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Ascot Racecourse in England and Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority have entered a partnership including a branding agreement during the Royal Ascot thoroughbred racing event. The 300 year old, five day event starts today and this sponsorship is the first time Abu Dhabi has been directly associated with a UK horse racing event. Under the agreement Abu Dhabi’s tourism brand will be displayed on pennants, staff…
Dubai Shopping Festival Office announced an expanded and improved Modhesh world thanks to the continued support of many of the biggest names in the private sector. Modhesh World occupies 37,000 square feet and is the largest indoor theme park in the Middle East. The bigger and better Modhesh World features education activities and exciting new rides sure to provide families and children a fun learning…
The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) last week held road shows in the Baltic states of Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania in order to promote Dubai as a leading leisure and business destination. Arabian Connection Tourism, Arabian Destinations of the World, Alpha Tours, and Jebel Ali International Hotels and Royal Gulf Tourism participated in the road shows. Air Baltic representatives…
Strata Manufacturing has been named the new company at Mubadalla Development’s new aerospace plant. Mubadalla Development is an investment arm of the government. The government hopes that the new aerospace cluster at Al Ain International Airport will draw international aerospace companies because of the lower cost of labor and cheaper energy costs. Strata Manufacturing will be the flagship company at the new…
Lebanon’s low cost tourism infrastructure must be upgraded in order to increase its capacity to welcome middle class tourists. This observation comes as many tourists around the world plan budget holidays. Amir Girgisn, an economist with London based World Travel & Tourism Council said the focus on luxury tourism is shifting as tourists become more money conscious. Many in the industry argue the tourism…
The Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) will showcase its aviation assets at the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget. Throughout the week they will hold talks, sign agreements, and make important announcements. Representatives from the world’s leading aviation and aerospace industry organizations will attend the air show, which takes place between 15 June and 21 June 2009. ADAC assets in Abu Dhabi include five…
The Night Zoo at the Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort (AWPR) opened on Friday. Visitors can enjoy the cool summer evenings while taking part in many different activities such as viewing the traditional bird of prey show. There are many exciting activities for children. Animals have been acclimatized to so that they will be wide awake for the nocturnal shows. Lighting has been installed and tested and animal…
UAE Hotel's occupancy rates and revenue per available room (RevPar) dropped sharply during the first four months of the year due to the global economic slowdown and the slowing inflow of tourist and business people into the region. A Deloitte Tourism, Hospitality, and Tourism Middle East partner said the Middle East has been severely impacted by the “low levels of economic activity around the world.”…
A new report by business advisory firm Deloitte shows that Jeddah and Makkah are among the top hotel markets in the Middle East. Makkah hotels revenue per available rooms (RevPar) increased 32.7% in the first quarter of 2009 while Jeddah hotels RevPar was up 30.3% for the same period. This puts Jeddah and Makkah within the top three best-performing markets in the region. The business organization Elaf Group…
In-flight news magazine publishers are re-starting in-flight magazine titles aimed at the top-end business traveler. Next month Emirates Airlines will again publish its flagship title Open Skies following a reported 41.5% increase in in-flight magazine revenues for the 2008-2009 financial year. Emirates High Street and the children’s magazine account for much of the increase in revenues. Also, Emirates…
International taxes on aircraft emissions will come into effect soon and Gulf airlines are now partnering with academic institutions and industry in order to reduce their carbon footprint. Under the EU emissions trading scheme, all airlines will probably have to pay emissions tax for flights to Europe from 2012. Airlines are required to submit emission monitoring plans to EU authorities by September this…
Saudi travelers who sat near a passenger infected with swine flu tested negative for the H1N1 virus according to the director of preventative medicine at the Jeddah Health Directorate. Dr. Adel Turkestani said some passengers contacted the Ministry of Health after a public announcement. He said a list of passengers who travelled on the two flights was obtained and they were contacted and sampled were obtained…
The number of people from the Middle East visiting Thailand increased 9% despite three negative factors causing a decline since late 2008. The ongoing economic slowdown, political problems, and outbreak of H1N1 swine flu virus have caused arrivals to Thailand to slow since that time. Thailand’s Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications briefed the press about the trend in tourist arrivals at the five day…
The demand for one way tickets out of Dubai will not increase despite a big jump in schooling fees. General Manager of Alpha Travel and Tours said most people will choose to pay more for education rather than uproot and relocate their families. Fabian Fernandez acknowledged that fees have risen substantially but “I think we can live with that – there is no other choice.” He said some people don’t mind paying…
President of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities met with the chairman of the City Center Development Company in Riyadh this week. Prince Sultan bin Salman met with Ghassan Al-Sulaiman to review plans to restore the historic center of Jeddah. The CDCC is responsible for the Jeddah Central Development Project and works closely with the Jeddah municipality. Restoration of historic buildings and…
A senior executive of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority said they are now prioritizing tourism investment as part of its strategy of diversification. Faisal Abdullah Al-Sheikh spoke about investment plans at a press conference at the Jeddah Marriot yesterday. He said Abu Dhabi is a wealthy country and has for many years depended on oil for revenue, “but now we are giving a tremendous boost to the potentially…
The Food and Hotel Oman 2009 exhibitions will be held in October 2009 and will boost the hotel industry in the region. Promoters for the exhibition said the continued growth in demand for food products in the Omani market will be reinforced. Organizers of the Oman expo said hotel equipment and supplies, a wide variety of food and beverages, food processing technologies, packaging products, and catering…
A Lodging Econometrics reports shows the number of planned hotel projects in the Middle East has decreased because of the global financial crisis. Lodging Econometrics is a US based hotel property research company. There were 124 hotel projects being developed in Dubai for a total of 48,855 rooms and accounting for 34% of all hotel projects in the region. The number of hotel projects in the Middle East…
