Travel Trade Weekly Issue 236 by T.T.W. Travel Trade Weekly LTD

17 MAY 2014

ISSUE 236

17 MAY 2014

ISSUE 236

Tsogo Sun Enters Abu Dhabi Southern Sun Abu Dhabi has opened its doors, marking African hotel company, Tsogo Sun Hotels’ debut in the UAE capital.

Hamad International Airport welcomed its first passenger arrivals as the region’s newest aviation hub.

06 IN THIS ISSUE MARKET UPDATE AIRPORTS WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION AIR AGENT'S CORNER TRAVEL TALK WHO'S MOVED TRAVEL CHANNELS RENDEZVOUS NEWS & EVENTS

02 03 04 06 10 15 16 17 18 19 20

Hamad International Airport Opens

MARKET UPDATE

TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel COPY EDITOR Emily Millett

MEA: ADR Increases in March The Middle East and Africa (MEA) region recorded a 2.1 percent increment in average daily rate (ADR) in March.

ccording to STR Global’s March report, ADR reached USD178.18 and although occupancy dropped 0.7 percent to 66.9 percent, RevPAR still rose 1.4 percent to USD119.19. The largest increase in ADR was reported from Jeddah where rates improved 8.5 percent to USD247.56. Manama recorded a

SENIOR JOURNALIST Rita Kasziba JOURNALIST Maria Kazeli PRESS Maria Demetriadou Pauline Shahabian DESIGN & LAYOUT

32.2 percent jump in occupancy to 60.7 percent and a 29.6 percent surge in RevPAR to USD119.14. During the first quarter of the year, the MEA region’s occupancy grew 1.2 percent to 65.5 percent and ADR was up 2.9 percent to USD179.74, leading to a 4.2 percent hike in RevPAR to USD117.72.

Elena Stylianou DIRECTORS

QAIA: Q1 Passenger Traffic Soars

Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi HEADQUARTERS T.T.W. Travel Trade Weekly LTD P.O. Box 25255, Nicosia, 1308, Cyprus Tel: +357 22 021607, Fax: +357 22 103607 WEBSITE www.traveltradeweekly.travel EMAILS info@traveltradeweekly.travel sales@traveltradeweekly.travel editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel

MENA EXCHANGE RATES Accurate as of

16/05/2014 Currencies shown in red are fixed against the US Dollar

COUNTRY

CURRENCY

1USD=

UAE (AED)

Dirham

3.67

Egypt (EGP)

Pound

7.12

Saudi Arabia (SAR)

Riyal

3.75

Lebanon (LBP)

Pound

1,512.50

Bahrain (BHD)

Dinar

0.37

Jordan (JOD)

Dinar

0.71

Syria (SYP)

Pound

149.25

Kuwait (KWD)

Dinar

0.28

Qatar (QAR)

Riyal

3.64

Oman (OMR)

Rial

0.38

Tunisia (TND)

Dinar

1.62

Morocco (MAD)

Dirham

8.20

Iran (IRR)

Riyal

25,556.00

Yemen (YER)

Rial

214.86

Algeria (DZD)

Dinar

79.39

Libya (LYD)

Dinar

1.23

Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) welcomed 549,861 passengers in March, marking a year-onyear increase of 3.4 percent and bringing the year-to-date figure to 1,472,524 travellers. Aircraft movement (ACM) rose 4.8 percent in March from 5,692 to 5,963 movements, pushing ACM for the first quarter (Q1) of the year up by seven percent. “Our consistently positive traffic results are further testament to our ongoing efforts to position QAIA as a globally acclaimed gateway,” stated Kjeld Binger, CEO, Airport International Group, QAIA’s operating company.

Queen Alia International Airport

Wyndham Worldwide: Off to a Good Start

yndham Worldwide reported first quarter (Q1) net income of USD90 million, or USD0.69 per diluted share, compared to USD27 million, or USD0.19 per diluted share, in the corresponding period in 2013. According to the company’s statement, the results were negatively impacted by USD12 million, while Q1 2013 earnings were unfavourably affected by USD71 million.

Meanwhile adjusted net income for the period under review rose from USD98 million to USD102 million. As Stephen Holmes, CEO, Wyndham Worldwide, noted, the company continued to generate strong free cash flow and return a significant portion to shareholders. For the full year, Wyndham Worldwide expects revenues of approximately USD5.255.35 billion and adjusted earnings per share of USD4.23-4.33. 17 MAY 2014

Airports

Hamad International Airport Opens

Hamad International Airport

Hamad International Airport (HIA) welcomed its first passenger arrivals as the region’s newest aviation hub. A specially deployed Qatar Airways flight was the first to officially land on the East Runway and a total of 10 airlines now operate to the airport, with the remaining carriers, including Qatar Airways, expected to move to the hub on May 27. H.E. Abdul Aziz Mohammad Al Noaimi, chairman, New Doha International Airport (NDIA) Steering Committee, described the airport as a world-class aviation hub, purpose-built to cater to rapidly evolving aviation and passenger needs. As Al Noaimi explained, the initial capacity was expanded to 30 million annual passengers in order to accommodate the increased transit growth in Qatar.

Dubai International: Over Six Million Passengers Dubai International welcomed 6,285,868 passengers in March marking a 7.5 percent year-on-year increase. Driven by the expanding networks of Emirates and flydubai, passenger volume for the first quarter of the year rose to a record 18,361,820, up 11 percent. The Indian subcontinent registered the highest growth in traveller numbers, and the top destination country remained India, while London emerged as the airport’s most popular city hotspot. “We not only want to increase our capacity to accommodate more passengers but continually refine the service we offer,” stressed Paul Griffiths, CEO, Dubai Airports, saying that a key element of this programme is the ongoing upgrading and refurbishment of both Dubai International’s runways. “We have focused our efforts [on] boosting safety, service and capacity levels at the airport,” he concluded.

17 MAY 2014

WEEKLY NEWS

Abu Dhabi Airports Gets Green Light Abu Dhabi Airports is going ahead with three projects that support the master plan for the development of Abu Dhabi International Airport’s overall infrastructure development programme. In line with the construction of the Midfield Terminal Building, set to open in July 2017, the ventures will help increase capacity to facilitate anticipated growth. Developments include additional aircraft hard stands, a new automated passenger mobility system and an airside road tunnel. “Our inititaives and projects are set to deliver highly efficient and world-class infrastructure, that caters to the growth of the aviation sector in the region,” stressed H.E Ali Majed Al Mansouri, chairman, Abu Dhabi Airports.

WEEKLY NEWS

Profitability Drops in Cairo Occupancy levels for full-service hotels in Cairo fell to 39 percent in March, while a 3.2 percent growth in average room rate (ARR) to USD113.50 resulted in a 3.8 percent drop in RevPAR to USD44.25. As TRI Hospitality Consulting’s HotStats report highlighted, a 5.8 percent decrease in occupancy to 37.3 percent, and a marginal rise in ARR to USD110.07, led to a 12.9 percent decline in RevPAR to USD41.10 for the first quarter of the year. “While hoteliers have attempted to maintain stable performance levels, high operating expenses coupled with a surge in payroll costs caused profitability to fall 21.9 percent yearto-date,” noted Peter Goddard, managing director, TRI Hospitality Consulting. Cairo

MICE Activities Boost Occupancy in Riyadh Riyadh’s hotel sector witnessed a 10.7 percentage point rise in occupancy levels in March reaching 72.5 percent, offsetting a 4.4 percent decline in average room rate (ARR) to drive RevPAR up by 12.1 percent to USD185.40. As Peter Goddard, managing director, TRI Hospitality Consulting, explained, the surge in demand in March helped drive an increase in first quarter (Q1) occupancy levels to 66.7 percent. “The corporate and conference markets continue to provide hotels with a solid base of demand,” added Goddard. According to the latest HotStats report, despite a 8.3 percent drop in ARR to USD250.12, at USD166.91 RevPAR for the first three months of the year is still 1.3 percent higher than in Q1 2013.

17 MAY 2014

WEEKLY NEWS Dubai Eyes African and South American Markets

Kingdom Tower: Construction Work Begins Jeddah Economic Company (JEC), owner and developer of the Kingdom Tower and City in Jeddah, is about to begin work above the ground for the tallest tower in the world. Rising to more than 1,000m and occupying an area of 85,000m², the project is to reach an estimated cost of over USD1.5 billion. The tower features 170 storeys, a five-star Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts branded property, 121 luxury serviced apartments, 318 housing units, a gym, spa, cafés and restaurants, several sky lobbies and the world’s highest observation floors.

17 MAY 2014

Kingdom Tower

A delegation from Dubai led by the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) participated in the recently concluded World Travel Market (WTM) Africa in Cape Town, following a successful attendance at WTM Latin America in São Paulo in April. According to DTCM’s data, currently South Africa and Brazil are Dubai’s largest source markets for visitors in Africa and South America. “Dubai is already a major business events destination for African businesses and now we are seeing increased leisure visitors from African countries. In Latin America too, our recently opened office in Brazil and increased direct flights have resulted in increased business and leisure visitors,” explained Hamad Bin Mejren, executive director, business tourism, DTCM.

WEEKLY NEWS

Accommodation

Shaza Hotels to Open Hotel at The Wave Muscat Shaza Hotels and Oman-based Taameer Investment are to open a new hotel at Muscat’s The Wave development. According to Simon Coombs, CEO, Shaza Hotels, the 190-room property is set to signify a new stage in the Sultanate’s hospitality offer and also marks the second project between the hotel company and Taameer Investment after a resort in Salalah which is expected to open within 24 months. The development follows Shaza Hotels’ recently announced projects in Doha, Amman and Jeddah. Ventures currently under negotiation include Dubai, Riyadh, Bahrain and Istanbul.

Simon Coombs

Tsogo Sun Enters Abu Dhabi Southern Sun Abu Dhabi has opened its doors, marking African hotel company, Tsogo Sun Hotels’ debut in the UAE capital. Located in the emirate’s business district, the 353room property offers various leisure facilities, including a reflection pond, rooftop gym and a selection of dining options. “With the launch of this new hotel, the group is ready to reenter the UAE hospitality market, building on the success of its previous projects in Dubai,” said Richard Weilers, chief operating officer, Tsogo Sun Hotels, saying that the full-service hotel embraces a vibrant theme, with a unique combination of traditional and contemporary design elements. “With spacious accommodation options, one-of-a-kind food and beverage outlets and warm and welcoming hospitality, Southern Sun Abu Dhabi makes an ideal choice for both vacationers and business executives alike,” he added.

Richard Weilers

Hilton Abu Dhabi Saadiyat Island Resort to Open in 2017 Hilton Worldwide has signed a management agreement with Bin Otaiba Investment Group, to introduce a Hilton Hotels & Resorts branded property on Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island. Slated to open at the end of 2015, the 366-room Hilton Abu Dhabi Saadiyat Island Resort will feature nine restaurants and bars, various event and meeting spaces, a health club, outdoor pool and a spa. Rob Palleschi, global head, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, said, “Hilton Hotels & Resorts continues to build on its strong foundation in the UAE and Abu Dhabi Saadiyat Island Resort is destined to be a worthy addition to our diverse portfolio of hotels across the country.”

17 MAY 2014

Accommodation

Ramada Hotel & Suites Ras Al Khaimah Unveiled

Ramada Hotel & Suites Ras Al Khaimah

17 MAY 2014

Dubai-based Global Hotels Management has signed a franchise agreement with Wyndham Hotel Group to introduce the Ramada brand to Ras Al Khaimah. Located on the northern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, the boutique hotel features 38 luxury suites, a variety of restaurants and a spa. Masood Hashim, CEO, Global Hotels Management, described the launch of the hotel as a significant milestone in the company’s expansion across the UAE, adding, “Ramada Hotel & Suites Ras Al Khaimah is committed to exceeding the expectation of our guests. We will put emphasis on our personalised customer care service. Guests will be welcomed and treated as part of our family so the property will be like their home away from home.”

WEEKLY NEWS

First Dubai Inn Hotel to Open in 2015 Dubai Inn, a joint venture of Meraas Holding and Emaar Properties targeting value-conscious leisure and business travellers, is to roll out its first phase of hotels in prime locations in Dubai. Work on the first property is set to commence shortly in the Zabeel area and is slated for completion in 2015. Four more hotels will follow to collectively supply over 1,700 new rooms and serviced residences. Dubai Inn is setting a clear differential in the market, Mohamed Alabbar, chairman, Emaar Properties, explained.

WEEKLY NEWS

Accommodation

Malia Group and Rotana: Management Agreement for Erbil Hotel Malia Group member Towerline Touristic, and Rotana Hotel Management Corporation have announced the signing of the management agreement for Erbil Arjaan by Rotana. Located in the city centre of Erbil, Iraq, the USD52 million property is a 20-storey mixed use comple, providing serviced offices and hotel apartments.

Selim El Zyr, co-founder, Rotana Hotel Management Corporation, commented, “We are confident that we will continue helping to nurture the hospitality sector in the country in line with what we did with the opening of our five-star Erbil Rotana. As the leading hospitality company in the region, we have great confidence that Erbil Arjaan by Rotana will be a success.”

Crowne Plaza Dubai Festival City Continues to Raise the Bar Marcus Sutton, hotel manager, Crowne Plaza Dubai Festival City, described the repositioning of the Crowne Plaza brand as a move to elevate the name in the global business travel segment. “Over the next few years we will make our brand stand out by introducing new and innovative hallmarks that truly set us apart from our competitors and deliver against the needs of our target guests. We are currently defining these ideas and will be rigorously testing them across the globe,” Sutton explained. According to Sutton, Crowne Plaza Dubai Festival City excels in the face of stiff competition, with the hotel’s team constantly staying ahead of the game. “There will always be new hotels opening in Dubai […] but being an established hotel with an established team focused on delivering a great experience cannot be bought,” he concluded.

17 MAY 2014

Accommodation

HMH Enters Budget Segment Capitalising on the rising demand for quality budget accommodation, Hospitality Management Holdings (HMH) has launched ECOS Hotels, a new brand designed for value-conscious travellers. As Laurent Voivenel, CEO, HMH, explained, ECOS Hotels ties together an economical and ecological concept. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have three different projects under consideration in the UAE and the first of these will be developed in Dubai. ECOS will serve as the ideal address for savvy budget-conscious business and leisure travellers looking for quality in terms of basics such as a good bed, shower and breakfast,â&#x20AC;? revealed Voivenel, adding that with its minimalist and practical design ECOS Hotels will prove a smart choice for investors.

ECOS Hotels

17 MAY 2014

WEEKLY NEWS

Rotana to Open 10 New Hotels Rotana Hotel Management Corporation is to add 10 new properties to its portfolio by 2020. The ventures comprise five openings in Dubai, including two hotels in the Creek district due to open in 2017. 2018 will see the launch of a 163-room property in Al Barsha, a 528-key hotel and a 100-unit apartment development property both in the Wafi area. In Iran four projects under the Rayhaan Hotels & Resorts by Rotana brand are set to open, with two introduced in Mashdad in 2017 and 2018, and two in Tehran in 2018. Other developments include new hotels in Khartoum, Sudan and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

WEEKLY NEWS

Air

Alkan Air Eyes Saudi Market

Alkan Air

Alkan Air has outlined plans to enter the fast-growing Saudi Arabian market with the aim to provide effective air taxi and charter services at the Kingdom’s airports, as Samar El Gamal, executive assistant, Alkan Air, revealed. Explaining that the company is focused on offering luxury services to VIPs from all over the world, El Gamal, added, “We provide maintenance services for all aircraft, and our professionally trained team is at our customers’ service 24/7 making sure that all issues are handled in a prompt and satisfying manner.”

flydubai to Take Off to Aden and Kandahar flydubai is set to launch a three-times-weekly service to Aden, Yemen starting August 1, and a twice weekly flight to Kandahar, Afganistan beginning July 25, bringing its network to 68 destinations. One of the three services to the Yemeni city will be operated via Djibouti, thus increasing flights to the East African country to six per week. Passengers to both destinations will have the chance to travel in the new business class which was inaugurated late in 2013. Commenting on the introduction of the new routes, Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO, flydubai, said, “We are pleased to announce the launch of flights to Aden and Kandahar. These additions to our network will create greater opportunity for travel and trade between these two countries and the UAE.”

flydubai

EGYPTAIR Moves Operations to HIA EGYPTAIR has announced plans to move its operations to Qatar’s new Hamad International Airport (HIA) on May 27. One third of the size of the capital city of Doha, HIA spans 22km², and is hailed as one of the most elaborate airport projects in the world. Its state-of-the-art design aims to set a new global standard in commercial aviation. With its dual runway system, the hub will have the capacity to handle up to 360,000 aircraft annually, approximately 2.5 times more than the city’s current airport.

17 MAY 2014

Air

NasJet Celebrates 15 Years of Success Saudi-based private jet operator NasJet is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. Hardy Sohanpal, head of marketing, NasJet, noted, “We have launched innovative products, which make private jet ownership much more accessible and cost efficient. Our fractional ownership programme has been very successful with clients who still want ownership but only want to own part of the asset. […] NasJet manages and operates this aircraft on behalf of the share owner, guaranteeing availability even when the fractional share owner’s aircraft is not available,” explained Sohanpal, adding that the company’s strategy for the next few years will focus on further growing its current managed fleet of 65 aircraft.

EGYPTAIR Serves Jakarta Nonstop EGYPTAIR’s first direct flight to Jakarta departed on April 14 using an Airbus A330-200 which accommodated 260 passengers. The airline will now operate four weekly nonstop services between Cairo and the Indonesian capital on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. This latest development from Egypt’s flag carrier comes in the line with the airline’s ambition to fly its customers to the largest number of nonstop destinations, and to open new markets supporting travel and tourism traffic. Located on the northwest coast of the island of Java, Jakarta is the country’s economic, cultural and political centre, and with a population of nearly 10 million, it is the most populous city in Indonesia.

EGYPTAIR

17 MAY 2014

WEEKLY NEWS

Qatar Airways to Debut A380 on London Heathrow From June 17, Qatar Airways’ Airbus A380 is to commence operations on the popular London Heathrow route from Doha’s new hub, Hamad International Airport (HIA). The new aircraft is the first of 13 on order, with a total of three A380 due to be received this summer. Featuring a tri-class configuration of seating in first, business and economy class, over two decks, the A380s is the largest passenger jet in the world and aims to provide a superior travel experience. HIA has been specially designed to handle A380 aircraft, with six contact gates catering specifically to the superjumbo. In addition, the maintenance hangar at HIA is able to accommodate two A380s simultaneously.

WEEKLY NEWS

Air

EGYPTAIR Moves to Heathrow’s Terminal 2 In a bid to apply the ‘Move under One Roof’ strategy, airline coalition, Star Alliance announced that London Heathrow’s new Terminal 2 (T2) will be the home for all of its member airlines, representing over 20 percent of the airport’s traffic. EGYPTAIR will start operating from T2 in September, following the official opening of the facility on June 23. This is the first time all of the group’s carriers will be flying into a single Heathrow Airport terminal, creating a superior travel experience for passengers, new business opportunities for the member airlines and providing an improved working environment for employees. The new purpose-built T2 was designed to better meet the needs of today’s air passenger with technology integrated into the experience.

Qatar Airways to Increase Capacity to Vienna Commencing on September 1, Qatar Airways will upgrade services on its Vienna route with the introduction of an Airbus A330 aircraft. The development will see the total number of weekly seats servicing the route increasing to 336 business class and 3,304 economy class seats. Günter Saurwein, country manager, Germany and Austria, Qatar Airways, said, “We are extremely pleased that we are now able to offer an increase in capacity by introducing the A330 to the route in order to help meet the growing needs of our passengers.”

Emirates to Start Serving Brussels From September 5, Emirates will commence a new daily service to Brussels, Belgium. “Our research has shown that there is high demand for this route from across our network, from both the business and public sectors as well as leisure travellers. Belgium operates an open and private enterprisebased economy and we expect this new service to further boost bilateral trade and commerce between the UAE and Belgium, which currently sits at around EUR4 billion (USD5.5 billion) per year,” said Tim Clark, president, Emirates.

Brussels

The new service is expected to greatly increase convenience and choice for the large number of Belgian consumers who currently have to travel via other airports to reach Dubai.

17 MAY 2014

WEEKLY NEWS

Air

Qatar Airways Gears up for HIA move The recently opened Hamad International Airport (HIA) is set to become Qatar Airways’ new home as of May 27. The national carrier has been operating out of Doha International Airport for 17 years, and Akbar Al Barker, CEO, Qatar Airways, believes that HIA’s state-of-the-art facilities set a new benchmark for airport excellence, and will enable the airline to offer passengers an unrivalled experience. Initially operating Concourses A, B and C, the airport will have the capacity to accommodate 30 million passengers annually, while the addition of Concourses D and E will enable the hub to handle 50 million travellers a year. Following the soft opening of the airport on April 30, 10 airlines are using HIA.

Air Arabia Starts Operations from RAK International Airport Air Arabia began operations from Ras Al Khaimah on May 6 with an official ceremony. Earlier the same day the carrier’s inaugural flight departed from RAK International Airport to Jeddah. The launch follows the recent establishment of an Air Arabia hub at the airport where two new Airbus A320s are now based after a strategic partnership signed between the carrier and Ras Al Khaimah’s Department of Civil Aviation (DCA). H.E. Sheikh Salem Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, chairman, Ras Al Khaimah DCA said, “We are marking another milestone in the UAE aviation success and growth journey. Our partnership with Air Arabia will allow us to increase the accessibility of Ras Al Khaimah to international passengers, whilst also increasing the flow of tourism to the UAE.”

17 MAY 2014

AGENT'S CORNER

AGENT’S INSIGHT NAME: Daniel Eid POSITION: Owner/general manger COMPANY: Eid Travel and Ebooking Center LOCATION: Lebanon WEB: www.eidtravel.com / www.ebookingcenter.com Who are you? Eid Travel is a travel agency which helps individuals and groups to organise their business trips, leisure retreats or family vacations. We offer all kinds of worldwide services such as ticketing, insurances, hotel reservations, and more. Ebooking Center is an online hotel booking system which focuses on business-tobusiness services. We work as a wholesaler for worldwide hotel bookings. What is your favourite thing about working in the travel industry? What draws me the most to the travel industry is the constant challenge to attract tourists to Lebanon, as well as introducing our market to different cultures around the world. When is the best time to visit Lebanon? Lebanon, with its four seasons, attracts visitors all-year-around. Its winter and snowy mountains attract ski lovers, its autumn and spring are perfect weather for all outdoor and nature activities, and its summer is a combination of beach, parties, concerts, and international events. Where would you like to travel to for your next holiday? For my next holiday my preferred destination would be a tropical one for some relaxation. Why should people come to you for travel advice? Both of our companies have tremendous advantages when it comes to holiday planning. We offer competitive rates in Lebanon’s hotels and tours, special promotions and packages, prompt assistance and efficiency, and a 24/7 support team. We also provide online access to more than 300,000 hotels worldwide with immediate availability and online confirmation. Last but not least, we have a very personalised offline service to meet all the clients’ needs and requests.

17 MAY 2014

Travelport Renews Distributor Agreement in Iraq Travelport has renewed its multiyear distribution partnership with Rawat-Al Hajer for technology and services in Iraq. The decision to continue the agreement comes after four successful years of partnership between the two organisations. Through this period, Travelport experienced rapid growth in Iraq making it the leading global distribution system provider in the country, while in 2013 the team opened a new office in Erbil to complement its presence in Baghdad. “Iraq remains a key region for us and this new agree-

ment reinforces Travelport’s commitment to this country and our passion for supporting travel agents here and throughout our Middle East network. We have enjoyed a very successful partnership with Rawat-Al Hajer over the past four years and their commitment to outstanding service in delivering our technology and services to the local travel agent community makes them a key partner in the region and an excellent representative of Travelport,” remarked Rabih Saab, president, Africa, Middle East and South Asia, Travelport

TRAVEL TALK

travel talk is your space

Layali Nashashibi

Hans Peter-Leitzke

Director of communications and public relations, Mövenpick Resort & Residences Aqaba.

Managing director, Rosewood Corniche, Jeddah.

“We greatly value [the Jordan Society of Travel and Tourist Agents’ Best Five-star Hotel] honour and view it both as an important milestone in Mövenpick’s journey in the country, and as recognition of our work within the tourism sector as a whole. This places an increased responsibility on us to continue to provide high quality services to our guests. By doing so, we expect to attract more tourists to the Kingdom and lengthen tourists’ stay.”

“This is the third year of our continuous support of Jeddah Autism Centre and these events [such as the recently organised ‘Light it up Blue’ initiative’] are always so fulfilling. We were glad to take part in such a fun and educative initiative, and will always do our best to show support and understanding to children with autism and their families. Autism is still a relatively unknown condition to many people in the Kingdom which is why raising awareness about it is so important.”

Kevork Deldelian General manager, Oryx Rotana Doha.

“In a region where it seems there is a new luxury fivestar hotel opening each month, Oryx Rotana Doha is pleased with the success of being named as the Best Airport Hotel in the Middle East [at the 2014 World Airport Awards]. The hotel has also maintained its third position in the World’s Best Airport Hotel global category. To deliver such exacting standards in one of the most competitive high-end hotel markets is no small achievement, and the management and staff are proud of their place.”

TRAVEL TALK is your space – this is a casual forum for travel industry professionals to discuss current issues and share stories. We want to hear from you, so send your comments, questions, and observations to editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel

17 MAY 2014

WHO'S MOVED

Mark Eletr Mark Eletr has taken the helm at Sir Bani Yas Island as Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; new cluster general manager of Desert Island Resort & Spa by Anantara as well as the recently opened Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Yamm Resort and Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Sahel Villa Resort.

In his new role, Eletr will be managing three properties in one destination, and he will also be overseeing the operations of Desert Islands Conference Centre, Desert Islands Watersports Centre, Sir Bani Yas Stables as well as the leisure activities in and round the Arabian Wildlife Park.

Anthony Tyler Anthony Tyler has been appointed general manager at Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh. Tyler comes to Saudi Arabia with a wealth of experience gained from international postings within the hospitality industry over the past 20 years. Prior to his move to the Kingdom, his career path saw him travel and work in destinations such as Switzerland, Jakarta, Hong Kong, Dubai and Bangkok, before joining the Four Seasons family in Kuala

17 MAY 2014

Lumpur 13 years ago. His food and beverage background then took him to Four Seasons Hotel Amman and Four Seasons Resort Maui before his promotion to resort manager at Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica. Most recently he worked as hotel manager in Chicago.

Tyler comes to Saudi Arabia with a wealth of experience

Linda Lewis Linda Lewis has been promoted to regional director of sales for Dubai and the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region at Jumeirah Group. With a long career in sales, Lewis has held various senior global roles with renowned companies, such as InterContinental Hotels Group.

She joined Jumeirah Group in 2010 as director of corporate sales in Dubai, and then worked as director of sales at Jumeirah Beach Hotel before becoming part of the commercial team. Prior to her new position, Lewis served as the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s global director of strategic partnerships and sales excellence.

TRAVEL CHANNELS IATA: Stronger Laws for Unruly Passengers

North American Real Estate Franchise Comes to Dubai

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has agreed on important changes to the Tokyo Convention 1963 at a diplomatic conference in Montreal.

IFA Hotels & Resorts (IFA HR), hailed as the largest foreign investor on the Palm Jumeirah, has been awarded the first Middle East master franchise agreement from North American real estate firm Keller Williams (KW). “With more than 2,000 keys handed over and more than 1,000 units still under development on the Palm Jumeirah, we have an in-depth understanding of the UAE real estate sector,” explained Khaled Esbaitah, CEO, IFA HR Middle East, saying that since its first investment almost a decade ago, the company has honoured its commitment to help the UAE build one of the world’s most desirable real estate markets.

he Tokyo Convention 1963 provides the legal framework for dealing with passengers whose unruly or disruptive behaviour leads to physical assault, or poses a threat to the safety of a flight. The changes, along with the measures already being taken by airlines, will provide an effective deterrent for unacceptable conduct onboard aircraft, said Tony Tyler, director general, IATA, adding that governments must follow up on the success of the diplomatic conference and ratify the new protocol. By extending the jurisdiction from the country of aircraft registration to the destination country, the protocol closes a loophole which allowed many serious offences to escape legal action, while the agreed changes give greater clarity to the definition of unruly behaviour.

Sharjah Science Museum Celebrates Science Day In line with Sharjah Museums Department (SMD)’s objectives to encourage learning and provide a suitable environment for creativity and development, Sharjah Science Museum celebrated its second Science Day between April 17 – 19. The three-day event, held at the facility’s premises, claimed to offer something of interest to all age groups and aimed at educating the public about various fields of science. Workshops and presentations were delivered by various well-known experts from the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture, Bee’ah, University os Sharjah, Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research, Wesgreen International School, Al Ahliya Private Schools, the Ministry of Interior, the Police Air Wing, Sharjah Police, Al Majd School, Omar bin Al Khattab School as well as Sanid. Science Day

17 MAY 2014

RENDEZVOUS

Q & A with Hameed Al Halwachi As Bahrain continues to forge ahead with plans to significantly increase the tourism industry’s contribution to the national GDP, Hameed Al Halwachi, managing director, Al Safir Hotel & Tower and chairman, Four Star Hotels & Resorts Committee, Bahrain, shares his views on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Travel Trade Weekly: Located in the vibrant Juffair district, Al Safir Hotel & Tower offers an ideal base for both business and leisure travellers. How has business been in the past few months?

Hameed Al Halwachi Managing director, Al Safir Hotel & Tower and chairman, Four Star Hotels & Resorts Committee, Bahrain

Hameed Al Halwachi: Business has shown positive signs since the beginning of the year and we do hope that it continues to remain stable. Travel Trade Weekly: As a board member of the country’s Four Star Hotels & Resorts Committee, you have firsthand knowledge of Bahrain’s hotel sector. In your opinion, what are the main challenges faced by the Kingdom’s hospitality industry? Hameed Al Halwachi: It is always a challenging task to be in such a position where all fourstar hotels are working together to improve the business strategies. Other challenges that are faced by the country’s hotel sector include the political situation, the need to have better MICE facilities and [the urge] to have stronger and better tourism plans. Things are changing but at a slow pace. There are many challenges ahead that need to be handled not only by myself but with the help of the other committee members. Travel Trade Weekly: What kinds of initiatives are being implemented by the committee to help the sector overcome these challenges? Hameed Al Halwachi: We are working as a committee on highlighting the importance of having better MICE facilities in the country.

17 MAY 2014

an attractive destination for visitors of all ages? Hameed Al Halwachi: These events not only put Bahrain as a nation in the limelight but also [support] other sectors. From the time these events are planned until and after they conclude, everyone reaps the benefits. I strongly believe these event help promote every bit of Bahrain. When we image ourselves as a country that has so much to offer, people carry that image in their minds and share their experiences with others, which is a self promotion by itself. Travel Trade Weekly: What are your expectations for the future? How do you see Bahrain’s hotel sector developing over the next five to 10 years?

Things are changing but at a slow pace In addition, the tourism sector is putting great efforts into highlighting the heritage of the country by holding events like the Spring of Culture festival and various other cultural activities with different countries performing and showcasing their cultural background, traditional dances and songs. This all helps us overcome our challenges as these activities generate business not only for the hospitality sector, but all sectors of the Kingdom. Travel Trade Weekly: In your opinion, how can these events help promote Bahrain as

Hameed Al Halwachi: The expectations are always high, first of all because I am a Bahraini and also a positive thinker. Demand is set to increase year after year and it is obvious that the hotel sector is also expected to grow accordingly. Travel Trade Weekly: Please tell us about your plans for the current year. Hameed Al Halwachi: We have recently completed the total facelift of our Al Safir Hotel property which is a modern and luxurious four-star business hotel offering services of a five-star property. Our next plan is to renovate the all-suiteTower property, with works set to be completed by May, so by the summer season is here, we will be ready to welcome our GCC families.

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