NEWS FLASH!! – DAY FOUR AT ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET 2012

NEWS FLASH!! – DAY FOUR AT ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET 2012

Kids lap up five-star luxury

The rise in demand for family facilities at luxury resorts was highlighted at an Arabian Travel Market seminar yesterday where senior hotel representatives concurred in the need to provide more than just electronic games to keep younger guests amused.
According to Bernard Bohnenberger, president of Six Senses Hotels & Resorts, resorts such as Zighy Bay in Oman operate with nannies for younger children and offer a teen club programme that focuses on adventure and learning: “It is all about the destination, from feeding the resident goats to mini safaris, trying out Arabic cookery or meeting with local children,” he said.

Summarising the lively and informative session, Stephanie Bleakley, marketing executive at Reed Travel Exhibitions, commented: “Some hotels in Europe have opened adult only resorts in recognition of the growing trend for this concept, while other resorts have broadened their dedicated offering to cater for both couples and families.”

“Dedicated registration and check-in areas have also been dedicated to children, they can also have their own mini-bars, turndown service and parents can connect instantly with the family concierge via walkie talkies to check on their little ones.
“Another growing trend popular with Asian families especially, is the family activity programme, particularly those which focus on pursuits encouraging families to participate together, such as kayaking, cooking or even golf,” added Bleakley.


NEWS FLASH FROM ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET!!!

ISO and HitchHiker team up at ATM

Germany’s ISO Travel Solutions and HitchHiker have partnered up at Arabian Travel Market to enable travel companies, especially those in the Middle East, to check out one of the most sophisticated full service solutions for the tourism industry, which includes multiple wholesale content and flight in one package.

Both companies have been partnering and exhibiting together at the annual industry showcase for several years, and have seen an increasing number of customers from the region opt to put their trust – and commit budget – into the companies’ Made In Germany Software.
In addition to its existing web-based PACIFIC tourism suite and EMERALD CRM system, ISO Travel Solutions is showcasing developments in the area of Dynamic Recommendation, which enables tourism companies to include up-and cross-selling logic in their central reservation systems, as well as the B2B and B2C web-front end.
HitchHiker includes offline flight content and an automatic re-booking robot, which enables prospective customers to benefit from a large pool of regular and low-cost carriers, in combination with highly advantageous cost-saving elements.


NEWS FLASH FROM ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET!!!

Hotels urged to take the green path

According to Bradley Cox, Communications Director, Green Globe Certificate: “Green travel is no longer a niche but a pathway to better travel experiences. Well over 80 per cent of tourists want a green solution to their travels and more than 40 per cent of them are prepared to pay more for it.

The biggest challenge facing hotel management when they actively seek to ‘become’ green is user skepticism. More than three in four people are disbelieving of ‘green’ claims posted on hotel websites. But the GGC counteracts this negativity with a marketing reach of over 1 billion consumers worldwide, Cox said.

With the majority of international travellers more conscious today than previous generations of their carbon footprint, veritable sustainable initiatives present the travel and tourism industry with huge business potential.

“The travel experience itself becomes a tangible expression of the travellers desire to be sustainable, and hotels need to match this in order to sustain their future development.
“The GGC, with its exacting protocol, is recognised as the premier worldwide sustainability stamp for the tourism industry and more than 800 businesses in 50 countries signed up to the initiative,” added Cox.

Region firmly back in business at Arabian Travel Market 2012

Region firmly back in business at Arabian Travel Market 2012

Visitor numbers up 7-10% on 2011 figures with new impetus driven by regional industry performance and renewed B2B focus

Wrapping up four days of travel trade business, Reed Travel Exhibitions, the organiser of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2012, which concludes today (3 May), reported a healthy increase in visitor numbers, driven by the show’s renewed B2B focus and buoyed by positive indicators from the region’s tourism sector.
“The 2011 event attracted over 16,000 trade visitors and indicators for this year show an increase of between 7-10%,” said Mark Walsh, Portfolio Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions.

The region's leading trade exhibition for travel industry professionals, the 19th edition of the show has also seen a significant rise in decision makers and influencers – up by 35% - from members of its buyers club, hosted delegates, regional and international speakers and hosted luxury travel buyers.
“The initial figures from this year’s show are an endorsement of not only Arabian Travel Market’s continued relevance and structured focus to the regional travel market, but mirror the rebound in both confidence and business levels across the major industry sectors,” remarked Walsh.

Independently ABC-audited, ATM 2012 also recorded a 7% increase in exhibitors for this year’s event ahead of the start of the show, with more than 21,000 square metres of floor space hosting over 2,400 exhibitors and 82 new companies. This increase was also reflected in its international reach with 54 national pavilions and 87 countries represented overall.

“The business buzz is definitely back, the regional travel industry is in an exceptionally buoyant mood and participants are positive and confident. Our decision to reconfigure the floor plan to a more easily navigable and convenient format this year has also helped to facilitate busier appointment schedules,” said Walsh.
Walsh’s comments were echoed by a wide variety of participants, both regional and international, inbound and outbound, right across the industry spectrum.
“This is my second year as a visitor and the new layout is definitely easier to navigate. Our focus was the expanding opportunities in apartment accommodation, and I was very impressed to find an entire section dedicated to this,” said Cori Terblanche, Travel World, South Africa.

“If we look solely at the European exhibitors for example, floor space has grown from last year and we have seen a surge in interest from destinations eager to attract the affluent Middle Eastern traveller,” added Walsh.
Tamara Khalil, Group Director Marketing, Katara Hospitality, in Qatar, reinforced the renewed wave of business optimism. ”ATM was the right platform for us to launch our new corporate identity to the market. The show remains the prime vehicle for the regional industry to share its news, network with the key players and meet potential partners.”

This sentiment was echoed by global exhibitors. US-based tour operator, and first time exhibitor, TeamAmerica CEO, Enzo Perretta, said: “ATM is the only way to go to reach the Middle East and Asian markets, and we’ve had four full days during which we’ve met the key players and decision makers in our target markets.”
“ATM gives us access to high quality Middle Eastern contacts and allows us to conduct face-to-face business, which is highly valued by our regional clients,” added Ahmad Alkatib, Director, Travellanda UK.

The newly introduced Technology Theatre, which ran throughout the four-day show, proved to be a major draw for industry professionals looking to capitalise on market opportunity through the implementation of groundbreaking technologies and new social media channels.

“Not only have we signed a number of new contracts on site, but we have also concluded a number of significant partnership agreements that would not have otherwise been possible,” said Osama Abdulrahman, Manager of Dubai-based cheaperskies.com.

“Being host hotel for this year’s ATM gave us invaluable face time with hosted buyers as well as the opportunity to introduce targeted top international travel writers and key members of the regional media to our property,” added Andrew Hughes, Director Sales & Marketing for the Mövenpick-managed Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel.
“Looking ahead to 2013, re-bookings are already extremely positive and we will continue to develop the show’s offering to reflect regional opportunities as well as global industry trends. Next year ATM will be 20 years old and we are certainly in celebratory mood already,” concluded Walsh.

Arabian Travel Market is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai. Now approaching its 20th year, the show has grown to become the largest showcase of its kind in the region and one of the biggest in the world.



For more information on Arabian Travel Market 2012, please log on to www.arabiantravelmarket.com

About Arabian Travel Market

Arabian Travel Market 2011 boasted more than 2,200 exhibitors and stand-sharers, from 69 countries. Arabian Travel Market is part of the Reed Travel Exhibitions’ portfolio, which includes 15 of the world’s leading travel industry events. For more information visit www.arabiantravelmarket.com

Reed Travel Exhibitions

Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) is the world’s leading provider of exhibitions in the travel and tourism industry. Its wide-ranging portfolio of events around the globe covers leisure travel, luxury travel, business travel and the meetings and incentives industry.
The 13 events are; World Travel Market (WTM), Arabian Travel Market (ATM), International French Travel Market (IFTM), La Cumbre, International Golf Travel Market (IGTM), International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM), International Luxury Travel Market Asia (ILTMA), Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo (AIME) (owned by Melbourne Convention Visitors Bureau), Global Exhibition for Incentive, Business Travel, and Meetings (EIBTM), Gulf Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings (GIBTM), Americas Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings (AIBTM), China Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings (CIBTM) and Business Travel Market.

April 2013 will see RTE will launch World Travel Market Latin America in São Paulo.

RTE is a business unit of Reed Exhibitions. In 2011, six million participants attended RE’s 500 events in 39 countries covering 44 industry sectors from aerospace and aviation to beauty and cosmetics to sports and recreation.
Reed Exhibitions is owned by Reed Elsevier, the world’s leading provider of professional information and online workflow solutions.
www.reedtravelexhibitions.com

Reed Exhibitions

The world's leading organiser of trade and consumer events running over 470 events in 37 countries. Reed Exhibitions excels in creating high profile, highly targeted business and consumer exhibitions and events to establish and maintain business relations, and generate new business.
Reed Exhibitions network of offices and promoters extends to 65 countries. www.reedexpo.com

Reed Elsevier

Reed Elsevier is a world leading provider of professional information and online workflow solutions in the Science, Medical, Legal, Risk Information and Analytics, and Business sectors. Based in over 200 locations worldwide, they create authoritative content delivered through market leading brands, enabling their customers to find the essential data, analysis and commentary to support their decisions.
www.reed-elsevier.com

NEWS FLASH!! – DAY THREE AT ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET 2012

NEWS FLASH!! – DAY THREE AT ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET 2012

AMAEDUS LAUNCHES MOBILE TRAVELLER

Amadeus, a leading travel technology provider and transaction processor for the global travel and tourism industry, has unveiled its Amadeus Mobile Traveller at Arabian Travel Market. This fully integrated and complete mobile application is designed to support pre-trip, in-trip and post-trip functionalities and enable end travellers to fulfil their on-the-go travel needs.

Developed with the support of MENA region specialist partner Techmaster, Amadeus Mobile Traveller boasts a suite of planning and booking functionalities for real-time flight, car rental and hotel bookings, taking into account social media integration and in-trip assistance services.

“Travellers are becoming increasingly demanding and technology savvy owing to advancing mobile penetration rates. The need to keep pace with this trend and provide travel agents with a competitive edge has never been greater,” said Antoine Medawar, Vice President, Middle East and North Africa, Amadeus.

The application’s unique integration with Amadeus Content Store also means unparalleled access to over 150,000 hotel properties worldwide, sourced from the region’s most popular aggregators and wholesalers at effective prices. Among other features are the click to call agent functionality, instant e-tickets, calendar synchronisation, trip tools including destination services, as well as online and offline payment support.

“Amadeus Mobile Traveller has been specifically designed for the region to enable travel agents to stay at the forefront of new trends and traveller habits. It is the outcome of a thorough analysis of our local and regional customers’ needs as well as key market trends. Currently, the only player to provide an all-in-one GDS-powered mobile application, Amadeus has opened up new avenues for growth and advancement of the regional travel and tourism sector,” added Medawar.



OMAN LOOKS TO ROOM INVENTORY GROWTH

Today at Arabian Travel Market, Her Excellency Maitha Al Mahrouqi, Minister of Tourism for Oman revealed that the room inventory in the Sultanate will rise from 12,000 currently to 20,000 by 2015, while airport capacity will treble both in Muscat and Salalah, reaching 12 million in the capital and three million in the southern city.

While creating jobs for Omanis is a priority, she said the ultimate aim as part of the Vision 2020 strategy was for the travel and tourism sector to contribute three per cent to GDP and beyond.

“One challenge is to change the perception of tourism as a career and to increase vocational training,” she said. “As well as the department for tourism training in Qaboos University and the Tourism College, we are looking to open a technical college in Salalah too.”

While Oman has already appointed overseas tourism representatives in 16 markets worldwide. These include the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Russia plus Australia and New Zealand, the minister said the domestic tourism was also a priority since this market was year-round and can be relied on even during the lean season.

“In areas where we do not have direct access with Oman Air, we are forging partnerships with regional airlines to bring in visitors via Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi – where we have joint visa arrangements - and are now aiming to bring the private sector together to package combinations,” she said.

At ATM, several hotel groups have announced new ventures in Oman, with Shaza signing an agreement to operate its first hotel in Salalah while Swiss-Belhotel reflagging the Beach Bay in Muscat in June and opening a new Swiss-Belexpress Muscat, while InterContinental is expanding with a new hotel at the Muscat Hills Golf resort.


JEBEL ALI INTERNATIONAL REVEALS NEW BEACHFRONT HOTEL

Jebel Ali International Hotels has revealed details of its new four-star Dubai Jebel Ali International Hotels has revealed details of its new four-star Dubai beach hotel at Arabian Travel Market, with the property scheduled to open for business at the end of the year.

Located on The Walk in the Jumeirah Beach Residence area, the unnamed hotel will be the only four-star beach property in Dubai.

Overlooking the Arabian Gulf and The Palm Jumeirah, each of the 341 rooms and suites feature sea views and balconies with interconnecting rooms also available for families. The hotel will offer five restaurants and bars along with an Executive Lounge for guests staying in clubrooms and suites. Other hotel facilities include a temperature-controlled freeform swimming pool with sea views, a spa, health club, Jacuzzi, steam room and sauna.

In addition, guests will have the public beach just steps away, and accessible directly from the hotel swimming pool. Alternatively, a complimentary shuttle service to the five-star private beach at Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa, is also provided.

“Positioning is crucial for any new entrant into Dubai’s maturing hospitality scene and our new beachfront property will fill a very important gap in the market,” said David Thomson, Regional General Manager for Jebel Ali International Hotels.
“The four-star classification, prime beachfront location and relaxed family friendly environment will appeal to a vast cross section of travellers, though still being very specific about what it stands for. The travel trade has long since asked for a four-star beachfront product and we have no doubt that the response will be huge and extremely positive,” he remarked.

The hotel will also cater to business travellers, with a fully equipped conference centre and six meeting rooms, many of which feature natural daylight and shaded balcony space for breakouts.

NEWS FLASH FROM ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET!!!

Global tourism to grow BRIC by BRIC

In its global overview of the travel industry presented as part of the World Travel Market (WTM) Vision 2012 conference series, Euromonitor International revealed its latest research findings at Arabian Travel Market today.

Over the next five years, it is predicted that global growth will decline to an average of just below eight per cent, pulled down by the weakness of the Eurozone economies. This is due in part to high government debt, tight credit conditions and rising unemployment levels.

Worldwide, Euromonitor numbers suggest tourism growth is slowing averaging less than four per cent annually until 2016, whilst the average spend is also flat-lining. However, the new BRIC economies will become the star performers, with Brazilians identified as the highest spending travelers globally with strong increases from the Indian, Chinese and Russian markets as well.

Moving closer to home, with their oil-rich economies and the continuing rise of the three big regional carriers, MENA and the Gulf countries in particular are expected to see positive growth from this year, with visitor arrivals up in across the region – increasing more than 10 per cent in Saudi Arabia.

In terms of the new star-performing cities, the majority of the top 10 were in Asia, with Hong Kong number one with nearly 22 million arrivals and 9.3 per cent growth last year, followed by Singapore and London, the latter with 15 million arrivals but only 2.7 per cent growth.

Istanbul, ranked ninth, recorded a stellar growth rate of 20.2 per cent, with nearly 10 million arrivals in 2011.

With the BRICs now a major target for many destinations, Euromonitor identified the top three preferred destinations for each BRIC market, whose travelers tended to stay close to home during their initial forays.

Brazilian travelers went to the US, Argentina and France; The Chinese chose Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan; Indians opted for Singapore, Thailand and the UAE, while the Russian preference was for Ukraine, Finland and Kazakhstan.

Turning to consumer trends, Euromonitor research demonstrated how economic pressures were fuelling the hunt for bargains in travel, with a rise in the popularity of flash sales and a reversal in the decline of the economy holiday package.

Sectors tipped for growth included medical tourism, rail travel, cruising and shopping, while the rise of the low cost carrier was identified as a continuing trend worldwide – contributing to the expectation that mass market travel will take over from the luxury segment as a growth driver.


NEWS FLASH FROM ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET!!!

Roar of the dragon

Moderating a seminar on The Rise of the Dragon, focusing on the Chinese outbound market, Lucy Chuang, MD of Global Sino presented its remarkable market potential to regional hospitality professionals at Arabian Travel Market 2012.

Citing figures for the UAE, visitor numbers had grown 50 per cent annually since the country was given approved status in 2009 by Chinese authorities – reaching 300,000 in 2010 with a spend of U$334 million (Mastercard survey figures).

Chuang stated a typical Chinese leisure preference as a three-night package with a different hotel for each night – either 4/5/6 (one night in a four-star hotel, followed by a five-star and then six-star (Atlantis The Palm) or a 5/6/7 (finishing off in Burj Al Arab) – and she urged the region to promote this tiered concept to the market, particularly during the off-peak summer season.

A desert safari and shopping were priorities with designer goods high on the shopping list of the brand conscious Chinese travellers, while twin-bedded rooms were the number one request and an essential in that room was a kettle to facilitate the preparation of hot instant noodles or rice.

Underlining the importance of the market, vice chairman of Dubai Duty Free, Sean Staunton said of the annual turnover of US$1.46 billion, some 18 per cent was attributed to Chinese travellers, although they made up less than four per cent of the total numbers. Forty per cent of watch sales, 32 per cent of cosmetics and 20 per cent of sunglasses were made to that market.

Recovery sets the tone for upbeat Arabian Travel Market 2009

Recovery sets the tone for upbeat Arabian Travel Market 2009

Industry Chiefs Call For Cooperation To Weather Economic Downturn

Dubai, UAE. 5th May 2009: Recovery and co-operation set the tone on the opening day of Arabian Travel Market 2009 – the Middle East’s premier travel and tourism event – as regional tourism industry chiefs remained optimistic about their continued growth in spite of harsh global economic conditions.

And with more than 2,100 exhibitors and stand-sharers, from 69 countries, including 70 new-to-market representatives present for Arabian Travel Market 2009 - making it one of the largest editions in its 16-year history - regional and international tourism offices and private-sector companies have pledged to utilise the show to offset the current economic downturn.

Speaking after touring Arabian Travel Market 2009 - which runs until 8th May at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre - His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman, Dubai Airports, and Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group said: “Travel and tourism demand in the UAE and the region remains strong. In fact the Middle East is the only region which has seen an increase in air passenger traffic in March, when every other region saw a drop. Many of the countries in this region have invested massive resources to boost their travel and tourism infrastructure.

“Increasingly, international hospitality and travel brands are looking to this region as the ‘bright spot’ in the global economic downturn, and are investing here. I am confident that Dubai, the UAE, and the region as a whole, is well placed to weather the current challenges and come out even stronger,” added HH Sheikh Ahmed.

These sentiments were echoed by a host of Middle Eastern industry decision makers. Salim Bin Adey Al-Mamari, Director General of Tourism Promotion, Oman Ministry of Tourism, said the region needed to enhance intra-country co-operation and voiced what he sees as a pressing need to promote the GCC region as a single, multi-experience destination.

“Whilst we are all feeling the effects of the economic downturn, we are expecting a speedy recovery. In the first quarter of 2009, we have already seen a 10 percent increase in tourism numbers, which exceeded our targets. In 2008, we saw 1.5 million tourist visit the Sultanate, and for this year we expect to see overall growth of at least seven percent. From here, it is about working as one, the GCC as a holistic destination,” he said.

Al-Mamari also stated that to encourage recovery, it is imperative that destinations and companies increase spend to carve out greater market share, saying they should focus on consolidating their presence in established markets as opposed to entering new ones.

“Events like Arabian Travel Market, which we have been involved in since the start, allow us to promote our inbound and outbound tourism products to a wide-diversity of decision makers from around the world. We have undertaken a comprehensive marketing campaign, both in the region and internationally in Europe and the Far East, to bolster our presence. We really want to enhance awareness in our existing markets as opposed to entering new ones, this makes good sense in the current climate,” said Salim Bin Adey Al-Mamari.

Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority’s Deputy Director General, Ahmed Hussein, added: “We are continuing as planned and we have increased our presence at the year’s event. The Middle East remains well placed to weather the current economic downturn; however what we need to see is more dialogue across the region and the development of products that incorporate the region as a whole, as opposed to individually targeting markets.”

The region’s other legacy carriers, Eithad Airways and Qatar Airways, also utilised the show to outline their long-term commitment to growth, destination expansion and product development.

James Hogan, CEO, Etihad, speaking on the announcement that the UAE’s national carrier would be undertaking a complete US$70 million, first class embodiment of its current fleet over the next 18 months, said: “We remain committed to our long-term plans and this year alone we will launch seven new routes and will receive 11 new aircraft. A downturn is exactly the time when an airline needs to demonstrate its commitment to the very highest standards of excellence. The economic turbulence that the aviation industry is currently experiencing will give way to calmer times, and when it does our investment and product innovation will ensure that we have not simply remained competitive, but that we are the market leader.”

Akbar Al Bakr, CEO, Qatar Airways – which is planning six new routes in 2009 and is receiving new aircraft on an average of one per month - said the global tourism industry remained resilient despite the current economic climate and the Middle East aviation industry was the only sector experiencing significant growth with capacity and passenger figures rising.

“The state of the global aviation industry amid the current economic situation and concerns over global health are understandable. But whatever is happening around the world will not affect our growth plans. We are committed and remain committed to growth and our expansion is pressing on ahead of schedule,” he said.

And organisers of Arabian Travel Market – Reed Travel Exhibitions – are confident that the show’s enhanced business friendliness and knowledge sharing capabilities will be critical in helping the regional and international tourism sector recoveries.

“The feeling on the show floor is most certainly one of optimism, underlining a sense of belief which characterises the Middle East tourism industry as a whole. This region is still the world’s fastest growing tourism market and has the infrastructure, vision and determination to maintain this growth. Through Arabian Travel Market we are creating a platform that instigates discussion, debate and opens up business channels for the industry at large that will prove critical in the short and longer-terms,” said Mark Walsh, Group Exhibition Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions.

Reed Travel Exhibitions has introduced a number of new initiatives for 2009 which they believe will be vital in nurturing increased business interaction and ensuring exhibitors have access to top-tier decision makers.

One such move was to increase the show’s Hosted Buyers programme - which identifies high-quality buyers in terms of purchasing and decision-making power - to 150 top international, first time participants, up from 120 in 2008.

The 2009 show also boasts an expanded seminar programme, with more than 30 experts discussing a variety of key topics in 18 sessions. This biggest-ever programme reinforces Arabian Travel Market’s commitment to promoting increased dialogue and debate to stimulate the market’s recovery.

In addition, a number of key industry reports – including Deloitte’s ‘The Middle East Hotel Performance Review’, Catererglobal.com’s ‘Recruitment and Retention Strategies in the Middle East Hotel Industry’ and EuroMonitor’s ‘Future Trends for Travel and Tourism in the Middle East’ – will be unveiled during the four-day event.

On the show’s final day, Reed Travel Exhibitions will launch Consumer & Careers Day - a programme designed to introduce exhibitors to members of the general public with a keen interest to work within the industry or developing an existing career. The initiative is held under the patronage of the United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Education and allows visitors to conduct face-to-face meetings with potential employers and attend specific career workshops and seminars hosted by established industry representatives.

Arabian Travel Market is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, and under the auspices of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Government of Dubai.

New UAE hospitality brand to showcase four luxury hotel developments due to open in Dubai 2009/2010 at Arabian Travel Market

Seven Tides unwavering about hotel developments in Dubai

New UAE hospitality brand to showcase four luxury hotel developments due to open in Dubai 2009/2010 at Arabian Travel Market

Independent United Arab Emirates holding company Seven Tides and associated companies is to showcase four new luxury hospitality developments all due to open between the end of 2009 and the beginning of 2010 in Dubai – two of which are on the iconic Palm Jumeirah – at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) which takes place on 5-8 May 2009 at the Dubai International Exhibition and Convention Centre.

Michael Scully, Managing Director Hospitality for Seven Tides said: “These five-star developments are multi-use and have been designed for sophisticated lifestyles, whether it‘s business or leisure. However we will create a fun environment and it is that combination that underpins our unique proposition. They also mark the arrival of a new name in the hospitality sector - Seven Tides which remains committed to its development plans despite the global economic climate.”

Scully said that Seven Tides and associated companie was confident in the long-term future of the hospitality industry not only in the UAE, but throughout the region and beyond. “As well as the four developments we are showcasing at ATM – Royal Amwaj and Oceana on Palm Jumeirah, Ibn Battuta Gate and Movenpick Deira – we are planning future hotel developments in Dubai as well as continuing with our drive to acquire hotels worldwide.”

Established in 2004, Seven Tides, which also ownsDukes Hotel in London, has partnered with prestigious international hospitality brands including Anantara, Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts and Campbell Gray Hotels as its growth continues.

Two of the four new developments Seven Tides is opening in late 2009 - early 2010 are on the Palm Jumeirah. The Mövenpick-managed Royal Amwaj (amwaj means wave in Arabic) luxury resort and spa on the Palm crescent is Seven Tides’ flagship property and will feature 293 hotel rooms and more than 400 condominium apartments.

The Royal Amwaj will offer a variety of culinary delights including South American, Thai, seafood and Asian cuisine. The resort will also feature two natural lagoons, a large swimming pool, tennis courts, Asian spa, water sports club as well as business and banquet facilities.

Oceana, meanwhile, will be a beachfront hotel centrally located on Palm Jumeirah’s trunk. This private residential community will offer beach access and panoramic views to its in-house guests. “For those who want to escape from it all, Oceana will provide an ideal retreat for its residents, with an impressive array of amenities and services,” Scully said.

In terms of a corporate flagship property, Ibn Battuta Gate features an iconic entrance arch which is larger than the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Located next to Ibn Battuta Mall, the property will be managed by Mövenpick, offering a combination of offices, apartments and a five-star hotel and spa.

“Ibn Battuta Gate aims to capture the best of living and working in New Dubai with a unique combination of modern offices, serviced apartments and five-star hotel offering a lifestyle that balances city and retreat, business and pleasure,” Scully said.”

All four developments, in addition to the stylish Dukes Hotels in St James, London, managed by Campbell Gray Hotels and recently awarded five-star classification, will be showcased at the ATM.

“ATM is the perfect platform to relaunch these properties. With so many international and regional tour operators and travel specialists in attendance we can ensure that Seven Tides developments are put on their radar screens now,” added Scully.

MIDDLE EAST HOTEL INDUSTRY CAN RIDE OUT CURRENT STORM

MIDDLE EAST HOTEL INDUSTRY CAN RIDE OUT CURRENT STORM

Lower Source Market Demand Curtailed by Growth in Budget and Premium Sectors

Dubai, UAE. 8th April, 2009: A leading industry voice has said significant investments made in the Middle East’s tourism industry during the last decade will help it recover from the current economic downturn quicker than other areas.

Robert O’Hanlon, Tourism, Hospitality and Leisure Partner at Deloitte Middle East, who is leading a seminar at Arabian Travel Market 2009, believes the challenges of global economic fall-out and dollar-pegged destinations becoming more expensive for UK and European travellers – the region’s traditional source markets - can be mitigated by new and existing hotel brands providing value for money, whatever their target demographic.

O’Hanlon predicts that growth in budget and premium hotel options will ensure the Middle East navigates the global tourism downturn, which saw regional revenue per available room rates (RevPAR) drop by more than 10 percent from November 2008 to January 2009.

“Gulf countries have signalled they are willing to invest in long-term, sustainable tourism developments which appeal to a global audience. The hotel industry is viewed by these players as the decisive driver in the development of their business and tourism sectors,” said O’Hanlon, who will give the keynote speech at the ‘The Middle East Hotel Performance Review’ - one of 18 seminars at Arabian Travel Market 2009, the region’s premier travel and tourism event, taking place 5-8th May in Dubai, UAE.

“The region’s underlying wealth and the appreciation of quality ensure there will always be a call for premium accommodation; while mid-market and budget operators are well placed to gain ground over competitors if current economic conditions persist beyond 2009.

“I fully expect the Dubai-led trend in facilitating for quality mid-market and budget accommodation to expand to other regional centres,” he added.

Although most regions were reporting double-digit growth in hotel performance in the first six months of last year, the credit crunch bite and deepening recession eventually saw significant declines in RevPAR growth, with North America down 1.6 percent and Europe and Asia Pacific registering growth of less than two percent for 2008.

However, the Middle East - buoyed by an 11.3 percent increase in visitors (up to 52.9 million for the calendar year) - turned-in strong overall RevPAR growth of 18.3 percent to average out at US$148, placing it ahead of Europe for the first time.

“In 2008, Asia Pacific showed an overall occupancy rate of 65.5 percent, Europe 65.7 percent, the Middle East 68.8 percent, and the USA 60.4 percent. All these regions, apart from Middle East, which was up 1.2 percent, experienced occupancy declines,” said O’Hanlon.

“In the Middle East, occupancy rates were 70.9, 72.6, 68.8, and 60.8 percent in October 2008 through to January 2009 respectively. Whilst these remain high by global standards, they reflect a drop compared to the prior year. This decline mirrors both the lower global demand and the increased supply during 2008.”

O’Hanlon also issued a stark ultimatum to the region’s hospitality industry, stating if it was to weather the current storm, it needed to remain committed to providing quality value and services.

“Apart from utilising the opportunities created by a recessionary environment, hotels must continue implementing steps that create value in the long run. They must resist the pressure to slash rates and provide a lesser-quality service. The strategy for the tourism industry this year is to focus on survival; for hotels in particular this means providing value for money. Concentrating on what they do best, what differentiates them from others, and providing the essentials of good hospitality will help them to maintain their brand strengths as hoteliers compete to fill rooms,” he said.

O’Hanlon joins an impressive speaker line-up for Arabian Travel Market 2009’s expanded seminar programme. With 25 panellists covering 18 sessions – the largest number to date for the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre-based show – leading industry decision makers will discuss hot topics including the global cruise industry, market potential and development of the Gulf region’s cruise sector; recruitment and retention best practice in the hospitality sector; the outlook for the Gulf meetings industry and the future of Middle East air travel.

““The diverse seminar programme at Arabian Travel Market 2009 reinforces our long-term goal of providing a knowledge rich show. The discussion and debate that will take place during the four days of the event will feature industry topics fronted by leading professionals in their field,” said Mark Walsh, Group Exhibitions Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions – the company behind Arabian Travel Market 2009.

“In the current economic climate, deliberation combined with a high-level platform to conduct business face-to-face are critical and will ensure that Arabian Travel Market 2009 is the most productive and knowledge savvy show to date.”

The online portal for Arabian Travel Market can be found at www.arabiantravelmarket.com. Signing up early will allow visitors to take advantage of extensive e-networking tools that will allow them to link up with the most relevant industry players to their business.

Arabian Travel Market is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, and under the auspices of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Government of Dubai.

Visitor registration for Arabian Travel Market 2009 can be done through the show’s dedicated website on www.arabiantravelmarket.com/registertoday