arabian travel news jan 2012 edition

TAKING GREEN TO THE MAINSTREAM: World Green Tourism experts argue it’s time to take sustainable travel to the mass market

News and analysis for Middle East travel agents and tour operators

January 2012 Vol. 07 Issue 01

www.hoteliermiddleeast.com

An IT

P Business Publication

Agents feel the call of the wild in Coun-ty Donegal p42

FAM REPORT: IRELAND

NEW IN ABU DHABIOur pick of the hottest new Abu Dhabi hotelsp40

p18 INTERVIEW:

p03 NEWS:

Industry experts reveal what lies ahead

Dubai brand Auris Hotels

reveals plans for

expansion

Swedish charters

boost RAK tourism

Raghda Omar

takes the top spot

p12 2012 FORECAST

p48 AGENT OF THE MONTH:

p46 PACKAGE PLANNER

DA

CALIFORNIADREAMING

A travel agent fam trip gets a taste of the luxury life in the Sunshine State of California

Top new hotels in 2012

p22

10Holiday Factory agents plan their perfect honeymoon itinerary

:

P36 HOW TO SELL:

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VOLUME 07 ISSUE 01VOLUME 07 ISSUE 01

www.hoteliermiddleeast.com Arabian Travel News January 2012 1

UPFRONT

THE KNOWLEDGE

FEATURES

02 NEWS

Dnata expands into In-

dia; Swedish charters

boost RAK tourism;

Al Futtaim to roll out

Thomas Cook brand

in the Middle East;

MSC discounts debut

Gulf cruise; MMI sells Olympics packages

at $3,500; Sharaf Travel launches new

branch in Dubai’s Emirates Towers.

06 ANALYSIS

Louise Oakley reports

from World Green

Tourism where

experts debate how to

take green travel to the

mass market.

08 VIEWPOINT

Editor’s letter; plus ATN readers share

their views with us.

12 CHECK IN

Rezidor expands its Middle East regional

offi ce and we meet Ahmed Adam,

director of sales, Saudi Arabia for Rezidor.

36

18 A HOME-GROWN

HOTEL BRAND

The team behind new

Dubai brand Auris

Hotels is gearing up

to take the brand

region-wide.

4%4%Predicted growth in

world outbound trips in 2012

More on page 12

TAKING GREEN TO THE MAINSTREAM: World Green Tourism experts argue it’s time to take sustainable travel to the mass market

News and analysis for Middle East travel agents and tour operators

January 2012 Vol. 07 Issue 01

www.hoteliermiddleeast.com

An IT

P Business Publication

Agents feel the call of the wild in Coun-ty Donegal p42

FAM REPORT: IRELAND

NEW IN ABU DHABIOur pick of the hottest new Abu Dhabi hotelsp40

p18 INTERVIEW:

p03 NEWS:

Industry experts reveal what lies ahead

Dubai brand Auris Hotels

reveals plans for

expansion

Swedish charters

boost RAK tourism

Raghda Omar

takes the top spot

p12 2012 FORECAST

p48 AGENT OF THE MONTH:

p46 PACKAGE PLANNER

CALIFORNIADREAMING

A travel agent fam trip gets a taste of the luxury life in the Sunshine State of California

Top new hotels in 2012

p22

10Holiday Factory agenrs plan their perfect honeymoon itinerary

THIS MONTH’S COVER:

ATN JANUARY 2012

VOL 07 ISSUE 01

“LA is a very happening and vibrant destination”

29 ROUND-UP

A comprehensive round-

up of product and sup-

plier news to help you

sell more travel, from

destinations, hotels,

airlines, cruise and travel

technology.

36 CALIFORNIA

DREAMING

Agents get a taste of

the luxury life in the

Sunshine State.

40 THREE OF THE BEST

Our pick of the top three Abu Dhabi hotel

openings to get excited about.

42 CALL OF THE WILD IN IRELAND

Travel agents take to the saddle in a

remote part of County Donegal.

46 PACKAGE PLANNER

Two Holiday Factory agents

plan their ideal honey-

moon itinerary.

48 AGENT

OF THE MONTH

Raghda Omar is nomi-

nated for her passion

and enthusiasm. 22 TOP 10 NEW

HOTELS IN 2012

We pick the hot-

test new openings

expected to hit

the Middle East

market this year.

12 WHAT’S IN

STORE FOR 2012?

Industry experts

from across the

Middle East travel

sector reveal their

predictions for the

year ahead.

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2 www.hoteliermiddleeast.comArabian Travel News January 2012

NEWS

Dubai-based Dnata Travel, which is owned by the Emir-ates Group, has of-ficially launched its

travel services operation in India in partnership with Hogg Robinson Group (HRG).

Dnata has opened two offices in India, located in Noida in Delhi and Mumbai, and has initiated its Indian operations with 100 employees.

Dnata plans to offer corporate trav-

el solutions in India with services in-cluding a 24-hour contact centre for reservations, online corporate book-ing tools, visa services, travel insur-ance, car rentals, event management, incentives and VAT reclaim.

Gary Chapman, president, Dnata said: “As a rapidly expanding econo-my, India is a market of strategic im-portance to us and the travel business on the whole. Our expertise lies in sourcing, supplying, distributing and promoting the best in travel products from around the world and making them easily accessible.

“Cutting-edge technology coupled with skilled and professional staff that can deliver travel-related prod-ucts and services to international standards are what will set Dnata apart from its competitors in India.”

While Dnata has launched in the corporate travel sector it plans to

Dnata Travel launches India operation

expand gradually into other areas of the travel industry including: retail/leisure travel, online and MICE.

A partnership has been established with Cox & Kings Global Services (CKGS) — a subsidiary of Cox & Kings — to provide visa processing and Marhaba Meet and Greet Servic-es for Indian travellers visiting Dubai and Sharjah.

The partnership, referred to as CNKMDV, will offer visitors the chance to arrange and pre-purchase

Marhaba services and assist with pro-cessing of tourist and transit visas.

CNKMDV has opened 11 Dubai Visa Marhaba application centres across India, with specialised sales coordinators on hand to provide ad-vice and make customer bookings for Marhaba services and assist with processing visa applications.

“This is the beginning of what we believe to be a very fruitful relation-ship with Dnata” said Sanjay Bhaduri, CEO, CKGS. Our partnership will surely benefit Indian travellers and their families providing them with a seamless travel experience to Dubai.”

HAVE YOUR SAY... DO YOU HAVE PLANS TO EXPAND INTO INDIA THIS YEAR?

“As a rapidly expanding economy, India is a market of strategic importance to the travel business on the whole.”

100Dnata staff employed

at its India offices

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3www.hoteliermiddleeast.com Arabian Travel News January 2012

NEWS

EMAIIL [email protected] OR VISIT WWW.HOTELIERMIDDLEEAST.COM

Tourists from Sweden arrive on the first charter flight to Ras Al Khaimah. Al Futtaim is planning to roll out the Thomas Cook brand across the region.

Swedish charter flights boost RAK tourism

Al-Futtaim to rollout Thomas Cook in region

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Investment and Development Authority (Ras Al Khaimah TIDA) has signed an agree-ment with Swedish tour operator Apollo — part of the Swiss Kuoni Group — to bring a weekly charter flight from Sweden to the emirate throughout the winter season.

The weekly 221-seat charter will see an additional 5,000 tourists visiting RAK between November 2011 and April 2012; spending over 150,000 room nights.

The Apollo agreement is the second charter flight service to be introduced by RAK TIDA in the last few months. In September the authority signed an agreement with German Tour Operator, Reise Service Deutschland and Dubai- based DMC World of Travel to introduce five weekly charter flights from Germany and one weekly charter flight from Austria to Ras Al Khaimah.

The deal resulted in a substantial increase in room revenues and hotel occupancy with figures for October 2011 showing a 7% increase in hotel occupancy and an increase of US$ 1.7 million in beach hotels and resort room revenues compared to the previous year.

The weekly charters bring visitors from various des-tinations in Germany including Hamburg, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Berlin, Munich and the Austrian capital, Vi-enna and will continue until June 3rd, 2012.

“The introduction of charter flights into Ras Al Khaimah is proving to be a huge success in reaching our main objective of doubling our visitor number to 1.2 mil-lion by 2013,” said Victor Louis, COO, RAK TIDA.

Louis added that more charter flights to additional destinations would be added in 2012, and RAK TIDA was also setting up a “dedicated charter operation com-pany specialising in Tour Operators Business under the Ras Al Khaimah Airport operation. ”

Dubai-based Al Futtaim Travel is finalising plans to roll out the Thomas Cook brand (Europe’s second biggest tour operator) across the Middle East next year in part-nership with Thomas Cook Egypt.

Al Futtaim Travel — preferred sales agent (PSA) of Thomas Cook Egypt — said its “vision for 2012” was to launch Thomas Cook Holiday shops in Dubai; B2B and B2C online booking channels and a Dubai-based 24/7 call centre. Expansion of the brand to strategic locations across the GCC will take place over the next three years.

Details of the plan are still being finalised, including the number of Thomas Cook/Al Futtaim branches to be opened. A spokesperson for Al-Futtaim Travel said: “The vision we have for Thomas Cook is to launch the brand in the region. It’s a work in progress and we are still finalising it, so we can’t reveal the full details without everything being signed off .”

Al Futtaim said Thomas Cook would become a seri-ous contender in the market to Emirates Holidays — the tour operating arm of Emirates Airline as “the GCC mar-ket seriously needs another, more competitive and profes-sional tour operator to compete with Emirates Holidays.”

The company insisted that Middle East consumers would still have confidence in Thomas Cook holiday prod-ucts, despite the tour operator’s current financial troubles.

The debt-stricken tour operator has blamed the Arab Spring for a slump in sales to the Middle East. It was forced to arrange a US $311million credit facility with 17 bank lenders in a bid to recover from an annual net loss of $808million; and last month confirmed that it would close 200 of its 1,300 travel agencies in Britain, resulting in up to 1,000 job loses as part of a major cost-saving UK restructure plan.

5000Swedish tourists to visit RAK on charter flights

Dnata Travel has opened its first office in

Delhi and one in Mumbai.

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NEWS

MSC discounts debut Arabian Gulf cruise

MMI sells Olympic packages at $3,500

MSC Cruises has slashed the prices for its debut winter season of cruises in the Arabian Gulf in a bid to stimu-late late interest from the local market. The promotion includes a rate of US$ 200 per person per week including port charges over the Christmas sailing period; and US$ 300 per person per week for New Year sailing.

Cruise lines have traditionally found it tough to en-courage the local market onto Gulf cruises and are reliant on sourcing passengers from outside the region.

Ashok Kumar, managing director, Cruise Master - Middle East said: “Local contribution for cruises within Arabian Gulf has been insignificant for various reasons, people living in the region have been travelling within the Gulf and wish to explore new regions; there are no major school holidays during the cruise season here.

“The current economic climate in Europe may have hurt the occupancy levels, which has resulted in MSC of-fering such low pricing in order to stimulate local traffic from this late booking market.”

Royal Caribbean said its Gulf cruise for the Christmas and New Year season was sold out. The price for a 7-night cruise on Brilliance of the Seas for the rest of the season starts from around $ 600 per person on double occupancy.

MMI Travel said it has already achieved 25% of its forecast-ed sales on packages to the 2012 London Olympic Games, and expects to have sold over half by the end of January. The official Olympics ticket reseller in the UAE is sell-ing packages starting at US$3,428 (AED12,593) up to $23,036 (AED84, 615) for two people, including flights, hotel accommodation, game tickets and transfers.

Silver packages, which include economy-class flights from Dubai, three-nights accommodation and tickets for the equestrian event on August 7, start from $3,428 (AED12,593) for two. Gold packages, including tickets for the athletics events on August 5 start from $4,875 (AED17,910) for a six-night package; and a nine-night Platinum package, with tickets to the closing ceremony and business class flights costs $23,036 (AED84,615).

A spokesperson for MMI said: “Tickets have been on sale since the beginning of November but we only made the announcement a couple of weeks ago. We haven’t yet started actively promoting or advertising the tickets or packages, so it’s still early days, especially for the UAE which is known to be a late booking market.

“We’re pleased with the response so far. Enquiries about equestrian and athletic events are probably the highest.”

Platinum package with closing cer-

emony tickets

$23,036

SHARAF TRAVEL OPENS EMIRATES TOWERS BRANCH Sharaf Travel has expanded in Dubai with a new branch at the Emirates Office Towers. Located in the boule-vard area, the branch will service the travel requirements of business and leisure travellers in and around the towers. The opening on December 4 was timed to celebrate the UAE’s 40th National Day said Salah Sharaf, chairman, Sharaf Travel. The branch is staffed by a team of

dedicated consultants. “This branch is manned by expe-rienced and highly trained travel professionals who will endeavor to provide seamless service to all our esteemed clients visiting this loca-tion,” said Salah Sharaf.

Sharaf Travel now has 13 branch-es across the UAE and Oman, in-cluding nine branches in Dubai, as well as one in Mumbai, India.

Doha

GOING UP

GOING DOWN

Tom Cruise

QE2

World Travel Awards (WTA)

will host its grand final cer-

emony in Doha on January

11 for the first time — mark-

ing a major moment for

Qatar’s tourism sector.

Dubai hotels Jumeirah

Zabeel Saray and the Burj

Khalifa make their big

screen debut in Mission

Impossible Ghost Protocol.

The QE2 is the setting for

an exclusive New Year’s Eve

party - the ship’s first public

outing since it was pur-

chased by Dubai in 2008.

Nakheel The Dubai developer has

banned more than 1,300

residents Palm Jumeirah

residents from using beach-

es, pools and gyms in a

controversial plan to charge

for use of the facilities.

Ferrari WorldThe Abu Dhabi theme park

has slashed staffing levels

to meet its newly reduced

opening hours.

Xmas TreesEmirates Palace Hotel

scaled down it’s tree this

year after a barrage of criti-

cism for last year’s $11m

jewel-encrusted effort.

The MSC Lirica is the first cruise ship to homeport in Abu Dhabi. Mayank Dhingra, MMI receives the appointment from the UAE NOC.

V. Jayaram, managing director, Sharaf Travel.

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analysis


Taking green tourism into the mainstream

No longer just the preserve of eco retreats or nature reserves, sus-tainable tourism must be embraced by the mass travel and hos-pitality sectors and promoted to consumers at the right price if it is to really make a difference.

This was the premise behind several of the discussions at World Green Tourism in Abu Dhabi last month. The conference did away with preconceived ideas of sustainable tourism and focused on addressing the core issue of how to offer sustainable products to the mass market and — impor-tantly — on whose responsibility it was to do so.

Ruth Holroyd, group head of sustainability at The Thomas Cook Group questioned whether an eco-lodge — accessible only to the wealthy few — was really more sustainable than a large but low-impact hotel for the mass market. “Why should sustainable tourism only be for small groups of wealthy people?” asked Holroyd. “Others are entitled to it as well and in fact it is the mass form of sustainable travel that will really make a difference to destinations.”

“Mass tourism done well can be sustainable as long as it’s done in conjunction with customers, hoteliers and destination governments. This is what is needed to create a sustainable industry and the sooner that’s accepted the faster the

Louise Oakley reports from World Green Tourism in Abu Dhabi, where it was time to challenge the myth that sustainable travel is only for the wealthy few

change can actually happen.” In November Thomas Cook an-

nounced a new group-wide vision for a sustainable future entitled Travel the world without costing the earth. The aim is for every holiday Thomas Cook sells to be sustainable, not just a smatter-ing featured in an ‘eco’ brochure. The group runs 93 aircraft and reaches 23 million customers worldwide and has some ambitious targets — including a 20% reduction in electricity across the entire group and 12% improve-ment in efficiency across its airlines.

Taking ‘green’ mainstream Professor Harold Goodwin, direc-tor of the International Centre for

Experts argue that large multi-nationals need to adopt sustain-

ability for change to happen

“Why should sustainable tourism only be for small groups of wealthy people?” Ruth Holroyd, group

head of sustainability at The Thomas Cook Group

“Eco tourism was a cul-de-sac, it was a mistake” Professor Harold Goodwin, director of the

International Centre for Responsible Tourism

Responsible Tourism said it was vital that multi-national companies start making serious strides to be sustain-able. Small-scale initiatives — re-ferred to Goodwin as ‘cul-de-sacs’ and ‘by-ways’ — should be confined to the past as tour operators look to mainstream sustainable options.

“Eco-tourism was a cul-de-sac, it was a mistake. It was about saying ‘we’ll green the tourism industry by focusing on 1 or 2% of it’. I still hear people saying that eco-tourism is the fastest-growing sector of the industry — it is these sort of awful myths that actually frustrate change.

“There is no doubt in my mind that progress can only be made by big

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analysis


companies mainstreaming significant change towards sustainability.”

“It was very convenient for the mainstream industry to focus on eco-tourism because they just left that to a few small companies. The change that has come out of the adoption by TUI and Thomas Cook of sustainability as part of their strategy is where we need to be going globally,” said Goodwin.

Goodwin argued that it didn’t mat-ter whether there was a list of sustain-able criteria that everybody agreed on, just that the primary issues — of carbon emissions, greenhouse gases, waste, water and local economic de-velopment — were acted upon, and that companies are held to account.

75%of travellers are sceptical when

a hotel claims to be ‘green’

“I’m fed up with the research asking if people will pay more for responsible tourism” Justin Francis, chief

executive and co-founder, ResponsibleTravel.com

travel industry to engage travellers in the mass sustainable mission?

Justin Francis, chief executive and co-founder, ResponsibleTravel.com was blunt about the level of consumer demand for sustainable travel.

“There is a lot of data that shows growing interest in responsible tour-ism. But I want to get very real about the market. No research has ever been published that shows social and envi-ronmental impacts are the most impor-tant factors in choosing a holiday. It’s al-ways the right product at the right price.”

Francis stressed that the industry should stop expecting consumers to cov-er the cost of companies “going green”.

“I’m fed up with research that keeps

“At the heart of responsible tourism is taking responsibility, the problem is that it’s everybody’s and it’s nobody’s. We need to challenge companies to take responsibility for their impact.”

The role of the consumerBut how can consumers make sense of the terms ‘eco’, ‘sustainable’ and ‘green’? Do they understand the cer-tifications? And is it down to the

coming out asking if people will pay more for responsible tourism. We’re painting ourselves into a corner. Why should responsible or more thought-ful tourism be more expensive? Why should using local guides or fresh food, saving costs on energy, water and waste, be more expensive? It doesn’t need to be more expensive.

“As the movement develops the choice increases. It’s maturing as a marketplace. I wish those in the in-dustry who commission research ask-ing ‘would people pay more?’ would stop. It’s not doing us any service.”

Goodwin also slated carbon offset-ting as a “terrible mistake”. “It took the pressure off the airline to de-carbo-nise its form of transport. We know there are significant changes that can be made on new technology but cur-rently there is no incentive other than the rising price of oil to force the in-dustry to do that,” he claimed.

Tackling scepticismGreen Globe director of communica-tions Bradley Cox said a major issue was the need to draw a distinction between “being sustainable and going green”.

“Scepticism is the major issue in the consumer market that we face — 75% of us say we’re sceptical when a hotel claims to be green, the other 25% just don’t believe it so there is a huge ingrained scepticism.

“The reason is that most of the lan-guage is termed around ‘going green’. You have to be sustainable. If you stop making claims about green and you start to be sustainable you will find many activities occurring within your business that are actually authentic and legitimate that you can commu-nicate to your consumers.

“Stop talking about being green and show them what it is to be a sus-tainable business,” Cox concluded.

“The reason there’s scepticism is that most of the language is termed around ‘going green’” Bradley Cox, director of

communications, Green Globe

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VIEWPOINT

www.hoteliermiddleeast.com8 Arabian Travel News January 2012

Trying to come up with predictions about what may be in store for the travel sector in the year ahead is always a traditional way to kick off our first edi-tion of the year at Arabian Travel News.

� is month we’ve asked 11 experts from across the industry to look back on their highs and lows of 2011 and try to make some guesses about what lies ahead. But one thing that’s come across is how futile crystal ball gazing probably is these days. Looking back on the past year there's no way any-one could have predicted the dramatic and unfore-seen events that resulted in having such a massive impact on the international world of travel. � e protests, con� icts and revolutions in Arab countries at the start of the year that brought tour-ism to a virtual standstill in some parts of the region (while conversely having the complete opposite ef-fect on destinations such as the UAE viewed as ‘safe havens’); the tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan; the Eurozone debt crisis and the political and eco-nomic dramas in Greece, then Italy — these were just some of the top stories in a year full of head-

line grabbing news — all of which have led to me conclude that what might happen this year could be anyone's guess. But despite the trepidation in the air about what may or may not be in store; there are many reasons to be cheerful and optimistic about the regional travel sector. � e continued expansion of the re-gion's airlines means new destinations and new markets continue to open up. Forecasters are par-ticularly excited about the remarkable growth of Chi-nese travellers and welcome them with open arms. And local travel � rms say they are � nally ge� ing to grips with the technology revolution. We antici-pate that 2012 will be the year when we � nally wit-ness new online booking channels and a push from the regional travel sector to move ahead with long awaited technology developments. And they are not the only ones. Arabian Travel News is not being le� behind — this year will see the magazine launch our very own dedicated web-site just for you. So look out for that, as if nothing else it's sure to be the highlight of the year ahead. Monika Canty, Editor

As the voice of the Middle East travel trade, we want to hear your news and views. Email the editor at [email protected]

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Mailbox

Perhaps Emirates wouldn't have to reduce the convenience of its passengers, especially those who are Gold members of their frequent fl yer program if it kept its promise that all Emirates fl ights depart and arrive at the brand new Terminal 3 in Dubai. Maybe passengers

wouldn't have to take a hit on extended check-in times if the aircraft was actually parked at the gate as opposed to a 20 minute bus ride to the far-end of the airport parking spots. Even LCCs at Terminal 2 are much closer to the gate than this. Disappointed Emirates passenger

RE: Emirates Airline gets tough on late passengers

STARLETTER

A New Year but what's in store? A� er the year we’ve just had, who would dare to hazard a guess what lies ahead in 2012...

And we are talking a national carrier here, not just any obscure airline from far-away foreign land. W

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DIANS.N

ET

VIEWPOINT


RE: WORLD TRAVEL

AWARDS FINAL TO BE

HELD IN DOHA

Doha is making great

strides in the development

of its tourism sector. First

the FIFA World Cup and

now the World Travel

Awards. I am sure with

events like these business

tourism is going to boom

in Qatar. Debbie

RE: ABU DHABI SEEKS

SLICE OF $17 GOLF

TOURISM

Abu Dhabi needs to lower

the prices to get more

people out golfi ng.

Abu Dhabi has a lot of nice

WHAT DO YOU THINK? LOG ON TO WWW.HOTELIERMIDDLEAST.COM OR EMAIL [email protected] TO JOIN THE DEBATE

Online at

TOP 5 TRAVEL STORIES

1. Top 20 Travel Agencies

2. PHOTOS: Westin launch goes with a bang

3. Ferrari World Abu Dhabi slashes staffi ng levels

4. Dubai’s Metropolitan hotel to be demolished

5. Dubai hotel makes big screen in Mission Impossible

golf courses, but they aren't

"great" by any stretch of the

imagination. If you could

golf for a more reasonable

price there then I'm sure a

lot more people would be

attracted to the sport.

John Doe

RE: TIME FOR A

UNITED TOURISM EFFORT

I am inclined to believe

that a UAE destination

marketing campaign might

wield signifi cant weight.

Most countries with

developed tourism markets

have proper multi-

language portals to inform

visitors to what's available

throughout the country.

Not everyone wants to

lay around on the beach

all day! VisitJordan.com,

VisitSweden.com are two

good examples of what can

be achieved with country

marketing.

Baxster

Tel. +971 4 238 1555

e-mail [email protected] www.bluetruck.ae

Fax. +971 4 238 2325

The market leader in mass door-to-door

of magazines within the UAE.

requirements.

distributors).

Asso iatemember

Award winning

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10 Arabian Travel News January 2012 www.hoteliermiddleeast.com

AGENT ACTION

The Rezidor Hotel Group

has announced four new

appointments in the Mid-

dle East regional o� ce. The

new additions are: Stuart

Allum as purchasing man-

ager for the UAE, Stephanie

Aboujaoude as regional

marketing manager,

Aline Barhouche as

regional HR manager

and Ahmed Adam,

director of sales for

Saudi Arabia.

The substan-

tial growth of the

regional team is in-line

with the current and

future growth plans

for Rezidor in the

Middle East.

The region is a

crucial market

for the hotel

group; in 2011 key proper-

ties have opened across

the region, including the

fi rst Hotel Missoni in the

Middle East (Kuwait) plus

three new properties under

the core brand Radisson

opened in the UAE.

ASHRAF EL ZAHED

Four Seasons Hotels

and Resorts has ap-

pointed Ashraf El Zahed

as the new director of

hotel marketing Middle

East. El Zahed

will oversee

the mar-

keting

functions

of existing

and upcom-

ing Four Seasons

hotels and resorts in the

Middle East and Egypt

towards an integrated

and sustained corporate

focus on the Middle

East region as an im-

portant growth market

for Four Seasons.

RICHARD NUTTALL

Bahrain’s second airline

Bahrain Air has ap-

pointed Richard Nuttall

as its new chief execu-

tive o� cer. Nuttall ex-

pressed his enthusiasm

for his new assignment

by saying: “I

am both

honoured

and ex-

cited to be

given this

opportunity.

Whilst 2011 has been an

extremely challenging

year for airlines operat-

ing within the Middle

East, Bahrain Air has

come a long way in its

three years of operation.

We have a great team

and our goal now is

to become Bahrain’s

airline of choice within

the region.”

CHECKIN’ IN/ CHECK-IN’ OUT

What is your career background?I have worked for the last 11 years in the travel industry with international hotel companies in KSA, Qatar and the UAE. Before moving to KSA, I spent the last six years in the UAE where I worked very closely with travel agents, tour operators as well as the corporate segment. Travel and hospitality is not only a career it is my passion.

What attracted you to the role at in KSA?I have always wanted to grow within � e Rezidor Hotel Group. Besides that, the Saudi market is not new to me and has unlimited potential. I was fortunate to be chosen for such a challenge.

What are your main objectives and responsibilities?My responsibilities include the setup of the global sales o� ce that will overlook the entire Saudi market. I will handle key accounts for inbound and outbound business and promote Rezidor’s various brands, alongside other activities includ-ing organising fam trips and coordination of road shows and events etc.

How do you plan to work with travel agents in your role?� e Rezidor Hotel Group has already

established very good ties over the years with many of the local travel agents and wholesalers. I’m very keen to develop these relationships and extend all support to our business partners. One of the main reasons to establish the o� ce is to have a local contact in the market for all our cli-

ents so that they have even easier access to information and as-

sistance whenever required.

What will be the biggest challenge?I think the most challeng-

ing part is creating interest for new destinations that the

market is not accustomed to, as it is challenging to change perceptions.

What do you love most about your job?I love having the opportunity to meet dif-ferent people from various cultures and the fact that you can actually help people ge� ing what they want and need from travel, be it business or leisure.

What are you most proud of in your career so far?I’m proud of every job I have ever done in my life no ma� er how big or small. I be-lieve once you invest your time and e� ort in something it always pays back — not always straight away but it will eventually.

AHMED ADAM, Director of Sales, Saudi Arabia, Rezidor

as well as the corporate segment. Travel and hospitality is not only a career it is my passion.

grow within � e Rezidor Hotel Group. Besides that, the Saudi market is not new to me and has unlimited potential. I was fortunate to

ents so that they have even easier access to information and as-

sistance whenever required.

What will be the biggest challenge?I think the most challeng-

ing part is creating interest for new destinations that the

market is not accustomed to, as it is challenging to change perceptions.

East. El Zahed

will oversee

and upcom-

ing Four Seasons

by saying: “I

cited to be

opportunity.

REZIDOR EXPANDS MIDDLE EAST REGIONAL OFFICE

1. Keep your CV to just

two pages long.

Remember to always

use a simple layout.

2. Know what you are

applying for. Compose

a clearly-stated job ob-

jective. State what you

want to do, for whom,

where and at what level

of responsibility.

3. Stand out from the

crowd. Instead of just

listing your job skills,

describe the benefi ts

and results of your

performance. For each

permanent job or sta� -

ing assignment develop

a list of major accom-

plishments, placing the

greatest emphasis on

recent achievements.

4. Companies value

employees who en-

hance their profi ts and

save them time and

money — use your CV

to explain how you can

achieve this.

5. Always proof-read.

Make sure your CV and

cover-letter are error

free, avoid jargon and

use plain English.

TOP TIPSFOR JOB-SEEKERS

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2012 FORECAST 2012 FORECAST

How was 2011 for you? Despite minor setbacks in Bahrain and Oman in early 2011 due to the po-litical situation we are proud that all our statistics remain posi-tive except for compara-tively low volumes in leisure travel this summer compared to previous years. We look forward to ending the year on a positive note and hope the 2011 experience will help us plan bett er in the years to come.

What were the most memora-ble events of the year for you? Our operational capabilities were tested to its limits in 2011 with

Nabeel Kanoo Director, Kanoo Travel

many passengers fl eeing troubled regions and cor-

porate customers demo-bilising teams at short notice. Our front-line teams managed the situ-

ation extremely well and were able to assist hundreds

of businessmen and families to travel with litt le hassle. One project we handled was the movement of a large group of corporate travel-lers from a fi nancial institution and their families at very short notice to a safer location, which included a total travel arrangement including apartment and hotel reservations, ground transportation, travel insur-ance, visas and fl ight tickets for nearly 100 passengers in total.

Industry experts from across the Middle East travel sector look back on 2011 and reveal their hopes, fears and predictions for the year ahead…

What are your aspirations for 2012?We expect to complete a few of our major technology develop-ment projects in 2012 which will improve our service deliverables to our important customers.

What will be the biggest challenges facing the travel sector in 2012? Our customers are changing. Th ey are mobile, technology savvy and demand personalised service at the click of a butt on. Despite having minimal impact to date in this region in terms of revenue, unmanaged travel procurement will rise next year. With smart phones, travel applica-tions and the launch of many OTAs in the last 18 months, the reality is that the travel industry will need to invest and manage this transi-tion carefully. Another important factor to keep an eye on is the move by many airlines to go direct to

customers and skip the middle man i.e. ‘the agent’, which will result in lower revenue streams than we are traditionally used to. Agencies need to be creative and adapt to new income generating streams such as MICE, selling ancillary services, green tourism and corporate travel advisory services.

What will be the stand-out trend for the industry in 2012? Technology developments and social media have changed the landscape of our business forever. Agents must realise this fact or risk being isolated in the old era.

What’s your New Year’s resolu-tion? I want the business to be transpar-ent, honest and professional. In 2012 we will see a much stronger emphasis on positioning Kanoo Travel as a trusted and reputed brand for travel!



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How was 2011 for you? 2011 was a year of growth for EmQuest. We grew our customer base, renewed 99% of our contracts, and converted our cus-tomers to the latest Sabre Red platform.

What were the most memorable events of the year? I would say the unveiling of the new Sabre Red Workspace was the highlight. Th e introduction of Sabre in Southern and Western Africa by EmQuest has also been a great milestone and has opened up many exciting op-portunities for us.

How was 2011 for you?2011 was great in spite of the regional uprisings. In fact many stable countries with good and ready infrastructure benefi ted. Th e UAE gained greatly with more tourists from Europe and the GCC when historically they were going to Egypt, Morocco and Syria; and Abu Dhabi and Dubai witnessed a return to occupancies and rates of 2007 despite the room inventory having almost doubled.

What are your aspirations for 2012? I am always optimistic when it comes to the UAE and am very confi dent that 2012 will be

Naz NizariSenior Vice President, EmQuest

Ali Abu MonassarFounder & chairman, The Vision Destination Management

What are your aspirations for the year ahead?

Introduction of Sabre in East Africa is slated for

2012. Th is will see EmQuest activity grow in Africa where growth is expected

to be at much more optimistic levels.

What will be the biggest challenges facing the travel sector in 2012? Th e deteriorating economic climate in Europe, the Arab spring, the slowdown in India and China will all create challenges. If the fuel price goes up this will put pressure on airlines and yields.

bett er than 2011. Visitors that came in 2011 had very good experi-ences and en-joyed Arabian hospitality in a safe, stable country and they will

What are your business fore-casts for the year ahead? We have planned for our mar-ket share to grow using a mix of products, commercial options and utilising our relationships. We have increased our resources and have geared up for increase in business.

What do you predict will be the stand-out trend for the travel industry in 2012? For EmQuest innovations in technology will be the focus. Th ese innovations for which Sabre won an international award have signifi -cant benefi ts for our customers in productivity, ease of use, on-line and increased options on leisure.

What’s your New Year’s reso-lution? To focus on delivering innovation, superior customer service, increase staff training and to strengthen the relationships we have with all our customers.

“The deteriorating economic climate in Europe, the Arab spring, the slowdown in India and China will all create challenges in 2012.”

be ambassadors to promote the destination. Also DTCM and ADTA with the private sector have worked together promoting the UAE in new markets with new business models such as free tickets and free stays for children, adding value to their stay.

What will be the biggest chal-lenges facing the travel sector in 2012? Th e travel industry

always has challenges. For 2012 it’s mainly keeping updated

with all the changes in the world and in the industry, cost cutt ing and increas-

ing value to clients on reduced margins. Also searching new markets for clients.

What are your business fore-casts for the year ahead?

“I am confi dent that business in 2012 will be the same or maybe a little better by 10%.”

4%4%Growth is predicted in world

outbound trips in 2012 — according to the ITB World Travel Trends Report— despite the uncertain

political and economic situation, and experts say they are “cautiously

optimistic” for the year ahead

We always forecast to do bett er and I can say that despite all dif-fi culties we manage to obtain what we forecast. I am again confi dent that business in 2012 will be the same or may be a litt le bett er by 10%. Th e reason is very simple - we increase our market share, our clients, we improve our services and we deliver experiences and satisfy our clients, and in return we expect to increase our revenue and profi t.

What do you predict will be the stand-out trend for the travel industry in 2012?Innovation is a must if we want to continue to exist and to gain our clients’ confi dence. Technology is speeding forward and the tour-ism industry must invest in new technology tools. Th e Arab Spring will continue to split the markets between those that are aff ected and those that benefi t.

www.hoteliermiddleeast.com Arabian Travel News January 2012


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hotel

What were the most memo-rable events of 2011? It has certainly been very eventful, with revolu-tions in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya as well as unrest in Syria, Yemen and Bahrain. Th ese devel-opments had signifi cant impact on travel in the region. Egypt, Yemen and Syria have large residential populations in the UAE, so ethnic traffi c going home for vacations was totally aff ected because nationals were hesitant to return amidst the problems. Th e Arab Spring has not only brought gloom to the region. Th e UAE benefi tt ed because it has been per-

What’s your New Year’s Reso-lution? To enjoy all that Britain has to off er in 2012 — it will be a fantastic year to celebrate with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and London Olympics.

What will be the biggest chal-lenges facing the travel sector in 2012? Th e global recession and threat of a double dip are making travellers cautious as job security is at the forefront of UAE residents minds. Visits home and to family and friends have become even more popular as cost is an issue. Britain is perceived as an expensive destination so we will be communi-cating to trade and consumers that it is possible to visit on a budget.

Asim ArshadCEO, Orient Travel

Carol Maddison Manager UAE, Visit Britain

ceived as a trouble-free haven with tourists diverting here from

other destinations. We saw leisure business

impacted due to the reduced summer pe-riod due to Ramadan.

A number of nationals that booked during the

second Eid break were im-pacted by the fl oods in Th ailand.

What will be the biggest chal-lenges in 2012? Challenges that will be faced by TMC’S in the region are: LCCs going direct to the consumer; a number of online travel agencies have entered the region and are taking away our market share; legacy carriers off er-

What do you predict will be the stand-out trend for the travel industry in 2012? Th e rise of mobile applications combined with ever increasing internet access across the globe is permanently changing consum-ers’ travel habits. Th e AppsAra-bia Mobile Report - MENA indicated that the GCC has the highest incidence of multiple Smartphone use at almost 41% of the population (34% of people have two smart-phones and 7% having three or more). Th is has led to a commensurate increase in app develop-ment and use.

8millionmillion

Travellers ‘switched’ destinations in 2011 according to the ITB World

Travel Trends Report—due to dramatic and unforeseen events

from revolutions in Arab countries, the tsuanami and nuclear disaster in Japan; the euro zone debt crisis; and political and economic dramas

in Greece and Italy.

“Travel, especially holidays will be confi ned to the same traditional getaways, but there seems to be growing popularity of Spain amongst Arab nationals.”

ing specials on their websites and encouraging consumers to go di-rect; corporate business becoming more global is reducing our income because global contracts are made on smaller transaction fees; TMCs continue to do most of their corpo-rate business on direct credit and it is always a challenge to get your payment on a timely basis.

What do you predict will be the biggest trend for the travel industry in 2012? Th e stand-out trend will be technology. TMCs will try to increase their distribu-tion network by having eff ective online booking tools so they can compete with OTAs. Social media will be used in a big way to reach customers and we will see a lot of companies on Facebook, Twitt er, Youtube, etc. which is happening in a big way in the Western world. Holidays will be confi ned to the same traditional getaways, but there

seems to be growing popularity of Spain amongst Arab nationals.

What are your business fore-casts for the year ahead?I personally see the UAE will continue to grow because there is renewed confi dence in the country. We see more interna-tional organisations moving their regional headquarters to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and not to forget the continued expansion and growth of the fi ve UAE carriers.

“The global recession and threat of a double dip are making travellers cautious as job security is at the forefront of UAE residents’ minds.”

edict will berend for thein 2012? e applications ver increasing ross the globe is nging consum-Th e AppsAra-- MENAGCC

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How was 2011 for you? In some ways very diffi cult due to the eco-nomic downturn around the world which impacted business. From a DTT AG perspective it was encour-aging as we have a new initiative underway to align more closely with key government departments relating to our industry.

What were the most memo-rable events of the year? Arabian Travel Market not being overun with real estate companies diluting the value of the event from a travel trade perspective.

What are your aspirations for

How was 2011 for you?An interesting and unexpected year with so many natural disasters it certainly swung the pendulum for places to visit. Asia was down slightly, however we noticed an increase to Bali together with the US, particularly LA and Miami.

What were the most memorable events of the year for you?Th e Travel Collection reached its 10th Anniversary on the 1 October 2011 and it is wonder-

Leo FewtrellGeneral manager, Dubai Travel and Tour Operator Group (DTTAG)

Jacqueline CampbellManaging director, The Travel Collection

2012? Th at DTT AG membership is made mandatory in order to properly regulate the business for the benefi t of owners, agents, the government and the customers.

What will be the biggest challenges facing the travel sector in 2012? I believe the global economy experiencing further depression could impact the travel industry adversely with fewer people taking holidays and business travellers downgrading both numbers of trips made as well as the class travelled. Travel agents could also come under more pres-sure from airlines online activities.

ful to still be here. It has been an adventurous journey to date.

What are your aspirations for 2012? To continue to

develop the brands of Th e Travel Collection

partners, all unique and individual hotels from around the

world which off er unforgett able service

and experiences. We would like to ensure more

GCC residents explore, dream and discover some of them.

What will be the biggest chal-

What do you predict will be the stand-out trend for the travel industry in 2012? Th e Arab Spring will defi nitely

have a major impact one way or another. It could end

up serving the UAE’s in-bound sector very well with other regional destinations being

virtually no-go areas for tourists. Uncertain times

are ahead!

What’s your New Year’s resolution? To increase DTT AG’s membership and off erings to its trade partners.

“The Arab Spring uprisings have changed

the scenario in parts of the Middle East and

currently the future is still very uncertain

in many countries including Syria and

even Egypt itself.”

What are your business fore-casts for the year ahead? It’s hard to say. Given the above scenario we could see a decrease in business on last year. Th e Arab Spring uprisings have changed the scenario in parts of the Middle East and currently the future is still very uncertain in many countries including Syria and even Egypt itself. A positive sign for this region however is the extensive expan-sion plans in the pipeline from the regional airlines.

“For 2012 I believe that the consumer

will still be looking for the best

off ering and wanting to explore places

that they may not have been to for

many years or somewhere new.”

lenges facing the travel sector in 2012? Th e uncertainty on the global fi nancial situation and the re-occurrence of any natural disas-ter which does have an eff ect on a country or a region.

What are your business fore-casts for the year ahead? We hope business will increase, we feel optimistic, however you no longer can plan too far in advance as there are so many external fac-tors which can eff ect this.

What will be the stand-out trend for the travel industry in 2012? For 2012 I believe that

the consumer will still be looking for the best off ering and wanting to try and explore places that they may not have been to for many years or somewhere new. Th e Arab Spring has certainly opened travel to new destinations and I believe that the USA will continue to grow. Spain is an interesting coun-try with a lot to off er and in Asia, Vietnam and Bali we are seeing an interest in growth.

What’s your New Year’s reso-lution? I love to laugh and may 2012 continue to bring satisfaction and happiness to my team and partners of Th e Travel Collection.

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hotelhotel

How was 2011 for you?Th e general outlook of travel growth in Abu Dhabi was a bit disappointing. Th e market became very competitive due to the following: airlines’ online ticket sales; more agents entering the Abu Dhabi market; the general travel volumes have not increased when compared to 2010; the thorny issue of payment is a real obstacle facing travel agents and it is growing; and

How was 2011 for you? 2011 was reasonably good for the region which showed excellent signs of post-recession recovery. Distinct progress in the an-nual business results of most of the Middle East carriers and hoteliers for 2011 as well as the forecast for the following year are encouraging indications for the industry.

What are your aspira-tions for 2012? Th e year ahead is expected to be a promising year for the travel

Hani KhorsheedSecretary General, Travel and Tourism Agencies Council (ATTAC)

Ajith MarathSenior Marketing Executive,Abu Dhabi Travel Bureau

airlines off ering low fares to compare with low cost car-

riers which are increasingly growing in the UAE.

What are your business forecasts for the

year ahead?Th e general

impression is that 2012 will

be the same as 2011. How-

ever, industry experts forecast 2013 as being the year when business will

industry, despite the clouds of the Eurozone crisis and a probable European recession.

What will be the biggest chal-lenges facing the travel sector

in 2012? Th e impact of the present economic crisis

in Western countries and recent political developments in some Middle East

countries will cer-tainly play a vital role.

Th e road ahead will really be challenging.

What do you predict will be

bounce back to good health. So this year agents will exert all eff orts in their means to maintain operations; while waiting impatiently for 2013.

What do you predict will be the stand-out trend for the travel industry in 2012?My advice to all travel agents is to think out of the box and swift ly consider services other than the old system of ticket issuing. Agents worldwide have opted for such change. Travel agent services are countless but they need to train their staff to adopt the changes which would be benefi cial to both customers and the agent.

“The year ahead is expected to be a promising year for the travel industry, despite the clouds of the Eurozone crisis and a probable European recession.”

the stand-out trend for the travel industry in 2012? Th ere will be an encouraging trend in terms of adopting innovations in technology — predominantly em-bracing social media as an infl uen-tial and cost-eff ective business tool in the coming years. Green tourism and eco-friendly business models are also catching momentum in the region. As an aft er-eff ect of the Arab Spring, destination choices are defi nitely going to be changed in the region.

What’s your New Year’s Reso-lution? To undertake innovative challenges with a proficient approach.

64%64%Of Europeans surveyed for the

ITB World Travel Trends Report said the current fi nancial and

economic crisis would NOT impact their travel behaviour in 2012. 27%

aimed to travel more. Only 20% said they would travel less. The most

confi dent for 2012 are Poles, Finns and Norwegians while Spaniards and Italians are most pessimistic.

$145 $145 billionbillion

Forecasted online travel sales in the US by 2015, which are predicted

to grow 46% according to the ITB World Travel Trends Report. More

travellers are using smartphones to manage their entire travel

experience from research to booking.

“This year agents will exert all eff orts in their means to maintaining operations; while waiting impatiently for 2013.”

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How was 2011 for you? 2011 was another successful year for us with over 30% growth in guest volume contributed by all Middle East markets.

What are your aspi-rations for 2012? We are aiming to provide our guests with a wider variety of onboard dining and entertainment options, the latest amenities such as Wi-Fi, i Pod docking station and other exciting onboard activities. Th ese enhancements bring the latest innovations across the fl eet.

How was 2011 for you? 2011 was a good year for Gulfreps. Th e regional travel industry out-bound to the markets that we focus on has grown and this has been refl ected in visitors to our partner properties and destinations.

What were the most memorable events of the year?

On a personal level it was probably diving in the Maldives for

the fi rst time. On a professional level

the continued growth of busi-ness to Ireland

Lakshmi DuraiExecutive Director Royal Caribbean International

Nazar MusaManaging Partner, Gulfreps

Th is way we will deliver even more ‘wow-factor’ aboard all Royal Ca-ribbean ships sailing worldwide.

What will be the big-gest challenges in

2012? With Ramadan advancing in to the summer season, most guests will be

looking at vacationing during the month of

July. Considering chal-lenges with availability during

peak season, our advice to the trade would be to encourage early booking in order to fi nd the right product suitable to their guest.

and the “greening” of the Burj Al Arab hotel for St. Patricks day are clearly highlights.

What will be the biggest chal-lenges facing the travel sector in 2012? Once again Ramadan falling in the middle of summer will create uncertainty. Alongside this the Olympics in the UK in July will create excessive demand in the very high season which may cause sum-mer problems.

What are your business fore-casts for the year ahead?We are aiming to increase our part-ner base over 2012, so we see our business continuing to grow.

rapid increase in the number of fans on our social media in less than a month through our competitions and posts.

What is your New Year’s reso-lution? To inspire more people to try out cruising because it is a great experience!

“With Ramadan advancing in to the summer season, most guests will be looking at vacationing during July. Considering the challenges with availability during peak season, our advice to the trade would be to encourage early booking.”

What are your business fore-casts for the year ahead?With more than 50% of our inven-tory sailing in Europe in 2012, an addition of one more ship Voyager of the Seas to Asia, and a longer season for Brilliance of the Seas in the Gulf plus our extensive Royal ad-vantage program, we look forward for another successful year in 2012.

What do you predict will be the stand-out trend for the travel industry in 2012? Online media is becoming more and more important. Royal Carib-bean Arabia recently re-launched its website, and we have developed social media campaigns across all platforms including Facebook, Twitt er, Youtube and created a blog so that customers can learn more about cruising, interact with Royal Caribbean Arabia and win exciting prizes through competitions on Facebook. We have already seen a

“The emergence of daily deals companies growing their travel off ering has the chance to become a signifi cant marketing and distribution channel for properties around the world.”

What do you predict will be the stand-out trend for the travel industry in 2012? Th e emergence of daily deals companies growing their travel off ering has the chance to become a signifi cant marketing and distribu-tion channel for properties around the world. Alongside this the various Arab elections that will take place in the region (Libya, Egypt etc) may well have an eff ect on travel depending on stability during the process.

What’s your New Year’s resolu-tion? Work hard, play hard and try to lose fi ve kg — not necessarily in that order!

6666millionmillion

Chinese travelled abroad in 2011 and China is poised to become a major

force in world tourism this year said the ITB World Travel Trends Report A key change is the trend

away from group to individual travel.


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INTERVIEW


A HOME-GROWN HOTEL BRAND

With the launch of its fourth Dubai property, Auris First Central Hotel Suites, Tecom; the team behind Auris Hotels tells Arabian Travel News about its plans for

regional domination BY MONIKA CANTY

Auris is a relatively new hotel brand in Dubai — can you give us some back-ground about the company? Hatem Gasmi, managing director: Auris is a local company born and bred in Dubai. We have behind

Auris a number of real estate developers and we can offer the con-do concept where foreigners can own a hotel apartment in Dubai for investment purposes. They can own a portion of the success of Dubai and have a return on the investment because it will be oper-ated as a hotel apartment, so they will get a profit at the end of the year. You can buy it and we operate it on your behalf so you don’t have to keep the apartment locked all year round.Ammar Kanaan, director of operations: Most of the people who buy are not living in Dubai, but they may get a special rate to stay in the apartment, it depends on the arrangement. The idea is to give investors a chance to buy an apartment in Dubai with hassle-free ownership.

You have opened four hotels in Dubai so far — do you have any plans to expand the Auris brand re-gion-wide? Hatem: Yes, we have said from the beginning that we are a re-gional company and we want to grow in the Middle East and North Africa. Right now we have properties under negotiation in Riyadh, Al Khobar, and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, and these will all open in the next two years. Some will be take-overs and some will be new projects. Ammar: In Abu Dhabi we have also have a property on Reem Is-land under negation, which will take another eight months before it is operational. We also have a ‘wish-list’ of areas in the region we are targeting but as yet we have not finalised anything. We are looking at Fujairah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah — especially now in RAK that they are developing the airport and there are quite a

few beach developments happening; we believe there is room for targeting groups and traditional leisure tourism from Europe. At the moment all our hotels are city hotels but we do have a plan to move into resorts in Dubai and in the surrounding region.

How many hotels are you targeting for Auris, and where in the region do you see the most potential for expansion? Ammar: We are aiming to launch 15 hotels by 2015. The whole of North Africa — Egypt, Tunis; Libya; Algeria; Morocco; Sudan — all these countries where they have less hotels than others have big potential for us. South Sudan is interesting as there is a big de-mand for Juba right now and I think it is the right time for inves-tors to be there. Definitely by 2014 we will be in all these counties. Hatem: There have been some big changes happening in the Ara-bic countries and these changes will evolve into big opportunities for hotel operators to come in. We are working to identity poten-tial projects in Libya and Tunisia. In terms of projected timeline we want to do this as soon as possible. The only thing is that we need these countries to stabilise and you need the investments process to restart. We are following and keeping an eye on that and at the right time it will happen.

What markets are you targeting for business for Auris Hotels? Hatem: We are looking at new markets so we can bring in fresh business to this area. With the Auris First Central Hotel Suites, Tecom we have opened a brand new channel for business from the Serbian market, now that Flydubai is flying to Belgrade four times a week. We held a press conference here with Serbian jour-nalists that we invited to stay with us and 22 travel agents from Serbia. Before, Dubai was always attracting the high-end market; but now we are moving into the mid to lower market — which M

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COMMENTINTERVIEW

“We are aiming to launch 15 hotels by 2015. The whole of North Africa has big potential for us.”


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INTERVIEW

used to travel to other areas in the Middle East. Now these areas are closed [due to po-litical reasons] and FlyDubai is cooperating by providing reasonable cost flights so we can bring in groups and FIT business at a reasonable price to Dubai. Ammar: We are also target-ing the Arab market around the region — Saudi, Bahrain, GCC, Syria, Egypt, Jordan because they too have limited options to travel regionally now. From Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and from Saudi there is a big market to Dubai com-ing not only on holidays but also extended weekends. I would say the number of people coming to Dubai has quadrupled. David Milican, general manager, Auris Plaza: You can see through the occupancy levels last sum-mer that the Arab Spring has been an advantage for Dubai. Travellers that would previously consider going to Egypt have come to Dubai, so there’s definite-ly been a pickup.

How is business going since you launched? What challenges do you face with operat-ing in Al Barsha which is already quite crowd-ed with hotels; and Tecom which is still quite a new area? Ammar: The Tecom area was difficult but this has now started to do better, since they have opened the roads and highways and the building sites have disappeared, more population is coming in, there is more traffic; the taxi drivers know it and it is full of life. Oc-cupancy here has picked up 20% over six months ago for all the hotels — they were do-

developing has been very successful. Auris is still a fresh name in the market but we have built an image and loyalty. We have repeated guests. We are trying to give out clients a wide variety of choice — from a three-star hotel to a five-star to hotel apartments. Because of the variety of products we have we can of-fer a menu of prices to clients within the same area. If a cli-ent comes with his family he might be interested in a hotel apartment; but if the same client comes on his own for a short time he might choose one of the hotels.

David Milican, general manager, Auris Plaza Hotel, Al Barsha.

Hatem Gasmi, managing director, Auris Hotel Management.

Ammar Kanaan, director of operations, Auris Hotels.

ing in the 40 – 50 % range, but now it is going into the 80’s. David: In Al Barsha we have very specific types of product and the location of each of the hotels is superb. With the metro and Mall of the Emirates, the feedback we get from the operators we work with is Al Barsha is much more in demand than it was two years ago. I think that Al Barsha has become a destination in itself. If you compare it to the downtown areas with Dubai Mall etc, Al Barsha is much more afford-able but it has the same sort of facilities. Ammar: The hotel apart-ment concept has been booming the world over. It offers more space for people where they can breathe, work and sleep and at the same time they have the hotel services. In a property like this one you cannot see any difference between a hotel and hotel apartment — the only difference is you have more space.

As a young brand how do you stand out in a competitive market? Hatem: The ‘freedom of choice’ philosophy we are

4

15

Auris Hotel properties in Dubai

Hotels targeted to open by 2015

AURIS HOTELS

• Auris First Central

Hotel Suites, Tecom

• Auris Hotel Apart-

ment, Deira

• Auris Boutique Hotel

Apartments, Al Barsha

• Auris Lodge, Al Barsha

OPENING 2012:

• Metro Central Hotel

Suites, Tecom

• Auris Plaza Hotel, Al

Barsha

David: From a staffing point of view we are trying to offer guests a relaxed at-mosphere. The Auris Plaza will be a five-star hotel but one of the key criteria when recruiting is personality. We can train them to learn the skills we require so we have been looking for personality over experience to try and get that message over. Hatem: We would like peo-ple to feel at home with us. We don’t want to offer a hotel room where guests need an IT engineer to operate the curtain. It’s the simple life —we don’t want to be prisoners of technology.

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Auris Plaza HotelCentrally located in Dubai’s Al Barsha district, and within a short walk

from the Mall of The Emirates and a short drive to key landmarks in the emirate including Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai Marina, Dubai Mall,

Emirates Golf Club, Internet and Dubai Media City, Auris Plaza is a 5-star hotel comprising 337 luxurious rooms and suites with a contemporary

design fused with a digital lifestyle.

P.O. Box 390531, Dubai, UAETel: +971 4 450 8739 Fax: +971 4 450 8743 Book on: www.auris-hotels.com

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2012 TOP 10 HOTEL OPENINGS

Arabian Travel News picks the hottest new openings expected to hit the Middle East market this year

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01JW MARRIOTT MARQUIS DUBAI

The Arabian Travel News top tip for the hottest hotel launch of 2012 goes to the JW

Marriott Marquis Dubai. Already, the two striking towers that complete this enormous

1,614-room hotel make a considerable impact on Sheikh Zayed Road and the fi rst 807

rooms due to open in Q4 2012 will soar high above Dubai’s Business Bay area. Not

only will the hotel add signifi cant inventory to Dubai — when complete it will be the

emirate’s largest hotel, exceeding Atlantis’ 1373 rooms and 166 suites — it will also

bring with it an abundance of restaurants, bars and lounges. These will cover a variety

of cuisines, with restaurants dedicated to Italian, Thai, Japanese, Lebanese and Indian

foods, with the Indian restaurant headed up by Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochar,

famed for re-inventing Indian cuisine. Other highlights among the 13 outlets are a

fi ne dining steakhouse on the 62nd fl oor, Bar 71 located on the 71st fl oor and a Jazz

Club, restaurant and lounge with a capacity of 262 seats.

In addition, the hotel looks set to capitalise on Dubai’s growing MICE market, with

4015m² of conference and event space including two ballrooms and 22 breakout

rooms. The largest ballroom has a maximum meeting space of 1400m². The hotel will

also off er an outdoor pool, health and leisure club and Saray Spa.

Ultimately, the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai carries a title bestowed only on

the fi nest properties in the Marriott portfolio and all eyes will be on general manager

Rupprecht Queitsch as he appoints his executive team and drives the entrance of yet

another Marriott International brand to the Middle East.

1,1641,164rooms making

it Dubai’s largest hotel!

02 One of Abu Dhabi’s most exciting

upcoming properties is a project

from Tourism Development and

Investment Company, which last

year was the driving force behind

luxury launches from Park Hyatt

and Westin in the UAE capital. Also

last year, the developer announced

a change of operator for its Eastern

Mangroves integrated hotel, ma-

rina, retail and residential destina-

tion, replacing Angsana by Banyan

Tree with Anantara — the Thailand-

based operator that has already

made a splash in the UAE with the

luxurious Qasr Al Sarab and Desert

Islands resorts.

Designed by Northpoint Ar-

chitects from South Africa with

interiors by AK Design, Dubai, there

are 22 rooms and suites across fi ve

levels; a luxury spa with Arabic

Hammams; four outlets including

Thai restaurant Pachaylen, roof top

lounge Impressions; an infi nity

pool; and a ballroom for 350 guests.

The highlight of this hotel, how-

ever, has to be its environmental

credentials as the entire Eastern

Mangroves development has been

designed to protect and enhance

the unique mangrove setting — a

PH-balanced reef is even being

introduced into the channel, based

on technology developed in Venice

and Italy, in order to encourage

natural marine life.

Eastern Mangroves features the

densest area of mangroves in Abu

Dhabi, covering 8.5 sq km and is

home to more than 200 fi sh spe-

cies and 50 bird species. TDIC has

planted 60,000 mangrove seedlings

in front of the hotel development to

enhance the natural mangroves.

The hotel operation is being over-

seen by Michel Koopman, director

of operations in the Middle East for

Anantara Hotels & Resorts as well

as general manager for Eastern

Mangroves Hotel & Spa by Anan-

tara, and is scheduled to open in

the second quarter of 2012.

EASTERN MANGROVES HOTEL & SPA BY ANANTARA

1.2km1.2kmstretch of Abu

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Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts is a new luxury hotel

brand from Hilton Worldwide, inspired by New York’s

Waldorf=Astoria, and in the words of the company’s

founder, Conrad Hilton, “the greatest of them all.”

To date, the brand has one fl ag in the Middle East in

Jeddah but in the fourth quarter of 2012, a second is set

to open, this time in Ras Al Khaimah in partnership with

the Al Hamra Group.

The hotel, designed as a palace, will be located in the

newest and most upscale area of Al Hamra, west of Ras

Al Khaimah and approximately 40 minutes away from

Dubai International Airport. It will be part of a mixed-use

development that includes an 18-hole championship

golf course, a 600 metre private beach and convention

centre with capacity for 3,000 people.

The 349-room, Arabian-themed palace hotel will off er

a number of outdoor swimming pools, a 450 sq metre

ballroom, and a varied choice of 10 restaurants and bars,

of which four will off er fi ne dining. A bespoke spa expe-

rience has also been developed for the property.

The Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah will further add to

the choice of hotels in Ras Al Khaimah and increase the

emirate’s tourism experience, as well as signalling a vote

of confi dence to potential investors and developers.

WALDORF ASTORIA RAS AL KHAIMAH

ST. REGIS DOHA03

04

Starwood’s deluxe St.Regis brand is continuing its Middle Eastern journey, follow-

ing the regional launch in Abu Dhabi at the end of last year, with the debut of the

St. Regis Doha in spring 2012.

The hotel features 336 guest rooms including 70 suites and two presidential

suites, all featuring sea views, a Remède Spa, oceanfront cabanas, 160 metres of

private beach front and over 4000 sq metres of meeting and event space, includ-

ing the largest ballroom in Doha to off er natural daylight, with a grand terrace and

extensive views over the Gulf. Service forms an essential part of the product, with

every guest being provided with their own butler for the duration of their stay.

According to general manager Tareq Derbas, food and fi ne dining will be

among the most important attractions at the hotel — and it’s easy to see why.

St. Regis has secured partnerships with celebrity, Michelin-starred chef Gordon

Ramsay, who is creating a casual and a fi ne-dining restaurant at the property;

internationally acclaimed Cantonese restaurant brand Hakkasan; and Lebanon’s

Al-Sultan Brahim, reputed for off ering the highest standards of traditional Leba-

nese cuisine. Plus, following the agreement of a global partnership between St.

Regis Hotels & Resorts and Jazz at Lincoln Center (JALC), the hotel will be home to

Jazz at Lincoln Center Doha — the fi rst edition of the famous New York City club

outside of the US.

In total, there are 10 outlets, managed by executive chef Brenadan McGowan,

fi ne dining chef de cuisine Gilles Bosquet, who achieved a Michelin star at his

own restaurant in France, and a team of 100 culinary associates.

1010restaurants

including one by celeb chef Gordon

Ramsey!

600m600mthe length of the

private beach in front of this palatial hotel W

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After several false starts,

this hotel will mark the

entrance of the luxury

Turkish Rixos brand to

the Middle East when it

opens in January 2012.

Rixos The Palm’s pres-

tigious address on The

Palm Jumeriah neigh-

bours HH Sheikh Mo-

hammad Al Maktoum’s

Palace and Sofouh Road

and in keeping with the

surroundings, the hotel’s

highlight is its beautiful,

spacious outdoor area.

Just 30% of the total

available land is used

for the indoor facilities,

with the remaining 70%

generously dedicated to

gardens and a stunning

beach promenade area.

The hotel consists of

234 rooms and suites,

33 residential apart-

ments, and multiple

F&B venues. Every room

off ers views of the Ara-

bian Gulf. The interior

design is described as

modern and minimalist,

although the entrance,

main lobby and open

balconies resemble Middle

Eastern architecture.

RIXOS THE PALM, DUBAI

NIKKI BEACH RESORT & SPA, THE PEARL QATAR

Who would have thought that

Qatar would be the location for

the fi rst ever hotel from Nikki

Beach? Famous for its sizzling

white parties in Marbella and its

decadent St. Tropez lifestyle, the

Nikki Beach brand is synony-

mous with sophistication and

style, excitement and entertain-

ment. This is precisely why

the team behind the boutique

Nikki Beach Resort & Spa The

Pearl — Qatar will suit the city of

Doha, where The Pearl is quietly

transforming into the place to

be seen, claims the team behind

the project.

Already, fashion brands that

line The Pearl are clamoring to

partner with the resort, the fi rst

phase of which will open in the

second quarter of 2012. General

manager, Caroline Filtzinger,

joined Nikki Beach in December

and recruitment is well under-

way, with a unique casting held

in Dubai at the end of last year.

The resort spans over 160-lin-

ear metres of ocean and beach

frontage and promises to be the

fi rst of its kind to put forward

state-of-the-art entertainment

within a luxury resort. In total,

there will be 67 apartments and

suites at the boutique property,

with 24 suites due to come on

line in the fi rst phase.

Ranging from one to four

bedrooms, the 24 suites will be

furnished with pure and con-

temporary elements to reinforce

a timeless style while also incor-

porating playful details.

They off er unobstructed

views of the sea and the Doha

city skyline, spacious living ar-

eas and dining rooms, equipped

kitchens with customisable

fridge contents, wi-fi access,

complimentary movies and

music on demand.

Facilities include the Nikki

Beach Club concept, with its

plush beds, lavish parties and

exceptional entertainment, as

well as the Satine restaurant and

Envy Ultra VIP lounge.

This hotel could certainly be

the place to put The Pearl Qatar

on the map.

06

05

160m160mof ocean and

beach frontage on The Pearl

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With its traditional design style, featur-

ing ambient courtyards, wind towers

and meandering pathways, Rotana’s

fi rst opening in Salalah, southern Oman,

brings an authentic Arabian feel which

blends in perfectly with the surroundings

of this ancient coastal town.

Known as the ‘perfume capital of

Arabia’ Salalah is already a popular tourist

destination due to its natural attractions

including beautiful beaches, nearby

mountains and abundant frankincense

trees which line the mountain wadis. But

the luxury Salalah Rotana Resort & Spa

is no doubt set to raise the bar as far its

hospitality sector is concerned.

Opening its doors in Q4 this year,

the fi ve-star resort will off er guests 400

luxury rooms and suites — including

255 standard rooms; 120 Superior King

rooms; 11 Junior King Suites; nine Executive

King Suites and four Ambassador Suites.

The resort will feature a wide choice of

bars and restaurants, a health and fi tness

centre, private beach and a Zen Spa.

Separated into various buildings, the

main building contains a lobby café, an

all-day dining restaurant, a beach res-

taurant and pool bar as well as a specialty

restaurant.

The MICE sector will be well-catered

for at the property with two grand ball-

rooms and three meeting rooms.

For leisure activities guests will be able

to make use of the Bodylines fi tness cen-

tre; and the kids will be well-taken care of

at the Kids Club while parents retreat to

the Zen Spa for some relaxation.

SALALAH ROTANA RESORT & SPA07

400400luxury rooms

with an authentic Arabian design

KEMPINSKI AL OTHMAN HOTEL AL KHOBAR

08Housed inside the prestigious new twin tower

headquarters of Al Othman Holding Company, the

Kempinski Al Othman Hotel Al Khobar is gearing up

to become the leading luxury hotel in The Kingdom

of Saudi Arabia’s oil-rich Eastern Province when it

throws open its sleek, glass doors at the end of 2012.

Located just 20 minutes from the King Fahd

Causeway to Bahrain, 45 minutes from King Fahd

International Airport, and a stone’s throw from

Saudi ARAMCO and the Jubail Industrial City — the

hotel will be a top choice for executives doing busi-

ness in the area. The 141 rooms, include 57 suites,

two Presidential Suites and an opulent 250 sq metre

Royal Suite, in addition to 20 serviced apartments.

Leisure facilities include a fully-equipped gym,

swimming pool and Kempinski’s luxury Resense

Spa brand housed beneath the central plaza of

the complex. Corporate guests will have use of an

impressive suite of function rooms comprising two

1,080 sq metre banquet halls, a spacious pre-function

area, four meeting rooms and business centre.

The property is set to make its mark on the re-

gion’s dining scene, with the most extensive F&B of-

fering of any hotel in the Eastern Province. A total of

nine restaurants and cafes will include a European

all-day dining experience, a grill restaurant, Asian

speciality eatery, an ‘eccentric’ Sky Bridge Cafe posi-

tioned between the two towers, a Roof Garden cafe,

patisserie, a pool bar, and an Executive Lounge.

9F&B outlets, the

most extensive ar-ray in the Eastern

Province

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4‘destination’ res-

taurants including a signature

French Catalan.

Already a well-known name in Saudi Arabia, thanks

to its three properties — Rosewood Corniche,

Jeddah; Al Faisaliah Hotel and Hotel Al Khozama,

Riyadh — Texan brand Rosewood Hotels & Resorts

will this year make its fi rst venture into UAE territory

with Rosewood Abu Dhabi.

The luxury, high-rise hotel and residence is

located on Sowwah Island, Abu Dhabi’s new Central

Business District. The property will feature 189 guest

rooms and suites off ering jaw-dropping views of the

surrounding water and city; as well as 137 serviced

residences, a Sense Spa, and a plush shopping centre.

An impressive F&B off ering will feature four ‘desti-

nation’ restaurants overseen by Chef Wolfgang Eberle

— previously executive chef at Hotel Al Khozama

in Riyadh — including a signature French Catalan

restaurant and a lobby lounge which Rosewood says is

destined to become the “the living room of Abu Dhabi”.

Due to open in the fourth quarter of 2012, the hotel

has recruited industry veteran Luigi Romaniello, an

experienced Rosewood hand who has been with the

brand for 11 years to launch the property as manag-

ing director.

ROSEWOOD ABU DHABI

09

THE RITZ-CARLTON ABU DHABI, GRAND CANAL

Completing the Arabian Travel News top

10 openings in 2012 is The Ritz-Carlton

Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal. The 447-room

hotel, owned by Abu Dhabi National Ho-

tels and designed by Otak International,

will be the brand’s fi rst in the UAE capital.

Inspired by 15th to early 17th century

Renaissance architecture and the urban

planning of the city of Venice, the hotel

consists of 10 stately buildings arranged in

a crescent formation, complete with art-

fully designed water features throughout

the 220,000 sq metre property.

The landmark design is matched by an

array of features, including 85 one and

two-bedroom villas ranging from 90-130

sq metre, bringing the total key count to

567; The Ritz-Carlton Club private execu-

tive fl oor; and a range of outlets covering

Italian, Asian, Middle East cuisines, as well

a speciality steak and seafood restaurant.

Leisure facilities include a 2000 sq me-

tre, ESPA spa with 20 private treatments

rooms and its own entrance, a 1600 sq

metre outdoor swimming pool, a private

beach overlooking the Grand Canal, a fi t-

ness centre and outdoor tennis courts.

For weddings, conferences, events

and product launches, the hotel provides

2040 sq metre of fl exible space, includ-

ing a magnifi cent ballroom along with

an additional 11 meeting rooms.

10

1,600600m2the massive outdoor

swimming pool is one of many design

highlights.

OTHER HOTELS TO WATCH OUT FOR…

Fairmont The Palm — The 372-room luxury resort with Willow Stream

Spa will further boost the Palm’s Jumeirah’s iconic destination status.

Millennium Hotel Amman — Millennium & Copthorne Middle

East’s fi rst hotel in Jordan.

Sofi tel Abu Dhabi Corniche — Accor’s fi rst in the UAE capital

for its luxury brand.

Conrad Dubai — The 559-room hotel is slated to open in 2012

after a long delay. It will be the fi rst Conrad branded hotel from

Hilton Worldwide in the Middle East.

Palazzo Versace Dubai — Another hotel beset by delays, but this

fashion branded property is fi nally expected to launch in 2012.

Auris Plaza Hotel Dubai – The local brand is launching its fi rst fi ve-star

property in Al Barsha this year.

Fairmont The Palm

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CONTENTS


The latest product and supplier news and how to sell features

� e knowledge

HOTELS New openings around the world this month

TECHNOLOGYTech news and columnist Faisal Memon, Illusions.

AIRLINESA round-up of all the new airline routes

CRUISENew ships; itinerary up-dates and cruise news

HOW TO SELL: CALIFORNIAHow to travel the Sunshine State in style

PACKAGE PLANNERHoliday Factory agents plan a perfect honeymoon

Raghda Omar, Micco Travel is our ‘Agent of the Month’. Turn to p.48 to fi nd out why she is a “gem of a human being” .

3034

3233

36

46

42TRAVEL AGENTS TAKE TO

THE SADDLE IN COUNTY DONEGAL

DESTINATIONSTourism board updates to help you sell more29

FAM REPORT: IRELANDAgents feel the call of the wild in County Donegal42

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UK flights to be hit by travel tax hike

Passengers flying out of the UK

from April will pay higher duties

under a UK government plan to

bolster tax revenues. In a move

that has been blasted by the tour-

ism industry, an 8% rise in Air

Passenger Duty (APD) will see

travellers flying to Egypt, Dubai

and other Middle East destinations

from the UK pay up to $253 in tax.

The tax on economy departures

to Middle East destinations will

increase from £60 to £65 ($101),

while premium economy, busi-

ness and first-class passengers will

see the duty increase from £150 to

£162 ($253). The travel industry is

lobbying the UK government to

reverse the decision, warning that

the tax makes the UK uncompeti-

tive and its harm to the economy

will outstrip revenues raised.

Abu Dhabi selected for major

theme park location

Plans have been unveiled

to build a major new theme

park in Abu Dhabi, with

more than 25 rides on five

themed islands. Adventure

World Abu Dhabi will be

built in partnership with

Adventure World Poland

which has similar plans

for Warsaw. Backers said it

would be one of the largest

year-round theme parks in

the Middle East. A total of

25 attractions will include a

water park, entertainment

area with restaurants, shops

and clubs, super coasters,

wave pools, interactive

fountains, boat cruises and

carousels.

Visit Britain reports jump in

online training sign ups

Visit Britain has reported a

jump in registration for its

free online travel trade train-

ing programme. 700 agents

across the GCC registered for

the ‘BritAgent’ E-Learning

Programme in November.

The agents have until 23

January 2012 to complete

the course. Registered users

of the programme in the

UAE currently stand at 304.

Graduates of the programme

reached 127 since its launch.

NEWS IN BRIEF

UAE AGENT FAM GROUP VISITS MALTA A group of travel trade from

Dubai visited Malta on an

annual fam trip organised

by the Consulate General

of Malta in Dubai and Malta

Tourism Authority.

Supported by Emirates

Airline, the trip was designed

to maximise opportunities in

Malta to UAE travel agents.

The select group of agents

represented 10 of Dubai’s

leading travel agencies.

The focus of the trip was to

showcase Malta’s MICE sec-

tor to the UAE agents and its

ability to cater to events of all

sizes. The itinerary involved

exploring the local villages of

Birgu on segways, a cheese

making demonstration and

visits to unique attractions

such as the Silent City of

Mdina and the sister island

of Gozo.

Anthony Tabone, consul

general of Malta said: “Malta

offers the ideal blend of a

modern lifestyle in a histori-

cal setting. The richness of

cultures, cuisine and sensi-

tivity to other cultures is seen

in the Maltese people.

“Our link from Dubai to

Malta on a daily basis via

Emirates Airline supports

our efforts to promote the

uniqueness of the island.

Coupled with a fully English-

speaking population.

“Malta is becoming the

number one choice by mul-

tinational companies to host

annual events and confer-

ences,” he added.

SEYCHELLES TOURISM IN TIE-UP WITH EMIRATES Seychelles Tourism Board and Emirates Airline

signed a cooperation agreement to pledge to

work together on future campaigns to promote

the destination. Alain St.Ange, CEO, Seychelles

Tourism signed the MOU with Sheikh Majid

Al Mualla, Emirates senior vice president, com-

mercial operations for West Asia & Indian Ocean at the Dubai Air

Show in December. Al Mualla said: “Renewing our commitment

to the Seychelles demonstrates that Emirates’ partnership with the

archipelago and the Seychelles Tourism Board is a successful one.”

Flight costs out of the UK will increase as the government is raising Air Passenger Duty by 8% in April.

Round-up: DESTINATIONS

BR

OC

HU

RE

OF

TH

E M

ON

TH

The holiday division of Etihad Airways offers a comprehensive range of holiday packages from its home base, Abu Dhabi. The current programme features a choice of more than 210 hotels and 35 destinations in 17 countries, in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and North America. Complete packages include fly drive car rental, special tours and cruises.

Etihad Holidays Etihad HolidaysAsia, Middle East, Australia

2011 - 2012

Thierry Antinori, Alain St.Ange & Majid Al Mualla

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Dubai hotels see re-turn to peak levels

opening of the month

87.3% 73.8%

47.4

%

Occupancy in Dubai hotels in October

Occupancy in Jeddah in October

Occupancy in Cairo in October (34.4% lower than the previous year as the Arab Spring takes its toll)

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Hilton ApArtments

open in DubAi

hilton opened its

third property in

Dubai, the hilton Ju-

meirah hotel apart-

ments on Jumeirah

beach and the Walk

— linked by foot-

bridge to hilton Dubai

Jumeirah resort.

the property’s 364

contemporary stu-

dios, open-plan

duplex lofts

and stylish

two-, three-

or four-

bedroom

apartments are

each appointed with

a fully-equipped

kitchen, washing

machine, lounge area

and wireless internet.

the apartments also

offer an all-day mar-

ket-style restaurant,

relaxed café and a roof

top terrace as well

as outdoor pool and

gym.in addition, the

hilton resort’s private

beach, pool, spa and

nine restaurants and

bars are easily acces-

sible to guests. the

resort’s large ball-

room, four meeting

rooms and executive

lounge whilst a sepa-

rate business centre

is available for the

exclusive use of the

apartments. Guests

can also make use of

the shared gardens,

water sports centre,

kids club, playground,

shaded kids pool and

babysitting services.

rotAnA opens

fourtH Centro in

Abu DHAbi

the 229-room Centro

al manhal abu Dhabi

offers two meeting

rooms, a gym and a

swimming pool.

several dining

options are

available includ-

ing ‘C.taste’, an

all-day buffet-style

restaurant, C.mondo

bar and C.Deli, a

24-hour take-away

dining concept. ro-

tana intends to open

25 Centro by rotana

properties across the

mena region by 2014.

Centro’s design flex-

ibility allows for easy

adaptation to a wide

variety of cities.

HoliDAy inn tAkes

over bur DubAi

Hotel

interContinental

hotels Group (ihG)

has taken over the

management of a

210-bedroom hotel

in Dubai’s bur Dubai

embassy district —formerly excelsior

Creek hotel. the holi-

day inn bur Dubai-

embassy District has

Dubai metro,

burjuman

Centre and

the Creek

on its door-

step. the the

fifth holiday inn

hotel in the uae has

five fully-equipped

conference rooms,

a large ballroom for

up to 500 guests;

high-speed internet

in every room and

across all public areas;

a gym, the anwar

restaurant and the

two Guineas pub.

movenpiCk beACH resort Al kHobAr the ninth hotel to be opened

by the mövenpick brand in

saudi arabia, the mövenpick

beach resort al khobar, offers

36 three-bedroom duplex villas

– including two royal villas each

with its own spacious majlis – two

restaurants, a spa and fitness centre, a

free-form swimming pool, a fun kids

club, lush landscaping as well as a

spectacular private beach.

the resort is 45 minutes from Dam-

mam international airport. an ideal

family resort, family-focused attrac-

tions include a kids Club, the retreat

Wellness Center & spa featuring sepa-

rate rooms for men and women, and

water sports and activities.

new openings

Luxury Chedi to launch in sharjah the luxury Chedi hotel brand,

which currently operates in

oman, will open in sharjah

in 2015. sharjah investment

and Development authority

(shurooq) announced the signing of the contract with

General hotel management (Ghm) to bring the Chedi to

khorfakkan, sharjah. the Chedi khorfakkan resort, which

represents an investment of more than us$ 226 million

(aeD350m) will join the other Chedi hotels in thailand,

oman, and bali. the resort will comprise three compo-

nents — the fort, the hilltown, and town square and feature

170 suites, restaurants, spa, gym, business facilities and re-

ception. an onsite dive centre will run daily trips to some of

uae’s best dive sites such as shark island,and three rocks.

occupancy in Abu Dhabi hotels in october

82.8%

neW!

Round-up: REGIONAL HOtELs

Centro Abu Dhabi

Hilton Jumeirah Hotel Apartments

Holiday Inn

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ROUND-UP / HOTELS


OPENING OF THE MONTH

DUSIT DEBUTS IN

THE MALDIVES

Located on Mudh-

dhoo Island, Dusit

Thani Maldives is a

35-minute seaplane

ride from the Inter-

national Airport and a

10-minute speedboat

ride from the new

domestic airport.

The resort’s cen-

trepiece is its 750sq

m infinity swim-

ming pool created

around a shapely

central Cyprus

tree. Dusit

International

CEO Chanin Do-

navanik explained:

“Our first foray into

the Maldives is a very

exciting addition to

our growing portfolio

and represents a mile-

stone for the Dusit

brand. The resort will

combine the rich

flavours of Thai hos-

pitality with the stun-

ning tropical beauty

of the Maldives.”

ACCOR ADDS MO-

ROCCAN HOTEL

TO MGALLERY

Accor has added the

Medina Essaouira Ho-

tel Thalassa sea and

spa in Morocco to its

MGallery collection of

upscale properties.

The 117-room hotel,

set on the historic

city’s sea front, will

be refurbished over

the next six months.

Facilities include three

restaurants, two bars,

two meeting rooms,

an outdoor pool and

a thalassotherapy

centre, which features

a hammam, Jacuzzi,

indoor pool, solarium

and fitness area.

MGallery was

launched in 2008 and

comprises 50 upscale

hotels located around

the world.

SOFITEL TO OPEN

CHINA HOTEL

Sofitel Luxury Hotels

will open a 325-room

hotel in the boom-

ing city of Foshan,

in 2014, which, at

236 meters tall, will

become the city’s

tallest building. Sofitel

Foshan will feature

325 hotel rooms and

suites, four restau-

rants, three bars,

a large pillar-free

ballroom, ten meet-

ing rooms of various

sizes, the group’s sig-

nature So SPA, fitness

center, yoga room,

beauty salon and an

indoor pool.

WORLD’S FIRST IBIS

BUDGET OPENS IN

MOROCCO

Accor has opened

its first Ibis Budget

branded hotel in

Tangier, Morocco.

The opening signals

the start of the global

conversion of all Ac-

cor’s Etap hotels to

the new Ibis Budget

brand. The entire

network, a total of 518

hotels in 17 coun-

tries, will gradually be

converted to the Ibis

Budget banner.

Accor has also an-

nounced a growth

target of 600 new Ibis

Budget hotels in 20

countries by 2015. The

move is part of the

company’s recently

launched “brand dy-

namisation” strategy.

JUMEIRAH VITTAVELI RESORTThe ultra-luxury resort

catering for couples,

families and small

groups is the second Ju-

meirah property to open

in the Maldives. Located

20 minutes by speedboat

from Malé International Airport,

Jumeirah Vittaveli offers 91 villa-

suites, each with a private pool.

The resort introduces a variety of

accommodation options on the

island and over water, from 184sq

m to 800sq m. Highlights include

three restaurants, a bar, a 1080 sq

m Talise Spa and comprehensive

facilities for young children and

teenagers such as a Sinbad’s Kids

Club and children’s menus in all

three restaurants.

NEW OPENINGS

NEW!

Round-up: GLOBAL HOTELS

Four Seasons launches 15-minute room service

Jumeirah Group takes over luxury hotel in Rome

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts has

revamped its room service offer-

ing worldwide to meet the needs

of time-starved travellers. The new

concept will be available at all 86

Four Seasons hotels. Four Seasons

Hotels and Resorts executive vice

president, global product and innova-

tion, Christopher Hunsberger said: “15-Minute Room Service

provides quick and delicious meals for those who want it

right away. Ideally, every meal would be enjoyed at leisure,

but at times we really just need to grab a bite quickly — and

there’s no reason that it can’t be freshly-made with quality

ingredients, and entirely delicious.”

Jumeirah Group has welcomed its first

hotel in Italy to its growing European port-

folio — the Grand Hotel Via Veneto, Rome.

The privately-owned hotel will be inte-

grated into Jumeirah’s global portfolio in

early 2012 and rebranded Jumeirah Grand

Hotel Via Veneto. Included in the Condé

Nast Traveller 2011 Hot List as one of the

101 most beautiful hotels in the world, the hotel offers 122 rooms and suites,

two fine dining restaurants, an Aqva City Spa, an art collection of oil paint-

ings and lithographs from artists including Picasso and Dalí, while the hotel

design comprises sleek wood, Murano glass chandeliers, black granite floors

and travertine stairways. The centerpiece is a 500 sq m Royal Suite with two

bedrooms, and a private marble hammam.

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SAFI AIRWAYS EMIRATES

GULF AIRAIR FRANCE

FLYDUBAI

Has added a new flight from Abu Dhabi to Kabul to its

growing route network. The new route will begin opera-

tion on the 5 January 2012, with four flights per week,

and will be flown on Safi’s newly acquired A320 which

has 12 business and 132 economy class seats. Afghani-

stan leading International airline is the first Afghan

airline to be compliant with the safety standards of the

international Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

Is launching daily ser-

vices to Rio de Janeiro the

2014 FIFA World Cup host

city from 3 January 2012.

Emirates’ Rio de Janeiro

flight will be a linked ser-

vice with Buenos Aires,

meaning that customers

in South America can

travel easily between the

two cities. The service

will be operated by a Boe-

ing 777-300ER aircraft,

arranged in a three-class

configuration, offering

eight First Class Private

Suites, 42 lie-flat beds

in Business Class, and a

Has expanded into East Af-

rica with the launch of four

non-stop weekly flights to

Entebbe, Uganda. Gulf Air

will operate an Airbus A320

in a two-class configura-

tion of 16 seats in Falcon Gold and 120 in Economy with

the capacity to carry four tons of freight. Gulf Air also

recently announced the launch of services to Juba, in

South Sudan starting 7 Feb 2012, bringing to three the

airline’s destinations within East Africa.

Has added a new daily A380

service between Dubai and

Paris to its destination net-

work. The service began on De-

cember 5, 2011 departing from Paris-Charles de Gaulle,

adding to the flights currently offered by Air France and

KLM from Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

For the 2011-12 winter season, Air France will operate

six Airbus A380 aircraft from Paris-Charles de Gaulle,

serving five destinations: New York-JFK, Johannesburg,

Montreal, Washington and Dubai.

Has inaugurated ser-

vices to its 46th destina-

tion – Serbia’s White

City, Belgrade. The new

route is flydubai’s 12th

destination in Central

and Eastern Europe, a region key to the airline’s develop-

ment strategy. The route marks Flydubai’s entry into

Serbia and further strengthens flydubai’s international

route network which currently spans 46 destinations in

27 countries across the GCC, Middle East, North Africa,

the Indian Subcontinent, Asia and the fringes of Europe.

FLY DUBAIBelgrade

AIR FRANCEDubai

SAFI AIRWAYSAbudhabi

EMIRATES Rio de Janeiro

NEW ROUTES

NEW ROUTES

Round-up: AIRLINES

BAHRAIN AIR HAILS SUCCESS OF ONBOARD RAFFLE Bahrain Air’s on-board

raffle initiative, where

passengers can win a

ticket to any destina-

tion on the network, is

causing a “sensation in

the skies”, and may be

extended beyond the

December 31 deadline

or even re-introduced

early next year ac-

cording to the airline’s

marketing manager

Naeem Mahamoor.

The promotion was

launched on 1 No-

vember 2011 to give

customers the oppor-

tunity to win a ticket

on every flight. Raffle

coupons are distrib-

uted as passangers

board the flight. Cabin

crew conduct the raffle,

a passenger draws the

winning coupon and

the captain announces

the winner.

“Our passengers are

being entertained by

the cabin crew and

everyone is having fun

and applauding when

the captain presents

the lucky winner with

their coupon,” said

Mahamoor.

“We want to be seen

as an innovative and

proactive airline and

will be introducing

more campaigns like

this one in the future,

to encourage the trav-

elling public to fly with

Bahrain Air.”

spacious cabin in Econo-

my Class with 304 seats.

EK 247 will leave Dubai

daily at 0705hrs and ar-

rive at Rio’s Antônio Car-

los Jobim International

Airport at 1537hrs. Rio de

Janeiro and Buenos Aires

are the second and third

points to be added to

Emirates’ South Ameri-

can network.

GULF AIRSaudi Arabia


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Round-up: CRUISE

Two major cruise liners made maiden

voyages to Abu Dhabi last month

boosting the emirate’s target of

receiving 77 ships this season.

Arriving in Mina Zayed was

German cruise line’s AIDA

Cruises AIDABlu. With 600

crew and a passenger capacity of

2,500, AIDABlu’s stop was part of

an Arabian Gulf itinerary which begins

and ends in Dubai. Mina Zayed also wel-

comed Costa Cruises’ Costa Favalosa, with

a complement of 1,100 crew and a 3,500 pas-

senger capacity. This ship is billed as “the most

advanced” liner ever deployed in the Middle East.

ADTA estimates upwards of 200,000 cruise passengers

will visit Abu Dhabi this season with passenger expendi-

ture substantially boosted by the estimated 50,000 cruise

liner crew on board the ships.

Two new ships sail to Abu Dhabi

The coming cruise season will see an

estimated 67,000 international cruise

passengers arrive in Sharjah’s east coast,

on Costa Cruises and Seabourn ships.

Costa Classica was the first cruise

liner to arrive in Sharjah’s Khor Fakkan

port in November with 1,700 passen-

gers onboard. Costa Favalosa with 3,800

passengers also made its maiden call at

Khor Fakkan port on December 19. Last

year more than 1.5 million tourists visited

Sharjah — a number which is expected to

be significantly higher this year.

Royal Caribbean Cruises saw

a 30% boost in bookings

from the Middle East

region for its three

global brands — Royal

Caribbean International,

Celebrity Cruises and

Azamara Club Cruises —

from January through October

2011 compared to the same period last

year. The majority of guests, around 60%,

sailed seven nights, while interest in

longer sailings is increasing with many

guests choosing two consecutive sailings

such as seven-night Eastern and seven-

night Western Caribbean sailings. Europe

was the most popular cruise destination

for Middle East travellers with approxi-

mately 70% of bookings from the region

for European cruises. The second most

popular destination was the Caribbean.

Costa RomantiCa gets RadiCal RefuRb Costa Cruises’ Costa

Romantica is undergoing

a radical US $118.8million

(90 million euro) refurb

at a shipyard in Genoa.

The work, which is due

for completion in Febru-

ary 2012, involves the

construction of two new

half-deck extensions, 111

new cabins, plus 120 cabins

and suites with private

balconies. The

ship’s total guest

capacity will

increase from

1,697 to 1,800,

the number of

cabins from 678 to

789, and her new gross

tonnage will be around

56,000. The objective will

be to offer a renewed cruise

experience. The ship’s

name will be changed to

the Costa neoRomantica.

msC to bRing laRgeR ship to uae MSC Cruises, which is

currently home-porting its

MSC Lirica in Abu Dhabi,

annnounced that next

season it will deploy its

even larger, 867-cabin MSC

Opera in Abu Dhabi. The

strategic repositioning of

MSC Opera, which is due to

sail 25 week-long cruises

in the 2012/2013 season

will add a further 13,000

passengers to the 41,000

cruise arrivals MSC Lirica

is expected to bring to Abu

Dhabi this season.

CUNARD TO OFFER WEDDINGS ONbOARDCunard Line will offer its

guests the opportunity to

be married on board for

the first time in its 171-year

history. beginning Spring

2012, a luxury cruise aboard

Queen Mary 2, Queen Vic-

toria and Queen Elizabeth

will offer a selection of

wedding packages com-

mencing after the World

Voyages are completed.

“Most of our competi-

tors have been offering

increasingly popular and

lucrative ‘Weddings at Sea’

programmes, and these are

now very big business in

the cruise industry,” said

Peter Shanks, president of

Cunard Line.

“We receive a lot of en-

quiries about the possibility

of being married on one of

our ships, particularly dur-

ing our regularly scheduled

Transatlantic Crossings on

our flagship Queen Mary 2,

which no other company

can offer.”

Sharjah eyes 67,000 cruisers

Royal Caribbean bookings up 30%

Cunard Queen Mary 2

Costa Romantica

77ships to arrive in Abu Dhabi this sailing season

AIDABlu

MSC Opera

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Emirates Airline is

launching wi-fi services

on a number of its A380s

to allow passengers to

surf the web and email

during long-haul flights.

The service, which is

in collaboration with ser-

vice provider OnAir, will

initially launch on 11 of

19 Emirates superjumbos.

The system is due to be

installed across the entire

fleet of 71 Emirates A380s

on order.

In addition to wi-

fi — from mid-2012 all

new Emirates A380s will

be delivered with a full

range of wi-fi, mobile

phone as well as mobile

data services.

Price plans for the ser-

vice will start at US $7.50

for mobile devices and

$15 on laptops.

Emirates said the $7.50

package should be suf-

ficient for the average

Blackberry user to stay

connected all the way

from Dubai to Paris — a

flight of over six and a

half hours.

In order to access the

service, all customers

have to do is open up

their device’s wireless

connections, log on to

the OnAir network and

follow the simple steps to

access the internet.

As part of a pilot phase,

customers onboard

many A380 flights have

been using the service

for months already as the

system was installed and

activated on the first few

A380s last year.

Patrick Brannelly,

vice president corporate

communications, said:

“Emirates recognises

that being connected

inflight is now

increasingly

important es-

pecially on our

longer flights.

“Adding inter-

net access is going to

be a vital and ubiquitous

part of any inflight ex-

perience — just as it is in

our everyday life on the

ground,” he added.

GROUP TICKET BUY-

ING SITE LAUNCHED Skylogue, a global

co-operative union of

airline passengers, has

launched a Middle East

site. The website aims

to bring members the

benefit of collective

bargaining technol-

ogy to pool individual

ticket requirements,

converting them into

bulk orders. Skylogue

communicates with

airline ticket book-

ing systems to secure

the “best possible

bargains” and

claims to offer

lower rates than

online ticket

booking portals

which work on a

commission basis.

The portal charges a

one-time membership

fee, but has waived the

fee for a limited period

as a launch promotion.

NEWS IN BRIEF

AMADEUS TIES UP WITH BUDGET AIRLINE FLYDUBAI Amadeus has announced that

budget airline Flydubai is now

available for travel agents to book

through the GDS.

Low-cost carriers (LCC) con-

tinue to expand worldwide

with the Middle East

among the fastest-

growing sectors.

According to OAG

FACTS, LCCs notched

a 10% year-on-year

increase in scheduled capacity

following a growth of 9% in Feb-

ruary 2011, with the Middle East

registering optimum growth in

terms of frequency at 21%.

“Many low cost carriers start

distributing to travel agen-

cies to pursue revenue

growth. On the Amadeus

system, we have shown

how airlines can improve

margins by targeting

higher yield business

passenger and ex-

tending their reach

into new segments.

The travel agency

community also ben-

efits from deeper access

to content, enabling them to re-

spond to the travellers’ evolving

needs,” said Antoine Medawar,

vice president, Middle East &

North of Africa, Amadeus.

Total bookings on low-

cost carriers by travel

agencies using Amadeus

in the first half of 2011

increased by 21% com-

pared with the first half of

2010. More than 70 low-cost

carriers are now bookable within

the Amadeus system, including

Flydubai, Air Arabia Morocco,

AirAsia, easyJet, Virgin America

and WestJet.

21%Increase LCC

bookings through Amadeus in 2011

FlyDubai

VNETT TAKES DIRHAM

PAYMENTS eNett International — a

Travelport joint venture

and provider of integrated

payment solutions for

the travel industry— has

announced that its vNett

virtual card solution can

now process payments in

UAE Dirhams.

vNett virtual cards are

a secure, efficient and

widely-accepted means

for travel agencies to

pay travel suppliers. The

card works by issuing

a 16-digit MasterCard

virtual account number

for a specific transaction

eliminating the possibility

of fraud.

The solution also re-

duces risks arising from

service default, stream-

lines the accounts payable

function and delivers

comprehensive reporting

in real-time.

Round-up: TECHNOLOGY

$7.50Cost to surf the web from Dubai

to Paris

EMIRATES TO ROLL OUT WI-FI SERVICES ACROSS A380S

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Columnist


While reviewing websites of tour operators and travel agencies for ATN, I have struggled to find a website of a traditional brick and mortar travel company

which offers their customers a simple and cost-effective way to book online travel. Many of the managers and owners of these com-panies have, over the past few years talked of adopting technology to speed up their online offerings but sadly none seem to have been able to walk their talk.

A new year presents opportunities to make a fresh start and look to the future. And from a travel industry perspective, 2012 could be the year travel agents and tour operators finally wake up and smell the coffee, realising they have to embrace technology to stay in the game. But the million dollar question is — will they?

Until now, most have fallen victim to the ‘ostrich ef-fect’ — sticking their heads in the sand and hoping the technological revolution will pass them by. But when they do finally surface they could find they’ve been left behind and are well-and-truly obsolete as a bricks-and-mortar agency with no automation and no means of online communication with their customers.

The biggest nightmare facing agents today is the fierce competi-tion posed by Online Travel Agencies (OTAs). Their dominant exis-tence in the market place meets the immediate needs of information-hungry consumers. Unlike retail agencies, OTAs provide real-time product information, rates and availability and are accessible 24/7. Customers don’t have to wait for agents to pick up the phone or reply to an email, they can access information at the convenience of their computer, tablet or smartphone, wherever, whenever, and if they so wish, make a booking there and then, using their credit cards.

This scares agencies to the point of paralysis. But fear is only one excuse. Another is unwillingness to invest money, with some agency owners apathetic to the requirements of their travel divisions when it represents such a small slice of the pie of their business empires.

Of course, there are agency managers out there who would prefer not to automate their operations. Let’s face it, the thought of hav-

Are you victim to the ostrich effect?

ing black and white figures relating to revenue and profit automatically emailed to your boss on a daily basis is positively frightening for many, for reasons we won’t go into here...

But for those who do take the need to invest in technology seriously, the way forward is clear.Firstly they must define their business strategy. Is the focus corporate, leisure, niche or a mixture of all three? The next step is to fully automate all operations.

Technology can no more be just another piece to the puzzle; it must be central to any business strategy moving forward, as important, if not more, than sales and marketing or operations.

My hope for 2012 is that agents will take the plunge and take technology seriously.

If they combine their online presence with the still valued face-to-face service it could prove a winning formula for the future. If they don’t, well I guess, the writing is on the wall..

Are you sticking your head in the sand waiting for the technology revolu-tion to pass you by?

Faisal Memon, Illusions Online says 2012 should be the year the industry pulls its head out of the sand over the technology revolution

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How to sell: CALIFORNIA, USA

We have just checked in to the L’Ermitage Hotel in Beverly Hills — the fi rst port of call on our whistlestop tour of California — when Angelina

Jolie casually strolls in to the lobby (sadly there's no sign of Brad Pitt ).

While we all do our best to remain calm and collected in the presence of one of Hollywood's most famous movie stars — the truth is it's im-possible not to be dazzled by the glitz, glamour and all-pervading 'wow-factor' that sums up our entire trip to the Sunshine State of California.

Top tipTop tipCalifornia's top

tourist attraction Disneyland is just 40 minutes drive

from LA

Our group is here on a fam trip hosted by Th e Travel Collection which represents several luxury properties in California; and Delta Airlines which operates a daily non-stop service from Dubai to its hub in Atlanta, with onward connections to over 236 US destinations including Los Angeles.

Despite the long distances from the Middle East; popular-ity for US destinations among Gulf travellers is skyrocketing. According Shee-na Th omas, sales manager - UAE & Oman at Delta Air Lines, load factors for its daily Dubai-Atlanta

Monika Canty joins an agent fam and discovers how to travel the Sunshine State in style

“LA is a very happening and vibrant destination. Beverly Hills in particular off ers an air of sheer opulence with luxurious hotels, gourmet cuisine, world-class shopping and all the desires one can wish for." Aloke Dey, Manager Holidays, Sharaf Travel

C

California Dreaming

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HOW TO SELL / CaLifOrnia


flight is in the “high 80s range”. “Despite the challenging global

economic environment, Delta is very pleased with the performance of our Dubai-Atlanta flight. De-mand for our service shows positive growth year-on-year," she adds.

The Sunshine StateIt's easy to see why California is such an appealing destination for Gulf travellers. The weather is amazing all year round; the lifestyle is glam-orous; the shopping and eating out options are top-notch and there are so many family-friendly attractions to choose from — from Disneyland to behind-the-scenes-studio tours — that you will never be stuck for something to do. Our trip begins in Los Angeles and takes us to the affluent coastal city of

Newport Beach in Orange County which means we also get to expe-rience the famous sunny beaches along the Pacific Ocean.

Beverly HillsFor a luxury LA experience, the only place to stay is in Beverly Hills

90210 — the post code of the rich and famous. The L’Ermitage Ho-tel fits the bill as a favourite among Hollywood’s A-list — in fact dur-ing our two night’s stay here we also spot Bruce Willis tucking into some breakfast and basketball star Shaquille O'Neal working out in the gym.

“LA is an ideal destination, fabulous weather, friendly folks and beautiful properties. Other places of interest like San Diego, San Francisco, Las Vegas are very accessible and can be covered by day trips from LA." Srilatha Reddy, General Manager, Orient Travel

Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills is one of the most famous and expensive shopping streets in the world, known for its designer labels and high-end fashion brands.

The travel trade group gets ready to embark on a trolley bus tour around Beverly Hills 90210.

The stars choose the property for its understated luxury, discreet staff; and second to none service. But the location, right on the doorstep of Hollywood and a short walk to probably the most famous (and expensive) shopping street in the world — Rodeo Drive, will no doubt appeal to your clients too. Previously owned by Raffles; man-agement was recently taken over by the Abu-Dhabi owned Viceroy Ho-tel Group so the property is fully geared up for catering for Middle Eastern clientele. Your clients will find Beverly Hills to be a surprisingly walkable city, jam-packed with stylish restaurants and boutiques. Shopaholics will be in heaven of course; but while Ro-deo Drive might be strictly for win-dow shopping it's not all high-end.Neighbouring Beverly Drive offers plenty of affordable shopping and department stores Barneys New York and Saks Fifth Avenue are also round the corner.

A tour on the Beverly Hills Trolley

Top tipTake a Glitte-rati Tour of LA

to discover how Hollywood celebs

live their lives

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Attraction wise there is something different to do in LA every day, from studio tours with Paramount, War-ner Bros, CBS or NBC; the Walk of Fame; Grauman's Chinese Theatre, a cruise down Sunset Strip; or football fans could visit LA Galaxy’s stadium for a chance to spot David Beckham.

Orange CountyAfter a few days in LA we head south to Newport Beach in Orange County — the area made famous by The OC TV show, and home to one of the most spectacular stretches of coastline in the world. For some incredible views of this coastline (as well as the driving ex-perience of a lifetime) be sure to recommend that your clients hire a car (open-top cadillac is preferable for the full US experience) and drive the Pacific Coast High-way. The highway, which runs along much of California's coast is one of the most famous in America and the drive is well-known for its jaw dropping vistas of the dra-matic cliffs, golden beaches and the

sparking blue Pacific Ocean below. The newest and most luxurious addition to Newport's hotel scene is Pelican Hill. Set on a rolling golf-course, the resort features plush two to four bedroom villas with fully-equipped kitchens, and all the mod cons you could imagine — including a roaring fireplace that sparks to life at the flick of a switch. The huge size of the villas make

this an ideal option for families seeking a ‘home-away-from-home’ to de-camp to for an entire summer. Middle Eastern guests will be well

looked too. The resort’s F&B director Khalid Mirza was pre-

viously right-hand man to Saudi Ara-bia's Prince Alwaleed. The hotel offers a special halal menu and is going all out to ensure

Top tipRent a sports

car or open top cadillac and drive the Pacific Coast

Highway

will take you around the city’s land-marks, or if you want a sneak peek at how the stars live their lives, Glitte-rati Tours (glitteratitours.com) will point out which mega-star resides in which mega mansion, plus the Hol-lywood Hills and its most famous landmark, the Hollywood sign.

Saroj Sinha, manager - corporate, Al Rostamani Travel takes in the beautiful Crystal Cove Beach on the South Coast of California

Srilatha Reddy, Orient Travel and Sheena Thomas, Delta Airlines take a Duffy Boat around Newport Harbour.

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guests feel at home during the Ra-madan period summer with iftar and suhour meals and coach services to the nearby Islamic centre.

While Pelican Hill itself offers plenty of activities for the whole family — from kid’s camps, golf, a spa and swimming pools — the sur-rounding coastline and seaside town

WHERE TO STAY

L’ErmitagE BEvErLy HiLLs

One of LA’s top luxury hotels;

L'Ermitage Beverly Hills is peace-

fully situated on a tree-lined resi-

dential street, just a short stroll

from Rodeo Drive. This boutique

hotel is renowned for its legend-

ary elegance and unquestioned

privacy — making it a top draw

for celebrity guests. For the past

nine years, L’Ermitage Beverly

Hills is one of the few hotels in

the US to achieve a Forbes 5 Star

and AAA Five Diamonds awards.

The rooftop pool area offers

incredible views over Beverly

Hills and has been the setting

for many a glamorous occa-

sion [Lady Gaga played a private

post-Bafta-party here]. Wi-fi is

provided free of charge.

Contact: www.lermitagebh.com

/ www.viceroyhotelgroup.com

Hotel manager: Spencer.yeo@

viceroyhotelgroup.com

avaLon HotEL BEvErLy HiLLs

Sister hotel to the L’Ermitage, the

Avalon Hotel offers a more price

conscious option. Set around

a dramatic pool terrace with

private cabanas and the recently

launched Oliverio restaurant, the

hotel is on the doorstep of top

Beverly Hills boutiques, galleries

and restaurants. Originally built

in 1949 as the Beverly Carlton,

all the guestrooms were reno-

vated in 2011. The design of the

hotel echoes the relaxed “patio

lifestyle” of mid-20th Century

Southern California and of-

fers guests a 'home away from

home.' The property certainly

has a star-studded past. It was

featured in the Oscar-winning

film, Dreamgirls, and before it be-

came a hotel, it was an apartment

building with Marilyn Monroe its

most famous tenant.

Contact: avalonbeverlyhills.com

tHE rEsort at PELican HiLL

No expense has been spared

in creating this latest addition

to Newport's hospitality scene.

The opulent resort, inspired by

an Italian hillside village offers

up every luxury you can pos-

sibly think of. Designed to be a

relaxing refuge, the two, three

and four bedroom villas are

huge and ideal for large fami-

lies, and beautifully furnished

to resemble a real Tuscan

retreat. Private terraces all have

spectacular views out over the

54-hole Fazio golf course and

the ocean beyond. Pelican Hill

also boasts the largest circular

saline pool in the world. Butlers

on call for you 24/7, ‘person-

alised grocery programmes' and

customised menus for every

guest are all just part of the

service here.

Contact: www.pelicanhill.com

HOW TO

SELLHow to get there: Delta Airlines offers daily flights from Dubai to its hub in Atlanta from where you can connect to Los Ange-les (and over 236 other US destinations). The agents flew to Atlanta on Delta's Business Elite which offers passengers a five- course gourmet meal, flat beds (with a built-in mas-sage setting), a quilted duvet and full-sized pillow and a full entertainment system. Each flatbed comes with PC and USB charging ports and noise-cancelling headphones so you can get on with work or watch films through the flight. The flight to Atlanta takes around 15 hours from Dubai; and the connecting flight to LA will add another five hours. But the Delta Air-lines staff are wonderfully at-tentive and thanks to the bag of Korres skincare products the whole group arrived into LAX feeling fresh and revived. www.delta.com

When to go: California has one of the most enviable climates in the world with almost year-round sun-shine. Summer (June – Sep-tember) is peak season and its the busiest time for theme parks and attractions such as Disneyland, but also the best weather for enjoying beaches and the alfresco lifestyle. The winter time (December to February) is also a great time to visit, when temperatures are mild and pleasant.

Useful contacts: For more information about the hotels featured contact The Travel Collection: [email protected] / www.ttc.ae

“newport Beach has everything you need for a wonderful holiday. one of the best experiences is a cruise in a Duffy Electric Boat at the newport Harbour. it is breathtaking, charming and feels like paradise ” Saroj Kumar Sinha, Manager – Corporate, Al Rostamani Travel

of Newport provides even more things to do, from watersports and horse riding to shopping at Fashion Island, which has over 120 bou-tiques on offer.

Not to be missed is a visit to Newport Harbour. Jam-packed with yachts and sail boats bobbing about, the harbour is lined with the

billionaire homes of the rich and fa-mous. You can rent your own elec-tric Duffy Boat to cruise around the harbour and catch a glimpse of how the other half really live.

"It is charming and it feels like paradise," summed up Saroj Sinha, Al Rostamani Travel. We couldn't agree more.

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Three of The besT

THR

EE O

F TH

E B

EST New Abu DhAbi hotels

Jumeirah’s first Abu Dhabi hotel opened on November 1.

The 280m luxury hotel tower is one of five that form the

new Etihad Towers mixed-use development. The five-star

hotel has 382 rooms and suites, 199 serviced apartments,

and a range of beauty, fashion and relaxation amenities

including the Talise Spa. The development which has its

own private beach, will also feature one of Abu Dhabi’s

largest convention centres and a grand ballroom that can

cater to groups of more than 2,200.

Offer: The hotel has a special serviced residence

offer during January 2012 of 40% off BAR for

minimum 7-night stay. Rates starts at AED 900,

plus 16% per night for a Studio Residence.

Contact: [email protected]

Jumeirah at etihad towers

hyatt Capital Gate Located on levels 18-35 of the Capital Gate

building which leans a record-breaking 18 de-

grees, this much-anticipated property opened

last month. The 189-room hotel forms part

of the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre

(ADNEC) development so is an ideal option

for business travellers to Abu Dhabi. The sleek,

contemporary design features a ‘sky lobby’

suspended 80m above the ground on the

18th floor. The unusual shape of the building

and the floor-to-ceiling glass windows in ev-

ery room means all guests will have stunning

views onto the city below.

Offer: Rates start from AED 1,050 per night.

Contact: www.hyatt.com / +971 2 596 1234

the westin abu dhabi Located at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club, with natu-

ral design features and views over the rolling

greens, the property is set to become a new ur-

ban oasis at the heart of the city and will make

an ideal tranquil weekend escape. The warm

and neutral colour scheme, and emphasis on

wellness — whether that’s food, rooms, busi-

ness meetings or leisure escapades — is what

make this hotel stand out over the rest.

Offer: AED 950 for a golf package including

one Green Fee, personalised bag tag and a

night in a Heavenly Bed, with breakfast.

Contact: www.westinabudhabigolfresort.com

view from the pool which proj-ects from the side

of the hotel

Rooms all with a Westin Heavenly Bed for optimum

sleep

-40%On serviced resi-

dences in January for a 7-night stay

Abu Dhabi has seen a rash of exciting new hotel openings. here are three of our favourite new entrants to the hospitality scene.

270°

172

The five-tower Etihad Towers

development

The record-breaking Capital Gate leans more

than the Leaning Tower of Pisa

Gorgeous views over the

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FOR ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES,PLEASE CONTACT:

D i a r m u i d O ’ M a l l e yPublishing Director

Tel: +971 4 444 3568E-mail: [email protected]

T H E D I G I TA L H O M E F O R H O S P I TA L I T Y P R O F E S S I O N A L S I N T H E M I D D L E E A S T

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FAM TRIP


Tourism Ireland invited six UAE travel agents on a fam trip and trade workshop to

Ireland back in October 2011. Over five days the group — in-cluding Raed El Hajj, Abu Dhabi Travel Bureau; Angela Gomes, Omeir Travel; Javier Otero Sal-gado, Destinations of the World; Chester Pollocks, Mannai Holi-days; Karla Galicia, Salem Holi-days and Salma Mohamed Zein, Etihad Holidays — completed a whistlestop tour of Ireland stop-ping in Dublin, Kildare, Donegal and Belfast. The agents flew to Dublin direct from Abu Dhabi via Etihad Airways arriving early on Sunday morning. The first day was spent exploring Ireland’s capital city Dublin, with a walking tour of Georgian Dublin; shopping on Grafton Street; a tour of The Chester Beatty Library, St. Ste-

Travel agents take to the saddle in a remote part of County Donegal

The group enjoy the natural beauty around them as they horseride along the beach in County Donegal; and on the Viking Splash Tours bus, a unique way to see Dublin.

in Ireland

phen’s Green (a park in the centre of Dublin) and Dublin Zoo. To round off the Dublin experience the group jumped on a Viking Splash Tours bus, a unique ‘land and water’

sightseeing experience. The evening was spent at a live Irish show — the Merry Ploughboys — widely regarded as the best traditional music show in Dublin and a must-see for any visitor.

The following day the agents vis-ited Curragh Racecourse in County Kildare and the Irish National Stud, a thoroughbred horse breeding facil-ity, as well as the beautiful Japanese

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FAM TRIP


THINGS TO DO

1

2

3

4

County Donegal

Explore Dublin

Curragh Racecourse

Titanic Belfast

One of the most popular holiday destinations in Ireland, Donegal’s appeal lies in the supreme natural beauty of its coastline, windswept beaches and and its rugged moun-tain landscape.

The largest city and the capital of Ireland offers up arts and culture, great shopping and entertainment. Famous landmarks not to miss in-clude Dublin Castle and Trinity College Dublin. For a unique way to

see the city hop on a Viking Splash tour bus — a land and water sightseeing experience.

The most important racecourse in Ireland hosts some of the most famous horse races in the world in-cluding the Abu Dhabi Irish Guineas Festival and the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby.

Opening in March 2012, this ‘must-see’ attraction is located in the heart of Belfast, on the slipways where the Titanic was built. Visi-tors will re-live the entire Titanic story from her birth in Belfast.

5 Kildare Village

Gardens. In the afternoon there was time for some shopping with a visit to Chic Outlet Shopping Kildare Village.

Day three saw the group depart for Dunfanaghy, a small village in County Donegal, on Ireland’s north coast. Donegal features some of Ireland’s most spectacu-lar scenery, ranging from high mountains, rivers, lakes, to coastal cliffs and beaches.

The agents checked in at Ar-nolds Hotel, Dunfanaghy which overlooks the amazing natural beauty of Sheephaven Bay and went off to make the most of the rugged surrounding countryside.

The riding stables are located in the grounds of the hotel and have been in the Arnold family for over 30 years. The group spent the day cantering along the Killahoey beach, enjoying the wilderness and tranquility of the area and the large variety of seabirds that can be spotted off the cliffs.

They all agreed this was the highlight of the trip. “The high-light was the horse riding and mountain climbing in County Donegal,” said Angela Gomes from Omeir Holidays. “It’s a beautiful place; the landscapes are breathtaking.”

The following day the group was off to Belfast, capital of Northern Ireland and their fi-nal stop where they were lucky enough to receive an exclusive preview of the city’s newest visitor attraction — the Titanic Belfast. The world’s largest Titanic visitor experience, is scheduled to open in March 2012.

After a fantastic fam tour it was finally down to business at the Tourism Ireland workshop, fol-lowed by a gala dinner and enter-tainment that evening.

10Etihad Airways flights per week to Dublin

in Ireland

One of nine Chic Outlet Shopping Villages located across Europe, Kildare Village offers 60% reduc-tions all year round on over 60 luxury outlet boutiques including DKNY, Juicy Couture, Anya Hind-

march, Aquascutum and Hugo Boss in an open-air shopping vil-lage, not far from Dublin.

110

50

70

150

70

60

MARCH - APRIL

JANUARY - FEBRUARY

MAY - JUNE

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER

JULY - AUGUST

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER

WHEN TOTRAVEL

Average temperature

Average temperature

Average temperature

Average temperature

Average temperature

Average temperature

Ireland is known for its unpredictable weather so don’t forget your brolly!

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FAM TRIP


This is one of the best evergreen

destinations for all types of

clients. Donegal leaves a lasting

impression with beautiful coun-

tryside, glorious beaches and

live music concerts. We had an

amazing experience in Ireland.

The people we met were uni-

formly welcoming and treated us

with much respect, which made

us feel good. Throughout our

trip we experienced the warmth

of Ireland hospitality. From the

moment we landed until we

returned. The horse riding and

walk through local areas gave us

a different experience than any

other trip I ever had. All members

of the group were relaxed and it

was really painful to say goodbye.

The accommodation was really

great. It was outstanding in good

locations with good facilities and

amenities. All up to the mark.

Ireland was everything I expect-

ed it to be, warm people, pictur-

esque countryside, great music

and pubs. It is an ideal family

destination with activities from

horse riding, fishing, hiking to

golfing. The visa waiver scheme

is an excellent idea and I hope

they add more nationalities to

the list. The highlight was horse

riding in County Donegal. I

think I was bold to try the

trot for my first time on a

horse. Accommodation

overall was good. My

favourite was the Arnolds

Hotel in County Donegal.

The room was moderate, but it

had an amazing view and plenty

of space. The highlight was the

friendly service. The hotel man-

ager was kind enough to serve

me a cup of tea, which reinstates

my view about Irish hospitality.

This was my first trip to Ireland,

and it was a big surprise. I was

greatly impressed as there is

so much to see and do — his-

tory, traditions, culture, activi-

ties, sporting events, festivals,

the natural landscapes and the

pubs with traditional music and

dancing — Ireland has it all! With

the new visa waiver scheme for

GCC nationals, and the

Etihad Airways weekly

flights from Abu Dhabi

coupled with Emirates

flights from Dubai to

start soon, this place is

definitely going to boom

in a few years. The highlight was

the horse riding and mountain

climbing in County Donegal. It’s

a beautiful place; the landscapes

are breathtaking. Rooms at Trin-

ity Capital, Dublin, and Hilton in

Belfast were neat and clean.

My trip to Ireland was fantastic.

I felt very welcome. Though it

was rushed we were still able to

enjoy it. We laughed, ate, slept,

met wonderful people and saw

so much off and on the road. The

scenery and culture were out-

standing. The hotels were a good

standard, very clean and tidy, and

check-in was quick and efficient.

The rooms were a reasonable size

and comfortable with a lovely

view. The food was excellent. The

workshop was too hectic but very

good as we were able to meet

suppliers to help us for future

business. The place I loved most

is County Donegal. I enjoyed the

horseback riding on the beach

(really amazing) and the hiking. I

will recommend Dublin, Kildare

and Donegal, especially for local

clients who love to shop, relax

and explore nature.

WHAT THE TRAVEL TRADE SAID...

RAED A EL HAJJHOLIDAYS BRANCH MANAGER

ABU DHABI TRAVEL BUREAU

TOUR CONSULTANT

MANNAI HOLIDAYS, QATAR

SUPERVISOR - CORPORATE

OMEIR HOLIDAYS, ABU DHABI

HOLIDAY CONSULTANT

SALEM HOLIDAYS

CHESTER POLLOCKS ANGELA GOMES KARLA GALICIA

The visa waiver

scheme is excellent

This four-star hotel in Dublin City Cen-

tre is a fusion of warmth and comfort;

featuring 195 bedrooms with sleek

modern furnishings, walnut wood fit-

tings and rich cardinal colours.

www.trinitycapitalhotel.com

One of Dublin’s top hotels, the Merrion

is located in a block of four Georgian

terrace houses and features Dublin’s

only two-star Michelin restaurant

Patrick Guilibaud inside.

www.merionhotel.com

Established in 1922, The Arnold Hotel

overlooks the spectacular scenery of

Sheephaven Bay, Donegal. Activities at

this traditional family hotel include horse

riding, water sports, golf and fishing.

www.arnoldshotel.comWh

ere

to s

tay

TRINITY CAPITAL HOTEL THE MERRION HOTEL ARNOLD HOTEL

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Nichola Hollands, Sales ManagerDirect : +971 4 444 3613, GSM: + 971 50 394 9320,Email: [email protected]

Amanda StewartInternational Sales ManagerTel: +44 7908 117333, Email: [email protected]

FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE CONTACT:

Caterer Middle East is a dedicated food and beverage management magazine, which delivers news, culinary trends and product reviews for the

Middle East’s fast growing catering industry. Its readership includes executive chefs, restaurant managers, sous chefs, maitre d’s and sommeliers.

To subscribe for FREE visit www.itp.com/subscriptions

An ITP Business PublicationNew Outlet of the Year

A taste of Tribese YYe

An ITP Business Publication

Caterer reveals the facts about the Middle East’s booming fruit juice sector

JORDAN’S JOURNEYMeet the F&B professionals

who are fighting for the industry

SKY-HIGH SERVICEFind out why in-flight catering

standards are soaring

Slice of the action

PR TRICKS R

EVEA

LED

Million

s of M

ilksh

akes

owne

r tell

s the

secre

t

of his

succ

ess

Serving the region’s catering professionals

Jan - June 2011

5.079

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THE KNOWLEDGE

This month Arabian Travel News challenges two agents from tour operator Holiday Factory in Dubai to the task of planning out the perfect honeymoon

Who

Where

Verdict

Package PlannerTHIS MONTH’S CHALLENGE

Day 1: ARRIVAL SALZBURG

Meet and greet at

Salzburg Airport and

transfer to the Inter-

Continental Berchtes-

gaden Hotel. Welcome

drink upon arrival and

check-in. The guests

will receive a cake and

fl owers in their room.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2:

RELAXING MASSAGE

Enjoy breakfast at the

hotel followed by a

massage for two at the

hotel SPA.

Day 3:

BERCHTESGADEN

Breakfast at the hotel.

After a free day of lei-

sure, enjoy a candle-lit

dinner for two at the

hotel restaurant.

Day 4: EAGLES NEST

Head o� to visit the

famous ‘Eagle’s Nest’,

located 1,834 m above

sea level and 800

meters above the

Obersalzberg, this is

the nickname given by

the American occupy-

ing forces of 1945 to

Hitler’s lodge. It was

given to him for his

50th birthday as a

teahouse for diplomats

and During World War

II remained untouch-

able. Since 1952 the

Eagle’s Nest has been

open to the public with

a restaurant o� ering a

beautiful view. It is ac-

cessible only by special

mountain bus from

Obersalzberg (open

from mid-May until

October). If Eagle’s Nest

is closed a visit of the

memorial World War II

site of Obersalberg

is included.

Day 5:

LAKE KOENIGSSEE

Depart Berchtesgaden

for a visit to Lake Koe-

nigssee which is sur-

rounded by towering

rock faces. Koenigssee

resembles a � ord set

in the Bavarian Alps.

Take a boat trip along

the lake (around one

hour) and visit the St.

Bartholomä peninsula

to admire the natural

beauty of the sur-

roundings while walk-

ing on the island.

ABEER AHMED, operation manager, Holiday Factory

Both honeymoons are

so di� erent it’s hard to

pick a favourite. But

ATN would have to go

with Ahmed’s trip to

India for sheer variety,

the exotic things to do,

the romantic night on

a houseboat— not to

mention the amazing

value for money!

Budget

AED9,000(including fl ights)

trip

Abeer suggests a beautiful Bavarian honeymoon at the InterContinental Berchtesgaden Hotel — the jewel of the German Alps

InterContinental Berchtesgaden

Lake Koenigssee

Eagles Nest

The hotel is high in the mountains

Don’t miss A visit to Hitlers Lodge known as the Eagle’s Nest

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the knowledge


Day 1: Arrive CoChin

Arrive Cochin Inter-

national airport. Meet

and assist at airport

and drive to the hotel.

In the afternoon take

a sightseeing tour of

Cochin, taking in the

Dutch Palace where

scrolls of the Old Testa-

ment and copper plates

inscribed in Hebrew

script are preserved, St.

Francis Church (1510)

where Vasco da Gama

was buried in 1524, the

Dutch Cemetery, the

Chinese fishing nets

at the entrance

of Cochin

Harbor and

Willingdon

Island.

Day 2: CoChin-MunnAr

After breakfast drive

to Munnar (about five

hours away), one of

the most popular hill

stations in India. The

hills are at an altitude

of 5000 - 8000 feet

above sea level and are

situated at the conflu-

ence of three mountain

streams — Mudrapu-

zha, Nallathani and

Kundala. Sprawling tea

plantations, picture

book towns, wind-

ing lanes and holiday

facilities make this a

popular resort town.

Check in to your hotel

and spend the rest of

the day at leisure.

Day 3:MunnAr

After breakfast, visit

the Tea Museum. Then

it’s on to Mattupetty

Lake, a beautiful picnic

spot. Enjoy boating in

the lake, taking in the

mountains and land-

scapes. Head to Echo

Point, famous for

the natural echo

phenomenon

then to Top

Station offer-

ing marvellous

views of Munnar

valley below.

Day 4:

MunnAr –

KuMArAKoM

Leave for Kumarakom

(approx 180 kms/ 3.3

hours). The village

is a cluster of little

islands on the Vem-

banad Lake. This small

water world is part of

the Kuttanad region.

The bird sanctuary,

spread across 14 acres

is a favourite haunt of

migratory birds and an

ornithologist’s paradise.

Egrets, darters, herons,

teal, waterfowl, cuckoo

and wild duck are a

fascination for visitors.

The best way to watch

the birds is a boat trip

round the islands.

Day 5:

KuMArAKoM

Enjoy a Kerala

Ayurvedic massage or

spa treatments.

Day 6:

houseboAt

The traditional ‘Ket-

tuvallam’, is a boat

reincarnated as your

floating ‘home-away-

from-home.’

A bamboo thatched

canopy sets

the ambience

for a river cruise that

will make you want

time to stand still.

Nestled underneath

this canopy lies a com-

plete home-unit, giving

you all the comforts of

modern living in a truly

ethnic setting. There’s

even an elegant en-

suite bathroom which

uses bio-septic plumb-

ing, so you can be sure

of a pollution-free

environment.

Day 7:DepArt

Wake up to the smell

of freshly brewed tea

from the kitch-

enette; and

watch your

personal

chef cook

breakfast.

Disembark

at Alleppey jetty

and transfer to Cochin

Airport (approx 100

kms/1.5 hours) for the

flight home.

priCe:

AED 3,290 per person

on a Twin Sharing

basis — including re-

turn flights with Qatar

Airways, accommoda-

tion, daily breakfast,

transfers, local English-

speaking guide in Co-

chin and government

service tax.

Contact: HOLIDAY FAC-

TORY + 971 4 701 4006

/holiday-factory.com

Ahmed SAbrA, tour consultant, holiday Factory

Day 6:

berChtesgADen – sAl-

zburg

Have breakfast at the

hotel and check-out.

Transfer to Salzburg for

your flight home.

priCe:

AED 9,730 per person in

twin-sharing; includ-

ing flights on Austrian

Airlines, airport transfers;

cake, flowers and drink

in the room on day one;

massage for two; dinner

for two; and all tours

mentioned. Offer subject

to availability at the time

of booking.

Contact: HOLIDAY FAC-

TORY + 971 4 701 4006

www.holiday-factory.com

Don’t miss A boat trip on beautiful Lake

KoenigseeA night on a

traditional house boat floating on the backwaters

Don’t miss Ahmed plans a honeymoon in India taking in Cochin, Mummar and

Kumarakom including a romantic night on the backwaters in a houseboat

Beautiful backwaters

Enjoy a relaxing massage

Chinese fishing nets in Cochin

Take a houseboat tour

Mattupetty Lake

Munnar Hill Station

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STAR AGENT

48 Arabian Travel News Janaury 2012 www.hoteliermiddleeast.com

NEXT MONTH..

DIA

RY

DAT

ES

Business Travel Show February 7 - 8 2012London, UKbusinesstravelshow.com

ITB BerlinMarch 7-12 2012 Berlin, Germanywww.itb-berlin.de/en/

GIBTMMarch 26 - 28 2012Abu Dhabi, UAE www.gibtm.com

Arabian Travel MarketApril 30 - May 3 2012Dubai, UAE arabiantravelmarket.com

UNWTO Minister SummitApril 30 2012Dubai, UAE arabiantravelmarket.com

The Hotel Show May 15 - 17 2012Dubai, UAE www.thehotelshow.com

- Trade o� ers and incentives- Report: UAE leisure travel - Analysis: Social Media - How to sell: Spain- Fam Report: Austria

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB?

Challenges, competition, and the ongoing developments.

Malaysia in 2000. I loved it because of the amazing nature and most im-portantly, the beautiful company.

NAME: RAGHDA OMARPOSITION: GENERAL MANAGER

COMPANY: MICCO TRAVEL, ABU DHABITIME IN THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY: 24 YEARS

HAVE YOU EVER GONE ‘ABOVE AND BEYOND’ FOR A CLIENT? I remember the 2006 Lebanon War, when families ap-proached our o� ce crying, wanting us to bring back their stranded son, daughter, wife, husband, mother or father. I considered myself a war volunteer. I used to leave my o� ce with a long list of names that had to leave Beirut and I didn’t leave Etihad Airways o� ce without securing each member on the list. We managed to bring back about 500 clients in less than a week.

“I have worked with her for 12 years. In this time she has been very instrumental in Micco’s growth as one of the premium agencies in Abu Dhabi. She is passionate and enthusiastic about her work and moreover a gem of a human being. I feel proud to

be associated with her." Raghda was nominated for Travel Agent of the Month by

Roland Lobo, business development manager, Micco Travel

TO KEEP OUR REPUTATION AS GLOWING AS IT IS, TO

GO ON STEADILY, NOT GREEDILY, AND TO INCREASE OUR MARKET SHARE THROUGH

OUR STUNNING SERVICE.

What is your ambition?

ATN’s ‘Travel Agent of the Month’ is a chance for suppliers or agencies to nominate agents who deserve to be recognised for going above and beyond. To nominate someone for ‘Travel Agent of the Month’ email: [email protected]

The traveller’s unawareness of the travel agent role.

WHAT’S THE BIGGEST BOOKING YOU HAVE EVER MADE?A COMBINATION OF AIR, TRAIN AND LAND TRANSPORTATION IN SWITZER-LAND FOR A FAMILY OF SEVEN. IT WAS A BIG CHALLENGE AT VERY SHORT NOTICE. I LEFT THE OFFICE VERY LATE AT NIGHT VISITING THE FAMILY TO EXPLAIN IT ALL TO THEM.

Where’s your favourite place to travel to and why? Where’s your favourite place

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT BEING NOMINATED ATN’S TRAVEL AGENT OF THE MONTH? I agree with Albert Einstein: “We have to learn the rules of the game. And then we have to play better than anyone else.” It’s an honour for us, we thank you ATN .

WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FACING THE TRAVEL TRADE TODAY? Many! Online booking; airlines becoming travel agents, unethical competition between travel agencies.

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arabian travel news jan 2012 edition

Education