Tag Archives: Raki Phillips

First ever virtual event in the Middle East connecting people from all over the globe, the Gulf Travel Show will kick off on November 23-24, 2020. It will be two solid days of networking with like- minded industry professionals and allows every participant to gather and share information about the different areas they work with. TravTalk Middle East will be media partners for the first ever virtual event that will connect 40 selected sellers from the Middle East with buyers from across the globe. This is a very unique opportunity that will enable you to meet with new partners from across the globe in the comfort either in your own home or attend from your office. Over two days you can attend specific sessions that will focus on new businesses or speak about the new strategies whilst you make your own time to pre- book appointments with the team. For sellers there will be a host of interesting features that will definitely enhance their business potential whereas for buyers there will be specialised incentivised programmes that will provide an opportunity to walk away with great prizes as a winner whilst you build new connections or re visit some of the earlier clients and rekindle the existing relationships. Raki Phillips shared, “We are really excited to be Platinum sponsors for the Gulf Travel Show. This show will provide us the opportunity to showcase Ras Al Khaimah as one of the fastest growing tourism destinations in the region. We look forward to connecting with our partners and re-introducing them as to why Ras Al Khaimah is the perfect destination in the new normal era of travel.”

National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah has re-opened, welcoming guests to rediscover the iconic museum structure, stemming as far back as 1621, having been restored numerous times as a fort, a residence for the ruling family and as the headquarters for various governmental entities. Today, the museum houses an array of significant archaeological artifacts that provide extraordinary insights into the history and cultural heritage of Ras Al Khaimah, and has established the Emirate as a cultural tourism destination. Ahmed Alteneiji, General Director of Antiquities and Museums said, “We are delighted to be reopening the National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah as it offers visitors and residents alike a doorway to the past, through which they can discover the vibrant history of the Ras Al Khaimah and the country. Through the Tamra exhibition, we aim to shine a light on the role of the iconic date palm, in an engaging manner that will resonate with our guests.” Alteneiji adds, “The reopening of museum is a symbolic gesture towards the immense archaeological and cultural significance of Ras Al Khaimah as evidenced through the recent UNESCO World Heritage tentative list of four of our treasured sites, including Dhayah, Shimal, Al Jazirah Al Hamra and Jupher. Shining an international light on our ancient sites will bring to the forefront, the pivotal roles each have played in shaping the region, distinguishing the Emirate as a destination of cultural significance on the global stage.” Raki Phillips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority shares, “By further developing and diversifying our cultural offering, we can continue to attract a wider range of travellers to the Emirate, creating a well-rounded experience spanning across hospitality, adventure, culture and …

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) and RAK Hospital announce a partnership to provide free PCR (Polymerase chain reaction) testing to international visitors staying in and departing from Ras Al Khaimah until 31 December, 2020. Subsidised by RAKTDA, the free PCR test is available for international visitors to avail either at RAK Hospital, one of the UAE’s most renowned private hospitals or RAK Medical Centre in Al Hamra Mall. The partnership marks the Emirate as the first global destination to provide PCR testing free of charge for its international guests and visitors. Earlier in the year, Ras Al Khaimah became the first city in the world to be certified as safe by Bureau Veritas, the global leader in testing, inspection and certification and the first Emirate to receive the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Safe Travels Stamp, due to extensive hygiene and security measures in place at its hotels and attractions. This recognition was quickly followed by free COVID-19 PCR testing for hospitality staff across the Emirate’s hotels. All these efforts align with the Emirate’s recovery plans, including far reaching support initiatives aimed at hospitality partners and stringent safety measures implemented to safeguard guests and residents, which in turn, have led to green shoots of recovery for its tourism industry. “As travel corridors begin to open up, we will continue to incorporate and implement global best practices into our efforts to safeguard against the spread of the pandemic. This initiative comes at a perfect time as we move towards the cooler months of the year into the ‘Winter sun’ season, encouraging all visitors to experience all that the destination has to offer, from the striking Jebal Jais mountain …

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority announces its long-term investment strategy aimed to boost the growth and diversification of Jebel Jais – the UAE’s highest mountain. This announcement of continued investment underscores the Emirate’s resilience and recovery momentum despite the challenges imposed this year by the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, AHIC will bring together key industry leaders and stakeholders in a new format featuring a combination of physical and virtual sessions, which will be attended by Raki Philips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority and Alison Grinnell, CEO of RAK Hospitality Holding. Raki Phillips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority said, “We are honoured to be part of this year’s Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC) and look forward to sharing Ras Al Khaimah’s experience in navigating through these times with a focus on building a stronger destination, as a result. Our road to recovery is still in its early phases, but we have already seen significant uplift in the tourism and hospitality sectors’ performance leading to Ras Al Khaimah having the strongest RevPAR performance in the GCC.” “With the introduction of our new investment strategy, we aim to allocate additional funds towards Jebel Jais, one of the Emirate’s key landmarks, to enrich visitor experiences and to accommodate the increasing demand for travel experiences set in expansive, open and natural environments” added Phillips. Alison Grinnell, CEO of RAK Hospitality Holding shared, “Announcing our long-term investment strategy is yet another positive step towards a stronger comeback, and it demonstrates the Emirate’s extraordinary efforts to continue developing its offering, especially on Jebel Jais, to meet travellers’ new expectations and needs. We are also proud that despite these unprecedented circumstances, …

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) has partnered with the National Crisis & Emergency Management Authority (NCEMA) and Ras Al Khaimah Preventive Medicine Department (PMD), in its ongoing programme to provide hospitality sector employees in the Emirate with free COVID-19 PCR testing. This partnership complements the Authority’s existing efforts in implementing the highest safety and precautionary measures as restrictions on domestic and international tourism are eased, and inbound visitation to Ras Al Khaimah continues to rise. Raki Phillips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority comments, “Our industry has been resilient in the face of challenging times, and we have unveiled a series of strategies, from the Tourism Support Initiatives to earning recognition as the first safe city worldwide and the first safe Emirate to be certified by Bureau Veritas and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), respectively. These measures ensure that our sector partners can continue to operate successfully as we enter the ‘new normal’. Ongoing testing for hospitality staff is an important step in our efforts to reaffirm to our visitors that the Emirate has taken and continues to take extensive measures to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of guests and residents.” Mahra Mohammad Bin Sray, Logistics Support and Field Examination Officer at Ras Al Khaimah Medical District said, “Conducting regular COVID-19 tests is a mandatory procedure to flatten the curve and control the number of cases nation-wide. With visitors returning to Ras Al Khaimah, we must ensure that all individuals working in the hospitality sectors are regularly tested and abide by the necessary precautionary measures. Being able to conduct these tests wouldn’t have been possible without the support of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development …

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) confirmed that the city has been certified as a safe destination by Bureau Veritas, the global leader in testing, inspection and certification services, as it completes its ‘Safeguard Assurance’ programme. It is first city in the world to receive both the Bureau Veritas Safeguard Assurance Label and the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Safe Travels Stamp which recognise the heightened safety standards, training and hygiene protocols in place across the Emirate. Raki Phillips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, comments, “As travel starts to resume, our role as a tourism development authority is to ensure that robust measures are in place to protect the health and safety of our visitors and provide the peace of mind they need for a truly well-deserved holiday. We are immensely proud to be the first destination in the world to be certified as safe by Bureau Veritas and receive the WTTC safe travels stamp and believe it will go a long way to restore confidence and bring tourists back to Ras Al Khaimah. It also validates the huge efforts of our hospitality partners who are focused on delivering the highest global safety standards, today and every day, as we navigate this new normal for the industry.” He added, “WTTC is a very important partner for RAKTDA and one we wholeheartedly support in its efforts to restart and speed up the recovery of the sector in the wake of COVID-19. The WTTC Safe Travels Stamp is an important vehicle to demonstrate alignment with essential safety protocols of the highest level and we are delighted that we can reassure visitors that Ras Al Khaimah meets these …

A panel of industry experts explained during the opening day of ATM Virtual as to how developing a global set of transparent hospitality standards relating to health, safety and hygiene will be key to regain the trust of travellers in a post COVID-19 landscape. The panel which was moderated by industry consultant Gemma Greenwood, also included Tim Cordon, Senior Area Vice President for Middle East & Africa, Radisson Hotel Group, Christopher Lund, Head of Hotels, Colliers International, Middle East & North Africa, Simon Casson, President of Hotel Operations, EMEA, Four Seasons and Raki Phillips, CEO, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority. “Building confidence will be key as we look ahead to the post-COVID-19 hospitality recovery. Not only is it important that our workers have confidence that their health and wellbeing is of prime importance, but for consumers too. They will need full reassurance that our properties are safe, secure and following the highest standards when it comes to hygiene and cleanliness,” said Cordon. Phillips said, “It’s important that hotels don’t drop their room rates. Hotels need to adapt to a new normal with increased sanitisation at the forefront, while being creative with their offerings and embracing innovative technologies which can help differentiate them from their competitors.” “One way of achieving this consumer trust, and I believe the hospitality industry in the UAE is leading the way in this respect, is by partnering with accreditation agencies such as the Bureau Veritas to ensure your property is following disinfectant and sanitisation protocols implemented by government bodies and abiding by the highest levels of hygiene,” said Lund. Casson added, “While we are doing everything we can to ensure the wellbeing and safety of …

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) is working closely with hospitality partners and government authorities to safely welcome guests back to the Emirate as restrictions are gradually eased, and hotel pools and beaches become accessible to visitors. To ensure the wellbeing and safety of visitors and employees, the Authority is in ongoing dialogue with hotel partners to ensure they are strictly adhering to government and public health guidelines and complying with all social distancing advisories from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the UAE Federal Authorities. RAKTDA is also working closely with the Public Service Department (PSD) to oversee a dedicated certification process – the RAK ‘Stay Safe’ Hotel Certification – whereby hotels are required to fulfil a detailed set of measures to attain the certification. Raki Phillips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority comments, “We are working closely with our hospitality partners and Government Authorities to ensure the highest standards of hygiene are maintained and that all social distancing advisories are strictly adhered to across the Emirate. Detailed guidance has been shared with our industry partners indicating best practice measures to be implemented across all operations and divisions.” He added, “To help reassure our guests, colleagues and residents, we have also introduced the RAK ‘Stay Safe’ Hotel Certification that, once awarded, hotels can use to demonstrate their adoption of all the measures in place to protect everyone’s wellbeing. We know that many people are looking forward to what we’ve termed a ‘shortcation’ or longer holiday and our aim is give them the confidence that they can comfortably enjoy their time in Ras Al Khaimah.”

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) is working closely with the Emirate’s Public Service Department (PSD), to create a certification programme, Deemed as the RAK ‘Stay Safe’ Hotel Certification, aimed at the Emirate’s hospitality providers. The certification process will be determined by a series of measures targeted at the various hotel departments and an official assessment, once in the recovery phase of the COVID-19 outbreak. The effort aims to boost confidence and rebuild trust in the destination’s tourism once the necessary travel restrictions are lifted. Measures will include a full sterilisation programme, conducted alongside the PSD, currently implementing the National Sterilization Program in the Emirate, as well as training on appropriate guest interactions, employee engagement, elevated property hygiene standards, and operational procedures to be actioned in the recovery phase. “Achievement of this certification will result in the hotels being endorsed by the relevant authorities, thereby supporting the public’s confidence in their offerings”, shared Raki Phillips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority. The Authority’s four-step road to recovery places initial focus on the domestic market, followed by the GCC and wider Middle East, to then be extended to Asia and Europe. The first phase of recovery will see the launch of the UAE ‘Shortcation’ campaign, offering guests staying three nights at Ras Al Khaimah hotels, two complementary passes to attractions such as the Jais Adventure Peak and the Suwaidi Peal Farm. This will be introduced when the necessary travel restrictions are lifted and the federal authorities deem travel safe to proceed and will run in addition to the ‘Kids Go Free’ promotion across hospitality and dining sectors. These efforts alongside the RAK ‘Stay Safe’ Hotel Certification, aim to …

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) launches a range of far reaching support initiatives, aimed at its hospitality, leisure and development partners, during the peak of COVID-19 crisis and to lay the strong foundations for future recovery. In a move that further reflects the emirate’s ‘ONE RAK’ commitment to transparency, ease of doing business and global community spirit, the tourism authority has sent all business partners and stakeholders a comprehensive contingency plan, which maps out short- to mid-term solutions to mitigate the negative impact of coronavirus on travel to Ras Al Khaimah. Addressing partners and stakeholders via a virtual meeting on April 1, Raki Phillips, CEO, RAKTDA, highlighted that the hospitality industry was facing a grave threat from the coronavirus crisis. The UNWTO estimates losses from international visitor spends to be between USD $30-50 billion globally, while The World Travel and Tourism Council have found up to 50 million jobs have been put at risk. RAKTDA’s prompt robust response sees the creation of an internal Stimulus Committee and Steering Stimulus Committee representing the Emirate. Led by Raki Phillips and top executives across the hospitality, leisure and development sectors, specific measures include a six-month waiver of all touristic licenses; waiver of Tourism Dirhams from March to May; a complete exemption of tourism licensing fees for Q2 and Q3 and tourism licensing fines until September 30. This support will be further enhanced by a dedicated Financial Incentive Package aimed towards non-government owned touristic entities, including budget, midscale and 4-star hotels as well as attractions, golf courses and other tourism establishments. In addition to this, hospitality partners will be able to benefit from complimentary participation in a diverse array of exhibitions and …