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UAE hospitality firms bagged to awards at the World Travel Awards (WTA) ceremony held in Dubai Tuesday night. Abu Dhabi won ten awards, the highest number of awards won by a new travel and tourism destination. Rotana, Etihad Airways, DTCM, Jumeirah, and Al Futtaim Group Real Estate were among the many other firms recognized with awards at the ceremony. WTA founder said he was excited to see the tourism offering…
A senior official at Dnata said hotel and airline prices are 20 per cent lower compared to last summer season. Dnata is the travel management company of Emirates Group and the General Sales Agent (GSA) for 30 airlines. They also sell tickets for other airlines. Prices continue to be slashed in order to boost demand because travel has declined. Hotels in popular destinations in the UAE are also cutting their…
Park Hyatt is planning a major expansion in the Gulf and Indian sub continent region. The American Hotel brand will triple the number of hotels in this region, adding 30 new hotels by 2015. Managing Director for Hyatt, Peter Fulton, said their revenue per available room is down 20 per cent, but they are still doing well in the Middle East. He explained they are going through cyclical changes because of…
Pope Benedict XVI, who is German born and 82 years old, began an eight day pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The Pope, who is leader of the world’s 1.1 billion Catholics, said he will be a “pilgrim of peace”. He departed from Rome on a special flight to Amman and will then begin his trip to Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian territories. He will face a variety of difficult religious and political challenges during…
Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority SCTDA figures show the number of European tourist visiting Sharjah increase 14% compared to 2007. About 49% of Sharjah’s 1.5 million visitors in 2009 were from Europe. STCDA chairman stressed the importance of Sharjah’s good ties with Europe at the Arabian Travel Market 2009 in Dubai. Shaikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi said the SCTDA figures reaffirm “the…
Leaders in the hospitality industry say the governments proposed ban on alcohol would cause severe job losses. The government proposal would ban the sale of alchohol at hotels, restaurants, clubs, and off-licenses, and was unanimously approved by MP’s on Tuesday. Next the Cabinet considers the proposal and they have the power to reject it. Managing Director for the Bahrain Institute of Hospitality Management…
Dubai International Airport (DIA) has again won the award for Leading Airport in the Middle East at the 16th World Trade Awards (WTA) - Middle East, held in Dubai. This is the second year in a row DIA has won the award, which recognizes DIA’ consistent quality customer service. The WTA encourages competition and inspires innovation and creativity which results in higher value for travelers around the…
Kenya’s Minister of Tourism is promoting the counties business and tourism potential at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2009 currently under way in Dubai. Najib Bala, accompanied by a delegation from the Kenya Tourist Board (KTB) said their primary focus at ATM 2009 is to promote tourism, investment, and trade. Tourism is the counties second biggest foreign exchange earner, after agriculture. Bala said an…
Al Khozama Management Company (AKMC) will showcase Al Khozama-Madina Hotel at the Arabian Travel Market 2009. AKMC is a leading developer and manager of luxurious commercial properties in the UAE. The Al Khozama-Madina Hotel is located on the western side of the Prophet’s Mosque in Al Madina Al Munawwara and is scheduled to open in the last quarter of 2009. The stunning boutique hotel has 120 room and 20…
StarHospitality Hotels and Resorts showcased its first property in Malaysia at the Arabian Travel Market 2009. The parent company of StarHospitality Hotels and Resorts is ETA Star properties, a leading UAE property developer. StarPoints, a luxury hotel and apartment is located in the Central Golden Triangle of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, between the old and new city. It towers over other buildings, giving vistors a…
CEO for Dubai Airport Paul Griffith said the economic slowdown does not affect the airports long term infrastructure plans. He said development of Dubai World Central had not been affected very much by the economic slump, but they have established a more realistic timeline for completing the project. Dubai World Central is a 140 square km aviation project being built in Jeb Ali around the Al Maktoum…
Abu Dhabi’s National Corporation for Tourism and Hospitality (NCTH) announced on Thursday they will open three five star hotels within three years. Company Managing Director Sultan Ahmed Ghunoum Al Hameli said the joint venture plans include a Dh600 million Bristol Hotel which will be built on Abu Dhabi Island and the Dh600 million Sadiyaat Island Resort. Sultan Al Hameli announced the new hotels after he…
Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing launched its DefinitelyDubai.com portal at the Arabian Travel Market on Wednesday. The new website is part a plan to use social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook to promote tourism in Dubai. DefinitelyDubai.com caters to business travelers, tourists, and residents. Within three hours of its launch on Tuesday it received 6,000 hits, before it was…
Prime Minister of the UAE visited the Arabian Travel Market 2009 on Wednesday. His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum was accompanied by Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum - President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and also Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group. Chief Executive of Dubailand, Mohammad Al Habbai briefed Shiakh Mohammad.
A top Marriot International official said yesterday they plan 33 new projects in the Middle East, in addition to the 33 projects already signed and contracted. President of Marriot International said “We are 33 now and I would envision two or three years we could double that.” However, because Marriot is currently more focused on Africa this figure may fall short. President Fuller explained that in the hotel…
Safir International Hotel Management (SIHM) announced it will develop ten new hotels by 2012 as part of its strategic plan to cater to niche markets. Vice Chairman for SIHM Said they are focusing on target markets with great growth potential and that have implemented aggressive growth plans in Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Syria. Fawzi Mussalam, who is also CEO of Kuwait Group Company, said “We are committed to…
A top executive at Emmar Hospitality said their 2009 revenue will probably drop by 15% because of the global economic slowdown. Emmar Hospitality is a wholly owned subsidiary of property developer Emmar Properties Chief Executive Officer for Emmar Hospitality Group and Emmar Hotels and Resorts Marc Dardenne said the situation is not as bad as many people think, and that their leisure divisions are doing…
Dubai based Emmar Hospitality signed a management contract to operate a luxury resort in southern France. Emmar’s The Address Hotels and Resorts brand will manage the Domaine de Lavagnac. The resort includes a 17th century chateau being converted into a 70 suite hotel and 650 residential properties, 430 of which are dedicated for tourism purposes. The management contract is Emmar Hospitality’s entry into…
