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World Travel Market, the leading global event for the travel industry, is delighted to announce National Geographic as sponsor of this year's UNWTO & WTM Ministers' Summit. This is the fifth year the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and WTM will host the Ministers' Summit, which this year will bring together around 200 tourism ministers, aides and industry experts to share their extensive…
A 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck Ercis, Turkey at 1:41pm local time on Sunday, leaving 217 people dead and 350 injured. Roughly 20 aftershocks rattled the city in eastern Turkey in one of the nation's poorest areas. The largest had a magnitude of 6.0. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters the death toll is likely to climb, as rescue teams work through the night to save people…
Organisers of The Hotel Show 2012, the Middle East’s most important supply, fit-out and service exhibition for the hospitality market, have experienced a surge in interest from international and regional companies wanting to tap the anticipated growth in the GCC hospitality sector. Taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 15-17th May 2012, The Hotel Show is seen as the gateway through which to reach the…
World Travel Market, the leading global event for the travel industry, has once again lined up some of the hotel sector's most influential executives for its WTM 2011 Hotels Programme. This year's Hotels Programme, sponsored by Bloomberg, includes speakers from some of the best-known and most innovative property groups in the world, including Rezidor, Hilton Worldwide and Corinthia. The 2011 programme,…
International tourist arrivals are forecast to reach 1.8 billion by 2030 according to the newly released UNWTO long-term forecast, Tourism Towards 2030. The report, presented on the occasion of the 19th session of the UNWTO General Assembly, confirms that international tourism will continue to grow in a sustained manner in the next two decades (8-14 October 2011, Gyeongju, Republic of Korea). International…
Sweden’s CF Møller Architects has just signed off on the new and spectacular Skipark 360°- set to be the largest indoor ski resort in the world. The winter park will house the only indoor ski slope to meet the requirements for hosting the World Cup, measuring 700 meters long and with a drop of 160 meters. At a height of approx. 135 m, it will be one of Sweden’s largest buildings, and will become a landmark…
Meeting with Japan´s Prime Minister, Yoshihiko Noda, UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, has called for the continued international support of the country’s tourism sector (4-6 October 2011, Japan). “In the process of revitalizing Japan, tourism plays an important and indispensible role,” said the Japanese Prime Minister during his meeting with Mr Rifai. Joined by David Scowsill, President and CEO…
As the weather cools, Al Ain Zoo will be shifting its opening hours from 9am to 8pm daily, giving families the opportunity to maximise their experience and time with the animals in the cooler season. The new opening hours commence on Saturday, October 1, and will continue until the Eid Al Adha holiday, during which the zoo will open at 10am and close at 10pm to allow celebrations into the evening. Regular hours…
Remember that flying carpet Aladdin and Jasmine escaped from Jaffar on? You know, in that 1992 Disney movie with the blue genie voiced by Robin Williams. That flying carpet is now real! A miniature magic carpet made of plastic has taken flight in a laboratory at Princeton University. The 10cm (4in) sheet of smart transparency is driven by "ripple power"; waves of electrical current driving thin pockets of air…
Irhal.com is officially the best new website in the Middle East! The Internet Awards Middle East 2011 nominated HotelFinder, Grafdom, Irhal, cio2cio and Thomson Reuters in the Best New Website - Portal category, and Irhal took the crown at the awards gala dinner, which was held at the Aloft Hotel, Abu Dhabi on September 27, 2011. "When you start something new your enthusiasm keeps you going. A year and…
As the world celebrates World Tourism Day on 27 September, experts in the field of tourism and culture have underscored the need for local community engagement in tourism development at the official celebrations in Egypt (27 September, Aswan, Egypt). “The importance of this day cannot be underestimated,” said the Minister of Tourism of Egypt, Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour, opening the celebrations. “Tourism has…
Ajman City Centre will be joining the fight against heart disease by offering free, onsite medical testing for the community in support of World Heart Day on September 29th. A globally recognised event, World Heart Day is dedicated to raising awareness of heart disease and the importance of prevention through healthy lifestyle choices. In partnership with the Rashid Centre for Diabetes and Research, a…
Financially troubled Greece has put a ton of state assets up for sale, including some of its famous islands. One interested buyer is Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the ruling Emir of Qatar, who wants to acquire two islands in the Ionian Sea, including Skorpios Island. The private island formerly belonged to famed Greek shipping billionaire Aristotle Onassis and was the site of his wedding to Jackie…
Dublin is providing the backdrop for a brand new Bollywood blockbuster called Ek Tha Tiger (meaning 'Once There Was A Tiger') which is being shot in the city this month. Filming kicked off here in early September and the film will ultimately be released in 24 countries worldwide, reaching a massive audience of over 100 million people. This is the first time that a major Bollywood production - featuring two of…
The Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) will host the fifth edition of Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre (DFYT) from Oct. 1 to 10, 2011. DYFT is a one-of-its-kind initiative held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Culture, to promote youth theatre talent in the UAE. The festival focuses on promoting Emirati and Arab theatre…
International real estate tycoon Donald Trump has collaborated with Century Properties for the first Trump Tower in the Philippines. Century Properties is licensing the Trump brand to build and sell the P6-billion ($150-million) Trump-branded residential tower in Makati called Trump Tower Manila. The tower will feature a grand triple-height lobby, a fine dining restaurant on the ground floor, a library, a…
The Grand Excelsior Hotel – Al Barsha, Dubai’s newest hospitality destination located in the heart of “New Dubai” in the suburb of Al Barsha, close to the Mall of Emirates, has been launched. Designed in the style of a classic, opulent cruise ship, Grand Excelsior Hotel – operated by B&G offers 230 luxurious guest rooms and suites that cater to both business and leisure travelers, breaking the mould of trendy…
After more than 500 car-themed events and 125 days of celebrations, the German National Tourist Board (GNTB) and Southwestern Germany closed on 10 September a summer dedicated to the 125th anniversary of the automobile invention by Carl Benz. From the opening event on 7 May in Stuttgart to the finale last Saturday in Mannheim, the success of this special occasion, selected by GNTB as one of the key-marketing…
