08-09 ttg_lux_news 12/6/09 15:26 Page 9
ABTA PUTS LUXURY
ON THE AGENDA
The changing
Abta is creating a new event, the Luxury Travel Forum, which
will run alongside the main Travel Convention in Barcelona
on October 6-8.
face of Dubai
Delegates at the Luxury Travel Forum will get a first look
at the new W Barcelona – which opens at the start of October
– at an exclusive welcome reception. Eva Ziegler, global
brand leader for W Hotels Worldwide, will make a rare
European conference appearance, speaking about lifestyle
branding in the hotel industry.
The results of research by PricewaterhouseCoopers will be
revealed at the event. PwC director Guy Gillon said: “We will
present a market view of trading based on information from
key players in the luxury market. This will include surveying
tour operators and hotel owners to provide a picture by which
others will be able to benchmark their own performances.”
Gillon will also examine the methods luxury travellers are
using to book, and their levels of brand loyalty. “We anticipate
finding that travellers are actually putting price ahead of
loyalty,” he said. “We hope to be able to give a picture of the
prognosis for recovery in the sector, and we will put the Ian Scott, director UK
findings of our research into practical lessons that Luxury
and Ireland, shares his
Travel Forum delegates will be able to take away and use.”
Attendees will also be invited to a hosted dinner at excitement about the
Ritz-Carlton’s waterfront property, Hotel Arts (pictured),
progression of Dubai Tourism
and will follow a schedule that still allows them to attend
sessions with the Travel Convention’s keynote speakers, and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).
such as Norman Lamont.
Dubai is developing at an astonishing rate. To keep up with the constant
progression we’ve updated and improved our marketing strategy to keep
you in the loop too. We’re here to make your life easier, so you can inform
your clients about the destination and generate more sales.
Our new and improved dubaiupdate.co.uk website contains masses of
information, from a detailed calendar of sporting, musical and festival events
to a list of all cruise companies that either hub in or visit Dubai, along with
their schedules.
To help you promote Dubai within your agency we have included suggested
marketing text and also the ability to order support literature, posters and
DVDs online. Soon an image library will give you access to literally hundreds
of pictures. We’re really proud of the new website and think you’ll find it a
really useful resource.
Our travel agent familiarisation trips have been dramatically restructured
and are a great way to personally experience Dubai’s latest and greatest
offerings. As there is just so much to see and do in Dubai, a major change to
the programme is that we have broken the destination down into targetting
four distinct groups: a place for activity holidays; a place for couples; a place
for families and a place to shop and spa. Group sizes have been reduced to
around 10 and site inspections focus on properties that fit the segment as
NOTES COPA COOL The new lounge bar at the
well as themed activities.
Copacabana Palace, including a bar made from hundreds
There is also plenty of free time for agents to explore, when they are en-
of gold Murano tiles, is the place to hang out in Rio
couraged to use the time to ‘experience’ something related to that segment.
(orient-express.com). TENT SUITE Chiawa Camp in
The new dubaiupdate.co.uk website holds a huge amount of information
Zambia (pictured) has
about our familiarisation trips. There’s an online management system
undergone a transformation,
including detailed downloadable itineraries and rooming lists, as well as an
turning all nine tents into
online feedback form to help us plan future trips. There are also links to
superior suites, with thatched
post-trip Facebook pages so agents can stay in touch on their return.
roof but still open-fronted –
The response to our new and improved trips has been overwhelming and
including the bathrooms with
this year we’ll be taking out over 600 travel agents, who have all successfully
rolltop baths – for views of
completed our Dubai Expert online training programme, to Dubai.
the Zambezi (chiawa.com).
IAN SCOTT, DIRECTOR UK AND IRELAND, DTCM.
MORE FOR MUSTIQUE
Nine villas have been added
Become a Dubai Expert
to Mustique’s rental programme for the first time,
Sign up at www.dubaiexpert.co.uk for comprehensive training
including the four-bedroom Oliver Messel-designed
Coccoloba (mustique-island.com). MOROCCAN
SHOPPERS Angsana Riads Collection is launching a
Latest Dubai Updates
personal shopping service, with a bilingual expert on hand
Sign up for a monthly e-newsletter at www.dubaiupdate.co.uk
to help guests navigate and barter their way through
Marrakech. Rates from €170 for a half-day (angsana.com).
POOL PARTY Constance Hotels has opened its new all- For further information please contact: Dubai Tourism & Commerce Marketing (DTCM)
pool-villa resort in the Maldives. Constance Halaveli is
T: 020 7321 6110 E: dtcm_uk@dubaitourism.ae W: www.dubaiexpert.co.uk
near three of the region’s best dive sites (halaveli.com).
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