NEWS


15


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CITY SEASONS LAUNCH NEW LOYALTY SCHEME


CYPRUS TARGETS GULF AS VISITOR SOURCE MARKET


Cyprus is seeking to position itself as the ideal destination for leisure and business visitors from the Gulf region, as visa waivers and increased air connectivity are introduced in 2014. The Mediterranean island is


Elise Sarkis-Talj


See the video on why City Seasons hotel chain is seeking to drive brand loyalty with the launch of its new City Card, which offers a range of excellent deals. Download the free app from layar.com or the App Store.


Visit stand HC5520


HOLIDAY INN BRAND RETURNS TO OMAN


the first European country to lift visa requirements for UAE and Qatari nationals ahead of the European Union’s new rules for Schengen countries that come into affect at the end of 2014. As of August, Etihad Airways and Emirates will fly daily to Larnaca, while Qatar Airways fly four times a week. “The GCC, and the UAE in particular, are important markets for us and we have embarked on a tremendous effort to improve the numbers of arrivals and also the quality of the experiences we offer,” said Minister of Tourism, Yiorgos Lakkotrypis. The main source markets for


Cyprus are a blend of established and emerging markets. The island has long been a favourite of British holidaymakers, driven by the country’s historical links and more than one million swap


the United Kingdom for Cyprus each year. Visitors from Russia, however, have been rising sharply and now account for 600,000 annual visits. “It is these new markets that


we have to build. GCC countries, in particular, have very high- net-worth individuals who are seeking excellent experiences,” continues Lakkotrypis. “We now have the new visa rules in effect and we have improved the air connectivity between Cyprus and the GCC. In addition, we are currently developing a


Cyprus Tourism Organisation stand


number of new visitor attractions, including a mixed-use leisure facility in Larnaca that includes a large convention centre. “It’s not just leisure tourists,” he


continues. “With our emerging energy sector, we have already approached the UAE with a view to developing synergies between the countries at public- and private-sector level. We hope that conferences and meetings will come to Cyprus from the Middle East as we become an energy hub in the Eastern Mediterranean.”


Visit stand EU8265


HONG KONG EMERGES AS ARTS AND CRUISE HUB


InterContinental Hotels Group stand


InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has opened the Holiday Inn Muscat Al Seeb in the heart of the capital’s business district. Brought to the city by Action Hotels, the opening marks the return of the Holiday Inn brand to Oman. Oppenheimer Pinto, General


Manager, Holiday Inn Muscat Al Seeb said: “With our close proximity to the airport and to the attractions of old and new Muscat, the hotel is a great place to stay whether you’re here for business or leisure.” In 1977, Oman was the home


of the first Holiday Inn property in the Middle East with Holiday Inn Resort Salalah, before the property was converted to Crowne Plaza Resort Salalah.


Alain Debare, Chief Executive


of Action Hotels, said: “We are pleased to announce the successful opening of our first hotel development with IHG and are proud to become part of the Holiday Inn family, reintroducing to Oman a market leading international brand with a strong heritage in the region. “We see significant opportunities in the Middle East for the midscale hotel market. IHG’s reputation as an investor in people is also a key driver behind Action Hotel’s investment.” Pascal Gauvin, IHG’s Chief


Operating Officer for India, Middle East and Africa, commented: “Oman played a major role in the launch of the


Visit stand HC5220


Holiday Inn brand in the Middle East so it is fantastic to bring the brand back to a country where it has so much history. With tourist numbers to Oman on the increase, we are confident that Holiday Inn Muscat Al Seeb will offer a comfortable and quality option for visitors to Muscat.” The hotel is located within


10 minutes’ drive of Muscat International Airport and has 185 rooms, each with a 32-inch LED TV and free Wi-Fi. The hotel’s ballroom, boardroom and meeting rooms offer flexible spaces for meetings of up to 250. This hotel will be IHG’s


sixth in Oman and joins the InterContinental Muscat and Crowne Plaza Muscat.


Hong Kong Tourism Board stand Visit stand AS6850


Hong Kong’s Tourism Board has been promoting itself during Arabian Travel Market as a must-visit destination for culture and cruises. As it emerges as a popular cruise destination and city break for travellers seeking an east-meets-west experience, the country is also hosting an increasing number of arts and culture events, such as next week’s second annual Art Basel. According to the Discover


Hong Kong website from Hong Kong Tourism Board, centuries of Chinese influence, 150 years


of colonial rule and decades as a crossroads of the world have given the destination a diverse and blossoming arts scene, in which jazz ensembles, orchestras, film festivals and street-market operas flourish. Art Basel, from May 15 to


18, will showcase emerging talents and modern masters of both Asia and the west to trace 12 decades of art history. Last year’s event featured 245 galleries from 35 countries and attracted more than 60,000 visitors.


In line with Hong


Kong’s desire to become a pre-eminent creative and arts destination, it has invested heavily in the construction of the West Kowloon Cultural District, which is scheduled for completion by 2016. This new integrated arts


and cultural district is a major initiative to meet the long- term infrastructure needs of Hong Kong’s arts scene and will serve as a gateway to the Pearl River Delta by virtue of its strategic position in the planned express rail link between Hong Kong and mainland China. To meet the growing demand


from discerning travellers and art lovers, Hong Kong has more than 2,000 additional hotel rooms in development, including inventory at the ever-popular Disneyland and Ocean Park attractions. Meanwhile, further


development is also underway to support the expanding cruise market and the runway of the former Kai Tak Airport, at the centre of Victoria Harbour, is being transformed into a new cruise terminal. The first berth began operations in 2013, while the second is expected to be open later this year.


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