The MENA region has world class infrastructure and a very strong aviation sector, stated Suman Billa, Director, Technical Cooperation and Silk Road Development, UNWTO in his opening remarks. “In 2003 we had the SARS crisis which dropped tourism by 0.4% then in 2009 the global economic crisis which resulted the tourism industry to drop by 4% but today we are looking at a drop from 58% to 78% now this is unprecedented and there is no experience for us to cope with this. To my mind there is no business contingency plan or a government support programme that can handover to tourism sector to come out of it without any pain. At the same time we must understand that tourism all over the world are in difficult position and in order to sustain that we do not have the luxury to wait for a vaccine to come. MENA region has been very robust that their global share is 6% and by 2030 we thought it would move up to 8%. There is nothing to suggest that the robustness of growth and development in this region is going to slow down. One of the most important in this region is that most oil economies are looking at tourism to see as to how they can diversify from their overhead reliance on oil. And they have got some extremely strong products such as culture, fantastic shopping and MICE are some of the products they are strong.” It was his opinion that the best way forward as we are still to find a vaccine or even a cure for the pandemic that it is better to look at localised bubbles to be promoted …

Speaking at the opening session of the second TravTalk Digital conclave HE Khalid Jassim Al Midfa- Chairman Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority stated that the government of the UAE has taken all necessary action to ensure the safety of its residents, citizens and the international tourists before opening the country. He added, “After going through the different stages and experiments I believe that life can come back to normal much before we expect. In other countries people with symptoms had to visit a doctor to check but here the approach was different, government tested over 50% of the population so that the citizens, people and the visitors are safe. What I see as the future of the industry in the UAE we see slowly the airlines opening up, we see slowly building confidence and trust due to these efforts over the past few months. Phase 2 of this scenario which will start early September we will start seeing more people coming in to the UAE having a higher level of comfort and trust in the UAE in what it has to offer, I believe that the future will be bright and from what we are seeing from all emirates with the guidelines of the leadership we are prepared for the next stage.”

Second digital conclave by TravTalk Middle East ended successfully with two very valuable sessions. The first session focused on the UAE with eminent speakers from the UAE such as HE Khalid Jassim Al Midfa – Chairman Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, Raki Philips CEO Ras al khaimah tourism development authority and Suman Billa Director – Technical Cooperation and Silk Road Development UNWTO. Second session consisted of three key outbound destinations that cater the Middle East clientele. Spain was represented by its Director Spanish Tourism Office in Abu Dhabi Daniel Rosado Bayon. As Spain is already open for international tourists Rosado mentioned the key 21 guidelines to ensure health and safety in the destination. The other two speakers were from Thailand Pichaya Saisaengchan, Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Dubai &The Middle East Office and Yamina Sofo – Director, Sales & Marketing – German National Tourist Office, Gulf countries.

As Europe and Asia opens its borders the second TravTalk digital conclave focuses on repositioning the strategies to attract GCC travellers once again to their much loved destinations in Europe as well as Asia. Today at 12.15pm, 3 directors from the German National Tourism board, Spanish National Tourisn and Thailand tourism authority joins TravTalk in conversation to discuss the new normal and how travellers would have their health and safety regulations implemented; the agents will be able to understand and educate their customers on the new norms, regulations and the new areas open for the travellers to have a safe journey back to those destinations. So join TravTalk and ask your questions so that you will be able to tailor make a plan for your clients and ensure that they will get the most memorable experience post COVID by travelling to these destinations of Thailand, Germany and Spain. To register now or call Crisna on 055 4704 200 or email crisna.deguzman@ddppl.com Please use the below links to individually sign-up for the 2 panel discussions scheduled for the *TravTalk Digital Conclave* on *Building and Enabling Trust* *Monday 20 July, 2020* *Session one: 11am to 12pm* *Re-engineering Tourism* https://event.webinarjam.com/register/146/7v73pi0m *Session two: 12:15pm to 1:15pm* *Evolving Tourism- Rebranding & Repositioning* https://event.webinarjam.com/register/147/4v7gki87

Jannah Hotels and Resorts congratulates Anna Luisa Asistio for her addition in its star-spangled lineup of hoteliers as she stepped up to be the newest Assistant Director of Marketing & Communications. She is currently holding a degree in Strategic Hospitality Marketing from Cornell University with a proven result-driven in the marketing industry for over 7 years of effective brand monitoring and campaigns, Anna’s new position in the Jannah Brand sets as a breakthrough for a much developed and competitive hotel image of luxury Halal segment in the UAE. Bringing in her previous expert insights on the field of Jannah Hotels and Resorts with her former positions in the chain as a Brand Manager for two years before taking over the Digital Marketing Manager position, Anna is all set to take charge of the overall management of the Marketing Department, developing and executing strong strategic plans and budgets as well as spear heading the Digital Marketing team. Commenting on her new position as the Assistant Director of Marketing & Communications, Anna Luisa Asistio said, “I thank the entire Jannah Hotels and Resorts for trusting me for years and believing in my strategic approach to every campaign that I launched. As I embark on the new phase of my career, I am eager to implement innovative and creative ideas that will position our evolving brands in reaching our target market. “We are delighted to provide Anna a seat worthy of her unwavering dedication and resiliency to provide innovative approach to marketing. As she ventures in her new position, we look forward to place our group as the top itinerary in the country,” CEO of Jannah Hotels and Resorts, Mr. Richard Haddad said.

The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) now belongs to the Champions in the TOP 100 Innovation Competition. In the 27th round of the scientific selection process, the GNTB convinced the jurors in the ‘class B’ of corporations (size: 51 to 200 employees) with its innovative achievements. Specific projects that contributed to the jury’s decision were the use of new technologies, such as the ‘Mixed Reality’ application ‘Palaces, Parks and Gardens,’ in which internet users virtually visit Neuschwanstein Castle, or Sanssouci Palace. A speaker describes the details of each castle in the selected national language. In the #CelebratingBauhaus campaign, experts honored the digital presentation and cultural marketing of the 100th anniversary of the famous Bauhaus art school. Another project included in the evaluation was the GNTB’s pioneering role in the application of face filters for tourist campaigns on Facebook and Instagram. These filters allow users to combine their profile pictures with predefined motifs to create individual image compositions. “In the course of the digital transformation, large parts of the tourist value chain are changing. We are very proud that the GNTB’s commitment to provide clear impulses for the tourism industry is recognised in the TOP 100 innovation competition,” explains Petra Hedorfer, CEO of the GNTB Board.

In a few hours the TravTalk Middle East’s second digital conclave will kick off from 11am until 1.15pm. The main theme of the Digital conclave is Building and enabling trust in the travel and tourism sector. For more information about the digital conclave contact Crisna de Guzman – 0554704200 or email crisna.deguzman@ddppl.com. It will be conducted as two sessions; each will be for one hour. The first session will begin by 11am and end by 12noon with three key speakers in the Middle East region; HE Khalid Jassim Al Midfa, Chairman Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), Raki Philips – Chief Executive Officer Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority and Suman Billa – Director Technical Corporation and Silk Road Development UNWTO. As the UAE has open to international visitors, this is the perfect opportunity to find out the many efforts undertaken by the relevant tourism boards and the UNWTO. The second session will commence after a 15 minute break at 12.15pm and end by 1.15pm; this session will take into account outbound travel with three key national tourism boards with the most number of visitors from the UAE and GCC region. Speakers will be Daniel Rosado Bayon – Director of the Spanish Tourism Office in Abu Dhabi, Pichaya Saisaengchan, Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Dubai &The Middle East Office and Yamina Sofo – Director, Sales & Marketing – German National Tourist Office, Gulf countries.

The 235-room hotel in the heart of Dubai’s Media City extended its working relationship with Culligan Middle East as part of its health and safety measures following the lockdown, introducing a sanitiser produced at the company’s Dubai laboratory. Dubai’s drive to ensure a safe return for tourism has earned a five-star rating from a hotel which is seeing positive signals of business returning on a daily basis. “The government and all the local authorities put in a lot of effort to guarantee a very safe and smooth reopening process for all our hotel and F&B activities,” said Alfio Bernardini, General Manager of the Grand Plaza Movenpick Media City. “We should all be thankful for the way this new phase has been managed, and for the clear marketing and communication strategy by Dubai Tourism to keep Dubai as one of the safest and most desirable travel destinations.” Bernardini said, “As part of our new health and safety measures, the sanitiser is used in all public areas and restaurants to keep a safe environment for guests and team members.” Bernardini is cautiously optimistic about the speed of recovery for tourism in Dubai. “It would be challenging to predict how business will develop overall, as we face a global crisis that has impacted many dynamics at all levels,” he says. “Additionally, some countries that are typically considered key feeder markets for Dubai are not yet fully reopened, so it might take time to recover volumes. Nevertheless, we are slowly witnessing some initial improvements, and positive signals keep increasing on a daily basis. We understand that embracing change, being resilient and becoming more agile have become key factors to properly responding to and being …

Seven Tides has confirmed Minor Hotels will be the new operator of its iconic five-star, 396-key Ibn Battuta Gate property in Dubai. Minor Hotels is now managing the property, which will be rebranded to Oaks Ibn Battuta Gate Dubai Hotel, the newest addition to the Oaks Hotels, Resorts, and Suites portfolio, its second branded property in Dubai and its third in the United Arab Emirates. Abdulla Bin Sulayem, CEO, Seven Tides, said, “The hotel first opened in 2010 and we’ve enjoyed an excellent relationship with the previous management company over the past ten years. However, we decided that the Minor Hotels’ Oaks brand was better aligned to our strategic business objectives as we move forward, through and post-COVID-19.” “The Minor Hotels group is no stranger to Seven Tides, we have worked with them on a range of successful projects, including the Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort. Having witnessed first-hand the success the group contributes to a property, I am confident this strategic decision will allow us to adapt seamlessly to the parameters of the ‘new normal’,” he added. The five-star hotel is situated opposite Ibn Battuta Mall, which has more than 270 shops, 50 restaurants and a 21-screen cinema. With the Dubai Metro close by, guests can travel conveniently across the city, to many of Dubai’s tourist highlights and business districts. Dubai International Airport (DXB) is only 30 minutes’ drive away, with Dubai Al Maktoum Airport (DWC) also easily accessible and Abu Dhabi International Airport under an hour away. The hotel is also close to the Jebel Ali Freezone and the Expo 2020 site in new Dubai South district, which is expecting 25 million visitors, when the event takes place …

Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) has appointed Claviger to promote Dubai as a destination and increase arrivals from across the GCC and Egypt. Claviger will leverage its in-market presence across the GCC and Egypt to promote Dubai as a prime destination for leisure travellers. Its dedicated sales force of market experts will highlight the exceptional Dubai calendar of events and tourism and hospitality attractions that the destination has to offer. Appointing Claviger will give DTCM access to an extensive network of travel industry professionals as it targets increased tourist numbers from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Egypt. DTCM will also call on the company’s expertise to further develop Dubai as an important brand and destination of choice for GCC and Egypt holidaymakers. KSA is one of the GCC’s highest traffic generators for Dubai, with 1.56 million [AAS1] Saudis visiting the city in 2019. As the second highest volume driver for the GCC, Oman secures fourth spot in 2019 with a sharp 24.3 per cent spike to deliver over a million visitors. While Egypt remains in the top 20, with 314,000 visitors all demonstrating potential to positively impact tourism traffic in 2020. Speaking about the representation agreement, Hoor Al Khaja, Acting Associate Vice President for International Operations at DTCM said, “Dubai remains amongst the most preferred destinations for tourists from the region. Appointing Claviger is part of Dubai Tourism’s commitment to its source markets and our ongoing strategy to attract even more visitors from GCC and Egypt to Dubai, year-on-year.”