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Dubai hotels revenue per available room (RevPar) declined 24% in July to US$107.09 (Dh393.35), a significant improvement over the 33.9% fall the previous month. RevPar is an important measure of the health of the hotel industry. The information was reported by STR Global, whose managing director said “The Middle East finally showed some signs of improvement, with Dubai making significant gains.” Hotel…
Makkah hotels and Umrah companies will suffer heavy losses during Ramadan this year because many foreigners are cancelling their pilgrimage plans due to fears over the H1N1 virus. Businessman operating in the Umrah sector asked the Haj Ministry to seek financial compensation from authorities. One prominent industry representative said hotel cancellations have so far reached 50%. Walid Abu Sabaa said…
Saudi Arabia is allowing stranded Emirates to exit the country without passports. The Emirates were stranded after the county issued a new rule requiring the use of passports, rather than ID cards, when travelling. The rule has been relaxed so the travelers can return home. Many were not able to pass through the Al Ghwaifat checkpoint until Tuesday when the restriction was eased. Saudi Arabia announced on…
Dubai malls bring the charm of Arabian culture by putting up Majlis, featuring family shows, and playing Ramadan movies. “Journey to Mecca” is now playing at Ibn Battuta Malls Grand Cinemas, along with other special Ramadan movies for families. Also at the Ibn Batuta mall, a historical documentary show takes place between 3:30 pm and 9:30 pm and is open to all shoppers and guests. The inspirational documentary…
A list published by the European Union (EU) over the weekend showed that UAE airlines will be monitored under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). Emirates Airline, Air Arabia, and Etihad Airways are some of the airlines in the program, which starts in 2012 and will monitor airline carbon dioxide emissions. Depending on the results, carriers could have to reduce environmental effects by buying carbon credits…
The new chief of Bahrain’s Gulf Air said they may cut loss making routes and renegotiate aircraft orders to end their dependence on their sole shareholder, the Bahrain sovereign wealth fund – Mumtalakat. Samer Majili, who last month left Royal Jordanian to become chief executive of Gulf Air, said all options were being considered as part of a wide review of the struggling company’s business plan. He said “Gulf…
Kingdom Hotel and Investments (KHI) H1 profit fell 61% to US $8 million (Dh29m) from $20.6 million for the same period last year. The fall in profit is due mainly to weak performance by its Four Seasons Hotels in Paris and Cairo, property sales, and impairment charges. KHI, based in Dubai, is a hotel and resort investment company. Saudi billionaire Prince Alaweed bin Talal founded the company and is…
Jordan’s first internationally branded economy hotel in Jordan, the ibis Amman, will launch on September 2009. Kuwait based Action Hotels and Accor Hospitality Middle East made the announcement today. Action Hotels is a subsidiary of Action Group Holdings. The ibis Amman is in the Tila’Al Ali district, exactly opposite the Amman mall, close to the center of the capital’s prime commercial and leisure areas –…
Gulf Air won the “Middle East’s Leading Airline Reward Program at the recent World Travel Awards 2009. Bahrain’s national carrier said they have made it easier for members to use their Frequent Flier Program (FFP). They added new facilities to its online FFP site allowing members to log onto their personal account to redeem their miles or check their loyalty points – any time, any where. Gulf Air…
Rotana Hotels, based in Abu Dhabi, sees great potential for development of the tourism sector in Iraq as the countries security improves. Rotana has signed up to manage two five star hotels in Iraq over the past two years. One hotel will be in the heavily guarded International Green Zone and the other in Erbil, the Kurdistan region in the north. President and Chief Executive of the hotel, Mr. El Zyr, said…
Wimborne, Britain councilors are supporting a campaign for the town to be twinned with a town in Oman. The Dorset’s town council approved the proposal and hopes it will boost Wimbornes profile and increase tourism and business links between the two towns. Wimborne is currently twinned with two towns – Valognes, France and Ochsenfurt, Germany. A council official said “Culturally, we’re very similar so we’d…
The flagship company of the Oberoi Group, India’s EIH Limited, announced they plan to build three hotels in Abu Dhabi and Oman. Chairman of the company PRS Oberoi said they will consolidate, grow and continue to make steady progress. Oberoi said construction of a 252 room Oberoi hotel in Business Bay, Dubai is on track and the property is scheduled to open in 2011. The Oberoi group will manage the property…
General Manager of the 1539 room Palm Dubai, Atlantis Hotel resigned. Amadeo Zarzosa gave no reasons for leaving but it is believed he left for personal reasons. During an interview on 9 August 2009 he said he planned to keep expanding the Palm Dubai. Kerzner International proposed to add an upgraded all suite product to the site. Zarsoza was very proud of the properties success and passionate about the…
44.5% of travelers who took part in a recent poll said price is the most important consideration when booking a flight. Those taking the poll agreed with flydubai CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith that there will be big growth in the regions budget airlines over the next few years. Al Ghaith believes as more people choose savings over luxury when flying, the low cost market will increase 10%. He believes the low cost model…
The United Arab Emirates Foreign Ministry department told Emirates traveling through the Kingdom to other GCC states to carry their passports. The foreign ministry previously suspended the use of ID cards as travel documents for travelling Emirates or Saudis. Director of the Consulate at the UAE’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement - “In the wake of Saudi Arabia’s decision to suspend the use of ID cards to…
Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport has become very crowded with the many pilgrims who arrive from different part of the world to perform Umrah. One source estimates that on the first day of Ramadan more than 4,000 passengers arrived. There were ten Saudi Arabian Airlines flights between 9 pm and 12 midnight. An unprecedented crowd of people created long ques at the immigration counters and squatting…
International Air Charter (IAC) expects a 50% increase in demand for its chartered flight services to Saudi Arabia during Ramadan this year compared to 2008. IAC is an independent private charter jet broker. People have become more aware of the flexibility and practical value of using chartered jet services. IAC bases its positive forecast on the Kingdom’s consistent strong performance in the tourism sector.…
Air Arabia will launch services to Madinah in Saudi Arabia from its main hub in Sharjah from 1 September 2009. The new service is part of the airlines strategy to strengthen its network in the Kingdom. Madinah is its fourth destination in Saudi Arabia and 58th worldwide. Round trip flights to Madinah will depart on Tuesdays and Saturdays from Sharjah at 8:25 am, arriving in Madinah at 9:50 am. The return trip…
