news to use GENERAL
Tourism Update ROTANA HOTELS
Dubai will put agents in the picture
BY LAURA GELDER Dubai is to launch a trade 'charm
offensive' to increase agents' knowledge of the emirate. The move follows Dubai Tourism
OMER KADDOURI Executive vp and ceo for Rotana
Rotana is to further consolidate its position as the leading Middle East and Africa hospitality company by opening no less than eight new properties across region in the next 12 months. Before the close of 2012 we will
open our first hotel in Bahrain, welcome guests at hotels in Amman, Jordan – Rotana’s first in the country – and launch a first hotel in Salalah, Oman. We will also open a second hotel
in Doha, Qatar and expand our portfolio with four additional hotels in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, UAE. The last six months has seen the hospitality industry in the UAE registering positive growth. We see that momentum being sustained as general business conditions improve across the board – and we also see that trend being mirrored in the new destinations we have decided to open inaugural properties in, namely Jordan, Oman and Bahrain. Over the last few years we have pinpointed several existing and new destinations that were ripe for expansion and we are proud to announce the continuation of our aggressive and strategic growth strategy with these imminent new openings. Rotana currently manages a portfolio of over 70 properties and has an aggressive expansion plan in place. The company has pledged to understand and meet the individual needs of all guests, evolving its brands to suit different market needs. These now include Rotana Hotels & Resorts, Centro Hotels by Rotana, Rayhaan Hotels & Resorts by Rotana and Arjaan Hotel Apartments by Rotana. www.
rotana.com
10 December 2011 •
www.sellinglonghaul.com
and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) research which revealed 'common misconceptions' about the destination. Whilst global visitor figures to Dubai
were 11 per cent up at the end of September 2011, with occupancy up five per cent, room nights up 26 per cent and revenue up 16 per cent, the UK market fared less well. “Much of Dubai’s growth is coming
from Saudi Arabia or India,” said Ian Scott, the DTCM's director UK and Ireland, at WTM. He added: “We did some research to
find out why the UK trade is hesitating when selling Dubai and the results show agents hold common misconceptions about Dubai. There is still a view that construction work dominates the city, that it's a dry state and that personal safety is an issue. This is simply not true:
Malaysia looks to luxury
BY ALAN ORBELL With the goal of increasing UK visitor
numbers to 460,000 next year Tourism Malaysia is increasing its focus on the luxury market. Dato’ Azizan Noordin, acting director general, says: “We’re looking at the high- end market segment and are going to brand luxury Malaysia, including ‘Luxuriously Langkawi’, although not at the expense of middle income visitors. “We are promoting contemporary art tourism too and food, from fine dining to street food. Cultural heritage, islands and beaches are also key.” Tourism Malaysia has launched a series
of TV commercials and Malaysia Airlines will run a 3D game in 2012 promoting Malaysia as a stopover. Dato’ Azizan Noordin added: “We’re
keen to do joint promotions with tour operators and to give them all the support they need. We also want to undertake more educational tours, especially for front-office travel staff.”
www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my
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construction work is no more overwhelming than in London, Dubai’s hotels, bars and clubs serve alcohol freely and Dubai is incredibly safe.” The DTCM will aim to tackle these misconceptions through its agent newsletter, with more agents’ views on Dubai; and fam trip itineraries, including
Dubai's first mega fam, will address specific qualms. Consumer marketing will stress ‘value’, highlighting budget choices and promotional events. The Kids Go Free promotion will return in the summer.
www.dubaitourism.ae/home/ travel-trade
Nisbet goes for Olympic gold The Nisbet Plantation Beach
Club is tapping into the 2012 Olympic spirit by promoting a wider range of activities to the UK market, including an Olympic-distance triathlon. The Nevis resort will host the annual
Nevis Triathlon in March 2012 and is offering guests the chance to compete against a world-class field over the Olympic standard: 1000m swim, 100km bike ride and 10km run. For those who want to join in some gentler fun there will also be Try a Tri event incorporating 100m swim, 10km bike ride and 1km run. Other activities offered by the resort
IN BRIEF
Kuoni is fair to South Africa Kuoni has launched a Fair Trade
Garden Route Tour, available through its ‘Ananea’ sustainable travel brochure. The tour includes Amakhala Game Reserve, Plettenberg Bay, Swellendam, Overberg and Stellenbosch and uses Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa country houses, hotels and lodges.
www.kuoni.co.uk/ananea
W&O retreats to new places Western & Oriental’s new 2012 Beaches & Retreats programme replaces its Tropical Locations brochure. Prices start at £1325pp for a week at Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang in Penang. A 15-night multi-centre Thailand tour is priced from £2879pp, combining time at the Elephant Hills Rainforest Camp with a beach stay.
wwwwandoravel.com
including hiking through rainforest, mountain biking and bike tours with triathlon cyclist Reggie Douglas, horse riding, snorkelling and diving. Also planned is a series of seven-night wellness retreats running January 21-28, February 18-25 and March 23-30.
www.nisbetplantation.com
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