Middle East and North Africa Edition
Mövenpick AqAbA Mövenpick Resort and Spa Tala bay Aqaba has launched its second phase of operations with the opening of a standalone spa facility, Zara Spa.
Hotel and aviation investment in the Middle East and North Africa is on the rise. Recent aviation orders by Middle Eastern airlines have reached nearly USD10 billion. Similarly, hotel analysts say transaction volume is expected to double in the EMEA region over the next six months.
4 oil coSTS independent analysis by oxford economics has determined that the Deepwater Horizon oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico will cost the regional travel industry more than USD22.7 billion over three years.
6 In This Issue Market Update Accommodation News Air Travel News International News Agents’ Corner Travel Tips Travel Talk Who’s Moved Rendezvous Events JUlY 31, 2010
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Investment
Improvements
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TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY Deputy Editor laura Warne Journalist louis Dillon Savage
middle eastern Aviation Industry Commits to $10b in Orders Middle Eastern airlines dominated the orderbooks of GE Aviation and its joint venture partners CFM International and Engine Alliance at the recent Farnborough Air Show, signing nearly USD10 million worth of engine and services orders.
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e Aviation’s total global orders came to USD16 billion; David Joyce, ceo of Ge Aviation, said USD7.8 billion of that total was attributed to emirates. “The level of activity at the show demonstrates that the aviation industry is beginning to emerge from the economic downturn,” said Joyce. in addition to emirates, major orders were made by Air Arabia, Royal Jordanian and qatar Airways. etihad Airways has also finalised its purchase of 70 Genx-1b engines from Ge Aviation, which are intended to power the airline’s 35 boeing 7887 Dreamliner aircraft. Muhammad Al-lamadani, general manager for eastern europe, Middle east and ciS at
Ge Aviation pointed to the importance of the aviation industry in the Middle east. “Aviation continues to be one of the strong growth pillars of the region, powered by infrastructure development and the focus of the regional governments to strengthen airline connectivity to boost tourism and business,” said Al-lamadani.
(L-R) David Joyce, CEO of GE Aviation, with James Hogan, CEO of Etihad Airways
EMEA Hotel Investment to Accelerate MENA Exchange Rates Accurate as of 29/7/2010 currencies shown in red are fixed against the US Dollar COUNTRY 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)
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CURRENCY Dirham pound Riyal pound Dinar Dinar pound Dinar Riyal Rial Dinar Dirham Riyal Rial Dinar Dinar
1USD= 3.69 5.70 3.75 1501 0.37 0.70 46.6 0.29 3.64 0.38 1.46 8.55 9,995 224 73.87 1.28
Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels has released positive growth projections for the hotel investment market in europe, Middle east and Africa (eMeA). Transaction volume showed a six percent year on year increase in the first half of 2010, demonstrating that the investment market was starting to pick up. This growth is expected to double in the second half of the year, according to Mark Wynne Smith, ceo for eMeA at Jones lang laSalle. “The market conditions experienced over the first half of 2010 are reminiscent of what we saw in 2002,” he said. “The second half of 2002 saw a doubling of transaction volume and i anticipate that we will see a similar outcome over the remainder of this year.”
Wynne Smith acknowledged that there was still a sense of caution in the market. “The dynamics of the market have changed and deals are taking longer to complete, with both buyer and seller approaching negotiations with caution,” he said. “However, we are starting to see sellers acknowledge that buyers’ pricing is acceptable given the current economic climate, which is likely to drive increased deal volume as the year progresses.” Jones lang laSalle noted that many high leverage buyers had fallen out of the market, with 65 percent of hotel investments dominated by hotel operators, institutional investors and investment or private equity funds. JUlY 31, 2010
Abu Dhabi targets sustained tourism Growth Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) has reported strong growth figures in the first half of 2010, and announced plans for initiatives to encourage further tourism growth.
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bu Dhabi has declared intentions to target the Russian and commonwealth of independent States (ciS) markets, with plans to open a regional office. The office will be located in Moscow, the capital of Russia, but an opening date has yet to be disclosed. ADTA has also added facilities for tourism stakeholders to its website which will allow interested parties to apply for and book training programmes. According to ADTA, the courses are aimed at building long term destination competitiveness. The authority has set a goal of boosting overnight visitors to the emirate by an average of 10 percent in 2010,
compared to 2009. According to Mubarak Al Muhairi, managing director of ADTA, Abu Dhabi has already exceeded that goal for the first half of this year. “We are now well above our targeted annual growth of 10 percent and have seen double digit monthly growth since last november's staging of Formula 1 etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand prix,” he said. Abu Dhabi hotels have reported an average 16 percent improvement over 2009 visitor numbers, as well as revenue increases of 14 percent. According to ADTA, domestic tourism and travellers from the Uk have both been important contributors, with those two segments growing by 20 percent and 18 percent respectively.
We are now well above our targeted annual growth Mubarak Al Muhairi
Abu Dhabi
Saudi Tour Operators Positive about Domestic Tourism Packages A range of domestic tourism packages released by Saudi commission for Tourism and Antiquities (ScTA) has been well received by tour operators in the country, who say the packages will compete well with overseas offerings. Salah Aldeen Yaseen, executive director of inbound tourism, omra pilgrimage JUlY 31, 2010
and domestic tourism at Al Tayyar Group for Tourism and Travel, said inquiries by Saudi Arabian tourists had increased since the launch of the programme. “The initial indications show that the offers of domestic tourism for different destinations and provinces in
the kingdom of Saudi Arabia are getting positive attraction by tourists,” he said. He added that if the domestic tourism accommodation sector lowered its prices and operating costs, domestic trips would compete more favourably with international tourism packages. 3
- Accommodation
mövenpick’s Aqaba Resort Launches second Phase Mövenpick Resort and Spa Tala Bay Aqaba has opened a standalone spa facility, Zara Spa.
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he spa signifies the second phase of operation for the property, which opened in 2009. it is the second standalone spa to be managed by Mövenpick, following the celebrated Zara Spa at Mövenpick Resort and Spa Dead Sea, also in Jordan. The spa will feature 11 different types of treatment rooms and other facilities, spread over 1,200m². Hubert klemenz, general manager of Mövenpick Resort and Spa Tala bay Aqaba, said the facility would cater to
hotel guests as well as the general public. “The highly anticipated opening of the Zara Spa is a vital component of the resort experience, offering guests, both leisure and business, a truly authentic experience,” he said. The hotel, located in Tala bay, has also launched a regular shuttle bus service between the resort and Aqaba city, which is 15 minutes away.
Zara Spa is a vital component of the resort experience
Mövenpick Resort and Spa Tala Bay Aqaba
Swiss-Belhotel Signs Second Dubai Property, Targets 2011 Opening Swiss-Belhotel International has signed on to manage a three star property in Dubai, in collaboration with MT khoory Group. The hotel, Swiss-inn Al khoory Dubai, is expected to open in early 2011, with 212 rooms and suites. it will be located in Al bada, close to Dubai international Airport and World Trade centre. The hotel will bring Swiss-belhotel’s
Middle eastern portfolio to seven properties, with an additional four hotels in the pipeline for oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and the UAe. Gavin M Faull, international president of Swiss-belhotel, said the new signing was part of an aggressive expansion campaign. “The addition of this new property to the Swiss-belhotel international portfolio of hotels in the Middle east is an indication of the confidence our global international
hotel management company has in the Middle east region and a reflection of our belief in the growing Dubai tourism market,” he said. “Swiss-belhotel international is rapidly signing new hotels and projects and expects to achieve a portfolio of 100 hotels by early 2012.” The company, based in Hong kong, has regional offices in china, vietnam, indonesia, Australia and the UAe.
Rotana to Open First Qatar Property on August 1 Middle Eastern hotel group Rotana will launch its first property in Doha next week, with oryx Rotana scheduled to open its doors on August 1. The hotel will feature 400 rooms and suites. kevork Deldelian, general manager of the new property, said the hotel’s new management team had been drawn from a wide pool of global talent. “qatar being the latest hub in the region surely attracted our associates from all over the world,” said Deldelian. 4
“oryx Rotana’s multinational team of professionals is truly a valuable asset, with their long experience in the industry. “our aim at oryx Rotana is to provide a memorable Rotana experience to all Doha visitors and we are thrilled to be Oryx Rotana, Doha
the team who will open the first Rotana property in this vibrant city.” oryx Rotana will focus largely on business travellers, with nine meeting rooms, two ballrooms and a dedicated event hosting team.
We are thrilled to be the team who will open the first Rotana property in this vibrant city JUlY 31, 2010
- Air Travel
Gulf Air to Become First Gulf Carrier to Aden, Yemen Gulf Air has announced new routes, with plans to add Aden, Yemen and Colombo, Sri Lanka to its network. According to Samer Majali, CEO of Gulf Air, the carrier will be the first Gulf carrier servicing Aden.
“A
s the commercial capital of Yemen, Aden presents enormous opportunity for Gulf Air to establish itself in this new market,” Majali said. “The city has recently been included in the Yemen government’s development priorities with major plans to support the city’s trade zone, port, airport and private sector and by attracting promising investments.” Majali said new flights to colombo represented the revival of a long standing connection to Sri lanka. “colombo is not new for Gulf Air as we used to fly as far back as 1976 and until March 2005, and i am glad the time has come for us to re-connect with the capital of Sri lanka,” he said. He noted Sri lanka’s potential as a
destination, based on its attractions and existing ties to the Middle east. “besides being the country’s largest base for commerce and trade, colombo is also a popular tourist destination with its fabulous beaches and cultural attractions,” he said. “in addition, the re-commencement of service to colombo will be great news for the thousands of Sri lankan residents in bahrain as they now have a direct and
non-stop service to their country.” Flights to Aden via Sana’a will commence on September 22, four times per week. Five weekly flights to colombo will start on october 5.
As the commercial capital of Yemen, Aden presents enormous opportunity
Abu Dhabi International Airport Updates Boarding Pass Technology Abu Dhabi International Airport has become the first iATA certified platinum Airport in the Middle east, following the introduction of universal barcoding for boarding passes. According to Abu Dhabi Airports company (ADAc), the new barcoded boarding passes will streamline
passenger flows by allowing travellers to print their passes at home or at selfservice kiosks in the airport. James e bennett, ceo of ADAc, said the change would allow airlines to update their check-in processes as well. “Abu Dhabi Airports company is proud to be spearheading the adoption of new
technology in airports, as we engineer the best possible passenger experience,” he said. “With this new technology we are paving the way for airlines to issue boarding passes to passengers' mobile phones, providing further convenience and reducing the implicated environmental impact.” Through iATA, the aviation industry has set a target for universal barcoded boarding pass adoption by the end of 2010.
Abu Dhabi Airports Company is proud to be spearheading the adoption of new technology 6
JUlY 31, 2010
- Air Travel Middle East Airlines Adopts Customer Self Service Technology in Beirut Middle East Airlines has become the latest Middle eastern carrier to adopt automatic check-in, installing self-service kiosks in Rafik Hariri international Airport beirut. Adib chreif, head of the iT division at Middle east Airlines, said the kiosks would improve customer experiences at the airport.
“Middle east Airlines is strongly committed to provide a smooth and seamless travel experience for its passengers,” he said. “We are pleased to introduce the new self check-in kiosks from ieR, at Rafic Hariri beirut international Airport which simplify the check-in process for passengers and at the same time help to ease congestion during busy times.”
Egypt Winds Back Daylight Saving Time for Ramadan Following a decision by the egyptian cabinet, daylight saving time (DST) will be suspended in egypt throughout Ramadan. Times will change backwards by an hour, starting from 12am August 11, to be moved forward again at 12am, September 9. egyptair has issued a notification that all travellers and travel professionals should be aware of the change, so as to keep in sync with airline schedules. egypt has traditionally adapted DST timetables to accommodate Ramadan; in 2008, the government chose to end DST early for the holy month.
JUlY 31, 2010
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- International
Gulf of mexico Oil spill to Cost travel Industry $22.7b Over Three Years Independent analysis by Oxford Economics has determined that the Deepwater Horizon oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico will cost the regional travel industry more than USD22.7 billion over three years.
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xford economics studied the impacts of the 25 most recent natural and manmade disasters in the process of producing the figures. Adam Sacks, managing director of oxford economics USA, said timely marketing could reduce the impact by up to USD7.5 billion. “one of the most cost-effective ways to mitigate these damages is to immediately fund strategic marketing to counter misperceptions and encourage travel to the region,” he said. Roger Dow, ceo of the US Travel Association (USTA), affirmed the importance of managing public awareness of the event. “Travel is a perception business and the impact of disasters like the bp oil spill on the industry is actually predictable," he said. "We know from this research that the oil spill will have long term effects on businesses and jobs in the Gulf coast region unless we counteract the usual
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course of events with an unprecedented response.” The USTA’s recommendations for dealing with the crisis include: organising trade visits to the region for international buyers; opening an online public awareness portal; and providing tax relief for affected businesses. costs of addressing fallout for the travel industry have been estimated by the association at USD500 million. “We call on the federal government to immediately secure the USD500 million necessary to operate an effective marketing program and prevent billions of dollars in economic harm to the Gulf coast," said Dow. "it is not too late to save Gulf coast jobs and keep attracting the visitors that can prevent further damage to these vital American communities." The tourism industry on the Gulf coast employs an estimated 400,000 people in the states of Alabama, Florida, louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.
Rezidor Signs Third Park Inn in Nigeria Rezidor is continuing its expansion in nigeria, with the announcement of park inn lagos. kurt Ritter, ceo of Rezidor, said the hotel was part of a developing brand network in the country. “We are establishing a true park inn network in nigeria – after contracts in lagos, Abuja and Abeokuta this agreement is our third one and further underlines the importance of nigeria as a high potential emerging market for Rezidor,” he said. The hotel will include 135 rooms and will open in 2013 in the ikeja district of lagos, near the country’s primary international airport. Park Inn
Swissôtel Extends Network of Indian Properties Upmarket hotel chain Swissôtel has opened a new hotel in kolkata, india and has signed two further properties in the country. Swissôtel Gurgaon will open in the region of the national capital, new Delhi. According to Swissôtel, the property will also allow guests to access the attractions of the Jaipur region. The second property, Swissôtel Whitefield, will be located in the Whitefield district of bengaluru, which is famous for its high concentration of iT businesses both new properties are scheduled to open in 2013 and are being developed in partnership with the Xander Group equity firm. JUlY 31, 2010
Al Tayyar Travel Group’s Exclusive Pilgrimage Insurance Deal Al Tayyar Insurance Broker, a member of Al Tayyar Travel Group, has signed an exclusive agreement with the company for co-operative insurance to market, distribute and sell insurance policies for Hajj and Umrah tourism outside of Saudi Arabia. Dr nasser Al Tayyar, vice chairman of Al Tayyar Travel Group, said this was part of the company’s expansion plans. in 2000, Al Tayyar Travel Group received official permission from the Ministry of Hajj to organise and promote group Hajj packages. The company then became an authorised agent for Umrah in 2002. “We continue to strive to be one of the leading companies in the Saudi Arabian market,” he said. “This will be a new product that joins a bouquet of world class services of Hajj and Umrah for Muslims from all over the world, with the highest level of safety and quality.” Hamdi Abdulmajid, executive manager for Al Tayyar insurance broker explained that insurance services cover medical care, transportation costs in case of illness or accident and the cost of repatriating a body in case of death. “This insurance covers the traveller throughout the Hajj or Umrah and until he returns home; this allows all travellers peace of mind and security during their visit,” said Abdulmajid. The new service will be available from all branches of Al Tayyar Travel Group located outside of Saudi Arabia.
This will be a new product that joins a bouquet of world class services of Hajj and Umrah for Muslims from all over the world
Agent’s Insight Haipham Dahlan Manager, Dahlan Tour and Travel Company, Jordan Who is travelling to the Middle East right now? At the moment it is the “Arabs of ‘48”, which is the Arab population of israel. They come for concerts of Arabic pop music and also enjoy visiting Aqaba.
What makes a good travel agent? it’s the service. i think it’s about what you can offer; how you prepare the programmes, the staff, the itineraries and the guides.
When do you think business will return to predownturn levels? i think in Jordan there was a mistake when it came to dealing with the downturn. Hotels never modified their prices; since the market had its upturn a few years back, prices went up and stayed up. There was no strategy to counter the down-slope that the whole world experienced. because of this it became and remained very costly to visit Jordan. For things to return to the way they were, we can’t just wait for April and october for people to come, we need more equal distribution over the year. The same is true of our attractions. The ministry of tourism needs to understand that the whole country must be promoted, not just one region like petra.
Where do you take your own holidays? i like to go to europe and to egypt.
Why did you get involved in the travel industry? We got started 20 years ago when the market was a little bit different. We wanted to show Jordan and we had visitors who were asking on a private basis and enjoying their stays, so we decided to make a business of it.
For things to return to the way they were… we need more equal distribution over the year 10
JUlY 31, 2010
The Best of times, the Worst of times: How the economic slump can Help menA Destinations The global economic upheaval has defined the market over the last two years, with abundant speculation as to how it will aect the travel industry.
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ith the world recovering, but still shaken, the post downturn market has made consumers cost-conscious, giving inexpensive MenA destinations an opportunity to attract the leading european source markets. iTb’s annual Travel Trends Report, undertaken by ipk international, provides valuable insight into the behaviour of consumers in europe, who
JUlY 31, 2010
are responsible for much of the inbound tourism to the Middle east. in a trend that is predicted to continue, business travel was scaled back over 2009, with corporations adopting alternatives such as online teleconferencing to address their need for international meetings. The result was what ipk termed a collapse in premium travel, as business and first class tickets went unsold for want of business travellers. Despite the downturn, good news
emerged for the MenA region. According to the report, the leisure industry was the most resilient segment in 2009; and with travellers unwilling to sacrifice their summer holidays, sun and sand destinations fared relatively well. However, the comparative expense of traditional european getaways such as Spain and southern France has driven consumer eyes eastward, to Turkey, the eastern Mediterranean and north Africa.
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Christian H Muhr
Mubarak Al Muhairi
Cluster General Manager, Hilton Dubai Jumeirah Resort and Residence “We’re excited to commemorate our 10year anniversary and celebrate the contributions Hilton Dubai Jumeirah has made towards supporting Dubai’s position as a world class tourist destination. looking forward, 2011 will herald a new era for our hotel, with the opening of the 371 room Hilton Dubai Jumeirah Residence. This new entry will double our guest capacity and cater to the growing demand for short and medium term accommodation options, reaffirming our commitment towards superlative experiences for our guests and partners.”
Director General, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority “Abu Dhabi has become a more competitive marketplace than this time last year which is assisting in building our proposition within the international trade arena. in addition, the destination is attracting more tourism service providers with new watersport companies entering the market and developers now planning dedicated overnight stay desert camps.”
Mubarak Al Muhairi
2011 will herald a new era for our hotel
Abu Dhabi has become a more competitive marketplace than this time last year
Aamir Pervez General Manager, Corp Executive Hotel Apartments Al Barsha “The biggest reason that we have seen development in Al barsha is owing to its proximity to city’s main business and cultural attractions. it is an ideal location for hotels from an economic and touristic perspective. no doubt there is a lot of competition but eventually hotels that deliver quality product and service would succeed in the long run.”
[Al Barsha] is an ideal location for hotels from an economic and touristic perspective Corp Executive Hotel Apartments
Christian H Muhr
Travel Talk is your space – this is a casual forum for travel industry professionals to discuss current issues and share stories. We want to hear from you, so send your comments, questions, frustrations and observations to editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel 12
JUlY 31, 2010
Georges Van Gool
Eihab Shehadeh
Rezidor Hotel Group has appointed Georges van Gool as director of corporate sales, based in the Dubai global sales office. van Gool has more than 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry and has worked in sales and marketing roles at Starwood, Rezidor and intercontinental Hotels Group. His most recent position was assistant director of sales and marketing at Holiday inn vienna South. in his new role, van Gool will profile regional and international corporate accounts in the Middle east and will develop corporate production, working with global sales representatives in kuwait, qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. He holds a degree in tourism and hotel management.
landmark Amman Hotel and conference centre has promoted eihab Shehadeh to director of sales and marketing. Shehadeh has more than 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry. He has worked across the industry for intercontinental Hotels Group, Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts, le Méridien Amman and burj Al Arab, Dubai.
Georges Van Gool
Oryx Rotana Doha Opening Team Rotana has appointed a management team for its first qatar property, opening this week in Doha. kevork Deldelian will lead the team as general manager, bringing with him 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Deldelian has previously worked for a range of intercontinental Hotel Group brands, including intercontinental Al Ahsa in Saudi Arabia and crowne plaza Muscat in oman. Most recently, he worked as director general of the real estate portfolio and hospitality division of lk Finance inc in canada. oryx Rotana’s management team also includes: Ursula chidiac as executive assistant manager; lisa Tahabsem as director of marketing
and communications; Dominique Jossi as director of food and beverage; Gabriele Ferola as director of sales; and imene Mrad as director of human resources.
Kevork Deldelian
Mafraq Hotel, Abu Dhabi Pre-Opening Team Mafraq Hotel, Abu Dhabi has made several appointments to its pre-opening management team. Salem Shamseddin has been named assistant director of sales. Shamseddin has 15 years of
Salem Shamseddin 14
experience in the industry. Sam Majari will take on the role of human resources manager. Majari has eight years of management experience in human resources, working across several
Sam Majari
Manar Etallis
multinational chains. Manar etallis has been appointed branding and marketing executive and Tatyana Sobotovich has been named as personal assistant to the general manager.
Tatyana Sobotovich JUlY 31, 2010
Q&A with Jason Harding Jason Harding is general manager at The Palace – The Old Town in Dubai. The hotel has undergone several changes in its relatively short life, adapting to new management with The Address Hotels and Resorts, as well as taking stock of its position in one of Dubai’s fastest growing areas. Travel Trade Weekly: What sets your hotel apart from others in Dubai? Jason Harding: The palace - The old Town is situated near burj khalifa, the world’s tallest building in Downtown Dubai, described as the new heart of Dubai. The five star premium hotel, owned and managed by The Address Hotels and Resorts offers prime views of the Dubai Fountain, the world’s tallest performing fountain. it is also directly connected to the Souk Al bahar, a modern shopping destination with Arabesque architectural features and is in close proximity to The Dubai Mall. From an architectural perspective, it is perhaps the first and only one of its kind – a luxury resort development in the heart of the city celebrating the finest Arabian architectural traditions. From the use of materials to the architectural style, all aspects reflect the region’s rich heritage.
Travel Trade Weekly: How has the property changed since The Address took over its management in 2008? Jason Harding: With The Address Hotels and Resorts acquiring operation of The palace – The old Town, the first consideration was to align the hotel with the key differentials of the brand – namely, offering superior customer service and ensuring tangible guest benefits. This outlook permeates across all aspects of the hotel’s operation, thus offering significant value to customers.
Travel Trade Weekly: Has the new Armani Hotel in Burj Khalifa created greater competition in this area? Jason Harding: Armani Hotel Dubai is a one of its kind property in the world and caters to a very niche market. JUlY 31, 2010
From our perspective, each of our properties has a distinct character and identity that appeal to our customers.
Travel Trade Weekly: What are the most important challenges you have faced over the past 18 months and how have you addressed these issues? Jason Harding: like all global economies, the Gulf region was impacted by the challenges of the global economic crisis. Tourism and hospitality – two of the main drivers of the economy – naturally faced challenges. However, passenger traffic at Dubai international Airport crossed 40 million in 2009 – an indication of the robust performance of tourism and the hospitality sector. The palace – The old Town has benefited from the influx of tourists, marking a positive effect on our occupancy levels.
The expansion of regional airlines, including Emirates, to new destinations is a catalyst for the tourism and hospitality sector Travel Trade Weekly: What, if any, changes could be made to improve the tourism industry in Dubai? Jason Harding: Dubai is now a preferred tourist destination for several new and emerging markets in the MenA region, the indian subcontinent, china and europe. The expansion of regional airlines, including emirates, to new destinations is a catalyst for the tourism and hospitality sector. Dubai has always given visitors a warm
Jason Harding
welcome and with attractive offers such as Dubai Summer Surprises and many more the city is one of the world’s most preferred destinations. We believe that the Dubai Government and its various agencies are taking concerted efforts to boost the tourism industry.
Travel Trade Weekly: What advice would you give to travel agents attempting to sell Dubai as a destination in the current climate, either to regional or international visitors? Jason Harding: Most Gulf countries are focusing on diversifying their economies and tourism and hospitality is one of the key pillars in this diversification thrust. Also, the Gulf region is increasingly popular globally as a must-visit tourism destination with the addition of several world-class accomplishments like burj khalifa, the world’s tallest building, and The Dubai Mall, the world’s largest mall – both in Dubai. These achievements are to be underscored by travel agents to tourists in the region and internationally. 15
Bahrain International Air Show 2012 to Build on Inaugural Event’s Success Bahrain Airport Company has signed on as a major player in the upcoming bahrain international Airshow 2012 (biAS 2012), following the success of the country’s inaugural biAS earlier this year. kamal Ahmed, chairman of bahrain Airport company, said the show would supplement the company’s efforts to promote bahrain as an international aviation hub.
“We are pleased to be amongst the first to confirm our participation in this major event, as it creates the ideal platform to showcase the progress of our development plans for bahrain international Airport and the national aviation industry as a whole,” said Ahmed. “our goal is to transform the airport into a regionally renowned and globally competitive player within the industry.”
Our goal is to transform the airport into a regionally renowned and globally competitive player within the industry
events Dubai Summer Surprises Dubai, UAE, June 17 - August 7 (www.mydsf.ae) Major shopping and entertainment event covering various venues across Dubai, specifically targeting family holidays during summer. Summer in Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, UAE, June 24 – August 4 (www.summerinabudhabi.com) Festival of family entertainment events covering eight venues across Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, featuring performers from more than 15 countries. Medical Tourism and Global Healthcare Conference Los Angeles, US, September 22-24 (www.medicaltourismconference.com) Forum for the global medical and wellbeing tourism industry. Outdoor Adventure Dubai Dubai, UAE, October 8-10 (www.outdooradventuredubai.com) Adventure sports, outdoor clubs, equipment specialists and holiday destinations. GITEX Technology Week Dubai, UAE, October 17-21 (www.gitex.com) Technology solutions for hotels, businesses and consumers.
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Hotex Fair Syria Damascus, Syria, October 19-22 (www.hotexfair.com) Fair for Arabic and foreign companies in tourism and travel, including hotels, restaurants and equipment suppliers. World Travel Market London, UK, November 8-11 (www.wtmlondon.com) Global event for the travel industry – four day business to business event promoting a range of destinations and industry sectors to international travel professionals. World Green Tourism Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi, UAE, November 22-24 (www.worldgreentourism.ae) inaugural eco-tourism exhibition, featuring tourism authorities, urban city planners, hotels and resorts, property developers, airlines, tour operators, green product suppliers, universities, museums and heritage site organisations. Blossom Japan Tokyo, Japan, January 18-21,2011 (www.blossomjapan.com) A new invitation-only luxury travel exhibition focusing on the Japanese market.
JUlY 31, 2010