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A senior official with Virgin Atlantic Airline said Dubai is becoming a more popular destination for the average British holidaymaker, because room rates are falling and value for money is increasing. Paul Dickenson, the airline’s sales and marketing director said “We are seeing an increase in hotel rooms and average rates are coming down so suddenly we can offer fantastic prices that people can afford.”…
Emirates Airline is moving forward with its fleet expansion, taking delivery of its sixth Airbus A380 aircraft, which will make it possible to expand its long haul network. The huge aircraft traveled from the Jurgen Thomas Delivery Centre in Hamburg, Germany, and landed in Dubai last night. Emirates Executive Vice President Adel Al Redha said the delivery of their sixth A380 demonstrates the airlines resilience…
Indications of the downturn can still be seen amid the glamorous Emirates Boat Show, which opened in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday night. A sign hanging over the Duretti 85, a 25 meter super yacht parked at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center marina reads “Special Offer: Dh 6 Million”. Shaju Sreedhar, Purchasing Manager at Dubai Marina, which makes the Duretti, attributes the ‘special offer’ to the recession,…
Abu Dhabi has again made it to the list of top ten travel destinations in 2010 in the US travel guide, Frommer’s. The top ten listing is based on suggestions made by travel writers, editors, and Frommer's survey of reader’s favorite destinations. Frommer’s editors said the 2010 recommended destinations represents “a mix of emerging hot spots, under appreciated cities, and placed to visit before they are overrun…
Low cost carrier flydubai received its sixth aircraft in just over six months, a Boeing 737-800NG, which will begin service with its inaugural flight to Bahrain on Sunday, December 13th. The new aircraft will also operate the new Kathmandu route beginning on December 15th, the carrier’s tenth and eleventh destinations. Dubai based flydubai is scheduled to receive its next new aircraft in March 2010. Last…
Abdul Rahman Bin Mohammad Al Owais, UAE Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, and Chairman of the National Council on Tourism and Antiquities (NCTA) presided over the first NCTA board of directors meeting in Dubai recently. Al Owais said this first meeting of the new federal tourism body is a historic one, laying the foundation for its future role as an umbrella organization covering all…
The Mafraq Hotel, which is currently undergoing construction and refurbishment, will be totally rebranded and reopen as the Ramada Abu Dhabi Mafraq Hotel. General Manager of the Mafraq Hotel said “We believe in the market regardless of all the financial problems arising globally.” Gassan Fares said Abu Dhabi continues to have a very strong market and the growth rate has increased over the past few…
Dubai hotel revenue per available room (RevPar) continues to be among the highest in the world. A Deloitte analysis of STR Global data shows that average hotel RevPar in Dubai was $155.36 (Dh570.17) in the first ten months of the year compared to the same period last year. Rob O’Hanlon, Tourism, Hospitality, and Leisure partner at Deloitte in the Middle East, said “The revenue per available room for the 10…
The latest Ernst & Young Middle East Hotel Benchmark survey shows that UAE hotels recorded the highest occupancy rates in the region during the January-September 2009 period. Abu Dhabi recorded 75 percent occupancy levels during this period, slightly higher than Dubai’s 71 percent occupancy. Dubai beach hotels had the highest occupancy levels in the region with year-to-date occupancy of 83 percent, followed…
Middle East and Africa (MEA) hotels account for 35 percent of Kempinski’s total international earnings in 2009. MEA President for Kempinski said this figure is 10 percent less than last year, but the region continues to be the most profitable for the Kempinski Group. Ulrich Eckhardt said “We are the youngest entrant – only 12 years, and currently have 14 properties operating in the region, but we still make…
The Abu Dhabi government has announced a new set of rules and guidelines applicable for any development on the emirates coastline. The Coastal Development Guidelines initiative is part of Pan Abu Dhabi 2030, or Vision 2030, and is being implemented by the Abu Dhabi’s Urban Planning Council (UPC). UPC Director-General Falah Al Ahbabi, said “The goal for the coastal development guidelines is to improve the…
Kempinski has decided to postpone the opening of the Palm Atlantis on Palm Jumeirah, due to the size and scale of the development. The five star hotel will be called Emerald Palace and was scheduled to open alongside Kempinski Residence serviced apartments next March. Kempenski has postponed the opening of the 240 room hotel for another 18 months due to concern about demand. President of Middle East and…
The Big Bus Company was officially launched in Abu Dhabi on Monday, although the company has been running tours for several weeks now. The Big Bus Company is an iconic symbol for London tourism and has been operating in Dubai for ten years. The red double decker bus tours major attractions in Abu Dhabi, starting at 9:00 am at Marina Hall, and ending at 5:30 pm. The bus passes Emirates Palace, crosses the…
Emirates Airlines raised more than $1 billion and now plans to receive its fifth Airbus A380 super jumbo next week, and another by the end of the year. Emirates Airlines is the biggest airline in the Middle East and the world’s top buyer of the A380 plane. The Dubai based carrier says it will receive four more of the double decker aircraft next year. Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline, said the airline…
Istithmar World, the investment arm of Dubai World said it was disappointed to lose its W Hotel in Manhattan in a foreclosure auction. The company said the loss is not connected to restructuring of Dubai World’s debt. A spokesman for Istithmar World said “We are disappointed that the lender has chosen this route as we felt that real progress was being made in negotiations with the various lenders to restructure…
Benyan Development Company, based in Abu Dhabi, won an AED120m ($32.6m) contract to renovate and extend the Mafraq Hotel in Abu Dhabi. The hotel will be branded the Ramada Abu Dhabi Mafraq, and renovations will include refurbishment of the hotels 120 rooms, and construction of a 129 room chalet block. The hotel is expected to be complete by the fourth quarter of 2010. The investment firm The National…
The Middle East has shown significant interest in a $1 billion ($1.47bn euro) hotel fund launched by US based investment trust company, Waldeck Capital. The company launched the Global Hospitality Recovery Fund in March 2009 and it focuses exclusively on the premium end of the luxury market. The fund will purchase delinquent assets being disposed of by institutional investors, distressed assets in negative…
