08 News


SAUDI ARABIA PAVES THE WAY FOR A LUCRATIVE MICE SECTOR


The future looks bright for the Saudi Arabian meetings and events industry, as the kingdom sets its sights on establishing a firm footing in the business travel sector. Offering insights into its ongoing strategies


and ambitious plans during ATM, the Saudi Ex- hibition and Convention Bureau (SECB) outlined the organisation’s new regulatory framework for meetings and events. In an effort to simplify travel protocols for


ISLAND OF PLENTY


Yas Island, the UAE capital’s leading leisure desti- nation, has its sights set on becoming one of the world’s top entertainment hubs. A central part of the plan is major upcoming


additions Warner Bros. Abu Dhabi and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi. The new Warner Bros. Abu Dhabi theme park ties into Yas Island’s strategy to enhance its reputation as a place for family fun, as it’s poised to welcome millions more visitors. “For 2022 we want to have reached 48 million


visitors to Yas Island. In 2016 we reached 27 million, so it’s an ambitious but achievable target. We believe that a lot of the effort being put into Yas Island, with the new assets and events, will make this achievable,” said Gerardo Llanes, Execu- tive Director, Yas Island Destination Management. Big-name attractions are what Yas Island is all about, and the Warner Bros. global brand name brings additional clout.


“Each park has its own positioning but all


of them complement each other in the offering. People visit not just one but the whole island and the many activities it has to offer,” said Llanes. “Warner Bros. is a very powerful brand but we


already have other powerful brands on the island, and great international hotel groups,” he added. Yas Island is also appealing to an increas- ing number of conference and event organisers. “The incentives industry is growing and now


that Warner Bros. is going to be opening, it is a great option for corporations to offer to their sales forces or delegations,” said Llanes. SeaWorld Abu Dhabi also marks another


exciting addition to the Yas Island portfolio, bring- ing a next-generation theme park to the destina- tion when it opens in 2022. ——— Visit stand ME2150


HMH LAUNCHES LUXURY BRAND CAPITAL BOOST FOR HEALTHCARE


International patients travelling to the UAE capi- tal for healthcare services will soon benefit from a new medical tourism network agreement that was officially signed by the Health Authority – Abu Dhabi (HAAD) and TCA Abu Dhabi at ATM. HAAD and TCA Abu Dhabi aims to develop a


comprehensive network of best-in-class service providers for patients seeking specialised medi- cal treatment and expertise in the city. The network will also ensure patients and


their families are provided with holistic services while they are being treated in the emirate. Inter- national patients will enjoy a variety of comple- mentary services from network members such as ground transportation agencies, tourism compa- nies and retail outlets throughout the country.


Hospitality Management Holding announced the addition of a new luxury hotel brand to its portfolio during a press conference at Arabian Travel Market. The five-star Bahi Hotels & Resorts caters to luxury seekers with an offering that HMH defines as ‘impeccable plush’. “We are proud to launch Bahi Hotels &


Resorts, which is a fantastic addition to our impressive portfolio of existing brands serving varied market segments. Reflecting the highest level of service, attention to detail and refine- ment, Bahi has been conceptualised to provide both business and leisure travellers unforgettable experiences,” said Brett Schafer, CEO of Faisal Holding, the parent company of HMH. “It’s an exciting time for the industry, where


we have witnessed nearly 50 percent growth in luxury travel over the last five years. In keeping


with our commitment to deliver the highest service standards, Bahi is designed to maximise further our brand offering and allows us to exceed the high expectations of premium travellers.” HMH’s flagship UAE property, The Ajman


Palace Hotel, will be the first hotel to be branded as Bahi, with future properties to be announced in carefully selected locations around the region. At the show, HMH also announced plans to


strengthen its expansion into Sudan with the completion of EWA Port Sudan Hotel & Apart- ments by Q4 2017. Featuring 84 keys, it is the group’s fourth hotel in Sudan where it has been operating since 2009. Other properties include Coral Khartoum Hotel, Coral Port Sudan and EWA Khartoum Hotel & Apartments. ——— Visit stand HC0530


Commenting on the recent signing, Sultan


Al Dhaheri, Acting Executive Director, Tourism Sector, TCA Abu Dhabi, said: “This agreement will follow four principles that represent our strategic approach to encourage medical tourism to Abu Dhabi. These principles are raising awareness for the medical sector in Abu Dhabi, establishing a framework for our initiatives, promoting network- ing opportunities and developing new marketing ideas for the industry. “In gathering leading representatives from


all relevant industry sectors in Abu Dhabi, our vision is to create a forum for potential medical tourism packages, itineraries and timeframes.” ——— Visit stand ME2115, ME2250


event exhibitors and participants, the SECB has introduced a 48-hour online visa issuance proce- dure and eased restrictions on airport customs channels. With a mandate to further leverage the industry’s potential, the SECB also implemented a transparent and efficient one-stop platform for the licensing of events. Saudi Arabia has worked on a document de-


fining MICE terminology as well as the basis, rules and procedures for every event. The guide also outlines the participation of women in a bid to promote their involvement in the industry. Tariq A. Al Essa, Executive Manager, Saudi


Exhibition and Convention Bureau said: “With our new systems in place, we now have the ability to


generate and provide up to date information and statistics on every event taking place in the coun- try. Also, efforts are underway to establish a sys- tem that enables us to better understand visitor behaviour at these events.” Showing the continued ascent of the MICE segment, Al Essa revealed that licences have been issued for 8,750 business events in the country since January 2016, with the medical sec- tor dominating the top spot, followed by educa- tion and IT & communication. Q1 2017 saw a nine percent increase in events, in comparison to the same period last year. Also on the SECB’s agenda is the develop- ment of human competency programmes. An in- vestment worth US$2.66 million (SAR10 million) was made towards founding the Saudi Event Management Academy that welcomed its first batch of students in December 2016. Al Essa also revealed plans to build an inven-


tory of venues for events and create a forum to connect suppliers to discuss improvements with- in the industry. ——— Visit stand ME4410


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