertain due to the volatil-ity of the political situation in the region the key is to remain sustainable and be ready for the sudden surge in business
Le Gray Beirut
32 NEWS amp EVENTS
MARCH 2013
EVENTS Sponsored by
Following a refurbishment to better present the historical phases of the emiratersquos auto manu-facturing sector Sharjah Classic Cars Museum originally launched in 2008 by HH Sheikh Sul-tan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi ruler of Sharjah reopened in January by Sheikh Essam bin Saqr Al Qassimi chairman Sharjah rulerrsquos office
On the opening day of the event Manal Ataya director general Sharjah Museums Department said ldquoThe aim of refurbishing this museum was to allow us to re-evaluate the previous design and interpretation and improve it significantlyrdquo
She further pointed out that the museum now helps visitors to appreciate the aesthetic and historical value of classic cars in a space that inte-grates a new childrens interactive area and a gal-lery space for temporary exhibitions
The museum boasts 85 classic cars two mo-torcycles and five bicycles as well as a model of an old car and an engine to allow visitors to familiarise themselves with parts of an engine and their function while it is divided into five sections and features an area for activities and interactive games
Following the launch of the UAE branch of the Airline Owners and Pi-lotsrsquo Association (AOPA) at Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2012 Yousif Al Hammadi president AOPA UAE has invited representatives from international AOPA branches to attend a workshop dedicated to discussing and debating gen-eral aviation issues in the region
The meeting the first of its kind will run parallel to this yearrsquos Abu Dhabi Air Expo and will take place at the Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies Al Bateen Executive Airport on March 6
It is anticipated that up to 30 representatives from AOPA US AOPA UK AOPA Germany and AOPA France will meet with their colleagues from the UAE during the one-day event to share knowledge and debate a variety of topics including air space regulations aerial non-commercial operations certification and maintenance issues and pilot licensing
AOPA members will also be able to maximise their time by attending the Air Expo exhibition the Middle Eastrsquos only dedicated general aviation event to meet pilots from the region and learn about the latest trends
Sharjah Reopens Car Museum AOPA UAE to Hold Meeting with International Colleagues
ITB BerlinBerlin Germany March 6 ndash 10 2013(wwwitb-berlinde)A business-to-business platform for trade visitors which provides the possibility to discover the whole world within a few hours
MITT MoscowMoscow Russia March 20 ndash 23 2013(wwwmittru)Russiarsquos leading and largest travel exhibition with over 3000 participat-ing companies and 197 destinations a key meeting place for industry professionals
The Gulf Incentive Business Travel amp Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) Abu Dhabi UAE March 25 ndash 27 2013(wwwgibtmcom)A leading event for the meetings incentives and business travel industry in the GCC region which can truly unlock all participantsrsquo business potential
Saudi Travel amp Tourism Investment Market (STTIM)Riyadh Saudi Arabia March 31 ndash April 4 2013(wwwsttimcomsa)The event covers all travel and tourism investments aspects in the Kingdom through a combined conference and exhibition
International Destination Expo (IDE)Dubai UAE April 4 ndash 7 2013(wwwastaorgevents)Organised by the American Society of Travel Agents IDE is a destination training programme where participants can meet local suppliers and built profitable long-lasting relationships
Arabian Travel Market (ATM)Dubai UAE May 6 ndash 9 2013(wwwarabiantravelmarketcom)The travel and tourism event unlocking business potential within the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals
Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies
16 EXPLORE Dubai
MARCH 2013
Commenting on the strong economic fundamen-tals of the emirate and the breadth and unparalleled diversity of Dubairsquos tourism product Moussa El Hayek chief operating officer Al Bustan Centre amp Residence said ldquo[One of the] main reasons behind the prosperity in Dubai is the advanced infrastructure that tourists can enjoy here including luxurious hotels and restau-rants transportation malls entertainment venues parks furthermore security iconic buildings and to some extent the flexibility of the rulesrdquo
rently has 204 aircraft on order at a value USD73 billion Likewise as the second-largest airline operating
out of Dubai International flydubairsquos fast-paced ex-pansion has been a key catalyst in the emiratersquos un-precedented growth In the past two years the airline has more than doubled the number of destinations it flies to from 25 to over 50 a rate of more than one new destination per month and has increased its weekly services to over 1000
Since its inception the low-cost carrier which
served more than 51 million passengers in 2012 has laid great emphasis on connecting Dubai with fast-developing and previously untapped markets opening up new opportunities for travel and trade in emerging markets such as the CIS and Eastern Eu-rope in general In 2012 more than 40 percent of fly-dubairsquos route development concentrated on Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the CIS countries
ldquoWe have seen great demand on our routes within the CIS and CEE as more people seek afford-able fares and direct flights between Dubai and this regionrdquo informed Ghaith Al Ghaith CEO flydubai In addition today flydubai welcomes passengers to Dubai and beyond through its connecting flights to the Maldives Sri Lanka and other destinations
As a matter of fact in 2012 Russia and the CIS proved to be the second fastest expanding market in terms of passenger growth behind South America figures released by Dubai Airports have shown and Al Ghaith revealed a similar trend attesting that the car-rierrsquos total number of flights to the CIS and CEE network was 45 percent higher between October 2011 and Sep-tember 2012 compared to the previous 12 months
ldquoWe operated 109 percent more flights in the region in September 2012 compared to September 2011 illustrating the demand for travel between the nationsrdquo added Al Ghaith ldquoWe are constantly look-ing for new opportunities Our approach is to target destinations within a five-and-a-half hour radius of Dubai which puts us within reach of more than 25 billion people one third of the worldrsquos populationrdquo
Remarking on the airlinesrsquo major role in Dubairsquos development El Hayek highlighted ldquoFlight frequency to different cities all over the world made Dubai the hub of the world as Emirates flydubai and Air Ara-bia have all launched various routes to different cities while other lsquogiantrsquo airlines moved their operations to Dubai due to the advanced infrastructure and the ex-cellent services provided by Dubai Internationalrdquo
In line with the airlinesrsquo expansion strategy hotel-iers are increasingly focusing on reaching out to these new markets including the CIS and Russia which Shaff Butt director of marketing and communication Jumeirah Beach Hotel already listed among the ho-telrsquos key feeder markets
Besides the traditionally strong GCC and Europe-an markets mainly the UK and the German speaking countries demand from the CIS nations also contin-ues to be strong as Siddiqi explained
Reporting similar trends Salinel added ldquoThe GCC has always been a primary source market and has remained strong over the past few years Other source markets which have begun to show significant growth for us as a hotel [are] within the CIS region and Asian marketsrdquo
Butt further added ldquoOver the past few years we are seeing continued positive results from our main key markets such as Europe which continues to show good numbers as well as the GCC and wider Middle East For this year our main focus is the CIS market and we would also like to target Asia and Af-rica since we are getting good pick up as well as more repeat guests each yearrdquo
Nahas listed South Africa Brazil and Turkey among Rose Rayhaan by Rotanarsquos target emerging markets while others including Barker remarked on the growing demand from Far Eastern countries and mainly China
Likewise Hachem noted that China India and the rest of Asia have also started to make up for a big chunk of Al Bustan and Al Murooj Rotana Dubairsquos cli-entele while Aouad also added South America to the list of the markets lsquoto watchrsquo for Radisson Royal Hotel Dubai and Radisson Blu Resort Fujairah
Mohamed Taher director of sales and marketing Traders Hotel Dubai listed a number of emerging markets which hold great potential including the Middle East Africa Southeast Asia Australia Scandi-navia Algeria as well as Serbia
The constantly strong business levels from these markets set to balance demand with supply noted Taherw who anticipates a rise in both rates and over-all business levels ldquoDemand will offset the growth in the increased room inventories with more exhibitions being held in the city as well as the increased air traf-fic with the expansion of the airportrdquo
Hachem further added ldquoThis is admittedly a chal-lenging year as the markets get more and more pen-etrated In addition 2012 had been great which adds more pressure to the industry in general to maintain and exceed the previous achievementsrdquo
Echoing similar views Wael El Behi general man-ger Ramada Downtown Dubai concluded ldquoDubai is one of the most sought-after travel destinations in the world The hospitality sector is getting bigger and better every year Hotels are coming up with innova-tive facilities to ensure guest satisfaction and a travel-ler has a wide range of hotels to choose from Most hotels have increased their efficiency and profitability levels which is commendable We hope to continue this success [hellip] With the growing hospitality sector a traveller will be enticed to visit the city againrdquo
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE
Besides the government and the tourism organisa-tionrsquos vigorous work Dubairsquos advanced air connec-tivity and excellent infrastructure have also played a vital part in the destinationrsquos unprecedented growth as Fawzi noted
ldquoAnother contributing factor is the airlift into the destination and the continued growth of Dubai In-ternational and the UAErsquos airlines including Emirates Etihad Airways and flydubai who have also seen phenomenal growth over the past few years bringing more and more people to the destination [who] will be looking for accommodationrdquo elaborated Fawzi
In fact with its strategic location on the global axis between East and West connecting the devel-oped and the developing world Dubai boasts access to over 25 billion people within a four-hour flight as Queitsch pinpointed
Dubairsquos geographic location makes it a major global hub for trade commerce and tourism a key competitive advantage for Emirates An increasing proportion of the traffic between Europe and Asia now flies through the Middle East and the airline ex-pects this share to further grow taking into consider-ation that Dubairsquos location also facilitates rising trade flows to and from India China and Africa three of the carrierrsquos strongest markets
In the financial year 2011-12 Emirates carried a total of 34 million passengers leading to an average load factor of 80 percent while for the first six months of the financial year ending September 30 2012 pas-senger volume reached 187 million marking a year-on-year increase of 154 percent
Over the last year Emiratesrsquo network has grown rapidly bringing new countries cultures and experi-ences for customers to explore and of course opening up new markets for Dubai Reflecting Emiratersquos ambi-tious expansion plans for the future the company cur-
18 ONSITE Palestine
MARCH 2013
Forging Ahead with Pride PALESTINE IN BRIEF
Administrative Centres
Ramallah Gaza
Accepted Currencies
US Dollar (USD) Jordanian Dollar (JOD)
Language Arabic
Palestine rich in culture deep in history blessed with holy sites and highly worthy of its popularity amongst all travellers alike is a des-tination which never seizes to amaze the world of travel and tourismI n 2012 Palestine witnessed an increase in the
number of inbound tourism by some 225 mil-lion visitors 18 percent higher than that record-ed in 2011 and this paved the way for a boost of 25 percent in overnight stays in hotels and
guesthouses across the country to reach 18 millionIn order to keep visitor levels high the Ministry
of Tourism and Antiquities together with stakehold-ers have implemented numerous projects in a bid to increase traffic to the region
One example is Jenin Tourist Center which is scheduled to open later this year and is set to add to the improvement of Jenin as a tourist destination to attract both local and international visitors with a fo-cus on the quality of the arearsquos residential life and the creation of economic opportunities through tourism
With Poland being heralded as the destinationrsquos second major feeder market in 2012 having welcomed 200000 Polish visitors throughout the year Palestine acted as a partner country for the first time in one of
the global renowned travel trade shows TOUR SALON Poland which gave the Middle Eastern country the opportunity to showcase itself to what is being recog-nised as one of the most promising markets
With regards to Palestinersquos vast selection of accommo-dation offerings the country provides an array of friendly and welcoming hospitality services and this is evident in the healthy performance results reported in 2012
Grand Park Hotel which opened towards the end of September 2012 after a USD13 million renovation transformed it into a five-star property from a four-star recorded 50 percent occupancy in the first six months in operation this according to Mohammed Zomlot general manager Grand Park Hotel
ldquoWe expect perfor-mance to be much bet-ter this year as the hotel is very well-known and guests now know we have had this renovation and want to come and see the new lookrdquo he added
With the majority of the hotelrsquos guests hail-ing from Palestine itself Europe America and the Middle East Zomlot pointed out that the ho-tel attends international conferences sets out marketing strategies and also participates in exhi-bitions in order to keep figures high and promote the hotel as a perfect choice for travellers
Further growing its presence in the region Grand Park Hotel is set to open two new hotels in Palestine in the second quarter of the year and is to be the first local ho-tel chain in the country
Thomas Brugnatelli general manager The American Colony Hotel also revealed the recent
completion of what he described as the spectacular Palm House building alongside other changes which came onboard to cater to the propertyrsquos main clien-tele 45 percent of which Brugnatelli revealed hailed from Europe mostly from France Italy Germany UK and Spain while the US segment claimed a 35 percent market share ldquoFor over a hundred years The American Colony Hotel has a proud reputation of one of the most exceptional and famous hotels in the Middle Eastrdquo he concluded
Royal Court Suites Hotel is yet another property which completed a solid 2012 in terms of business performance as Joseph Ayoub general manager Royal Court Suites Hotel announced who further indicated that with new additions to management and plans for further upgrades the hotel expects its performance to continue to improve into the future ldquoThe Royal Court Suites Hotel will be undergoing re-modeling to our lobby and outside terrace which we are excited forrdquo he expressed
Catering to MENA guests of which 20 percent make up the propertyrsquos entire clientele base who pre-dominantly come from Jordan as well as Palestine it-self the hotel provides a highly service-orientated staff and a location that puts MENA travellers in the heart of Ramallah close to its best attractions and provides them with the opportunity to experience a land sacred to Muslims and Christians boasting holy sites scattered across its land Further to local and regional travellers the hotel is also popular among international organisa-tions non-governmental segments and business trav-ellers arriving from Europe US and Japan
Commenting on the ways through which fel-low professionals can work to improve visitor arriv-als Ayoub advised ldquoHotel operators in Palestine can boost the countryrsquos tourism industry by running well managed operations that provide high quality ser-vice and up to date properties that are exposed to the outside world through proper marketingrdquo
This year also looks to be better than 2012 for Golden Park Resort during which the property wit-nessed average performance levels and occupancy rates of 55 percent among the Czechs Slovakians Indians Sri Lankans Nigerians Polish and Egyp-tians according to Ibrahim Giacamam general man-ager Golden Park Resort who announced changes throughout the hotel in the coming months
ldquoWe are renovating parts of the hotel to compete with local marketsrdquo he revealed adding that this will include a full renovation of the lobby as well as the rooms ldquoThere is competition from new hotels open-ing in Bethlehem thus we want to keep our guests happyrdquo Giacamam concluded
Dominique Christou writes
19TOURUK
MARCH 2013
Dominique Christou writes
A ccording to the latest World Travel amp Tourism Council Economic Impact report published in 2012 direct contribution of travel and tourism to the UKrsquos GDP in 2011 reached GBP35 billion (USD54 billion) 23
percent of the countryrsquos total GDP with a forecasted rise of 13 percent in 2012 and an annual increase of 41 percent over the next decade when the indus-try is estimated to be contributing GBP531 billion (USD81 billion) to the UKrsquos GDP in 2022
Patricia Yates director of strategy VisitBritain ex-pected 31 million inbound visits to the UK for 2012 giving the destination as Yates described a perfect foundation to see continued strong growth in interna-tional tourism for this year contributing revenue to the UK economy and creating new jobs across the country
VisitBritain recently ventured yet again into the GCC following the successful execution and delivery of the BritAgent online training programme in the UAE Saudi Arabia and Kuwait
Meticulously Personalised
UK IN BRIEF
Capital London
Currency British Pound (GBP)
Language English
The UK has long been an admired choice among MENA travellers highly accredited to the typically distin-guished English hospitality world-renowned shopping outlets quality selection of entertainment plethora of family activities and last but not least the overabundance of pictur-esque parks scattered across the country
The UK tourism boardrsquos global online training initia-tive which has been designed to meet the needs of travel trade lsquofront-linersrsquo from new starters to experienced sales personnel was recently launched in Qatar at the British Embassy Doha a programme which upon completion grants the agents with BritAgent status signifying their expertise and knowledge about travel to Britain
ldquoBritain is already a major beneficiary of outbound travel from the Gulfrdquo confirmed Sumathi Ramanathan regional manager Asia Pacific and Middle East Visit-Britain ldquoVisitors from the Gulf region are a major source of revenue for the UK from January to September 2012 these visitors spent nearly AED55 billion (USD15 billion) already showing a seven percent increase over 2011 From 2006 through to 2011 Qatar has shown an outstanding increase in visitor numbers of 59 percent and the spend per night significantly outshines all the other countriesrdquo Ramanathan added
Official figures released by VistBritain reveal that in 2012 the UK witnessed the best November since 2007 with visitation figures a soaring nine percent higher than 2011 keeping the country on track to reach the 31 million mark by end-2012
November 2012 saw healthy results from nearly all the regions in the world exempt the US accord-ing to the study which stated that the UK welcomed 10 percent more tourists from Europe and 12 percent from the rest of the world
20 TOUR UK
MARCH 2013
Yates expressed great satisfaction for this success stressing that 2012 was no ordinary year for inbound tourism so to announce the best November in five years is an achievement
AN AMPLE CHOICE
These healthy results are evident in the hotel sector across the country partially attributed to the relative-ly strong MENA market as Daniel Simmons execu-tive director HotelREZ noted further indicating that the hotel currently has a presence in Dubai and as a result is strategically developing the MENA markets to support the membersrsquo growth
o-y improvement from the top five Middle Eastern mar-kets a 104 percent y-o-y upsurge from Saudi Arabian visitors and a 33 percent y-o-y rise from UAE visitors
Assuring that the MENA guest is well-catering to London Hilton on Park Lane trains its staff to pro-vide the welcome that visitors from the region have come to expect equipping the team with the skills to handle tailored requests according to Brayshaw who elaborated ldquoThere is a dedicated guest relations teams for Middle Eastern guests with Arabic-speak-ing team members Facilities are available for visitorsrsquo private chefs to cook within the hotelsrsquo kitchens and serve their own dishes to their employer Arabic TV stations are also availablerdquo
BRINGING IN BUSINESS
Further boosting MENA tourism to the UK on March 31 British Airways (BA) will launch an additional four flights to and from Amman increasing the frequency from dai-ly to 11 per week ldquoJordan is an important market for Brit-ish Airways and we are thrilled with the excellent growth we have seen here since re-introducing Amman to our route network We are keen to further enhance our op-erations to and from Jordan and the announcement only consolidates our commitment to the Jordanian marketrdquo commented Paolo De Renzis area commercial manager Middle East and Central Asia BA
In addition Qatar Airways has launched its inau-gural long-haul Boeing 787 Dreamliner service on the Doha - London Heathrow route becoming the first airline to operate regular scheduled flights onboard the state-of-the art aircraft to and from the UK
Akbar Al Baker CEO Qatar Airways said ldquoThe Doha - Heathrow route is one of our most popular interna-tional routes and it was only fitting that we deploy our new 787 to and from Londonrdquo
INVESTING IN THE UK
Heathrow Airport is hailed as the most popular gateway for travellers to the UK recording a total of 518 million passengers having passed through its terminal in Janu-ary alone a record for the month which saw an increase of 03 percent over the corresponding month in 2012
Meanwhile load factors also set a record for the month under review up 21 percentage points on Janu-ary 2012 reaching 70 percent Domestic traffic was down 58 percent however European traffic rose 18 percent and Middle Eastern traffic also climbed the trajectory level by 33 percent over the same month in 2012
Moreover Heathrow Airport recently announced GBP3 billion (USD46 billion) worth of investments in the airport in addition to the GBP11 billion (USD168 billion) which has been invested since 2003 and these form part of the establishmentrsquos business plans for Q6 the regulatory period which covers 2014-2019 and they represent one of the largest private-sector investments in UK infrastructure
The plans include the completion of Terminal 2 and the early works on extending the building the development of a new integrated baggage system and the construction of new taxiways and stands which will allow Heathrow Airport to accommodate more of the most modern aircraft
Colin Matthews CEO Heathrow Airport com-mented ldquoHeathrow is the UKrsquos only hub airport and a strategically important national infrastructure asset Heathrow faces stiff competition from other Europe-an hubs and we must continue to improve the service we offers passengers and airlines [] Our plan for a further GBP3 billion (USD46 billion) of private-sector investment will further improve the airport for pas-sengers The plan represents good value for money for airlines and passengers and comes at no cost to taxpayersrdquo
Guests from the UAE Turkey Egypt Saudi Arabia and Kuwait along with Cyprus contributed to two percent of the hotelrsquos total reservations percentage results for 2012 this according to Simmons who also reported a 20 percent year-on-year (y-o-y) increase in revenue ldquoOur hotel members benefit from a 90 per-cent increase on IDS (Internet distribution services) and direct connect bookings a 35 percent increase on GDS (global distribution systems) bookings and a 60 percent growth on CRO (central reservations of-fices) and voice bookingsrdquo
Commenting on the propertyrsquos latest develop-ments Simmons revealed the recently-launched MICE Desk which he pinpointed is an additional solution to HotelREZrsquos member hotels and will help boost revenue
ldquoAt HotelREZ we are very confident that our new MICE Desk will raise awareness and continue to increase reservations for our hotel members from meetings incentives conventions and events pack-ages To complete the consumer booking cycle Ho-telREZ is launching REZanalyst a new social media and review analytics tool for hotels to help manage their online reputationrdquo he concluded
Also showing signs of strong performance is Lon-don Hilton on Park Lane thanks to the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympics whose international committee chose the property as the headquarter ho-tel this according to Ashleigh Brayshaw marketing and communications manager London Hilton on Park Lane
With one out of four of the hotelrsquos guests hailing from the MENA region Brayshaw pointed out that in 2011 the property witnessed particularly high growth in visitor numbers from the region with a 21 percent y-
Moreover the UK especially London offers a full range of activities according to Brayshaw who observed that the Middle Eastern guest is increasingly organised with the time spent in the capital and one who enjoys combining a variety of activities ldquoPopular activities in-clude sending children to summer schools in Regentrsquos Park attending business meetings visiting property shopping for the latest trends and enjoying the rich va-riety of entertainment that London has to offer Families often use managers to organise their time with London Hilton on Park Lanersquos hotel management working di-rectly with guests to assistrdquo she further noted
Moreover Travelodge one of the UKrsquos leading hotel brands is set to benefit from a GBP223 million (USD341 million) brand investment with the opening of 14 new hotels which includes two properties in Spain the creation of 420 new jobs and the launch-ing of a new room concept which has been designed by its customers ldquoThis capital expenditure will help us to grow our business strengthen our product offer-ing and make Travelodge the best value hotel chain in the UKrdquo Grant Hearn CEO Travelodge revealed
ldquoAs part of this yearrsquos investment we have worked with our customers to create a new Travelodge room which offers more comfort quality and stylerdquo he contin-ued adding that this enhanced product combined with economy pricing will ensure Travelodge is the smart choice for leisure and business travellers
Furthermore in order to help attract new custom-ers Travelodge is also investing over GBP12 million (USD 182 million) in digital and online marketing this year as well as over GBP1 million (USD15 million) in a website refresh later this year
London
22 EXCLUSIVE Luxury Travel
MARCH 2013
Living the DreamLuxury travel is all about mak-ing guests feel unique and privi-leged It is about offering them the chance to get to know the world in extravagance and having them live above the ordinary It is about spoiling them with opulent travel and hospitality services something which is without doubt growing in size and quality
I n late December 2012 the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) released its Travel Trends Report 2013 developed in collaboration with UKrsquos Foreign and Commonwealth Office pre-dicting that consumers will continue to look for
good value in breaks for this year rather than cut back on their holidays
Mark Tanzer CEO ABTA stated that the majority of British holidaymakers are reluctant to give up their annual holiday under any circumstances while strong forward bookings for the luxury and all-inclusive sec-tors are being witnessed
Speaking at the 2011 edition of the annual Interna-tional Luxury Travel Market (ILTM)rsquos Ultratravel Forum Chris Sanderson strategy and insight director The Future Laboratory a trend forecasting company had announced predictions stating that the lsquoluxuriansrsquo of the future would not be interested in too much choice ldquoThere is an en-hanced sense of just being todayrsquos luxury consumer rath-er than being surrounded by possessionsrdquo he explained
AUTHENTICALLY PRIVILIGED
Views corroborating Sandersonrsquos were voiced by John McGee research and communications manager Ar-tisans of Leisure a luxury travel company specialis-ing in exclusive customised private tours around the world McGee believes that the primary reason his customers travel is to get authentic experiences that introduce them to the local traditions and people while high-quality hotels encourage them to travel but are not primary incentives further pinpointing the latter as being the interest in experiencing local
culture cuisine history and lifestyle With reference to the Middle East McGee noted
that his agency is intrigued by places like Abu Dhabi and its considered approach to developing new mu-seums and cultural attractions
Defining the demands and needs of luxury trav-ellers as being genuine and local experiences Filip Boyen chief operating officer Orient-Express said ldquoFor luxury tourists travel is not just about lying on a beach or by the pool anymore It is about combining relaxation in a beautiful setting with learning and dis-covery They want to come away with an experience or having learnt something new that they can come home and tell their friends all aboutrdquo
Boyen added that the Middle East is relatively new to the world of tourism a place many will want to discover and consequently this will create a demand for luxury ho-tels already emerging in many parts of the region
Travellers who spend a lot of money for their trip expect and demand the best they need to be cared for in every step of the way while feeling confident that they are dealing with someone experienced to respond to their requests according to Daniel Essex CEO Century Travel who also explained that many luxury travellers are looking for something small and attentive and a much more personal approach
LET US SPOIL YOU
The growing number of luxury hotels and amenities has led to an increased interest with Canadian travel-lers to the Middle East according to Kathy Stewart director of media and public relations Butterfield amp Robinson a Toronto-based agency Aside from authen-ticity she stressed the importance of maintaining the unique qualities of the region for further development
into a luxury destination for global travellers ldquoEspecial-ly North Americans who are travelling a long distance to the Middle East they are not looking for the same experience they can get at home They want Middle Eastern food people landscapes and architecture to be an integral part of the experiencerdquo
Hotel Missoni Kuwait benefits from a healthy lux-ury-demanding domestic market which represents 55 percent of its business followed by Saudi Arabia with 13 percent and the UAE with 10 percent accord-ing to Alfio Bernardini general manager Hotel Mis-soni Kuwait who said ldquo[At the hotel] everything con-tributes to the depth of the experience Hotel Missoni is designed to be genuine and uncomplicated offer-ing those luxury touches that really matter because they genuinely enrich the experience of stayingrdquo
Six Senses Zighy Bay the indigenous village style accommodation in Oman has observed an increase of 12 percent in occupancy levels throughout 2012 while the growth of the Middle East clientele is appar-ent after the development of family-specific offerings attested Guillaume de Lasteyrie executive assistant manager Six Senses Zighy Bay He believes that peace and calm is the most appreciated value of the property while the hotelrsquos offerings are tempting for guests cit-ing the example of the saltwater pool carrying a min-eral composition of 15-20 percent comparable to the Dead Sea whose concentration is 27 percent
Another instance of Arab opulence is Eastern Man-groves Hotel amp Spa by Anantara in Abu Dhabi a prop-erty which assures that luxury is interrelated with in-dulgence across all of its services offered with an acute focus on detail which Nehme Darwiche hotel manag-er Eastern Mangroves Hotel amp Spa by Anantara report-ed is of utter importance Darwiche further supports that the Middle East will not only continue to develop as a luxury destination but will sit on the top of luxury ranks and become a pioneer in such offerings ldquoThe de-mand on luxury products will continue to increase as the tastes of sophisticated societies continues to reach new limits Luxury will not be in big numbers but will be in the power to obtain rarity the Middle East under-stands that very well and the developments planned
Maria Kazeli writes
Hotel Missoni Kuwait
23EXCLUSIVELuxury Travel
MARCH 2013
from now until 2020 have luxury travellers as their tar-getrdquo Darwiche concluded
An upcoming superior property in the region is Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah set to open in May Rudi Jagersbacher president Middle East and Africa Hilton Worldwide explained that the hotel as an up-scale property will have to deliver on two counts experiences and expectations Observing that travel behaviour has changed in the past years and placing emphasis on value for money he further noted ldquo[Wal-dorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah] is palatial exclusive and will offer the highest level of service as well as state-of-the-art amenities but that is not enough We have to ensure that our guests consider their experience as an investment worth repeating and sharingrdquo
The peak of extravagance is reached with a variety of private jet services throughout the region which cater for business and leisure travellers alike Mark Hardman op-erations director ExecuJet Middle East pointed out that the companyrsquos clientele is as diverse as the regionrsquos popu-lation but private aviation offers valued features such as time efficiency security privacy and convenience
He admitted that the most popular destinations for Dubai-based ExecuJet are in the Middle East with Riyadh Jeddah Beirut and Baghdad occupying the top spots while Geneva London and Nice are the favoured European hubs
Similarly Hardy Sohanpal director NasJet agreed that Middle East travellers use private jet services for efficiency flexibility and privacy while he accurately underlined that through emphasising the luxury ben-efits many private jet users build relationships with their key business contacts and staff by giving them access to private aircraft
ON THE RISE
Providing her own view Stewart reiterated that it is important not to overdevelop and retain authenticity of the Arab culture in the region
Along parallel lines Essex believes that the major-ity across the region always had the opinion that big is beautiful but this is not enough he further stressed as the industry professionals in the Middle East need to consider the boutique options However he lauded Abu Dhabirsquos development on Saadiyat Island and the introduction of cultural arts which he believes will at-tract the international and discerning travellers
Boyen deems that the region will experience ad-vancement and will emerge as a luxury destination something he attributes to improved air connectivity ldquoDefinitely with new airline routes from the Middle East launching all the time such as Etihad Airwaysrsquo new routes to Washington and Satildeo Paulo which are
launching this year the destination is bound to de-velop furtherrdquo he continued
Sharing the same opinion that the expansion of airlines and airports lead to such positive develop-ments Bernardini claimed that despite the fact that the Middle East will develop further to become a des-tination for high-calibre tourists not all countries in the region have the capacity and the stability to do so However he further explained a few hotspots will enjoy this blessing due to the money available in this part of the world which will result in the building of super high-quality hotels and thus attract a good number of luxury travellers
De Lasteyrie pointed out that even though the region was under the spotlight for some time the future will see even greater lavish suggestions and-maintaining that ldquoThe Middle East has been since years a luxury destination to the eyes of many though the pinnacle of luxury is yet to come Smaller and personalised service hotels and resorts from around the world are now willing to implement themselves in untouched locations creating a new momentum Much of the Middle East is still in the first tiers of luxu-ry based on opulent luxury and the glitz and glamour that first come with wealth We are now beginning to see affluent luxury and more distinguished spending on art collectibles and sustainabilityrdquo
24 SPECIAL REPORT Waterparks
MARCH 2013
In for a RideWaterparks are a popular attraction among locals and tourist in the Middle East With promising weather throughout most of the year waterparks offer visitors a fun family outing in addition to an array of promotions and events Travel Trade Monthly explores what makes waterparks the perfect attraction
F rom fun rides food and beverage outlets and retail offerings to gaming outlets and social events waterparks offer a safe fun and friendly environment for the family groups and events planners from all walks of life
Wild Wadi Waterpark Dubai is a good example whose team is committed to providing a fun-filled service that will make a lasting impression according to Chris Perry general manager Wild Wadi Waterpark who added that there is a major focus on using every opportunity to ensure that the guestsrsquo decision to visit is rewarded with plenty of time to play less time to queue and more time on the rides
Meanwhile Ice Land Water Park Ras Al Khaimah is receiving full promotional support from the emir-atersquos government and especially by its tourism body this according to Vagelyn Federico deputy director Ice Land Waterpark who added that it has been high-lighted as one of the major destinations in the UAE by all concerned tourism entities
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is the latest entry into the regionrsquos proliferating world of waterparks and accord-ing to Mike Oswald general manager Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi it rivals the worldrsquos best waterparks offering 43 rides slides and attractions ldquoIt has been an incredible journey to this point and unbelievably satisfying to watch the peoplersquos reaction to what has been created We are
support of the tourism body in Ras Al Khaimahrdquo Federico stated
In the summer major visitors to the waterpark hail from Asia as well as locally whereas during the winter months the CIS market plays a big role in pro-moting the park with its tourists in the UAE
In order to boost visitor arrivals to the waterpark Federico pointed out that during the winter the team is currently working for a family barbecue night with some other attractions to lure in more families
Moreover she indicated that the months ahead seem even more vibrant as she further demonstrated ldquoThis year will be more promising as we strengthened our ties with more travel operators inbound and out-bound Additionally we are currently working with dif-ferent airlines travel operators hotels and other tour-ism entities to promote Ice Land giving them also more benefits in promoting us to different market segmentsrdquo
Giving something more to visitors the water-parkrsquos team is currently working with skilled games and other dry rides for people to enjoy at the facility after park operations ldquoWe are also a preferred venue for concerts as we have the perfect place to accom-modate up to 6000 people in one area Ice Land Wa-ter Park is just one of the offerings of WOWRAK and we are currently working with other expansions such as resorts ice skating cinema complex hypermarket and other amusement activities which are planned to open in the next few yearsrdquo concluded Federico
Likewise Perry also announced continuous growth over the years for Wild Wadi Waterpark with 2012 prov-ing very successful He attributed this achievement to events such as ladies nights Ramadan nights and the new Jumeirah Sceirah which launched in September 2012 having proved to be a favourite amongst thrill seekers whereby one drops through a trap door from a height of 32m into the waiting water tunnel and races down the slide at 80km per hour
ldquoWe aim for this trend to continue this year as we have a variety of new attractive promotions and events to suit all our guestsrsquo needsrdquo Perry further in-formed ldquoWe also launched our online ticketing system this month to offer faster entry to our guestsrdquo he added guaranteeing guests with a faster entry process allow-ing all those with a printed ticket to jump the queue
Wild Wadi Waterpark is open all year round and ca-ters to guests from all over the world ldquoDuring the hot summer months (May-October) most of our guests come from the GCC countries whereby during the colder season (November-April) our guests are mainly from Europe
ldquoThe park is also a popular destination for UAE resi-dents since we periodically offer discounts to all resi-dents as well as annualseason passes that allow them to visit as many times as they want for a cheaper raterdquo he said
Perry also pointed out that during the month of May the waterpark offers its very popular family-only mornings every Friday at discounted rates so that they can enjoy the full facilities of the park when it is not too busy and of course when it is more safe and secure a factor which he assured is of the highest priority
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi
Dominique Christou writes
confident that people will have seen nothing like it before and we look forward to the waves of visitors expected to arrive now that the park is officially openrdquo
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi which inaugurated on January 19 is built around a central character named Dana whose crew won the battle in its quest to re-store a pearl to its rightful place which has ensured prosperity to the mythical Emirati village and marked what is expected to be a successful start to Yas Water-world Abu Dhabirsquos commercial operations
Set across 15ha on Yas Island the park offers thrills for the whole family and visitors will experience fun and adventure on rides and attractions such as the worldrsquos longest fastest tornado waterslide the regionrsquos first looping waterslide and the worldrsquos first interactive water and laser rollercoaster According to Oswald Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is expected to welcome a total of 700000 in its first year of operation
CALLING ALL THRILL SEEKERS
During 2012 waterparks across the region expe-rienced a healthy increase in visitors across a variety of markets
ldquoThe waterpark performed better in 2012 compared to our first year in 2011 when it comes to statistics in vari-ous nationalities locally and internationally through the
26 INVESTIGATION
MARCH 2013
Visiting Friends amp Relatives
Maria Kazeli writes
T he annual review for 2011 by the World Travel amp Tourism Council (WTTC) attributes social and cultural benefits to tourism indicating that the industry directly helps to keep or bring families and social networks together
With special regards to the visiting friends and relatives (VFR) segment the review supports that a significant proportion of all international trips which reaches up to a third of all arrivals for some large de-veloped markets are made in order to visit friends andor relatives
Globalisation has caused people to spread all over the globe but returning back home occasion-ally is a necessity The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) draws direct links between migration and travelling to visit relatives and in the 2009 Executive Summary entitled Tourism and Migration ndash Explor-
year in review which covers up to September 2012 reveals that the highest figures for the VFR segment appeared in January 2012 with 267 percent of 47610 incoming tourists being reported as VFR
Egyptrsquos outbound travel market linked to VFR oc-cupies a major part of business for travel agencies Feryal El Gohary general manager Bahi Travel ex-plained adding that almost half of the agencyrsquos cli-entele are VFR She also expressed the view that this market is a growing force for airlines and hoteliers alike while the latter she pinpointed will succeed only if they create a new strategy of very advanta-geous attractive long-stay offers
Tarek Moshref managing director Pronto Tours an Egypt-based tour operator supported that the VFR market is the third largest segment after holiday and business and for this reason local travel agents and operators should improve their services in order to capture and develop its potential by offering new options and programmes
Stressing the cost-driven aspect of the VFR mar-ket Adel Taha general manager leisure travel Kimidar Tours an Egyptian travel agency destination manage-ment company and ground handler said that VFR travellers aim at low travel expenditures in order to spend their money on leisure activities at the destina-tion and not on transportation With regards to the accommodation factor he added ldquoMost of the travel-lers whether leisure or VFR would tend to seek hotel accommodation in order to benefit from services pro-vided such as room cleaning and meals instead of self-served apartments However we can say they still seek low-cost accommodations with some specificationsrdquo
VFR IN THE SKIES
Commenting on the results of the British CAArsquos study Harry Bush group director economic regulation UK CAA had said that air travel played a key role in enabling peoplersquos relocating principally through the emergence of low-cost air travel and that the result-ing VFR passengers are increasingly important con-sumers of air travel According to an aviation analysis report by CAPA - Centre for Aviation a provider of independent aviation market intelligence the Mid-dle Eastern low-cost carriers are trying to adapt their model to the regional situation with their higher den-sity configurations targeting migrant workers and VFR traffic flows from North Africa and South Asia into the Gulf region
Major airlines have taken this trend into consid-eration and cater for this market by tailoring their offers Paolo De Renzis area commercial manager Middle East and Central Asia British Airways said ldquoThe VFR segment is extremely important to British Airways particularly in the Middle East where a large number of our customers are VFR travellers This is a region where families are extremely close and this tight-knit family culture means that we see a lot of VFR traffic across our Middle Eastern routes We also have a large expat community in the UAE which con-tributes significantly to this segmentrdquo
Unconventional TravellersMany prefer to spend their holiday visiting their friends and relatives in their home country if they are expa-triates or some other destination in order to spend time with their loved ones The focus of the travel is not cultural sightseeing and luxury ac-commodation but low airfare and budget lodgings
ing the Relationship between Two Global Phenomena compiled by UNWTO the two concepts are analysed by stressing that growth in international tourism and mobility has given rise to tourism-led migration with examples including the movement of male labourers from South Asia to meet the construction demands of the tourism boom in the UAE
The research states that migration has led directly and indirectly to significant growth in tourism to both origin and destination countries through increased visibility especially in the VFR sector and to the de-velopment of new tourism infrastructure and trans-port routes in and between countries
UKrsquos Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) also lays empha-sis on the importance of the specific market having published an in-depth study on air passengers visiting friends or family The investigation report titled Interna-tional Relations ndash The Growth in Air Travel to Visit Friends or Relatives indicated that the robust growth in VFR re-flected trends such as labour mobility and migration while predicting that due to these trends the countryrsquos GDP will affect future VFR passenger traffic
VISITING MENA
At the 6th UNWTOPacific Asia Travel Association Fo-rum on Tourism Trends and Outlook held in October 2012 in China it was revealed that 36 percent of the Middle Eastrsquos outbound market constitutes the VFR segment
Some insights on inbound VFR trends concern-ing the hotel industry in the region were provided by Darroch Crawford managing director Middle East and Africa Premier Inn Hotels who highlighted that this market is highly important but also very difficult to measure as bookings of this nature come through different channels His estimations on guests travel-ling to visit family members in the region and residing in Premier Inn properties amount to seven percent of the total clientele Crawford further indicated that the largest Middle Eastern feeder markets for the brand are Lebanon Syria and Jordan
Meanwhile in Saudi Arabia domestic tourism has been the primary focus of tourism development pol-icy in the Kingdom and according to Saudi Tourism Outlook issued by the Tourism Information and Re-search Centre part of Saudi Commission for Tourism amp Antiquities which analyses July 2012rsquos figures the local segment contributed to 114 million overnight trips in the month under review out of which 398 percent hailed from the VFR segment In addition 293 percent of the 171 million outbound trips taken from Saudi Arabia during July 2012 were categorised as the VFR market
The Statistical Service of Cyprus disclosed that ac-cording to the latest data available concerning Sep-tember 2012 the island received 335352 visitors out of which 97 percent were VFR The same data for the
28 WHOS MOVED
MARCH 2013
ANDREW ABRAM
KONSTANTINOS KOUROTSIDIS
Andrew Abram has been named general manager at Raffles Dubai Abram joins the propertyrsquos team from Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group where over the past dec-ade he has held various positions He joined the company in 2003 as resident manager of The Excelsior Hotel Hong Kong and went on to lead the renovation and reopen-ing of Mandarin Oriental Jakarta holding the role of general man-ager for eight years He most re-cently served as general manager
of Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhavi in Chiang Mai Thailand Having also held the position of corporate director of sales and marketing at Jumeirah Group in the Middle East where he was responsible for the branding and launching of several projects Abram brings an insiderrsquos knowl-edge to Raffles Dubai
Konstantinos Kourotsidis has been named general manager at Radisson Blu Martinez Hotel Beirut Kourotsidis started his career in the hospitality industry in 1996 in food and beverage at Copthorne Hotel Hanover In 2000 he joined The Rezidor Ho-tel Group where he held various positions across Europe and the Middle East including at Radis-son Blu Hotel Hanover Radission
Blu Hotel amp Spa Galway Radisson Blu Resort Schloss Fleesensee Radisson Blu Resort El Quseir Radisson Blu Hotel Alexandria and Radisson Blu Resort Sharjah After several task force assign-ments in Egypt Libya and UAE Kourotsidis was promoted to general manager at Radisson Blu Al Mahary Hotel Tripoli Most re-cently he worked as acting gen-eral manager at Radisson Blu Re-sort Fujairah
Abram brings an insiderrsquos knowledge to
Raffles Dubai
MARCH 2013
30 TRAVEL TALK
MARCH 2013
LEON SALINEL
WAEL EL BEHI
KARIM NAHAS
Executive assistant manager of sales and marketing Dusit Thani Dubai
General manager Ramada Downtown Dubai
General managar Rose Rayhaan by Rotana
ldquo2012 was a very successful year for us We were not only successful in meeting our key performance indicators most notably by exceeding both our gross operating profit and gross operating revenue Working with Inves-tors in People throughout the year also ensured that we performed highly in our employee satisfaction survey we even ranked at the top of our group in this regards [hellip] We are now drawing to a close on our rooms renovation and have just welcomed our new general manager so it is an exciting year to come for us which will see some changerdquo
ldquoI am very pleased to be appointed as executive board mem-ber [of the Tunisian Business Council] I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress in [the cur-rent year] I hope to play a part in creating strong community bound by camaraderie accord and reliance among Tunisian nationals in the UAErdquo
ldquo2012 was a record year for Rose Rayhaan total revenue growth was almost 17 percent versus 2011 [hellip] The hotel continued to focus on the GCC markets with the Saudi market on the top list and strong performance of the UK France and Russian markets were witnessed UAE local market in both leisure and corporate seg-ments also performed very well We are planning to fo-cus on new emerging markets like South Africa Brazil and Turkey Competition will be indeed stiffen this year however I guess there will be business for everybodyrdquo
I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress
TRAVEL TALK IS YOUR SPACE ndash 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
editorialtraveltradeweeklytravel
trav
el t
alk
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y
our
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e
31RENDEZVOUS
MARCH 2013
Q amp A with Rana El KhouryWith her recent appointment Rana El Khoury general manager Le Gray Beirut became one of Lebanonrsquos first women to hold such a high position at a five-star hotel and here she shares her views on the future prospects of the Lebanese hotel sector
Rana El KhouryGeneral manager Le Gray Beirut
Travel Trade Monthly How would you describe 2012 in a few words Rana El Khoury The best way to describe 2012 would certainly be lsquochallengingrsquo a challenge that could be called survival until we see better days Controlling costs while maintaining superior ser-vice quality and competitiveness is key to our con-tinuous success in the Lebanese market The hotel performance could be rated as fair for 2012 greatly impacted by high level of business during the first five months of the year This has allowed us to stay ahead of the game for the remainder of the year although November 2012 was the toughest month since the opening of the hotel in 2009 Despite all Le Gray has managed in 2012 to retain its number one position in occupancy and RevPAR in the Leba-nese market
Travel Trade Monthly The hotel will soon em-bark on a major extension project Tell us a little bit about this
Rana El Khoury Le Gray is preparing to kick off its extension that will include a larger lobby with a lob-by lounge a chocolate room banquet space a 35-seat movie theatre and an additional 18 rooms The project should reach completion by end of 2014
Travel Trade Monthly Prior to your appoint-ment you served as hotel manager How does your new position differ from your former role
Rana El Khoury My previous position as hotel manager was focused on the operations aspect of the hotel as general manager my responsibilities enclose a more general view of the hotel including the administrative and strategic side of the hotel as well as the link between the owning company and management company
My priorities for the coming year is diversify-ing our target markets on the international and local scene to maximise hotel occupancy and to strengthen the positioning of Le Gray on the lo-cal market as a destination for its restaurants and bars whilst building on the existing strong team at Le Gray and getting the right people together to move forward with positivity and vigilance to counter these challenging times
The advice I would give young women ready to climb the corporate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the dif-ferent positions they fill throughout their careers
Travel Trade Monthly Your appointment makes you one of the first Lebanese women to hold this position at a five-star hotel How challenging is it to hold such a high position at an already well-established hotel
Rana El Khoury The hospitality industry is very challenging and requires sacrifice on all levels What I can say is that women have their own speci-ficity and they can bring a different vision and new perspectives to the hospitality business The advice I would give young women ready to climb the cor-porate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the different positions they fill throughout their careers this can only make them stronger and certainly more cred-ible when they reach executive level positions
Travel Trade Monthly Over the past few years the Lebanese tourism industry has faced a num-ber of serious challenges What are your expec-tations for the current year Rana El Khoury Lebanon has always been a pre-ferred destination attracting tourists from the Arab and Gulf countries and with increasing stability and security we do see a solid recovery
Given the complexity of the Lebanese market improvement can occur overnight As seen in May 2008 following the Doha-agreement occupancy rates jumped back then from 30 to 90 percent within one week
This year remains uncertain due to the volatil-ity of the political situation in the region the key is to remain sustainable and be ready for the sudden surge in business
Le Gray Beirut
32 NEWS amp EVENTS
MARCH 2013
EVENTS Sponsored by
Following a refurbishment to better present the historical phases of the emiratersquos auto manu-facturing sector Sharjah Classic Cars Museum originally launched in 2008 by HH Sheikh Sul-tan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi ruler of Sharjah reopened in January by Sheikh Essam bin Saqr Al Qassimi chairman Sharjah rulerrsquos office
On the opening day of the event Manal Ataya director general Sharjah Museums Department said ldquoThe aim of refurbishing this museum was to allow us to re-evaluate the previous design and interpretation and improve it significantlyrdquo
She further pointed out that the museum now helps visitors to appreciate the aesthetic and historical value of classic cars in a space that inte-grates a new childrens interactive area and a gal-lery space for temporary exhibitions
The museum boasts 85 classic cars two mo-torcycles and five bicycles as well as a model of an old car and an engine to allow visitors to familiarise themselves with parts of an engine and their function while it is divided into five sections and features an area for activities and interactive games
Following the launch of the UAE branch of the Airline Owners and Pi-lotsrsquo Association (AOPA) at Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2012 Yousif Al Hammadi president AOPA UAE has invited representatives from international AOPA branches to attend a workshop dedicated to discussing and debating gen-eral aviation issues in the region
The meeting the first of its kind will run parallel to this yearrsquos Abu Dhabi Air Expo and will take place at the Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies Al Bateen Executive Airport on March 6
It is anticipated that up to 30 representatives from AOPA US AOPA UK AOPA Germany and AOPA France will meet with their colleagues from the UAE during the one-day event to share knowledge and debate a variety of topics including air space regulations aerial non-commercial operations certification and maintenance issues and pilot licensing
AOPA members will also be able to maximise their time by attending the Air Expo exhibition the Middle Eastrsquos only dedicated general aviation event to meet pilots from the region and learn about the latest trends
Sharjah Reopens Car Museum AOPA UAE to Hold Meeting with International Colleagues
ITB BerlinBerlin Germany March 6 ndash 10 2013(wwwitb-berlinde)A business-to-business platform for trade visitors which provides the possibility to discover the whole world within a few hours
MITT MoscowMoscow Russia March 20 ndash 23 2013(wwwmittru)Russiarsquos leading and largest travel exhibition with over 3000 participat-ing companies and 197 destinations a key meeting place for industry professionals
The Gulf Incentive Business Travel amp Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) Abu Dhabi UAE March 25 ndash 27 2013(wwwgibtmcom)A leading event for the meetings incentives and business travel industry in the GCC region which can truly unlock all participantsrsquo business potential
Saudi Travel amp Tourism Investment Market (STTIM)Riyadh Saudi Arabia March 31 ndash April 4 2013(wwwsttimcomsa)The event covers all travel and tourism investments aspects in the Kingdom through a combined conference and exhibition
International Destination Expo (IDE)Dubai UAE April 4 ndash 7 2013(wwwastaorgevents)Organised by the American Society of Travel Agents IDE is a destination training programme where participants can meet local suppliers and built profitable long-lasting relationships
Arabian Travel Market (ATM)Dubai UAE May 6 ndash 9 2013(wwwarabiantravelmarketcom)The travel and tourism event unlocking business potential within the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals
Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies
18 ONSITE Palestine
MARCH 2013
Forging Ahead with Pride PALESTINE IN BRIEF
Administrative Centres
Ramallah Gaza
Accepted Currencies
US Dollar (USD) Jordanian Dollar (JOD)
Language Arabic
Palestine rich in culture deep in history blessed with holy sites and highly worthy of its popularity amongst all travellers alike is a des-tination which never seizes to amaze the world of travel and tourismI n 2012 Palestine witnessed an increase in the
number of inbound tourism by some 225 mil-lion visitors 18 percent higher than that record-ed in 2011 and this paved the way for a boost of 25 percent in overnight stays in hotels and
guesthouses across the country to reach 18 millionIn order to keep visitor levels high the Ministry
of Tourism and Antiquities together with stakehold-ers have implemented numerous projects in a bid to increase traffic to the region
One example is Jenin Tourist Center which is scheduled to open later this year and is set to add to the improvement of Jenin as a tourist destination to attract both local and international visitors with a fo-cus on the quality of the arearsquos residential life and the creation of economic opportunities through tourism
With Poland being heralded as the destinationrsquos second major feeder market in 2012 having welcomed 200000 Polish visitors throughout the year Palestine acted as a partner country for the first time in one of
the global renowned travel trade shows TOUR SALON Poland which gave the Middle Eastern country the opportunity to showcase itself to what is being recog-nised as one of the most promising markets
With regards to Palestinersquos vast selection of accommo-dation offerings the country provides an array of friendly and welcoming hospitality services and this is evident in the healthy performance results reported in 2012
Grand Park Hotel which opened towards the end of September 2012 after a USD13 million renovation transformed it into a five-star property from a four-star recorded 50 percent occupancy in the first six months in operation this according to Mohammed Zomlot general manager Grand Park Hotel
ldquoWe expect perfor-mance to be much bet-ter this year as the hotel is very well-known and guests now know we have had this renovation and want to come and see the new lookrdquo he added
With the majority of the hotelrsquos guests hail-ing from Palestine itself Europe America and the Middle East Zomlot pointed out that the ho-tel attends international conferences sets out marketing strategies and also participates in exhi-bitions in order to keep figures high and promote the hotel as a perfect choice for travellers
Further growing its presence in the region Grand Park Hotel is set to open two new hotels in Palestine in the second quarter of the year and is to be the first local ho-tel chain in the country
Thomas Brugnatelli general manager The American Colony Hotel also revealed the recent
completion of what he described as the spectacular Palm House building alongside other changes which came onboard to cater to the propertyrsquos main clien-tele 45 percent of which Brugnatelli revealed hailed from Europe mostly from France Italy Germany UK and Spain while the US segment claimed a 35 percent market share ldquoFor over a hundred years The American Colony Hotel has a proud reputation of one of the most exceptional and famous hotels in the Middle Eastrdquo he concluded
Royal Court Suites Hotel is yet another property which completed a solid 2012 in terms of business performance as Joseph Ayoub general manager Royal Court Suites Hotel announced who further indicated that with new additions to management and plans for further upgrades the hotel expects its performance to continue to improve into the future ldquoThe Royal Court Suites Hotel will be undergoing re-modeling to our lobby and outside terrace which we are excited forrdquo he expressed
Catering to MENA guests of which 20 percent make up the propertyrsquos entire clientele base who pre-dominantly come from Jordan as well as Palestine it-self the hotel provides a highly service-orientated staff and a location that puts MENA travellers in the heart of Ramallah close to its best attractions and provides them with the opportunity to experience a land sacred to Muslims and Christians boasting holy sites scattered across its land Further to local and regional travellers the hotel is also popular among international organisa-tions non-governmental segments and business trav-ellers arriving from Europe US and Japan
Commenting on the ways through which fel-low professionals can work to improve visitor arriv-als Ayoub advised ldquoHotel operators in Palestine can boost the countryrsquos tourism industry by running well managed operations that provide high quality ser-vice and up to date properties that are exposed to the outside world through proper marketingrdquo
This year also looks to be better than 2012 for Golden Park Resort during which the property wit-nessed average performance levels and occupancy rates of 55 percent among the Czechs Slovakians Indians Sri Lankans Nigerians Polish and Egyp-tians according to Ibrahim Giacamam general man-ager Golden Park Resort who announced changes throughout the hotel in the coming months
ldquoWe are renovating parts of the hotel to compete with local marketsrdquo he revealed adding that this will include a full renovation of the lobby as well as the rooms ldquoThere is competition from new hotels open-ing in Bethlehem thus we want to keep our guests happyrdquo Giacamam concluded
Dominique Christou writes
19TOURUK
MARCH 2013
Dominique Christou writes
A ccording to the latest World Travel amp Tourism Council Economic Impact report published in 2012 direct contribution of travel and tourism to the UKrsquos GDP in 2011 reached GBP35 billion (USD54 billion) 23
percent of the countryrsquos total GDP with a forecasted rise of 13 percent in 2012 and an annual increase of 41 percent over the next decade when the indus-try is estimated to be contributing GBP531 billion (USD81 billion) to the UKrsquos GDP in 2022
Patricia Yates director of strategy VisitBritain ex-pected 31 million inbound visits to the UK for 2012 giving the destination as Yates described a perfect foundation to see continued strong growth in interna-tional tourism for this year contributing revenue to the UK economy and creating new jobs across the country
VisitBritain recently ventured yet again into the GCC following the successful execution and delivery of the BritAgent online training programme in the UAE Saudi Arabia and Kuwait
Meticulously Personalised
UK IN BRIEF
Capital London
Currency British Pound (GBP)
Language English
The UK has long been an admired choice among MENA travellers highly accredited to the typically distin-guished English hospitality world-renowned shopping outlets quality selection of entertainment plethora of family activities and last but not least the overabundance of pictur-esque parks scattered across the country
The UK tourism boardrsquos global online training initia-tive which has been designed to meet the needs of travel trade lsquofront-linersrsquo from new starters to experienced sales personnel was recently launched in Qatar at the British Embassy Doha a programme which upon completion grants the agents with BritAgent status signifying their expertise and knowledge about travel to Britain
ldquoBritain is already a major beneficiary of outbound travel from the Gulfrdquo confirmed Sumathi Ramanathan regional manager Asia Pacific and Middle East Visit-Britain ldquoVisitors from the Gulf region are a major source of revenue for the UK from January to September 2012 these visitors spent nearly AED55 billion (USD15 billion) already showing a seven percent increase over 2011 From 2006 through to 2011 Qatar has shown an outstanding increase in visitor numbers of 59 percent and the spend per night significantly outshines all the other countriesrdquo Ramanathan added
Official figures released by VistBritain reveal that in 2012 the UK witnessed the best November since 2007 with visitation figures a soaring nine percent higher than 2011 keeping the country on track to reach the 31 million mark by end-2012
November 2012 saw healthy results from nearly all the regions in the world exempt the US accord-ing to the study which stated that the UK welcomed 10 percent more tourists from Europe and 12 percent from the rest of the world
20 TOUR UK
MARCH 2013
Yates expressed great satisfaction for this success stressing that 2012 was no ordinary year for inbound tourism so to announce the best November in five years is an achievement
AN AMPLE CHOICE
These healthy results are evident in the hotel sector across the country partially attributed to the relative-ly strong MENA market as Daniel Simmons execu-tive director HotelREZ noted further indicating that the hotel currently has a presence in Dubai and as a result is strategically developing the MENA markets to support the membersrsquo growth
o-y improvement from the top five Middle Eastern mar-kets a 104 percent y-o-y upsurge from Saudi Arabian visitors and a 33 percent y-o-y rise from UAE visitors
Assuring that the MENA guest is well-catering to London Hilton on Park Lane trains its staff to pro-vide the welcome that visitors from the region have come to expect equipping the team with the skills to handle tailored requests according to Brayshaw who elaborated ldquoThere is a dedicated guest relations teams for Middle Eastern guests with Arabic-speak-ing team members Facilities are available for visitorsrsquo private chefs to cook within the hotelsrsquo kitchens and serve their own dishes to their employer Arabic TV stations are also availablerdquo
BRINGING IN BUSINESS
Further boosting MENA tourism to the UK on March 31 British Airways (BA) will launch an additional four flights to and from Amman increasing the frequency from dai-ly to 11 per week ldquoJordan is an important market for Brit-ish Airways and we are thrilled with the excellent growth we have seen here since re-introducing Amman to our route network We are keen to further enhance our op-erations to and from Jordan and the announcement only consolidates our commitment to the Jordanian marketrdquo commented Paolo De Renzis area commercial manager Middle East and Central Asia BA
In addition Qatar Airways has launched its inau-gural long-haul Boeing 787 Dreamliner service on the Doha - London Heathrow route becoming the first airline to operate regular scheduled flights onboard the state-of-the art aircraft to and from the UK
Akbar Al Baker CEO Qatar Airways said ldquoThe Doha - Heathrow route is one of our most popular interna-tional routes and it was only fitting that we deploy our new 787 to and from Londonrdquo
INVESTING IN THE UK
Heathrow Airport is hailed as the most popular gateway for travellers to the UK recording a total of 518 million passengers having passed through its terminal in Janu-ary alone a record for the month which saw an increase of 03 percent over the corresponding month in 2012
Meanwhile load factors also set a record for the month under review up 21 percentage points on Janu-ary 2012 reaching 70 percent Domestic traffic was down 58 percent however European traffic rose 18 percent and Middle Eastern traffic also climbed the trajectory level by 33 percent over the same month in 2012
Moreover Heathrow Airport recently announced GBP3 billion (USD46 billion) worth of investments in the airport in addition to the GBP11 billion (USD168 billion) which has been invested since 2003 and these form part of the establishmentrsquos business plans for Q6 the regulatory period which covers 2014-2019 and they represent one of the largest private-sector investments in UK infrastructure
The plans include the completion of Terminal 2 and the early works on extending the building the development of a new integrated baggage system and the construction of new taxiways and stands which will allow Heathrow Airport to accommodate more of the most modern aircraft
Colin Matthews CEO Heathrow Airport com-mented ldquoHeathrow is the UKrsquos only hub airport and a strategically important national infrastructure asset Heathrow faces stiff competition from other Europe-an hubs and we must continue to improve the service we offers passengers and airlines [] Our plan for a further GBP3 billion (USD46 billion) of private-sector investment will further improve the airport for pas-sengers The plan represents good value for money for airlines and passengers and comes at no cost to taxpayersrdquo
Guests from the UAE Turkey Egypt Saudi Arabia and Kuwait along with Cyprus contributed to two percent of the hotelrsquos total reservations percentage results for 2012 this according to Simmons who also reported a 20 percent year-on-year (y-o-y) increase in revenue ldquoOur hotel members benefit from a 90 per-cent increase on IDS (Internet distribution services) and direct connect bookings a 35 percent increase on GDS (global distribution systems) bookings and a 60 percent growth on CRO (central reservations of-fices) and voice bookingsrdquo
Commenting on the propertyrsquos latest develop-ments Simmons revealed the recently-launched MICE Desk which he pinpointed is an additional solution to HotelREZrsquos member hotels and will help boost revenue
ldquoAt HotelREZ we are very confident that our new MICE Desk will raise awareness and continue to increase reservations for our hotel members from meetings incentives conventions and events pack-ages To complete the consumer booking cycle Ho-telREZ is launching REZanalyst a new social media and review analytics tool for hotels to help manage their online reputationrdquo he concluded
Also showing signs of strong performance is Lon-don Hilton on Park Lane thanks to the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympics whose international committee chose the property as the headquarter ho-tel this according to Ashleigh Brayshaw marketing and communications manager London Hilton on Park Lane
With one out of four of the hotelrsquos guests hailing from the MENA region Brayshaw pointed out that in 2011 the property witnessed particularly high growth in visitor numbers from the region with a 21 percent y-
Moreover the UK especially London offers a full range of activities according to Brayshaw who observed that the Middle Eastern guest is increasingly organised with the time spent in the capital and one who enjoys combining a variety of activities ldquoPopular activities in-clude sending children to summer schools in Regentrsquos Park attending business meetings visiting property shopping for the latest trends and enjoying the rich va-riety of entertainment that London has to offer Families often use managers to organise their time with London Hilton on Park Lanersquos hotel management working di-rectly with guests to assistrdquo she further noted
Moreover Travelodge one of the UKrsquos leading hotel brands is set to benefit from a GBP223 million (USD341 million) brand investment with the opening of 14 new hotels which includes two properties in Spain the creation of 420 new jobs and the launch-ing of a new room concept which has been designed by its customers ldquoThis capital expenditure will help us to grow our business strengthen our product offer-ing and make Travelodge the best value hotel chain in the UKrdquo Grant Hearn CEO Travelodge revealed
ldquoAs part of this yearrsquos investment we have worked with our customers to create a new Travelodge room which offers more comfort quality and stylerdquo he contin-ued adding that this enhanced product combined with economy pricing will ensure Travelodge is the smart choice for leisure and business travellers
Furthermore in order to help attract new custom-ers Travelodge is also investing over GBP12 million (USD 182 million) in digital and online marketing this year as well as over GBP1 million (USD15 million) in a website refresh later this year
London
22 EXCLUSIVE Luxury Travel
MARCH 2013
Living the DreamLuxury travel is all about mak-ing guests feel unique and privi-leged It is about offering them the chance to get to know the world in extravagance and having them live above the ordinary It is about spoiling them with opulent travel and hospitality services something which is without doubt growing in size and quality
I n late December 2012 the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) released its Travel Trends Report 2013 developed in collaboration with UKrsquos Foreign and Commonwealth Office pre-dicting that consumers will continue to look for
good value in breaks for this year rather than cut back on their holidays
Mark Tanzer CEO ABTA stated that the majority of British holidaymakers are reluctant to give up their annual holiday under any circumstances while strong forward bookings for the luxury and all-inclusive sec-tors are being witnessed
Speaking at the 2011 edition of the annual Interna-tional Luxury Travel Market (ILTM)rsquos Ultratravel Forum Chris Sanderson strategy and insight director The Future Laboratory a trend forecasting company had announced predictions stating that the lsquoluxuriansrsquo of the future would not be interested in too much choice ldquoThere is an en-hanced sense of just being todayrsquos luxury consumer rath-er than being surrounded by possessionsrdquo he explained
AUTHENTICALLY PRIVILIGED
Views corroborating Sandersonrsquos were voiced by John McGee research and communications manager Ar-tisans of Leisure a luxury travel company specialis-ing in exclusive customised private tours around the world McGee believes that the primary reason his customers travel is to get authentic experiences that introduce them to the local traditions and people while high-quality hotels encourage them to travel but are not primary incentives further pinpointing the latter as being the interest in experiencing local
culture cuisine history and lifestyle With reference to the Middle East McGee noted
that his agency is intrigued by places like Abu Dhabi and its considered approach to developing new mu-seums and cultural attractions
Defining the demands and needs of luxury trav-ellers as being genuine and local experiences Filip Boyen chief operating officer Orient-Express said ldquoFor luxury tourists travel is not just about lying on a beach or by the pool anymore It is about combining relaxation in a beautiful setting with learning and dis-covery They want to come away with an experience or having learnt something new that they can come home and tell their friends all aboutrdquo
Boyen added that the Middle East is relatively new to the world of tourism a place many will want to discover and consequently this will create a demand for luxury ho-tels already emerging in many parts of the region
Travellers who spend a lot of money for their trip expect and demand the best they need to be cared for in every step of the way while feeling confident that they are dealing with someone experienced to respond to their requests according to Daniel Essex CEO Century Travel who also explained that many luxury travellers are looking for something small and attentive and a much more personal approach
LET US SPOIL YOU
The growing number of luxury hotels and amenities has led to an increased interest with Canadian travel-lers to the Middle East according to Kathy Stewart director of media and public relations Butterfield amp Robinson a Toronto-based agency Aside from authen-ticity she stressed the importance of maintaining the unique qualities of the region for further development
into a luxury destination for global travellers ldquoEspecial-ly North Americans who are travelling a long distance to the Middle East they are not looking for the same experience they can get at home They want Middle Eastern food people landscapes and architecture to be an integral part of the experiencerdquo
Hotel Missoni Kuwait benefits from a healthy lux-ury-demanding domestic market which represents 55 percent of its business followed by Saudi Arabia with 13 percent and the UAE with 10 percent accord-ing to Alfio Bernardini general manager Hotel Mis-soni Kuwait who said ldquo[At the hotel] everything con-tributes to the depth of the experience Hotel Missoni is designed to be genuine and uncomplicated offer-ing those luxury touches that really matter because they genuinely enrich the experience of stayingrdquo
Six Senses Zighy Bay the indigenous village style accommodation in Oman has observed an increase of 12 percent in occupancy levels throughout 2012 while the growth of the Middle East clientele is appar-ent after the development of family-specific offerings attested Guillaume de Lasteyrie executive assistant manager Six Senses Zighy Bay He believes that peace and calm is the most appreciated value of the property while the hotelrsquos offerings are tempting for guests cit-ing the example of the saltwater pool carrying a min-eral composition of 15-20 percent comparable to the Dead Sea whose concentration is 27 percent
Another instance of Arab opulence is Eastern Man-groves Hotel amp Spa by Anantara in Abu Dhabi a prop-erty which assures that luxury is interrelated with in-dulgence across all of its services offered with an acute focus on detail which Nehme Darwiche hotel manag-er Eastern Mangroves Hotel amp Spa by Anantara report-ed is of utter importance Darwiche further supports that the Middle East will not only continue to develop as a luxury destination but will sit on the top of luxury ranks and become a pioneer in such offerings ldquoThe de-mand on luxury products will continue to increase as the tastes of sophisticated societies continues to reach new limits Luxury will not be in big numbers but will be in the power to obtain rarity the Middle East under-stands that very well and the developments planned
Maria Kazeli writes
Hotel Missoni Kuwait
23EXCLUSIVELuxury Travel
MARCH 2013
from now until 2020 have luxury travellers as their tar-getrdquo Darwiche concluded
An upcoming superior property in the region is Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah set to open in May Rudi Jagersbacher president Middle East and Africa Hilton Worldwide explained that the hotel as an up-scale property will have to deliver on two counts experiences and expectations Observing that travel behaviour has changed in the past years and placing emphasis on value for money he further noted ldquo[Wal-dorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah] is palatial exclusive and will offer the highest level of service as well as state-of-the-art amenities but that is not enough We have to ensure that our guests consider their experience as an investment worth repeating and sharingrdquo
The peak of extravagance is reached with a variety of private jet services throughout the region which cater for business and leisure travellers alike Mark Hardman op-erations director ExecuJet Middle East pointed out that the companyrsquos clientele is as diverse as the regionrsquos popu-lation but private aviation offers valued features such as time efficiency security privacy and convenience
He admitted that the most popular destinations for Dubai-based ExecuJet are in the Middle East with Riyadh Jeddah Beirut and Baghdad occupying the top spots while Geneva London and Nice are the favoured European hubs
Similarly Hardy Sohanpal director NasJet agreed that Middle East travellers use private jet services for efficiency flexibility and privacy while he accurately underlined that through emphasising the luxury ben-efits many private jet users build relationships with their key business contacts and staff by giving them access to private aircraft
ON THE RISE
Providing her own view Stewart reiterated that it is important not to overdevelop and retain authenticity of the Arab culture in the region
Along parallel lines Essex believes that the major-ity across the region always had the opinion that big is beautiful but this is not enough he further stressed as the industry professionals in the Middle East need to consider the boutique options However he lauded Abu Dhabirsquos development on Saadiyat Island and the introduction of cultural arts which he believes will at-tract the international and discerning travellers
Boyen deems that the region will experience ad-vancement and will emerge as a luxury destination something he attributes to improved air connectivity ldquoDefinitely with new airline routes from the Middle East launching all the time such as Etihad Airwaysrsquo new routes to Washington and Satildeo Paulo which are
launching this year the destination is bound to de-velop furtherrdquo he continued
Sharing the same opinion that the expansion of airlines and airports lead to such positive develop-ments Bernardini claimed that despite the fact that the Middle East will develop further to become a des-tination for high-calibre tourists not all countries in the region have the capacity and the stability to do so However he further explained a few hotspots will enjoy this blessing due to the money available in this part of the world which will result in the building of super high-quality hotels and thus attract a good number of luxury travellers
De Lasteyrie pointed out that even though the region was under the spotlight for some time the future will see even greater lavish suggestions and-maintaining that ldquoThe Middle East has been since years a luxury destination to the eyes of many though the pinnacle of luxury is yet to come Smaller and personalised service hotels and resorts from around the world are now willing to implement themselves in untouched locations creating a new momentum Much of the Middle East is still in the first tiers of luxu-ry based on opulent luxury and the glitz and glamour that first come with wealth We are now beginning to see affluent luxury and more distinguished spending on art collectibles and sustainabilityrdquo
24 SPECIAL REPORT Waterparks
MARCH 2013
In for a RideWaterparks are a popular attraction among locals and tourist in the Middle East With promising weather throughout most of the year waterparks offer visitors a fun family outing in addition to an array of promotions and events Travel Trade Monthly explores what makes waterparks the perfect attraction
F rom fun rides food and beverage outlets and retail offerings to gaming outlets and social events waterparks offer a safe fun and friendly environment for the family groups and events planners from all walks of life
Wild Wadi Waterpark Dubai is a good example whose team is committed to providing a fun-filled service that will make a lasting impression according to Chris Perry general manager Wild Wadi Waterpark who added that there is a major focus on using every opportunity to ensure that the guestsrsquo decision to visit is rewarded with plenty of time to play less time to queue and more time on the rides
Meanwhile Ice Land Water Park Ras Al Khaimah is receiving full promotional support from the emir-atersquos government and especially by its tourism body this according to Vagelyn Federico deputy director Ice Land Waterpark who added that it has been high-lighted as one of the major destinations in the UAE by all concerned tourism entities
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is the latest entry into the regionrsquos proliferating world of waterparks and accord-ing to Mike Oswald general manager Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi it rivals the worldrsquos best waterparks offering 43 rides slides and attractions ldquoIt has been an incredible journey to this point and unbelievably satisfying to watch the peoplersquos reaction to what has been created We are
support of the tourism body in Ras Al Khaimahrdquo Federico stated
In the summer major visitors to the waterpark hail from Asia as well as locally whereas during the winter months the CIS market plays a big role in pro-moting the park with its tourists in the UAE
In order to boost visitor arrivals to the waterpark Federico pointed out that during the winter the team is currently working for a family barbecue night with some other attractions to lure in more families
Moreover she indicated that the months ahead seem even more vibrant as she further demonstrated ldquoThis year will be more promising as we strengthened our ties with more travel operators inbound and out-bound Additionally we are currently working with dif-ferent airlines travel operators hotels and other tour-ism entities to promote Ice Land giving them also more benefits in promoting us to different market segmentsrdquo
Giving something more to visitors the water-parkrsquos team is currently working with skilled games and other dry rides for people to enjoy at the facility after park operations ldquoWe are also a preferred venue for concerts as we have the perfect place to accom-modate up to 6000 people in one area Ice Land Wa-ter Park is just one of the offerings of WOWRAK and we are currently working with other expansions such as resorts ice skating cinema complex hypermarket and other amusement activities which are planned to open in the next few yearsrdquo concluded Federico
Likewise Perry also announced continuous growth over the years for Wild Wadi Waterpark with 2012 prov-ing very successful He attributed this achievement to events such as ladies nights Ramadan nights and the new Jumeirah Sceirah which launched in September 2012 having proved to be a favourite amongst thrill seekers whereby one drops through a trap door from a height of 32m into the waiting water tunnel and races down the slide at 80km per hour
ldquoWe aim for this trend to continue this year as we have a variety of new attractive promotions and events to suit all our guestsrsquo needsrdquo Perry further in-formed ldquoWe also launched our online ticketing system this month to offer faster entry to our guestsrdquo he added guaranteeing guests with a faster entry process allow-ing all those with a printed ticket to jump the queue
Wild Wadi Waterpark is open all year round and ca-ters to guests from all over the world ldquoDuring the hot summer months (May-October) most of our guests come from the GCC countries whereby during the colder season (November-April) our guests are mainly from Europe
ldquoThe park is also a popular destination for UAE resi-dents since we periodically offer discounts to all resi-dents as well as annualseason passes that allow them to visit as many times as they want for a cheaper raterdquo he said
Perry also pointed out that during the month of May the waterpark offers its very popular family-only mornings every Friday at discounted rates so that they can enjoy the full facilities of the park when it is not too busy and of course when it is more safe and secure a factor which he assured is of the highest priority
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi
Dominique Christou writes
confident that people will have seen nothing like it before and we look forward to the waves of visitors expected to arrive now that the park is officially openrdquo
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi which inaugurated on January 19 is built around a central character named Dana whose crew won the battle in its quest to re-store a pearl to its rightful place which has ensured prosperity to the mythical Emirati village and marked what is expected to be a successful start to Yas Water-world Abu Dhabirsquos commercial operations
Set across 15ha on Yas Island the park offers thrills for the whole family and visitors will experience fun and adventure on rides and attractions such as the worldrsquos longest fastest tornado waterslide the regionrsquos first looping waterslide and the worldrsquos first interactive water and laser rollercoaster According to Oswald Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is expected to welcome a total of 700000 in its first year of operation
CALLING ALL THRILL SEEKERS
During 2012 waterparks across the region expe-rienced a healthy increase in visitors across a variety of markets
ldquoThe waterpark performed better in 2012 compared to our first year in 2011 when it comes to statistics in vari-ous nationalities locally and internationally through the
26 INVESTIGATION
MARCH 2013
Visiting Friends amp Relatives
Maria Kazeli writes
T he annual review for 2011 by the World Travel amp Tourism Council (WTTC) attributes social and cultural benefits to tourism indicating that the industry directly helps to keep or bring families and social networks together
With special regards to the visiting friends and relatives (VFR) segment the review supports that a significant proportion of all international trips which reaches up to a third of all arrivals for some large de-veloped markets are made in order to visit friends andor relatives
Globalisation has caused people to spread all over the globe but returning back home occasion-ally is a necessity The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) draws direct links between migration and travelling to visit relatives and in the 2009 Executive Summary entitled Tourism and Migration ndash Explor-
year in review which covers up to September 2012 reveals that the highest figures for the VFR segment appeared in January 2012 with 267 percent of 47610 incoming tourists being reported as VFR
Egyptrsquos outbound travel market linked to VFR oc-cupies a major part of business for travel agencies Feryal El Gohary general manager Bahi Travel ex-plained adding that almost half of the agencyrsquos cli-entele are VFR She also expressed the view that this market is a growing force for airlines and hoteliers alike while the latter she pinpointed will succeed only if they create a new strategy of very advanta-geous attractive long-stay offers
Tarek Moshref managing director Pronto Tours an Egypt-based tour operator supported that the VFR market is the third largest segment after holiday and business and for this reason local travel agents and operators should improve their services in order to capture and develop its potential by offering new options and programmes
Stressing the cost-driven aspect of the VFR mar-ket Adel Taha general manager leisure travel Kimidar Tours an Egyptian travel agency destination manage-ment company and ground handler said that VFR travellers aim at low travel expenditures in order to spend their money on leisure activities at the destina-tion and not on transportation With regards to the accommodation factor he added ldquoMost of the travel-lers whether leisure or VFR would tend to seek hotel accommodation in order to benefit from services pro-vided such as room cleaning and meals instead of self-served apartments However we can say they still seek low-cost accommodations with some specificationsrdquo
VFR IN THE SKIES
Commenting on the results of the British CAArsquos study Harry Bush group director economic regulation UK CAA had said that air travel played a key role in enabling peoplersquos relocating principally through the emergence of low-cost air travel and that the result-ing VFR passengers are increasingly important con-sumers of air travel According to an aviation analysis report by CAPA - Centre for Aviation a provider of independent aviation market intelligence the Mid-dle Eastern low-cost carriers are trying to adapt their model to the regional situation with their higher den-sity configurations targeting migrant workers and VFR traffic flows from North Africa and South Asia into the Gulf region
Major airlines have taken this trend into consid-eration and cater for this market by tailoring their offers Paolo De Renzis area commercial manager Middle East and Central Asia British Airways said ldquoThe VFR segment is extremely important to British Airways particularly in the Middle East where a large number of our customers are VFR travellers This is a region where families are extremely close and this tight-knit family culture means that we see a lot of VFR traffic across our Middle Eastern routes We also have a large expat community in the UAE which con-tributes significantly to this segmentrdquo
Unconventional TravellersMany prefer to spend their holiday visiting their friends and relatives in their home country if they are expa-triates or some other destination in order to spend time with their loved ones The focus of the travel is not cultural sightseeing and luxury ac-commodation but low airfare and budget lodgings
ing the Relationship between Two Global Phenomena compiled by UNWTO the two concepts are analysed by stressing that growth in international tourism and mobility has given rise to tourism-led migration with examples including the movement of male labourers from South Asia to meet the construction demands of the tourism boom in the UAE
The research states that migration has led directly and indirectly to significant growth in tourism to both origin and destination countries through increased visibility especially in the VFR sector and to the de-velopment of new tourism infrastructure and trans-port routes in and between countries
UKrsquos Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) also lays empha-sis on the importance of the specific market having published an in-depth study on air passengers visiting friends or family The investigation report titled Interna-tional Relations ndash The Growth in Air Travel to Visit Friends or Relatives indicated that the robust growth in VFR re-flected trends such as labour mobility and migration while predicting that due to these trends the countryrsquos GDP will affect future VFR passenger traffic
VISITING MENA
At the 6th UNWTOPacific Asia Travel Association Fo-rum on Tourism Trends and Outlook held in October 2012 in China it was revealed that 36 percent of the Middle Eastrsquos outbound market constitutes the VFR segment
Some insights on inbound VFR trends concern-ing the hotel industry in the region were provided by Darroch Crawford managing director Middle East and Africa Premier Inn Hotels who highlighted that this market is highly important but also very difficult to measure as bookings of this nature come through different channels His estimations on guests travel-ling to visit family members in the region and residing in Premier Inn properties amount to seven percent of the total clientele Crawford further indicated that the largest Middle Eastern feeder markets for the brand are Lebanon Syria and Jordan
Meanwhile in Saudi Arabia domestic tourism has been the primary focus of tourism development pol-icy in the Kingdom and according to Saudi Tourism Outlook issued by the Tourism Information and Re-search Centre part of Saudi Commission for Tourism amp Antiquities which analyses July 2012rsquos figures the local segment contributed to 114 million overnight trips in the month under review out of which 398 percent hailed from the VFR segment In addition 293 percent of the 171 million outbound trips taken from Saudi Arabia during July 2012 were categorised as the VFR market
The Statistical Service of Cyprus disclosed that ac-cording to the latest data available concerning Sep-tember 2012 the island received 335352 visitors out of which 97 percent were VFR The same data for the
28 WHOS MOVED
MARCH 2013
ANDREW ABRAM
KONSTANTINOS KOUROTSIDIS
Andrew Abram has been named general manager at Raffles Dubai Abram joins the propertyrsquos team from Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group where over the past dec-ade he has held various positions He joined the company in 2003 as resident manager of The Excelsior Hotel Hong Kong and went on to lead the renovation and reopen-ing of Mandarin Oriental Jakarta holding the role of general man-ager for eight years He most re-cently served as general manager
of Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhavi in Chiang Mai Thailand Having also held the position of corporate director of sales and marketing at Jumeirah Group in the Middle East where he was responsible for the branding and launching of several projects Abram brings an insiderrsquos knowl-edge to Raffles Dubai
Konstantinos Kourotsidis has been named general manager at Radisson Blu Martinez Hotel Beirut Kourotsidis started his career in the hospitality industry in 1996 in food and beverage at Copthorne Hotel Hanover In 2000 he joined The Rezidor Ho-tel Group where he held various positions across Europe and the Middle East including at Radis-son Blu Hotel Hanover Radission
Blu Hotel amp Spa Galway Radisson Blu Resort Schloss Fleesensee Radisson Blu Resort El Quseir Radisson Blu Hotel Alexandria and Radisson Blu Resort Sharjah After several task force assign-ments in Egypt Libya and UAE Kourotsidis was promoted to general manager at Radisson Blu Al Mahary Hotel Tripoli Most re-cently he worked as acting gen-eral manager at Radisson Blu Re-sort Fujairah
Abram brings an insiderrsquos knowledge to
Raffles Dubai
MARCH 2013
30 TRAVEL TALK
MARCH 2013
LEON SALINEL
WAEL EL BEHI
KARIM NAHAS
Executive assistant manager of sales and marketing Dusit Thani Dubai
General manager Ramada Downtown Dubai
General managar Rose Rayhaan by Rotana
ldquo2012 was a very successful year for us We were not only successful in meeting our key performance indicators most notably by exceeding both our gross operating profit and gross operating revenue Working with Inves-tors in People throughout the year also ensured that we performed highly in our employee satisfaction survey we even ranked at the top of our group in this regards [hellip] We are now drawing to a close on our rooms renovation and have just welcomed our new general manager so it is an exciting year to come for us which will see some changerdquo
ldquoI am very pleased to be appointed as executive board mem-ber [of the Tunisian Business Council] I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress in [the cur-rent year] I hope to play a part in creating strong community bound by camaraderie accord and reliance among Tunisian nationals in the UAErdquo
ldquo2012 was a record year for Rose Rayhaan total revenue growth was almost 17 percent versus 2011 [hellip] The hotel continued to focus on the GCC markets with the Saudi market on the top list and strong performance of the UK France and Russian markets were witnessed UAE local market in both leisure and corporate seg-ments also performed very well We are planning to fo-cus on new emerging markets like South Africa Brazil and Turkey Competition will be indeed stiffen this year however I guess there will be business for everybodyrdquo
I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress
TRAVEL TALK IS YOUR SPACE ndash 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
editorialtraveltradeweeklytravel
trav
el t
alk
is
y
our
spac
e
31RENDEZVOUS
MARCH 2013
Q amp A with Rana El KhouryWith her recent appointment Rana El Khoury general manager Le Gray Beirut became one of Lebanonrsquos first women to hold such a high position at a five-star hotel and here she shares her views on the future prospects of the Lebanese hotel sector
Rana El KhouryGeneral manager Le Gray Beirut
Travel Trade Monthly How would you describe 2012 in a few words Rana El Khoury The best way to describe 2012 would certainly be lsquochallengingrsquo a challenge that could be called survival until we see better days Controlling costs while maintaining superior ser-vice quality and competitiveness is key to our con-tinuous success in the Lebanese market The hotel performance could be rated as fair for 2012 greatly impacted by high level of business during the first five months of the year This has allowed us to stay ahead of the game for the remainder of the year although November 2012 was the toughest month since the opening of the hotel in 2009 Despite all Le Gray has managed in 2012 to retain its number one position in occupancy and RevPAR in the Leba-nese market
Travel Trade Monthly The hotel will soon em-bark on a major extension project Tell us a little bit about this
Rana El Khoury Le Gray is preparing to kick off its extension that will include a larger lobby with a lob-by lounge a chocolate room banquet space a 35-seat movie theatre and an additional 18 rooms The project should reach completion by end of 2014
Travel Trade Monthly Prior to your appoint-ment you served as hotel manager How does your new position differ from your former role
Rana El Khoury My previous position as hotel manager was focused on the operations aspect of the hotel as general manager my responsibilities enclose a more general view of the hotel including the administrative and strategic side of the hotel as well as the link between the owning company and management company
My priorities for the coming year is diversify-ing our target markets on the international and local scene to maximise hotel occupancy and to strengthen the positioning of Le Gray on the lo-cal market as a destination for its restaurants and bars whilst building on the existing strong team at Le Gray and getting the right people together to move forward with positivity and vigilance to counter these challenging times
The advice I would give young women ready to climb the corporate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the dif-ferent positions they fill throughout their careers
Travel Trade Monthly Your appointment makes you one of the first Lebanese women to hold this position at a five-star hotel How challenging is it to hold such a high position at an already well-established hotel
Rana El Khoury The hospitality industry is very challenging and requires sacrifice on all levels What I can say is that women have their own speci-ficity and they can bring a different vision and new perspectives to the hospitality business The advice I would give young women ready to climb the cor-porate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the different positions they fill throughout their careers this can only make them stronger and certainly more cred-ible when they reach executive level positions
Travel Trade Monthly Over the past few years the Lebanese tourism industry has faced a num-ber of serious challenges What are your expec-tations for the current year Rana El Khoury Lebanon has always been a pre-ferred destination attracting tourists from the Arab and Gulf countries and with increasing stability and security we do see a solid recovery
Given the complexity of the Lebanese market improvement can occur overnight As seen in May 2008 following the Doha-agreement occupancy rates jumped back then from 30 to 90 percent within one week
This year remains uncertain due to the volatil-ity of the political situation in the region the key is to remain sustainable and be ready for the sudden surge in business
Le Gray Beirut
32 NEWS amp EVENTS
MARCH 2013
EVENTS Sponsored by
Following a refurbishment to better present the historical phases of the emiratersquos auto manu-facturing sector Sharjah Classic Cars Museum originally launched in 2008 by HH Sheikh Sul-tan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi ruler of Sharjah reopened in January by Sheikh Essam bin Saqr Al Qassimi chairman Sharjah rulerrsquos office
On the opening day of the event Manal Ataya director general Sharjah Museums Department said ldquoThe aim of refurbishing this museum was to allow us to re-evaluate the previous design and interpretation and improve it significantlyrdquo
She further pointed out that the museum now helps visitors to appreciate the aesthetic and historical value of classic cars in a space that inte-grates a new childrens interactive area and a gal-lery space for temporary exhibitions
The museum boasts 85 classic cars two mo-torcycles and five bicycles as well as a model of an old car and an engine to allow visitors to familiarise themselves with parts of an engine and their function while it is divided into five sections and features an area for activities and interactive games
Following the launch of the UAE branch of the Airline Owners and Pi-lotsrsquo Association (AOPA) at Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2012 Yousif Al Hammadi president AOPA UAE has invited representatives from international AOPA branches to attend a workshop dedicated to discussing and debating gen-eral aviation issues in the region
The meeting the first of its kind will run parallel to this yearrsquos Abu Dhabi Air Expo and will take place at the Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies Al Bateen Executive Airport on March 6
It is anticipated that up to 30 representatives from AOPA US AOPA UK AOPA Germany and AOPA France will meet with their colleagues from the UAE during the one-day event to share knowledge and debate a variety of topics including air space regulations aerial non-commercial operations certification and maintenance issues and pilot licensing
AOPA members will also be able to maximise their time by attending the Air Expo exhibition the Middle Eastrsquos only dedicated general aviation event to meet pilots from the region and learn about the latest trends
Sharjah Reopens Car Museum AOPA UAE to Hold Meeting with International Colleagues
ITB BerlinBerlin Germany March 6 ndash 10 2013(wwwitb-berlinde)A business-to-business platform for trade visitors which provides the possibility to discover the whole world within a few hours
MITT MoscowMoscow Russia March 20 ndash 23 2013(wwwmittru)Russiarsquos leading and largest travel exhibition with over 3000 participat-ing companies and 197 destinations a key meeting place for industry professionals
The Gulf Incentive Business Travel amp Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) Abu Dhabi UAE March 25 ndash 27 2013(wwwgibtmcom)A leading event for the meetings incentives and business travel industry in the GCC region which can truly unlock all participantsrsquo business potential
Saudi Travel amp Tourism Investment Market (STTIM)Riyadh Saudi Arabia March 31 ndash April 4 2013(wwwsttimcomsa)The event covers all travel and tourism investments aspects in the Kingdom through a combined conference and exhibition
International Destination Expo (IDE)Dubai UAE April 4 ndash 7 2013(wwwastaorgevents)Organised by the American Society of Travel Agents IDE is a destination training programme where participants can meet local suppliers and built profitable long-lasting relationships
Arabian Travel Market (ATM)Dubai UAE May 6 ndash 9 2013(wwwarabiantravelmarketcom)The travel and tourism event unlocking business potential within the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals
Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies
19TOURUK
MARCH 2013
Dominique Christou writes
A ccording to the latest World Travel amp Tourism Council Economic Impact report published in 2012 direct contribution of travel and tourism to the UKrsquos GDP in 2011 reached GBP35 billion (USD54 billion) 23
percent of the countryrsquos total GDP with a forecasted rise of 13 percent in 2012 and an annual increase of 41 percent over the next decade when the indus-try is estimated to be contributing GBP531 billion (USD81 billion) to the UKrsquos GDP in 2022
Patricia Yates director of strategy VisitBritain ex-pected 31 million inbound visits to the UK for 2012 giving the destination as Yates described a perfect foundation to see continued strong growth in interna-tional tourism for this year contributing revenue to the UK economy and creating new jobs across the country
VisitBritain recently ventured yet again into the GCC following the successful execution and delivery of the BritAgent online training programme in the UAE Saudi Arabia and Kuwait
Meticulously Personalised
UK IN BRIEF
Capital London
Currency British Pound (GBP)
Language English
The UK has long been an admired choice among MENA travellers highly accredited to the typically distin-guished English hospitality world-renowned shopping outlets quality selection of entertainment plethora of family activities and last but not least the overabundance of pictur-esque parks scattered across the country
The UK tourism boardrsquos global online training initia-tive which has been designed to meet the needs of travel trade lsquofront-linersrsquo from new starters to experienced sales personnel was recently launched in Qatar at the British Embassy Doha a programme which upon completion grants the agents with BritAgent status signifying their expertise and knowledge about travel to Britain
ldquoBritain is already a major beneficiary of outbound travel from the Gulfrdquo confirmed Sumathi Ramanathan regional manager Asia Pacific and Middle East Visit-Britain ldquoVisitors from the Gulf region are a major source of revenue for the UK from January to September 2012 these visitors spent nearly AED55 billion (USD15 billion) already showing a seven percent increase over 2011 From 2006 through to 2011 Qatar has shown an outstanding increase in visitor numbers of 59 percent and the spend per night significantly outshines all the other countriesrdquo Ramanathan added
Official figures released by VistBritain reveal that in 2012 the UK witnessed the best November since 2007 with visitation figures a soaring nine percent higher than 2011 keeping the country on track to reach the 31 million mark by end-2012
November 2012 saw healthy results from nearly all the regions in the world exempt the US accord-ing to the study which stated that the UK welcomed 10 percent more tourists from Europe and 12 percent from the rest of the world
20 TOUR UK
MARCH 2013
Yates expressed great satisfaction for this success stressing that 2012 was no ordinary year for inbound tourism so to announce the best November in five years is an achievement
AN AMPLE CHOICE
These healthy results are evident in the hotel sector across the country partially attributed to the relative-ly strong MENA market as Daniel Simmons execu-tive director HotelREZ noted further indicating that the hotel currently has a presence in Dubai and as a result is strategically developing the MENA markets to support the membersrsquo growth
o-y improvement from the top five Middle Eastern mar-kets a 104 percent y-o-y upsurge from Saudi Arabian visitors and a 33 percent y-o-y rise from UAE visitors
Assuring that the MENA guest is well-catering to London Hilton on Park Lane trains its staff to pro-vide the welcome that visitors from the region have come to expect equipping the team with the skills to handle tailored requests according to Brayshaw who elaborated ldquoThere is a dedicated guest relations teams for Middle Eastern guests with Arabic-speak-ing team members Facilities are available for visitorsrsquo private chefs to cook within the hotelsrsquo kitchens and serve their own dishes to their employer Arabic TV stations are also availablerdquo
BRINGING IN BUSINESS
Further boosting MENA tourism to the UK on March 31 British Airways (BA) will launch an additional four flights to and from Amman increasing the frequency from dai-ly to 11 per week ldquoJordan is an important market for Brit-ish Airways and we are thrilled with the excellent growth we have seen here since re-introducing Amman to our route network We are keen to further enhance our op-erations to and from Jordan and the announcement only consolidates our commitment to the Jordanian marketrdquo commented Paolo De Renzis area commercial manager Middle East and Central Asia BA
In addition Qatar Airways has launched its inau-gural long-haul Boeing 787 Dreamliner service on the Doha - London Heathrow route becoming the first airline to operate regular scheduled flights onboard the state-of-the art aircraft to and from the UK
Akbar Al Baker CEO Qatar Airways said ldquoThe Doha - Heathrow route is one of our most popular interna-tional routes and it was only fitting that we deploy our new 787 to and from Londonrdquo
INVESTING IN THE UK
Heathrow Airport is hailed as the most popular gateway for travellers to the UK recording a total of 518 million passengers having passed through its terminal in Janu-ary alone a record for the month which saw an increase of 03 percent over the corresponding month in 2012
Meanwhile load factors also set a record for the month under review up 21 percentage points on Janu-ary 2012 reaching 70 percent Domestic traffic was down 58 percent however European traffic rose 18 percent and Middle Eastern traffic also climbed the trajectory level by 33 percent over the same month in 2012
Moreover Heathrow Airport recently announced GBP3 billion (USD46 billion) worth of investments in the airport in addition to the GBP11 billion (USD168 billion) which has been invested since 2003 and these form part of the establishmentrsquos business plans for Q6 the regulatory period which covers 2014-2019 and they represent one of the largest private-sector investments in UK infrastructure
The plans include the completion of Terminal 2 and the early works on extending the building the development of a new integrated baggage system and the construction of new taxiways and stands which will allow Heathrow Airport to accommodate more of the most modern aircraft
Colin Matthews CEO Heathrow Airport com-mented ldquoHeathrow is the UKrsquos only hub airport and a strategically important national infrastructure asset Heathrow faces stiff competition from other Europe-an hubs and we must continue to improve the service we offers passengers and airlines [] Our plan for a further GBP3 billion (USD46 billion) of private-sector investment will further improve the airport for pas-sengers The plan represents good value for money for airlines and passengers and comes at no cost to taxpayersrdquo
Guests from the UAE Turkey Egypt Saudi Arabia and Kuwait along with Cyprus contributed to two percent of the hotelrsquos total reservations percentage results for 2012 this according to Simmons who also reported a 20 percent year-on-year (y-o-y) increase in revenue ldquoOur hotel members benefit from a 90 per-cent increase on IDS (Internet distribution services) and direct connect bookings a 35 percent increase on GDS (global distribution systems) bookings and a 60 percent growth on CRO (central reservations of-fices) and voice bookingsrdquo
Commenting on the propertyrsquos latest develop-ments Simmons revealed the recently-launched MICE Desk which he pinpointed is an additional solution to HotelREZrsquos member hotels and will help boost revenue
ldquoAt HotelREZ we are very confident that our new MICE Desk will raise awareness and continue to increase reservations for our hotel members from meetings incentives conventions and events pack-ages To complete the consumer booking cycle Ho-telREZ is launching REZanalyst a new social media and review analytics tool for hotels to help manage their online reputationrdquo he concluded
Also showing signs of strong performance is Lon-don Hilton on Park Lane thanks to the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympics whose international committee chose the property as the headquarter ho-tel this according to Ashleigh Brayshaw marketing and communications manager London Hilton on Park Lane
With one out of four of the hotelrsquos guests hailing from the MENA region Brayshaw pointed out that in 2011 the property witnessed particularly high growth in visitor numbers from the region with a 21 percent y-
Moreover the UK especially London offers a full range of activities according to Brayshaw who observed that the Middle Eastern guest is increasingly organised with the time spent in the capital and one who enjoys combining a variety of activities ldquoPopular activities in-clude sending children to summer schools in Regentrsquos Park attending business meetings visiting property shopping for the latest trends and enjoying the rich va-riety of entertainment that London has to offer Families often use managers to organise their time with London Hilton on Park Lanersquos hotel management working di-rectly with guests to assistrdquo she further noted
Moreover Travelodge one of the UKrsquos leading hotel brands is set to benefit from a GBP223 million (USD341 million) brand investment with the opening of 14 new hotels which includes two properties in Spain the creation of 420 new jobs and the launch-ing of a new room concept which has been designed by its customers ldquoThis capital expenditure will help us to grow our business strengthen our product offer-ing and make Travelodge the best value hotel chain in the UKrdquo Grant Hearn CEO Travelodge revealed
ldquoAs part of this yearrsquos investment we have worked with our customers to create a new Travelodge room which offers more comfort quality and stylerdquo he contin-ued adding that this enhanced product combined with economy pricing will ensure Travelodge is the smart choice for leisure and business travellers
Furthermore in order to help attract new custom-ers Travelodge is also investing over GBP12 million (USD 182 million) in digital and online marketing this year as well as over GBP1 million (USD15 million) in a website refresh later this year
London
22 EXCLUSIVE Luxury Travel
MARCH 2013
Living the DreamLuxury travel is all about mak-ing guests feel unique and privi-leged It is about offering them the chance to get to know the world in extravagance and having them live above the ordinary It is about spoiling them with opulent travel and hospitality services something which is without doubt growing in size and quality
I n late December 2012 the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) released its Travel Trends Report 2013 developed in collaboration with UKrsquos Foreign and Commonwealth Office pre-dicting that consumers will continue to look for
good value in breaks for this year rather than cut back on their holidays
Mark Tanzer CEO ABTA stated that the majority of British holidaymakers are reluctant to give up their annual holiday under any circumstances while strong forward bookings for the luxury and all-inclusive sec-tors are being witnessed
Speaking at the 2011 edition of the annual Interna-tional Luxury Travel Market (ILTM)rsquos Ultratravel Forum Chris Sanderson strategy and insight director The Future Laboratory a trend forecasting company had announced predictions stating that the lsquoluxuriansrsquo of the future would not be interested in too much choice ldquoThere is an en-hanced sense of just being todayrsquos luxury consumer rath-er than being surrounded by possessionsrdquo he explained
AUTHENTICALLY PRIVILIGED
Views corroborating Sandersonrsquos were voiced by John McGee research and communications manager Ar-tisans of Leisure a luxury travel company specialis-ing in exclusive customised private tours around the world McGee believes that the primary reason his customers travel is to get authentic experiences that introduce them to the local traditions and people while high-quality hotels encourage them to travel but are not primary incentives further pinpointing the latter as being the interest in experiencing local
culture cuisine history and lifestyle With reference to the Middle East McGee noted
that his agency is intrigued by places like Abu Dhabi and its considered approach to developing new mu-seums and cultural attractions
Defining the demands and needs of luxury trav-ellers as being genuine and local experiences Filip Boyen chief operating officer Orient-Express said ldquoFor luxury tourists travel is not just about lying on a beach or by the pool anymore It is about combining relaxation in a beautiful setting with learning and dis-covery They want to come away with an experience or having learnt something new that they can come home and tell their friends all aboutrdquo
Boyen added that the Middle East is relatively new to the world of tourism a place many will want to discover and consequently this will create a demand for luxury ho-tels already emerging in many parts of the region
Travellers who spend a lot of money for their trip expect and demand the best they need to be cared for in every step of the way while feeling confident that they are dealing with someone experienced to respond to their requests according to Daniel Essex CEO Century Travel who also explained that many luxury travellers are looking for something small and attentive and a much more personal approach
LET US SPOIL YOU
The growing number of luxury hotels and amenities has led to an increased interest with Canadian travel-lers to the Middle East according to Kathy Stewart director of media and public relations Butterfield amp Robinson a Toronto-based agency Aside from authen-ticity she stressed the importance of maintaining the unique qualities of the region for further development
into a luxury destination for global travellers ldquoEspecial-ly North Americans who are travelling a long distance to the Middle East they are not looking for the same experience they can get at home They want Middle Eastern food people landscapes and architecture to be an integral part of the experiencerdquo
Hotel Missoni Kuwait benefits from a healthy lux-ury-demanding domestic market which represents 55 percent of its business followed by Saudi Arabia with 13 percent and the UAE with 10 percent accord-ing to Alfio Bernardini general manager Hotel Mis-soni Kuwait who said ldquo[At the hotel] everything con-tributes to the depth of the experience Hotel Missoni is designed to be genuine and uncomplicated offer-ing those luxury touches that really matter because they genuinely enrich the experience of stayingrdquo
Six Senses Zighy Bay the indigenous village style accommodation in Oman has observed an increase of 12 percent in occupancy levels throughout 2012 while the growth of the Middle East clientele is appar-ent after the development of family-specific offerings attested Guillaume de Lasteyrie executive assistant manager Six Senses Zighy Bay He believes that peace and calm is the most appreciated value of the property while the hotelrsquos offerings are tempting for guests cit-ing the example of the saltwater pool carrying a min-eral composition of 15-20 percent comparable to the Dead Sea whose concentration is 27 percent
Another instance of Arab opulence is Eastern Man-groves Hotel amp Spa by Anantara in Abu Dhabi a prop-erty which assures that luxury is interrelated with in-dulgence across all of its services offered with an acute focus on detail which Nehme Darwiche hotel manag-er Eastern Mangroves Hotel amp Spa by Anantara report-ed is of utter importance Darwiche further supports that the Middle East will not only continue to develop as a luxury destination but will sit on the top of luxury ranks and become a pioneer in such offerings ldquoThe de-mand on luxury products will continue to increase as the tastes of sophisticated societies continues to reach new limits Luxury will not be in big numbers but will be in the power to obtain rarity the Middle East under-stands that very well and the developments planned
Maria Kazeli writes
Hotel Missoni Kuwait
23EXCLUSIVELuxury Travel
MARCH 2013
from now until 2020 have luxury travellers as their tar-getrdquo Darwiche concluded
An upcoming superior property in the region is Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah set to open in May Rudi Jagersbacher president Middle East and Africa Hilton Worldwide explained that the hotel as an up-scale property will have to deliver on two counts experiences and expectations Observing that travel behaviour has changed in the past years and placing emphasis on value for money he further noted ldquo[Wal-dorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah] is palatial exclusive and will offer the highest level of service as well as state-of-the-art amenities but that is not enough We have to ensure that our guests consider their experience as an investment worth repeating and sharingrdquo
The peak of extravagance is reached with a variety of private jet services throughout the region which cater for business and leisure travellers alike Mark Hardman op-erations director ExecuJet Middle East pointed out that the companyrsquos clientele is as diverse as the regionrsquos popu-lation but private aviation offers valued features such as time efficiency security privacy and convenience
He admitted that the most popular destinations for Dubai-based ExecuJet are in the Middle East with Riyadh Jeddah Beirut and Baghdad occupying the top spots while Geneva London and Nice are the favoured European hubs
Similarly Hardy Sohanpal director NasJet agreed that Middle East travellers use private jet services for efficiency flexibility and privacy while he accurately underlined that through emphasising the luxury ben-efits many private jet users build relationships with their key business contacts and staff by giving them access to private aircraft
ON THE RISE
Providing her own view Stewart reiterated that it is important not to overdevelop and retain authenticity of the Arab culture in the region
Along parallel lines Essex believes that the major-ity across the region always had the opinion that big is beautiful but this is not enough he further stressed as the industry professionals in the Middle East need to consider the boutique options However he lauded Abu Dhabirsquos development on Saadiyat Island and the introduction of cultural arts which he believes will at-tract the international and discerning travellers
Boyen deems that the region will experience ad-vancement and will emerge as a luxury destination something he attributes to improved air connectivity ldquoDefinitely with new airline routes from the Middle East launching all the time such as Etihad Airwaysrsquo new routes to Washington and Satildeo Paulo which are
launching this year the destination is bound to de-velop furtherrdquo he continued
Sharing the same opinion that the expansion of airlines and airports lead to such positive develop-ments Bernardini claimed that despite the fact that the Middle East will develop further to become a des-tination for high-calibre tourists not all countries in the region have the capacity and the stability to do so However he further explained a few hotspots will enjoy this blessing due to the money available in this part of the world which will result in the building of super high-quality hotels and thus attract a good number of luxury travellers
De Lasteyrie pointed out that even though the region was under the spotlight for some time the future will see even greater lavish suggestions and-maintaining that ldquoThe Middle East has been since years a luxury destination to the eyes of many though the pinnacle of luxury is yet to come Smaller and personalised service hotels and resorts from around the world are now willing to implement themselves in untouched locations creating a new momentum Much of the Middle East is still in the first tiers of luxu-ry based on opulent luxury and the glitz and glamour that first come with wealth We are now beginning to see affluent luxury and more distinguished spending on art collectibles and sustainabilityrdquo
24 SPECIAL REPORT Waterparks
MARCH 2013
In for a RideWaterparks are a popular attraction among locals and tourist in the Middle East With promising weather throughout most of the year waterparks offer visitors a fun family outing in addition to an array of promotions and events Travel Trade Monthly explores what makes waterparks the perfect attraction
F rom fun rides food and beverage outlets and retail offerings to gaming outlets and social events waterparks offer a safe fun and friendly environment for the family groups and events planners from all walks of life
Wild Wadi Waterpark Dubai is a good example whose team is committed to providing a fun-filled service that will make a lasting impression according to Chris Perry general manager Wild Wadi Waterpark who added that there is a major focus on using every opportunity to ensure that the guestsrsquo decision to visit is rewarded with plenty of time to play less time to queue and more time on the rides
Meanwhile Ice Land Water Park Ras Al Khaimah is receiving full promotional support from the emir-atersquos government and especially by its tourism body this according to Vagelyn Federico deputy director Ice Land Waterpark who added that it has been high-lighted as one of the major destinations in the UAE by all concerned tourism entities
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is the latest entry into the regionrsquos proliferating world of waterparks and accord-ing to Mike Oswald general manager Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi it rivals the worldrsquos best waterparks offering 43 rides slides and attractions ldquoIt has been an incredible journey to this point and unbelievably satisfying to watch the peoplersquos reaction to what has been created We are
support of the tourism body in Ras Al Khaimahrdquo Federico stated
In the summer major visitors to the waterpark hail from Asia as well as locally whereas during the winter months the CIS market plays a big role in pro-moting the park with its tourists in the UAE
In order to boost visitor arrivals to the waterpark Federico pointed out that during the winter the team is currently working for a family barbecue night with some other attractions to lure in more families
Moreover she indicated that the months ahead seem even more vibrant as she further demonstrated ldquoThis year will be more promising as we strengthened our ties with more travel operators inbound and out-bound Additionally we are currently working with dif-ferent airlines travel operators hotels and other tour-ism entities to promote Ice Land giving them also more benefits in promoting us to different market segmentsrdquo
Giving something more to visitors the water-parkrsquos team is currently working with skilled games and other dry rides for people to enjoy at the facility after park operations ldquoWe are also a preferred venue for concerts as we have the perfect place to accom-modate up to 6000 people in one area Ice Land Wa-ter Park is just one of the offerings of WOWRAK and we are currently working with other expansions such as resorts ice skating cinema complex hypermarket and other amusement activities which are planned to open in the next few yearsrdquo concluded Federico
Likewise Perry also announced continuous growth over the years for Wild Wadi Waterpark with 2012 prov-ing very successful He attributed this achievement to events such as ladies nights Ramadan nights and the new Jumeirah Sceirah which launched in September 2012 having proved to be a favourite amongst thrill seekers whereby one drops through a trap door from a height of 32m into the waiting water tunnel and races down the slide at 80km per hour
ldquoWe aim for this trend to continue this year as we have a variety of new attractive promotions and events to suit all our guestsrsquo needsrdquo Perry further in-formed ldquoWe also launched our online ticketing system this month to offer faster entry to our guestsrdquo he added guaranteeing guests with a faster entry process allow-ing all those with a printed ticket to jump the queue
Wild Wadi Waterpark is open all year round and ca-ters to guests from all over the world ldquoDuring the hot summer months (May-October) most of our guests come from the GCC countries whereby during the colder season (November-April) our guests are mainly from Europe
ldquoThe park is also a popular destination for UAE resi-dents since we periodically offer discounts to all resi-dents as well as annualseason passes that allow them to visit as many times as they want for a cheaper raterdquo he said
Perry also pointed out that during the month of May the waterpark offers its very popular family-only mornings every Friday at discounted rates so that they can enjoy the full facilities of the park when it is not too busy and of course when it is more safe and secure a factor which he assured is of the highest priority
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi
Dominique Christou writes
confident that people will have seen nothing like it before and we look forward to the waves of visitors expected to arrive now that the park is officially openrdquo
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi which inaugurated on January 19 is built around a central character named Dana whose crew won the battle in its quest to re-store a pearl to its rightful place which has ensured prosperity to the mythical Emirati village and marked what is expected to be a successful start to Yas Water-world Abu Dhabirsquos commercial operations
Set across 15ha on Yas Island the park offers thrills for the whole family and visitors will experience fun and adventure on rides and attractions such as the worldrsquos longest fastest tornado waterslide the regionrsquos first looping waterslide and the worldrsquos first interactive water and laser rollercoaster According to Oswald Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is expected to welcome a total of 700000 in its first year of operation
CALLING ALL THRILL SEEKERS
During 2012 waterparks across the region expe-rienced a healthy increase in visitors across a variety of markets
ldquoThe waterpark performed better in 2012 compared to our first year in 2011 when it comes to statistics in vari-ous nationalities locally and internationally through the
26 INVESTIGATION
MARCH 2013
Visiting Friends amp Relatives
Maria Kazeli writes
T he annual review for 2011 by the World Travel amp Tourism Council (WTTC) attributes social and cultural benefits to tourism indicating that the industry directly helps to keep or bring families and social networks together
With special regards to the visiting friends and relatives (VFR) segment the review supports that a significant proportion of all international trips which reaches up to a third of all arrivals for some large de-veloped markets are made in order to visit friends andor relatives
Globalisation has caused people to spread all over the globe but returning back home occasion-ally is a necessity The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) draws direct links between migration and travelling to visit relatives and in the 2009 Executive Summary entitled Tourism and Migration ndash Explor-
year in review which covers up to September 2012 reveals that the highest figures for the VFR segment appeared in January 2012 with 267 percent of 47610 incoming tourists being reported as VFR
Egyptrsquos outbound travel market linked to VFR oc-cupies a major part of business for travel agencies Feryal El Gohary general manager Bahi Travel ex-plained adding that almost half of the agencyrsquos cli-entele are VFR She also expressed the view that this market is a growing force for airlines and hoteliers alike while the latter she pinpointed will succeed only if they create a new strategy of very advanta-geous attractive long-stay offers
Tarek Moshref managing director Pronto Tours an Egypt-based tour operator supported that the VFR market is the third largest segment after holiday and business and for this reason local travel agents and operators should improve their services in order to capture and develop its potential by offering new options and programmes
Stressing the cost-driven aspect of the VFR mar-ket Adel Taha general manager leisure travel Kimidar Tours an Egyptian travel agency destination manage-ment company and ground handler said that VFR travellers aim at low travel expenditures in order to spend their money on leisure activities at the destina-tion and not on transportation With regards to the accommodation factor he added ldquoMost of the travel-lers whether leisure or VFR would tend to seek hotel accommodation in order to benefit from services pro-vided such as room cleaning and meals instead of self-served apartments However we can say they still seek low-cost accommodations with some specificationsrdquo
VFR IN THE SKIES
Commenting on the results of the British CAArsquos study Harry Bush group director economic regulation UK CAA had said that air travel played a key role in enabling peoplersquos relocating principally through the emergence of low-cost air travel and that the result-ing VFR passengers are increasingly important con-sumers of air travel According to an aviation analysis report by CAPA - Centre for Aviation a provider of independent aviation market intelligence the Mid-dle Eastern low-cost carriers are trying to adapt their model to the regional situation with their higher den-sity configurations targeting migrant workers and VFR traffic flows from North Africa and South Asia into the Gulf region
Major airlines have taken this trend into consid-eration and cater for this market by tailoring their offers Paolo De Renzis area commercial manager Middle East and Central Asia British Airways said ldquoThe VFR segment is extremely important to British Airways particularly in the Middle East where a large number of our customers are VFR travellers This is a region where families are extremely close and this tight-knit family culture means that we see a lot of VFR traffic across our Middle Eastern routes We also have a large expat community in the UAE which con-tributes significantly to this segmentrdquo
Unconventional TravellersMany prefer to spend their holiday visiting their friends and relatives in their home country if they are expa-triates or some other destination in order to spend time with their loved ones The focus of the travel is not cultural sightseeing and luxury ac-commodation but low airfare and budget lodgings
ing the Relationship between Two Global Phenomena compiled by UNWTO the two concepts are analysed by stressing that growth in international tourism and mobility has given rise to tourism-led migration with examples including the movement of male labourers from South Asia to meet the construction demands of the tourism boom in the UAE
The research states that migration has led directly and indirectly to significant growth in tourism to both origin and destination countries through increased visibility especially in the VFR sector and to the de-velopment of new tourism infrastructure and trans-port routes in and between countries
UKrsquos Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) also lays empha-sis on the importance of the specific market having published an in-depth study on air passengers visiting friends or family The investigation report titled Interna-tional Relations ndash The Growth in Air Travel to Visit Friends or Relatives indicated that the robust growth in VFR re-flected trends such as labour mobility and migration while predicting that due to these trends the countryrsquos GDP will affect future VFR passenger traffic
VISITING MENA
At the 6th UNWTOPacific Asia Travel Association Fo-rum on Tourism Trends and Outlook held in October 2012 in China it was revealed that 36 percent of the Middle Eastrsquos outbound market constitutes the VFR segment
Some insights on inbound VFR trends concern-ing the hotel industry in the region were provided by Darroch Crawford managing director Middle East and Africa Premier Inn Hotels who highlighted that this market is highly important but also very difficult to measure as bookings of this nature come through different channels His estimations on guests travel-ling to visit family members in the region and residing in Premier Inn properties amount to seven percent of the total clientele Crawford further indicated that the largest Middle Eastern feeder markets for the brand are Lebanon Syria and Jordan
Meanwhile in Saudi Arabia domestic tourism has been the primary focus of tourism development pol-icy in the Kingdom and according to Saudi Tourism Outlook issued by the Tourism Information and Re-search Centre part of Saudi Commission for Tourism amp Antiquities which analyses July 2012rsquos figures the local segment contributed to 114 million overnight trips in the month under review out of which 398 percent hailed from the VFR segment In addition 293 percent of the 171 million outbound trips taken from Saudi Arabia during July 2012 were categorised as the VFR market
The Statistical Service of Cyprus disclosed that ac-cording to the latest data available concerning Sep-tember 2012 the island received 335352 visitors out of which 97 percent were VFR The same data for the
28 WHOS MOVED
MARCH 2013
ANDREW ABRAM
KONSTANTINOS KOUROTSIDIS
Andrew Abram has been named general manager at Raffles Dubai Abram joins the propertyrsquos team from Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group where over the past dec-ade he has held various positions He joined the company in 2003 as resident manager of The Excelsior Hotel Hong Kong and went on to lead the renovation and reopen-ing of Mandarin Oriental Jakarta holding the role of general man-ager for eight years He most re-cently served as general manager
of Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhavi in Chiang Mai Thailand Having also held the position of corporate director of sales and marketing at Jumeirah Group in the Middle East where he was responsible for the branding and launching of several projects Abram brings an insiderrsquos knowl-edge to Raffles Dubai
Konstantinos Kourotsidis has been named general manager at Radisson Blu Martinez Hotel Beirut Kourotsidis started his career in the hospitality industry in 1996 in food and beverage at Copthorne Hotel Hanover In 2000 he joined The Rezidor Ho-tel Group where he held various positions across Europe and the Middle East including at Radis-son Blu Hotel Hanover Radission
Blu Hotel amp Spa Galway Radisson Blu Resort Schloss Fleesensee Radisson Blu Resort El Quseir Radisson Blu Hotel Alexandria and Radisson Blu Resort Sharjah After several task force assign-ments in Egypt Libya and UAE Kourotsidis was promoted to general manager at Radisson Blu Al Mahary Hotel Tripoli Most re-cently he worked as acting gen-eral manager at Radisson Blu Re-sort Fujairah
Abram brings an insiderrsquos knowledge to
Raffles Dubai
MARCH 2013
30 TRAVEL TALK
MARCH 2013
LEON SALINEL
WAEL EL BEHI
KARIM NAHAS
Executive assistant manager of sales and marketing Dusit Thani Dubai
General manager Ramada Downtown Dubai
General managar Rose Rayhaan by Rotana
ldquo2012 was a very successful year for us We were not only successful in meeting our key performance indicators most notably by exceeding both our gross operating profit and gross operating revenue Working with Inves-tors in People throughout the year also ensured that we performed highly in our employee satisfaction survey we even ranked at the top of our group in this regards [hellip] We are now drawing to a close on our rooms renovation and have just welcomed our new general manager so it is an exciting year to come for us which will see some changerdquo
ldquoI am very pleased to be appointed as executive board mem-ber [of the Tunisian Business Council] I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress in [the cur-rent year] I hope to play a part in creating strong community bound by camaraderie accord and reliance among Tunisian nationals in the UAErdquo
ldquo2012 was a record year for Rose Rayhaan total revenue growth was almost 17 percent versus 2011 [hellip] The hotel continued to focus on the GCC markets with the Saudi market on the top list and strong performance of the UK France and Russian markets were witnessed UAE local market in both leisure and corporate seg-ments also performed very well We are planning to fo-cus on new emerging markets like South Africa Brazil and Turkey Competition will be indeed stiffen this year however I guess there will be business for everybodyrdquo
I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress
TRAVEL TALK IS YOUR SPACE ndash 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
editorialtraveltradeweeklytravel
trav
el t
alk
is
y
our
spac
e
31RENDEZVOUS
MARCH 2013
Q amp A with Rana El KhouryWith her recent appointment Rana El Khoury general manager Le Gray Beirut became one of Lebanonrsquos first women to hold such a high position at a five-star hotel and here she shares her views on the future prospects of the Lebanese hotel sector
Rana El KhouryGeneral manager Le Gray Beirut
Travel Trade Monthly How would you describe 2012 in a few words Rana El Khoury The best way to describe 2012 would certainly be lsquochallengingrsquo a challenge that could be called survival until we see better days Controlling costs while maintaining superior ser-vice quality and competitiveness is key to our con-tinuous success in the Lebanese market The hotel performance could be rated as fair for 2012 greatly impacted by high level of business during the first five months of the year This has allowed us to stay ahead of the game for the remainder of the year although November 2012 was the toughest month since the opening of the hotel in 2009 Despite all Le Gray has managed in 2012 to retain its number one position in occupancy and RevPAR in the Leba-nese market
Travel Trade Monthly The hotel will soon em-bark on a major extension project Tell us a little bit about this
Rana El Khoury Le Gray is preparing to kick off its extension that will include a larger lobby with a lob-by lounge a chocolate room banquet space a 35-seat movie theatre and an additional 18 rooms The project should reach completion by end of 2014
Travel Trade Monthly Prior to your appoint-ment you served as hotel manager How does your new position differ from your former role
Rana El Khoury My previous position as hotel manager was focused on the operations aspect of the hotel as general manager my responsibilities enclose a more general view of the hotel including the administrative and strategic side of the hotel as well as the link between the owning company and management company
My priorities for the coming year is diversify-ing our target markets on the international and local scene to maximise hotel occupancy and to strengthen the positioning of Le Gray on the lo-cal market as a destination for its restaurants and bars whilst building on the existing strong team at Le Gray and getting the right people together to move forward with positivity and vigilance to counter these challenging times
The advice I would give young women ready to climb the corporate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the dif-ferent positions they fill throughout their careers
Travel Trade Monthly Your appointment makes you one of the first Lebanese women to hold this position at a five-star hotel How challenging is it to hold such a high position at an already well-established hotel
Rana El Khoury The hospitality industry is very challenging and requires sacrifice on all levels What I can say is that women have their own speci-ficity and they can bring a different vision and new perspectives to the hospitality business The advice I would give young women ready to climb the cor-porate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the different positions they fill throughout their careers this can only make them stronger and certainly more cred-ible when they reach executive level positions
Travel Trade Monthly Over the past few years the Lebanese tourism industry has faced a num-ber of serious challenges What are your expec-tations for the current year Rana El Khoury Lebanon has always been a pre-ferred destination attracting tourists from the Arab and Gulf countries and with increasing stability and security we do see a solid recovery
Given the complexity of the Lebanese market improvement can occur overnight As seen in May 2008 following the Doha-agreement occupancy rates jumped back then from 30 to 90 percent within one week
This year remains uncertain due to the volatil-ity of the political situation in the region the key is to remain sustainable and be ready for the sudden surge in business
Le Gray Beirut
32 NEWS amp EVENTS
MARCH 2013
EVENTS Sponsored by
Following a refurbishment to better present the historical phases of the emiratersquos auto manu-facturing sector Sharjah Classic Cars Museum originally launched in 2008 by HH Sheikh Sul-tan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi ruler of Sharjah reopened in January by Sheikh Essam bin Saqr Al Qassimi chairman Sharjah rulerrsquos office
On the opening day of the event Manal Ataya director general Sharjah Museums Department said ldquoThe aim of refurbishing this museum was to allow us to re-evaluate the previous design and interpretation and improve it significantlyrdquo
She further pointed out that the museum now helps visitors to appreciate the aesthetic and historical value of classic cars in a space that inte-grates a new childrens interactive area and a gal-lery space for temporary exhibitions
The museum boasts 85 classic cars two mo-torcycles and five bicycles as well as a model of an old car and an engine to allow visitors to familiarise themselves with parts of an engine and their function while it is divided into five sections and features an area for activities and interactive games
Following the launch of the UAE branch of the Airline Owners and Pi-lotsrsquo Association (AOPA) at Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2012 Yousif Al Hammadi president AOPA UAE has invited representatives from international AOPA branches to attend a workshop dedicated to discussing and debating gen-eral aviation issues in the region
The meeting the first of its kind will run parallel to this yearrsquos Abu Dhabi Air Expo and will take place at the Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies Al Bateen Executive Airport on March 6
It is anticipated that up to 30 representatives from AOPA US AOPA UK AOPA Germany and AOPA France will meet with their colleagues from the UAE during the one-day event to share knowledge and debate a variety of topics including air space regulations aerial non-commercial operations certification and maintenance issues and pilot licensing
AOPA members will also be able to maximise their time by attending the Air Expo exhibition the Middle Eastrsquos only dedicated general aviation event to meet pilots from the region and learn about the latest trends
Sharjah Reopens Car Museum AOPA UAE to Hold Meeting with International Colleagues
ITB BerlinBerlin Germany March 6 ndash 10 2013(wwwitb-berlinde)A business-to-business platform for trade visitors which provides the possibility to discover the whole world within a few hours
MITT MoscowMoscow Russia March 20 ndash 23 2013(wwwmittru)Russiarsquos leading and largest travel exhibition with over 3000 participat-ing companies and 197 destinations a key meeting place for industry professionals
The Gulf Incentive Business Travel amp Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) Abu Dhabi UAE March 25 ndash 27 2013(wwwgibtmcom)A leading event for the meetings incentives and business travel industry in the GCC region which can truly unlock all participantsrsquo business potential
Saudi Travel amp Tourism Investment Market (STTIM)Riyadh Saudi Arabia March 31 ndash April 4 2013(wwwsttimcomsa)The event covers all travel and tourism investments aspects in the Kingdom through a combined conference and exhibition
International Destination Expo (IDE)Dubai UAE April 4 ndash 7 2013(wwwastaorgevents)Organised by the American Society of Travel Agents IDE is a destination training programme where participants can meet local suppliers and built profitable long-lasting relationships
Arabian Travel Market (ATM)Dubai UAE May 6 ndash 9 2013(wwwarabiantravelmarketcom)The travel and tourism event unlocking business potential within the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals
Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies
20 TOUR UK
MARCH 2013
Yates expressed great satisfaction for this success stressing that 2012 was no ordinary year for inbound tourism so to announce the best November in five years is an achievement
AN AMPLE CHOICE
These healthy results are evident in the hotel sector across the country partially attributed to the relative-ly strong MENA market as Daniel Simmons execu-tive director HotelREZ noted further indicating that the hotel currently has a presence in Dubai and as a result is strategically developing the MENA markets to support the membersrsquo growth
o-y improvement from the top five Middle Eastern mar-kets a 104 percent y-o-y upsurge from Saudi Arabian visitors and a 33 percent y-o-y rise from UAE visitors
Assuring that the MENA guest is well-catering to London Hilton on Park Lane trains its staff to pro-vide the welcome that visitors from the region have come to expect equipping the team with the skills to handle tailored requests according to Brayshaw who elaborated ldquoThere is a dedicated guest relations teams for Middle Eastern guests with Arabic-speak-ing team members Facilities are available for visitorsrsquo private chefs to cook within the hotelsrsquo kitchens and serve their own dishes to their employer Arabic TV stations are also availablerdquo
BRINGING IN BUSINESS
Further boosting MENA tourism to the UK on March 31 British Airways (BA) will launch an additional four flights to and from Amman increasing the frequency from dai-ly to 11 per week ldquoJordan is an important market for Brit-ish Airways and we are thrilled with the excellent growth we have seen here since re-introducing Amman to our route network We are keen to further enhance our op-erations to and from Jordan and the announcement only consolidates our commitment to the Jordanian marketrdquo commented Paolo De Renzis area commercial manager Middle East and Central Asia BA
In addition Qatar Airways has launched its inau-gural long-haul Boeing 787 Dreamliner service on the Doha - London Heathrow route becoming the first airline to operate regular scheduled flights onboard the state-of-the art aircraft to and from the UK
Akbar Al Baker CEO Qatar Airways said ldquoThe Doha - Heathrow route is one of our most popular interna-tional routes and it was only fitting that we deploy our new 787 to and from Londonrdquo
INVESTING IN THE UK
Heathrow Airport is hailed as the most popular gateway for travellers to the UK recording a total of 518 million passengers having passed through its terminal in Janu-ary alone a record for the month which saw an increase of 03 percent over the corresponding month in 2012
Meanwhile load factors also set a record for the month under review up 21 percentage points on Janu-ary 2012 reaching 70 percent Domestic traffic was down 58 percent however European traffic rose 18 percent and Middle Eastern traffic also climbed the trajectory level by 33 percent over the same month in 2012
Moreover Heathrow Airport recently announced GBP3 billion (USD46 billion) worth of investments in the airport in addition to the GBP11 billion (USD168 billion) which has been invested since 2003 and these form part of the establishmentrsquos business plans for Q6 the regulatory period which covers 2014-2019 and they represent one of the largest private-sector investments in UK infrastructure
The plans include the completion of Terminal 2 and the early works on extending the building the development of a new integrated baggage system and the construction of new taxiways and stands which will allow Heathrow Airport to accommodate more of the most modern aircraft
Colin Matthews CEO Heathrow Airport com-mented ldquoHeathrow is the UKrsquos only hub airport and a strategically important national infrastructure asset Heathrow faces stiff competition from other Europe-an hubs and we must continue to improve the service we offers passengers and airlines [] Our plan for a further GBP3 billion (USD46 billion) of private-sector investment will further improve the airport for pas-sengers The plan represents good value for money for airlines and passengers and comes at no cost to taxpayersrdquo
Guests from the UAE Turkey Egypt Saudi Arabia and Kuwait along with Cyprus contributed to two percent of the hotelrsquos total reservations percentage results for 2012 this according to Simmons who also reported a 20 percent year-on-year (y-o-y) increase in revenue ldquoOur hotel members benefit from a 90 per-cent increase on IDS (Internet distribution services) and direct connect bookings a 35 percent increase on GDS (global distribution systems) bookings and a 60 percent growth on CRO (central reservations of-fices) and voice bookingsrdquo
Commenting on the propertyrsquos latest develop-ments Simmons revealed the recently-launched MICE Desk which he pinpointed is an additional solution to HotelREZrsquos member hotels and will help boost revenue
ldquoAt HotelREZ we are very confident that our new MICE Desk will raise awareness and continue to increase reservations for our hotel members from meetings incentives conventions and events pack-ages To complete the consumer booking cycle Ho-telREZ is launching REZanalyst a new social media and review analytics tool for hotels to help manage their online reputationrdquo he concluded
Also showing signs of strong performance is Lon-don Hilton on Park Lane thanks to the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympics whose international committee chose the property as the headquarter ho-tel this according to Ashleigh Brayshaw marketing and communications manager London Hilton on Park Lane
With one out of four of the hotelrsquos guests hailing from the MENA region Brayshaw pointed out that in 2011 the property witnessed particularly high growth in visitor numbers from the region with a 21 percent y-
Moreover the UK especially London offers a full range of activities according to Brayshaw who observed that the Middle Eastern guest is increasingly organised with the time spent in the capital and one who enjoys combining a variety of activities ldquoPopular activities in-clude sending children to summer schools in Regentrsquos Park attending business meetings visiting property shopping for the latest trends and enjoying the rich va-riety of entertainment that London has to offer Families often use managers to organise their time with London Hilton on Park Lanersquos hotel management working di-rectly with guests to assistrdquo she further noted
Moreover Travelodge one of the UKrsquos leading hotel brands is set to benefit from a GBP223 million (USD341 million) brand investment with the opening of 14 new hotels which includes two properties in Spain the creation of 420 new jobs and the launch-ing of a new room concept which has been designed by its customers ldquoThis capital expenditure will help us to grow our business strengthen our product offer-ing and make Travelodge the best value hotel chain in the UKrdquo Grant Hearn CEO Travelodge revealed
ldquoAs part of this yearrsquos investment we have worked with our customers to create a new Travelodge room which offers more comfort quality and stylerdquo he contin-ued adding that this enhanced product combined with economy pricing will ensure Travelodge is the smart choice for leisure and business travellers
Furthermore in order to help attract new custom-ers Travelodge is also investing over GBP12 million (USD 182 million) in digital and online marketing this year as well as over GBP1 million (USD15 million) in a website refresh later this year
London
22 EXCLUSIVE Luxury Travel
MARCH 2013
Living the DreamLuxury travel is all about mak-ing guests feel unique and privi-leged It is about offering them the chance to get to know the world in extravagance and having them live above the ordinary It is about spoiling them with opulent travel and hospitality services something which is without doubt growing in size and quality
I n late December 2012 the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) released its Travel Trends Report 2013 developed in collaboration with UKrsquos Foreign and Commonwealth Office pre-dicting that consumers will continue to look for
good value in breaks for this year rather than cut back on their holidays
Mark Tanzer CEO ABTA stated that the majority of British holidaymakers are reluctant to give up their annual holiday under any circumstances while strong forward bookings for the luxury and all-inclusive sec-tors are being witnessed
Speaking at the 2011 edition of the annual Interna-tional Luxury Travel Market (ILTM)rsquos Ultratravel Forum Chris Sanderson strategy and insight director The Future Laboratory a trend forecasting company had announced predictions stating that the lsquoluxuriansrsquo of the future would not be interested in too much choice ldquoThere is an en-hanced sense of just being todayrsquos luxury consumer rath-er than being surrounded by possessionsrdquo he explained
AUTHENTICALLY PRIVILIGED
Views corroborating Sandersonrsquos were voiced by John McGee research and communications manager Ar-tisans of Leisure a luxury travel company specialis-ing in exclusive customised private tours around the world McGee believes that the primary reason his customers travel is to get authentic experiences that introduce them to the local traditions and people while high-quality hotels encourage them to travel but are not primary incentives further pinpointing the latter as being the interest in experiencing local
culture cuisine history and lifestyle With reference to the Middle East McGee noted
that his agency is intrigued by places like Abu Dhabi and its considered approach to developing new mu-seums and cultural attractions
Defining the demands and needs of luxury trav-ellers as being genuine and local experiences Filip Boyen chief operating officer Orient-Express said ldquoFor luxury tourists travel is not just about lying on a beach or by the pool anymore It is about combining relaxation in a beautiful setting with learning and dis-covery They want to come away with an experience or having learnt something new that they can come home and tell their friends all aboutrdquo
Boyen added that the Middle East is relatively new to the world of tourism a place many will want to discover and consequently this will create a demand for luxury ho-tels already emerging in many parts of the region
Travellers who spend a lot of money for their trip expect and demand the best they need to be cared for in every step of the way while feeling confident that they are dealing with someone experienced to respond to their requests according to Daniel Essex CEO Century Travel who also explained that many luxury travellers are looking for something small and attentive and a much more personal approach
LET US SPOIL YOU
The growing number of luxury hotels and amenities has led to an increased interest with Canadian travel-lers to the Middle East according to Kathy Stewart director of media and public relations Butterfield amp Robinson a Toronto-based agency Aside from authen-ticity she stressed the importance of maintaining the unique qualities of the region for further development
into a luxury destination for global travellers ldquoEspecial-ly North Americans who are travelling a long distance to the Middle East they are not looking for the same experience they can get at home They want Middle Eastern food people landscapes and architecture to be an integral part of the experiencerdquo
Hotel Missoni Kuwait benefits from a healthy lux-ury-demanding domestic market which represents 55 percent of its business followed by Saudi Arabia with 13 percent and the UAE with 10 percent accord-ing to Alfio Bernardini general manager Hotel Mis-soni Kuwait who said ldquo[At the hotel] everything con-tributes to the depth of the experience Hotel Missoni is designed to be genuine and uncomplicated offer-ing those luxury touches that really matter because they genuinely enrich the experience of stayingrdquo
Six Senses Zighy Bay the indigenous village style accommodation in Oman has observed an increase of 12 percent in occupancy levels throughout 2012 while the growth of the Middle East clientele is appar-ent after the development of family-specific offerings attested Guillaume de Lasteyrie executive assistant manager Six Senses Zighy Bay He believes that peace and calm is the most appreciated value of the property while the hotelrsquos offerings are tempting for guests cit-ing the example of the saltwater pool carrying a min-eral composition of 15-20 percent comparable to the Dead Sea whose concentration is 27 percent
Another instance of Arab opulence is Eastern Man-groves Hotel amp Spa by Anantara in Abu Dhabi a prop-erty which assures that luxury is interrelated with in-dulgence across all of its services offered with an acute focus on detail which Nehme Darwiche hotel manag-er Eastern Mangroves Hotel amp Spa by Anantara report-ed is of utter importance Darwiche further supports that the Middle East will not only continue to develop as a luxury destination but will sit on the top of luxury ranks and become a pioneer in such offerings ldquoThe de-mand on luxury products will continue to increase as the tastes of sophisticated societies continues to reach new limits Luxury will not be in big numbers but will be in the power to obtain rarity the Middle East under-stands that very well and the developments planned
Maria Kazeli writes
Hotel Missoni Kuwait
23EXCLUSIVELuxury Travel
MARCH 2013
from now until 2020 have luxury travellers as their tar-getrdquo Darwiche concluded
An upcoming superior property in the region is Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah set to open in May Rudi Jagersbacher president Middle East and Africa Hilton Worldwide explained that the hotel as an up-scale property will have to deliver on two counts experiences and expectations Observing that travel behaviour has changed in the past years and placing emphasis on value for money he further noted ldquo[Wal-dorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah] is palatial exclusive and will offer the highest level of service as well as state-of-the-art amenities but that is not enough We have to ensure that our guests consider their experience as an investment worth repeating and sharingrdquo
The peak of extravagance is reached with a variety of private jet services throughout the region which cater for business and leisure travellers alike Mark Hardman op-erations director ExecuJet Middle East pointed out that the companyrsquos clientele is as diverse as the regionrsquos popu-lation but private aviation offers valued features such as time efficiency security privacy and convenience
He admitted that the most popular destinations for Dubai-based ExecuJet are in the Middle East with Riyadh Jeddah Beirut and Baghdad occupying the top spots while Geneva London and Nice are the favoured European hubs
Similarly Hardy Sohanpal director NasJet agreed that Middle East travellers use private jet services for efficiency flexibility and privacy while he accurately underlined that through emphasising the luxury ben-efits many private jet users build relationships with their key business contacts and staff by giving them access to private aircraft
ON THE RISE
Providing her own view Stewart reiterated that it is important not to overdevelop and retain authenticity of the Arab culture in the region
Along parallel lines Essex believes that the major-ity across the region always had the opinion that big is beautiful but this is not enough he further stressed as the industry professionals in the Middle East need to consider the boutique options However he lauded Abu Dhabirsquos development on Saadiyat Island and the introduction of cultural arts which he believes will at-tract the international and discerning travellers
Boyen deems that the region will experience ad-vancement and will emerge as a luxury destination something he attributes to improved air connectivity ldquoDefinitely with new airline routes from the Middle East launching all the time such as Etihad Airwaysrsquo new routes to Washington and Satildeo Paulo which are
launching this year the destination is bound to de-velop furtherrdquo he continued
Sharing the same opinion that the expansion of airlines and airports lead to such positive develop-ments Bernardini claimed that despite the fact that the Middle East will develop further to become a des-tination for high-calibre tourists not all countries in the region have the capacity and the stability to do so However he further explained a few hotspots will enjoy this blessing due to the money available in this part of the world which will result in the building of super high-quality hotels and thus attract a good number of luxury travellers
De Lasteyrie pointed out that even though the region was under the spotlight for some time the future will see even greater lavish suggestions and-maintaining that ldquoThe Middle East has been since years a luxury destination to the eyes of many though the pinnacle of luxury is yet to come Smaller and personalised service hotels and resorts from around the world are now willing to implement themselves in untouched locations creating a new momentum Much of the Middle East is still in the first tiers of luxu-ry based on opulent luxury and the glitz and glamour that first come with wealth We are now beginning to see affluent luxury and more distinguished spending on art collectibles and sustainabilityrdquo
24 SPECIAL REPORT Waterparks
MARCH 2013
In for a RideWaterparks are a popular attraction among locals and tourist in the Middle East With promising weather throughout most of the year waterparks offer visitors a fun family outing in addition to an array of promotions and events Travel Trade Monthly explores what makes waterparks the perfect attraction
F rom fun rides food and beverage outlets and retail offerings to gaming outlets and social events waterparks offer a safe fun and friendly environment for the family groups and events planners from all walks of life
Wild Wadi Waterpark Dubai is a good example whose team is committed to providing a fun-filled service that will make a lasting impression according to Chris Perry general manager Wild Wadi Waterpark who added that there is a major focus on using every opportunity to ensure that the guestsrsquo decision to visit is rewarded with plenty of time to play less time to queue and more time on the rides
Meanwhile Ice Land Water Park Ras Al Khaimah is receiving full promotional support from the emir-atersquos government and especially by its tourism body this according to Vagelyn Federico deputy director Ice Land Waterpark who added that it has been high-lighted as one of the major destinations in the UAE by all concerned tourism entities
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is the latest entry into the regionrsquos proliferating world of waterparks and accord-ing to Mike Oswald general manager Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi it rivals the worldrsquos best waterparks offering 43 rides slides and attractions ldquoIt has been an incredible journey to this point and unbelievably satisfying to watch the peoplersquos reaction to what has been created We are
support of the tourism body in Ras Al Khaimahrdquo Federico stated
In the summer major visitors to the waterpark hail from Asia as well as locally whereas during the winter months the CIS market plays a big role in pro-moting the park with its tourists in the UAE
In order to boost visitor arrivals to the waterpark Federico pointed out that during the winter the team is currently working for a family barbecue night with some other attractions to lure in more families
Moreover she indicated that the months ahead seem even more vibrant as she further demonstrated ldquoThis year will be more promising as we strengthened our ties with more travel operators inbound and out-bound Additionally we are currently working with dif-ferent airlines travel operators hotels and other tour-ism entities to promote Ice Land giving them also more benefits in promoting us to different market segmentsrdquo
Giving something more to visitors the water-parkrsquos team is currently working with skilled games and other dry rides for people to enjoy at the facility after park operations ldquoWe are also a preferred venue for concerts as we have the perfect place to accom-modate up to 6000 people in one area Ice Land Wa-ter Park is just one of the offerings of WOWRAK and we are currently working with other expansions such as resorts ice skating cinema complex hypermarket and other amusement activities which are planned to open in the next few yearsrdquo concluded Federico
Likewise Perry also announced continuous growth over the years for Wild Wadi Waterpark with 2012 prov-ing very successful He attributed this achievement to events such as ladies nights Ramadan nights and the new Jumeirah Sceirah which launched in September 2012 having proved to be a favourite amongst thrill seekers whereby one drops through a trap door from a height of 32m into the waiting water tunnel and races down the slide at 80km per hour
ldquoWe aim for this trend to continue this year as we have a variety of new attractive promotions and events to suit all our guestsrsquo needsrdquo Perry further in-formed ldquoWe also launched our online ticketing system this month to offer faster entry to our guestsrdquo he added guaranteeing guests with a faster entry process allow-ing all those with a printed ticket to jump the queue
Wild Wadi Waterpark is open all year round and ca-ters to guests from all over the world ldquoDuring the hot summer months (May-October) most of our guests come from the GCC countries whereby during the colder season (November-April) our guests are mainly from Europe
ldquoThe park is also a popular destination for UAE resi-dents since we periodically offer discounts to all resi-dents as well as annualseason passes that allow them to visit as many times as they want for a cheaper raterdquo he said
Perry also pointed out that during the month of May the waterpark offers its very popular family-only mornings every Friday at discounted rates so that they can enjoy the full facilities of the park when it is not too busy and of course when it is more safe and secure a factor which he assured is of the highest priority
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi
Dominique Christou writes
confident that people will have seen nothing like it before and we look forward to the waves of visitors expected to arrive now that the park is officially openrdquo
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi which inaugurated on January 19 is built around a central character named Dana whose crew won the battle in its quest to re-store a pearl to its rightful place which has ensured prosperity to the mythical Emirati village and marked what is expected to be a successful start to Yas Water-world Abu Dhabirsquos commercial operations
Set across 15ha on Yas Island the park offers thrills for the whole family and visitors will experience fun and adventure on rides and attractions such as the worldrsquos longest fastest tornado waterslide the regionrsquos first looping waterslide and the worldrsquos first interactive water and laser rollercoaster According to Oswald Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is expected to welcome a total of 700000 in its first year of operation
CALLING ALL THRILL SEEKERS
During 2012 waterparks across the region expe-rienced a healthy increase in visitors across a variety of markets
ldquoThe waterpark performed better in 2012 compared to our first year in 2011 when it comes to statistics in vari-ous nationalities locally and internationally through the
26 INVESTIGATION
MARCH 2013
Visiting Friends amp Relatives
Maria Kazeli writes
T he annual review for 2011 by the World Travel amp Tourism Council (WTTC) attributes social and cultural benefits to tourism indicating that the industry directly helps to keep or bring families and social networks together
With special regards to the visiting friends and relatives (VFR) segment the review supports that a significant proportion of all international trips which reaches up to a third of all arrivals for some large de-veloped markets are made in order to visit friends andor relatives
Globalisation has caused people to spread all over the globe but returning back home occasion-ally is a necessity The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) draws direct links between migration and travelling to visit relatives and in the 2009 Executive Summary entitled Tourism and Migration ndash Explor-
year in review which covers up to September 2012 reveals that the highest figures for the VFR segment appeared in January 2012 with 267 percent of 47610 incoming tourists being reported as VFR
Egyptrsquos outbound travel market linked to VFR oc-cupies a major part of business for travel agencies Feryal El Gohary general manager Bahi Travel ex-plained adding that almost half of the agencyrsquos cli-entele are VFR She also expressed the view that this market is a growing force for airlines and hoteliers alike while the latter she pinpointed will succeed only if they create a new strategy of very advanta-geous attractive long-stay offers
Tarek Moshref managing director Pronto Tours an Egypt-based tour operator supported that the VFR market is the third largest segment after holiday and business and for this reason local travel agents and operators should improve their services in order to capture and develop its potential by offering new options and programmes
Stressing the cost-driven aspect of the VFR mar-ket Adel Taha general manager leisure travel Kimidar Tours an Egyptian travel agency destination manage-ment company and ground handler said that VFR travellers aim at low travel expenditures in order to spend their money on leisure activities at the destina-tion and not on transportation With regards to the accommodation factor he added ldquoMost of the travel-lers whether leisure or VFR would tend to seek hotel accommodation in order to benefit from services pro-vided such as room cleaning and meals instead of self-served apartments However we can say they still seek low-cost accommodations with some specificationsrdquo
VFR IN THE SKIES
Commenting on the results of the British CAArsquos study Harry Bush group director economic regulation UK CAA had said that air travel played a key role in enabling peoplersquos relocating principally through the emergence of low-cost air travel and that the result-ing VFR passengers are increasingly important con-sumers of air travel According to an aviation analysis report by CAPA - Centre for Aviation a provider of independent aviation market intelligence the Mid-dle Eastern low-cost carriers are trying to adapt their model to the regional situation with their higher den-sity configurations targeting migrant workers and VFR traffic flows from North Africa and South Asia into the Gulf region
Major airlines have taken this trend into consid-eration and cater for this market by tailoring their offers Paolo De Renzis area commercial manager Middle East and Central Asia British Airways said ldquoThe VFR segment is extremely important to British Airways particularly in the Middle East where a large number of our customers are VFR travellers This is a region where families are extremely close and this tight-knit family culture means that we see a lot of VFR traffic across our Middle Eastern routes We also have a large expat community in the UAE which con-tributes significantly to this segmentrdquo
Unconventional TravellersMany prefer to spend their holiday visiting their friends and relatives in their home country if they are expa-triates or some other destination in order to spend time with their loved ones The focus of the travel is not cultural sightseeing and luxury ac-commodation but low airfare and budget lodgings
ing the Relationship between Two Global Phenomena compiled by UNWTO the two concepts are analysed by stressing that growth in international tourism and mobility has given rise to tourism-led migration with examples including the movement of male labourers from South Asia to meet the construction demands of the tourism boom in the UAE
The research states that migration has led directly and indirectly to significant growth in tourism to both origin and destination countries through increased visibility especially in the VFR sector and to the de-velopment of new tourism infrastructure and trans-port routes in and between countries
UKrsquos Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) also lays empha-sis on the importance of the specific market having published an in-depth study on air passengers visiting friends or family The investigation report titled Interna-tional Relations ndash The Growth in Air Travel to Visit Friends or Relatives indicated that the robust growth in VFR re-flected trends such as labour mobility and migration while predicting that due to these trends the countryrsquos GDP will affect future VFR passenger traffic
VISITING MENA
At the 6th UNWTOPacific Asia Travel Association Fo-rum on Tourism Trends and Outlook held in October 2012 in China it was revealed that 36 percent of the Middle Eastrsquos outbound market constitutes the VFR segment
Some insights on inbound VFR trends concern-ing the hotel industry in the region were provided by Darroch Crawford managing director Middle East and Africa Premier Inn Hotels who highlighted that this market is highly important but also very difficult to measure as bookings of this nature come through different channels His estimations on guests travel-ling to visit family members in the region and residing in Premier Inn properties amount to seven percent of the total clientele Crawford further indicated that the largest Middle Eastern feeder markets for the brand are Lebanon Syria and Jordan
Meanwhile in Saudi Arabia domestic tourism has been the primary focus of tourism development pol-icy in the Kingdom and according to Saudi Tourism Outlook issued by the Tourism Information and Re-search Centre part of Saudi Commission for Tourism amp Antiquities which analyses July 2012rsquos figures the local segment contributed to 114 million overnight trips in the month under review out of which 398 percent hailed from the VFR segment In addition 293 percent of the 171 million outbound trips taken from Saudi Arabia during July 2012 were categorised as the VFR market
The Statistical Service of Cyprus disclosed that ac-cording to the latest data available concerning Sep-tember 2012 the island received 335352 visitors out of which 97 percent were VFR The same data for the
28 WHOS MOVED
MARCH 2013
ANDREW ABRAM
KONSTANTINOS KOUROTSIDIS
Andrew Abram has been named general manager at Raffles Dubai Abram joins the propertyrsquos team from Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group where over the past dec-ade he has held various positions He joined the company in 2003 as resident manager of The Excelsior Hotel Hong Kong and went on to lead the renovation and reopen-ing of Mandarin Oriental Jakarta holding the role of general man-ager for eight years He most re-cently served as general manager
of Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhavi in Chiang Mai Thailand Having also held the position of corporate director of sales and marketing at Jumeirah Group in the Middle East where he was responsible for the branding and launching of several projects Abram brings an insiderrsquos knowl-edge to Raffles Dubai
Konstantinos Kourotsidis has been named general manager at Radisson Blu Martinez Hotel Beirut Kourotsidis started his career in the hospitality industry in 1996 in food and beverage at Copthorne Hotel Hanover In 2000 he joined The Rezidor Ho-tel Group where he held various positions across Europe and the Middle East including at Radis-son Blu Hotel Hanover Radission
Blu Hotel amp Spa Galway Radisson Blu Resort Schloss Fleesensee Radisson Blu Resort El Quseir Radisson Blu Hotel Alexandria and Radisson Blu Resort Sharjah After several task force assign-ments in Egypt Libya and UAE Kourotsidis was promoted to general manager at Radisson Blu Al Mahary Hotel Tripoli Most re-cently he worked as acting gen-eral manager at Radisson Blu Re-sort Fujairah
Abram brings an insiderrsquos knowledge to
Raffles Dubai
MARCH 2013
30 TRAVEL TALK
MARCH 2013
LEON SALINEL
WAEL EL BEHI
KARIM NAHAS
Executive assistant manager of sales and marketing Dusit Thani Dubai
General manager Ramada Downtown Dubai
General managar Rose Rayhaan by Rotana
ldquo2012 was a very successful year for us We were not only successful in meeting our key performance indicators most notably by exceeding both our gross operating profit and gross operating revenue Working with Inves-tors in People throughout the year also ensured that we performed highly in our employee satisfaction survey we even ranked at the top of our group in this regards [hellip] We are now drawing to a close on our rooms renovation and have just welcomed our new general manager so it is an exciting year to come for us which will see some changerdquo
ldquoI am very pleased to be appointed as executive board mem-ber [of the Tunisian Business Council] I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress in [the cur-rent year] I hope to play a part in creating strong community bound by camaraderie accord and reliance among Tunisian nationals in the UAErdquo
ldquo2012 was a record year for Rose Rayhaan total revenue growth was almost 17 percent versus 2011 [hellip] The hotel continued to focus on the GCC markets with the Saudi market on the top list and strong performance of the UK France and Russian markets were witnessed UAE local market in both leisure and corporate seg-ments also performed very well We are planning to fo-cus on new emerging markets like South Africa Brazil and Turkey Competition will be indeed stiffen this year however I guess there will be business for everybodyrdquo
I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress
TRAVEL TALK IS YOUR SPACE ndash 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
editorialtraveltradeweeklytravel
trav
el t
alk
is
y
our
spac
e
31RENDEZVOUS
MARCH 2013
Q amp A with Rana El KhouryWith her recent appointment Rana El Khoury general manager Le Gray Beirut became one of Lebanonrsquos first women to hold such a high position at a five-star hotel and here she shares her views on the future prospects of the Lebanese hotel sector
Rana El KhouryGeneral manager Le Gray Beirut
Travel Trade Monthly How would you describe 2012 in a few words Rana El Khoury The best way to describe 2012 would certainly be lsquochallengingrsquo a challenge that could be called survival until we see better days Controlling costs while maintaining superior ser-vice quality and competitiveness is key to our con-tinuous success in the Lebanese market The hotel performance could be rated as fair for 2012 greatly impacted by high level of business during the first five months of the year This has allowed us to stay ahead of the game for the remainder of the year although November 2012 was the toughest month since the opening of the hotel in 2009 Despite all Le Gray has managed in 2012 to retain its number one position in occupancy and RevPAR in the Leba-nese market
Travel Trade Monthly The hotel will soon em-bark on a major extension project Tell us a little bit about this
Rana El Khoury Le Gray is preparing to kick off its extension that will include a larger lobby with a lob-by lounge a chocolate room banquet space a 35-seat movie theatre and an additional 18 rooms The project should reach completion by end of 2014
Travel Trade Monthly Prior to your appoint-ment you served as hotel manager How does your new position differ from your former role
Rana El Khoury My previous position as hotel manager was focused on the operations aspect of the hotel as general manager my responsibilities enclose a more general view of the hotel including the administrative and strategic side of the hotel as well as the link between the owning company and management company
My priorities for the coming year is diversify-ing our target markets on the international and local scene to maximise hotel occupancy and to strengthen the positioning of Le Gray on the lo-cal market as a destination for its restaurants and bars whilst building on the existing strong team at Le Gray and getting the right people together to move forward with positivity and vigilance to counter these challenging times
The advice I would give young women ready to climb the corporate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the dif-ferent positions they fill throughout their careers
Travel Trade Monthly Your appointment makes you one of the first Lebanese women to hold this position at a five-star hotel How challenging is it to hold such a high position at an already well-established hotel
Rana El Khoury The hospitality industry is very challenging and requires sacrifice on all levels What I can say is that women have their own speci-ficity and they can bring a different vision and new perspectives to the hospitality business The advice I would give young women ready to climb the cor-porate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the different positions they fill throughout their careers this can only make them stronger and certainly more cred-ible when they reach executive level positions
Travel Trade Monthly Over the past few years the Lebanese tourism industry has faced a num-ber of serious challenges What are your expec-tations for the current year Rana El Khoury Lebanon has always been a pre-ferred destination attracting tourists from the Arab and Gulf countries and with increasing stability and security we do see a solid recovery
Given the complexity of the Lebanese market improvement can occur overnight As seen in May 2008 following the Doha-agreement occupancy rates jumped back then from 30 to 90 percent within one week
This year remains uncertain due to the volatil-ity of the political situation in the region the key is to remain sustainable and be ready for the sudden surge in business
Le Gray Beirut
32 NEWS amp EVENTS
MARCH 2013
EVENTS Sponsored by
Following a refurbishment to better present the historical phases of the emiratersquos auto manu-facturing sector Sharjah Classic Cars Museum originally launched in 2008 by HH Sheikh Sul-tan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi ruler of Sharjah reopened in January by Sheikh Essam bin Saqr Al Qassimi chairman Sharjah rulerrsquos office
On the opening day of the event Manal Ataya director general Sharjah Museums Department said ldquoThe aim of refurbishing this museum was to allow us to re-evaluate the previous design and interpretation and improve it significantlyrdquo
She further pointed out that the museum now helps visitors to appreciate the aesthetic and historical value of classic cars in a space that inte-grates a new childrens interactive area and a gal-lery space for temporary exhibitions
The museum boasts 85 classic cars two mo-torcycles and five bicycles as well as a model of an old car and an engine to allow visitors to familiarise themselves with parts of an engine and their function while it is divided into five sections and features an area for activities and interactive games
Following the launch of the UAE branch of the Airline Owners and Pi-lotsrsquo Association (AOPA) at Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2012 Yousif Al Hammadi president AOPA UAE has invited representatives from international AOPA branches to attend a workshop dedicated to discussing and debating gen-eral aviation issues in the region
The meeting the first of its kind will run parallel to this yearrsquos Abu Dhabi Air Expo and will take place at the Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies Al Bateen Executive Airport on March 6
It is anticipated that up to 30 representatives from AOPA US AOPA UK AOPA Germany and AOPA France will meet with their colleagues from the UAE during the one-day event to share knowledge and debate a variety of topics including air space regulations aerial non-commercial operations certification and maintenance issues and pilot licensing
AOPA members will also be able to maximise their time by attending the Air Expo exhibition the Middle Eastrsquos only dedicated general aviation event to meet pilots from the region and learn about the latest trends
Sharjah Reopens Car Museum AOPA UAE to Hold Meeting with International Colleagues
ITB BerlinBerlin Germany March 6 ndash 10 2013(wwwitb-berlinde)A business-to-business platform for trade visitors which provides the possibility to discover the whole world within a few hours
MITT MoscowMoscow Russia March 20 ndash 23 2013(wwwmittru)Russiarsquos leading and largest travel exhibition with over 3000 participat-ing companies and 197 destinations a key meeting place for industry professionals
The Gulf Incentive Business Travel amp Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) Abu Dhabi UAE March 25 ndash 27 2013(wwwgibtmcom)A leading event for the meetings incentives and business travel industry in the GCC region which can truly unlock all participantsrsquo business potential
Saudi Travel amp Tourism Investment Market (STTIM)Riyadh Saudi Arabia March 31 ndash April 4 2013(wwwsttimcomsa)The event covers all travel and tourism investments aspects in the Kingdom through a combined conference and exhibition
International Destination Expo (IDE)Dubai UAE April 4 ndash 7 2013(wwwastaorgevents)Organised by the American Society of Travel Agents IDE is a destination training programme where participants can meet local suppliers and built profitable long-lasting relationships
Arabian Travel Market (ATM)Dubai UAE May 6 ndash 9 2013(wwwarabiantravelmarketcom)The travel and tourism event unlocking business potential within the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals
Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies
22 EXCLUSIVE Luxury Travel
MARCH 2013
Living the DreamLuxury travel is all about mak-ing guests feel unique and privi-leged It is about offering them the chance to get to know the world in extravagance and having them live above the ordinary It is about spoiling them with opulent travel and hospitality services something which is without doubt growing in size and quality
I n late December 2012 the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) released its Travel Trends Report 2013 developed in collaboration with UKrsquos Foreign and Commonwealth Office pre-dicting that consumers will continue to look for
good value in breaks for this year rather than cut back on their holidays
Mark Tanzer CEO ABTA stated that the majority of British holidaymakers are reluctant to give up their annual holiday under any circumstances while strong forward bookings for the luxury and all-inclusive sec-tors are being witnessed
Speaking at the 2011 edition of the annual Interna-tional Luxury Travel Market (ILTM)rsquos Ultratravel Forum Chris Sanderson strategy and insight director The Future Laboratory a trend forecasting company had announced predictions stating that the lsquoluxuriansrsquo of the future would not be interested in too much choice ldquoThere is an en-hanced sense of just being todayrsquos luxury consumer rath-er than being surrounded by possessionsrdquo he explained
AUTHENTICALLY PRIVILIGED
Views corroborating Sandersonrsquos were voiced by John McGee research and communications manager Ar-tisans of Leisure a luxury travel company specialis-ing in exclusive customised private tours around the world McGee believes that the primary reason his customers travel is to get authentic experiences that introduce them to the local traditions and people while high-quality hotels encourage them to travel but are not primary incentives further pinpointing the latter as being the interest in experiencing local
culture cuisine history and lifestyle With reference to the Middle East McGee noted
that his agency is intrigued by places like Abu Dhabi and its considered approach to developing new mu-seums and cultural attractions
Defining the demands and needs of luxury trav-ellers as being genuine and local experiences Filip Boyen chief operating officer Orient-Express said ldquoFor luxury tourists travel is not just about lying on a beach or by the pool anymore It is about combining relaxation in a beautiful setting with learning and dis-covery They want to come away with an experience or having learnt something new that they can come home and tell their friends all aboutrdquo
Boyen added that the Middle East is relatively new to the world of tourism a place many will want to discover and consequently this will create a demand for luxury ho-tels already emerging in many parts of the region
Travellers who spend a lot of money for their trip expect and demand the best they need to be cared for in every step of the way while feeling confident that they are dealing with someone experienced to respond to their requests according to Daniel Essex CEO Century Travel who also explained that many luxury travellers are looking for something small and attentive and a much more personal approach
LET US SPOIL YOU
The growing number of luxury hotels and amenities has led to an increased interest with Canadian travel-lers to the Middle East according to Kathy Stewart director of media and public relations Butterfield amp Robinson a Toronto-based agency Aside from authen-ticity she stressed the importance of maintaining the unique qualities of the region for further development
into a luxury destination for global travellers ldquoEspecial-ly North Americans who are travelling a long distance to the Middle East they are not looking for the same experience they can get at home They want Middle Eastern food people landscapes and architecture to be an integral part of the experiencerdquo
Hotel Missoni Kuwait benefits from a healthy lux-ury-demanding domestic market which represents 55 percent of its business followed by Saudi Arabia with 13 percent and the UAE with 10 percent accord-ing to Alfio Bernardini general manager Hotel Mis-soni Kuwait who said ldquo[At the hotel] everything con-tributes to the depth of the experience Hotel Missoni is designed to be genuine and uncomplicated offer-ing those luxury touches that really matter because they genuinely enrich the experience of stayingrdquo
Six Senses Zighy Bay the indigenous village style accommodation in Oman has observed an increase of 12 percent in occupancy levels throughout 2012 while the growth of the Middle East clientele is appar-ent after the development of family-specific offerings attested Guillaume de Lasteyrie executive assistant manager Six Senses Zighy Bay He believes that peace and calm is the most appreciated value of the property while the hotelrsquos offerings are tempting for guests cit-ing the example of the saltwater pool carrying a min-eral composition of 15-20 percent comparable to the Dead Sea whose concentration is 27 percent
Another instance of Arab opulence is Eastern Man-groves Hotel amp Spa by Anantara in Abu Dhabi a prop-erty which assures that luxury is interrelated with in-dulgence across all of its services offered with an acute focus on detail which Nehme Darwiche hotel manag-er Eastern Mangroves Hotel amp Spa by Anantara report-ed is of utter importance Darwiche further supports that the Middle East will not only continue to develop as a luxury destination but will sit on the top of luxury ranks and become a pioneer in such offerings ldquoThe de-mand on luxury products will continue to increase as the tastes of sophisticated societies continues to reach new limits Luxury will not be in big numbers but will be in the power to obtain rarity the Middle East under-stands that very well and the developments planned
Maria Kazeli writes
Hotel Missoni Kuwait
23EXCLUSIVELuxury Travel
MARCH 2013
from now until 2020 have luxury travellers as their tar-getrdquo Darwiche concluded
An upcoming superior property in the region is Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah set to open in May Rudi Jagersbacher president Middle East and Africa Hilton Worldwide explained that the hotel as an up-scale property will have to deliver on two counts experiences and expectations Observing that travel behaviour has changed in the past years and placing emphasis on value for money he further noted ldquo[Wal-dorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah] is palatial exclusive and will offer the highest level of service as well as state-of-the-art amenities but that is not enough We have to ensure that our guests consider their experience as an investment worth repeating and sharingrdquo
The peak of extravagance is reached with a variety of private jet services throughout the region which cater for business and leisure travellers alike Mark Hardman op-erations director ExecuJet Middle East pointed out that the companyrsquos clientele is as diverse as the regionrsquos popu-lation but private aviation offers valued features such as time efficiency security privacy and convenience
He admitted that the most popular destinations for Dubai-based ExecuJet are in the Middle East with Riyadh Jeddah Beirut and Baghdad occupying the top spots while Geneva London and Nice are the favoured European hubs
Similarly Hardy Sohanpal director NasJet agreed that Middle East travellers use private jet services for efficiency flexibility and privacy while he accurately underlined that through emphasising the luxury ben-efits many private jet users build relationships with their key business contacts and staff by giving them access to private aircraft
ON THE RISE
Providing her own view Stewart reiterated that it is important not to overdevelop and retain authenticity of the Arab culture in the region
Along parallel lines Essex believes that the major-ity across the region always had the opinion that big is beautiful but this is not enough he further stressed as the industry professionals in the Middle East need to consider the boutique options However he lauded Abu Dhabirsquos development on Saadiyat Island and the introduction of cultural arts which he believes will at-tract the international and discerning travellers
Boyen deems that the region will experience ad-vancement and will emerge as a luxury destination something he attributes to improved air connectivity ldquoDefinitely with new airline routes from the Middle East launching all the time such as Etihad Airwaysrsquo new routes to Washington and Satildeo Paulo which are
launching this year the destination is bound to de-velop furtherrdquo he continued
Sharing the same opinion that the expansion of airlines and airports lead to such positive develop-ments Bernardini claimed that despite the fact that the Middle East will develop further to become a des-tination for high-calibre tourists not all countries in the region have the capacity and the stability to do so However he further explained a few hotspots will enjoy this blessing due to the money available in this part of the world which will result in the building of super high-quality hotels and thus attract a good number of luxury travellers
De Lasteyrie pointed out that even though the region was under the spotlight for some time the future will see even greater lavish suggestions and-maintaining that ldquoThe Middle East has been since years a luxury destination to the eyes of many though the pinnacle of luxury is yet to come Smaller and personalised service hotels and resorts from around the world are now willing to implement themselves in untouched locations creating a new momentum Much of the Middle East is still in the first tiers of luxu-ry based on opulent luxury and the glitz and glamour that first come with wealth We are now beginning to see affluent luxury and more distinguished spending on art collectibles and sustainabilityrdquo
24 SPECIAL REPORT Waterparks
MARCH 2013
In for a RideWaterparks are a popular attraction among locals and tourist in the Middle East With promising weather throughout most of the year waterparks offer visitors a fun family outing in addition to an array of promotions and events Travel Trade Monthly explores what makes waterparks the perfect attraction
F rom fun rides food and beverage outlets and retail offerings to gaming outlets and social events waterparks offer a safe fun and friendly environment for the family groups and events planners from all walks of life
Wild Wadi Waterpark Dubai is a good example whose team is committed to providing a fun-filled service that will make a lasting impression according to Chris Perry general manager Wild Wadi Waterpark who added that there is a major focus on using every opportunity to ensure that the guestsrsquo decision to visit is rewarded with plenty of time to play less time to queue and more time on the rides
Meanwhile Ice Land Water Park Ras Al Khaimah is receiving full promotional support from the emir-atersquos government and especially by its tourism body this according to Vagelyn Federico deputy director Ice Land Waterpark who added that it has been high-lighted as one of the major destinations in the UAE by all concerned tourism entities
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is the latest entry into the regionrsquos proliferating world of waterparks and accord-ing to Mike Oswald general manager Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi it rivals the worldrsquos best waterparks offering 43 rides slides and attractions ldquoIt has been an incredible journey to this point and unbelievably satisfying to watch the peoplersquos reaction to what has been created We are
support of the tourism body in Ras Al Khaimahrdquo Federico stated
In the summer major visitors to the waterpark hail from Asia as well as locally whereas during the winter months the CIS market plays a big role in pro-moting the park with its tourists in the UAE
In order to boost visitor arrivals to the waterpark Federico pointed out that during the winter the team is currently working for a family barbecue night with some other attractions to lure in more families
Moreover she indicated that the months ahead seem even more vibrant as she further demonstrated ldquoThis year will be more promising as we strengthened our ties with more travel operators inbound and out-bound Additionally we are currently working with dif-ferent airlines travel operators hotels and other tour-ism entities to promote Ice Land giving them also more benefits in promoting us to different market segmentsrdquo
Giving something more to visitors the water-parkrsquos team is currently working with skilled games and other dry rides for people to enjoy at the facility after park operations ldquoWe are also a preferred venue for concerts as we have the perfect place to accom-modate up to 6000 people in one area Ice Land Wa-ter Park is just one of the offerings of WOWRAK and we are currently working with other expansions such as resorts ice skating cinema complex hypermarket and other amusement activities which are planned to open in the next few yearsrdquo concluded Federico
Likewise Perry also announced continuous growth over the years for Wild Wadi Waterpark with 2012 prov-ing very successful He attributed this achievement to events such as ladies nights Ramadan nights and the new Jumeirah Sceirah which launched in September 2012 having proved to be a favourite amongst thrill seekers whereby one drops through a trap door from a height of 32m into the waiting water tunnel and races down the slide at 80km per hour
ldquoWe aim for this trend to continue this year as we have a variety of new attractive promotions and events to suit all our guestsrsquo needsrdquo Perry further in-formed ldquoWe also launched our online ticketing system this month to offer faster entry to our guestsrdquo he added guaranteeing guests with a faster entry process allow-ing all those with a printed ticket to jump the queue
Wild Wadi Waterpark is open all year round and ca-ters to guests from all over the world ldquoDuring the hot summer months (May-October) most of our guests come from the GCC countries whereby during the colder season (November-April) our guests are mainly from Europe
ldquoThe park is also a popular destination for UAE resi-dents since we periodically offer discounts to all resi-dents as well as annualseason passes that allow them to visit as many times as they want for a cheaper raterdquo he said
Perry also pointed out that during the month of May the waterpark offers its very popular family-only mornings every Friday at discounted rates so that they can enjoy the full facilities of the park when it is not too busy and of course when it is more safe and secure a factor which he assured is of the highest priority
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi
Dominique Christou writes
confident that people will have seen nothing like it before and we look forward to the waves of visitors expected to arrive now that the park is officially openrdquo
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi which inaugurated on January 19 is built around a central character named Dana whose crew won the battle in its quest to re-store a pearl to its rightful place which has ensured prosperity to the mythical Emirati village and marked what is expected to be a successful start to Yas Water-world Abu Dhabirsquos commercial operations
Set across 15ha on Yas Island the park offers thrills for the whole family and visitors will experience fun and adventure on rides and attractions such as the worldrsquos longest fastest tornado waterslide the regionrsquos first looping waterslide and the worldrsquos first interactive water and laser rollercoaster According to Oswald Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is expected to welcome a total of 700000 in its first year of operation
CALLING ALL THRILL SEEKERS
During 2012 waterparks across the region expe-rienced a healthy increase in visitors across a variety of markets
ldquoThe waterpark performed better in 2012 compared to our first year in 2011 when it comes to statistics in vari-ous nationalities locally and internationally through the
26 INVESTIGATION
MARCH 2013
Visiting Friends amp Relatives
Maria Kazeli writes
T he annual review for 2011 by the World Travel amp Tourism Council (WTTC) attributes social and cultural benefits to tourism indicating that the industry directly helps to keep or bring families and social networks together
With special regards to the visiting friends and relatives (VFR) segment the review supports that a significant proportion of all international trips which reaches up to a third of all arrivals for some large de-veloped markets are made in order to visit friends andor relatives
Globalisation has caused people to spread all over the globe but returning back home occasion-ally is a necessity The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) draws direct links between migration and travelling to visit relatives and in the 2009 Executive Summary entitled Tourism and Migration ndash Explor-
year in review which covers up to September 2012 reveals that the highest figures for the VFR segment appeared in January 2012 with 267 percent of 47610 incoming tourists being reported as VFR
Egyptrsquos outbound travel market linked to VFR oc-cupies a major part of business for travel agencies Feryal El Gohary general manager Bahi Travel ex-plained adding that almost half of the agencyrsquos cli-entele are VFR She also expressed the view that this market is a growing force for airlines and hoteliers alike while the latter she pinpointed will succeed only if they create a new strategy of very advanta-geous attractive long-stay offers
Tarek Moshref managing director Pronto Tours an Egypt-based tour operator supported that the VFR market is the third largest segment after holiday and business and for this reason local travel agents and operators should improve their services in order to capture and develop its potential by offering new options and programmes
Stressing the cost-driven aspect of the VFR mar-ket Adel Taha general manager leisure travel Kimidar Tours an Egyptian travel agency destination manage-ment company and ground handler said that VFR travellers aim at low travel expenditures in order to spend their money on leisure activities at the destina-tion and not on transportation With regards to the accommodation factor he added ldquoMost of the travel-lers whether leisure or VFR would tend to seek hotel accommodation in order to benefit from services pro-vided such as room cleaning and meals instead of self-served apartments However we can say they still seek low-cost accommodations with some specificationsrdquo
VFR IN THE SKIES
Commenting on the results of the British CAArsquos study Harry Bush group director economic regulation UK CAA had said that air travel played a key role in enabling peoplersquos relocating principally through the emergence of low-cost air travel and that the result-ing VFR passengers are increasingly important con-sumers of air travel According to an aviation analysis report by CAPA - Centre for Aviation a provider of independent aviation market intelligence the Mid-dle Eastern low-cost carriers are trying to adapt their model to the regional situation with their higher den-sity configurations targeting migrant workers and VFR traffic flows from North Africa and South Asia into the Gulf region
Major airlines have taken this trend into consid-eration and cater for this market by tailoring their offers Paolo De Renzis area commercial manager Middle East and Central Asia British Airways said ldquoThe VFR segment is extremely important to British Airways particularly in the Middle East where a large number of our customers are VFR travellers This is a region where families are extremely close and this tight-knit family culture means that we see a lot of VFR traffic across our Middle Eastern routes We also have a large expat community in the UAE which con-tributes significantly to this segmentrdquo
Unconventional TravellersMany prefer to spend their holiday visiting their friends and relatives in their home country if they are expa-triates or some other destination in order to spend time with their loved ones The focus of the travel is not cultural sightseeing and luxury ac-commodation but low airfare and budget lodgings
ing the Relationship between Two Global Phenomena compiled by UNWTO the two concepts are analysed by stressing that growth in international tourism and mobility has given rise to tourism-led migration with examples including the movement of male labourers from South Asia to meet the construction demands of the tourism boom in the UAE
The research states that migration has led directly and indirectly to significant growth in tourism to both origin and destination countries through increased visibility especially in the VFR sector and to the de-velopment of new tourism infrastructure and trans-port routes in and between countries
UKrsquos Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) also lays empha-sis on the importance of the specific market having published an in-depth study on air passengers visiting friends or family The investigation report titled Interna-tional Relations ndash The Growth in Air Travel to Visit Friends or Relatives indicated that the robust growth in VFR re-flected trends such as labour mobility and migration while predicting that due to these trends the countryrsquos GDP will affect future VFR passenger traffic
VISITING MENA
At the 6th UNWTOPacific Asia Travel Association Fo-rum on Tourism Trends and Outlook held in October 2012 in China it was revealed that 36 percent of the Middle Eastrsquos outbound market constitutes the VFR segment
Some insights on inbound VFR trends concern-ing the hotel industry in the region were provided by Darroch Crawford managing director Middle East and Africa Premier Inn Hotels who highlighted that this market is highly important but also very difficult to measure as bookings of this nature come through different channels His estimations on guests travel-ling to visit family members in the region and residing in Premier Inn properties amount to seven percent of the total clientele Crawford further indicated that the largest Middle Eastern feeder markets for the brand are Lebanon Syria and Jordan
Meanwhile in Saudi Arabia domestic tourism has been the primary focus of tourism development pol-icy in the Kingdom and according to Saudi Tourism Outlook issued by the Tourism Information and Re-search Centre part of Saudi Commission for Tourism amp Antiquities which analyses July 2012rsquos figures the local segment contributed to 114 million overnight trips in the month under review out of which 398 percent hailed from the VFR segment In addition 293 percent of the 171 million outbound trips taken from Saudi Arabia during July 2012 were categorised as the VFR market
The Statistical Service of Cyprus disclosed that ac-cording to the latest data available concerning Sep-tember 2012 the island received 335352 visitors out of which 97 percent were VFR The same data for the
28 WHOS MOVED
MARCH 2013
ANDREW ABRAM
KONSTANTINOS KOUROTSIDIS
Andrew Abram has been named general manager at Raffles Dubai Abram joins the propertyrsquos team from Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group where over the past dec-ade he has held various positions He joined the company in 2003 as resident manager of The Excelsior Hotel Hong Kong and went on to lead the renovation and reopen-ing of Mandarin Oriental Jakarta holding the role of general man-ager for eight years He most re-cently served as general manager
of Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhavi in Chiang Mai Thailand Having also held the position of corporate director of sales and marketing at Jumeirah Group in the Middle East where he was responsible for the branding and launching of several projects Abram brings an insiderrsquos knowl-edge to Raffles Dubai
Konstantinos Kourotsidis has been named general manager at Radisson Blu Martinez Hotel Beirut Kourotsidis started his career in the hospitality industry in 1996 in food and beverage at Copthorne Hotel Hanover In 2000 he joined The Rezidor Ho-tel Group where he held various positions across Europe and the Middle East including at Radis-son Blu Hotel Hanover Radission
Blu Hotel amp Spa Galway Radisson Blu Resort Schloss Fleesensee Radisson Blu Resort El Quseir Radisson Blu Hotel Alexandria and Radisson Blu Resort Sharjah After several task force assign-ments in Egypt Libya and UAE Kourotsidis was promoted to general manager at Radisson Blu Al Mahary Hotel Tripoli Most re-cently he worked as acting gen-eral manager at Radisson Blu Re-sort Fujairah
Abram brings an insiderrsquos knowledge to
Raffles Dubai
MARCH 2013
30 TRAVEL TALK
MARCH 2013
LEON SALINEL
WAEL EL BEHI
KARIM NAHAS
Executive assistant manager of sales and marketing Dusit Thani Dubai
General manager Ramada Downtown Dubai
General managar Rose Rayhaan by Rotana
ldquo2012 was a very successful year for us We were not only successful in meeting our key performance indicators most notably by exceeding both our gross operating profit and gross operating revenue Working with Inves-tors in People throughout the year also ensured that we performed highly in our employee satisfaction survey we even ranked at the top of our group in this regards [hellip] We are now drawing to a close on our rooms renovation and have just welcomed our new general manager so it is an exciting year to come for us which will see some changerdquo
ldquoI am very pleased to be appointed as executive board mem-ber [of the Tunisian Business Council] I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress in [the cur-rent year] I hope to play a part in creating strong community bound by camaraderie accord and reliance among Tunisian nationals in the UAErdquo
ldquo2012 was a record year for Rose Rayhaan total revenue growth was almost 17 percent versus 2011 [hellip] The hotel continued to focus on the GCC markets with the Saudi market on the top list and strong performance of the UK France and Russian markets were witnessed UAE local market in both leisure and corporate seg-ments also performed very well We are planning to fo-cus on new emerging markets like South Africa Brazil and Turkey Competition will be indeed stiffen this year however I guess there will be business for everybodyrdquo
I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress
TRAVEL TALK IS YOUR SPACE ndash 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
editorialtraveltradeweeklytravel
trav
el t
alk
is
y
our
spac
e
31RENDEZVOUS
MARCH 2013
Q amp A with Rana El KhouryWith her recent appointment Rana El Khoury general manager Le Gray Beirut became one of Lebanonrsquos first women to hold such a high position at a five-star hotel and here she shares her views on the future prospects of the Lebanese hotel sector
Rana El KhouryGeneral manager Le Gray Beirut
Travel Trade Monthly How would you describe 2012 in a few words Rana El Khoury The best way to describe 2012 would certainly be lsquochallengingrsquo a challenge that could be called survival until we see better days Controlling costs while maintaining superior ser-vice quality and competitiveness is key to our con-tinuous success in the Lebanese market The hotel performance could be rated as fair for 2012 greatly impacted by high level of business during the first five months of the year This has allowed us to stay ahead of the game for the remainder of the year although November 2012 was the toughest month since the opening of the hotel in 2009 Despite all Le Gray has managed in 2012 to retain its number one position in occupancy and RevPAR in the Leba-nese market
Travel Trade Monthly The hotel will soon em-bark on a major extension project Tell us a little bit about this
Rana El Khoury Le Gray is preparing to kick off its extension that will include a larger lobby with a lob-by lounge a chocolate room banquet space a 35-seat movie theatre and an additional 18 rooms The project should reach completion by end of 2014
Travel Trade Monthly Prior to your appoint-ment you served as hotel manager How does your new position differ from your former role
Rana El Khoury My previous position as hotel manager was focused on the operations aspect of the hotel as general manager my responsibilities enclose a more general view of the hotel including the administrative and strategic side of the hotel as well as the link between the owning company and management company
My priorities for the coming year is diversify-ing our target markets on the international and local scene to maximise hotel occupancy and to strengthen the positioning of Le Gray on the lo-cal market as a destination for its restaurants and bars whilst building on the existing strong team at Le Gray and getting the right people together to move forward with positivity and vigilance to counter these challenging times
The advice I would give young women ready to climb the corporate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the dif-ferent positions they fill throughout their careers
Travel Trade Monthly Your appointment makes you one of the first Lebanese women to hold this position at a five-star hotel How challenging is it to hold such a high position at an already well-established hotel
Rana El Khoury The hospitality industry is very challenging and requires sacrifice on all levels What I can say is that women have their own speci-ficity and they can bring a different vision and new perspectives to the hospitality business The advice I would give young women ready to climb the cor-porate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the different positions they fill throughout their careers this can only make them stronger and certainly more cred-ible when they reach executive level positions
Travel Trade Monthly Over the past few years the Lebanese tourism industry has faced a num-ber of serious challenges What are your expec-tations for the current year Rana El Khoury Lebanon has always been a pre-ferred destination attracting tourists from the Arab and Gulf countries and with increasing stability and security we do see a solid recovery
Given the complexity of the Lebanese market improvement can occur overnight As seen in May 2008 following the Doha-agreement occupancy rates jumped back then from 30 to 90 percent within one week
This year remains uncertain due to the volatil-ity of the political situation in the region the key is to remain sustainable and be ready for the sudden surge in business
Le Gray Beirut
32 NEWS amp EVENTS
MARCH 2013
EVENTS Sponsored by
Following a refurbishment to better present the historical phases of the emiratersquos auto manu-facturing sector Sharjah Classic Cars Museum originally launched in 2008 by HH Sheikh Sul-tan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi ruler of Sharjah reopened in January by Sheikh Essam bin Saqr Al Qassimi chairman Sharjah rulerrsquos office
On the opening day of the event Manal Ataya director general Sharjah Museums Department said ldquoThe aim of refurbishing this museum was to allow us to re-evaluate the previous design and interpretation and improve it significantlyrdquo
She further pointed out that the museum now helps visitors to appreciate the aesthetic and historical value of classic cars in a space that inte-grates a new childrens interactive area and a gal-lery space for temporary exhibitions
The museum boasts 85 classic cars two mo-torcycles and five bicycles as well as a model of an old car and an engine to allow visitors to familiarise themselves with parts of an engine and their function while it is divided into five sections and features an area for activities and interactive games
Following the launch of the UAE branch of the Airline Owners and Pi-lotsrsquo Association (AOPA) at Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2012 Yousif Al Hammadi president AOPA UAE has invited representatives from international AOPA branches to attend a workshop dedicated to discussing and debating gen-eral aviation issues in the region
The meeting the first of its kind will run parallel to this yearrsquos Abu Dhabi Air Expo and will take place at the Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies Al Bateen Executive Airport on March 6
It is anticipated that up to 30 representatives from AOPA US AOPA UK AOPA Germany and AOPA France will meet with their colleagues from the UAE during the one-day event to share knowledge and debate a variety of topics including air space regulations aerial non-commercial operations certification and maintenance issues and pilot licensing
AOPA members will also be able to maximise their time by attending the Air Expo exhibition the Middle Eastrsquos only dedicated general aviation event to meet pilots from the region and learn about the latest trends
Sharjah Reopens Car Museum AOPA UAE to Hold Meeting with International Colleagues
ITB BerlinBerlin Germany March 6 ndash 10 2013(wwwitb-berlinde)A business-to-business platform for trade visitors which provides the possibility to discover the whole world within a few hours
MITT MoscowMoscow Russia March 20 ndash 23 2013(wwwmittru)Russiarsquos leading and largest travel exhibition with over 3000 participat-ing companies and 197 destinations a key meeting place for industry professionals
The Gulf Incentive Business Travel amp Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) Abu Dhabi UAE March 25 ndash 27 2013(wwwgibtmcom)A leading event for the meetings incentives and business travel industry in the GCC region which can truly unlock all participantsrsquo business potential
Saudi Travel amp Tourism Investment Market (STTIM)Riyadh Saudi Arabia March 31 ndash April 4 2013(wwwsttimcomsa)The event covers all travel and tourism investments aspects in the Kingdom through a combined conference and exhibition
International Destination Expo (IDE)Dubai UAE April 4 ndash 7 2013(wwwastaorgevents)Organised by the American Society of Travel Agents IDE is a destination training programme where participants can meet local suppliers and built profitable long-lasting relationships
Arabian Travel Market (ATM)Dubai UAE May 6 ndash 9 2013(wwwarabiantravelmarketcom)The travel and tourism event unlocking business potential within the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals
Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies
23EXCLUSIVELuxury Travel
MARCH 2013
from now until 2020 have luxury travellers as their tar-getrdquo Darwiche concluded
An upcoming superior property in the region is Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah set to open in May Rudi Jagersbacher president Middle East and Africa Hilton Worldwide explained that the hotel as an up-scale property will have to deliver on two counts experiences and expectations Observing that travel behaviour has changed in the past years and placing emphasis on value for money he further noted ldquo[Wal-dorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah] is palatial exclusive and will offer the highest level of service as well as state-of-the-art amenities but that is not enough We have to ensure that our guests consider their experience as an investment worth repeating and sharingrdquo
The peak of extravagance is reached with a variety of private jet services throughout the region which cater for business and leisure travellers alike Mark Hardman op-erations director ExecuJet Middle East pointed out that the companyrsquos clientele is as diverse as the regionrsquos popu-lation but private aviation offers valued features such as time efficiency security privacy and convenience
He admitted that the most popular destinations for Dubai-based ExecuJet are in the Middle East with Riyadh Jeddah Beirut and Baghdad occupying the top spots while Geneva London and Nice are the favoured European hubs
Similarly Hardy Sohanpal director NasJet agreed that Middle East travellers use private jet services for efficiency flexibility and privacy while he accurately underlined that through emphasising the luxury ben-efits many private jet users build relationships with their key business contacts and staff by giving them access to private aircraft
ON THE RISE
Providing her own view Stewart reiterated that it is important not to overdevelop and retain authenticity of the Arab culture in the region
Along parallel lines Essex believes that the major-ity across the region always had the opinion that big is beautiful but this is not enough he further stressed as the industry professionals in the Middle East need to consider the boutique options However he lauded Abu Dhabirsquos development on Saadiyat Island and the introduction of cultural arts which he believes will at-tract the international and discerning travellers
Boyen deems that the region will experience ad-vancement and will emerge as a luxury destination something he attributes to improved air connectivity ldquoDefinitely with new airline routes from the Middle East launching all the time such as Etihad Airwaysrsquo new routes to Washington and Satildeo Paulo which are
launching this year the destination is bound to de-velop furtherrdquo he continued
Sharing the same opinion that the expansion of airlines and airports lead to such positive develop-ments Bernardini claimed that despite the fact that the Middle East will develop further to become a des-tination for high-calibre tourists not all countries in the region have the capacity and the stability to do so However he further explained a few hotspots will enjoy this blessing due to the money available in this part of the world which will result in the building of super high-quality hotels and thus attract a good number of luxury travellers
De Lasteyrie pointed out that even though the region was under the spotlight for some time the future will see even greater lavish suggestions and-maintaining that ldquoThe Middle East has been since years a luxury destination to the eyes of many though the pinnacle of luxury is yet to come Smaller and personalised service hotels and resorts from around the world are now willing to implement themselves in untouched locations creating a new momentum Much of the Middle East is still in the first tiers of luxu-ry based on opulent luxury and the glitz and glamour that first come with wealth We are now beginning to see affluent luxury and more distinguished spending on art collectibles and sustainabilityrdquo
24 SPECIAL REPORT Waterparks
MARCH 2013
In for a RideWaterparks are a popular attraction among locals and tourist in the Middle East With promising weather throughout most of the year waterparks offer visitors a fun family outing in addition to an array of promotions and events Travel Trade Monthly explores what makes waterparks the perfect attraction
F rom fun rides food and beverage outlets and retail offerings to gaming outlets and social events waterparks offer a safe fun and friendly environment for the family groups and events planners from all walks of life
Wild Wadi Waterpark Dubai is a good example whose team is committed to providing a fun-filled service that will make a lasting impression according to Chris Perry general manager Wild Wadi Waterpark who added that there is a major focus on using every opportunity to ensure that the guestsrsquo decision to visit is rewarded with plenty of time to play less time to queue and more time on the rides
Meanwhile Ice Land Water Park Ras Al Khaimah is receiving full promotional support from the emir-atersquos government and especially by its tourism body this according to Vagelyn Federico deputy director Ice Land Waterpark who added that it has been high-lighted as one of the major destinations in the UAE by all concerned tourism entities
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is the latest entry into the regionrsquos proliferating world of waterparks and accord-ing to Mike Oswald general manager Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi it rivals the worldrsquos best waterparks offering 43 rides slides and attractions ldquoIt has been an incredible journey to this point and unbelievably satisfying to watch the peoplersquos reaction to what has been created We are
support of the tourism body in Ras Al Khaimahrdquo Federico stated
In the summer major visitors to the waterpark hail from Asia as well as locally whereas during the winter months the CIS market plays a big role in pro-moting the park with its tourists in the UAE
In order to boost visitor arrivals to the waterpark Federico pointed out that during the winter the team is currently working for a family barbecue night with some other attractions to lure in more families
Moreover she indicated that the months ahead seem even more vibrant as she further demonstrated ldquoThis year will be more promising as we strengthened our ties with more travel operators inbound and out-bound Additionally we are currently working with dif-ferent airlines travel operators hotels and other tour-ism entities to promote Ice Land giving them also more benefits in promoting us to different market segmentsrdquo
Giving something more to visitors the water-parkrsquos team is currently working with skilled games and other dry rides for people to enjoy at the facility after park operations ldquoWe are also a preferred venue for concerts as we have the perfect place to accom-modate up to 6000 people in one area Ice Land Wa-ter Park is just one of the offerings of WOWRAK and we are currently working with other expansions such as resorts ice skating cinema complex hypermarket and other amusement activities which are planned to open in the next few yearsrdquo concluded Federico
Likewise Perry also announced continuous growth over the years for Wild Wadi Waterpark with 2012 prov-ing very successful He attributed this achievement to events such as ladies nights Ramadan nights and the new Jumeirah Sceirah which launched in September 2012 having proved to be a favourite amongst thrill seekers whereby one drops through a trap door from a height of 32m into the waiting water tunnel and races down the slide at 80km per hour
ldquoWe aim for this trend to continue this year as we have a variety of new attractive promotions and events to suit all our guestsrsquo needsrdquo Perry further in-formed ldquoWe also launched our online ticketing system this month to offer faster entry to our guestsrdquo he added guaranteeing guests with a faster entry process allow-ing all those with a printed ticket to jump the queue
Wild Wadi Waterpark is open all year round and ca-ters to guests from all over the world ldquoDuring the hot summer months (May-October) most of our guests come from the GCC countries whereby during the colder season (November-April) our guests are mainly from Europe
ldquoThe park is also a popular destination for UAE resi-dents since we periodically offer discounts to all resi-dents as well as annualseason passes that allow them to visit as many times as they want for a cheaper raterdquo he said
Perry also pointed out that during the month of May the waterpark offers its very popular family-only mornings every Friday at discounted rates so that they can enjoy the full facilities of the park when it is not too busy and of course when it is more safe and secure a factor which he assured is of the highest priority
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi
Dominique Christou writes
confident that people will have seen nothing like it before and we look forward to the waves of visitors expected to arrive now that the park is officially openrdquo
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi which inaugurated on January 19 is built around a central character named Dana whose crew won the battle in its quest to re-store a pearl to its rightful place which has ensured prosperity to the mythical Emirati village and marked what is expected to be a successful start to Yas Water-world Abu Dhabirsquos commercial operations
Set across 15ha on Yas Island the park offers thrills for the whole family and visitors will experience fun and adventure on rides and attractions such as the worldrsquos longest fastest tornado waterslide the regionrsquos first looping waterslide and the worldrsquos first interactive water and laser rollercoaster According to Oswald Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is expected to welcome a total of 700000 in its first year of operation
CALLING ALL THRILL SEEKERS
During 2012 waterparks across the region expe-rienced a healthy increase in visitors across a variety of markets
ldquoThe waterpark performed better in 2012 compared to our first year in 2011 when it comes to statistics in vari-ous nationalities locally and internationally through the
26 INVESTIGATION
MARCH 2013
Visiting Friends amp Relatives
Maria Kazeli writes
T he annual review for 2011 by the World Travel amp Tourism Council (WTTC) attributes social and cultural benefits to tourism indicating that the industry directly helps to keep or bring families and social networks together
With special regards to the visiting friends and relatives (VFR) segment the review supports that a significant proportion of all international trips which reaches up to a third of all arrivals for some large de-veloped markets are made in order to visit friends andor relatives
Globalisation has caused people to spread all over the globe but returning back home occasion-ally is a necessity The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) draws direct links between migration and travelling to visit relatives and in the 2009 Executive Summary entitled Tourism and Migration ndash Explor-
year in review which covers up to September 2012 reveals that the highest figures for the VFR segment appeared in January 2012 with 267 percent of 47610 incoming tourists being reported as VFR
Egyptrsquos outbound travel market linked to VFR oc-cupies a major part of business for travel agencies Feryal El Gohary general manager Bahi Travel ex-plained adding that almost half of the agencyrsquos cli-entele are VFR She also expressed the view that this market is a growing force for airlines and hoteliers alike while the latter she pinpointed will succeed only if they create a new strategy of very advanta-geous attractive long-stay offers
Tarek Moshref managing director Pronto Tours an Egypt-based tour operator supported that the VFR market is the third largest segment after holiday and business and for this reason local travel agents and operators should improve their services in order to capture and develop its potential by offering new options and programmes
Stressing the cost-driven aspect of the VFR mar-ket Adel Taha general manager leisure travel Kimidar Tours an Egyptian travel agency destination manage-ment company and ground handler said that VFR travellers aim at low travel expenditures in order to spend their money on leisure activities at the destina-tion and not on transportation With regards to the accommodation factor he added ldquoMost of the travel-lers whether leisure or VFR would tend to seek hotel accommodation in order to benefit from services pro-vided such as room cleaning and meals instead of self-served apartments However we can say they still seek low-cost accommodations with some specificationsrdquo
VFR IN THE SKIES
Commenting on the results of the British CAArsquos study Harry Bush group director economic regulation UK CAA had said that air travel played a key role in enabling peoplersquos relocating principally through the emergence of low-cost air travel and that the result-ing VFR passengers are increasingly important con-sumers of air travel According to an aviation analysis report by CAPA - Centre for Aviation a provider of independent aviation market intelligence the Mid-dle Eastern low-cost carriers are trying to adapt their model to the regional situation with their higher den-sity configurations targeting migrant workers and VFR traffic flows from North Africa and South Asia into the Gulf region
Major airlines have taken this trend into consid-eration and cater for this market by tailoring their offers Paolo De Renzis area commercial manager Middle East and Central Asia British Airways said ldquoThe VFR segment is extremely important to British Airways particularly in the Middle East where a large number of our customers are VFR travellers This is a region where families are extremely close and this tight-knit family culture means that we see a lot of VFR traffic across our Middle Eastern routes We also have a large expat community in the UAE which con-tributes significantly to this segmentrdquo
Unconventional TravellersMany prefer to spend their holiday visiting their friends and relatives in their home country if they are expa-triates or some other destination in order to spend time with their loved ones The focus of the travel is not cultural sightseeing and luxury ac-commodation but low airfare and budget lodgings
ing the Relationship between Two Global Phenomena compiled by UNWTO the two concepts are analysed by stressing that growth in international tourism and mobility has given rise to tourism-led migration with examples including the movement of male labourers from South Asia to meet the construction demands of the tourism boom in the UAE
The research states that migration has led directly and indirectly to significant growth in tourism to both origin and destination countries through increased visibility especially in the VFR sector and to the de-velopment of new tourism infrastructure and trans-port routes in and between countries
UKrsquos Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) also lays empha-sis on the importance of the specific market having published an in-depth study on air passengers visiting friends or family The investigation report titled Interna-tional Relations ndash The Growth in Air Travel to Visit Friends or Relatives indicated that the robust growth in VFR re-flected trends such as labour mobility and migration while predicting that due to these trends the countryrsquos GDP will affect future VFR passenger traffic
VISITING MENA
At the 6th UNWTOPacific Asia Travel Association Fo-rum on Tourism Trends and Outlook held in October 2012 in China it was revealed that 36 percent of the Middle Eastrsquos outbound market constitutes the VFR segment
Some insights on inbound VFR trends concern-ing the hotel industry in the region were provided by Darroch Crawford managing director Middle East and Africa Premier Inn Hotels who highlighted that this market is highly important but also very difficult to measure as bookings of this nature come through different channels His estimations on guests travel-ling to visit family members in the region and residing in Premier Inn properties amount to seven percent of the total clientele Crawford further indicated that the largest Middle Eastern feeder markets for the brand are Lebanon Syria and Jordan
Meanwhile in Saudi Arabia domestic tourism has been the primary focus of tourism development pol-icy in the Kingdom and according to Saudi Tourism Outlook issued by the Tourism Information and Re-search Centre part of Saudi Commission for Tourism amp Antiquities which analyses July 2012rsquos figures the local segment contributed to 114 million overnight trips in the month under review out of which 398 percent hailed from the VFR segment In addition 293 percent of the 171 million outbound trips taken from Saudi Arabia during July 2012 were categorised as the VFR market
The Statistical Service of Cyprus disclosed that ac-cording to the latest data available concerning Sep-tember 2012 the island received 335352 visitors out of which 97 percent were VFR The same data for the
28 WHOS MOVED
MARCH 2013
ANDREW ABRAM
KONSTANTINOS KOUROTSIDIS
Andrew Abram has been named general manager at Raffles Dubai Abram joins the propertyrsquos team from Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group where over the past dec-ade he has held various positions He joined the company in 2003 as resident manager of The Excelsior Hotel Hong Kong and went on to lead the renovation and reopen-ing of Mandarin Oriental Jakarta holding the role of general man-ager for eight years He most re-cently served as general manager
of Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhavi in Chiang Mai Thailand Having also held the position of corporate director of sales and marketing at Jumeirah Group in the Middle East where he was responsible for the branding and launching of several projects Abram brings an insiderrsquos knowl-edge to Raffles Dubai
Konstantinos Kourotsidis has been named general manager at Radisson Blu Martinez Hotel Beirut Kourotsidis started his career in the hospitality industry in 1996 in food and beverage at Copthorne Hotel Hanover In 2000 he joined The Rezidor Ho-tel Group where he held various positions across Europe and the Middle East including at Radis-son Blu Hotel Hanover Radission
Blu Hotel amp Spa Galway Radisson Blu Resort Schloss Fleesensee Radisson Blu Resort El Quseir Radisson Blu Hotel Alexandria and Radisson Blu Resort Sharjah After several task force assign-ments in Egypt Libya and UAE Kourotsidis was promoted to general manager at Radisson Blu Al Mahary Hotel Tripoli Most re-cently he worked as acting gen-eral manager at Radisson Blu Re-sort Fujairah
Abram brings an insiderrsquos knowledge to
Raffles Dubai
MARCH 2013
30 TRAVEL TALK
MARCH 2013
LEON SALINEL
WAEL EL BEHI
KARIM NAHAS
Executive assistant manager of sales and marketing Dusit Thani Dubai
General manager Ramada Downtown Dubai
General managar Rose Rayhaan by Rotana
ldquo2012 was a very successful year for us We were not only successful in meeting our key performance indicators most notably by exceeding both our gross operating profit and gross operating revenue Working with Inves-tors in People throughout the year also ensured that we performed highly in our employee satisfaction survey we even ranked at the top of our group in this regards [hellip] We are now drawing to a close on our rooms renovation and have just welcomed our new general manager so it is an exciting year to come for us which will see some changerdquo
ldquoI am very pleased to be appointed as executive board mem-ber [of the Tunisian Business Council] I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress in [the cur-rent year] I hope to play a part in creating strong community bound by camaraderie accord and reliance among Tunisian nationals in the UAErdquo
ldquo2012 was a record year for Rose Rayhaan total revenue growth was almost 17 percent versus 2011 [hellip] The hotel continued to focus on the GCC markets with the Saudi market on the top list and strong performance of the UK France and Russian markets were witnessed UAE local market in both leisure and corporate seg-ments also performed very well We are planning to fo-cus on new emerging markets like South Africa Brazil and Turkey Competition will be indeed stiffen this year however I guess there will be business for everybodyrdquo
I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress
TRAVEL TALK IS YOUR SPACE ndash 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
editorialtraveltradeweeklytravel
trav
el t
alk
is
y
our
spac
e
31RENDEZVOUS
MARCH 2013
Q amp A with Rana El KhouryWith her recent appointment Rana El Khoury general manager Le Gray Beirut became one of Lebanonrsquos first women to hold such a high position at a five-star hotel and here she shares her views on the future prospects of the Lebanese hotel sector
Rana El KhouryGeneral manager Le Gray Beirut
Travel Trade Monthly How would you describe 2012 in a few words Rana El Khoury The best way to describe 2012 would certainly be lsquochallengingrsquo a challenge that could be called survival until we see better days Controlling costs while maintaining superior ser-vice quality and competitiveness is key to our con-tinuous success in the Lebanese market The hotel performance could be rated as fair for 2012 greatly impacted by high level of business during the first five months of the year This has allowed us to stay ahead of the game for the remainder of the year although November 2012 was the toughest month since the opening of the hotel in 2009 Despite all Le Gray has managed in 2012 to retain its number one position in occupancy and RevPAR in the Leba-nese market
Travel Trade Monthly The hotel will soon em-bark on a major extension project Tell us a little bit about this
Rana El Khoury Le Gray is preparing to kick off its extension that will include a larger lobby with a lob-by lounge a chocolate room banquet space a 35-seat movie theatre and an additional 18 rooms The project should reach completion by end of 2014
Travel Trade Monthly Prior to your appoint-ment you served as hotel manager How does your new position differ from your former role
Rana El Khoury My previous position as hotel manager was focused on the operations aspect of the hotel as general manager my responsibilities enclose a more general view of the hotel including the administrative and strategic side of the hotel as well as the link between the owning company and management company
My priorities for the coming year is diversify-ing our target markets on the international and local scene to maximise hotel occupancy and to strengthen the positioning of Le Gray on the lo-cal market as a destination for its restaurants and bars whilst building on the existing strong team at Le Gray and getting the right people together to move forward with positivity and vigilance to counter these challenging times
The advice I would give young women ready to climb the corporate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the dif-ferent positions they fill throughout their careers
Travel Trade Monthly Your appointment makes you one of the first Lebanese women to hold this position at a five-star hotel How challenging is it to hold such a high position at an already well-established hotel
Rana El Khoury The hospitality industry is very challenging and requires sacrifice on all levels What I can say is that women have their own speci-ficity and they can bring a different vision and new perspectives to the hospitality business The advice I would give young women ready to climb the cor-porate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the different positions they fill throughout their careers this can only make them stronger and certainly more cred-ible when they reach executive level positions
Travel Trade Monthly Over the past few years the Lebanese tourism industry has faced a num-ber of serious challenges What are your expec-tations for the current year Rana El Khoury Lebanon has always been a pre-ferred destination attracting tourists from the Arab and Gulf countries and with increasing stability and security we do see a solid recovery
Given the complexity of the Lebanese market improvement can occur overnight As seen in May 2008 following the Doha-agreement occupancy rates jumped back then from 30 to 90 percent within one week
This year remains uncertain due to the volatil-ity of the political situation in the region the key is to remain sustainable and be ready for the sudden surge in business
Le Gray Beirut
32 NEWS amp EVENTS
MARCH 2013
EVENTS Sponsored by
Following a refurbishment to better present the historical phases of the emiratersquos auto manu-facturing sector Sharjah Classic Cars Museum originally launched in 2008 by HH Sheikh Sul-tan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi ruler of Sharjah reopened in January by Sheikh Essam bin Saqr Al Qassimi chairman Sharjah rulerrsquos office
On the opening day of the event Manal Ataya director general Sharjah Museums Department said ldquoThe aim of refurbishing this museum was to allow us to re-evaluate the previous design and interpretation and improve it significantlyrdquo
She further pointed out that the museum now helps visitors to appreciate the aesthetic and historical value of classic cars in a space that inte-grates a new childrens interactive area and a gal-lery space for temporary exhibitions
The museum boasts 85 classic cars two mo-torcycles and five bicycles as well as a model of an old car and an engine to allow visitors to familiarise themselves with parts of an engine and their function while it is divided into five sections and features an area for activities and interactive games
Following the launch of the UAE branch of the Airline Owners and Pi-lotsrsquo Association (AOPA) at Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2012 Yousif Al Hammadi president AOPA UAE has invited representatives from international AOPA branches to attend a workshop dedicated to discussing and debating gen-eral aviation issues in the region
The meeting the first of its kind will run parallel to this yearrsquos Abu Dhabi Air Expo and will take place at the Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies Al Bateen Executive Airport on March 6
It is anticipated that up to 30 representatives from AOPA US AOPA UK AOPA Germany and AOPA France will meet with their colleagues from the UAE during the one-day event to share knowledge and debate a variety of topics including air space regulations aerial non-commercial operations certification and maintenance issues and pilot licensing
AOPA members will also be able to maximise their time by attending the Air Expo exhibition the Middle Eastrsquos only dedicated general aviation event to meet pilots from the region and learn about the latest trends
Sharjah Reopens Car Museum AOPA UAE to Hold Meeting with International Colleagues
ITB BerlinBerlin Germany March 6 ndash 10 2013(wwwitb-berlinde)A business-to-business platform for trade visitors which provides the possibility to discover the whole world within a few hours
MITT MoscowMoscow Russia March 20 ndash 23 2013(wwwmittru)Russiarsquos leading and largest travel exhibition with over 3000 participat-ing companies and 197 destinations a key meeting place for industry professionals
The Gulf Incentive Business Travel amp Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) Abu Dhabi UAE March 25 ndash 27 2013(wwwgibtmcom)A leading event for the meetings incentives and business travel industry in the GCC region which can truly unlock all participantsrsquo business potential
Saudi Travel amp Tourism Investment Market (STTIM)Riyadh Saudi Arabia March 31 ndash April 4 2013(wwwsttimcomsa)The event covers all travel and tourism investments aspects in the Kingdom through a combined conference and exhibition
International Destination Expo (IDE)Dubai UAE April 4 ndash 7 2013(wwwastaorgevents)Organised by the American Society of Travel Agents IDE is a destination training programme where participants can meet local suppliers and built profitable long-lasting relationships
Arabian Travel Market (ATM)Dubai UAE May 6 ndash 9 2013(wwwarabiantravelmarketcom)The travel and tourism event unlocking business potential within the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals
Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies
24 SPECIAL REPORT Waterparks
MARCH 2013
In for a RideWaterparks are a popular attraction among locals and tourist in the Middle East With promising weather throughout most of the year waterparks offer visitors a fun family outing in addition to an array of promotions and events Travel Trade Monthly explores what makes waterparks the perfect attraction
F rom fun rides food and beverage outlets and retail offerings to gaming outlets and social events waterparks offer a safe fun and friendly environment for the family groups and events planners from all walks of life
Wild Wadi Waterpark Dubai is a good example whose team is committed to providing a fun-filled service that will make a lasting impression according to Chris Perry general manager Wild Wadi Waterpark who added that there is a major focus on using every opportunity to ensure that the guestsrsquo decision to visit is rewarded with plenty of time to play less time to queue and more time on the rides
Meanwhile Ice Land Water Park Ras Al Khaimah is receiving full promotional support from the emir-atersquos government and especially by its tourism body this according to Vagelyn Federico deputy director Ice Land Waterpark who added that it has been high-lighted as one of the major destinations in the UAE by all concerned tourism entities
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is the latest entry into the regionrsquos proliferating world of waterparks and accord-ing to Mike Oswald general manager Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi it rivals the worldrsquos best waterparks offering 43 rides slides and attractions ldquoIt has been an incredible journey to this point and unbelievably satisfying to watch the peoplersquos reaction to what has been created We are
support of the tourism body in Ras Al Khaimahrdquo Federico stated
In the summer major visitors to the waterpark hail from Asia as well as locally whereas during the winter months the CIS market plays a big role in pro-moting the park with its tourists in the UAE
In order to boost visitor arrivals to the waterpark Federico pointed out that during the winter the team is currently working for a family barbecue night with some other attractions to lure in more families
Moreover she indicated that the months ahead seem even more vibrant as she further demonstrated ldquoThis year will be more promising as we strengthened our ties with more travel operators inbound and out-bound Additionally we are currently working with dif-ferent airlines travel operators hotels and other tour-ism entities to promote Ice Land giving them also more benefits in promoting us to different market segmentsrdquo
Giving something more to visitors the water-parkrsquos team is currently working with skilled games and other dry rides for people to enjoy at the facility after park operations ldquoWe are also a preferred venue for concerts as we have the perfect place to accom-modate up to 6000 people in one area Ice Land Wa-ter Park is just one of the offerings of WOWRAK and we are currently working with other expansions such as resorts ice skating cinema complex hypermarket and other amusement activities which are planned to open in the next few yearsrdquo concluded Federico
Likewise Perry also announced continuous growth over the years for Wild Wadi Waterpark with 2012 prov-ing very successful He attributed this achievement to events such as ladies nights Ramadan nights and the new Jumeirah Sceirah which launched in September 2012 having proved to be a favourite amongst thrill seekers whereby one drops through a trap door from a height of 32m into the waiting water tunnel and races down the slide at 80km per hour
ldquoWe aim for this trend to continue this year as we have a variety of new attractive promotions and events to suit all our guestsrsquo needsrdquo Perry further in-formed ldquoWe also launched our online ticketing system this month to offer faster entry to our guestsrdquo he added guaranteeing guests with a faster entry process allow-ing all those with a printed ticket to jump the queue
Wild Wadi Waterpark is open all year round and ca-ters to guests from all over the world ldquoDuring the hot summer months (May-October) most of our guests come from the GCC countries whereby during the colder season (November-April) our guests are mainly from Europe
ldquoThe park is also a popular destination for UAE resi-dents since we periodically offer discounts to all resi-dents as well as annualseason passes that allow them to visit as many times as they want for a cheaper raterdquo he said
Perry also pointed out that during the month of May the waterpark offers its very popular family-only mornings every Friday at discounted rates so that they can enjoy the full facilities of the park when it is not too busy and of course when it is more safe and secure a factor which he assured is of the highest priority
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi
Dominique Christou writes
confident that people will have seen nothing like it before and we look forward to the waves of visitors expected to arrive now that the park is officially openrdquo
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi which inaugurated on January 19 is built around a central character named Dana whose crew won the battle in its quest to re-store a pearl to its rightful place which has ensured prosperity to the mythical Emirati village and marked what is expected to be a successful start to Yas Water-world Abu Dhabirsquos commercial operations
Set across 15ha on Yas Island the park offers thrills for the whole family and visitors will experience fun and adventure on rides and attractions such as the worldrsquos longest fastest tornado waterslide the regionrsquos first looping waterslide and the worldrsquos first interactive water and laser rollercoaster According to Oswald Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is expected to welcome a total of 700000 in its first year of operation
CALLING ALL THRILL SEEKERS
During 2012 waterparks across the region expe-rienced a healthy increase in visitors across a variety of markets
ldquoThe waterpark performed better in 2012 compared to our first year in 2011 when it comes to statistics in vari-ous nationalities locally and internationally through the
26 INVESTIGATION
MARCH 2013
Visiting Friends amp Relatives
Maria Kazeli writes
T he annual review for 2011 by the World Travel amp Tourism Council (WTTC) attributes social and cultural benefits to tourism indicating that the industry directly helps to keep or bring families and social networks together
With special regards to the visiting friends and relatives (VFR) segment the review supports that a significant proportion of all international trips which reaches up to a third of all arrivals for some large de-veloped markets are made in order to visit friends andor relatives
Globalisation has caused people to spread all over the globe but returning back home occasion-ally is a necessity The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) draws direct links between migration and travelling to visit relatives and in the 2009 Executive Summary entitled Tourism and Migration ndash Explor-
year in review which covers up to September 2012 reveals that the highest figures for the VFR segment appeared in January 2012 with 267 percent of 47610 incoming tourists being reported as VFR
Egyptrsquos outbound travel market linked to VFR oc-cupies a major part of business for travel agencies Feryal El Gohary general manager Bahi Travel ex-plained adding that almost half of the agencyrsquos cli-entele are VFR She also expressed the view that this market is a growing force for airlines and hoteliers alike while the latter she pinpointed will succeed only if they create a new strategy of very advanta-geous attractive long-stay offers
Tarek Moshref managing director Pronto Tours an Egypt-based tour operator supported that the VFR market is the third largest segment after holiday and business and for this reason local travel agents and operators should improve their services in order to capture and develop its potential by offering new options and programmes
Stressing the cost-driven aspect of the VFR mar-ket Adel Taha general manager leisure travel Kimidar Tours an Egyptian travel agency destination manage-ment company and ground handler said that VFR travellers aim at low travel expenditures in order to spend their money on leisure activities at the destina-tion and not on transportation With regards to the accommodation factor he added ldquoMost of the travel-lers whether leisure or VFR would tend to seek hotel accommodation in order to benefit from services pro-vided such as room cleaning and meals instead of self-served apartments However we can say they still seek low-cost accommodations with some specificationsrdquo
VFR IN THE SKIES
Commenting on the results of the British CAArsquos study Harry Bush group director economic regulation UK CAA had said that air travel played a key role in enabling peoplersquos relocating principally through the emergence of low-cost air travel and that the result-ing VFR passengers are increasingly important con-sumers of air travel According to an aviation analysis report by CAPA - Centre for Aviation a provider of independent aviation market intelligence the Mid-dle Eastern low-cost carriers are trying to adapt their model to the regional situation with their higher den-sity configurations targeting migrant workers and VFR traffic flows from North Africa and South Asia into the Gulf region
Major airlines have taken this trend into consid-eration and cater for this market by tailoring their offers Paolo De Renzis area commercial manager Middle East and Central Asia British Airways said ldquoThe VFR segment is extremely important to British Airways particularly in the Middle East where a large number of our customers are VFR travellers This is a region where families are extremely close and this tight-knit family culture means that we see a lot of VFR traffic across our Middle Eastern routes We also have a large expat community in the UAE which con-tributes significantly to this segmentrdquo
Unconventional TravellersMany prefer to spend their holiday visiting their friends and relatives in their home country if they are expa-triates or some other destination in order to spend time with their loved ones The focus of the travel is not cultural sightseeing and luxury ac-commodation but low airfare and budget lodgings
ing the Relationship between Two Global Phenomena compiled by UNWTO the two concepts are analysed by stressing that growth in international tourism and mobility has given rise to tourism-led migration with examples including the movement of male labourers from South Asia to meet the construction demands of the tourism boom in the UAE
The research states that migration has led directly and indirectly to significant growth in tourism to both origin and destination countries through increased visibility especially in the VFR sector and to the de-velopment of new tourism infrastructure and trans-port routes in and between countries
UKrsquos Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) also lays empha-sis on the importance of the specific market having published an in-depth study on air passengers visiting friends or family The investigation report titled Interna-tional Relations ndash The Growth in Air Travel to Visit Friends or Relatives indicated that the robust growth in VFR re-flected trends such as labour mobility and migration while predicting that due to these trends the countryrsquos GDP will affect future VFR passenger traffic
VISITING MENA
At the 6th UNWTOPacific Asia Travel Association Fo-rum on Tourism Trends and Outlook held in October 2012 in China it was revealed that 36 percent of the Middle Eastrsquos outbound market constitutes the VFR segment
Some insights on inbound VFR trends concern-ing the hotel industry in the region were provided by Darroch Crawford managing director Middle East and Africa Premier Inn Hotels who highlighted that this market is highly important but also very difficult to measure as bookings of this nature come through different channels His estimations on guests travel-ling to visit family members in the region and residing in Premier Inn properties amount to seven percent of the total clientele Crawford further indicated that the largest Middle Eastern feeder markets for the brand are Lebanon Syria and Jordan
Meanwhile in Saudi Arabia domestic tourism has been the primary focus of tourism development pol-icy in the Kingdom and according to Saudi Tourism Outlook issued by the Tourism Information and Re-search Centre part of Saudi Commission for Tourism amp Antiquities which analyses July 2012rsquos figures the local segment contributed to 114 million overnight trips in the month under review out of which 398 percent hailed from the VFR segment In addition 293 percent of the 171 million outbound trips taken from Saudi Arabia during July 2012 were categorised as the VFR market
The Statistical Service of Cyprus disclosed that ac-cording to the latest data available concerning Sep-tember 2012 the island received 335352 visitors out of which 97 percent were VFR The same data for the
28 WHOS MOVED
MARCH 2013
ANDREW ABRAM
KONSTANTINOS KOUROTSIDIS
Andrew Abram has been named general manager at Raffles Dubai Abram joins the propertyrsquos team from Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group where over the past dec-ade he has held various positions He joined the company in 2003 as resident manager of The Excelsior Hotel Hong Kong and went on to lead the renovation and reopen-ing of Mandarin Oriental Jakarta holding the role of general man-ager for eight years He most re-cently served as general manager
of Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhavi in Chiang Mai Thailand Having also held the position of corporate director of sales and marketing at Jumeirah Group in the Middle East where he was responsible for the branding and launching of several projects Abram brings an insiderrsquos knowl-edge to Raffles Dubai
Konstantinos Kourotsidis has been named general manager at Radisson Blu Martinez Hotel Beirut Kourotsidis started his career in the hospitality industry in 1996 in food and beverage at Copthorne Hotel Hanover In 2000 he joined The Rezidor Ho-tel Group where he held various positions across Europe and the Middle East including at Radis-son Blu Hotel Hanover Radission
Blu Hotel amp Spa Galway Radisson Blu Resort Schloss Fleesensee Radisson Blu Resort El Quseir Radisson Blu Hotel Alexandria and Radisson Blu Resort Sharjah After several task force assign-ments in Egypt Libya and UAE Kourotsidis was promoted to general manager at Radisson Blu Al Mahary Hotel Tripoli Most re-cently he worked as acting gen-eral manager at Radisson Blu Re-sort Fujairah
Abram brings an insiderrsquos knowledge to
Raffles Dubai
MARCH 2013
30 TRAVEL TALK
MARCH 2013
LEON SALINEL
WAEL EL BEHI
KARIM NAHAS
Executive assistant manager of sales and marketing Dusit Thani Dubai
General manager Ramada Downtown Dubai
General managar Rose Rayhaan by Rotana
ldquo2012 was a very successful year for us We were not only successful in meeting our key performance indicators most notably by exceeding both our gross operating profit and gross operating revenue Working with Inves-tors in People throughout the year also ensured that we performed highly in our employee satisfaction survey we even ranked at the top of our group in this regards [hellip] We are now drawing to a close on our rooms renovation and have just welcomed our new general manager so it is an exciting year to come for us which will see some changerdquo
ldquoI am very pleased to be appointed as executive board mem-ber [of the Tunisian Business Council] I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress in [the cur-rent year] I hope to play a part in creating strong community bound by camaraderie accord and reliance among Tunisian nationals in the UAErdquo
ldquo2012 was a record year for Rose Rayhaan total revenue growth was almost 17 percent versus 2011 [hellip] The hotel continued to focus on the GCC markets with the Saudi market on the top list and strong performance of the UK France and Russian markets were witnessed UAE local market in both leisure and corporate seg-ments also performed very well We are planning to fo-cus on new emerging markets like South Africa Brazil and Turkey Competition will be indeed stiffen this year however I guess there will be business for everybodyrdquo
I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress
TRAVEL TALK IS YOUR SPACE ndash 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
editorialtraveltradeweeklytravel
trav
el t
alk
is
y
our
spac
e
31RENDEZVOUS
MARCH 2013
Q amp A with Rana El KhouryWith her recent appointment Rana El Khoury general manager Le Gray Beirut became one of Lebanonrsquos first women to hold such a high position at a five-star hotel and here she shares her views on the future prospects of the Lebanese hotel sector
Rana El KhouryGeneral manager Le Gray Beirut
Travel Trade Monthly How would you describe 2012 in a few words Rana El Khoury The best way to describe 2012 would certainly be lsquochallengingrsquo a challenge that could be called survival until we see better days Controlling costs while maintaining superior ser-vice quality and competitiveness is key to our con-tinuous success in the Lebanese market The hotel performance could be rated as fair for 2012 greatly impacted by high level of business during the first five months of the year This has allowed us to stay ahead of the game for the remainder of the year although November 2012 was the toughest month since the opening of the hotel in 2009 Despite all Le Gray has managed in 2012 to retain its number one position in occupancy and RevPAR in the Leba-nese market
Travel Trade Monthly The hotel will soon em-bark on a major extension project Tell us a little bit about this
Rana El Khoury Le Gray is preparing to kick off its extension that will include a larger lobby with a lob-by lounge a chocolate room banquet space a 35-seat movie theatre and an additional 18 rooms The project should reach completion by end of 2014
Travel Trade Monthly Prior to your appoint-ment you served as hotel manager How does your new position differ from your former role
Rana El Khoury My previous position as hotel manager was focused on the operations aspect of the hotel as general manager my responsibilities enclose a more general view of the hotel including the administrative and strategic side of the hotel as well as the link between the owning company and management company
My priorities for the coming year is diversify-ing our target markets on the international and local scene to maximise hotel occupancy and to strengthen the positioning of Le Gray on the lo-cal market as a destination for its restaurants and bars whilst building on the existing strong team at Le Gray and getting the right people together to move forward with positivity and vigilance to counter these challenging times
The advice I would give young women ready to climb the corporate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the dif-ferent positions they fill throughout their careers
Travel Trade Monthly Your appointment makes you one of the first Lebanese women to hold this position at a five-star hotel How challenging is it to hold such a high position at an already well-established hotel
Rana El Khoury The hospitality industry is very challenging and requires sacrifice on all levels What I can say is that women have their own speci-ficity and they can bring a different vision and new perspectives to the hospitality business The advice I would give young women ready to climb the cor-porate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the different positions they fill throughout their careers this can only make them stronger and certainly more cred-ible when they reach executive level positions
Travel Trade Monthly Over the past few years the Lebanese tourism industry has faced a num-ber of serious challenges What are your expec-tations for the current year Rana El Khoury Lebanon has always been a pre-ferred destination attracting tourists from the Arab and Gulf countries and with increasing stability and security we do see a solid recovery
Given the complexity of the Lebanese market improvement can occur overnight As seen in May 2008 following the Doha-agreement occupancy rates jumped back then from 30 to 90 percent within one week
This year remains uncertain due to the volatil-ity of the political situation in the region the key is to remain sustainable and be ready for the sudden surge in business
Le Gray Beirut
32 NEWS amp EVENTS
MARCH 2013
EVENTS Sponsored by
Following a refurbishment to better present the historical phases of the emiratersquos auto manu-facturing sector Sharjah Classic Cars Museum originally launched in 2008 by HH Sheikh Sul-tan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi ruler of Sharjah reopened in January by Sheikh Essam bin Saqr Al Qassimi chairman Sharjah rulerrsquos office
On the opening day of the event Manal Ataya director general Sharjah Museums Department said ldquoThe aim of refurbishing this museum was to allow us to re-evaluate the previous design and interpretation and improve it significantlyrdquo
She further pointed out that the museum now helps visitors to appreciate the aesthetic and historical value of classic cars in a space that inte-grates a new childrens interactive area and a gal-lery space for temporary exhibitions
The museum boasts 85 classic cars two mo-torcycles and five bicycles as well as a model of an old car and an engine to allow visitors to familiarise themselves with parts of an engine and their function while it is divided into five sections and features an area for activities and interactive games
Following the launch of the UAE branch of the Airline Owners and Pi-lotsrsquo Association (AOPA) at Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2012 Yousif Al Hammadi president AOPA UAE has invited representatives from international AOPA branches to attend a workshop dedicated to discussing and debating gen-eral aviation issues in the region
The meeting the first of its kind will run parallel to this yearrsquos Abu Dhabi Air Expo and will take place at the Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies Al Bateen Executive Airport on March 6
It is anticipated that up to 30 representatives from AOPA US AOPA UK AOPA Germany and AOPA France will meet with their colleagues from the UAE during the one-day event to share knowledge and debate a variety of topics including air space regulations aerial non-commercial operations certification and maintenance issues and pilot licensing
AOPA members will also be able to maximise their time by attending the Air Expo exhibition the Middle Eastrsquos only dedicated general aviation event to meet pilots from the region and learn about the latest trends
Sharjah Reopens Car Museum AOPA UAE to Hold Meeting with International Colleagues
ITB BerlinBerlin Germany March 6 ndash 10 2013(wwwitb-berlinde)A business-to-business platform for trade visitors which provides the possibility to discover the whole world within a few hours
MITT MoscowMoscow Russia March 20 ndash 23 2013(wwwmittru)Russiarsquos leading and largest travel exhibition with over 3000 participat-ing companies and 197 destinations a key meeting place for industry professionals
The Gulf Incentive Business Travel amp Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) Abu Dhabi UAE March 25 ndash 27 2013(wwwgibtmcom)A leading event for the meetings incentives and business travel industry in the GCC region which can truly unlock all participantsrsquo business potential
Saudi Travel amp Tourism Investment Market (STTIM)Riyadh Saudi Arabia March 31 ndash April 4 2013(wwwsttimcomsa)The event covers all travel and tourism investments aspects in the Kingdom through a combined conference and exhibition
International Destination Expo (IDE)Dubai UAE April 4 ndash 7 2013(wwwastaorgevents)Organised by the American Society of Travel Agents IDE is a destination training programme where participants can meet local suppliers and built profitable long-lasting relationships
Arabian Travel Market (ATM)Dubai UAE May 6 ndash 9 2013(wwwarabiantravelmarketcom)The travel and tourism event unlocking business potential within the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals
Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies
26 INVESTIGATION
MARCH 2013
Visiting Friends amp Relatives
Maria Kazeli writes
T he annual review for 2011 by the World Travel amp Tourism Council (WTTC) attributes social and cultural benefits to tourism indicating that the industry directly helps to keep or bring families and social networks together
With special regards to the visiting friends and relatives (VFR) segment the review supports that a significant proportion of all international trips which reaches up to a third of all arrivals for some large de-veloped markets are made in order to visit friends andor relatives
Globalisation has caused people to spread all over the globe but returning back home occasion-ally is a necessity The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) draws direct links between migration and travelling to visit relatives and in the 2009 Executive Summary entitled Tourism and Migration ndash Explor-
year in review which covers up to September 2012 reveals that the highest figures for the VFR segment appeared in January 2012 with 267 percent of 47610 incoming tourists being reported as VFR
Egyptrsquos outbound travel market linked to VFR oc-cupies a major part of business for travel agencies Feryal El Gohary general manager Bahi Travel ex-plained adding that almost half of the agencyrsquos cli-entele are VFR She also expressed the view that this market is a growing force for airlines and hoteliers alike while the latter she pinpointed will succeed only if they create a new strategy of very advanta-geous attractive long-stay offers
Tarek Moshref managing director Pronto Tours an Egypt-based tour operator supported that the VFR market is the third largest segment after holiday and business and for this reason local travel agents and operators should improve their services in order to capture and develop its potential by offering new options and programmes
Stressing the cost-driven aspect of the VFR mar-ket Adel Taha general manager leisure travel Kimidar Tours an Egyptian travel agency destination manage-ment company and ground handler said that VFR travellers aim at low travel expenditures in order to spend their money on leisure activities at the destina-tion and not on transportation With regards to the accommodation factor he added ldquoMost of the travel-lers whether leisure or VFR would tend to seek hotel accommodation in order to benefit from services pro-vided such as room cleaning and meals instead of self-served apartments However we can say they still seek low-cost accommodations with some specificationsrdquo
VFR IN THE SKIES
Commenting on the results of the British CAArsquos study Harry Bush group director economic regulation UK CAA had said that air travel played a key role in enabling peoplersquos relocating principally through the emergence of low-cost air travel and that the result-ing VFR passengers are increasingly important con-sumers of air travel According to an aviation analysis report by CAPA - Centre for Aviation a provider of independent aviation market intelligence the Mid-dle Eastern low-cost carriers are trying to adapt their model to the regional situation with their higher den-sity configurations targeting migrant workers and VFR traffic flows from North Africa and South Asia into the Gulf region
Major airlines have taken this trend into consid-eration and cater for this market by tailoring their offers Paolo De Renzis area commercial manager Middle East and Central Asia British Airways said ldquoThe VFR segment is extremely important to British Airways particularly in the Middle East where a large number of our customers are VFR travellers This is a region where families are extremely close and this tight-knit family culture means that we see a lot of VFR traffic across our Middle Eastern routes We also have a large expat community in the UAE which con-tributes significantly to this segmentrdquo
Unconventional TravellersMany prefer to spend their holiday visiting their friends and relatives in their home country if they are expa-triates or some other destination in order to spend time with their loved ones The focus of the travel is not cultural sightseeing and luxury ac-commodation but low airfare and budget lodgings
ing the Relationship between Two Global Phenomena compiled by UNWTO the two concepts are analysed by stressing that growth in international tourism and mobility has given rise to tourism-led migration with examples including the movement of male labourers from South Asia to meet the construction demands of the tourism boom in the UAE
The research states that migration has led directly and indirectly to significant growth in tourism to both origin and destination countries through increased visibility especially in the VFR sector and to the de-velopment of new tourism infrastructure and trans-port routes in and between countries
UKrsquos Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) also lays empha-sis on the importance of the specific market having published an in-depth study on air passengers visiting friends or family The investigation report titled Interna-tional Relations ndash The Growth in Air Travel to Visit Friends or Relatives indicated that the robust growth in VFR re-flected trends such as labour mobility and migration while predicting that due to these trends the countryrsquos GDP will affect future VFR passenger traffic
VISITING MENA
At the 6th UNWTOPacific Asia Travel Association Fo-rum on Tourism Trends and Outlook held in October 2012 in China it was revealed that 36 percent of the Middle Eastrsquos outbound market constitutes the VFR segment
Some insights on inbound VFR trends concern-ing the hotel industry in the region were provided by Darroch Crawford managing director Middle East and Africa Premier Inn Hotels who highlighted that this market is highly important but also very difficult to measure as bookings of this nature come through different channels His estimations on guests travel-ling to visit family members in the region and residing in Premier Inn properties amount to seven percent of the total clientele Crawford further indicated that the largest Middle Eastern feeder markets for the brand are Lebanon Syria and Jordan
Meanwhile in Saudi Arabia domestic tourism has been the primary focus of tourism development pol-icy in the Kingdom and according to Saudi Tourism Outlook issued by the Tourism Information and Re-search Centre part of Saudi Commission for Tourism amp Antiquities which analyses July 2012rsquos figures the local segment contributed to 114 million overnight trips in the month under review out of which 398 percent hailed from the VFR segment In addition 293 percent of the 171 million outbound trips taken from Saudi Arabia during July 2012 were categorised as the VFR market
The Statistical Service of Cyprus disclosed that ac-cording to the latest data available concerning Sep-tember 2012 the island received 335352 visitors out of which 97 percent were VFR The same data for the
28 WHOS MOVED
MARCH 2013
ANDREW ABRAM
KONSTANTINOS KOUROTSIDIS
Andrew Abram has been named general manager at Raffles Dubai Abram joins the propertyrsquos team from Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group where over the past dec-ade he has held various positions He joined the company in 2003 as resident manager of The Excelsior Hotel Hong Kong and went on to lead the renovation and reopen-ing of Mandarin Oriental Jakarta holding the role of general man-ager for eight years He most re-cently served as general manager
of Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhavi in Chiang Mai Thailand Having also held the position of corporate director of sales and marketing at Jumeirah Group in the Middle East where he was responsible for the branding and launching of several projects Abram brings an insiderrsquos knowl-edge to Raffles Dubai
Konstantinos Kourotsidis has been named general manager at Radisson Blu Martinez Hotel Beirut Kourotsidis started his career in the hospitality industry in 1996 in food and beverage at Copthorne Hotel Hanover In 2000 he joined The Rezidor Ho-tel Group where he held various positions across Europe and the Middle East including at Radis-son Blu Hotel Hanover Radission
Blu Hotel amp Spa Galway Radisson Blu Resort Schloss Fleesensee Radisson Blu Resort El Quseir Radisson Blu Hotel Alexandria and Radisson Blu Resort Sharjah After several task force assign-ments in Egypt Libya and UAE Kourotsidis was promoted to general manager at Radisson Blu Al Mahary Hotel Tripoli Most re-cently he worked as acting gen-eral manager at Radisson Blu Re-sort Fujairah
Abram brings an insiderrsquos knowledge to
Raffles Dubai
MARCH 2013
30 TRAVEL TALK
MARCH 2013
LEON SALINEL
WAEL EL BEHI
KARIM NAHAS
Executive assistant manager of sales and marketing Dusit Thani Dubai
General manager Ramada Downtown Dubai
General managar Rose Rayhaan by Rotana
ldquo2012 was a very successful year for us We were not only successful in meeting our key performance indicators most notably by exceeding both our gross operating profit and gross operating revenue Working with Inves-tors in People throughout the year also ensured that we performed highly in our employee satisfaction survey we even ranked at the top of our group in this regards [hellip] We are now drawing to a close on our rooms renovation and have just welcomed our new general manager so it is an exciting year to come for us which will see some changerdquo
ldquoI am very pleased to be appointed as executive board mem-ber [of the Tunisian Business Council] I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress in [the cur-rent year] I hope to play a part in creating strong community bound by camaraderie accord and reliance among Tunisian nationals in the UAErdquo
ldquo2012 was a record year for Rose Rayhaan total revenue growth was almost 17 percent versus 2011 [hellip] The hotel continued to focus on the GCC markets with the Saudi market on the top list and strong performance of the UK France and Russian markets were witnessed UAE local market in both leisure and corporate seg-ments also performed very well We are planning to fo-cus on new emerging markets like South Africa Brazil and Turkey Competition will be indeed stiffen this year however I guess there will be business for everybodyrdquo
I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress
TRAVEL TALK IS YOUR SPACE ndash 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
editorialtraveltradeweeklytravel
trav
el t
alk
is
y
our
spac
e
31RENDEZVOUS
MARCH 2013
Q amp A with Rana El KhouryWith her recent appointment Rana El Khoury general manager Le Gray Beirut became one of Lebanonrsquos first women to hold such a high position at a five-star hotel and here she shares her views on the future prospects of the Lebanese hotel sector
Rana El KhouryGeneral manager Le Gray Beirut
Travel Trade Monthly How would you describe 2012 in a few words Rana El Khoury The best way to describe 2012 would certainly be lsquochallengingrsquo a challenge that could be called survival until we see better days Controlling costs while maintaining superior ser-vice quality and competitiveness is key to our con-tinuous success in the Lebanese market The hotel performance could be rated as fair for 2012 greatly impacted by high level of business during the first five months of the year This has allowed us to stay ahead of the game for the remainder of the year although November 2012 was the toughest month since the opening of the hotel in 2009 Despite all Le Gray has managed in 2012 to retain its number one position in occupancy and RevPAR in the Leba-nese market
Travel Trade Monthly The hotel will soon em-bark on a major extension project Tell us a little bit about this
Rana El Khoury Le Gray is preparing to kick off its extension that will include a larger lobby with a lob-by lounge a chocolate room banquet space a 35-seat movie theatre and an additional 18 rooms The project should reach completion by end of 2014
Travel Trade Monthly Prior to your appoint-ment you served as hotel manager How does your new position differ from your former role
Rana El Khoury My previous position as hotel manager was focused on the operations aspect of the hotel as general manager my responsibilities enclose a more general view of the hotel including the administrative and strategic side of the hotel as well as the link between the owning company and management company
My priorities for the coming year is diversify-ing our target markets on the international and local scene to maximise hotel occupancy and to strengthen the positioning of Le Gray on the lo-cal market as a destination for its restaurants and bars whilst building on the existing strong team at Le Gray and getting the right people together to move forward with positivity and vigilance to counter these challenging times
The advice I would give young women ready to climb the corporate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the dif-ferent positions they fill throughout their careers
Travel Trade Monthly Your appointment makes you one of the first Lebanese women to hold this position at a five-star hotel How challenging is it to hold such a high position at an already well-established hotel
Rana El Khoury The hospitality industry is very challenging and requires sacrifice on all levels What I can say is that women have their own speci-ficity and they can bring a different vision and new perspectives to the hospitality business The advice I would give young women ready to climb the cor-porate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the different positions they fill throughout their careers this can only make them stronger and certainly more cred-ible when they reach executive level positions
Travel Trade Monthly Over the past few years the Lebanese tourism industry has faced a num-ber of serious challenges What are your expec-tations for the current year Rana El Khoury Lebanon has always been a pre-ferred destination attracting tourists from the Arab and Gulf countries and with increasing stability and security we do see a solid recovery
Given the complexity of the Lebanese market improvement can occur overnight As seen in May 2008 following the Doha-agreement occupancy rates jumped back then from 30 to 90 percent within one week
This year remains uncertain due to the volatil-ity of the political situation in the region the key is to remain sustainable and be ready for the sudden surge in business
Le Gray Beirut
32 NEWS amp EVENTS
MARCH 2013
EVENTS Sponsored by
Following a refurbishment to better present the historical phases of the emiratersquos auto manu-facturing sector Sharjah Classic Cars Museum originally launched in 2008 by HH Sheikh Sul-tan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi ruler of Sharjah reopened in January by Sheikh Essam bin Saqr Al Qassimi chairman Sharjah rulerrsquos office
On the opening day of the event Manal Ataya director general Sharjah Museums Department said ldquoThe aim of refurbishing this museum was to allow us to re-evaluate the previous design and interpretation and improve it significantlyrdquo
She further pointed out that the museum now helps visitors to appreciate the aesthetic and historical value of classic cars in a space that inte-grates a new childrens interactive area and a gal-lery space for temporary exhibitions
The museum boasts 85 classic cars two mo-torcycles and five bicycles as well as a model of an old car and an engine to allow visitors to familiarise themselves with parts of an engine and their function while it is divided into five sections and features an area for activities and interactive games
Following the launch of the UAE branch of the Airline Owners and Pi-lotsrsquo Association (AOPA) at Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2012 Yousif Al Hammadi president AOPA UAE has invited representatives from international AOPA branches to attend a workshop dedicated to discussing and debating gen-eral aviation issues in the region
The meeting the first of its kind will run parallel to this yearrsquos Abu Dhabi Air Expo and will take place at the Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies Al Bateen Executive Airport on March 6
It is anticipated that up to 30 representatives from AOPA US AOPA UK AOPA Germany and AOPA France will meet with their colleagues from the UAE during the one-day event to share knowledge and debate a variety of topics including air space regulations aerial non-commercial operations certification and maintenance issues and pilot licensing
AOPA members will also be able to maximise their time by attending the Air Expo exhibition the Middle Eastrsquos only dedicated general aviation event to meet pilots from the region and learn about the latest trends
Sharjah Reopens Car Museum AOPA UAE to Hold Meeting with International Colleagues
ITB BerlinBerlin Germany March 6 ndash 10 2013(wwwitb-berlinde)A business-to-business platform for trade visitors which provides the possibility to discover the whole world within a few hours
MITT MoscowMoscow Russia March 20 ndash 23 2013(wwwmittru)Russiarsquos leading and largest travel exhibition with over 3000 participat-ing companies and 197 destinations a key meeting place for industry professionals
The Gulf Incentive Business Travel amp Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) Abu Dhabi UAE March 25 ndash 27 2013(wwwgibtmcom)A leading event for the meetings incentives and business travel industry in the GCC region which can truly unlock all participantsrsquo business potential
Saudi Travel amp Tourism Investment Market (STTIM)Riyadh Saudi Arabia March 31 ndash April 4 2013(wwwsttimcomsa)The event covers all travel and tourism investments aspects in the Kingdom through a combined conference and exhibition
International Destination Expo (IDE)Dubai UAE April 4 ndash 7 2013(wwwastaorgevents)Organised by the American Society of Travel Agents IDE is a destination training programme where participants can meet local suppliers and built profitable long-lasting relationships
Arabian Travel Market (ATM)Dubai UAE May 6 ndash 9 2013(wwwarabiantravelmarketcom)The travel and tourism event unlocking business potential within the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals
Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies
28 WHOS MOVED
MARCH 2013
ANDREW ABRAM
KONSTANTINOS KOUROTSIDIS
Andrew Abram has been named general manager at Raffles Dubai Abram joins the propertyrsquos team from Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group where over the past dec-ade he has held various positions He joined the company in 2003 as resident manager of The Excelsior Hotel Hong Kong and went on to lead the renovation and reopen-ing of Mandarin Oriental Jakarta holding the role of general man-ager for eight years He most re-cently served as general manager
of Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhavi in Chiang Mai Thailand Having also held the position of corporate director of sales and marketing at Jumeirah Group in the Middle East where he was responsible for the branding and launching of several projects Abram brings an insiderrsquos knowl-edge to Raffles Dubai
Konstantinos Kourotsidis has been named general manager at Radisson Blu Martinez Hotel Beirut Kourotsidis started his career in the hospitality industry in 1996 in food and beverage at Copthorne Hotel Hanover In 2000 he joined The Rezidor Ho-tel Group where he held various positions across Europe and the Middle East including at Radis-son Blu Hotel Hanover Radission
Blu Hotel amp Spa Galway Radisson Blu Resort Schloss Fleesensee Radisson Blu Resort El Quseir Radisson Blu Hotel Alexandria and Radisson Blu Resort Sharjah After several task force assign-ments in Egypt Libya and UAE Kourotsidis was promoted to general manager at Radisson Blu Al Mahary Hotel Tripoli Most re-cently he worked as acting gen-eral manager at Radisson Blu Re-sort Fujairah
Abram brings an insiderrsquos knowledge to
Raffles Dubai
MARCH 2013
30 TRAVEL TALK
MARCH 2013
LEON SALINEL
WAEL EL BEHI
KARIM NAHAS
Executive assistant manager of sales and marketing Dusit Thani Dubai
General manager Ramada Downtown Dubai
General managar Rose Rayhaan by Rotana
ldquo2012 was a very successful year for us We were not only successful in meeting our key performance indicators most notably by exceeding both our gross operating profit and gross operating revenue Working with Inves-tors in People throughout the year also ensured that we performed highly in our employee satisfaction survey we even ranked at the top of our group in this regards [hellip] We are now drawing to a close on our rooms renovation and have just welcomed our new general manager so it is an exciting year to come for us which will see some changerdquo
ldquoI am very pleased to be appointed as executive board mem-ber [of the Tunisian Business Council] I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress in [the cur-rent year] I hope to play a part in creating strong community bound by camaraderie accord and reliance among Tunisian nationals in the UAErdquo
ldquo2012 was a record year for Rose Rayhaan total revenue growth was almost 17 percent versus 2011 [hellip] The hotel continued to focus on the GCC markets with the Saudi market on the top list and strong performance of the UK France and Russian markets were witnessed UAE local market in both leisure and corporate seg-ments also performed very well We are planning to fo-cus on new emerging markets like South Africa Brazil and Turkey Competition will be indeed stiffen this year however I guess there will be business for everybodyrdquo
I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress
TRAVEL TALK IS YOUR SPACE ndash 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
editorialtraveltradeweeklytravel
trav
el t
alk
is
y
our
spac
e
31RENDEZVOUS
MARCH 2013
Q amp A with Rana El KhouryWith her recent appointment Rana El Khoury general manager Le Gray Beirut became one of Lebanonrsquos first women to hold such a high position at a five-star hotel and here she shares her views on the future prospects of the Lebanese hotel sector
Rana El KhouryGeneral manager Le Gray Beirut
Travel Trade Monthly How would you describe 2012 in a few words Rana El Khoury The best way to describe 2012 would certainly be lsquochallengingrsquo a challenge that could be called survival until we see better days Controlling costs while maintaining superior ser-vice quality and competitiveness is key to our con-tinuous success in the Lebanese market The hotel performance could be rated as fair for 2012 greatly impacted by high level of business during the first five months of the year This has allowed us to stay ahead of the game for the remainder of the year although November 2012 was the toughest month since the opening of the hotel in 2009 Despite all Le Gray has managed in 2012 to retain its number one position in occupancy and RevPAR in the Leba-nese market
Travel Trade Monthly The hotel will soon em-bark on a major extension project Tell us a little bit about this
Rana El Khoury Le Gray is preparing to kick off its extension that will include a larger lobby with a lob-by lounge a chocolate room banquet space a 35-seat movie theatre and an additional 18 rooms The project should reach completion by end of 2014
Travel Trade Monthly Prior to your appoint-ment you served as hotel manager How does your new position differ from your former role
Rana El Khoury My previous position as hotel manager was focused on the operations aspect of the hotel as general manager my responsibilities enclose a more general view of the hotel including the administrative and strategic side of the hotel as well as the link between the owning company and management company
My priorities for the coming year is diversify-ing our target markets on the international and local scene to maximise hotel occupancy and to strengthen the positioning of Le Gray on the lo-cal market as a destination for its restaurants and bars whilst building on the existing strong team at Le Gray and getting the right people together to move forward with positivity and vigilance to counter these challenging times
The advice I would give young women ready to climb the corporate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the dif-ferent positions they fill throughout their careers
Travel Trade Monthly Your appointment makes you one of the first Lebanese women to hold this position at a five-star hotel How challenging is it to hold such a high position at an already well-established hotel
Rana El Khoury The hospitality industry is very challenging and requires sacrifice on all levels What I can say is that women have their own speci-ficity and they can bring a different vision and new perspectives to the hospitality business The advice I would give young women ready to climb the cor-porate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the different positions they fill throughout their careers this can only make them stronger and certainly more cred-ible when they reach executive level positions
Travel Trade Monthly Over the past few years the Lebanese tourism industry has faced a num-ber of serious challenges What are your expec-tations for the current year Rana El Khoury Lebanon has always been a pre-ferred destination attracting tourists from the Arab and Gulf countries and with increasing stability and security we do see a solid recovery
Given the complexity of the Lebanese market improvement can occur overnight As seen in May 2008 following the Doha-agreement occupancy rates jumped back then from 30 to 90 percent within one week
This year remains uncertain due to the volatil-ity of the political situation in the region the key is to remain sustainable and be ready for the sudden surge in business
Le Gray Beirut
32 NEWS amp EVENTS
MARCH 2013
EVENTS Sponsored by
Following a refurbishment to better present the historical phases of the emiratersquos auto manu-facturing sector Sharjah Classic Cars Museum originally launched in 2008 by HH Sheikh Sul-tan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi ruler of Sharjah reopened in January by Sheikh Essam bin Saqr Al Qassimi chairman Sharjah rulerrsquos office
On the opening day of the event Manal Ataya director general Sharjah Museums Department said ldquoThe aim of refurbishing this museum was to allow us to re-evaluate the previous design and interpretation and improve it significantlyrdquo
She further pointed out that the museum now helps visitors to appreciate the aesthetic and historical value of classic cars in a space that inte-grates a new childrens interactive area and a gal-lery space for temporary exhibitions
The museum boasts 85 classic cars two mo-torcycles and five bicycles as well as a model of an old car and an engine to allow visitors to familiarise themselves with parts of an engine and their function while it is divided into five sections and features an area for activities and interactive games
Following the launch of the UAE branch of the Airline Owners and Pi-lotsrsquo Association (AOPA) at Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2012 Yousif Al Hammadi president AOPA UAE has invited representatives from international AOPA branches to attend a workshop dedicated to discussing and debating gen-eral aviation issues in the region
The meeting the first of its kind will run parallel to this yearrsquos Abu Dhabi Air Expo and will take place at the Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies Al Bateen Executive Airport on March 6
It is anticipated that up to 30 representatives from AOPA US AOPA UK AOPA Germany and AOPA France will meet with their colleagues from the UAE during the one-day event to share knowledge and debate a variety of topics including air space regulations aerial non-commercial operations certification and maintenance issues and pilot licensing
AOPA members will also be able to maximise their time by attending the Air Expo exhibition the Middle Eastrsquos only dedicated general aviation event to meet pilots from the region and learn about the latest trends
Sharjah Reopens Car Museum AOPA UAE to Hold Meeting with International Colleagues
ITB BerlinBerlin Germany March 6 ndash 10 2013(wwwitb-berlinde)A business-to-business platform for trade visitors which provides the possibility to discover the whole world within a few hours
MITT MoscowMoscow Russia March 20 ndash 23 2013(wwwmittru)Russiarsquos leading and largest travel exhibition with over 3000 participat-ing companies and 197 destinations a key meeting place for industry professionals
The Gulf Incentive Business Travel amp Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) Abu Dhabi UAE March 25 ndash 27 2013(wwwgibtmcom)A leading event for the meetings incentives and business travel industry in the GCC region which can truly unlock all participantsrsquo business potential
Saudi Travel amp Tourism Investment Market (STTIM)Riyadh Saudi Arabia March 31 ndash April 4 2013(wwwsttimcomsa)The event covers all travel and tourism investments aspects in the Kingdom through a combined conference and exhibition
International Destination Expo (IDE)Dubai UAE April 4 ndash 7 2013(wwwastaorgevents)Organised by the American Society of Travel Agents IDE is a destination training programme where participants can meet local suppliers and built profitable long-lasting relationships
Arabian Travel Market (ATM)Dubai UAE May 6 ndash 9 2013(wwwarabiantravelmarketcom)The travel and tourism event unlocking business potential within the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals
Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies
MARCH 2013
30 TRAVEL TALK
MARCH 2013
LEON SALINEL
WAEL EL BEHI
KARIM NAHAS
Executive assistant manager of sales and marketing Dusit Thani Dubai
General manager Ramada Downtown Dubai
General managar Rose Rayhaan by Rotana
ldquo2012 was a very successful year for us We were not only successful in meeting our key performance indicators most notably by exceeding both our gross operating profit and gross operating revenue Working with Inves-tors in People throughout the year also ensured that we performed highly in our employee satisfaction survey we even ranked at the top of our group in this regards [hellip] We are now drawing to a close on our rooms renovation and have just welcomed our new general manager so it is an exciting year to come for us which will see some changerdquo
ldquoI am very pleased to be appointed as executive board mem-ber [of the Tunisian Business Council] I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress in [the cur-rent year] I hope to play a part in creating strong community bound by camaraderie accord and reliance among Tunisian nationals in the UAErdquo
ldquo2012 was a record year for Rose Rayhaan total revenue growth was almost 17 percent versus 2011 [hellip] The hotel continued to focus on the GCC markets with the Saudi market on the top list and strong performance of the UK France and Russian markets were witnessed UAE local market in both leisure and corporate seg-ments also performed very well We are planning to fo-cus on new emerging markets like South Africa Brazil and Turkey Competition will be indeed stiffen this year however I guess there will be business for everybodyrdquo
I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress
TRAVEL TALK IS YOUR SPACE ndash 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
editorialtraveltradeweeklytravel
trav
el t
alk
is
y
our
spac
e
31RENDEZVOUS
MARCH 2013
Q amp A with Rana El KhouryWith her recent appointment Rana El Khoury general manager Le Gray Beirut became one of Lebanonrsquos first women to hold such a high position at a five-star hotel and here she shares her views on the future prospects of the Lebanese hotel sector
Rana El KhouryGeneral manager Le Gray Beirut
Travel Trade Monthly How would you describe 2012 in a few words Rana El Khoury The best way to describe 2012 would certainly be lsquochallengingrsquo a challenge that could be called survival until we see better days Controlling costs while maintaining superior ser-vice quality and competitiveness is key to our con-tinuous success in the Lebanese market The hotel performance could be rated as fair for 2012 greatly impacted by high level of business during the first five months of the year This has allowed us to stay ahead of the game for the remainder of the year although November 2012 was the toughest month since the opening of the hotel in 2009 Despite all Le Gray has managed in 2012 to retain its number one position in occupancy and RevPAR in the Leba-nese market
Travel Trade Monthly The hotel will soon em-bark on a major extension project Tell us a little bit about this
Rana El Khoury Le Gray is preparing to kick off its extension that will include a larger lobby with a lob-by lounge a chocolate room banquet space a 35-seat movie theatre and an additional 18 rooms The project should reach completion by end of 2014
Travel Trade Monthly Prior to your appoint-ment you served as hotel manager How does your new position differ from your former role
Rana El Khoury My previous position as hotel manager was focused on the operations aspect of the hotel as general manager my responsibilities enclose a more general view of the hotel including the administrative and strategic side of the hotel as well as the link between the owning company and management company
My priorities for the coming year is diversify-ing our target markets on the international and local scene to maximise hotel occupancy and to strengthen the positioning of Le Gray on the lo-cal market as a destination for its restaurants and bars whilst building on the existing strong team at Le Gray and getting the right people together to move forward with positivity and vigilance to counter these challenging times
The advice I would give young women ready to climb the corporate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the dif-ferent positions they fill throughout their careers
Travel Trade Monthly Your appointment makes you one of the first Lebanese women to hold this position at a five-star hotel How challenging is it to hold such a high position at an already well-established hotel
Rana El Khoury The hospitality industry is very challenging and requires sacrifice on all levels What I can say is that women have their own speci-ficity and they can bring a different vision and new perspectives to the hospitality business The advice I would give young women ready to climb the cor-porate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the different positions they fill throughout their careers this can only make them stronger and certainly more cred-ible when they reach executive level positions
Travel Trade Monthly Over the past few years the Lebanese tourism industry has faced a num-ber of serious challenges What are your expec-tations for the current year Rana El Khoury Lebanon has always been a pre-ferred destination attracting tourists from the Arab and Gulf countries and with increasing stability and security we do see a solid recovery
Given the complexity of the Lebanese market improvement can occur overnight As seen in May 2008 following the Doha-agreement occupancy rates jumped back then from 30 to 90 percent within one week
This year remains uncertain due to the volatil-ity of the political situation in the region the key is to remain sustainable and be ready for the sudden surge in business
Le Gray Beirut
32 NEWS amp EVENTS
MARCH 2013
EVENTS Sponsored by
Following a refurbishment to better present the historical phases of the emiratersquos auto manu-facturing sector Sharjah Classic Cars Museum originally launched in 2008 by HH Sheikh Sul-tan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi ruler of Sharjah reopened in January by Sheikh Essam bin Saqr Al Qassimi chairman Sharjah rulerrsquos office
On the opening day of the event Manal Ataya director general Sharjah Museums Department said ldquoThe aim of refurbishing this museum was to allow us to re-evaluate the previous design and interpretation and improve it significantlyrdquo
She further pointed out that the museum now helps visitors to appreciate the aesthetic and historical value of classic cars in a space that inte-grates a new childrens interactive area and a gal-lery space for temporary exhibitions
The museum boasts 85 classic cars two mo-torcycles and five bicycles as well as a model of an old car and an engine to allow visitors to familiarise themselves with parts of an engine and their function while it is divided into five sections and features an area for activities and interactive games
Following the launch of the UAE branch of the Airline Owners and Pi-lotsrsquo Association (AOPA) at Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2012 Yousif Al Hammadi president AOPA UAE has invited representatives from international AOPA branches to attend a workshop dedicated to discussing and debating gen-eral aviation issues in the region
The meeting the first of its kind will run parallel to this yearrsquos Abu Dhabi Air Expo and will take place at the Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies Al Bateen Executive Airport on March 6
It is anticipated that up to 30 representatives from AOPA US AOPA UK AOPA Germany and AOPA France will meet with their colleagues from the UAE during the one-day event to share knowledge and debate a variety of topics including air space regulations aerial non-commercial operations certification and maintenance issues and pilot licensing
AOPA members will also be able to maximise their time by attending the Air Expo exhibition the Middle Eastrsquos only dedicated general aviation event to meet pilots from the region and learn about the latest trends
Sharjah Reopens Car Museum AOPA UAE to Hold Meeting with International Colleagues
ITB BerlinBerlin Germany March 6 ndash 10 2013(wwwitb-berlinde)A business-to-business platform for trade visitors which provides the possibility to discover the whole world within a few hours
MITT MoscowMoscow Russia March 20 ndash 23 2013(wwwmittru)Russiarsquos leading and largest travel exhibition with over 3000 participat-ing companies and 197 destinations a key meeting place for industry professionals
The Gulf Incentive Business Travel amp Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) Abu Dhabi UAE March 25 ndash 27 2013(wwwgibtmcom)A leading event for the meetings incentives and business travel industry in the GCC region which can truly unlock all participantsrsquo business potential
Saudi Travel amp Tourism Investment Market (STTIM)Riyadh Saudi Arabia March 31 ndash April 4 2013(wwwsttimcomsa)The event covers all travel and tourism investments aspects in the Kingdom through a combined conference and exhibition
International Destination Expo (IDE)Dubai UAE April 4 ndash 7 2013(wwwastaorgevents)Organised by the American Society of Travel Agents IDE is a destination training programme where participants can meet local suppliers and built profitable long-lasting relationships
Arabian Travel Market (ATM)Dubai UAE May 6 ndash 9 2013(wwwarabiantravelmarketcom)The travel and tourism event unlocking business potential within the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals
Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies
30 TRAVEL TALK
MARCH 2013
LEON SALINEL
WAEL EL BEHI
KARIM NAHAS
Executive assistant manager of sales and marketing Dusit Thani Dubai
General manager Ramada Downtown Dubai
General managar Rose Rayhaan by Rotana
ldquo2012 was a very successful year for us We were not only successful in meeting our key performance indicators most notably by exceeding both our gross operating profit and gross operating revenue Working with Inves-tors in People throughout the year also ensured that we performed highly in our employee satisfaction survey we even ranked at the top of our group in this regards [hellip] We are now drawing to a close on our rooms renovation and have just welcomed our new general manager so it is an exciting year to come for us which will see some changerdquo
ldquoI am very pleased to be appointed as executive board mem-ber [of the Tunisian Business Council] I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress in [the cur-rent year] I hope to play a part in creating strong community bound by camaraderie accord and reliance among Tunisian nationals in the UAErdquo
ldquo2012 was a record year for Rose Rayhaan total revenue growth was almost 17 percent versus 2011 [hellip] The hotel continued to focus on the GCC markets with the Saudi market on the top list and strong performance of the UK France and Russian markets were witnessed UAE local market in both leisure and corporate seg-ments also performed very well We are planning to fo-cus on new emerging markets like South Africa Brazil and Turkey Competition will be indeed stiffen this year however I guess there will be business for everybodyrdquo
I will do my best to be of service to my fellow Tunisians in the UAE and contribute in the councilrsquos cultural and economic progress
TRAVEL TALK IS YOUR SPACE ndash 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
editorialtraveltradeweeklytravel
trav
el t
alk
is
y
our
spac
e
31RENDEZVOUS
MARCH 2013
Q amp A with Rana El KhouryWith her recent appointment Rana El Khoury general manager Le Gray Beirut became one of Lebanonrsquos first women to hold such a high position at a five-star hotel and here she shares her views on the future prospects of the Lebanese hotel sector
Rana El KhouryGeneral manager Le Gray Beirut
Travel Trade Monthly How would you describe 2012 in a few words Rana El Khoury The best way to describe 2012 would certainly be lsquochallengingrsquo a challenge that could be called survival until we see better days Controlling costs while maintaining superior ser-vice quality and competitiveness is key to our con-tinuous success in the Lebanese market The hotel performance could be rated as fair for 2012 greatly impacted by high level of business during the first five months of the year This has allowed us to stay ahead of the game for the remainder of the year although November 2012 was the toughest month since the opening of the hotel in 2009 Despite all Le Gray has managed in 2012 to retain its number one position in occupancy and RevPAR in the Leba-nese market
Travel Trade Monthly The hotel will soon em-bark on a major extension project Tell us a little bit about this
Rana El Khoury Le Gray is preparing to kick off its extension that will include a larger lobby with a lob-by lounge a chocolate room banquet space a 35-seat movie theatre and an additional 18 rooms The project should reach completion by end of 2014
Travel Trade Monthly Prior to your appoint-ment you served as hotel manager How does your new position differ from your former role
Rana El Khoury My previous position as hotel manager was focused on the operations aspect of the hotel as general manager my responsibilities enclose a more general view of the hotel including the administrative and strategic side of the hotel as well as the link between the owning company and management company
My priorities for the coming year is diversify-ing our target markets on the international and local scene to maximise hotel occupancy and to strengthen the positioning of Le Gray on the lo-cal market as a destination for its restaurants and bars whilst building on the existing strong team at Le Gray and getting the right people together to move forward with positivity and vigilance to counter these challenging times
The advice I would give young women ready to climb the corporate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the dif-ferent positions they fill throughout their careers
Travel Trade Monthly Your appointment makes you one of the first Lebanese women to hold this position at a five-star hotel How challenging is it to hold such a high position at an already well-established hotel
Rana El Khoury The hospitality industry is very challenging and requires sacrifice on all levels What I can say is that women have their own speci-ficity and they can bring a different vision and new perspectives to the hospitality business The advice I would give young women ready to climb the cor-porate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the different positions they fill throughout their careers this can only make them stronger and certainly more cred-ible when they reach executive level positions
Travel Trade Monthly Over the past few years the Lebanese tourism industry has faced a num-ber of serious challenges What are your expec-tations for the current year Rana El Khoury Lebanon has always been a pre-ferred destination attracting tourists from the Arab and Gulf countries and with increasing stability and security we do see a solid recovery
Given the complexity of the Lebanese market improvement can occur overnight As seen in May 2008 following the Doha-agreement occupancy rates jumped back then from 30 to 90 percent within one week
This year remains uncertain due to the volatil-ity of the political situation in the region the key is to remain sustainable and be ready for the sudden surge in business
Le Gray Beirut
32 NEWS amp EVENTS
MARCH 2013
EVENTS Sponsored by
Following a refurbishment to better present the historical phases of the emiratersquos auto manu-facturing sector Sharjah Classic Cars Museum originally launched in 2008 by HH Sheikh Sul-tan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi ruler of Sharjah reopened in January by Sheikh Essam bin Saqr Al Qassimi chairman Sharjah rulerrsquos office
On the opening day of the event Manal Ataya director general Sharjah Museums Department said ldquoThe aim of refurbishing this museum was to allow us to re-evaluate the previous design and interpretation and improve it significantlyrdquo
She further pointed out that the museum now helps visitors to appreciate the aesthetic and historical value of classic cars in a space that inte-grates a new childrens interactive area and a gal-lery space for temporary exhibitions
The museum boasts 85 classic cars two mo-torcycles and five bicycles as well as a model of an old car and an engine to allow visitors to familiarise themselves with parts of an engine and their function while it is divided into five sections and features an area for activities and interactive games
Following the launch of the UAE branch of the Airline Owners and Pi-lotsrsquo Association (AOPA) at Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2012 Yousif Al Hammadi president AOPA UAE has invited representatives from international AOPA branches to attend a workshop dedicated to discussing and debating gen-eral aviation issues in the region
The meeting the first of its kind will run parallel to this yearrsquos Abu Dhabi Air Expo and will take place at the Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies Al Bateen Executive Airport on March 6
It is anticipated that up to 30 representatives from AOPA US AOPA UK AOPA Germany and AOPA France will meet with their colleagues from the UAE during the one-day event to share knowledge and debate a variety of topics including air space regulations aerial non-commercial operations certification and maintenance issues and pilot licensing
AOPA members will also be able to maximise their time by attending the Air Expo exhibition the Middle Eastrsquos only dedicated general aviation event to meet pilots from the region and learn about the latest trends
Sharjah Reopens Car Museum AOPA UAE to Hold Meeting with International Colleagues
ITB BerlinBerlin Germany March 6 ndash 10 2013(wwwitb-berlinde)A business-to-business platform for trade visitors which provides the possibility to discover the whole world within a few hours
MITT MoscowMoscow Russia March 20 ndash 23 2013(wwwmittru)Russiarsquos leading and largest travel exhibition with over 3000 participat-ing companies and 197 destinations a key meeting place for industry professionals
The Gulf Incentive Business Travel amp Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) Abu Dhabi UAE March 25 ndash 27 2013(wwwgibtmcom)A leading event for the meetings incentives and business travel industry in the GCC region which can truly unlock all participantsrsquo business potential
Saudi Travel amp Tourism Investment Market (STTIM)Riyadh Saudi Arabia March 31 ndash April 4 2013(wwwsttimcomsa)The event covers all travel and tourism investments aspects in the Kingdom through a combined conference and exhibition
International Destination Expo (IDE)Dubai UAE April 4 ndash 7 2013(wwwastaorgevents)Organised by the American Society of Travel Agents IDE is a destination training programme where participants can meet local suppliers and built profitable long-lasting relationships
Arabian Travel Market (ATM)Dubai UAE May 6 ndash 9 2013(wwwarabiantravelmarketcom)The travel and tourism event unlocking business potential within the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals
Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies
31RENDEZVOUS
MARCH 2013
Q amp A with Rana El KhouryWith her recent appointment Rana El Khoury general manager Le Gray Beirut became one of Lebanonrsquos first women to hold such a high position at a five-star hotel and here she shares her views on the future prospects of the Lebanese hotel sector
Rana El KhouryGeneral manager Le Gray Beirut
Travel Trade Monthly How would you describe 2012 in a few words Rana El Khoury The best way to describe 2012 would certainly be lsquochallengingrsquo a challenge that could be called survival until we see better days Controlling costs while maintaining superior ser-vice quality and competitiveness is key to our con-tinuous success in the Lebanese market The hotel performance could be rated as fair for 2012 greatly impacted by high level of business during the first five months of the year This has allowed us to stay ahead of the game for the remainder of the year although November 2012 was the toughest month since the opening of the hotel in 2009 Despite all Le Gray has managed in 2012 to retain its number one position in occupancy and RevPAR in the Leba-nese market
Travel Trade Monthly The hotel will soon em-bark on a major extension project Tell us a little bit about this
Rana El Khoury Le Gray is preparing to kick off its extension that will include a larger lobby with a lob-by lounge a chocolate room banquet space a 35-seat movie theatre and an additional 18 rooms The project should reach completion by end of 2014
Travel Trade Monthly Prior to your appoint-ment you served as hotel manager How does your new position differ from your former role
Rana El Khoury My previous position as hotel manager was focused on the operations aspect of the hotel as general manager my responsibilities enclose a more general view of the hotel including the administrative and strategic side of the hotel as well as the link between the owning company and management company
My priorities for the coming year is diversify-ing our target markets on the international and local scene to maximise hotel occupancy and to strengthen the positioning of Le Gray on the lo-cal market as a destination for its restaurants and bars whilst building on the existing strong team at Le Gray and getting the right people together to move forward with positivity and vigilance to counter these challenging times
The advice I would give young women ready to climb the corporate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the dif-ferent positions they fill throughout their careers
Travel Trade Monthly Your appointment makes you one of the first Lebanese women to hold this position at a five-star hotel How challenging is it to hold such a high position at an already well-established hotel
Rana El Khoury The hospitality industry is very challenging and requires sacrifice on all levels What I can say is that women have their own speci-ficity and they can bring a different vision and new perspectives to the hospitality business The advice I would give young women ready to climb the cor-porate ladder is to take the time to deepen their knowledge every step of the way in the different positions they fill throughout their careers this can only make them stronger and certainly more cred-ible when they reach executive level positions
Travel Trade Monthly Over the past few years the Lebanese tourism industry has faced a num-ber of serious challenges What are your expec-tations for the current year Rana El Khoury Lebanon has always been a pre-ferred destination attracting tourists from the Arab and Gulf countries and with increasing stability and security we do see a solid recovery
Given the complexity of the Lebanese market improvement can occur overnight As seen in May 2008 following the Doha-agreement occupancy rates jumped back then from 30 to 90 percent within one week
This year remains uncertain due to the volatil-ity of the political situation in the region the key is to remain sustainable and be ready for the sudden surge in business
Le Gray Beirut
32 NEWS amp EVENTS
MARCH 2013
EVENTS Sponsored by
Following a refurbishment to better present the historical phases of the emiratersquos auto manu-facturing sector Sharjah Classic Cars Museum originally launched in 2008 by HH Sheikh Sul-tan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi ruler of Sharjah reopened in January by Sheikh Essam bin Saqr Al Qassimi chairman Sharjah rulerrsquos office
On the opening day of the event Manal Ataya director general Sharjah Museums Department said ldquoThe aim of refurbishing this museum was to allow us to re-evaluate the previous design and interpretation and improve it significantlyrdquo
She further pointed out that the museum now helps visitors to appreciate the aesthetic and historical value of classic cars in a space that inte-grates a new childrens interactive area and a gal-lery space for temporary exhibitions
The museum boasts 85 classic cars two mo-torcycles and five bicycles as well as a model of an old car and an engine to allow visitors to familiarise themselves with parts of an engine and their function while it is divided into five sections and features an area for activities and interactive games
Following the launch of the UAE branch of the Airline Owners and Pi-lotsrsquo Association (AOPA) at Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2012 Yousif Al Hammadi president AOPA UAE has invited representatives from international AOPA branches to attend a workshop dedicated to discussing and debating gen-eral aviation issues in the region
The meeting the first of its kind will run parallel to this yearrsquos Abu Dhabi Air Expo and will take place at the Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies Al Bateen Executive Airport on March 6
It is anticipated that up to 30 representatives from AOPA US AOPA UK AOPA Germany and AOPA France will meet with their colleagues from the UAE during the one-day event to share knowledge and debate a variety of topics including air space regulations aerial non-commercial operations certification and maintenance issues and pilot licensing
AOPA members will also be able to maximise their time by attending the Air Expo exhibition the Middle Eastrsquos only dedicated general aviation event to meet pilots from the region and learn about the latest trends
Sharjah Reopens Car Museum AOPA UAE to Hold Meeting with International Colleagues
ITB BerlinBerlin Germany March 6 ndash 10 2013(wwwitb-berlinde)A business-to-business platform for trade visitors which provides the possibility to discover the whole world within a few hours
MITT MoscowMoscow Russia March 20 ndash 23 2013(wwwmittru)Russiarsquos leading and largest travel exhibition with over 3000 participat-ing companies and 197 destinations a key meeting place for industry professionals
The Gulf Incentive Business Travel amp Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) Abu Dhabi UAE March 25 ndash 27 2013(wwwgibtmcom)A leading event for the meetings incentives and business travel industry in the GCC region which can truly unlock all participantsrsquo business potential
Saudi Travel amp Tourism Investment Market (STTIM)Riyadh Saudi Arabia March 31 ndash April 4 2013(wwwsttimcomsa)The event covers all travel and tourism investments aspects in the Kingdom through a combined conference and exhibition
International Destination Expo (IDE)Dubai UAE April 4 ndash 7 2013(wwwastaorgevents)Organised by the American Society of Travel Agents IDE is a destination training programme where participants can meet local suppliers and built profitable long-lasting relationships
Arabian Travel Market (ATM)Dubai UAE May 6 ndash 9 2013(wwwarabiantravelmarketcom)The travel and tourism event unlocking business potential within the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals
Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies
32 NEWS amp EVENTS
MARCH 2013
EVENTS Sponsored by
Following a refurbishment to better present the historical phases of the emiratersquos auto manu-facturing sector Sharjah Classic Cars Museum originally launched in 2008 by HH Sheikh Sul-tan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi ruler of Sharjah reopened in January by Sheikh Essam bin Saqr Al Qassimi chairman Sharjah rulerrsquos office
On the opening day of the event Manal Ataya director general Sharjah Museums Department said ldquoThe aim of refurbishing this museum was to allow us to re-evaluate the previous design and interpretation and improve it significantlyrdquo
She further pointed out that the museum now helps visitors to appreciate the aesthetic and historical value of classic cars in a space that inte-grates a new childrens interactive area and a gal-lery space for temporary exhibitions
The museum boasts 85 classic cars two mo-torcycles and five bicycles as well as a model of an old car and an engine to allow visitors to familiarise themselves with parts of an engine and their function while it is divided into five sections and features an area for activities and interactive games
Following the launch of the UAE branch of the Airline Owners and Pi-lotsrsquo Association (AOPA) at Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2012 Yousif Al Hammadi president AOPA UAE has invited representatives from international AOPA branches to attend a workshop dedicated to discussing and debating gen-eral aviation issues in the region
The meeting the first of its kind will run parallel to this yearrsquos Abu Dhabi Air Expo and will take place at the Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies Al Bateen Executive Airport on March 6
It is anticipated that up to 30 representatives from AOPA US AOPA UK AOPA Germany and AOPA France will meet with their colleagues from the UAE during the one-day event to share knowledge and debate a variety of topics including air space regulations aerial non-commercial operations certification and maintenance issues and pilot licensing
AOPA members will also be able to maximise their time by attending the Air Expo exhibition the Middle Eastrsquos only dedicated general aviation event to meet pilots from the region and learn about the latest trends
Sharjah Reopens Car Museum AOPA UAE to Hold Meeting with International Colleagues
ITB BerlinBerlin Germany March 6 ndash 10 2013(wwwitb-berlinde)A business-to-business platform for trade visitors which provides the possibility to discover the whole world within a few hours
MITT MoscowMoscow Russia March 20 ndash 23 2013(wwwmittru)Russiarsquos leading and largest travel exhibition with over 3000 participat-ing companies and 197 destinations a key meeting place for industry professionals
The Gulf Incentive Business Travel amp Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) Abu Dhabi UAE March 25 ndash 27 2013(wwwgibtmcom)A leading event for the meetings incentives and business travel industry in the GCC region which can truly unlock all participantsrsquo business potential
Saudi Travel amp Tourism Investment Market (STTIM)Riyadh Saudi Arabia March 31 ndash April 4 2013(wwwsttimcomsa)The event covers all travel and tourism investments aspects in the Kingdom through a combined conference and exhibition
International Destination Expo (IDE)Dubai UAE April 4 ndash 7 2013(wwwastaorgevents)Organised by the American Society of Travel Agents IDE is a destination training programme where participants can meet local suppliers and built profitable long-lasting relationships
Arabian Travel Market (ATM)Dubai UAE May 6 ndash 9 2013(wwwarabiantravelmarketcom)The travel and tourism event unlocking business potential within the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals
Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies
