TTM october issue 12

Middle East and North Africa Edition

EXPLORE: OMAN Oman sits at the easternmost tip of the Arabian Peninsula; an outpost on the Indian Ocean that has served as a summer retreat for regional travellers for thousands of years. Today Oman is still a regional favourite and has implemented solid strategies to encourage further development while sustaining the country’s charms.

As a business destination, Kuwait has been a successful pioneer in the Middle East region. However, while most operators agree that the country would benefit from an increase in leisure tourism, government initiatives in this area have been slow to develop.

With new forecasts predicting tourism growth in the country will slow over the next decade, Kuwait needs to find a way to stay in the game.

10 WILDLIFE TRAVEL Viewing exotic animals in their native environments is perhaps one of the greatest rewards of international travel. As consumers have become more aware of the threats to many species, the impetus for wildlife travel has become stronger. Increased interest in the natural world has had a range of effects on the tourism industry, both directing consumer flows and changing the focus of many travel industry operators.

13 In This Issue MARKET UPDATE INVESTIGATION: Spas VISIT: Kuwait EXPLORE: Oman LONG HAUL: Canada EXCLUSIVE: Wildlife Travel TRAVEL TALK TRAVEL TIPS ONSITE: Philippines TOUR: Norway WHO’S MOVED RENDEZVOUS NEWS & EVENTS OCTOBER 2010

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Kuwait

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TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY Deputy Editor Laura Warne Journalist Louis Dillon Savage Design & Layout Elina Pericleous Sales & Marketing Marianna Tsiamas Evelina Hadjigeorgiou Directors Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi Headquarters P.O. Box 25255 Nicosia 1308 Cyprus Tel: +35722820888 Fax: +35722318958 Website www.traveltradeweekly.travel Emails info@traveltradeweekly.travel editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel sales@traveltradeweekly.travel Printed in Cyprus Cyprint Plc P.O. Box 58300 CY-3732, Limassol Cyprus Tel: +35725720035 Fax: +35725720123 Email: cyprint@cytprint.com.cy

MENA Exchange Rates Accurate as of 27/9/2010 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

Tripled Profits Still Too Low, IATA Warns, and 2011 Will Be Worse International Air Transport Association (IATA) has positively revised its 2010 outlook for the second time this year, but warns that margins remain too narrow for comfort.

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n June, IATA projected a return to profitability for the global airline industry as a whole, albeit at a margin of only 0.5 percent (USD 2.5 billion).

The body has now more than tripled that estimate, predicting an overall profit margin of 1.6 percent (USD8.9 billion).

Giovanni Bisignani, CEO explained that these estimates, while positive, were not necessarily signs of a long-term turnaround for the industry.

“A reality check is in order,” he said.

“There are lingering doubts about how long this cyclical upturn will last.”

Bisignani said the profits were balanced against losses of more than USD50 billion in the past decade.

He said that the upswing still placed airlines below the level of previous cyclical highs and that narrow margins continued to present a problem to the industry.

“Even if it is sustainable, the profit margins that we operate on are so razor thin that even increasing profits 3.5 times only generates a 1.6 percent margin,” he said.

“This is below the 2.5 percent margin of the previous cycle peak in 2007 and far below what it would take just to cover our cost of capital.”

IATA has already issued forward projections for 2011, which show a less optimistic outlook than this year.

The association projects a renewed decline in profit, estimating profits of only USD5.3 billion.

According to IATA, many world economies 1USD= 3.69 5.70 3.75 1501 0.37 0.70 46.2 0.29 3.64 0.38 1.44 8.32 1278 215.4 74.7 1.25

are still affected by high rates of joblessness, a factor that is expected to depress the demand for travel, despite a post recession bounce that has driven higher profits in 2010.

Further, a well stocked delivery timeline of aircraft will motivate airlines to add capacity beyond projected traveller demand, IATA reported.

The Middle East, along with Asia and South America, has been picked as an exception to global trends and regional carriers were helped in 2010 by an increased share of the long haul market.

However, Bisignani warned that strength in those regions would not be sufficient to buoy the industry as a whole.

A reality check is in order Giovanni Bisignani

Accor to Sell Stake as Lucien Barriere Launches IPO Accor has affirmed its intention to divest its stake in French luxury hotel company, Groupe Lucien Barriere.

Groupe Lucien Barriere operates a range of hotels under its own luxury Barriere brand (including one in Marakech, Morocco), plus the Pullman and Mercure brands, stand alone hotels and several casinos.

Accor’s pullout comes in the context of Groupe Lucien Barriere’s recently announced initial public offering and Accor’s own restructuring scheme.

Accor’s shareholders voted in July to separate the hospitality and services arms of the company.

As part of the demerger, the hospitality wing, which has retained the Accor name, adopted the majority of outstanding debt.

The Lucien Barriere stake sale comes as part of a wider asset sale planned to pay for the debt.

Accor estimates its stake to be worth a maximum of 17,511,725 shares and expects to receive returns of between EUR16.10 (USD21.54) and EUR19.60 (USD26.23) per share.

OCTOBER 2010

- Spas

Healing and Dealing in Middle East’s Wellness Industry After a slump in 2009, spa tourism in the Middle East has bounced back in a big way. First quarter 2010 results from Ernst and Young show a 70 percent increase in spa treatment revenues at Dubai hotels compared to the same time last year, with a 62 percent increase in the number of treatments booked. Hotel and spa managers have pointed out that the industry is diversifying and placing greater focus on holistic wellness packages, rather than standalone traditional treatments.

Laura Warne writes

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nce seen simply as an extended relaxation facility for in-house hotel guests, the Middle Eastern spa industry has changed dramatically in recent years, with destination spa resorts and standalone facilities populating the hospitality landscape in the region.

According to Ravi Chandran, managing director of spa operations at Banyan Tree, the Middle Eastern tourism industry is riding high on the continued growth and publicity of the global spa and wellness sector.

“Current travel trends reveal a convergence of health, travel and hospitality,” said Chandran.

“The spa industry is emerging to fulfil these needs by embracing wellness and focusing on experiences.

“Discerning guests are increasingly visiting spas for holistic wellness and pampering on top of basic relaxation.”

Performance Ernst and Young's analysts believe that an emphasis on operational and business improvement, plus increased attention to retail sales, could push the growth seen in the first quarter of 2010 even higher over the coming year.

According to the firm’s Spa Benchmark Survey Report, Dubai beach hotel spas performed better than those in city hotels on almost all fronts, including revenue per treatment sold and retail revenue.

Banyan Tree water treatment room

However, city hotels had a higher percentage of treatments booked by non-hotel guests (47.8 percent compared to 34.6 percent at beach hotels).

According to Ernst and Young, retail revenue sales remain an under-exploited component of spa operations at both city and beach outlets.

First quarter figures showed that retail sales accounted for 10.6 percent of total spa revenue at Dubai hotel spas.

City hotel spas consistently recorded lower retail revenues compared to beach hotel spas (6.8 percent of total revenue compared to 12.9 percent at beach hotel spas.

"With improvements in spa performance ... it would benefit spa operators to apply increased attention to sales efforts with the goal of maximising profits from this high-margin revenue stream," stated Ernst and Young's Dubai based authors of the Spa Benchmark Survey Report.

Diversification Godfrey Vas, incoming manager of Six Senses Hideaway, Zighy Bay in Oman, pointed out that the global spa industry was still experiencing rapid expansion,

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with diversification the new buzzword for spa managers.

"In the old days, spa treatments just meant massage – now it's about wellness, Reiki, breathing exercises...” explained Vas. “There's no end to it – raindrop massages, acupuncture, acupressure – and it's everywhere now.”

He added that clients were becoming more interested in cross treatments that utilised traditional spa treatments from a variety of different cultures.

Just as you have fusion cuisine, I think you are going to see more fusion spas "Before, maybe you had Chinese treatments, Indian Ayurvedic treatments (which used to be considered too messy, but now everyone is doing it), and you may have had Japanese traditional treatments, etc," said Vas. "Now all the different treatments are coming together and being incorporated by all cultures.

"Just as you have fusion cuisine, I think you are going to see more fusion spas."

Banyan Tree’s Chandran agreed, adding that continual rejuvenation was essential for success.

“In the spa tourism industry, we are constantly faced with increased competition from both local and international operators, prompting the need for differentiation through constant innovations, strong and unique branding,” he said.

OCTOBER 2010

- Spas Staff training and culture was another key factor, he added, pointing out that all Banyan Tree spa therapists undergo an average of 300 hours of training at the company’s in-house academy.

“As we are growing global chain, one of our priorities is to inculcate a Banyan Tree service culture and corporate identity across all our associates,” Chandran said.

It would benefit spa operators to apply increased attention to sales efforts Hot Topics According to Six Senses' Vas, Ayurveda is one of the latest traditional therapies to see renewed interest from the global spa industry.

The traditional Indian medicine system has a range of spa applications, including massage, as well as more holistic treatments that address diet and lifestyle.

Thalassotherapy is another spa therapy that has seen a resurgence in recent years.

The French treatment originated in the

OCTOBER 2010

nineteenth century and advocates the use of seawater in a variety of applications to promote improved health.

With the notable exception of the Dead Sea region, traditional Thalassotherapy centres are somewhat thin on the ground in the greater Middle East region.

However, some areas of North Africa, long popular with French tourists, have capitalised on the treatment; according to its national tourist office, Tunisia ranks a global second after France in the field of Thalassotherapy treatments.

Fresh water spa treatments are also on the rise.

Banyan Tree recently introduced its Rainforest concept – first launched in 2008 at Banyan Tree Spa Sanya in China – to the Banyan Tree Al Wadi property in Ras Al Khaimah.

Claiming to be the first and only complete hydrothermal spa experience in the UAE, the Rainforest is an experiential circuit, featuring hot and cold shower elements, salt scrubs, steam and sauna facilities, an ice igloo and hammam.

Spanning 2,080m2, the Banyan Tree Al Wadi facility is the largest Rainforest circuit in the global Banyan Tree portfolio of spas.

According to Chandran, the Asian therapies that Banyan Tree offers have been well received by the GCC market, with Thai-trained therapists a key selling point for the brand.

“The focus on the spa and holistic wellness industry in the GCC is key to our expansion in the region,” he said.

He flagged five new Banyan Tree and Angsana branded projects slated to open by 2013 in Abu Dhabi, Oman and Egypt.

Recognising the growing popularity and earning potential of the industry, the inaugural Middle East Spa Awards were held earlier this year as part of The Hotel Show in Dubai.

Bliss Spa at W Hotel Doha took out top honours at the awards, topping three categories, including best spa, best spa marketing and best spa design.

Ray Tinston, sales director of The Hotel Show, said the awards reflected the substantial growth of the spa sector within the region.

With new properties on the way and competition increasing, the spa industry is on track to cement its place as a key driver of tourism to the Middle East. n

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- Kuwait

Economic Fortress Faces Tourism Slowdown As a business destination, Kuwait has been a successful pioneer in the Middle East region. However, while most operators agree that the country would benefit from an increase in leisure tourism, government initiatives in this area have been slow to develop. With new forecasts predicting tourism growth in the country will slow over the next decade, Kuwait needs to find a way to stay in the game.

Laura Warne writes Kuwait City

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ith a wealth of oil reserves and the highest valued currency in the world, tourism has traditionally been little more than a by-product of Kuwait’s international trade relationships.

Compared to other countries in the region, Kuwait has neglected to develop strong tourism infrastructure and is almost completely devoid of leisure tourism attractions.

While some sources insist the government is now taking a serious interest in the industry, recent data suggests the move may be too late to prevent a significant drop in tourism growth.

World Travel and Tourism Council figures predict a slump in tourism employment, contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) and real GDP growth over the coming 10 years.

While Kuwait’s tourism industry currently accounts for 4.5 percent of GDP and 4.3 percent of total employment, these figures are expected to fall to four percent and 3.6 percent respectively by 2020.

However, export earnings from international visitors and tourism goods are expected to rise, along with tourism investment in the country.

By 2020, travel and tourism investment is expected to reach USD4.13 billion, representing 7.6 percent of total investment in Kuwait.

Despite these sobering predictions, Alain Debare, general manager of Action Hotels, said current business in Kuwait was buoyant, even if the country was pursuing a more subdued pace than some of its Middle Eastern neighbours.

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Kuwait in Brief Capital: Kuwait City Language: Arabic Currency: Kuwaiti Dinar (KD)

Kuwait offers only limited opportunities ... unless the government takes tourism seriously and creates an infrastructure that will enable it to compete with the other GCC countries “While Kuwait is clearly developing, it’s not over developing – which, among other things, means that there aren’t cranes everywhere,” said Debare.

“There are also projects in place to increase Kuwait’s appeal as a leisure destination, although not much has been completed yet.”

Debare pointed out that, despite several historic setbacks, Kuwait has traditionally been an ambitious and savvy member of the Middle Eastern community.

“Kuwait has been at the forefront of many issues and at certain times has been ahead of the game,” he said.

While the country suffered severe social, environmental and economic damage during the 1990 Iraq invasion, Kuwait has recovered almost completely to become one of the world’s richest nations.

Kuwait Towers

Business as Usual According to Helmut Meckelburg, CEO of Safir International Hotel Management, Kuwait’s national priorities over the past few decades have differed to those of more popular destinations in the region, with tourism often taking a backseat to more pressing concerns.

“Kuwait has always been a business destination; it was never a tourism destination like Oman or the UAE,” said Meckelburg.

“Recently, there have been discussions in the government to start promoting Kuwait for international tourism, however no clear plans have emerged except for the development of Failaka Island with parks, attractions and hotels.”

OCTOBER 2010

- Kuwait Kuwait has always been a business destination; it was never a tourism destination Meckelburg pointed out that there was a long way to go before Kuwait would see the full completion of planned offshore leisure developments, including Failaka Island, and added that the country still faced a range of other challenges.

“While the infrastructure in Kuwait is generally acceptable, one cannot really say that it would be [suitable for] a tourism destination for larger markets,” he said.

“One also needs to consider its geographical location – close to Iraq – which will not help to promote tourism on a grander scale.

“Obviously there has to be a strong focus on developing tourism and with many other challenges in this very rich but small country, other priorities will understandably take the top spots.”

After an initial public offering in 2006, Wataniya Airways launched in January 2009; the airline currently flies to 12 destinations across the Middle East and Europe, offering first class and premium economy services.

Wataniya has recently announced an expanded winter schedule for 2010 and 2011, designed to improve services to popular routes such as Sharm El Sheikh, Vienna (direct and via Beirut), Bahrain and Amman.

Lee Shave, chief commercial officer for Wataniya Airways, said the new schedule reflected growing demand for the airline’s services.

“Vienna, in particular, has been a great success for us and our guests are using it as their entry point to connect to many other cities in Europe and beyond,” he said.

Wataniya’s chief local competitor, Jazeera Airways, launched in late 2005, pioneering the budget airline concept in the Middle East.

Action Hotels’ Debare said his company has forged a strong relationship with Jazeera Airways, capitalising on synergies between the low cost carrier and Action’s budget and midscale hotel brands, such as ibis.

“We use their planes and they use our hotels,” explained Debare.

Aviation Shake-Up Kuwait’s government-run national airline, Kuwait Airways Corporation, is in the process of privatisation, after operating at a loss for nearly two decades.

The struggling airline has faced strong competition over the past few years from two local newcomers to the market.

Following the government’s liberalisation of aviation services in 2005, low cost carrier Jazeera Airways and premium service carrier Wataniya Airways now operate out of Kuwait.

Kuwait City OCTOBER 2010

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- Kuwait In August, data from Kuwait’s Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGCA) showed that, despite strong competition among the country’s three airlines, Jazeera had dominated the market during the 2010 summer months.

The airline continued its existing lead in market share on all Jazeera routes except Kuwait-Jeddah and Kuwait-Riyadh (a Jazeera spokesperson explained that the government restricted the number of seat allocations on these Saudi Arabian routes).

Hotel Industry According to Bruno Debray, general manager of Ibis Salmiya and the new Ibis Sharq, Kuwait’s hotel sector is still dominated by upscale business properties.

“There are some budget properties, but they are not branded and international travellers need products that they recognise and can trust,” said Debray.

“However, demand is growing and we will definitely see more.”

Meckelburg agreed that supply was on the rise, although he admitted that Safir Hotels, which has four existing hotels in Kuwait, was focusing its future expansion on the greater GCC region and beyond.

“I like to say that the hotel-scape in Kuwait reminds me in many ways of that existing in Dubai in the early 1990s,” he said.

“The difference is that the hotels in Dubai were substantially better suited to attract tourism than those in Kuwait – and that was 15 years or more ago.

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Safir Marina Hotel

There are also projects in place to increase Kuwait’s appeal as a leisure destination, although not much has been completed yet “The Kuwait market is indeed very different and seems to be somewhat accepting of the fact that during certain times of the year, rates and occupancies are low.

“I am sure all hoteliers would like to change this, however, with no incentive to visit Kuwait other than for business, there is not much they can do.”

Meckelburg said the catalyst for changing this reality would be the arrival of newer and more aggressive hotels, featuring more sophisticated and innovative products.

He added that while there was a disparate increase in supply compared to demand, it was not as extreme as in other GCC countries.

InterContinental Hotels Group has expressed a commitment to Kuwait’s future as a key business destination and currently has two properties in the pipeline for the country.

First up, InterContinental Kuwait City is slated for 2011, offering 200 rooms, including 20 suites.

This property will be followed by InterContinental Kuwait Downtown in early 2013, which will add a further 200 rooms to the brand’s portfolio.

Both hotels will feature three food and beverage outlets, as well as meeting facilities and a banquet hall.

Kuwait’s own Action Hotels group is opening its latest Kuwait property, Ibis Sharq, this month and has another in the pipeline – Novotel Mina Abdullah is set to open in 2012.

With a number of hotel projects still in the development stage and high level government discussions allegedly underway, many operators in Kuwait are playing a game of wait-and-see on the tourism front.

Opinions are mixed as to whether the country is committed enough to reach a competitive level in the region, particularly when it is so far behind its chief opponents.

“Kuwait is a small market and offers only limited opportunities for hotel development and rewarding management engagement unless the government takes tourism seriously and creates an infrastructure that will enable it to compete with the other GCC countries,” explained Meckelburg.

He concluded that success would be dependent on attracting the right partners, know-how and tools, as well as ensuring that all stakeholders share the sincere will to develop a strong and sustainable tourism industry in Kuwait. n OCTOBER 2010

- Oman

Tourism Gold, Frankincense and More Oman sits at the easternmost tip of the Arabian Peninsula; an outpost on the Indian Ocean that has served as a leasure spot for regional travellers for thousands of years. The Queen of Sheba is said to have chosen Oman as her summer retreat, and the purported remains of her palace still stand at Salalah in the country’s south. Today Oman remains a regional favourite and has implemented solid strategies to encourage further development while sustaining the country’s charms.

Louis Dillon Savage writes Wadi Bani Khalid

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ike all the Gulf states, Oman has seen a surge of economic development in recent times.

The country is heavily dependent on relatively limited oil reserves: reserves that place the country at only 25 on the list of world oil producers.

The government has rolled out an ambitious development programme aimed at diversifying Oman’s economy, with free zones, port developments and tourism projects springing up around the country.

At the moment, the country remains underdeveloped as a modern tourism destination.

Although the capital, Muscat, is well supplied with international hotels and the country boasts a long coastline, the number of popular tourism sites in Oman remains limited.

Alain Debare, general manager of Action Hotels, which has a number of projects underway in Oman, said most tourists to the country were interested only in Salalah and Muscat.

However, he praised the way that tourism was being developed in Oman.

“I think they are really doing everything right,” he said.

“They are focused on sustainability and everything is well controlled: you aren’t seeing overexpansion here.”

Debare said the country was well supplied with internationally branded hotels at the higher end of the market, but noted a lack of choice in the budget sector.

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“You have some very nice hotels here, like the Shangri La, or Hyatt and InterContinental,” he said.

“But our Ibis, which we opened last year, is the only internationally branded budget hotel in Muscat.”

Domestic Connectivity One problem for the nation is a lack of rapid transit options for tourists looking to explore the country.

Only three commercial airports are currently operating, and in a country larger than Italy, the dearth of runways is a major concern.

Godfrey Vas, new general manager at Six Senses Zighy Bay, pointed out that the distances between airports were great enough to make visiting his hotel from neighbouring countries more viable than from Oman’s own capital.

“Geographically, we are in Oman, but logistically, we are in Dubai,” he said.

“This is because we are a two hour drive from Dubai, but a four and a half hour drive from Muscat, and the airport is six hours away.”

Oman Airports Management Company is pursuing a number of regional airport projects, strategically linked to sites of economic or touristic development.

The first to become commercially available will be Adam Airport, near the oasis town of the same name in the Dakhiliyah region.

The facility has already received its first flights and its passenger terminal is planned for completion in 2012.

Soha, 200km north of Muscat, is also home to

Oman in Brief Capital: Muscat Language: Arabic Currency: Omani Rials (OMR)

SAHWA Clocktower, Muscat City Centre

the country’s fastest growing industrial zone. It is the site of one of the world’s largest port developments and an international airport is under construction to service the area.

Ras al Hadd Airport will be located near the town of Sur on the eastern cape.

The region attracts thousands of visitors for the annual turtle hatching event and has been chosen for an airport as part of a wider plan to develop eco-tourism along the east coast.

Finally, Duqm, an obscure port town on the south eastern coast, is being developed as part of the government’s shipping strategy.

OCTOBER 2010

- Oman A major port and dry dock project is being undertaken and an airport is being established to service it.

The location is being planned as a major centre for commercial development, with plans for a free trade zone and various tourism projects.

InterContinental has already signed on to manage a 228 room Crowne Plaza in the area.

According to Oman Drydocks Company, the hotel is scheduled to open in 2011.

Salalah and Muscat airports are also undergoing expansions, with the former to be finished by 2013 and the latter in 2014.

International Connectivity Oman experienced a large year on year increase in passenger movements in the first half of 2010: Muscat improved traffic flows by 29 percent compared to the same period of 2009.

Iranian airline Mahan Air started flights between Muscat and Teheran in July, adding to existing flights by a range of regional and international airlines.

Oman Air, Emirates, Etihad, Turkish Airlines, Gulf Air, Kuwait Airways, Air Arabia, Flydubai, Saudi Arabian Airlines and Iran

Muscat

Aseman Airlines all operate flights into and out of the country.

Hotel Development According to Debare, Muscat had the highest room rates in the Middle East in 2009, with prices forced up by a lack of supply.

Development continues around the country.

Omran, the government investment and development corporation, has recently laid the foundation stone for the five star Al Baleed Resort at Salalah.

Work will start on site in November 2010 with

Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Muscat

the main contractor mobilising in May 2011, and is anticipated to be completed in December 2012, Action Hotels is developing a second Ibis at Soha, set to open in the first quarter of 2012, and a Holiday Inn planned for the second quarter of the same year.

High profile mega project The Wave is continuing, with developers reporting that Kempinski and Fairmont hotels will open in 2013.

Club Med has also declared plans to build a beach resort at Salalah, although the development’s timeline has not been revealed. n

[Oman is] focused on sustainability and everything is well controlled: you aren’t seeing overexpansion here

Asian Beach Games Oman is set to host the second Asian Beach Games in December this year. According to development company Omran, the purpose built facilities for the event are well on track and handover to events organisers has begun.

The games are expected to attract more than 5,000 athletes, officials, media and volunteers to the country.

Asian Beach Games site sketch

OCTOBER 2010

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- Canada

Rocky Road at the Roof of the World Canada is the second largest country in the world. Its massive bulk, five time zones across, is home to an array of differing landscapes and a tourism industry just as diverse. Despite being blessed with natural attractions as famous as Niagara Falls and the Rocky Mountains, Canada’s tourism industry has been hit hard by a flow-on of economic hardships in the US. Louis Dillon Savage writes Toronto

C

anada shares the longest common border in the world with the US and relies heavily on its southern neighbour for tourism.

With the US among the economies hardest hit by the downturn of 2008 and 2009, Canadian tourism has seen dramatic declines.

Tony Pollard, president of the Canadian Hotel Association (CHA), estimated that as much as 80 percent of all visitors to Canada came from the US. He said cross-border tourism had been badly affected, especially for the upper end of the market.

“Visits from the States have dried up and if you are dependent on US traffic for operations, you’re in a lot of trouble,” said Pollard.

“High-end hotels especially are finding things more challenging in today’s conditions.”

With a primary market undermined, problems have multiplied for Canada’s tourism industry, especially hotels.

The hospitality sector has been particularly affected by stricter lending strategies adopted by financial institutions.

“Financial institutions are not lending to hospitality,” Pollard said, noting that many hotels depended on lending to update their products.

“There is just a lack of capital to develop and improve.”

Despite a lack of finance, the Canadian hotel industry is well established.

According to CHA figures, approximately 8,500 hotels operate around the country, with a pooled inventory of 43,000 rooms.

Upscale international brands are well 12

represented, and Canada is home to the Fairmont brand.

Resort accommodation is primarily focused on mountain locations, with guests attracted by Canada’s important skiing sector.

Canada consistently places in the top ten destinations that people would like to go, but they are just not actually visiting International Promotions In light of lost revenue from the US, Canadian travel industry interests are seeking to promote the destination further afield, to cultivate a more diverse and robust market base.

Michael Mckenzie, CEO of Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC), noted the global marketing opportunity offered by the country’s stewardship of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

“The Winter Games presented the tourism industry with an incredible opportunity to showcase Canada to the world,” he said.

“We know that our organisation broke new ground in pursuing the growth of tourism across Canada as an Olympic legacy.”

CTC has received a CAD40 million (USD38.81 million) stimulus package over two years to improve the promotion of the country.

However, according to Pollard, international awareness is less of a problem than converting existing interest into actual travel.

“Canada consistently places in the top ten

Banf National Park

Canada in Brief Capital: Ottawa Language: English, French Currency: Canadian Dollars (CAD) destinations that people would like to go, but they are just not actually visiting,” he said.

“I would like to see that desire converted into actual visitors.”

Connectivity Emirates has operated flights to Canada for years, and has applied for an expansion of services into the country.

The airline is awaiting approval for increased frequencies into Toronto and a new route to Calgary.

Etihad also flies to Toronto, while Royal Jordanian services Montreal in French speaking Quebec.

Because of Canada’s large size, internal flights are a must for travellers seeking to explore.

A number of domestic and regional airlines service the domestic market.

Hotels Canada’s well established market leads to a relatively slow pace of hotel development.

Nevertheless, Fairmont opened a property in Vancouver earlier this year, Fairmont Pacific Rim, and a number of high profile developments are underway.

Shangri La Toronto is due to open in the city’s entertainment district in 2011 and Trump Hotel and Residence Toronto is also expected to open in 2011. n OCTOBER 2010

- Wildlife Travel

Tourists Taking a Walk on the Wild Side Viewing exotic animals in their native environments is perhaps one of the greatest rewards of international travel. As consumers have become more aware of the threats to many species, the impetus for wildlife travel has become stronger.

Louis Dillon Savage writes

I

ncreased interest in the natural world has had a range of effects on the tourism industry, both directing consumer flows and changing the focus of many travel industry operators.

Effects have gone beyond the established safari sector, however, with increasing numbers of conservation projects springing up, catering to the desire to engage with a range of endangered species.

Within the Middle East, local tastes have produced some of the most sumptuous examples of the type: teeming nature reserves abutting luxurious upscale resorts.

Even within the frame of five star wildlife themed destination resorts, there is significant variation in both philosophy and execution.

The UAE alone boasts several distinct versions of the concept; Al Maha Desert Resort and Spa, Anantara Desert Islands, Banyan Tree Al Wadi, and Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort.

Al Maha is the originator of the genre in the region, having opened as Emirates’ first resort in 1999, attached to the UAE’s first nature reserve.

According to Tony Williams, vice president for Emirates Hotels and Resorts, the development of the ecological aspects of the Al Maha property focused on accurately recreating a prehuman environment.

“We asked what it was like before human interference,” he said.

“And then we worked to recreate, maintain and preserve that environment.”

Williams said wildlife travel was increasing in popularity, and the growing number of conservation themed resorts confirm his statement.

Desert Islands Resort and Spa has expanded a personal project of the UAE’s founding figure, Shiekh Zayed.

The resort is located on the formerly private island retreat of the late ruler, as the centrepiece of an expansive wildlife park.

OCTOBER 2010

The park differs from Al Maha in its approach, engaging in intensive irrigation to create an artificially verdant environment.

A great deal of success in wildlife conservation has been reported by the park, which has managed to reintroduce and breed species that have been extinct on the Arabian peninsula for decades.

In April this year, the park reported the first free-range birth of cheetah cubs in the region in the past 40 years.

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- Wildlife Travel

Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort has recently rebranded itself after a 43 year history as Al Ain Zoo. The park is undergoing a transformation into an open range wildlife reserve, featuring zones themed after different regions, plus a number of hospitality and leisure options.

Phase one of the project is underway, though a completion date remains undisclosed.

At the end of the three phase redevelopment, the park will have expanded to cover more than 9km2.

We work to recreate, maintain and preserve [the] environment Hunting and Conservation Wildlife travel is also of great significance to the outbound travel industry of the Middle East.

Africa, birthplace and perennial home of the safari, is simply too close to ignore.

Unknown to many, the Swahili word safari, meaning long journey, has an Arabic root and travellers from the Middle East have begun rediscovering their connection to the format in growing numbers.

African wildlife has always been associated with big game hunting and the sport still plays an important part of African tourism.

14

Vinay Sapra, general manager of Kearsley’s Travel and Tours in Tanzania, confirmed that hunting was one of the major draws for Arab travellers to his country.

African Sky is a hunting outfitter that operates expeditions throughout the southeast quadrant of Africa, from South Africa to Victoria Falls, between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Carel Loubsen, sales manager for the company, said that although Middle Eastern tourists comprised a relatively small portion of his business, interest was picking up.

“We’re getting a lot more [Middle Eastern customers], it’s growing more and more,” he said.

“They increased to more than 10 percent of our business last year.”

Although hunting has fallen out of favour with many tourists, the activity has a significant role to play in the long term conservation of many species.

The number of animals killed is restricted by government regulations and trophy fees run to tens of thousands of dollars; money which contributes to the preservation of wildlife and habitats.

According to the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), the industry provides revenue for conservation projects and discourages poaching by creating a long term source of income for local residents.

Despite conducting tours over a number of countries, Loubson recommended South Africa

for hunting; explaining that differing conditions led to more or less satisfying experiences.

We’re getting a lot more [Middle Eastern customers], it’s growing more and more “South Africa is easier; it has more options and a larger variety of wildlife, types of vegetation and different kinds of environment,” he said.

“There are maybe one or two types of animals you would have to go to Botswana to get, but we have all the commonly popular species here.

“The big five [buffalo, lion, leopard, rhinoceros and elephant] can all be taken.”

Trophy fees vary significantly between countries, with individual animal types varying across borders.

Loubsen said buffalo were significantly more expensive (30-40 percent) in South Africa than in Mozambique, for instance, and that leopards were cheapest in Namibia.

He predicted that fees for lions would increase in 2011, following new regulations by the South African government.

“They have now said that lions must be free ranging for three years before they can be taken,” he said.

“Since there are not many lions out there at the moment that have been ranging for that long, this will mean fewer permits and higher prices.”

Africa, like the Middle East, has a number of luxury wildlife lodges, many run by recognised international brands.

Beyond Africa, the WWF said Eastern Europe and Eurasia were the most popular destinations for game hunters and other wildlife tourists in the Eastern hemisphere.

The area remains relatively underexploited and inexpensive, providing strong probabilities of a successful hunt. n OCTOBER 2010

Mohamed Al Noman

Helmut Meckelburg

Director General, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority “[Russia] is of vital significance to the key players in Sharjah's tourism industry and is one of the most critical for us, as Sharjah has already welcomed more than 192,000 Russian tourists between January and August 2010 - an 11 percent increase over the 173,880 tourists reported during corresponding period last year.

[Russia] is of vital significance to the key players in Sharjah's tourism industry Mohamed Al Noman

CEO, Safir International Hotel Management “The UAE has built a vast and rich tourism infrastructure during the past 15 years and Qatar is pursuing a different road to attract business via major sports events, like the Asian Games, and is bidding to host the 2022 World Cup. These are long term goals and big aspirations.

Abu Dhabi is building its brand aspiration on culture and sports and is making serious inroads, building up its own niche. One thing they all have in common is that they have made substantial investments in their national carriers, Emirates Airlines, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways, all of which really can serve as global brands in terms of service, standards and quality of fleet and airports.”

Helmut Meckelburg

These are long term goals and big aspirations

Sheikh Omar Bin Saqr Al Qassimi Chairman, RAK Airways “The time is now right to play our part in the ambitious vision of Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qassimi, crown prince and deputy ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, for boosting tourism in the emirate. Ras Al Khaimah presents a very compelling business opportunity with its healthy economy and stable political environment. The cost of living and doing business in Ras Al Khaimah is extremely competitive and we are perfectly positioned at the crossroads of Europe and Asia.”

The time is now right to play our part

(L-R) Omar Jahameh, CEO of RAK Airways and Sheikh Omar Bin Saqr Al Qassimi, Chairman of RAK Airways

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 16

OCTOBER 2010

Visa Survey Reveals UAE’s Eid Travel Habits A new survey undertaken by Visa has uncovered the latest trends for UAE travellers, drawing on data from the recent Eid holidays.

M

aysara Ghadban Traboulsi, head of marketing communications for MENA at Visa, said the survey showed a commitment to leisure travel among UAE residents.

“With the Eid holiday proving a popular time for a quick getaway for many UAE residents, the

Switzerland

OCTOBER 2010

survey provides some interesting insights into the leisure travel habits of residents within the UAE,” she said.

“It is clear from the survey that leisure travel is something that UAE residents are not willing to compromise on, even in light of the recent economic downturn.”

Leisure travel is something that UAE residents are not willing to compromise on The majority of respondents (83 percent) said they would not reduce the number of trips taken: a number which remained encouragingly high.

20 percent of survey respondents said they took more than five international trips per year; the

India

average respondent took between one and two trips per year.

Most participants said they preferred to book their own trips, with only 24 percent booking package deals through travel agents.

Visa’s top five destinations for the UAE include India, Turkey, Malaysia, Switzerland and the UK. n

17

- Philippines

Eastern Promises: Developing in Southeast Asia With more than 7,000 islands, the Philippines is a destination with myriad charms. However, it is only in recent times that authorities have realised the country’s latent potential as a tourism powerhouse.

Louis Dillon Savage writes Manila

T

ourism is already an important pillar of the Philippine economy, accounting for one in ten of all jobs.

Yet despite being a major employer, the sector has plenty of room to grow.

According to a study commissioned by USAID, Centre for Research and Communication (CRC) and The Asia Foundation (TAF), tourism accounted for only 6.2 percent of GDP between 2000 and 2009.

Improving the position of tourism is a stated aim of the Philippine government, topping the Department of Industry’s list of priority sectors.

According to Francisco Lardizabal, representative of the country’s Department of Tourism (DOT), Middle Eastern travellers are integral to the plan.

Lardizabal said Middle Eastern tourists fit the profile of high spend and low volume that the government is seeking to stimulate.

“The Philippines continues to welcome highspenders from the Middle East, especially now that the DOT Secretary has announced that his priority will be to attract high-paying tourists,” he said.

“In 2009, the country received about 47,000 arrivals from the Middle East.”

These figures represent a growth rate of nearly 30 percent over 2008, making the Middle East the fasting growing source market for tourism to the Philippines.

High revenue tourism is the focus of development in the Philippines, with Albert Lim, DOT Secretary, emphasising biodiversity and sustainability in his plans for the industry.

Diversity The Philippines’ many islands are the source of great diversity, offering a range of discrete experiences.

“Around the country's more than 7,000 islands, 18

we have a lot of diverse offerings of what the travellers from the region want – luxurious hotels and resorts, beaches, spas, health and wellness centers, shopping malls, Filipino style of hospitality and service, natural scenery and calm and relaxed surroundings,” Lardizabal said.

Yet according to Arjun Shroff, owner of Shroff International Travel Care, the country’s attractions remain under promoted.

“In this region, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Hong Kong are doing very well: they have a lot of government spending on tourism, which gives them an edge,” he said.

“We are not exactly lagging behind, but we could be doing more.”

Lardizabal also noted a lack of knowledge on the part of Middle Eastern tourists, but said reactions were usually positive.

“Based on the reactions from our past first-time guests, they see the Philippines as a welcome surprise,” he said.

Educating the Middle Eastern travel industry on the Philippines has become a priority for the government and local operators.

According to Shroff, over the past two years several road shows have been arranged in the Middle East,

Philippines in Brief Capital: Manila Currency: Philippine Peso (PHP) Language: Filipino (Tagalog) and English which met with a large amount of success.

Shroff said the market is primarily leisure based, with a small amount of visiting friends and relatives traffic.

According to DOT, destinations most highly favoured by Middle East travellers are the beaches, followed by spas, health and wellness centres, and shopping malls.

“Cultural and historical spots and night clubs or disco bars are the least favoured,” Lardizabal said. “[Middle Eastern tourists’] preferred accommodations are hotels and resorts, followed by apartments and condominiums.”

Development The Philippines already boasts a well established hospitality industry, with nearly 2,500 hotels offering more than 65,000 rooms.

New hotels and attractions continue to come online as the country’s industry continues to grow.

Upcoming Destinations Hidden among the thousands of islands, a number of destinations are heating up as tourists have begun exploring the Philippines in greater detail.

Subic and Clarke Two cities on Luzon Island, both former US military bases, are hotting up as both business and leisure destinations.

Shroff noted their development as theme park spots, popular with locals and international visitors.

Both have become the sites of economically liberalised freeport zones, instated to attract greater investment to the region.

Camarines Sur Camarines Sur, or Cam Sur, in the Bicol region is picking up as a tourism destination for adventurous travellers.

Focusing on the active end of the travel spectrum, the region is ideal for trekking, watersports and other adventure tourism activities.

OCTOBER 2010

- Philippines According to DOT, investments average USD817.3 million per year between 2005 and 2009; a growth of more than 16 times the rate experienced between 2000 and 2004.

A Banyan Tree property is planned to open in 2012 on Dilaran Island and the Bicol region has been identified by USAID as the focus of intensive investment.

Connectivity The Philippines is exceptionally well served by Middle Eastern airlines, with no less than six regional carriers operating flights to the country.

Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Saudi Arabian Airways, Gulf Air and Kuwait Airways all operate flights.

According to Shroff, Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila is still the primary gateway to the country.

However, Diosdado Macapagal International Airport at Clark is emerging as an important secondary gateway for international travel, opening the country’s northern region to increasing numbers of tourists.

Internal connectivity was identified by the USAID report as one important factor for future

tourism development.

With attractions dispersed by the country’s island geography, effective travel links are especially vital to spreading tourism revenues across the country.

Already, large advances have been made in this area, with a number of road and other infrastructure projects being pursued.

According to USAID, more than USD1.72 billion worth of development projects are underway in the country, including the upgrade or construction of nine airports, two ports and three major road projects. n

Mayon Volcano, Luzon Islands

Hot Spots Manila, Cebu and Boracay are the top three destinations for Middle Eastern travellers, according to Shroff.

Manila’s faster pace is favoured for shorter trips, while Cebu and Boracay are preferred by the long stay leisure set.

Manila Manila is the country’s capital, a fast paced city of nearly 20 million people. The favoured destination for shorter city stays.

Cebu “The Queen of the South,” according to Shroff.

“It is like a smaller version of metro Manila; easy going, with lots of Spanish historic sites,” he said.

“There are also many five star hotels and resorts in the area.”

Boracay Boracay is an island 315km south of Manila, famous for its relaxed atmosphere and pristine beaches.

“If you talk about white sand, that is Borocay!” Shroff said.

A well established resort spot, the island offers hundreds of different accommodation options and a range of seaside activities.

OCTOBER 2010

19

- Norway

Europe’s Northern Light Switches on MENA Focus The land of the midnight sun may be home to some of the most stunning natural landscapes on earth, but tourism industry sources say they are struggling to attract visitors from outside Europe, largely due to the country's cold and expensive reputation. New marketing initiatives have the country reaching out to emerging source markets, as well as increasing its sustainable tourism offering.

Laura Warne writes

A

ccording to Mona Ravndal of Visit Norway, tourism is the third largest industry in Norway, attracting 4.35 million foreign visitors in 2008 and 2009.

"In 2008, Norway experienced a downturn in the number of arrivals mainly due to the financial crisis," said Ravndal.

"This trend is now about to turn."

Ravndal pointed out that by maintaining its number of tourists in 2009, Norway increased its market share within Europe, compared to other countries that suffered a six percent drop in arrivals.

However, despite strong tourism interest from the UK, Sweden, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Italy, Russia and the Netherlands, domestic tourism remains the country’s biggest market.

In 2009, Norwegians represented 64 percent of all holiday and leisure guest nights. Ravndal said the country was now looking to attract new tourism markets.

"One of the biggest challenges Norway faces is to make our country and what we offer as a tourism destination more known abroad," she said.

"Surveys reveal that Norway is still not a very well known destination among many holiday makers."

Air links are one area that can be improved; currently there are no Middle Eastern carriers flying to Norway, although several European airlines link the two regions.

"So far the Middle East and North Africa has not been one of Norway's prioritised markets, but we are following developments in the UAE to see if this could be an interesting market to use in the future," Ravndal said.

"We are also looking to make Norway more accessible to the Asian market through developing direct routes."

Seasonality While the majority of tourists visit Norway during the warm summer months of May to August, winter tourism has increased in popularity over the past few years.

Visit Norway is keen to continue this trend, running winter campaigns in its major markets.

Winter activities on offer include skiing, ice climbing, snowboarding, dog sledding, ice fishing and horse-drawn sleigh rides.

20

Alta Igloo Hotel

Finnmark, in the country's northern region, attracts avid ice fishermen with its giant king crabs, which can grow to two metres in length.

The country boasts a range of high quality alpine ski resorts, as well as the unique Alta Igloo Hotel – the world's northernmost ice hotel. The property features an ice bar and bedroom chambers complete with ice beds covered in reindeer skins.

New developments Rezidor Hotel Group has substantial development underway in Norway and has just opened a Park Inn property at Oslo Airport. The 300 room hotel is directly linked to the terminal and features 46 meeting rooms, plus a ballroom - targeting business tourism and the centre's key industries of banking and shipping. Rezidor has a further three Norwegian properties in the pipeline, all set to open in early 2012.

The upcoming hotels include: Radisson Blu Solandet Resort, Tromoya Arendal; Park Inn Steinkjer; and Park Inn Nore Park. Park Inn Nore Park will be a key winter property, situated in the mountains of Nore Fjell.

Featuring 140 guest rooms, the alpine hotel will offer skiing excursions, sleigh rides, snowshoe hikes and dog sledding during winter, plus hiking, game hunting, wildlife safaris, sailing and golfing in the summer months.

Park Inn, Oslo Airport

Ecotourism According to Visit Norway's Ravndal, the organisation has strengthened its initiatives on sustainable tourism and green travel.

The two pronged approach focuses on the actions of tourists as well as the operation of tourism companies within Norway. According to Visit Norway, while ecotourism may be a new expression for the country, the practice is naturally aligned with the country's traditional focus on outdoor activities and cultural conservation.

Several pioneering Norwegian companies including tour operators, hotels and adventure tourism groups – have completed a national ecotourism certification process that focuses on sustainable operation, nature, culture and hosting. n

Norway in Brief Capital: Oslo Currency: Kroner (NOK) Language: Norwegian

Northern Lights A natural phenomenon caused by electrically charged solar particles entering the atmosphere, the northern lights appear without warning, lighting the sky in dazzling shades of green. Norwegian cruise line Hurtigruten runs a specific voyage from November to March, which takes in the country’s famous fjords while searching for the unpredictable lights. Guests onboard can request a northern lights wake up call, authorising staff to call at any time of the day or night, should the lights appear.

OCTOBER 2010

Masami Egami Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea has appointed Masami Egami as hotel manager. Egami has more than 20 years of experience in the industry and has spent six years working at various luxury hotel properties in the GCC. He has also worked throughout Europe and ASIA. Egami holds management degrees and certificates from Cornell University, US; Hull University, UK; and Ecole Hotelier de Lausanne, Switzerland.

Christian Nannucci

Bana Toukan

Traders Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi, has appointed Christian Nannucci as resident manager. Nannucci was previously posted in a similar position at Shangri-La Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa, Penang. He has 20 years of experience in the luxury hotel sector across Europe and Asia, specialising in room management.

Judith Crompton Etihad Airways has appointed Judith Crompton as head of global accounts sales, based in London. Crompton has more than 25 years of experience in the airline and travel industry, mostly within Australia and the UK. Prior to joining Etihad, Crompton worked at Qantas Airways, where she held the position of regional general manager for the UK and Ireland. In her new role, she will lead a team of 12 sales specialists across the Etihad network.

Bana Toukan Grand Hyatt Amman has appointed Bana Toukan as director of sales and marketing.

Toukan has a strong history with the hotel – she joined as a sales executive, before being promoted to associate director of sales and now director.

Christian Nannucci

Nasrat Rassem The new Ibis Sharq in Kuwait has appointed Nasrat Rassem as hotel manager. Rassem joined the hospitality industry in 1986 and since 1995 he has held a range of key roles with the Accor group across the Middle East. At Sofitel Hurghada in Egypt, Rassem worked his way up from reservation agent to assistant front office manager, before taking up the position of front office manager at Novotel Cairo. His most recent position was deputy manager at Ibis Salmiya, Kuwait.

Nasrat Rassem 22

Judith Crompton

Jeremy Garbett The EIBTM CEO Summit has appointed Jeremy Garbett as its chair, as part of the summit’s expansion to become a global meetings industry thought leadership group. Garbett has participated independently in the summit since 2008 and has a strong career background in senior management and board roles. Most recently, he became the founding director of independent communications agency Deeper Blue. In his role as chair of EIBTM CEO Summit, Garbett will liaise with members and Reed Travel Events regarding the development of each summit. Topics for this year’s invitationonly event include the impact of the global economy on the meetings industry, plus strategies to harness social media.

OCTOBER 2010

Q&A with Christophe Landais Accor Middle East launched its upscale Pullman brand in early September, with the launch of Pullman Dubai Mall of the Emirates.

Christophe Landais, managing director of Accor Middle East, spoke to Travel Trade Monthly about the brand’s introduction, future expansion plans and ways to tackle the plethora of different hotel names currently vying for business in Dubai.

Travel Trade Monthly: Firstly, could you outline the key traits of the Pullman brand?

Christophe Landais: One of the key things we want to do at Pullman is to display warmth through natural light and contemporary architecture. We have very large glass windows and in the rooms the bathroom is separated by a glass wall, so guests can have privacy if they want it but they get lots of natural light.

We also have strength in our services. We have instituted a ‘get closer’ model, where we encourage our staff to be closer to our guests. For example, we have a ‘welcomer’ in the lobby who will come up to our guests as they enter the hotel, welcome them to Pullman and ask how they can help.

We are trying to change the habit of guests going up to the desk and asking for things – it is our staff ’s job to ask the guests what they need.

The third key strength of our brand is its emphasis on location – the Dubai hotel is close to the business centre, exhibition centre and main shopping centre of Dubai. We hope to develop a strong MICE market at our hotel, specialising in small to medium companies as well as large companies. In addition to all of this, our hotel has all the features you would expect of an upmarket property.

Our client base is more segmented now and you can’t provide one hotel brand for all Travel Trade Monthly: How does the brand differ to other Accor brands and its competitors in the region?

Christophe Landais: It does differ significantly from our other Accor brands.

Pullman sits as an upscale property, between midscale and luxury. It is a four to five star brand, depending on specific regulations within different parts of the world.

Also, because we are interested in targeting the MICE market, we have introduced a dedicated events manager and an IT solutions manager to assist guests holding events at Pullman properties.

OCTOBER 2010

With constantly increasing technology, events are becoming more sophisticated and our managers ensure that everything runs smoothly.

Travel Trade Monthly: Why was Dubai chosen as the location of the first Pullman property in the Middle East?

Christophe Landais: Pullman has about 46 or 47 hotels worldwide now, with a target of 50 by the end of 2010, but before this property we had none in the Gulf region. We believe that if you’re introducing a new brand to the region, you have to be in Dubai. We need maximum visibility and Dubai is the place to get it.

Travel Trade Monthly: With a rapidly growing number of brands now present in the Middle Eastern market, is it becoming more difficult for guests to differentiate each product?

Christophe Landais: I think it must be difficult for customers actually. In Dubai, it was very fashionable a couple of years ago to build new hotels and create brands, and people may be quite confused by the number of places on offer.

We have positioned Pullman between the midscale and luxury brands, and because we are an Accor brand, we can provide well known comparisons – for example we have Ibis and Novotel in the budget to midscale sector and we have Sofitel in the luxury sector – Pullman sits between these brands.

I think the clients that we are targeting are often coming through providers, whether they are travel agents or event planners – but I must admit that a client coming into Dubai on their own might have difficulty finding their way around all the brands.

Travel Trade Monthly: Were there any challenges in bringing the Pullman brand to the region?

Christophe Landais: Well, it’s still early stages so we don’t know yet if there will be challenges in introducing a new brand to the region. We don’t invest in hotels, we manage them, so the first stage of this was to explain to our investors that we wanted to bring in a new brand and convince them that this was a good investment. I think the

Christophe Landais

new brand was received well by our investors – our client base is more segmented now and you can’t provide one hotel brand for all.

Operationally, in 2007 and 2008 Dubai caused serious headaches when it came to staffing, but somehow with the 2009 crisis, this has become much better. Finding the right people for our hotel has not been hard at all.

Travel Trade Monthly: What expansion plans are in place for the brand across the Middle East region?

Christophe Landais: Our ambition is to develop a network of 12 to 15 Pullman properties in key capital cities across the GCC and Levant.

We’d like to do this within the next seven years; of course this is difficult to project given investor trends and world economic conditions.

We have already signed a second Dubai property and we are very close to finalising our negotiations for one in Doha, Qatar and another in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

We also want to be in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon.

In Saudi Arabia there is the potential for probably three Pullman hotels and in places like Dubai and Abu Dhabi there is also the market for multiple properties. We need to reach critical mass of about six hotels as soon as possible. n 23

World Travel Market Preview: Organisers Reveal What’s New in 2010 Organisers for next month’s World Travel Market (WTM) are expecting boosted attendance for the 2010 event, based on a range of expansions and format changes.

The exhibition, among the largest and most eminent trade shows for the global travel industry, has expanded its programme and is projected to benefit from extensions to the Excel London exhibition venue.

Excel London, which is operated by Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre Company (ADNEC), inaugurated the second phase of its expansion plan in June, increasing exhibition space by 50 percent.

According to Paul Nelson, public relations manager for WTM, the 2009 event attracted 5,500 exhibitors and 46,000 visitors.

He said forward interest and a larger venue put the 2010 event on track to attract greater numbers of each.

The new technology and online travel theatre is a great initiative to help exhibitors communicate the benefits of their products and services to the global travel and tourism industry In 2010 changes to the WTM format include the addition of a specialised sports pavilion, media village and dedicated business day.

The business day will feature a keynote address

by Lord Digby Jones, a business commentator,

International Conference on Responsible Tourism in Destinations Muscat, Oman, October 10-12 (www.rtd4.om) Organised by Oman Ministry of Tourism, UNWTO and International Centre for Responsible Tourism, Leeds Metropolitan University.

Arab Tourism Bourse Travel and Tourism Fair Damascus, Syria, October 19-22 (www.abtfair.com) Aimed at promoting the Syrian tourism industry, attracting new visitors and developing tourism in the region.

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.

24

as well as expert panels and a business clinic where visitors can arrange one-on-one advice sessions with business experts.

A theatre for presentations has been added to the technology and online travel area of the event.

Simon Press, exhibition director of WTM, said the theatre would give exhibitors a better opportunity to demonstrate their products.

“The new technology and online travel theatre is a great initiative to help exhibitors communicate the benefits of their products and services to the global travel and tourism industry,” he said.

WTM has also reported a strong industry response to its Responsible Tourism Day, which returns for the 2010 event.

WTM will be held from November 8 to 11 this year. n

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.

EIBTM Barcelona, Spain, November 30 – December 2 (www.eibtm.com) Global event for the meetings and events industry, including networking opportunities, professional education seminars and a trade show platform for exhibitors, hosted buyers and trade visitors.

Business Travel Show – Dubai Dubai, UAE, October 25-26 (www.businesstravelshowdubai.com) Dedicated event for buyers and bookers of corporate travel in the Middle East, focusing on small and medium sized organisations that book business travel.

International Luxury Travel Market Cannes, France, December 6-9 (www.iltm.net) Annual business to business event for the global luxury travel industry.

Showcases destinations and travel experiences, with a programme of networking events and pre-scheduled meetings.

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.

Blossom Japan Tokyo, Japan, January 18-21,2011 (www.blossomjapan.com) A new invitation-only luxury travel exhibition focusing on the Japanese market.

OCTOBER 2010