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An aircraft that will soon be able to carry tourists into space was unveiled today by British billionaire Sir Richard Branson. The price for this trip is a hefty one at $200,000 (Dh734,000). Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo (SS2) can carry six passengers and two pilots and will begin commercial flights between 2011 and 2012. Virgin Galactic is owned by Abu Dhabi’s Aabar Investments and Sir Richard Branson’s…
The UAE and other global markets are eying the Chinese to boost tourism revenues, following a difficult recessionary year that saw cuts in travel expenditures. The US Commerce Department recently completed a study that estimated the average Chinese tourist spends about $7,200 (Dh26,445) per person, per trip, making them the biggest spenders around the world. Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing…
Saudi Arabia hoteliers reported better than expected occupancy rates rates during Haj season, despite worries that the swine flu would affect visitor numbers. Director of sales and marketing at Movenpick Hotel and Residence Hajar Tower Mecca said that, despite gloomy predictions, Haj was again a successful season for many hotel operators, “including ourselves, running at 100 percent occupancy.” Hassan…
While most employers believe that a good in person interview combined with an impressive CV are the most important factors effecting their decision to hire a candidate, Fairmont Hotels has developed its own testing process that is critical in determining whether they offer the candidate the job. The testing process assesses how well the candidate will fit into the hotel. The Fairmont Selection Interview was…
Aviation Lease & Finance Co., (Alafco) will probably not make any purchases next year because airlines are struggling to emerge from recession. The Kuwaiti company currently has 70 planes on order with Boeing Company and Airbus SAS. Chairman Ahmed Al Zabin said they will meet their target of delivering 18 aircraft to six customers this year but are planning to lease two less new planes in 2010. Al Zabin…
Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts, the hotel giant based in Dubai, is planning to open a resort property on the Spanish island of Majorca in about a year. Jumeirah regional manager, Derek Picot, said “We have identified Europe as one of the key geographical growth areas for Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts, and we are always looking at locations that are in key resort and gateway city locations.” Jumeirah will operate…
86 percent of airlines surveyed by Sabre Middle East believe customer loyalty and retention are the most important challenges in 2009. Sabre Middle East surveyed 90 airlines around the globe and found that while fuel cost, instability and revenue management will continue to be challenges over the next 18 months, customer loyalty and retention has emerged as new trends in the aviation industry. The survey…
The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and Beijing Tourism Administration (BTA) signed an accord to share and benefit from each country’s expertise regarding tourism. The accord was signed during a visit by BTA Director General Zhang Huiguang to the DTCM head office recently. Director Zhang headed a five member delegation on his first ever visit to Dubai where he and DTCM Director…
The Vdara Hotel & Spa at City Center had its grand opening on Tuesday in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 57 story hotel and condominium tower begins the phase in of the opening of the US8.5 billion (Dh31.22bn) 67 acre City Center hotel and casino resort, a joint venture between Dubai World and MGM. The City Center project is reportedly the biggest privately financed construction project in United States history. It…
Deputy CEO at Rwanda Development Board said he does not expect Dubai’s Istithmar World project to be affected by the parent company’s announcement (Dubai World) regarding its debt problems. Chantal Rugamba said “Regarding investments in Rwanda, we have not received any indication of change of strategy from the previous report,” Dubai World discontinued six of its eight planned tourism developments for Rwanda…
Investors in hotels and furnished apartments in Makkah say the ban on old, sick and infirm pilgrims has caused a SR1bn ($267mm) loss during Haj. Chairman of the Hotels and Tourism Committee at the Makkah Chamber of Commerce said income was down 70 percent. Khaleel Bahadar said investors lost money both during Haj season and Ramadan because of swine flu fears. However, according to a Q4 study by Business…
Dubai based Emirates Airline said they will announce new routes to Amsterdam, Netherlands in the next few months, which is supported by ongoing aircraft deliveries. This is the airline’s 23rd destination and its fourth new route this year. The carrier launched Durban and Luanda in October, and recently announced Tokyo with a start date of March 28. The new daily, non-stop service from Dubai to Amsterdam will…
The UAE’s first ‘Kenya Week’ will kick off on Tuesday with a trade, investment, and tourism seminar day at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Kenya’s ambassador to the UAE, Mohammed A. Gello, said the Kenyan government will host a “week-long schedule of activities to celebrate the finest that Kenya has to offer in terms of its trade, investment, and tourism opportunities here in the United Arab…
The UAE is trying to attract more tourists by engaging in strategic measures like offering value for money packages. The hospitality sector had a very successful five years but 2009 is proving to be difficult. There has been a slowdown in both the UAE and in its key source markets such as European countries, and especially in the United Kingdom. Another problem is that the UAE dirham is pegged to a strong…
A recent report released by Alpen Capital on the health care industry in the GCC said the health care sector has been growing quickly and there will be important changes in the quality of its infrastructure. Gulf News reader Faruk Bhagani, who grew up in Houston, said that while he was living in the US he met a lot of people, especially in the wealthier set, who traveled from the GCC and other parts of Asia for…
Haj Minister Fouad Al-Farsy opened a three day Haj symposium in Makkah on Saturday. He said the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Saudi leadership want to provide first class services to pilgrims so they can safely perform the fifth pillar of Islam with ease. Al-Farsy said “The Kingdom, which Almighty Allah has honored by making the host of Islam’s two holiest shrines, is keen to provide pilgrims with the…
Accor Hospitality Middle East again increased its growing Middle East portfolio with the opening of Ibis Amman in Jordan, and Ibis Muscat in Oman. Ibis Amman is the first internationally branded hotel in Jordan, and Ibis Muscat is the first Accor hotel in Amman. The new hotels are part of Accors regional plans to operate 45 hotels by 2011, and its longstanding strategic partnership with Kuwait based Action…
The Big Bus Company will begin operating nine traditional double-decker buses for tourists in Abu Dhabi for the first time tomorrow. The family owned company has been operating open-top sightseeing bus tours in London since 1991 and in Dubai since 2002. Marketing manager for Double Decker Bus Tours, Dubai said “Initially, we are bringing in eight-nine buses. Let’s see the response of people in the first phase,…
