11 Hotels, Resorts Sign in For Dubai's Water Taxi Services

01 March 2009 DUBAI - Eleven hotels, resorts and clubs in the emirate have agreed to provide water taxi services to their customers by setting up piers in cooperation with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) , a top Marine Agency official told Khaleej Times on Thursday.
They include Jebel Ali Resort and Spa, Park Hyatt, Sheraton Jumeirah, Inter Continental Hotel, Dubai Festival City, Hilton Dubai Jumeirah, Dubai Marina Yacht Club, Dubai Ladies Club, Al Boom Tourist Village and Ottoman Palace Hotel.

Khalid Al Zahid, Director of the Maritime Projects Department at the Marine Agency, said the agency is holding meetings with officials of hotels and establishments along the waterfront to discuss how and when the water taxi service can be launched.

Earlier, Khaleej Times had reported that in addition to the 16 designated water taxi stations, 60 smaller stations or piers would be constructed to provide parking facilities and stops for passengers.

Each pier will have a name and a number which the passenger needs to inform the customer service if he/she wants the water taxi service.

The service, which is expected to be launched by the middle of next year, will be on call. In the first phase, 10 water taxis will be introduced.

"One of the main topics being discussed is cost sharing between the government and the parties who benefit from the service. This will increase the number of water taxi stations, serving the public as well as hotels," Al Zahid said. The cost of building stations or piers will be shared by the RTA RTA and hotels. Stations located in areas which have no hotels or establishments will be constructed by the RTA RTA alone.

The water taxis will have the liberty to sail to any waterfront location a passenger might want to visit, provided that a suitable berth for boarding and disembarking exists.

A pilot run is expected in the middle of next year, the official said.

Earlier, officials had confirmed that the water taxis would have meters like the road taxis.

Khaleej Times 2009


ADFH won 34th Int. Award for Tourist, Hotel and Catering Industry

Feb 28, 2009 - 11:47 -
WAM Abu Dhabi, 28th Feb. 2009 (WAM) -- The Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital has won the 34th International Award for Tourist, Hotel and Catering Industry (New Millennium Award) for its excellent tourism program.

Established in 1999, the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital (ADFH) is the first public institution in the world providing comprehensive veterinary health care services exclusively for falcons. In the first nine years of its existence, the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital has emerged as one of the most reputed falcon hospitals in the Gulf region.

The award was created through the Trade Leaders' Club to honor the most outstanding establishments in the tourism, hotel, restaurant and catering field.

The award ceremony was held during an official gala dinner following a working meeting of the tourism, hotel and catering industry.

Director of Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital Dr. Margit Muller received the award during the ceremony which was attended by Spanish authorities belonging to the tourism industry, ambassadors and members of the Diplomatic corps, tourist and hotel VIPS, press and TV. The Trade Leaders' Club consists of more than 7000 companies of 110 countries.

The Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, the largest falcon hospital in the world is dedicated for the highest standard of comprehensive treatment and care of falcons and other raptors with over 4400 patients per year. World-wide known from TV and media articles, the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital has opened its doors to visitors to experience the fascinating world of falcons and falconry.

''The Hospital has become one of the most attractive tourist destination in Abu Dhabi with the number of visitors rising by 168 per cent in 2008,'' Muller said.

She added that facilities for conferences would be ready by mid-2009.

According to her, the Hospital was added to the Tourism Guide issued by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority.

''Since it was established, the Hospital treated 31,500 falcons and birds, she added.

www.wam.org.ae


Airport International Group participates in Jordan Travel Mart 2009

During a speech to the guests of the Jordan Travel Mart 2009 at the Dead Sea, Mr. Eyad Rashad, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Airport International Group (AIG), a Jordanian company, strategic investor and operator of the Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA), highlighted the latest developments at the existing terminals and construction progress of the new terminal.

Mr. Rashad welcomed the international audience drawn from the many tour operators who attract visitors to the Kingdom, saying:
'AIG has undertaken an intensive phase of capital improvement and upgrading of passenger services for the existing terminals with extensive rehabilitation and comprehensive improvement works including the check-in areas, customs hall, restrooms, new Food and Beverage (F&B) offerings and facilities as well as many other functional upgrades; all aimed at delivering a world class travel experience.'


'AIG completed a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) last month aimed at attracting fresh investment and an enhanced F&B offering for the existing QAIA terminals. We received strong interest from many of our existing investors, as well as other local, regional and international operators. We were particularly pleased to see the continued confidence in the QAIA market despite the global economic downturn,' he added.

AIG's Chief Executive Officer, Curtis Grad, added, 'The total investment value to be injected into the new F&B facilities exceeds JD1m, with highly competitive proposals received from a broad cross section of qualified parties. Attesting to the quality and capability of the local F&B industry, the competitive process has resulted in most of our current investors being retained, while attracting several 'new entrants' with strong Jordanian identity, including Zalatimo Brothers and Freeze Creamery, offering exceptional dining concepts created especially for our local market.'

Mr. Grad also pointed out the importance of this investment in the Jordanian aviation sector, as Jordan emerges a major transit hub for international airlines and passengers. Confidence and optimism in the Jordanian market remains strong, buoyed by increased frequencies and new destinations recently announced by Royal Jordanian, Air France, Austrian Airlines, bmi, Emirates Airlines and Air Meditteranee.

The rehabilitation and expansion works at QAIA are well underway with the new passenger terminal extending over 85,000 square meters. AIG, under the terms of a 25-year concession agreement with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is responsible for the operation of the airport, the rehabilitation of existing facilities and the construction of the new terminal. AIG is a Jordanian company with private shareholding by Abu Dhabi Investment Company (UAE), Noor Financial Investment Company (Kuwait), Edgo Group (Jordan), Joannou & Paraskevaides (Overseas) Limited (Cyprus), J&P-Avax (Greece) and Aéroports de Paris Management (France).

www.ameinfo.com


Demand continues to fall in 2009
Friday, February 27 2009

IATA’s international scheduled traffic figures for January 2009 show a deepening year-on-year demand slump. International passenger demand fell by 5.6% in January 2009 compared to the same month in 2008. It is also a full percentage point worse than the 4.6% year-on-year drop recorded in December. The January fall in demand is the fifth consecutive month of contraction. The 5.6% drop in passenger demand outpaced capacity cuts of 2% driving the load factor to 72.8% - 2.8% below what was recorded for January 2008. The alarming collapse in cargo markets in December (-22.6%) worsened in January 2009 with a 23.2% year-on-year demand drop. This is the eighth consecutive month of contraction for freight traffic.

“Alarm bells are ringing everywhere. Every region’s carriers are reporting big drops in cargo. And, aside from the Middle East carriers, passenger demand is falling in all regions. The industry is in a global crisis and we have not yet seen the bottom,” said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s Director General and CEO. Asian carriers led the decline in passenger demand with an 8.4% year-on-year drop in January. While this is slightly better than the 9.7% contraction in December, this is positively skewed by Chinese New Year which fell at the end of January 2009 (and which was in February the year before). Capacity in the region contracted 4.3%. With Japan, the region’s largest market for air travel, expected to see its economy contract by an unprecedented 5% in 2009, the prospects for traffic in the region remain dismal. North American carriers posted the second largest passenger decline at 6.2% led by a decline in Trans-Pacific travel. In response, carriers withdrew 2.6% of their international capacity, clawing back some of the expansion of 2008.

European carriers offset a 5.7% decline in demand with a 3.6% decrease in capacity. Demand decreased sharply from the 2.7% fall in December as European economies move into deep recession. Latin American carriers saw a modest decline of 1.4%. Even against a 0.5% increase in capacity, the region turned in the highest load factors at 74.9%. African carriers saw the demand decline slow from an average 4% in 2008 to 2.6% in January. The Middle East was the only region with a positive traffic growth of 3.1%. This is far below both the double-digit traffic growth in 2008 and the 10.8% expansion in capacity. Asia Pacific carriers, representing 43% of the market, led the cargo decline with a 28.1% year-on-year drop. This was followed closely by the other major market players: European carriers (-23%) and North American carriers (-19.3%). While this may appear to be relatively stabilised compared to the precipitous December drop, it is too soon to call a bottom in the air freight market

Manufacturers are still shedding inventory and cutting production which is expected to lead to further falls in freight volumes. “The only good news is that fuel prices remain well below last year’s level. But the drop in demand is much more harmful. The industry is shrinking with revenues expected to fall by US$35 billion to US$500 billion, delivering a loss of US$2.5 billion this year,” said Bisignani. “Airlines remain in intensive care, but while others ask for government bailouts, our demands on Governments are much more modest. First, don’t tax us to death in order to pay for investments in the banking industry. This includes the UK government’s plans to increase its multi-billion pound Air Passenger Duty and the Dutch Government’s misguided departure tax,” Bisignani added. In 2008, even as governments delivered tax breaks to stimulate economic growth, the airline industry took on an additional tax burden of US$6.9 billion. “Second, give airlines the commercial freedoms that every other business takes for granted. With the world’s capital markets in disarray, archaic ownership restrictions are an unnecessary burden that must be lifted. Today’s crisis highlights the need to change the structure of this hyper-fragmented and fragile industry,” said Bisignani, referring to IATA’s Agenda for Freedom initiative.

www.breakingtravelnews.com

Dubai Shopping Festival fails to boost hotel revenue

The Dubai Shopping Festival failed to boost Dubai hotels declining revenue per available room (revPAR) during January, according to new data from STR Global. The hospitality research company said revPAR in Dubai during January fell by almost 40 percent on certain days in January 2009 compared to the previous year.

“We are seeing a classic knee-jerk reaction to a fall in occupancy with waves of panic pricing. The last thing revenue managers want to do is suffer twice. Both from the fall in occupancy and then in rate,” said James Chappell, managing director of STR Global. “The effect of bringing the Dubai Shopping Festival forward by 10 days in 2009 has been of limited effect,” he added.

STR said the success story of Dubai’s hospitality sector, which has witnessed unprecedented buoyancy in recent years, has “gone into reverse” as a result of the global downturn. However, revPAR rates in Abu Dhabi increased during January according to STR.

During the last quarter of 2008, revPAR in the capital increased by around 55 percent compared to the same period the previous year. Hotels in the emirate witnessed increased growth in the hospitality sector as the supply of hotels has been unable to meet demand.

Overall revPAR in the capital was also boosted by the PGA European Tour Abu Dhabi Golf Championship from Jan. 15-18, as well as the increase in average daily rate outweighing the decline in occupancy over the month.

www.arabianbusiness.com

Grand Resort Bad Ragaz completes luxury Spa
Tuesday, February 24 2009

Leading Swiss spa resort, Grand Resort Bad Ragaz has completed one of Switzerlands largest and most luxurious Private Spas. Housed over 100 square metres, the impressive circular Andeer Private Spa features a Cuddle Lounge, home cinema, steam room, sauna, whirlpool, hydromassage shower and private dining area. There really is nowhere better to cosy up with your loved one for the ultimate spa experience.

Incorporating local stone and a calming, neutral colour scheme, the Andeer Private Spa is a contemporary open plan space that offers the ideal spa solution for couples, small exclusive parties or those seeking quiet recuperation following treatment at the hotels Medical Health Centre. Total privacy and discretion are assured.

French windows give way to a private garden terrace and breathtaking mountain views which guests can soak up while relaxing in a post-massage haze on a luxurious lounger, glass of champagne in hand. A dedicated team of therapists and Spa Butlers are at guests beck and call to administer spa treatments of their choice and refreshments throughout the day.

Reconnect with your better half in the Andeer Private Spas enticing Cuddle Lounge. Complete with overstuffed sofas, dim lighting and sensual aromas, the Bad Ragaz Cuddle Lounge is a hot spot for reigniting romance. Even the sauna has been designed with a built-in Champagne cooler to ensure a guests favourite tipple remains icy cold while the mercury rises around them.

Small groups, such as hen parties looking for the ultimate pampering treat, will relish the exclusive space the Private Spa offers. A team of manicurists and masseurs will be on hand to pamper and pummel a group of up to 4 guests at any one time.

Guests can select from an extensive range of treatments from international luxury brands La Prairie, Carita, Kanebo, Sisley and Niance.

The Andeer Private Spa at Grand Resort Bad Ragaz is available for exclusive use and come with Champagne, flowers, fresh fruit and spa treatments.

www.breakingtravelnews.com


Huka Lodge N.Z. unveils new accommodation
Tuesday, February 24 2009

Within the beautifully manicured 17-acre grounds at Huka Lodge another wonderful new enhancement to this iconic New Zealand retreat has opened. The Alan Pye Cottage, named after the charming Irishman who established Huka Lodge, opened to guests in early 2009. Designed by interior designers Virginia Fisher and Christian Anderson and Sumich Architects, the Alan Pye Cottage builds on and continues many of the themes established in the stunning Owner’s Cottage, which opened on the Huka Lodge grounds in 2005.

Privacy for guests staying in the Alan Pye Cottage is paramount and to this end the property has its own entrance and is gated. It is sited to take every advantage of the unrivaled Huka Lodge aspect of the deep turquoise green waters of the Waikato River. The Alan Pye Cottage has been built to exacting standards using the finest heritage materials – cedar and various heart timbers, stone and brick. It draws on design elements from the 1920s and 1930s and is a slightly eclectic yet very elegant retreat with a definite English Arts and Crafts influence pervading the interior and exterior design.

The Cottage boasts two large and stylishly appointed bedrooms, each with fireplaces, en suite bathrooms and generous dressing rooms. Both bedrooms are superbly decorated and offer a highly considered level of comfort. A generous open plan living room features a large brick fireplace, decadently comfortable furniture and everything guests need to feel this is a true “home away from home.”

A well-equipped kitchen is set up for a personal chef – guests may choose to stay in or to wander over to the main Lodge and dine there. Guests of the Cottage have use of all Huka Lodge facilities and services. A study is tucked away with desk, plasma flat screen television and sound system. This room also has its own complete bathroom should it be required to accommodate and accompanying party. A laundry is also available within the Cottage.

For outdoor pleasures, a heated infinity-style swimming pool and a separate private spa pool have been integrated into the outdoor landscape. There is also a fabulous stone outdoor pavilion within a courtyard garden. The Alan Pye Cottage is certain to carry on the fine tradition of generous hospitality and elegant living established by Alan Pye and his wife at Huka Lodge so long ago. A legacy that drives Huka Lodge to this day to continue to find more ways to define the experience for its guests and to make it extraordinary.

With the recent strength in the U.S. dollar it has never been a better time for the U.S. traveler to visit New Zealand. The NZ dollar has weakened by almost 35% in the last 6 months and is currently almost NZ $2.00 for US $1.00.

www.breakingtravelnews.com

Iglu-Dorf Andorra
Grandvalira, Andorra
An Igloo world in white !!!
Igloo Village in Andorra!
The snow and shopping paradise in the Pyrenees, located between France and Spain, is just two hours by car from Barcelona or Perpignan. For the first time the Iglu-Dorf GmbH is building a snow palace in Grandvalira at 2300 meters above sea level with a fantastic view of a breathtaking mountain silhouette. The guests enjoy untouched nature, the gleaming stars, and cuddling on the sheepskin at night. And all that in the middle of the Pyrenees!
In addition to the Igloo Village, two igloo bars are also available for events and to quench your après-ski thirst. Husky sleigh rides and snowmobile rides are an additional attraction. Discover Grandvalira, the largest ski resort of the country with over 200 kilometers of slopes.
Unique – Different – Andorra!

Adrian Günter built his first igloo in 1996, to better enjoy the mountain and first powder snow of the day. Following an avalanche of interest from friends wanting to sample an igloo night, he increased the number of igloos and opened the “small world in white” in 2005, with 6 villages across Andorra, Switzerland and Germany now accepting guests.

Moving three thousand tons of snow every December to build each village, Adrian invites Inuit artists from Canada to craft sculptures inside each village. With only an ice pick, motor saw and shovel, artists produce seals, arctic wolves, polar bears and whales as well as swirling designs and patterns illuminated by candle light to look over the guests from the walls.

The villages are open from Christmas day through to the beginning of April each year, snow conditions permitting. With 5,600 visitors in 2006, all ages have enjoyed the cosy hospitality of an expedition sleeping bag and sheepskin rug, from the youngest 19mth old baby to an 83 year old lady guest. A variety of igloo options are available in the different villages, from Standard and Group igloos, to Romantic-plus igloos. Each category includes usage of the whirlpool or sauna. The team have even built a church including an altar and baptismal font for a wedding party. Every village is equipped with a large igloo hotel lobby and bar where the evening meal of gruyere fondue and ‘vin chaud’ is served. The top range Romantic igloo suites with a private whirlpool even include their own toilet, although you’ll not want to spend too long sitting on the seat!
www.uhotw.com


Jumeirah Beach Hotel Hosts BIG6 Fishing Tournament for 2009

DUBAI, UAE, March 01, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Jumeirah Beach Hotel has announced that it will once again be spearheading the BIG6 Fishing Tournament which is set to test fishing enthusiasts on 20th March.

The teams of keen fishermen will leave the Jumeirah Beach Hotel Marina to take to the waters of the Arabian Gulf in the hope of catching not only a big fish like a King fish or Hammour, but also to land themselves a big prize.

This year the tournament is again being hosted by Jumeirah Beach Hotel, in association with ART Marine and Riviera, and the competition will allow fishermen and woman of all abilities the chance to put their skills to the test and compete for spectacular prizes in six different categories, with the biggest judged catch receiving the grand prize of a full day yacht charter.

The Tournament is due to commence early in the morning at 7am when the eager fishermen will sail out from Jumeirah Beach Hotel's Marina on a mission to test their skills and luck. After enjoying a great day at sea with family and friends, the teams will have a sumptuous barbeque dinner followed by the prize-giving ceremony which awaits the participants back at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel's North Beach.

Teams of up to 5 members are eligible to take part in the competition and with the fantastic weather, the beautiful Gulf with its stunning Dubai coastline, including the impressive island chains of The Palm, The World, and The Palm Deira, and fun atmosphere, the event has always proved popular with all the participants involved (fish excepted).

www.24-7pressrelease.com

Luxury hotel Shangri-La enters Japan market amid economic gloom
Monday 02nd March, 05:05 AM JST

TOKYO —
Walking past the dazzling chandeliers adorned with crystal ginkgo leaves and the exquisite artwork hanging on the walls, you can almost find a rare haven from the gloom shrouding the global economy. And that is exactly the kind of luxury experience Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts hopes to offer customers when it opens its first hotel in Japan on Monday, after more than a decade-old journey to enter the crowded market. Located in the heart of the Japanese capital just next to Tokyo station, the new Shangri-La hotel occupies the top 11 floors of the 37-story Marunouchi Trust Tower Main Building and offers panoramic views of the bustling city’s prime locations including the Imperial Palace and Tokyo Bay. The 202-room hotel will offer standard prices ranging from 70,000 yen per night to as high as 1 million yen per night for its spacious Presidential Suite on the 36th floor. Depending on the date, a deluxe room can also be booked online at a lower rate of 56,000 yen per night.

A string of high-profile foreign luxury hotel operators such as Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group Ltd and Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co have established their presence in the Tokyo market in recent years. One of the challenges for Shangri-La will be to distinguish its product and experience, especially at a time when even the affluent are tightening their purse strings. ‘‘We wanted to make sure that we are not another modern international hotel,’’ Wolfgang Krueger, general manager of Shangri-La Hotel Tokyo, told reporters Thursday ahead of the March opening. ‘‘When you come into this hotel, you know that you are in a Shangri-La hotel,’’ Krueger said, emphasizing its unique identity as ‘‘a real Asian family company.’’

All the hallmarks of the Shangri-La brand are evident, including over 50 chandeliers handmade in the Czech Republic and boldly colored carpets, all tinted with subtle Asian aesthetics. Another key aspect of the Shangri-La experience is the Japan debut of its signature spa brand called ‘‘Chi,’’ a Chinese word for energy. The spa menu includes facial and body treatments using stones, based on traditional Chinese and Himalayan healing techniques.

The hotel also offers an Italian restaurant called Piacere and a Japanese restaurant called Nadaman as well as a lobby lounge offering Asian cuisine and wedding facilities including a chapel and a ballroom. Krueger said the hotel expects Japanese to account for around 65% of its customers with the rest from overseas. The guest portfolio is likely to be roughly split between leisure and corporate clients, although bookings by business travelers have been hit hardest by the global financial crisis.

‘‘Life is tough at the moment,’’ Krueger said. ‘‘We can just hope that the economies around the world will turn around within the next 12 months so that we see better times ahead.’’ Owned by Malaysian billionaire Robert Kuok, the company opened its first hotel in Singapore in 1971 and nearly half of its 60 hotels, excluding Tokyo, are based in China. Despite tough economic conditions that have dragged down occupancy rates at many luxury hotels around the world, the Shangri-La hotel group is making an aggressive foray into locations outside of Asia including the United States, Britain, France, Canada and Austria.

Krueger also indicated that Shangri-La may explore opening hotels outside of Tokyo in the future if the right opportunity arises. But such expansion will depend on the success of its debut in Tokyo amid what many see as the worst economic crisis in a century. ‘‘It has been a long journey for Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts to enter the Japanese markets,’’ Krueger said. ‘‘We are here for the long term and we will make this hotel a success.’’

www.japantoday.com

W Doha Hotel opens today

01 March 2009 DOHA: The W Doha Hotel and Residences, and its restaurants, will open its doors to guests today.
Jean-Georges Vongerichten, who opened the Market and Spice Market restaurants, will attend the opening of the hotel, said Zwein.

The W Doha Hotel and Residences will feature 291 guest rooms including 31 suites and 154 W Residences, signature restaurants, a poolside outdoor lounge, a crystal champagne bar, a Bliss Spa, event space and luxury retail space.

W will have the following restaurants, Market by Jean-Georges, Spice Market, La Maison du Caviar, The Living Room, Crystal Lounge and Wahm.

The hotel warmed up its employees by giving out prizes for Who's Best Dressed or who best exemplifies the W look; Who knows W or who can walk-the-walk and is in-the-know about anything about W Doha; Who's Most Welcoming; Who's Most Whatever/Whenever; and Cleanest Villa in the Talent Village.

www.zawya.com

Thailand Waives off Visa Fees for Tourists from the Emirates

28 February 2009 ABU DHABI -- All foreigners living in the UAE will be exempted from tourist and medical tourist visa fees from March 5 till June 4, 2009, the Thailand Embassy announced on Thursday. The move is to promote tourism in Thailand, Pratana Disyatat, first secretary at the embassy, told Khaleej Times.

All visas&can be obtained from the Thailand Embassy in Abu Dhabi and its Consulate General in Dubai. UAE nationals do not need to seek tourist or medical tourist visas as they are already sanctioned to travel there without visas, only their passports need to be stamped at the immigration counters on arrival.

Meanwhile, eligible foreigners who apply for visa on arrival at the designated checkpoints (entry points at ports and borders) of Thailand will also be exempted from the tourist visa fee during this period.

An embassy statement noted that the fees for the non-immigrant visas and transit visas are not exempted during the promotion period.

Citizens of countries entitled for the tourist visa exemption scheme and those whose country has signed bilateral agreement with Thailand on visa exemption, are still able to enter Thailand without visa.

Khaleej Times

South Africa to reap from FIFA 2010
Friday, February 27 2009

Industry experts at Meetings Africa – the annual showcase for South Africa’s business tourism – tackled the issues facing business tourism in today’s current climate.
The panel of experts included Roshene Singh, Chief Marketing Officer South African Tourism, Daniel Levine, industry expert from the USA and Thomas Overbeck, Chairperson of SAACI.

The experts agreed that South Africa had much potential as a business tourism destination and would reap the rewards of the FIFA 2010 World Cup for many years to come. But they also warned that South Africa is likely to suffer in the short-term as a result of the global financial crisis.

Levine said: “The South African MICE market will prove to be resilient with strong partners such as South African Tourism.” He added that although the weaker players in the industry will probably be eliminated, it would be good in the long run, creating businesses that are in stronger positions with less competition.

Zuffi said that at present, the long-haul positioning of South Africa might be a downfall. “At present, companies need to appear transparent and will not be able to justify spending large amounts on long-haul destinations, causing a shift to more regional tourism.

Incentive travel organisers should shift their focus to the local markets, said Thomas Overbeck. “South Africa has over 1,500 associations and companies should look to these to capitalise on.”

www.breakingtravelnews.com

Dubai & China discuss growth opportunities
Friday, 27th February 2009

Officials of Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing met a high-level official delegation from the Chinese city of Dalian which was in the emirate to explore growth opportunities in various sectors, including tourism.

The delegation from the business capital of northeast China was headed by Mr. Xiao jing Zhang, Director General of the Economic and Trade Bureau of Dalian Development Area. The other members were Ms. Wang Yanhui, Deputy Director General of Dalian Development Area, Dalian Export Zone, Mr. Zhang Shikun, Director of Dalian Development Area and Mr. Lu Sheng, Director of Trade and Technical Development Bureau.

DTCM Executive Director Operations and Marketing, Mr. Mohammed Khamis bin Hareb, chaired the meeting which was also attended by Mr. Hamad bin Mejren, DTCM Executive Director of Business Tourism, and Mr. Salah Al Ansari, DTCM Director of Visitors Information Bureaus.

The meeting discussed the possibilities of marketing both cities mutually as tourist destinations as well as other business opportunities.

Mr. bin Hareb briefed the visiting delegation about various initiatives of Dubai in general and DTCM in particular, including the opening of three DTCM representative offices in the China last year.

www.4hoteliers.com

Rezidor adds three new countries to portfolio.
Monday, 2nd March 2009

The Rezidor Hotel Group is now present in 58 nations across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Rezidor will open the Radisson Blu Hotel Lusaka in Zambia (Q3 2009, 142 rooms), the Radisson Blu Hotel Skopje in Macedonia (Q1 2011, 210 rooms), and the Radisson Blu Hotel Luanda in Angola (Q1 2012, 257 rooms). “We are especially proud to add two countries on the African continent to our business.

Rezidor is currently featuring 25 hotels with almost 6,000 rooms in operation and under development in Africa – this emerging region is one of our most important development areas”, comments Kurt Ritter, President & CEO of Rezidor.

The Radisson Blu Hotel Lusaka is already under development and located in a prestigious commercial district of Lusaka, the capital city of Zambia. It sits adjacent to the Mulungushi International Conference Centre and across the road from the Arcades Shopping and Entertainment Complex. Besides 142 rooms, the property will offer a Rezidor signature restaurant, a bar, 5 conference & meeting rooms, a ballroom, a pool with bar and sundeck, wellness facilities and a casino.

The Radisson Blu Hotel Skopje will be situated in one of the most modern and vibrant areas of the Macedonian capital. The building will be part of a mixed-use development including a 50,000 square meters shopping mall and 16,000 square meters of high-grade offices. Services of the hotel will include 210 rooms, 2 restaurants, a bar, more than 700 square meters of conferencing & banqueting space and a wellness & spa area. Skopje’s historic heart lies within walking distance.

The Radisson Blu Hotel Luanda will have a prime, beachfront location in the central business district at the entry to the prestigious Ilha de Luanda. Some of the 257 rooms will offer dramatic views of the Atlantic Ocean; others will overlook the Luanda Bay. Perfect for conferences, the property will include over 1000 square meters of meeting space, several restaurants with outdoor terraces, a pool and a spa & fitness centre.

www.4hoteliers.com

Australia to focus on 'Green Events' at TABEE 2009

Australia’s capabilities to deliver ‘green’ events will be the focus of the 11th Team Australia Business Events Educational (TABEE) trade mission to Kuala Lumpur next month. The event, which is expected to bring around 40 Australian convention bureaux and industry partners together to meet with 100 corporate meeting and incentive decision makers from across Asia, gets underway from 2 to 4 March.

Tourism Australia Managing Director, Geoff Buckley said the theme for the event this year – ‘meet where the environment and community matter’ – would provide an opportunity to showcase Australia’s CSR credentials. “The Asian business events market is extremely important to Australia and TABEE provides an opportunity to meet face-to-face with the key decision makers across Asia,” Mr Buckley said.

“This year we will be focused on promoting Australia’s ability to deliver world class, sustainable business events with amazing tailor-made experiences. “Tourism Australia recently completed an audit of Australian business events product which provides strong evidence that Australia is leading the way in terms of corporate social responsibility specific to business events.

“TABEE 2009 will provide an opportunity to highlight the results of this new report to our business partners in Asia and in particular the venues and services in Australia that can assist businesses in staging events which have a greater social and environmental focus. “We know that 2009 is going to be a tough year for many businesses and that many will be tempted to focus on short term solutions but our commitment to promoting sustainable business events is a long term strategy aimed at achieving best business practices.”

Tourism Australia’s Head of Business Events Australia, Joyce DiMascio said TABEE was extremely effective in enabling the Australian industry to establish important relationships with corporate meeting and incentive decision makers to boost their profile in Asia. “TABEE provides a fantastic opportunity to ensure that Australia’s strong partnerships with the business events sector in Asia continue,” Ms DiMascio said.

“In the current climate TABEE is a great forum for highlighting Australia’s competitive advantages – whether it’s the world-class facilities, new products and experiences, inspiring programs, or a commitment to corporate social responsibility. “In delivering TABEE this year we are asking all partners to support our ‘green’ focus in big and small ways so that the decision makers can experience first-hand Australia’s creative approach to delivering sustainable business events.

“The program will also include experts on corporate social responsibility specific to the business events industry to assist our partners in making informed choices about future corporate meetings and incentives,” Ms DiMascio said. Guest speakers for TABEE 2009 will include: Scientist and broadcaster, Robin Williams speaking on Environmental Advocacy; President of MCI, Asia Pacific, Robin Loekerman; and Sustainability Consultant, Robyn Joseph. Key Executives from the Asian pharmaceutical, travel and insurance sectors will also speak at the event.

Buyers participating in the event will include agents and corporate end users representing the pharmaceutical, direct selling and insurance industries from 11 key markets in Asia, including China, Korea, India and Taiwan. Australia’s delegation for the trade mission will include: 10 Australian convention bureaux; key business events hotel operators and convention venues including Accor, IHG and Hilton Sydney; incentive product operators such as Dreamworld; production companies such as Offsite Connections; and inbound tour operators such as ATM, JTM and PTC.

www.tourism.australia.com

Growth for Travel Technology Section at ITB Berlin

n times of economic crisis playful innovations are likely to be the main victims. The focus is shifting in travel technology too. In the short term experts anticipate attention being directed towards applications that will help reduce costs and increase revenues. Improving sales efficiency and streamlining back offices will be more important than visionary solutions for mobile applications, social networks or a semantic web.

Thus Travel Technology at ITB Berlin 2009 occupies an interesting role in a contradictory environment, determined by economic recession and market consolidation as well as consistently dynamic growth in e-business and travel technology.

As a result there are highly dynamic developments going on in this section at the global travel industry’s leading trade show. “There has been considerable fluctuation and we have seen many new arrivals,” said David Ruetz, Senior Manager ITB Berlin.

Overall the organisers have registered substantial growth. Many small and innovative technology companies are taking part. Out of approximately 130 exhibitors in the Travel Technology section one-sixth will be at ITB Berlin for the first time. Among them the number of international exhibitors is increasing, with Sweden, Australia and Turkey also participating in this section.

The main products and services will comprise software and search engines for hotels as well as portable applications.

“Travel blogs focus on hotels, more so than on any other service provider,” said David Ruetz. “Nowadays almost every hotel has ratings, images and even videos on the web, which are put up by one or more users. Hotels and search engines must make intelligent use of this content. This social networking capability and the ability to network with various sales channels determines their quality and performance potential.”

Furthermore, the transparency of prices and services offered on the web as well as the integration of mobile services and the increasing relevance of personal recommendations will give both online and offline travel technology, travel agencies and service providers a boost.

On 11 March the tourism industry’s successful Bloggers Summit will be taking place for the second time while The Travel Technology Conference PhoCusWright@ITB Berlin on 12 March 2009 will also be showing ways to make specific use of technology to achieve success in the travel, tourism and hospitality sectors.

ITB Berlin 2009 will be taking place from Wednesday, 11 to Sunday, 15 March. The period from the Wednesday to the Friday is reserved for trade visitors.

www.asiatraveltips.com

Qantas to Boost Services to India

Qantas has confirmed it is to launch Australia-Mumbai services from 2 June 2009. The airline, including Jetstar, will offer flights from seven Australian cities to Mumbai via Singapore.

“Customers will now be able to fly to Mumbai from Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, further opening up access to the Indian sub-continent from Australia,” said Qantas Executive General Manager, Mr John Borghetti. “India is an important market for Qantas. We will now offer 21 flights from Australia each week which will connect to our three-flights-per-week service between Singapore and Mumbai.”

QF51, originating in Brisbane, will operate from Singapore to Mumbai on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

The return QF52 service from Mumbai will operate on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

In addition to its own services from Australia, Qantas also codeshares on Jet Airways flights between Delhi and Singapore, and Mumbai and Singapore, offering customers access to an additional 40 Indian destinations across Jet Airways’ extensive domestic network.

www.asiatraveltips.com