Tourism Leaders of the Middle East reiterate confidence in the sector

Ministers of Tourism and leading tourism companies from the Middle East and North Africa reiterated their confidence in the growth of tourism in the region during the first UNWTO/Arabian Travel Market Industry Forum (Dubai, 30 April 2012).

Entitled The Future of Tourism in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA): Ensuring sustainable growth in challenging times, the forum debated short and long term prospects for tourism in the region, stressing the encouraging signs emerging from destinations affected by the political changes of last year as well as the on-going strong expansion plans of tourism infrastructure in the countries of the Gulf.

Participants in the forum reiterated their confidence in the growth of tourism in the region, where the sector has become a key pillar of local economies and employment and a central part of national development policies.

Moderated by John Andrews, Editor for The Economist and one of its most experienced foreign correspondents, the forum counted on the participation of H.R.H. Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud, President and Chairman of the Board of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour, Minister of Tourism of Egypt, Ahmed Abdulla Al-Nuaimi, Chairman of Qatar Tourism Authority, Mohammed Rashed, Chief Executive Officer, Hotel and Tourism Sector of the Al Kharafi Group, Gerald Lawless, Executive Chairman of the Jumeirah Group  and Frederic Bardin, Senior Vice President of Emirates Holidays.

UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai said: “Despite recurrent challenges, the story of tourism in the Middle East and North Africa is one of success. The sector has become an economic powerhouse for the region, generating US$60 billion in export earnings and creating millions of jobs. This outstanding performance is the result of strong and committed public tourism policies aimed at diversifying national economies and create much needed jobs, especially for the youth, and strong private sector investment. These conditions remain unaltered”.

Reed Travel Exhibitions Managing Director, Richard Mortimore said: “The launch of this high-level forum could not come at a more opportune moment. It is a sign of the importance of tourism to the region that this high-profile group of ministers and industry leaders have come to share a platform at Arabian Travel Market, the region’s premier travel trade exhibition. It is sure to prove to be as successful and as influential as the well-established UNWTO and WTM Ministers’ Summit has been at fellow Reed Travel Exhibitions event World Travel Market over the past five years.”

The need for the region’s key players to work together in order to achieve a greater share of the global pie, was a key theme of the summit, with the Undersecretary of Oman’s Ministry of Tourism, Maitha Al Mahrouqi, saying: “I don’t see us [Oman] competing with the UAE, we are complementing the UAE.”

“We need to work with other industries to make the whole touristic experience a pleasure,” added Egypt’s Minister of Tourism, Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour.

While examples of visa facilitation exist in the region – Oman has a joint tourist visa arrangement with Qatar, the panel also flagged the need for the opening up of the visa system within the region. “A common electronic visa platform would actually enhance security – not decrease it – and facilitate smoother travel globally,” said Gerald Lawless, Executive Chairman of the Jumeirah Group.

The UNWTO/Arabian Travel Market Industry Forum brought together ministers as well as travel industry leaders from the region to discuss how to boost demand and foster employment under challenging economic and political conditions. International tourist arrivals in the MENA region rose from 34 million in 2000 to 79 million in 2010, making the region one of the fastest growing tourism destinations worldwide. In 2011, the region lost some seven million tourists, in spite of the good performance of some destinations.

In 2010, international tourist arrivals to the Middle East and North Africa were at 79 million (60 million in the Middle East and 19 million in North Africa). Receipts from international tourism reached US$ 60 billion (US$ 50 billion in the Middle East and US$ 10 billion in North Africa) in 2010. In 2011, due to recent political development, international tourist arrivals to the Middle East were down by 8% to 55 million and to North Africa by 10% to 17 million.

Middle East hoteliers engaging with social media to boost tourism in, finds WTM Vision Conference – Dubai

The prospects for growth in tourist arrivals in the Middle East and the success of some hotels in the region in using social media were the key topics revealed at the WTM Vision Conference – Dubai.

WTM Vision Conference – Dubai was organised by World Travel Market and took place at fellow Reed Travel Exhibitions event Arabian Travel Market on Tuesday 1 May, following on from earlier well-received conferences in Moscow and London.

Mark Frary, co-founder of WTM’s Social Travel Market conference, gave an insightful presentation on the use of social media by hotels, giving tips to an audience senior industry delegates on how to use networks such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Google+ to promote their properties.

Frary said, “Ever since 2005, the voice of the customer – the hotel guest – has been deafening. Guests have used the internet and social media networks to share their views, often good but frequently bad, of their hotel stays. The reality is that this social media chatter will go on even if hotels choose not to engage with social media.

“However, by choosing to invest time, and yes money, in social media, hoteliers can become part of the conversation and exert influence on how they are perceived.”

Frary showed how hotels in ATM’s host city of Dubai and in the wider Middle East had already engaged with social media, highlighting the good work being done by the Atlantis Palm, the Dusit Thani and the Kempinski group.

Asked about research that showed that 61% of people did not want brands to be active in their social media channels, Frary said, “Facebook now has more than 845 million users. I would be happy engaging with the 39% of those 845 million who do want that interaction with brands.”

Speaker Nadejda Popova, industry analyst with Euromonitor International, also shared the market research company’s report Travel Industry Global Overview with a packed room and looked at the specific findings regarding the Middle East.

Popova said : “2012 started with a high level of uncertainty and the negative impact of the Eurozone crisis has led to IMF downgrading the forecast for 2012 to 0.75%. However, emerging regions have been recording growth.”

She added that the Arab Spring had not been detrimental to all countries in the region. She said, “The UAE and Saudi Arabia have actually benefitted from the uprisings, as they were seen as stable countries to travel to.”

The company predicts that tourism arrivals in the Middle East will rise by 1.3% in 2012, after the blip of 2011 when these fell by 6.2%. However, this temporary blip is on the back of a strong 2010 when tourist numbers grew by an impressive 11.5%.

Reed Travel Exhibitions Director World Travel Market Simon Press said: “WTM Vision Conference – Dubai has continued the success of the previous two events in Moscow and London with another packed room of senior industry delegates.

“The level of support we have received for the whole series demonstrates the need for high level research, information and opinion WTM Vision provides the industry’s senior leaders to help them run their businesses.”

The WTM Vision Conference – Dubai, in association with TTN Middle East, was sponsored by Dunleavy White, the senior level executive search firm which has this week opened a new office inDubai.

The WTM Vision Conferences series was launched in 2009 in London and has expanded to a five event series in 2012.

The Moscow, London and Dubai events have already taken place with WTM Vision Conference – Shanghai taking place on May 10 and WTM Vision Conference – Florence completing the series on May 18.

Cream of Arabia celebrates at World Travel Awards

Dubai, UAE, 1 May 2012

The Middle East’s leading travel brands have shared top honours at a VIP gala ceremony hosted by World Travel Awards (WTA) at Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa, Dubai on 30th April 2012.

A packed delegation of VIPs, senior tourism figures and international media travelled from more than 30 nations to attend WTA’s Middle East Ceremony 2012.

Dubai’s rapid ascendancy up the global tourism order was further strengthened after it was named “Middle East’s Leading Destination” for the second year running. The emirate’s insatiable appetite for pushing boundaries also led to a number of its hotels picking up awards, including Atlantis The Palm (“Middle East’s Leading Resort”). Meanwhile Dubai International Airport was voted “Middle East’s Leading Airport”.

Dubai-based hospitality group Jumeirah enjoyed an evening of rich rewards. Victories included “UAE’s Leading Spa Resort” (Jumeirah Zabeel Saray), “Dubai’s Leading Resort” (Madinat Jumeirah), “UAE’s Leading Hotel” (Jumeirah at Etihad Towers) and Dubai’s Leading Hotel (Burj Al Arab)

Neighbouring Abu Dhabi also revelled in travel triumph. Emirates Palace won “Middle East’s Leading Luxury Resort” whilst Etihad Airways was voted “Middle East’s Leading Airline” after another record-breaking year in which the UAE flag carrier cruised into profit.

Saudi Arabia’s emergence as a tourism force was recognised with Makkah Clock Royal Tower – A Fairmont Hotel, winning the blue riband title of “Middle East’s Leading Hotel” for the first time.

Lebanese popstar Carole Samaha headlined the glittering show, with Wonho Chung providing the comedy, and the South African string quartet Sterling EQ also performing.

Graham E. Cooke, President & Founder, WTA, underlined the depth and quality of the travel and tourism sector across the Middle East.

He says: “Dubai’s appetite for pushing boundaries makes it one the world’s most innovative tourism destinations, as well as a most fitting host to start our WTA Grand Tour 2012.

“Our winners are also drawn from the entire breadth of the Middle East, reflecting the monumental gains that the region’s travel and tourism sector has made in recent years. I am sure these organisations will fare strongly in our Grand Final, which takes place in New Delhi, India on 12 December 2012.”

David Thomson, Regional General Manager, Jebel Ali International Hotels, adds: “My congratulations go out wholeheartedly to all winners and nominees. The evening was a true reflection of the best in the Middle East travel industry and it was an absolute honour to host the Middle East Ceremony of WTA at Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa.”

Other WTA Grand Tour 2012 regional heats are set to take place in Turks & Caicos, Nairobi (Kenya), Algarve (Portugal), and Singapore. The winners will then go head-to-head in WTA’s Grand Final, which takes place at The Oberoi, Gurgaon on 12th December 2012.

Launch of Katara Hospitality heralds new era for Qatar’s expanding tourism sector

New corporate identity to replace Qatar National Hotels brand as company looks to international markets for opportunity; continues to drive domestic expansion under National Vision 2030 plan for economic diversification 

Dubai, 30 April 2012 – Qatar National Hotels Company (QNH) has chosen this year’s Arabian Travel Market (ATM) to reveal its new corporate identity to the regional and international tourism industry.

Rebranded as Katara Hospitality, the creation of a completely new corporate identity generated by a name more relevant for the company’s ambitious international expansion plans will herald a new era of opportunity for the hospitality giant, in line withQatar’s own tourism development strategy.

“Over the last four decades we have been at the forefront of the development ofQatar’s hospitality industry at both domestic and international levels. As we embark on a new wave of strategic expansion, we seized the opportunity to redefine the brand and set the scene for future growth of not only our rapidly expanding portfolio, but of Qatar’s reputation as a key player in the global tourism market,” said HE Sheikh Nawaf bin Jassim bin Jabor Al-Thani, Chairman, Katara Hospitality.

The word ‘Catara’ dates back to 150 AD and was originally used by the ancient Greeks to refer to the area known as the Qatar Peninsula, before European cartographers began using the spelling ‘Katara’ on historical maps dating from the first half of the 18^th century.

“The decision to revive the name Katara reflects our rich cultural heritage and honours the country’s ancient roots, while being symbolic for our recognition beyond the regional borders since ancient times. This cultural wealth is the foundation for our national vision, and is the basis on which the Government of Qatar and Katara Hospitality are developing a sustainable tourism offering for future generations to come,” he added.

The launch of its new corporate identity, designed by international branding consultancy Lambie-Nairn, has the twin goals of raising brand awareness in key targeted international markets as well as developing long-term business-to-business partnerships with leading global hospitality and tourism players.

Katara Hospitality will also use ATM as a platform to share exciting plans for future global development within its broad remit as asset owner, developer and manager of a growing hospitality portfolio on three continents.

“Our focus on international expansion began in 2006 with the acquisition of the Renaissance Sharm El Sheikh Golden View Beach Resort inEgypt, and we currently have 24 hotels operational or under development in eight international destinations. We are looking to increase that to 30 properties by 2016 and double that figure by 2030 to 60 hotels and resorts around the world,” said Hamad Abdulla Al Mulla, Chief Executive Officer of Katara Hospitality.

With more than 4,000 hotel rooms already operational or under construction, Katara Hospitality has a number of openings on the horizon including two new Qatar-based projects – an iconic development in the Marina District of the new Lusail city and the Merwebhotel City Centre Doha – and three new European properties in 2013 – the Royal Savoy Lausanne; the Gallia Hotel Milan; The Peninsula Hotel Paris, as well as a second Parisian location with a five star hotel.

2014 will mark the opening of an impressive project inSwitzerland, the Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne. The luxurious resort will round out the year following the multi-million dollar refurbishment of Tangier’s famedTaziPalaceand a new build project – the Comoros Beach Resort located in the Union of Comoros.

“Our focus is on strategic investments and acquiring a collection of international properties that are true hospitality icons in the grandest sense; having said that, we are also building new icons of hospitality that incorporate the latest technology and offer a contemporary alternative, but with the same warm, genuine service that defines the new Katara Hospitality brand,” said Al Mulla.

Illustrating that point, a new iconic hotel that upholds the cultural roots of the Qatar-based company is being developed in a prime location inLusailCity. “With an architectural design inspired by the insignia of Qatar, the Lusail Marina property’s stunning architecture is set to become a leading hospitality landmark” Al Mulla added.

The strength ofQatar’s banking sector underscores the Gulf state’s ability to finance major planned projects given its financial sector performance and its projected GDP growth of 6% in 2012, as well as its liquid banking sector.

At the end of 2011, total assets of the country’s commercial banks grew by 22.3% to US$190.6 billion in 2011 from 2010 while customer deposits increased by more than 18.5% to US$100 billion. Meanwhile credit facilities to customers rose by 28.2% to US$103.5 billion.Qatar’s financial performance was all the more impressive given fears of contagion from the euro zone debt crisis and slow growth in the United States and other developed markets.

HRH Sheikh Mohammed opens Arabian Travel Market

UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai inaugurates ATM 2012 Middle East’s biggest travel and tourism event underscoring importance of sector to regional economies

HRH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, today officially inaugurated Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2012, in the presence of senior government officials, leaders of the regional and international travel industry as well as high-profile participants.

The event programme for day one of ATM brings together some of the most prominent travel and tourism organisations in theMiddle Eastand internationally, from both public and private sectors.

Mark Walsh, Portfolio Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions, organiser of Arabian Travel Market, said: “As the first promising signs of democratic progression emerge in theMiddle Eastin the wake of the Arab Spring, the region’s tourism figures show that it is growing once again.

“This year’s ATM serves as a timely reminder and strong indicator of the vital role the travel and tourism industry plays in the region’s socio-economic development.

“A recent World Travel and TourismCouncil (WTTC) report showed the direct contribution of the travel and tourism trade to GDP is forecast to increase by 4.6% to over $250 billion over the next decade.”

The 2012 instalment of ATM has seen a 46% rise in visitor pre-registrations, against 2011 figures, for its 19^th edition, as well as travel agent registration up by a whopping 213%.

“The record figures we’re receiving for this year’s event reflects the region’s positive approach to the tourism sector as a major economic driver. 18-months on from the Arab Spring, we have seen a significant jump in interest from within the gulfCooperationCouncil (GCC) States, which is confirmed by the positive pre-show figures we have seen across the board,” remarked Walsh.

HRH Sheikh Sheikh Mohammed, toured the exhibition with other dignitaries including HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive Emirates Airline & Group and Akbar Al Baker, CEO Qatar Airways.  This year, ATM features representatives from 87 countries, with 54 national tourist organisations exhibiting at the International ExhibitionCentre floor over the next four-days.

Among international officials participating in the event are Alain Azouaou, Ambassador, French Embassy Abu Dhabi and Gonzalo De Benito Secades, Ambassador of Spain. Jean-Paul Tarud Kuborn,Chilean Ambassador to the UAE, also joined senior figures from tourism ministries inCyprus, Malaysia and the Philippines.

ATM is a comprehensive four-day travel trade event held from 30 April – 3 May 2012, comprising exhibition, conference and seminar programmes, along with specialist industry days including travel agents day and careers day.

Topics discussed on day one included bouncing back from the ‘Arab Spring one-year on’ and ‘luxury hospitality in the modern age of globalisation’.

Speakers on the first day included some of the region’s most influential business leaders, such as Akbar Al Baker,CEO Qatar Airways, and Rudi Jagersbacher, President, Hilton Worldwide.

Highlights of the sessions tomorrow will include challenges facing aviation growth in theMiddle East, attracting theChinese traveller to the UAE, the Euromonitor travel industry global overview, along with the impact on tourism of the holy month of Ramadan.

With a diverse range of international participants ATM unlocks business opportunities within theMiddle Eastfor inbound and outbound tourism professionals.

Now in its 19th year, the show has grown to become the largest showcase of its kind in the region and one of the biggest in the world.

Middle East’s leading brands compete in Dubai for ultimate travel accolade

The Middle East’s most successful travel brands are set to be acknowledged at a glittering gala ceremony hosted by World Travel Awards (WTA) at Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa on Monday 30 April 2012.

The likes of Jumeirah, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Armani Hotel Dubai, Qatar Airways, Emirates Palace and Rotana Hotels are among those in the running for top honours.

Lebanese singing sensation Carole Samaha will headline the show, with the critically-acclaimed comedian Wonho Chung also set to perform. Ece Vahapoğlu of Al Jazeera Turkey will anchor proceedings.

More than 500 of the most important decision-makers in the region’s travel and tourism sector, as well as a host of international media, are set to attend what will be the most important night of the year for Arabian travel.

The WTA awards programme, hailed as the ‘Oscars of the travel industry’ by the global media, highlights and rewards those travel brands that have made the greatest contribution to the industry over the past year.

After a fierce round of voting featuring more than 2,000 organisations, the nominees have been whittled down to the elite few.

Categories to watch include “Middle East’s Leading Destination” with Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia in contention. Competition for “Middle East’s Leading Hotel” is expected to be fierce, with Emirates Palace (Abu Dhabi), Burj Al Arab (Dubai), Six Senses Zighy Bay (Oman) and the Ritz-Carlton Doha (Qatar) among those going head-to-head.

Graham E. Cooke, President & Founder, WTA, underlines the core strengths of the Middle East nominees.

He says: “Travel and tourism in the Middle East is rebounding strongly following the political and economic challenges of 2011. The winners at our ceremony will be those organisations that have made the greatest contribution to this recovery.”

“I am delighted that we will be returning to Dubai for what promises to be the most exciting and competitive Middle East Ceremony yet. The emirate is a hotbed of fresh ideas being put into practice, as exemplified by our host, Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa,” he adds.

Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa is the flagship resort of Jebel Ali International Hotels, and consists of two five-star properties, Palm Tree Court & Spa, which has recently undergone a full refurbishment, and Jebel Ali Hotel, which offers views over the Arabian Gulf and a championship-standard nine-hole golf course.

David Thomson, Regional General Manager of Jebel Ali International Hotels expresses his pleasure at hosting the event, saying: “We are delighted that the leaders of the Middle East travel industry will celebrate their achievements at Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa this Monday. The awards are an accurate representation of excellence and it is a true honour to be nominated alongside other leading hotel groups.”

The evening coincides with Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (28-30 April) and Arabian Travel Market (30 April – 3 May), which are both taking place in Dubai.

Other regional heats in WTA’s Grand Tour 2012 will be taking place in the Algarve (Portugal), Nairobi (Kenya), Singapore and Turks & Caicos. The winners of these regional heats will progress to the Grand Final, which will take place at The Oberoi, Gurgaon, New Delhi, India on 12 December 2012.

UAE warned of five-year drop in tourism spend

International arrivals into the UAE will grow over the next five years while the average spend will decline, reveals research which will be presented tomorrow at Reed Travel Exhibition’s Arabian Travel Market held in Dubai.

Delegates at the WTM Vision Conference – Dubai will see exclusive research, presented by Euromonitor International, which found that arrivals into the UAE will see a compound annual growth rate in excess of 7% per annum over the next five years.

But over the same period, average spend per visitor will decline by over 3%.

Other destinations in the region show a similar trend, Saudi Arabia will see visitor arrivals grow by 10% a year until 2016, with the average spend declining by around 4% a year.

Hotel prices across budget, mid and luxury hotels in the MENA region fell in 2010/11, with budget hotels seeing the biggest drop. MENA was the only region where hotel prices declined.

Senior travel executives were also told that the UAE was the third most visited destination by Indian travellers, giving it an important foothold with one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.

Euromonitor International’s Travel Industry Global Overview Report shows that consumers will still travel despite economic concerns, but are looking at value for money options.

Globally, arrivals growth will slow down to around 4% a year between 2011 and 2016. Average spend will grow by 1% from 2012.

This week’s event at Arabian Travel Market is the second WTM Vision Conference – Dubai. The WTM Vision Conference series has expanded this year, taking the number of conferences to five.Moscow and London took place successfully in April, with Shanghai and Florence later this May.

Reed Travel Exhibitions Exhibition Director World Travel Market Simon Press said: “Dubai was one of the earliest international hosts for the WTM Vision Conference brand, and we are pleased that both the WTM Vision events and Arabian Travel Market are growing.”

Middle East Tourism Ministers to gather at high level forum to discuss how to move the sector forward

What: UNWTO & ATM Industry Forum, Future of Tourism in the Middle East and North Africa: Ensuring sustainable growth in challenging times,
When: Monday, 30 April 2012 (15.00)
Where: Arabian Travel Market, Al Multaqua Ballroom, Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre.

Tourism ministers and travel industry leaders from across the Middle East will meet at the UNWTO & Arabian Travel Market Industry Forum in a first-of-its-kind event to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing tourism in region the years ahead.

Topics on the agenda include how to sustain and boost tourism demand, foster employment and future plans for investment in infrastructure around the Middle East. The forum is to be moderated by John Andrews, a consultant editor for The Economist and one of its most experienced foreign correspondents.
The event will be opened by UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai and by Reed Travel Exhibitions Managing Director, Reed Richard Mortimore.

Confirmed public sector speakers the UNWTO & Arabian Travel Market Industry Forum, entitled The Future of Tourism in the Middle East and North Africa: Ensuring sustainable growth in challenging times, include:
· His Excellency Mr. Mounir Abdel Nour, Minister of Tourism, Egypt
· His Excellency Mr. Nayef H. Al-Fayez, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Jordan
· His Excellency Mr. Ahmed bin Nasser bin Hamad Al Mehrzi, Minister of Tourism, Oman
· His Excellency Mr. Ahmed Abdulla Al-Nuaimi, Qatar

Alongside tourism ministers from across the region, chief executives of major companies will also take part in the forum. Among those joining ministers will be Mohammed Rashed, Chief Executive Officer, Hotel and Tourism Sector of the Al Kharafi Group; Gerald Lawless, Executive Chairman of the Jumeirah Group Dubai as well as Frederic Bardin, Senior Vice President of Emirates Holidays.

The forum, which takes place on Monday 30th April 2012 at Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, is a sister event to the successful UNWTO & World Travel Market Ministers’ Summit, which has been run for the past five years. The Ministers’ Summit regularly attracts up to 100 tourism ministers and aides to London to discuss the most important issues affecting the tourism sector around the world.

Emirates says “Hello Tomorrow” at Arabian Travel Market

DUBAI, U.A.E., 26 April 2012:  Emirates – the Official Airline of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) – will be calling all ‘Globalistas’ at the exhibition this year, with a spectacular showcase of its new “Hello Tomorrow” global brand platform and the introduction of exciting interactive and digital features to its iconic Emirates Globe stand.

When the annual travel exhibition gets underway on Monday, 30 April, visitors to the Emirates stand will be wowed by a striking visual display manifesting the spirit of ‘Globalistas’ – individuals who are living and championing the global lifestyle enabled by Emirates.  The 3min showcase will be played out continuously throughout the exhibition across 30 screens wrapping the colossal 9.2m structure at Emirates stand # UAE1210, located in Hall 3.

The vibrant display, which explores different themes synonymous with a global lifestyle such as travel, culture and language, has been produced in celebration of Emirates’ 19th year at ATM and the recent launch of the company’s global “Hello Tomorrow” brand platform.

“Hello Tomorrow” seeks to position Emirates as the enabler of global connectivity and meaningful experiences, as the company continues its evolution from a travel brand to a global lifestyle brand.

In addition to this stunning showcase, regular guests at ATM will also notice a range of new interactive features that have been introduced to the Globe this year. Digital displays will replace traditional brochure stands on the outer edges of the platform, inviting visitors to search and vote for their favourite Emirates destinations through an interactive world map.

The 40in displays will also link straight to the new Emirates Facebook page, which, since its launch in late March, has already nearly 400,000 fans and currently ranks as the number one airline on the social networking site in the MENA region.

“Since our last appearance at ATM, Emirates has made great strides towards achieving our vision for the future growth of the airline and we look forward to sharing these with the industry”, said Thierry Antinori, Executive Vice President, Passenger Sales Worldwide, Emirates airline. “Our new “Hello Tomorrow” brand platform takes centre stage on Emirates Globe this year, following its successful launch around the world and its significance in positioning Emirates as the enabler of global connectivity and meaningful experiences.

“Every year, ATM brings together key industry figures from six continents and this remains a fantastic platform for us to showcase our plans and ambitions, as well as reaffirm our commitment to the regional travel industry.”

Emirates, which now flies to 123 destinations in 73 countries, has significantly expanded its global reach since its previous year at ATM through the launch of 11 new destinations – Geneva, Copenhagen, St Petersburg, Baghdad, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Dublin, Lusaka, Harare, Dallas and, most recently, Seattle.

In addition, four other route launches – Ho Chi Minh City, Barcelona, Lisbon and Washington – are in the pipeline between now and September 2012, and the Emirates rapidly growing fleet is expected to reach 175 aircraft by the end of May 2012.

In addition to our destinations, visitors to Emirates stand will also be able to find out the latest information on the company’s initiatives and businesses  including Skywards, Emirates’ frequent flyer programme; Emirates Holidays, the tour-operating arm of the airline; Arabian Adventures, the leading destination management company in the Middle East; and Congress Solutions International, which is a full-service professional congress organiser.

Traffic surges 15.4 per cent at Dubai International in March

Airport registers third consecutive month with more than 4.5 million passengers

Dubai, UAE -  April 25, 2012 – Passenger traffic at Dubai International, the world’s fourth busiest hub for international passengers and freight, continued its double-digit growth for the third consecutive month according to the monthly traffic report for March issued by Dubai Airports on Wednesday.

Passenger traffic in March reached 4,848,320, an increase of 15.4 per cent compared to 4,201,708 during the corresponding month in 2011. March is the third consecutive month for Dubai International with passenger numbers exceeding the 4.5 million mark, propelling traffic in the first quarter to 14,261,606, a surge of 16.1 per cent over the same period last year.

Buoyed by traffic growth in the region following the increasing liberalisation of the Saudi Arabian aviation sector, the AGCC continued to top the list of regions with the largest increase in total passenger numbers (+174,537 passengers), followed by Western Europe (+109,364), and Africa (+90,057). Contraction on Middle Eastern routes continued in March (-23,030 passengers) owing to instability in certain parts of the region. South America has remained the strongest market in terms of percentage passenger growth* (+90.9 per cent) as a result of new Emirates services to Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires, followed by Russia and CIS (+47.4 per cent), and Australasia (+40.7 per cent). Traffic to and from Africa also rose dramatically (+25.7 per cent) due to the addition of Harare and Lusaka to Emirates’ route network.

During the month under review, Dubai International recorded a total of 29,276 aircraft movements, up 5.8 per cent compared to 27,674 in March 2011. The year to date movements increased 7.9 per cent to reach 86,014, compared to 79,705 recorded during the first quarter in 2011.

Dubai International handled 186,417 tonnes of cargo in March 2012 compared to 185,921 tonnes in March 2011, up 0.3 per cent. Cargo volumes during the first quarter rose slightly with freight volumes reaching 517,440 tonnes, an increase of 1.1 per cent compared to 512,057 tonnes during the corresponding period in 2011.

“New routes and additional frequencies are building on the magnetic attraction of Dubai’s hub as a premier leisure and business destination and a convenient connecting point for global travellers,” said Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports. “As growth continues to pick up in almost all markets, both traditional and new, the outlook for the second quarter is similarly positive.”

18th GCC eGovernment and eServices Conference

Technology is rapidly changing the nature of competition and approach in many government organizations across GCC. Marked as the largest eGovernment conference in the region, the “18th GCC eGovernment and eServices Conference” aims to encourage innovation and elevate the standards of implementing a strong eGovernment framework in paving the way forward to global competitiveness.

Organized in cooperation with the eGovernment Institute, the conference aspires to leverage the diversity of global trends, challenges and opportunities for GCC eGovernment structure to complement various aspects of digital society. The conference will highlight eGovernment strategies on enhancing efficiency and effectiveness, improving access to information, transparency as well as achieving a greater level of citizen centricity. It will discuss issues on eGovernment platforms and benchmarks, interoperable frameworks, private-public eCollaboration including eDefense for security and protection.

The conference will serve as a platform for industry experts, key government representatives, and intellectuals from various countries to come together to effectively collaborate in the planning, delivery and evaluation of eGovernment implementation in the region.

Who will attend ?

The conference will be attended by eGovernment executives, decision-makers and key policy makers from regional and global government organizations including:
eGovernment and eService Leaders
CIOs, IT Managers, IT Directors and CTOs
Project Managers and Consultants
IT Security and Network Professionals
Hardware, Software and Network Engineers
System Integrator Professionals
ICT Solution Providers, Communications Engineer
Academia and Researchers
Telecom and Internet Service Providers
Technology Vendors and OEMs
C-level Executives, Directors and Department Heads
Information Technology Professionals and Experts
And many more…

Why should you attend?
The conference will feature experts and practitioners in the field of electronic government to present the latest offerings and advances in ICT infrastructure, government portals and techniques for online transactions. Global case studies will be presented on GCC eGovernment success and challenges and how to evercome these to attain the perfect state of eGovernance.

The event provides valuable insights into local and international eInitiatives that are enhancing and changing the way the government does business, communicating and participating with their agencies and their citizens. Delegates will have the chance to hear and discuss how eTechnology is engaging and empowering the citizens and forming its own eCommunity which has in turn become the major driver in formulating the ways that government and business deliver services to the public.

Jumeirah Emirates Towers celebrates 10th anniversary of The Vertical Marathon

Dubai, March 2012: Jumeirah Emirates Towers, in association with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and in collaboration with the Red Crescent Society, is proud to announce details of one of Dubai’s most popular fundraising events – The Vertical Marathon.

Hundreds of men, women and children will ascend 265 metres up 1,334 stairs to the top of the 52 floor office tower at Jumeirah Emirates Towers on Friday, April 13th.

Organisers of the event, which has raised a total of AED 1,086,493 since its inception in 2002, have plans to make 2012 the most successful yet raising the largest amount of funds in the history of The Vertical Marathon.

Registration details can be found at www.dubaiverticalmarathon.org where participants are asked to make a minimum pledge of AED 500 per adult and AED 350 per child (17 and below), inclusive of a breakfast buffet. The registration deadline is 11th April 2012.

Move One and Talise Fitness at Jumeirah Emirates Towers are the main sponsors of the event, while other sponsors include Premier Timing, 100 Plus, Acqua Panna and Sport 360.

Dubai International’s Passenger Traffic Surges by 19 per cent in February

Dubai, UAE – March 27, 2012 – Dubai International’s monthly passenger traffic surpassed the 4.5 million mark for the second consecutive month this year while freight volumes witnessed an upturn after months of flat growth, according to the monthly traffic report for February issued by Dubai Airports.

Passenger traffic surged 19 per cent in February – a 16 month high – to reach 4,561,147 passengers compared to 3,831,385 recorded in the same month in 2011.  This follows the airport’s record traffic of over 4.8 million passengers in January, propelling the year to date (February) passenger traffic by 16.4 per cent to 9,413,286.

The AGCC continued to top the list of regions with the largest increase in total passenger numbers* in February (+150,643 passengers), followed by the Indian subcontinent (+140,322), Western Europe (+136,320), and Africa (+110,561 passengers). The downward trend on Middle Eastern routes continued in February (-23,804 passengers) because of the instability in the region.

In terms of percentage passenger growth, South America has remained the strongest market (+151.4 per cent) owing to Emirates Airline’s new routes to Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires, followed by Russia and CIS (+41.7 per cent) mainly due to the expansion of flydubai operations. The launch of Emirates Airline’s flights to the African destinations of Lusaka and Harare in February has driven Africa up the list (35.9 per cent), closely followed by Australasia (+29 per cent) and Eastern Europe (+28 per cent).

Dubai International recorded a total of 27,058 aircraft movements during the month under review, up 9.8 per cent compared to 24,646 last February. The year to date movements stood at 56,738, up 9 per cent compared to 50,031 recorded during the first two months in 2011.

After months of weak performance, cargo volumes surged 6.5 per cent to 157,492 tonnes compared to 147,937 tonnes in February last year, mainly due to the impact of the Chinese New Year on freight volumes in February 2011, as well as the ongoing expansion of Emirates route network which stimulates the flow of cargo through Dubai.

The extra day in February 2012, on account of the leap year, also contributed to Dubai International’s overall performance.

“February marks the twelfth consecutive month with passenger traffic exceeding the four million mark, and with the growth expected to maintain momentum in the coming months we are well on track to achieve the targeted 56.5 million passenger traffic for 2012,” said Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports. “The completion of the Concourse 3 project by the end of 2012 is in line with this forecast and will expand Dubai International’s capacity at the right time, ensuring that our growth continues unhindered.”

The airport currently has an annual capacity of 60 million passengers, increasing to 75 million passengers by next year with the opening of Concourse 3, the world’s first A380 facility dedicated for use by Emirates Airline. Dubai International is the fourth-busiest airport worldwide for international passenger and cargo traffic.

Dubai’s Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa to host WTA Middle East Ceremony 2012

London & Dubai, 20 February 2012

World Travel Awards (WTA), the “Oscars of the travel industry”, has announced plans to host its Middle East Ceremony at Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa in Dubai on 30th April 2012.

The evening will mark the opening leg of WTA’s 2012 Grand Tour, a global search for the very best travel and tourism organisations in the world, covering five continents with nominees drawn from 162 countries.

WTA’s Middle East Ceremony will be held in Dubai for the fifth year in succession, underscoring how the emirate is driving travel trends not just in the region but throughout the world.

Located close to Dubai Marina, Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa is home to a breathtaking range of attractions, including an 800-metre palm-lined private beach, championship golf course, horse-riding stables and diving centre.

The five-star beach resort is also renowned for its unrivalled range of family facilities.

Graham E Cooke, President & Founder, WTA, believes that the selection of hosts is fundamental to the success of the world’s most influential travel awards programme.

He says: “I am delighted that we will be retuning to Dubai for what promises to be the most exciting and competitive Middle East Ceremony yet. The emirate is a hotbed of fresh ideas being put into practice, as exemplified by our host, Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa.”

“The resort has remained the market leader for families throughout its illustrious 30-year history by continually reinventing itself and staying ahead of the curve,” he adds.

Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa is the flagship resort of Jebel Ali International Hotels, and consists of two five-star properties, Palm Tree Court & Spa, which has recently undergone a full refurbishment, and Jebel Ali Hotel, which offers views over the Arabian Gulf and a championship-standard nine-hole golf course.

David Thomson, Regional General Manager, Jebel Ali Internationals Hotels, says he is delighted to host WTA’s Middle East Ceremony, stating: “World Travel Awards is the highest global recognition in the travel industry and we’re thrilled that the winners will celebrate at Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa. After our success earlier in the year, winning ‘World’s Leading Family Resort’, we’re keen to show our Middle East colleagues the changes we’ve made at the resort that justify this prestigious award. At Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa we pride ourselves on being a family resort and are constantly reinventing the offering in order to push the boundaries of travel excellence.”

WTA’s glittering Middle East Ceremony 2012 will attract more than 400 of the most important decision-makers in the region’s travel and tourism sector, as well as a host of international media. The evening coincides with Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (28-30 April) and Arabian Travel Market (30 April – 3 May), which are both taking place in Dubai.

Other regional heats in WTA’s Grand Tour 2012 are set to take place in the Algarve, Thailand and Turks & Caicos. The winners of these regional heats will progress to the Grand Final, which will take place at The Oberoi, Gurgaon, New Delhi, India in December.

DTCM launch Dubai Road Shows in four Indian cities to tap huge growth potential

As part of its 2012’s marketing strategy to boost the overall number of Indian travelers to Dubai, the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), conducted tourism workshops to network with the Indian travel industry covering the cities of Mumbai, Hyderabad, New Delhi and Ahmedabad.

The workshops targeted over 1,000 Indian trade professionals comprising major travel and tour operators, wedding planners and up-market leisure operators across India.

The aim of the marketing and promotional initiative was to provide updated information on Dubai, both from DTCM and its co-participating hoteliers, tourist attractions and destination management companies.

The delegation included an official from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai who are responsible for the issuance of visas.

The DTCM representatives from Dubai and India focused on presenting Dubai in a new light, highlighting its new marketing strategies for India that focuses on niche segments such as student groups, senior citizens, sporting enthusiasts, heritage and culture enthusiasts, up-market leisure travelers and the lucrative wedding segment. Through this initiative Dubai’s position was reinforced as a year round destination providing varied tourism product offerings that offer comfort, quality at affordable pricing.

Mr. Saleh Al Geziry, DTCM Director of Overseas Promotions and Inward Missions, who led the delegation across the four cities, said: “It was a pleasure to lead a delegation of 17 organizations comprising hotels, resorts, hotel apartments, attractions and destination management companies along with our national airline, Emirates.”

The workshops across the four cities in India were supported by Atlantis – The Palm, Royal Arabian Tours and Emirates Airlines. Other participants included Accor Hospitality Middle East, Al Rais Tours & Travels, Bonton Tours & Travels, Discovery Travel & Tourism, Dubai Dolphinarium, Dubai Marine Beach Resort & Spa, Golden Sands Hotel Apartments, Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts, Kempinski Hotel – Mall of the Emirates, Lama Tours, National Desert Travel, Sea View Hotel, Royal Ascot Hotel and The Address Hotels & Resorts.

He said: “Dubai is a vibrant destination that attracts traveller’s year on year. These workshops represent a vital component in bringing in the overall number of inbound travellers into Dubai from across the world.”

Commenting on the Dubai Roadshow 2012, Mr. Carl Vaz, Director of DTCM’s India office, said: “The Dubai Tourism India Roadshow 2012 has met with immense success which proves that Dubai as a destination is most sought after. It is an honour to witness such a large turnout of our Indian travel fraternity.”

He added: “During this roadshow we have seen a large number of members comprising TAAI (Travel Agents Association of India), TAFI (Travel Agents Federation of India) and ETAA (Enterprising Travel Agents Association of India).”

The programme for the workshops included presentations by officials of Emirates, Atlantis – The Palm and Royal Arabian Tours and included detailed networking session between the Dubai delegation and leaders of the Indian travel community.

India is a major source market for Dubai’s vibrant tourism industry. In 2011, India topped for the strongest passenger growth in passengers numbers at the Dubai International airport which closed the year with over 51 million passengers.

India is expected to produce 50 million outbound tourists each year by 2020, according to the UN World Tourism Organisation, with India’s per capita income forecast to surge over the next decade. Hoteliers and the travel trade are increasingly turned to emerging markets such as India to attract holidaymakers.

India today exhibits exponential growth for inward visitor traffic into Dubai. A large segment of Indian visitors utilise hotels and hotel apartments in the Emirate making India the top source market.

In 2009, over 529,500 Indian travellers stayed in Dubai’s hotel and hotel apartments, which crossed to over 638,100 in 2010 representing an annual growth rate of 21 per cent. In 2010, India was the second on the list of top source markets for Dubai hotels which numbers 570 with over 70,000 rooms. In 2011, the number of Indian guests in Dubai hotels crossed the 700,000 mark.

Dubai-based carrier Emirates is planning more flights to India to cater to rising demand from the Indian business and tourism sectors. The carrier, which is awaiting clearances from the government to fly its Airbus A380 aircraft to Delhi and Mumbai, said there are insufficient capacities out of India to meet rising demand from business and middle-class travellers.

At present, Emirates operates from 10 locations in India including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Kochi and Kozhikode. It said it has high-seat factors in and out of many Indian points. Dubai’s budget carrier, flydubai, currently has connectivity to Dubai from three Indian cities including Hyberabad and Ahmadabad. In addition to this, several other carriers including Air India, Indian Airlines, IndiGo, Jet Airways and Kingfisher operate flights on Dubai-India sector.

DTCM has had a representative office in India for over eight years which has been functioning as an initial contact point and query-processing centre for the Indian travel trade interested in doing business in Dubai.

The India office aims at promoting commerce and tourism, through the organization of marketing activities such as presentations, road shows, advertising, brochure distribution, direct sales meetings and media education programmes, which include familiarization visits for business and travel journalists to Dubai. The presence in Mumbai brings to 18 the total number of offices in the DTCM’s international network.

Gulf Dunes Appoints Ms. Jane Filler of FIVESTARFILLER Ltd as the marketing Representative for the UK

Jane Filler started FIVESTARFILLER in 2001. She previously worked for Pan American World Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways. As well as running her own successful business, Jane is also a trustee of the Geoff Thomas Foundation, a charity dedicated to raising funds to help eradicate blood cancers.

Gulf Dunes is delighted to have partnered with a reputable company who is in touch with the growing demands of the UK market.
Mr. Gamal Fathy, CEO of Gulf Dunes, said: “The UK has always been the number 1 market for our company and destinations UAE and Oman ever since we started in 1995. Having Jane on board highlights the importance of this market for us and shows our ongoing commitment to the market.”

Mr. Zaki Badawi, General Manager of Gulf Dunes, said: “We are very excited to have someone of Jane’s caliber represent Gulf Dunes in the UK market. I am confident that as a team we will be able to further service the Meeting Industry Professionals.”

Marriott in the UAE Places Third in the Great Place to Work® Institute Survey of Top Employers for 2012

Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Marriott International (NYSE:MAR) has been officially recognized as one of the top three “Top Companies to Work for in the UAE” for 2012 byGreat Place to Work Institute, a global research and management consultancy.  Marriott in the UAE ranked third in the competition, behind FedEx at number one and Microsoft at number two.  The official list, published in the February issue of Executive Magazine and Business Pioneer, is a ranking of the UAE’s 10 best employers based on the confidential feedback of employees and an audit of management practices. A ceremony to celebrate the winners was held last night at the Monarch Hotel in Dubai. [Photo:  Receiving the Award for Marriott International in the Middle East /Africa region (from left) Jeff Strachan, VP Sales & Marketing; Ibrahim Barghout, area Vice President; and Gary Dodds, VP Human Resources.]

“This independent assessment by our employees from the global Great Places to Work Institute, is great recognition of the Marriott culture and how our leadership truly delivers that each and every day,” says Gary Dodds, vice president, Human Resources, for Marriott International and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C, for the Middle East & Africa.

To pick the “Top Companies to Work for in the UAE”, the Great Place to Work® Institutes conducts an evaluation of each participating company. Two-thirds of the company’s score is based on the results of the Institute’s Trust Index survey, which is sent to the employees from each company. The survey asks questions related to their attitudes about the management’s credibility, employee engagement and job satisfaction. The other third of the scoring is based on the company’s responses to the Institute’s Culture Audit, which includes detailed questions about pay and benefits programs and a series of open-ended questions about hiring, communication, and development.

Commenting on the Top Companies list, Dr. Farrukh Kidwai, Chief Executive Officer of Great Place to Work Institute UAE, said: “By evaluating levels of credibility, respect, fairness, pride and camaraderie between employees and their managers, their jobs and their colleagues, we are able to help organizations improve their productivity and profitability.” Details of the full list can be found atwww.greatplacetowork.ae, or through the Business Pioneer and Executive magazines in their February issues.

JW Marriott Marquis Dubai Set To Be World’s Tallest Hotel

355 Meter Hotel Scheduled to Open in Q4 2012.

Dubai, UAE – A symbol of Dubai’s resurgence and its growing importance at the centre of the global business crossroads will emerge later this year when the 1,608-room JW Marriott Marquis Dubai opens its doors to guests in Q4 this year.  [See additional photos below.]  A stunning addition to Marriott International’s JW Marriott world-class luxury hotel brand, the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai will open in two phases, with the first section featuring 807 rooms and numerous restaurants and lounges.   At a height of 355 meters (1,164 feet), the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai is the tallest dedicated hotel building in the world and is just 26 meters (85 feet) shorter than the Empire State Building in New York.

In addition to serving the luxury business traveler, the hotel is targeting the lucrative and increasingly important MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) market, which currently does not have a hotel of sufficient scale to host such large groups.   In addition to all the dining and entertainment options, the hotel will have two ballrooms, 24 meeting rooms and a total of 5,100 square meters (54,895 square feet) of event space.

“The potential to cater for the growing needs of the global business community is huge and we believe the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai is uniquely placed in that regard,” said Rupprecht Queitsch, general manager.   “The hotel will fill a long identified gap in the market where groups, meetings and conventions of up to 1,000 people can meet, sleep and dine under one roof, in one location. There are businesses of this size choosing various cities around the world in which to meet, but until now, Dubai has not had a single location of this size to accommodate this type of group. In simple terms, we will establish Dubai on the global conference market landscape.

To give this market some context, the United States’ MICE segment, which will be one of the key targets of the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai team, contributes $106 billion to that country’s GDP – higher than automotive manufacturing ($78 billion), performing arts/spectator sports/museums ($71 billion) and information and data processing services ($76 billion).

Dubai’s excellent air service, especially with the emerging BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) economies,  are expected to create further opportunity. Nasser Saidi, chief economist for the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), has already noted the growth in Chinese firms coming to Dubai to set up a hub to access the African markets, and China is becoming an increasingly important export partner for the UAE. In the first quarter of 2011, for example, China exported AED10.68bn worth of goods to Dubai and was the emirate’s second biggest export partner during that period.

“As for general business, Dubai is perfectly positioned, with its proximity to huge growth markets such as India and the fact it has literally billions of people within a five-hour flight range,” said Queitch. “What those business travelers are looking for is a hotel that has everything they could possibly need under one roof and we truly believe this iconic new property will set a new standard in business hotels, not just in the region but globally.”

Dining, Entertainment & Wellness Options

The JW Marriott Marquis Dubai will offer an enticing array of nine restaurants and five lounges and entertainment venues. The Vault lounge will sit on the 71^st and 72^nd floors with panoramic views of the city; a yet-t0-be named late-night music venue will offer live music daily.  Restaurants will range from Prime 68, a boutique steakhouse, to Atul Kochhar’s Rang Mahal Indian restaurant, Positano for Italian coastal cuisine, an Arabic restaurant and La Farine, an attractive boulangerie and social meeting spot.

The 1,500 square-meter (16,000 square-foot) Saray Spa draws inspiration from the caravanserai silk route across Arabia, with treatments designed to ensure mind and body renewal.  Treatments include the signature milk and honey treatment, an Arabic coffee awakener, a lemon and mint body polish and pomegranate renewal treatment.  For sun worshippers, an enormous pool deck covers the seventh floor of the hotel with a 32 meter swimming pool and deck with elegant cabanas, lounges and umbrellas.

The Marquis endorsement is reserved for iconic properties in the Marriott International portfolio, defined by their scale, grandeur and location. The new JW Marriott Marquis in Dubai will be the first JW Marquis branded property outside of North America (after the JW Marriott Marquis Miami) and sends a strong signal about how Marriott International views Dubai’s growing importance and global influence.

16th UAE International Dental Conference & Arab Dental Exhibition – AEEDC Dubai 2012

DTCM discuss tourism industry trends with hoteliers and tour operators

The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) organized a meeting with the key players of the emirate’s tourism industry to review the performance of Dubai’s tourism industry in 2011

Dubai flights go wireless

 Dubai is an emirate looking to the future but embracing its past. Buildings are futuristic as they rise ever closer to space, but inside design details are based on ancient Arabic styles of intricate latticework and symmetrical designs. Dubai has been carving out a real name for itself on the international travel scene too, both as a secure and successful place to do business and invest, but also as a major tourist attraction with massive investment into hosting horseracing, golf, film and tennis events.

Yet more money has been poured into long-term attractions such as the Ski Dubai indoor ski slope and Mall of the Emirates shopping centre, not to mention the plethora of luxury five-star hotels. At the same time, traditional markets are being encouraged and art and fashion shows are showcasing the regions history and culture.

In line with this modern, contemporary vision and Dubai’s desire to become a leading business destination, Emirates airlines have now launched its first in-flight Wi-Fi system. Flights to Dubai have never seemed quicker now that customers can spend their time surfing the internet of going about their daily business tasks. DialAFlight offer flights to Dubai with Emirates, so check to see if your flight will have access to in-flight Wi-Fi.

The service is being launched initially on 11 out of 19 A380 Air Buses, however, Emirates plan to roll out the new service throughout the entire fleet of 71 craft.

So what’s the cost? Prices for mobile devices are US$7.50 and US$15 for laptops and the data package is such that this will last on all flights to Dubai from London.

The changes mean business communications will be seamless; travelling from London to Dubai, a flight of some seven hours, can now be integrated into the typical business day. Communication black outs will be a thing of the past. This move will help cement Dubai’s credentials as a thriving business hub.

This new announcement from Emirates, comes shortly after Dubai International Airport launched four bilingual ‘virtual assistants’ to provide security and immigration information to the airport’s 50 million of so passengers travelling through the airport each year. It’s hoped the new assistants will decrease waiting times and improve operational efficiency. For more information, visit dubaiairport.com.

Dubai hosts Italian football club Juventus’ winter camp

World Diabetes Congress breaks records in Dubai

DUBAI, U.A.E., December 2011: The recent World Diabetes Congress held in Dubai has recorded its highest attendance in history. Organized by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) together with Congress Solutions International (CSI) as their local PCO, the Congress which ran from 4 – 8 December at Dubai World Trade Centre, was the largest congress held in Dubai to date, attracting over 15,000 delegates and 300 journalists from over 100 countries around the world, an increase of 25 per cent from the last congress in Montreal.

The mega-congress which was opened by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and President of the Dubai Healthy Authority, also witnessed record exhibition and sponsorship sales and a leading scientific programme.
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) organized the event and mandated Congress Solutions International (CSI) as their local PCO, who managed important local logistics items such as housing, social programmes and local MENA exhibition and sponsorship sales as well as production of marketing materials.
“The overwhelming success of the World Diabetes Congress in an ample showcase to the world that Dubai and CSI is ready to take on congresses of any size and irrespective of industry sector, and as a result Dubai has been recognized as one of the world’s leading association meeting destinations. With this stellar example and working with Dubai World Trade Centre and Dubai Convention Bureau, we will continue to submit bids to leading global associations that have not yet ventured into the region”, commented Alexandre Lolliot, Manager of Congress Solutions International.

The UAE has the second highest prevalence of diabetes globally, with one in five people now living with the disease. Holding the World Diabetes Congress in Dubai provided the perfect opportunity to add a strong political dimension and increase representation of government and civil society from the region, while in a city that has the state of the art infrastructure and facilities to support an event of this scale.
“We have been impressed with the way that Dubai as a destination has responded to our needs and exceeded our expectations in terms of infrastructure and services,” said Luc Hendrickx, Director of Congresses and Governance for IDF. “The World Diabetes Congress in Dubai has been a huge success. The scientific and medical interests of the congress and media exposure have reinforced awareness and understanding of the burden of diabetes in the region. There is every indication that diabetes prevention and care are very much at the centre of the government agenda. The International Diabetes Federation is confident that the congress will leave a lasting legacy and the UAE will join the rest of the world in implementing and monitoring of evidence-based policy and planning emerging from the United Nations Summit on Non-Communicable Diseases..”

Jumeirah’s Zebra Shark is first of its species to reproduce through parthenogenesis

The mother shark currently lives with her daughter, ‘Nimr’, who is one of 21 surviving Zebra Sharks to have been reproduced through the process of parthenogenesis since 2007.

The evolutionary phenomenon has never before been recorded in this species of shark, Stegostoma Fasciatum (widely known as the Zebra Shark). It has been genetically confirmed through scientific research, following which an article has been reviewed by peers and published in Journal of Fish Biology*.

Working closely with Dr Khazanehdari of the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory in Dubai, the process of parthenogenesis was confirmed through the DNA analysis of some of the mother shark’s offspring. The discovery, coupled with the survival of the pups, is a significant breakthrough in science, questioning existing knowledge of shark reproduction.

WWBC 2012 – Worldwide Business Conference 2012 in Dubai

To prepare all business partners for 2012, the first full BIMobject business year with technology presentations, case studies, strategic planning and business development. Organisers will also add some team building into the agenda so all can get familiar with each other.  The goal is to educate and get feedback to their solutions and present what will come during 2012. The conference is open to all…

Dates for 2012 Dubai Shopping Festival Announced

The 32-day festival will be held from January 5 to February 5, 2012.  Attracting millions of visitors each year, the festival showcases the region’s best in shopping, winning, and family entertainment.

‘Dubai at its best’ is the marketing slogan for the 2012 edition of DSF and symbolizes the best of what Dubai has to offer for residents and visitors. Over 6000 retail outlets are expected to offer spectacular discounts throughout the festival in addition to chances of winning prizes ranging from luxury cars and gold to cash each day of the event. It is interesting to note that around AED 1.4 billion worth of prizes has been given away since the first DSF in 1996.

In addition to the shopping and prizes, hundreds of events await residents and visitors. From international concerts, musicals, and shows to sport, outdoor, and fashion events, Dubai Shopping Festival caters to every age segment.

“Dubai Shopping Festival is renowned as a global event that attracts visitors from across the world making Dubai a meeting point for diverse cultures. DSF celebrates its seventeenth edition in 2012 with 32 days of intense shopping, entertainment, and chances to win prizes worth millions of dirhams. Apart from being the anchor in Dubai’s annual events calendar, DSF is a celebration of Dubai at its best,” said the DEPE Media Centre in a statement.
Launched in 1996 under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, to position Dubai as a leading tourist destination, DSF attracts people of over 200 nationalities, reflecting its famous slogan ‘One World, One Family, One Festival’.

New UNWTO & ATM Forum to support highly successful UNWTO & WTM Ministers’ Summit

The highly-successful UNWTO & WTM Ministers’ Summit is to have a sister event in 2012 – the UNWTO and ATM Forum which will take place at Arabian Travel Market in Dubai.

The First Airport Prepaid Card in the World Launched – DXB Connect

Dubai, UAE – November 02, 2011 – Dubai Airports, Dubai Duty Free and MasterCard Worldwide today announced the launch of DXB Connect, the world’s first airport prepaid MasterCard card aimed primarily at airport clientele.

Operated on the MasterCard network and issued by Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) in conjunction with Jade Payments and Global Processing Services, the DXB Connect card offers over 50 million passengers annually travelling through Dubai International, a convenient and safe method to make airport purchases in local currency (AED).

DXB Connect offers arriving, departing and transiting passengers exclusive discounts at Dubai Duty Free retail outlets, as well as at renowned hotels, spas, F&B outlets and family entertainment venues across Dubai. It also offers global reach as it is accepted everywhere the MasterCard acceptance mark is displayed. As part of the package, the card also comes with a ready to use Etisalat mobile SIM preloaded with AED 25 credit allowing travellers the convenience of having a local phone number on arrival.

DXB Connect cards can be purchased for a one-time fee of 95AED (USD26) and immediately activated at dedicated card activation stands operated by Dubai Duty Free (DDF) across all three terminals at Dubai International. Travellers are able to select the amount they wish to load onto the card when activating it. The card can be topped up at specified locations in the airport and very soon also through all Virgin Megastores, UAE Exchange outlets in UAE and online via the DXB Connect website (www.dxbconnect.com). DXB Connect cardholders can access their card balance through IVR, SMS, dxbconnect.com and at card activation touch points at Dubai International.

The Etisalat prepaid SIM and the DXB Connect prepaid cards are instantly activated at multiple card activation touch points across the airport. This is the first time in the world where a prepaid MasterCard and prepaid mobile SIM have been integrated into a single package for customer convenience.

The DXB Connect card provides cardholders with the ability to better manage their finances as they are not able to spend beyond the pre-paid balance amount stored on the card. It is PIN enabled for ATM use and requires cardholders to provide a signature at point of sale terminals. Additionally, like a credit card, it can be cancelled, blocked and re-issued.

“Our goal is to continually find innovative ways to create a uniquely positive and memorable service experience for our passengers,” said Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports. “Much like the airport itself, the DXB Connect card ticks all the boxes by offering our customers global reach, greater convenience and tremendous value.”

“We are very excited about the DXB Connect card and have enjoyed working with Dubai Airports and MasterCard on making it all come together,” said Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman, Dubai Duty Free. “The DXB Connect card will offer travellers tremendous opportunities to avail of a pre-paid card that is easy to purchase at Dubai Duty Free and quickly activated. I think that it is going to be very popular with a diverse mix of travellers.”

“As the world’s first dedicated airport prepaid card, the DXB Connect ushers in a new era of convenience customised for travellers visiting the UAE,” said Ramzy Al Amary, vice president-Abu Dhabi District Manager, MasterCard Worldwide. “DXB Connect cardholders will be powered with the ability to instantly buy, load, activate and use their prepaid cards at the airport and across our global network of 32.7 million acceptance locations. The DXB Connect card provides travellers the advantage of carrying a mode of payment, which requires no bank account or annual fees and is more flexible than cash.”

The global e-commerce industry is growing quickly with sales turnover increasing from US$183 billion in 2004 to an estimated US$550 billion by the end of this year. Similarly the global duty free industry is on the rise with sales turnover increasing some 56 per cent from US$25 billion in 2004 to US$ 39 billion in 2010.

Dubai tourism industry shines at IMEX America show

Where There’s Connection, there’s Creation: Dubai’s World-class Logistics are Helping to Transform Global Trade

DUBAI, UAE, October 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ –

Two-thirds of the world’s population lives within an eight hour flight of Dubai. One third is within just 4 hours’ reach. With such clear geographical advantages, Dubai’s success as a freight and passenger hub is perhaps no great surprise.

Last year, 50 million people moved through Dubai International Airport. When completed, the new Al Maktoum International Airport, already receiving cargo flights, will have a capacity of 120 million passengers a year.

But Dubai does not just have airports – it is an Aerotropolis. Dr. John D. Kasarda, the academic and futurologist who coined the term, says that great air travel hubs like Dubai will be at the heart of globalization’s next phase. These mega-hubs, rather than simply serving local economies, can transform them. According to Kasarda, air transport connectivity has a major impact on international trade.

The real connectivity story takes place at Dubai Logistics City. This huge development brings together the new mega-airport and cargo hub with logistics, warehousing facilities, and aviation services. It will be the world’s largest air-freight facility, capable of handling 12 million tons of freight each year.

The advantages of Dubai’s connectivity extend from air to land and sea. Dubai Logistics City, housing over 6,400 companies, is part of the Emirate’s free trade area and linked to Jebel Ali Port. Cargo can move between airport and seaport in under an hour, and from there to the world beyond. Many call this the world’s first truly integrated logistics platform.

But what effect does this connectivity have on the local economy? A powerful one, according to UK-based consultancy Oxford Economics. It estimates Dubai’s aviation sector contributes 125,000 jobs and $11.7 billion in gross domestic product, more than 14 percent of the total.

The study also indicates how Dubai’s aviation sector benefits other markets. For example, India gains nearly $612 million from Dubai’s connectivity. China gains $1.4 billion and is accelerating along Dubai’s multimillion dollar trading highway. Today there are more than 2,000 Chinese companies registered in Dubai, up from 18 in 2005.

In June, the Dubai International Financial Center, the emirate’s financial and business gateway, announced a tie-up with the Chengdu Financial City Investment and Development Corporation, supporting relations between the two global economic hubs.

Dubai offers many advantages to Chinese businesses. The Middle East is the natural springboard for Chinese companies wanting to enter Africa. Of China’s trade with Africa, 35 per cent goes to North Africa. Dubai’s preeminence as a logistics hub and its favourable business conditions make it the automatic choice for many companies establishing regional headquarters.

With goods, capital, and ideas flowing ever more strongly from China and India to the Middle East, Europe, Africa and beyond, Dubai is now an integral point of connection on what could well become known as the New Silk Road.

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Dubai hosts Natalie Tours Annual Congress for 7th consecutive year

For the seventh consecutive year, Dubai hosted the Annual Congress of Natalie Tours at Atlantis hotel from September 29 to October 4, offering 250 of its travel agents from Russia, CIS and Baltic region valuable insights into the emirate’s varied tourism products and attractions.
In the first quarter of 2011, Dubai properties hosted 171,329 guests from these markets, an increase of 24 per cent compared with the corresponding period in 2010.
The congress has been organised by Natalie Tours , Alpha Tours, the largest tour operator in Dubai in cooperation with Atlantis .
The congress was also attended by Mr.Ghassan El Aridi, CEO of Alpha Tours, Adnan Aridi General Manager and Ms. Natalia Vorobieva, CEO of Natalie Tours.
Recalling her company’s long association with Dubai and its efforts in selling holiday packages to Dubai to Russians and tourists in other markets, Ms. Natalia said the choice of Dubai as the host city for their annual congress reaffirms the importance of Dubai as a distinctive tourist destination and its ability to attract a high number of Russian tourists.
Natalie Tours, in cooperation with Alpha Tours, had signed an agreement with flydubai airline to offer regular flights between Dubai and some of the important Russian cities outside Moscow, such as Yekaterinburg and Samara. The deal is expected to increase the number of tourists from the Russian, CIS and Ukranian markets to Dubai in the coming years .
Dubai’s first low cost airline announced that three Ukrainian cities – Kiev, Kharkiv and Donetsk – have become new destinations on the airline’s rapidly growing network in September.
According to Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR), in a report in May 2011, said the interest of the Russians in the UAE increased considerably during the first three months of the year. For example, the growth of the visits of the Russians to Dubai amounted to 27 per cent during the first quarter of the year in comparison with the same period of last year.
The number of the tourists of Natalie Tours in Dubai increased by 76 per cent during the period from January till March 2011 in comparison with the same period of last year. The share of Natalie Tours in the UAE market comes nearly to 40 per cent according to the results of the first quarter of 2011.
Established in April 1992, Natalie Tours has been a leading tour operator of Russia offering holiday packages to various destinations, including the UAE in general and Dubai in particular.
Mr. Ghassan El Aridi, said Natalie Tours has been playing a key role in ensuring the steady annual increase in Russian tourists to Dubai.

The Address Dubai Marina to host fourth edition of ‘The Address Hotels + Resorts Wedding Fair’ on Oct. 22 & 23

Dubai, UAE, October 2, 2011: The Address Dubai Marina, the five star premium hotel adjoining Dubai Marina Mall and located in one of Dubai’s most popular lifestyle district, is hosting the fourth edition of ‘The Address Hotels + Resorts Wedding Fair,’ a popular annual event that showcases the entire spectrum of wedding services, on October 22 & 23, 2011.

The Address Hotels + Resorts Wedding Fair is a one-stop destination that brings together all wedding related services under one roof. This includes a choice of venue options at the various properties of the hotel group, decorators, professional wedding planners, dress designers, diverse selection of buffet set-ups, florists, souvenir providers, make-up artists and entertainment providers.

Brides to-be can make informed choices regarding the full planning of weddings, and also draw on the expertise of a dedicated wedding planners at The Address Hotels + Resorts venues, who will ensure that all the preparations are executed to the last detail with style and panache.

Mr. Patrick Heuze, Chief Executive Officer, Emaar Hospitality Group said: “The response to The Address Hotels + Resorts Wedding Fair in the past three years has been overwhelming, and this year, we are hosting the event in one of the popular lifestyle destinations in the city – The Address Dubai Marina. The fair will provide a comprehensive overview of all wedding requirements and enable visitors to make informed decisions that will help them to conduct the weddings with ease and peace of mind.”

To be held at the spacious Constellation Ballroom of The Address Dubai Marina, the fourth Wedding Fair will showcase all the stunning venue options available at the five prestigious properties of The Address Hotels + Resorts in Dubai.

The hotels, located in prime destinations, include: The Address Downtown Dubai, The Address Dubai Mall, The Address Dubai Marina, The Address Montgomerie Dubai and The Palace – The Old Town. In addition to this, the Dubai Marina Yacht Club and Dubai Polo & Equestrian, two prime leisure assets of Emaar Hospitality Group, will also showcase their venues that are ideal for wedding functions.

Guinness World Records Awards At.mosphere as ‘Highest Restaurant From Ground Level’

DUBAI, UAE, October 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ – At.mosphere, the innovative lounge and grill located in Burj Khalifa, showcased its Guinness World Record – Highest Restaurant from Ground Level for At.mosphere.

Senior managers of Emaar Properties received the plaque honouring At.mosphere at the event from Talal Omar, Adjudication Manager of Guinness World Records.

Mr Ahmad Al Matrooshi, Managing Director, Emaar Properties PJSC said: “We are pleased to announce that At.mosphere has been recognised with this prestigious Guinness World Record award. This is a testament of Dubai’s ability to develop and add to our city’s exclusive lifestyle dining options. At.mosphere has become a must-visit destination for not only tourists but also for residents in Dubai who can unwind in true style.”

At.mosphere is located on Level 122 of Burj Khalifa, at a height of 442 metres (1,350 ft). It is only two levels below ‘At the Top, Burj Khalifa,’ the world’s highest observatory deck with an outdoor terrace. The outlet offers two exceptional dining experiences – a vibrant lounge and a delectable grill.

The entrance is through Burj Khalifa’s Corporate Suites lobby with guests exiting the express elevator on Level 123 to face a two-storeyed glass atrium. A flight of cantilevered staircases lead them to the arrival lobby where they can enjoy panoramic views of the city.

The grill at At.mosphere, open for lunch from 12.30pm to 3pm and for dinner from 7pm to 11.30pm, is billed as ‘the must visit’ restaurant in the city, on par with the world’s finest. The upscale lounge, with a seating capacity of 130 and a private area for 35, is open from 12pm to 2am, and opens to glittering views of the city.

Adorned in mahogany walls and ceilings, Adam Tihany furnishings, and floors of café au lait limestone and hand-tufted carpet, At.mosphere also has a stunning beverage display and cellar.

Dubai Airports Recruiting Global Brands for A380 hub

Dubai, UAE – September 26, 2011 – As the project to build the world’s largest airside facility dedicated to the Airbus A380 continues on track at Dubai International, Dubai Airports is reaching out to world class food and beverage operators and service providers to submit expressions of interest for providing services at the upcoming Concourse 3.

“Dubai Airports’ commercial direction has changed in recent times. As we continue to emerge as a leading global hub the available brand concepts and calibre of services at our airports have to match, and even exceed, the rising expectations of an increasingly international clientele,” said Eugene Barry, Vice President – Commercial, Dubai Airports.

“Our experience and success at Concourse 1 and 2 are the result of a similar customer-centric approach, but Concourse 3 gives us a blank canvas that will help us set a new and higher standard.”

A part of the Terminal 3 complex dedicated for use by Emirates Airline, Concourse 3 will increase Dubai International’s total passenger capacity from the current 60 million per annum to 75 million passengers. It represents an important part of the airport’s infrastructure expansion plan that is driven by rising passenger numbers, which are expected to reach 51 million in 2011. Dubai International is expected to achieve a cumulative annual growth rate of 7.2 per cent, outstripping industry average forecast of around 5 per cent, and in the process taking the top spot as the busiest hub for international passengers by 2015.

Expected to be complete by the end of 2012, Concourse 3 will be the only facility of its kind with all its 20 aircraft contact gates dedicated to the A-380, in addition to 13 remote stands.

The 528,000 square-metre Concourse 3 offers numerous opportunities for food and beverage operators, service providers and innovative brands.

The final submission date for Expression of Interest is Sunday, October 16, 2011. Based on the prequalification criteria included in the application, Dubai Airports will issue the Request for Proposal (RFP) documents in Q4 2011.

Dubai International Registers Record Passenger Traffic

Dubai, UAE – July 25, 2011 – Dubai Airports today released mid-year traffic results which confirm Dubai International recorded the busiest six months in its 50 year history as 24.6 million passengers passed through the world’s fourth busiest airport for international passenger traffic during the first half of 2011, compared to 22.6 million in the corresponding period in 2010, an increase of 8.9 per cent.

In June, Dubai International handled a total of 4.07 million passengers up 10.4 per cent from the 3.68 million who passed through the airport in June 2010. The average monthly passenger traffic recorded in the first half of 2011 stands at 4.09 million as compared to 3.76 million during the corresponding period in 2010. The year to date daily average passenger throughput at Dubai International reached 135,700 compared to 124,600 recorded during the first six months of 2010.

Aircraft movements in June totalled 26,101 up 5 per cent from 24,847 registered during the corresponding period in 2010. Year to date aircraft movements reached 159,372, an increase of 6.2 per cent compared to 150,095 recorded during the first half of 2010.

In terms of top destinations served by Dubai International, the five countries with the greatest passenger volumes year to date are India, U.K., Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Iran. The fastest growing regions for passenger traffic during the first half of the year include Eastern Europe (+302.4%), AGCC (+28.2%), Russia & CIS (+20.8%), North America (+16.8%), Asia Pacific (+13.2%), and the Indian Subcontinent (+8.3%).

During the first half of 2011, air cargo volumes remained steady with 1.058 million tonnes of freight being processed through the facility compared to 1.055 million tonnes during the same period in 2010, an increase of 0.3 per cent. In June, Dubai International handled a total of 183,365 tonnes of cargo an increase of 3.4 per cent compared to 177,285 tonnes in June 2010.

“As the numbers clearly suggest, robust passenger traffic growth continues despite high fuel prices and growing economic uncertainty in Europe and the U.S.,” said Paul Griffiths, CEO, Dubai Airports. “This is being driven by the addition of new routes and frequencies, more wide-bodied aircraft as well as by the attractiveness of Dubai as a business and tourist destination and an efficient transit point. Our planned US$7.8 billion expansion of Dubai International is well-timed to accommodate the expected average annual growth of 7.2 per cent over the next ten years.”

Griffiths said that in the first half of 2011 over 200 new weekly flights were launched to 19 new destinations across Asia, Europe and Africa by different passenger carriers, including Emirates and flydubai. Dubai International currently serves 150 airlines flying to over 220 destinations across six continents.

Rezidor signs and opens the Radisson Royal Hotel, Dubai

The Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the fastest growing hotel companies worldwide, announces two new key properties in the United Arab Emirates: The Radisson Royal Hotel, Dubai featuring 471 rooms and the Radisson Blu Resort, Fujairah Dibba with 257 rooms – both managed by JAL in the past – will be operated under the group’s successful core brand with immediate effect. The hotels are owned by ACICO Industries and its subsidiary, a Kuwait based publically listed company.

“The Radisson Royal Hotel, Dubai will be one of our flagships in the Middle East. It enjoys a prime location with outstanding visibility, an award-winning design, and world class service standards. We are proud and thankful to be the operator of such a high-quality asset”, said Rezidor’s President & CEO Kurt Ritter during his personal visit to Dubai . “The Radisson Blu Resort, Fujairah Dibba further strengthens our growing portfolio of young and stylish resorts across Europe, Middle East and Africa, and opens new leisure markets to us”, continued Ritter.

“We are delighted to have chosen Rezidor to manage our hotels. We believe that this relationship is an optimal one for both organizations given Radisson Blu’s experience and presence in the Middle East and Europe. This experience will undoubtedly contribute to the success of our properties”, said Nabil Al Khaled, COO at ACICO Industries.

The Radisson Royal Hotel, Dubai is located on the prominent Sheikh Zayed Road which stretches from one end of the city to the other and is home to most of Dubai’s famous skyscrapers. Besides 375 rooms with a size of 41 square meters minimum, the property comprises 96 suites between 61 and 273 square meters. All rooms and suites offer breathtaking views over Sheikh Zayed Road or the Jumeirah beach side. The sleek, cosmopolitan and elegant interior has been designed by Draw Link Group (Dubai) and was awarded by the International Interior Design Association (Decade of Design Competition 2011, Honorable Mention in category “hotels”). The Radisson Royal Hotel, Dubai offers an all-day-dining restaurant and 3 specialty restaurants, a lobby lounge and pool bar, and a night club. A peaceful Zen Spa, fitness centre, and exclusive rooftop pool complement the excellent leisure services. For meetings and events, the hotel features 8 meeting rooms and a ballroom for up to 300 guests.

The Radisson Blu Resort, Fujairah Dibba is situated between the Hajjar Mountains and the Gulf of Oman – guests enjoy a 500 metre sandy beach, the longest in the Emirate. The 257 rooms range from standard rooms to suites and will all be equipped with Radisson signature services such as free high speed internet access. Services of the resort comprise 5 restaurants, 2 bars, a lobby lounge and a beach lounge. The beautiful spa area includes 4 terrace pools and a fitness centre, and the hotel has a dive centre and a dedicated pool and playground area for children. Business travellers find a multi-purpose hall and indoor conference space at the hotel as well as outdoor venues for up to 1,000 attendees.

DCB showcases Dubai in Geneva and Brussels

DTCM promotes Dubai at AIBTM 2011

Cargo Security – The Weakest Link in Aviation Security?

As the passenger and air cargo traffic in the Middle East rises by 17% and 30% respectively in 2010, previous incidents such as the Domodedovo airport suicide bombing in January 2011 in Russia and the air cargo bomb posted from Yemen in October 2010 demonstrate that the aviation industry is still a top target for terrorists.

According to research by the International Quality & Productivity Centre (IQPC), nearly 70% of respondents from a detailed survey in April 2011 considered that the biggest improvements need to be made on cargo security in the Middle East. The statistic underlines the gap that needs to be filled to increase cargo security standards to the same level as passenger security standards, especially since the Middle East is pushing to become a global hub for air cargo.

At a meeting this September in Dubai called the 3rdAnnual Aviation Security 2011, aviation security professionals who have worked on bolstering their security facilities will discuss the improvement of cargo security. A key figure leading these discussions is Ahmed Al Haddabi, SVP Airport Operations at Abu Dhabi Airport Company (ADAC). Ahmed will share his experience on how ADAC upgraded their cargo security facilities to ensure that ADAC complied with the latest version of ICAO Annex 17.

Joining Ahmed Al Haddabi are Colonel Khamis Al Marar, Director of Department of Borders & Airports, Abu Dhabi Police, UAE; John Swanepoel, Regional Security Manager, FedEx, UAE; Captain Salah Al Ameri, VP Aviation Security, Etihad, UAE; Mike Fazackerley, Group Security Director, Manchester Airport, UK and Paul Linders, Director Security EMEA, CEVA Logistics, Netherlands

The meeting takes place from 18-21 September 2011 at the Grand Millennium Hotel in Dubai.

See Venice by Seaplane on a Seawings Tour

One hundred years after the first seaplane flight in Italy, a flight which took place over Venice, a seaplane will once again fly over the city.

On 24^th June 2011 Jet Ops Europe Ltd will launch its seaplane scenic flights over Venice, offering a breathtaking view of the city and its surrounding islands. This spectacular tour will be a landmark addition to the exclusive range offered by Seawings LLC, an established international tour operator specializing in seaplane tours.

In Italy they will sell through authorized independent travel agencies and tour operators, including cruise lines. The passengers on these seaplane tours over Venice will enjoy a unique perspective on the geography and historical development of this remarkable city.

The journey starts with a boat ride to San Clemente island with its luxurious palace hotel where they check in for the flight. From there the passengers are transferred the short distance by boat to the water strip where their seaplane will await.

Each passenger has their own window through which they can enjoy breathtaking views of this unique city. After a 30 minute scenic flight that will live long in the memory, they land back near San Clemente, and return by boat to either the Venice Cruise Terminal or St Mark’s Square.

Flights depart every hour from 0930 until 1800 daily.

Jet Ops Europe Ltd, whose pilots have thousands of hours experience flying in many countries around the world, has developed this operation, tailoring it to the distinctive attractions of the Venice area. The seaplane it operates is a Cessna Caravan 208A which carries 9 passengers in air conditioned comfort.

Venice has a distinguished history of seaplane flights, dating back to the first Italian seaplane, designed in 1911, which made its demonstration flight over the city with passengers on board. Then in 1920, 1921 and 1927 Venice hosted the famous Schneider Trophy Seaplane Race.

Referring to this heritage, Stuart Wheeler, Director of Jet Ops Europe Ltd, stated, “We are proud to be part of Venice’s long history of seaplane operations and we shall work hard to maintain the tradition of professional seaplane operations here in the Venice Lagoon.” Mr. Wheeler also went on to say that the tour offers views not just of Venice but also of the surrounding islands. “The great thing about seeing Venice by seaplane is that you get to see the entire lagoon not just the floating city.”

“We have looked forwards to combining the thrill of our spectacular scenic flights with the sheer beauty of Venice’s stunning coastal setting. Now that the day has arrived, we know that our guests will enjoy seeing this unique place from a completely different perspective.”

Dubai International Passenger Traffic Rises 8.8% in May

Dubai, UAE – June 21, 2011 – Dubai Airports today released May traffic figures for Dubai International which show passenger numbers increased 8.8 per cent year on year.

May passenger numbers topped 3.97 million, up 325,000 or 8.8 per cent compared to 3.65 million passengers who passed through the airport during the same month in 2010. The year to date traffic stands at 20.5 million, an increase of 8.6 per cent over the corresponding period in 2010. Aircraft movements for the month totalled 26,969 up 4.6 per cent from 25,790 recorded during the same period last year.

The AGCC recorded the largest increase in total passenger numbers in May up 28.3 per cent (+139,717 passengers), followed by the Indian subcontinent (+72,394 up 8 per cent), Western Europe (+24,561 up 3.4 per cent) and Asia Pacific (+24,461 up 13.3 per cent). In terms of percentage growth, Eastern Europe again led the way in May rising 381 per cent, albeit from a low base. Russia and CIS benefited from flydubai’s ongoing expansion into that region with traffic increasing 20.6 per cent on the back of traffic growth to Moscow, Kiev, Yekaterinburg and Samara. Middle East passenger traffic, still suffering from political instability in the region, fell 5.6 per cent in May. Traffic volumes to North America showed a strong increase of 17.7 per cent due to Emirates’ doubling its frequencies to Houston and Los Angeles from once to twice daily.

In terms of cargo volumes Dubai International handled 187,905 tonnes of international air freight in May, down 0.5 per cent from the 188,837 tonnes recorded during the same period in 2010. The year to date freight volume has reached 874,584 tonnes, a contraction of 0.3 per cent compared to 877,375 tonnes for the corresponding period last year.

“Passenger volumes are on course to top 51 million by year end which should put us hot on the trail of Hong Kong International as the world’s third busiest airport for international passenger traffic,” said Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports. “By 2015 we expect to overtake London Heathrow for the number one spot when passenger numbers surpass 75 million.”

Jumeirah Burj Al Arab Announces new Spa Menu and The Ultimate Fitness Retreat

Jumeirah Burj Al Arab, The world’s most luxurious hotel, has announced the re-design of its Assawan Spa and Health Club menu of treatments and services coinciding with the launch of The Ultimate Fitness Retreat.

Burj Al Arab’s Assawan Spa has partnered with PTX Performance Training to bring an exclusive programme of hospitality, high impact performance training, physical fitness instruction, healthy dining and personal mentoring to deliver The Ultimate Fitness Retreat.

The programme, devised to be physically and mentally challenging, will be delivered over a four day, three night cycle that includes five star accommodation and full board at Burj Al Arab. Additional days can be booked at the request of guests.

Under the expert guidance of the PTX team, guests will be led through a dynamic and exhilarating journey of personal discovery designed to renew, rejuvenate and inspire individuals to embrace and sustain a positive change in their lives. Guests will reach heightened levels of personal performance through the programme which is centred on three core elements – body, mind and spirit.

As part of ‘body’, and under the guidance of PTX instructors, guests will be put through a rigorous personal training schedule combining both group and individual sessions that focus on fitness, nutrition and performance.

They will be given plenty of time to recuperate, enjoy a daily full board dining programme of healthy and nutritious meals, drinks and snacks and make use of the dazzling array of activities and amenities on offer at Burj Al Arab.

For the ‘mind’ section of the programme guests will learn a number of new life skills to hold them in good stead as they prepare to embrace life after the retreat. Activities for the mind include early morning sunrise yoga sessions and daily food demonstrations by the Resort chefs to guide them in the preparation of shakes, snacks and meals with optimum nutrition for a healthy body. There will also be daily talks from PTX experts covering Nutrition, Fitness, Health & Wellbeing and the opportunity for private mentoring sessions in order to establish and achieve personal health goals.

And finally the ‘spirit’ will ensure that the stunning Burj Al Arab provides the ultimate sanctuary from which to embark on the journey of self-discovery. Daily 45 minute massages, Pilates and unlimited access to the spa facilities ensure guests relax, unwind and soak up everything that the hotel has to offer.

Packages can be tailored exclusively for men and women with male or female only trainers delivering sessions in separate* training facilities which include a Wellness Gym, training studios, swimming pools and extensive spa facilities.

In addition to the programme, the Assawan Spa and Health Club menu has been reinvigorated to include a selection of Memorable Occasions, such as a Romantic Moonlight Swim, Bridal and Wedding Packages as well as a new concept called ‘Wellbeing for Life’ – a combination of nutritional therapy and fitness assessments and programs especially designed to address inner health and wellness.

Rezidor Opens the Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Downtown

The Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the fastest growing hotel companies worldwide, has announced that its 7th property in the UAE, Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Downtown, is now open.

Located on the upper floors of a mixed use building, the new first class and full service hotel is walking distance from the Dubai Mall and just 10 kilometres from the international airport. Besides 220 contemporary rooms and 22 suites the hotel also features ample meeting facilities including 6 conference rooms, 2 board rooms, and a business centre. For leisure seekers the property has a swimming pool and a gym.

“The opening of this property is a further sign for the positive and optimistic atmosphere within our industry which we also felt during AHIC and ATM. The markets are bouncing back and we see RevPAR increasing – fuelled by both occupancy and rate”, said Kurt Ritter, president & CEO of Rezidor.

Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Downtown offers a range of food and beverage outlets. Lemon Pepper restaurant specializes in international cuisine and local delicacies, serving up a varied menu throughout the day. Infiniti Bar & Terrace provide a cosy spot for relaxing, while the outdoor terrace bar is great for catching some sun and enjoying views of the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa.

Dubai Downtown is the new hub of Dubai hosting top attractions including the tallest tower in the world, the world’s largest mall, Dubai Mall, the waterfall promenade and Souk Al Bahar. The hotel also borders Business Bay, a mega project covering an area of 6 million square meters, which is designed to be the new centre of Dubai commerce. Key destinations close by include Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai International and Exhibition Centre, and Dubai International Financial Centre (the world’s fastest growing international financial centre), just a few minutes’ drive from the hotel’s site.

Oxford Economics report on why Dubai’s aviation model works

Competitive aviation environment key to success in Dubai

DUBAI, U.A.E., June 2011: Emirates Airline and Dubai Airports announced the results of a report conducted by leading global research firm, Oxford Economics, which examines Dubai’s aviation sector.  The report finds the sector to be consensus-based, highly-competitive and consumer-centric; generating significant economic benefits for Dubai and the countries it connects. The 60-page report entitled, “Explaining Dubai’s Aviation Model,” further concludes that Dubai’s success is not evidence of unfair competition or government support but the result of an effective aviation model.

Economic Benefits
Oxford Economics’ research calculates Dubai’s aviation sector supports 125,000 total jobs in the emirate. The study also quantifies the wider catalytic benefits aviation generates through tourism and connectivity. As the overwhelming majority of foreign visitors who travel to Dubai arrive by air, Oxford calculates their spending supports nearly 134,000 jobs and contributes an additional US$7.9 billion to Dubai’s GDP.  In total, aviation supports over 250,000 jobs and contributes over US$22 billion; representing around 19% of total employment in Dubai and 28% of Dubai’s GDP, according to the report. The report also examines the direct and flow-on economic benefits of ten case study countries.

“These benefits extend beyond the Dubai’s borders to the global economy through enhanced global tourism and trade via the provision of efficient and high quality air services,” said Adrian Cooper, CEO of Oxford Economics. “Air travellers and shippers using Dubai and Emirates Airline make an important contribution to many national economies.”

Dubai’s aviation sector has seen tremendous growth in a short timeframe. Over the past five years alone, international passenger numbers at Dubai International have virtually doubled from 24.8 million in 2005 to 47.2 million in 2010.  Dubai International ranks fourth globally for international passenger and cargo traffic. Emirates’ passenger numbers have increased six-fold over the course of a decade, making it the largest airline in the world in terms of international revenue passenger kilometres.

“In some quarters this success is viewed with suspicion, being seen as evidence of government support and unfair competition,” added Cooper. “We looked at this in depth and conclude this view is incorrect.”

Oxford Economics notes that the sector’s success stems from government awareness of aviation’s economic importance, a consensus-based approach to investment, open competition, a focus on growth and linking underserved markets with efficient operations; plus Dubai’s favourable location at the intersection of Europe, Asia and Africa placing Dubai within eight hours flight of two-thirds of the world’s population.

Future Growth
Aviation’s importance to Dubai is expected to grow further over the next decade. Oxford Economic expects the economic contribution of the aviation sector to rise to US$44.5 billion or 32% of Dubai’s GDP and 372,900 jobs representing approximately 22% of its employment by 2020.

“Aviation is one of the main engines driving Dubai’s emergence as a global centre for trade, commerce and tourism,” said HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, Chairman of Dubai Airports and President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority. “That is why we have created a business and regulatory environment that supports its growth by encouraging open competition between all airlines, efficient operations and customer satisfaction. There is no magic here. It’s just good business.”

A summary of the report and the full Oxford Economics report, “Explaining Dubai’s Aviation Model,” can be found at: www.emirates.com/english/about/public_affairs/Dubai_aviation_model.aspx

DTCM extends cooperation to World Energy Forum

The Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Chairman of the World Energy Forum to extend cooperation and support for the 2011 World Energy Forum to be held in Dubai.

Khalid A. Bin Sulayem, Director-General of the DTCM and Dr Harold H. S. Oh, Chairman, Executive Board of the World Energy Forum, signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organizations.

The World Energy Forum will be held under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, from November 14-17, 2011 at the Madinat Jumeirah. The global event is expected to over 1,000 delegates including government dignitaries, energy ministers, and executives from a variety of energy companies to discuss issues relating to energy, sustainability and climate change.

After signing the MoU, Mr Bin Sulayem, thanked Dr Harold H. S. Oh, for choosing Dubai as a venue to host the global event. He hoped that the event will help Dubai to showcase its attractions to high-profile international visitors who will attend the event.

The DTCM will help coordinate and facilitate processes for smoothly running of the event. Mr Bin Sulayem said, the DTCM will undertake all necessary steps to ensure the event’s success.

Following the signing of the MoU, Mr. Bin Sulayem accompanied Dr Harold H. S. Oh, to meet His Highness Shaikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Supreme Council for Energy, at a meeting.

Dr Harold H. S. Oh, Chairman, Executive Board of the World Energy Forum, said, “We invite energy professionals, policy makers, and concerned citizens from all United Nations Member States to join to create an energy-secure world that can benefit all nations and peoples, especially those who are energy impoverished, to facilitate the development and the advancement of human well-being across the globe.”

The world continues to struggle with complex issues of climate change as well as economic and financial challenges. Although some difficulties have been mitigated, an unprecedented level of understanding and cooperation between industry, academia, and governments is required to make the current fragile recovery sustainable, he said.

Dr. Oh continues, “More than ever before in human history, the need for access to affordable, clean energy is palpable everywhere in developing as well as advanced nations. National and international policies addressing energy security, climate change, and other sensitive environmental issues will affect choices of energy providers and consumers. Many companies are working on carbon capture and storage technologies necessary to make clean coal a reality, because coal will remain one of the predominant source of electricity for decades to come.”

The event takes place at a time when the UAE and Dubai authorities are seeking to diversify their energy resources by adopting clean and green energy solutions.

EmQuest signs nine agency contracts

DUBAI, U.A.E., May 2011: EmQuest, the sole distributer of Sabre products in the UAE and Africa, signed nine key travel agencies at the Arabian Travel Market held last week.

The agencies, from Dubai and the Northern Emirates, who attended the joint-signing were honoured with the presence and signing of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group. These key customers have used EmQuest solutions for the last 20 years and have shown their preference over other offerings due to the loyalty, commitment & superior service offering from EmQuest.

“We highly value our clients who, through their loyalty, hard work and dedication, have made Sabre a major success within the UAE,” stated Naz Nizari, Senior Vice-President of EmQuest.

“EmQuest has a wide range of solutions that are being continuously enhanced to meet the region’s growing travel needs; including a complete portfolio of airline solutions, customer profiling, and travel security tools for client management. With Sabre’s newest platform – Sabre Red Workspace – we offer agents a solution that allows them to grow, evolve and develop their business and better served their clients,” she added.

In addition to extending the products to agencies, EmQuest is investing in regional distribution solutions to provide content such as tour holidays, travel insurance, mid-back office solutions and online booking solutions to provide agencies with a single, powerful platform to help serve their clients. EmQuest and Sabre have reinforced their commitment to continuously invest and grow in the Middle East and African markets.