Now in its 24th year, the 2017 edition of Arabian Travel Market will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre from April 24-27. The exhibition will feature 2,600 exhibitors, 65 national pavilions, over 35 seminar and technology theatre sessions and anticipates 30,000 trade visitors getting together for four days of business networking opportunities, insightful seminar sessions and top level ministerial discussions. For the second successive year, organisers have added an extra hall, to accommodate extra demand, with over 150 countries represented, 65 national pavilions, and more than 100 new exhibitors set to make their ATM debut. Simon Press, Senior Exhibition Director, ATM, said: “It is clear that the Expo 2020 project is driving growth throughout Dubai, as it aims to complete 160,000 hotel rooms in time to welcome an additional five million visitors over the course of the six-month event. However, the UAE and the GCC countries as a whole are looking towards tourism as a way of diversifying their economies away from their reliance on hydrocarbon receipts. The increasing trend is for an immersive style of tourism, which encompasses different areas of local life – culinary, culture, history, shopping, nature, sports, halal, theme parks, wellness and spa, medical tourism and sheer Arabic opulence – and can be the basis for a holistic travel experience, by connecting with a place rather than just making a visit. This growing trend is now on the radar of the region’s tourism chiefs as destinations face increased competition for their share of the more traditional travel segments. And it is very much on the radar of Arabia Travel Market 2017, which has adopted experiential travel as the main theme of this year’s event, integrating …

Jumeirah Islands Pavilion was inaugurated by Nakheel Chairman Ali Rashid Lootah, is the fifth community retail centre in Nakheel Malls’ growing collection of neighbourhood shopping and dining hubs across Dubai. It will serve 8,000 residents at Jumeirah Islands and provide a new destination for people living and working nearby.  Set among lush gardens and greenery, the Pavilion is flanked by a 1.1 km waterside jogging track. The anchor outlet, Choithrams, is complemented by a range of cafes and restaurants including Oregano, Nando’s and The Hamptons. There’s also a Round 10 Boxing Club, medical clinic, beauty salon, barber’s shop, pharmacy, and dry cleaners. Delivery of the Pavilion – which has 30,000 sq ft of shop space – comes as handover of homes at the premium residential community is in full swing. So far, 25 properties have been handed over, with the remaining investors due to collect their keys shortly. The Townhouses and Pavilion are located on the north-western side of Jumeirah Islands, one of Nakheel’s most mature residential communities and among the most sought-after in Dubai. Comprising 46 islands, known as ‘clusters’, Jumeirah Islands has 767 luxury villas and mansions, as well as mosques, nurseries and the Jumeirah Islands Club featuring restaurants, a pool and fitness centre. Complementing the villas are 246 luxury duplex apartments at Jumeirah Heights. The villas, apartments and townhomes that make up Jumeirah Islands are home to more than 8,000 people. Nakheel Chairman Ali Rashid Lootah said: “Today marks the delivery of Pavilion number five in our growing collection of community centres, which are key to our AED16 billion retail expansion.With its picturesque setting and spacious grounds, this new facility blends perfectly with Jumeirah Islands’ overall look …

The Maritime Inspection Department of the Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA), the government authority charged with regulating, coordinating, and supervising all aspects of Dubai’s maritime sector, continues to follow up with all owners of floating restaurants operating in the emirate to strictly adhere and comply with the DMCA’s safety and high quality operational requirements in light of the increasing maritime traffic in Dubai in order to ensure the enhancement of maritime safety and the efficiency of maritime navigation within Dubai waters. The initiative made by the DMCA’s Maritime Inspection Department, which is responsible for enforcing maritime safety regulations in Dubai, forms part of the Authority’s efforts ensuring that all floating restaurants in Dubai strictly conform with globally recognized standards and international best practices. It also aims to guarantee that all marine crafts observe the highest levels of maritime safety and high quality operational responsibility off Dubai waters at all times. Abdullah Bintoaq, Senior Director of the Maritime Inspection Department, DMCA said: “We will intensify our inspections of all floating restaurants and marine crafts operating in Dubai to make sure of their compliance with the specified standards to guarantee the safety of their passengers and the readiness of local maritime operations in our waters. In addition to our initiatives aimed at building a robust and highly attractive local maritime sector, our efforts are in line with our mission of making Dubai one of the internationally recognized maritime capitals in the world.” Bintoaq added: “Owners of floating restaurants, considered one of the key components of Dubai’s thriving tourism sector, are mandated to strictly follow the DMCA’s standards of quality, excellence, safety, and operational efficiency, especially with the influx of regional and global …

Louvre Hotels Group (LHG) has announced the relaunch of its Golden Tulip brand, as part of an initiative to roll out new-age hotels that are more lifestyle-oriented and better suited to meet the needs of today’s travellers. To support the relaunch of the four-star brand, Louvre Hotels is investing in the renovation and rebranding of Golden Tulip hotels – including those in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The rebranding initiative involves a complete revamp of the Golden Tulip logo, design guidelines and positioning strategy as Louvre is creating a “New Basics” for the hotels of tomorrow. Born out of an in-depth study of the needs and preferences of the current and next generation of travelers, Golden Tulip’s new sophisticated brand identity – based around the theme of ‘playful business’ – has spurred a set of new design principles to create social hubs and creativity platforms and environments for its guests which in turn would significantly enhance the brand’s appeal and elevate the entire hotel experience. This philosophy extends to all interior design spaces such as the lobby, food and beverage concepts, rooms and suites as well as the meeting and conference rooms. The goal is to create a shift away from the traditional thinking of how we deliver hotel design and service attitudes, with a fresh, contemporary approach to design that encompasses the creation of integrated public areas that are in sync with the expectations of today’s travelers. “The rebranding is aimed at blurring the boundaries of work and play to create moments of surprise and delight for our guests,” said Amine E. Moukarzel, President, Louvre Hotels Group MENA. “Technology and the rise of social media have changed …

Dubai Municipality has announced the completion of the first phase of the ‘Hatta Hiking’ project, which aims to boost tourism activity in the region as part of the Hatta Comprehensive Development Plan. The first phase named ‘City Hiking’ links a number of monuments and key tourist attractions such as the Hatta Biking track and Hatta Kayak. The first phase of the hiking trail also passes through tourist hotspots like the Hatta Heritage Village, the three dams, Al Tala Park, and family recreation and children’s playing areas, as well as a number of farms in the Al Sharia area, the fruit and vegetable market and the Hatta 360 project. The first phase ends at the Hatta Dam where the second phase of the project will start from. The project features four different hiking trails of four lanes each. The first one is a 3 km flatland hiking trail, while the three others are mountain hiking trails with different levels of difficulty designed not only for experienced bikers but also beginners and disabled people. The Municipality said that the first phase of the ‘Hatta Hiking’ project covers 9 km. The hiking trail, developed under the project, has been designed in an eco-friendly way to blend in with the unique natural environment of the area. Head of the Directive Committee of Dubai Municipality for the Hatta Comprehensive Development Plan Khalid Sharif Al Awadhi said: “We are proud that Dubai Municipality has contributed to enhancing the infrastructure of Hatta through a number of projects that will have a positive impact on the area, as part of the Hatta Comprehensive Development Plan launched recently by Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler …

Dubai Tourism’s two major initiatives, being carried out by its Dubai College of Tourism  (DCT) –  ‘Medyaf’ (Generous Host) and the ‘UAE Tour Guide Programme’ under its Emiratisation Programme, are aimed at training UAE nationals for a future career in the tourism industry. Dubai Tourism was at this year’s Careers UAE, which ended a few days ago at the Dubai World Trade Centre. At this event, DCT is also promoting the programme of Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS), the summer extravaganza run by the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), an agency of Dubai Tourism, to recruit young UAE nationals as volunteers during DSS 2017. The participating partners of Dubai Tourism representing various sectors including retail, hospitality and entertainment are: Emaar, Jumeirah Group, Dubai Parks and Resorts, Chalhoub Group, Shangri-La Hotel, Millennium Hotels and Resorts, AccorHotels, Rotana Management Cooperation, Habtoor Grand Resort, Marriott International, JA Resorts and Hotels, IMG Worlds of Adventure, Plazzo Versace, Hilton and InterContinental Hotels Group. Essa Bin Hadher, General Manager, Dubai College of Tourism, said:  “Young Emirati men and women are being encouraged by the leadership of the country to participate in all aspects of development of this nation and contribute towards economic growth. As a result, Dubai’s rapid development has seen the emergence of highly qualified young UAE nationals in the local workforce, both in government and private sectors, and more and more of our nationals are getting actively involved in imparting their knowledge and skills in diverse sectors. Against this backdrop, and based on our commitment to support the on-going programme of Emiratisation, we have joined hands with our partners in the private sector at this year’s Careers UAE to provide promising young UAE nationals …

DUKES Dubai, five-star hotel and residences on Palm Jumeirah, has debuted its Duchess Floor, an exclusive area dedicated to female guests. The Duchess Floor features 20 exclusive rooms and is located on the third floor at DUKES Dubai. With private lift access, the floor features women’s only public spaces, as well as discreet and private access to rooms. Full-length windows provide sweeping views of the Arabian Gulf, with the Burj al Arab to the east and the stunning Dubai Marina skyline to the west. The entire floor is adorned with Liberty Fabrics, providing elegant touches through silks, textiles and drapes in each ocean view room, while on the third floor, the Champagne and Tea Lounge will offer a Duchess breakfast exclusively for the hotel’s female guests. The Duchess initiative was borne out of DUKES Collection Managing Director Debrah Dhugga’s own business travel experience and will be showcased at this year’s Arabian Travel Market (24-27 April at Dubai World Trade Centre), from stand: HC0270. Dhugga identified a niche for five-star hotel brands to create a tailored experience specifically for women travelling alone, with a focus on comfort, service, style and quality. She said: “As somebody who travels regularly either for business or for leisure with friends and female relatives, I could clearly see a gap in the market for a women’s only area in a luxury hotel. The Duchess Floor combines the safety and security of a private residence, with beautifully elegant décor and bespoke facilities, in order to provide female guests with a sense of sanctuary when they stay at DUKES Dubai.”

UAE’s Mall of the Emirates attracted 56 new hotels into its vicinity over the last 10 years. Hotels developed in and around the region’s shopping malls can expect to post an Average Daily Rate (ADR) 25 per cent higher than hotels that are not co-located with a major retail development. The findings are published in a report by Colliers International, released ahead of Arabian Travel Market 2017, which takes place April 24-27, at Dubai World Trade Centre. As part of its experiential travel series, Colliers concluded that hotels such as those clustered around Dubai’s Mall of The Emirates and The Dubai Mall, enjoy stronger business performance overall — not only beating seasonal fluctuations in tourist arrivals, but contributing in the drive to attract more tourists over the traditionally quiet summer season. Simon Press, Senior Exhibition Director, Arabian Travel Market, said: “In the UAE, the idea of a combined retail, leisure and entertainment destination has really taken off. We have hotels attached to malls and, as such, these are much sought after properties. There is massive demand for urban tourism from Indian, Arab and Chinese visitors. “Since the opening of Mall of the Emirates in 2006, the number of hotels and serviced apartments in the area has risen from four to 58 in 2017, totalling 8,654 keys. While only two of these hotels are physically part of the mall building, the remaining 56 have also demonstrated strength across all performance metrics.” For retail tourists, shopping malls and the facilities they feature – from indoor ski slopes to aquariums – form an integral part of trips to the UAE. Hotels capitalise on this by offering promotional packages and free transportation, as well …

what3words, the location reference system, has launched in Arabic and immediately embarked upon a host of strategic partnerships, to bring its precision addressing infrastructure to a market of over 230 million Arabic speaking people across the globe. what3words is an address system based on a global grid of 57 trillion 3m x 3m squares, where each square has a unique pre-assigned 3-word address. The system is fast becoming an essential solution in both mature markets and rapidly developing economies. Five national postal services have adopted the system over the past 6 months and three word addresses are also being used to extend precision mapping and navigation for those developing autonomous vehicle systems and drone technology. what3words is being adopted across national addressing infrastructure, ecommerce systems, on-demand service delivery, transportation and tourism to help drive new operational efficiency and boost economic development. In addition to leading ecommerce and logistics business Aramex, brands across the Middle East like Jaguar Land Rover and Saudi e-commerce company vanilla.sa, are using the revolutionary 3 word addressing system to improve customer experience, tap into new customer bases and market opportunities. The annual global geospatial industry is estimated to be worth US $150 billion and what3words brings the precision and simplicity of 3 word addresses to bear on the transportation, logistics and delivery challenges faced across the world. Countries across the Middle East continue to report an accelerated pace of infrastructure development and urbanisation in light of strategic initiatives like Smart Dubai, UAE Vision 2021, Saudi Vision 2030 and Expo 2020. The need to deploy accurate and consistent location referencing and addressing has fast become a priority to improve citizen satisfaction, social development and economic diversification. Available in …

Turkish Airlines has extended Business Class free onboard Internet services to economy passengers in exchange for their tablets or laptops while boarding their flights to the United States. For passengers that prefer not to stow their electronic devices in checked-in baggage during the flight, Turkish Airlines offers a special service that gives travellers to the United States and United Kingdom a safe and secure method of carrying their electronics in a special area in the cargo hold of the airplane. The devices may be used at the gate until boarding. By continuously aiming to increase passenger satisfaction, Turkish Airlines additionally offers high quality headphones to economy class passengers on long-haul flights. This new service will be effective immediately in all U.S. flights, and for all other long-haul flights of Turkish Airlines as from May 2017. The passengers will feel more comfortable with this high quality headset, specially designed for long flight hours. Turkish Airlines continuously improves its in-flight entertainment system – amongst other services – in order to make its passengers feel special throughout the entire flight. The comfortable headphones with much higher sound quality will allow the passengers to uninterruptedly enjoy the airline’s award-winning inflight entertainment system, titled “Planet”, which delivers thousands of hours of music and film experience.