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The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority announced it will host a one day, $250,000 (Dh918,250) Abu Dhabi International Triathlon on March 13th next year. The announcement comes just after the end of the Formula 1 Grand Prix event on Yas Island, which saw hotel occupancy reach 100 percent in the capital. Between 60,000 and 70,000 people came to Yas Island for the Formula 1 race and concerts, and over 225,000 people came…
The Formula 1 Grand Prix on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi ended last weekend and hotel executives of the Yas Hotel are confident of future success. The glowing, five star Yas Hotel, which is the first hotel to be built around a racetrack, was a center piece of the action. The 499 room hotel has 5,000 glass panels and 208,000 LED displays and took 4,000 workers 22 months to build. The interior of the hotel looks…
The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) said far fewer travel agents in Dubai will participate in the World Travel Market (WTM) in London next week despite lower costs and the fact that London is Dubai’s biggest single source of visitors. DTCM reduces its rental rates by 50 percent to encourage participation. A DTCM source said that many hotels and tour operators did not have a budget to…
Arabian Nights 09 will start on November 5th in Al-Ain, and continue through November 6th in Abu Dhabi and November 7th in Dubai. Malayalam Communications Limited, one of the major television companies in India, is preparing the entertainment extravaganza. The UAE’s Indian community will enjoy a spectacular musical treat of folk songs and a lineup of numerous entertainment including performances by reality…
A senior hotel figure projects that Dubai will have an oversupply of hotel rooms in 2010, with 18 properties representing 7,000 additional rooms set to open. Guy Epsom, a business development director for four of Movenpick Hotels & Resorts upcoming properties in Dubai, said hoteliers will still be suffering the effects of the 2009 market conditions in 2010. Mr. Epsom explained that in 2009 there was a…
Developers will spend $1.4 million to restore a 650 year old mosque tucked away in Cairo’s old city – the Al Darb Al Ahmar district. The mosque is being restored in order bring new life to the impoverished district and attract more visitors to see the country’s treasure trove of Islamic sites. A few American donors contributed to the restoration efforts including the US Ambassador Fund and the American…
Emirates Airlines will add 17 new flights to its Asia Pacific route next month. Beginning in December, the carrier will introduce a fourth daily flight service to Bangkok, a third daily flight service to Sydney, two more flights to Manila, and another service to Jakarta. The Dubai airline said in a statement it will add a total of 17 new flights between December and January, increasing it seat capacity by 13…
‘Definitely Dubai’ will make a big splash when it is launched by the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) at the World Travel Market as the official tourism brand to promote Dubai. DTCM will participate in the World Travel Market in London from November 9th until November 12th DTCM Director for Overseas Promotions and Inward Missions, Al Geziry, said the “Definitely Dubai will provide…
The Galactic Suite Space Resort is on track to accept its first paying guests in 2012, despite criticisms about the investment and timeframe for the multi-billion dollar project. It will cost three million euros (Dh16.1 million) to stay for three nights at the hotel, and this price includes an eight week training course on a tropical island. During their stay at the hotel, guests will see the sun rise fifteen…
Abu Dhabi has been featured as one of the top ten cities in the world to visit in Lonely Planets 2010 travel guide. Lonely Planet’s “Best of Travel 2010”, released yesterday, is the travel company’s fifth publication of the annual list of best places to go and best things to do in upcoming year. Other cities in the top ten list are Charleston in the United States, Cork in Ireland, Cuenco in Ecuador, Istanbul in…
Jumeirah and Rotana are among the international hotel brands considering expanding into India despite problems like high real estate costs and different business models. India is a largely underserved market and Hilton, Hyatt, Marriot, and Accor are some of the international hotel chains with big growth plans there. Michael Issenberg, Accor Asia Pacific Chairman and CEO, said “India is one of the world’s most…
Dubai hotels registered a 4.09 percent increase in average growth of revenue per available room (RevPar) in the third quarter of the current fiscal year (July-September) compared to the same period last year. A Deloitte analysis of STR Global data for Middle East Hotels shows that there was only a slight increase in RevPar in September compared to August. Average growth in occupancy during the third quarter of…
The Yas Marinas was an important part of the Abu Dhabi’s inaugural Formula One Grand Prix, giving guests some of the closest views of the race. Millions of dirhams worth of yachts lined the marina, including vessels belonging to the Royal family, some from the Mediterranean, and at least one that traveled all the way from Australia. The owner of AA Properties in Dubai, 28 year old Jeroen van der Geer,…
Abu Dhabi International Airport announced that passenger traffic increased 7.5 percent during the first three quarters of this year compared to the same period last year. Passenger numbers also increased 6.4 percent in the third quarter of this year, and Abu Dhabi Airports Company reported a 6.8 percent passenger increase in September. Acting Chief Executive of ADAC, John Stent said “Abu Dhabi International…
The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) is partnering with the Etisilat to launch the Etisilat-Sharjah Water Festival 2009, which will be held in Sharjah from December 2 through December 12. Etisilat is the title sponsor for the event. There will be a variety of water themed entertainment and activities at the annual festival which will end with the Sharjah Grand Prix event. SCTDA…
GCC nationals and nationals of other Arab countries can obtain a one or two week visa on arrival in Iran. Saleh Najidi, who is in charge of the Iranian Ambassador’s office in Abu Dhabi said Abu Dhabi emirates can obtain the visa at the airport on arrival, if they want to stay less than two weeks. Najidi explained if they wish to stay longer than two weeks, they must arrange for a visa in advance from the…
The Dead Sea Development Company signed an agreement for the first project on the shores of the Dead Sea. The company signed the agreement with the Amazon River for Tourism and Investment. Corporate Chairman of the Dead Sea Development Company, Saud Nseirat, said the investment company will spend about $45 million to establish a four star hotel. He said the project is expected to take 34 months to complete…
Sharjah Airport reported about 4.24 million passengers passed through the Sharjah International Airport in the first three quarters of this year, eight percent more than the same period last year. A statement said the number of flights increased to a record 45,022, up from 44,086 in 2008. Dr. Ganem Al Hajri, Director General of Sharjah Airport Authority, said it is heartening to see that the continued growth…
