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Plane pooling among the very rich is becoming popular as the global economic downturn continues. The well heeled are eager to find ways to cut costs but without giving up luxuries and comforts they are accustomed to. Generally, an executive will join a network of jet users who enjoy private aviation, and they coordinate trip dates and shared cabin space. PrivateJetShare.com is one company encouraging this…
A Deluxe coach service between Dubai and Abu Dhabi was inaugurated by the Public Transport Agency (PTA) of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). CEO of the PTA said that initially 10 deluxe coaches will transport passengers along this route to the capital and Al Ain. The one-way fare is Dh20. Later 55 buses will be added and the service will be extended to more areas. The 10 buses were bought for a…
The volatile world economy caused the international demand for tourism to slow significantly in 2008. International tourist arrivals in 2008 were 924 million, a 16 million increase, or 2% increase compared to 2007. However, during the second half of 2008 growth stopped and the trend for international arrivals declined slightly. This trend is expected to continue into 2009.
Top executives reported that hotels in the Gulf region continue to hire more staff in order to maintain occupancy rates and prevent revenue drop. And, according to a hospitality recruitment spokesman hotels continue to recruit for top key positions, in spite of the international finiancail crisis. For most hotels in the region, occupancy rates decreased from 83% during the first half of last year to about 73%…
From October, Emirates Airlines will fly to the South African Coastal city of Durban. The expectation is that with the country gets ready to host the 2010 Fifa World Cup travel will grow on this route. Emirates new daily service from Dubai to Durban will provide the only direct air link on this route. Emirates is an official partner of the 2010 Fifa World Cup
Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) opened new tourism offices in Rome and Milan and this is expected to increase Italian tourist arrivals. The ADTA chairman said “The opening of these offices sends a clear signal to the international tourism industry that Abu Dhabi is maintaining its long term vision of attracting 2.7 million hotel guests to the emirate by 2012. On Wednesday 50 member Italian delegation led…
The UAE’s national airline, Etihad Airways, is aiming to fly 25 million passengers a year by 2020. The airline also hopes to increase its network of business and leisure destinations worldwide to 100. Etihad Executive Vice President for Sales and services made his comments at a function hosted by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA). At the same event, Abu Dhabi and Italy announced their expansion of ties.
{mosimafe}The Tiger Woods Dubai announced today that grassing work has begun on the18 hole, 7,800 yard, par 72 championship Al Ruwaya Golf Course. Tiger Woods Dubai is a 55 million square foot golf community development and an exclusive member of Tatweer Dubai. IMG Golf Course Management has the mandate to operate and manage the Al Ruwaya Golf Club and they are supervising the grassing. Tiger Woods, the…
The Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) launched a new personal hotelier service for guests staying in club rooms or on the Crown Club floor. This new service is now provided at the Crown Plaza Estate throughout the Middle East and Africa. The new service will assign the guest a member of the personal hotelier team from the moment a booking is made. The personal hotelier will assist the guest with restaurant…
Dubai’s Westin Hotel received the “All Clear” for Legionnaires Disease following a public health investigation. The Dubai Health Authority, in conjunction with the Dubai Municipality conducted an inquiry at the hotel following the death of BBC radio Cricket scorer Bill Frindal. The Director-General of the Municipality said that all 24 samples taken from the air conditioning and water systems of the hotels…
Dubai’s hotel revenue per available room (RevPar) fell 25.9 percent in December compared to the same period in 2007. Visitors to the emirate declined due to the global downturn. The travel research firm STA Global reported that in November 2008 RevPar decreased 15.5% compared to the same period last year, while October 2008 RevPar increased 17.7%.
Etihad Airways announced that it will begin flights from the UAE capital to Chicago’s O’Hare Airport starting on 2 September 2009. The flights will initially be three times a week on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday but will increase to daily flights from 1 October 2009. The Wednesday, Friday, Sunday flights will depart from Abu Dhabi at 10:20 am and arrive in Chicago at 4:40 pm US time. Previously Etihad’s sole…
Dubai’s Emirates Airlines has added three more weekly flights to Bangladesh, bringing the total number of Dubai-Dhaka flights available to 17. The additional Dhaka flights have been timed to support the announcement by the Bangladesh government of a new trade acceleration policy. The EK586 flight will depart from Dubai every Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday at 10:15 am and arrive at Zia international airport at…
British Airways announced on Tuesday that it is cancelling all flight services to Riyadh and Jeddah through 31 May because of work on two new stations in the Kingdom. Customers who have booked travel between 30 March and 31 May on British Airway’s Riyadh and Jeddah services will have the option of taking a full refund or re-booking once services resume.
Crysil, one of India’s leading research firms reported that the demand for premium segment rooms is expected to fall by 11% in 2008-2009 compared to the prior year, while the inventory of these rooms is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nine per cent from 2007-2008 through 2011-2012 across 12 major cities. Overall, occupancy rates are expected to fall 62%, which would be the lowest…
Emirates Airlines began operating the world’s first A380 commercial flights from Dubai to Australia and New Zealand on Monday. Australia and New Zealand are the third and fourth destinations to be added to Emirates super jumbo network. The EK412 departed from Dubai International Airport, terminal 3, landed in Sydney, Australia, then continued on to Auckland New Zealand with over 400 passengers. Emirates…
Tests at the Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi showed that the hotel is clear of the bacterium causing Legionnaires disease. A BBC cricket commentator, Bill Frindal, died of Legionnaires disease on Friday after his stay there, and subsequently two others guests contracted the disease. Tests are being carried out in collaboration with the Dubai Health Authority and Westin has until now been the focal point of an…
The first stage of the opening of the Dubai Central World Airport is being pushed back due to delays in construction, according to the airports CEO, Paul Griffiths. The Dubai Central Airport will be the world’s largest airport and is now scheduled to open in 2010, instead of year end 2009. Mr. Griffiths said the reason for the delay is because of factors “relating to the readiness of infrastructure and the…
