Travel & Hotels

DAVOS, Switzerland - January 23rd 2013--(BUSINESS WIRE / ME NewsWire)-- Two hospitality giants – Hilton Worldwide and Marriott International – addressed global business and travel industry leaders today at the World Economic Forum in Davos to urge governments to move quickly to adopt “Smart Visa” policies which stimulate global travel, create new jobs and spur economic development. The two companies represent more than 7,000 hotels in 90 countries, which include 600,000 employees at these owned, managed and franchised properties. They are working together with the World Economic Forum Governors for the aviation, travel and tourism industry to promote global action toward “Smart Visa” policies regionally by 2015 and globally by 2020.

Smart Visas refer to safe, secure and sustainable solutions that promote mobility, maximize the use of technology, and expand programs that facilitate travel while removing process inefficiencies caused by arduous visa requirements. As a result of Smart Visa policies, more data is collected and shared across borders, creating enhanced security, efficiencies that reduce government spending and a better customer experience.

“In 2012, the UN World Tourism Organization reported that more than one billion people traveled outside their borders – a tremendous catalyst for global commerce and new jobs,” said Christopher J. Nassetta, president and CEO, Hilton Worldwide. “We are here at the World Economic Forum to tackle complex and challenging economic, social, environmental and political issues. Enabling greater international travel is the low-hanging fruit that can create significant economic growth and employment.”

Dubai, UAE; January 22, 2013: At.mosphere, the world’s highest restaurant located on Level 122 of Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, has unveiled its newest menu inspired by the season, featuring an extensive array of signature dishes, premium meats, and refreshing beverages, in line with global culinary trends.

In addition to providing visitors with unmatched views of Downtown Dubai, At.mosphere is redefining its culinary expertise with the ‘new seasonal menu.’ Prepared by the restaurant’s Executive Chef, Stuart Sage, At.mosphere will offer a tasting menu for two people, featuring an amuse bouche, a micro garden salad of Ceviche Yellow Fin Tuna; Slow Cooked Foie; Poached Organic Salmon; and Wagyu; all topped off with delectable Red Velvet, and At.mosphere’s signature ‘Crunch’ Dessert, paired with an array of cellared beverages.

Guests can also choose to dine a la carte, and pick from At.mosphere’s autographed courses – The Beginning, The Kitchen and Josper, Dessert and To Finish – all accompanied by a stunning selection of beverages, personally suggested by At.mosphere’s Sommelier, Rafaela Pons.

Companymakes significant gains in hospitality sector with fit-out of twoupcoming Riyadh hotels

Dubai, December 15, 2012- Greenline Interiors (GLI), the UAE’s leading interior design company and part of the Greenline Group, is expanding rapidly outside the country with new projects in the hospitality sector in Saudi Arabia.

GLI has been chosen to execute a variety of interior fit-out works forthe Hilton Riyadh Hotel located next to Granada Mall, and the Wyndham Hotel at the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) – Riyadh. This comes close on the heels of the company winning the contract for extensive interior fit-out works of the Fairmont Hotel at the Business Gate district. Along with similar contracts that GLI won last year for the Princess Nora bintAbdulrahman University, the first women's university in Saudi Arabia and largest women-only university in the world, in addition to the Saudi Royal family’s Al Rawda palace in Jeddah, the total value of the company’s projects in the kingdom now amount to more than AED300 million.   

The Saudi portfolio represents a significant gain for the company in markets outside the UAE. Already recognized as creators of superlative interiors for palaces and super luxury hotels, GLI’s reputation rested on its enviable track record of designing the interiors of such high-profile and iconic landmarks as Dubai’s 7-star Burj Al Arab hotel and more than 22 residences and palaces of the UAE and Saudi royal families around the world.The Saudi projects also mean a new direction for GLI as they provide the company with a substantial foothold in the hospitality sector.   

November 21, 2012 | Dubai, UAE Rocco Forte’s Brown’s Hotel is pleased to announce a unique festive partnership with Nicholas Kirkwood, the award-winning London-based British shoe designer famous for his statement sculptural footwear. This December, Nicholas Kirkwood, will decorate the Brown’s Festive Tree, taking inspiration from British art and sculpture. Reworking traditional Christmas decorations, Nicholas Kirkwood uses light and reflection to create a traditional tree with his signature off-beat aesthetic and crowned with a decorative pair of heels.

Nicholas Kirkwood spoke of his delight at the partnership: “I have a history with Brown’s Hotel, my family would stay there on their visits to London, so I was honoured when they approached me to work with them on a bespoke Festive tree for the season. When I visited the hotel recently, it’s not far from my own Mount Street store, I was inspired to see the mix of traditional elements with modern local art and design. Using this as my starting point I looked to create a tree blending these two elements – I often approach my own designs in this way. Reworking what we know as traditional Festive decorations but giving them a sculptural feel and then using light to create reflections within the space.”

Innovative ‘facial workout’ available now for the first time in the region

Dubai, UAE, November 19, 2012 – The Ritz-Carlton Spa®, DIFC is the first spa in the Middle East to introduce Aroma Radiance Lift System by Aromatherapy Associates. The innovative device blends high-tech with holistic to provide a trio of advanced facial treatments. A high frequency current and natural ingredients are combined to tone, plump and gently lift the skin, producing visibly improved natural radiance, and a youthful glow. A range of settings can be used by The Ritz-Carlton, DIFC’s therapists to provide a totally bespoke facial treatment and a unique experience, specially created for each guest.

Rosalin Lau, Spa Manager at The Ritz-Carlton, DIFC, comments; “I describe the Aroma Radiance Lift System facials as a ‘facial workout’ as they are 100% results-driven and visibly increase the skin’s natural radiance.  The facials have already proved extremely popular across Europe and Asia, so we are delighted to be the first spa in the Middle East to offer our guests the treatments, and a memorable experience at the same time.”

Kuwait: November 2012

)KIB( Kuwait International Bank has recently launched its latest promotion to Visa cardholders in collaboration with Visa International. KIB Visa cardholders can now enjoy 33% discount on their stay at Hilton Hotels & Resorts in the Middle East and Africa.

Marketing Manager at KIB Mr.Tarek Al-Ajlan elaborated on the promotion and said: “KIB seeks with much enthusiasm new trends to distinguish its Visa International clients by offering them with attractive promotions that cater to their needs. Now, they are given the opportunity to enjoy up to 33% discount on their stay at Hilton Hotels & Resorts in MEA by using their Visa cards”.

Al Ajlan added that the promotion is valid till April 22^nd, 2013 while the bookings should be placed before December 31^st, 2012 through the promotional webpage: viasmiddleast.com/Hilton.

It’s worth mentioning that KIB offers to its customers a wide range of Visa cards including Al Moyassara Visa Credit Card  available in both Classic and Gold, Visa Platinum Card, Al Momayaza Visa Charge Card, Visa prepaid Card and Visa Gift Card.

•    Tourism‐related projects in the UAE to drive the construction industry withoverUS$200 billion to be pumped into the sector through 2018
•    Amadeus co-sponsors PhoCusWright report on ‘Assessing The Online Travel Opportunity: The Middle East’

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 14November, 2012: The UAE has emerged as the most mature market for travel and tourism, owning 47 per cent of the total market and 60 percent of the online market in the Middle East, a new research released byGlobal Travel Market Research firm PhoCusWright has revealed.

Titled ‘Assessing The Online Travel Opportunity: The Middle East’, the report is co-sponsored by Amadeus, a leading technology partner and transaction processor to the global travel and tourism industry. A comprehensive assessment of the travel and tourism industry in the Middle East, the research particularly focuses on the growth and potential of the online travel segment across markets including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Qatar.

According to projections by PhoCusWright, the total online travel market in the UAE will grow from US$4.8 billion in 2011 to  US$9.5 billion in 2014, highlighting a breakdown of 31 per cent rise in 2012, 24 per cent in 2013 and 22 per cent in 2014.

Antoine Medawar, Vice President, Amadeus Middle East and North Africa, said: “Such staggeting figures are indicative of the fast evolving travel landscape in the UAE. The UAE traveller has been identified as the most sophisticated in the Middle East in terms of technology adoption, owing to high mobile, internet and broadband penetration rates. It is evident, therefore, that technology companies must prioritise providing the industry with the right tools to support the growth of the online travel sector.”

New research released by Travelport as it launchesits pioneeringTravelport Universal API technology in MEA

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 13 November, 2012–The UAE is spearheading the surge in Middle East online tourism with 60% of all web-based travel bookings originating from the Emirates, Travelport co-sponsored research has revealed.

New figures from the study – carried out by global travel market research company PhoCusWright – showthat online travel bookings in the UAE represented $4.7bn in 2011 and are expected to double to $9.4bn by 2014.
Saudi Arabia follows the UAE as the second largest country for online travel sales in the Middle East with 13% of all online bookings made in the Kingdom and Qatar is third with 9% (in 2010).

The new numbers provide further insight into the changing habits of Middle East travellers following earlier figures from the study, which demonstrated the unprecedented growth in online travel in the region with total web sales expected to reach $15.8bn by 2014.
Travelport – which has been providing business services to the travel industry in the Middle East for the last 20 years – says population demographics and high Internet adoption in the region have a key role to play in online travel growth.