STR’s June 2016 Pipeline Report shows 154,576 rooms in 550 hotels Under Contract in the Middle East and 55,736 rooms in 289 hotels Under Contract in Africa. The Under Contract total in the Middle East subcontinent represents a 23.5 per cent increase in rooms Under Contract compared with June 2015 and a 14.1 per cent year-over-year increase in rooms In Construction. The Middle East reported 81,951 rooms in 256 hotels under construction for the month. Under Contract data includes projects in the In Construction, Final Planning and Planning stages but does not include projects in the Unconfirmed stage. The Under Contract total in Africa represents a 29.1 per cent increase in rooms Under Contract compared with June 2015 and a 31.5 per cent year-over-year increase in rooms In Construction. Africa reported 30,703 rooms in 157 hotels under construction for the month. Among the countries in the Middle East and Africa, Saudi Arabia reported the most rooms In Construction with 35,770 rooms in 81 hotels. United Arab Emirates followed with 26,989 rooms in 93 hotels. Two other countries each reported more than 5,000 rooms In Construction: Qatar (7,125 rooms in 30 hotels) and Egypt (6,095 rooms in 18 hotels).

UAE-headquartered hospitality company, TIME Hotels Management, has earned its first Green Key status for all hotels and hotel apartments across the hospitality groups’ portfolio. Six TIME properties viz., TIME Oak Hotel and Suites, TIME Grand Plaza Hotel, TIME Ruby Hotel Apartments, TIME Opal Hotel Apartments, TIME Topaz Hotel Apartments and TIME Crystal Hotel Apartments, received the Green Key award; each property recognised across 12 criteria including waste management handling and guest awareness. The Green Key award is a voluntary eco-label that represents a commitment by businesses that their tourism establishments adhere to the strict criteria as stipulated by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). It aims to contribute to the prevention of climate change by awarding and advocating facilities with positive environmental initiatives and, to qualify, the hotel passed an exhaustive audit.. The annual Green Key award also promotes awareness and encourages the creation of behavioural changes in guests, staff and suppliers, as well as applauding increased use of environmentally friendly and sustainable concepts and applications within hotel operations. The audit covered 12 key areas from water conservation, waste management systems and indoor environment to green activities, staff involvement and guest awareness.

Registrations for VisitBritain’s flagship event ExploreGB 2017, to be held on March 2-3, 2017, in Brighton, Great Britain, is now open for the Middle East. This B2B event is an opportunity to meet with 350 British and Irish suppliers throughout the two day workshop and dining which provides excellent networking opportunities.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is to start shifting the structure and directions of the national tourism industry towards a new value-based offer in order to position Thailand as a quality leisure destination. The Annual TAT Action Plan meeting (TATAP) held in the Northeastern province of Khon Kaen between 4-7 July, 2016, was designed entirely around how to ensure that the tourism industry can contribute to this objective. The meeting was attended by TAT executives from head offices, as well as domestic and overseas offices worldwide. The new strategic policy is designed to bring tourism, now recognised by the country’s leaders and policymakers as of one of Thailand’s most successful economic pillars, in line with the 20-year reform programme, called Thailand 4.0, being charted by the government of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha under the vision slogan, “Stability, Prosperity, and Sustainability.” Tourism is one of seven industries considered the backbone of the emerging digital economy. It also has enormous potential to contribute to the creative development of sub-sectors; such as, health and wellness, culture and heritage, and the natural environment. Hence, the new model will strive to transform Thailand’s comparative advantage into a competitive advantage.

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) has entered into a cooperative marketing agreement with German tour operator TUI. The RAKTDA-TUI partnership will initially focus on the fourth quarter of 2016, with the cooperation extending to consumer and travel trade communication via the TUI media and distribution portals. The two entities will also activate joint marketing activities across leading German travel agencies. Haitham Mattar, CEO, Ras Al Khaimah TDA, stated that Germany remains a key source market for Ras Al Khaimah and this prestigious partnership with TUI will further strengthen their distribution base and highlight their distinctive product offering to potential German visitors. The cooperation will raise awareness of Ras Al Khaimah as a premier leisure destination by leveraging their core product pillars of genuine Arabian experiences, heritage, great beach resorts, adventure tourism and diverse natural landscapes. With RAKTDA aiming to attract a total of one million visitors per year by the end of 2018, Mahpar Azarpira, Head of TUI’s Partner Marketing, believes the RAKTDA-TUI partnership will contribute significantly to the emirate’s tourism objectives.    

Emirates has signed a 10-year agreement with Unison Industries in support of the GE90 and GP7200 engine fleets. The After Market Services Agreement extends through 2025 and covers external Unison new parts and component repairs for GE Aviation and Engine Alliance engine families in the Emirates fleet. “We are very pleased to have Emirates as a key customer on this strategic agreement,” Unison President Giovanni Spitale said. “This agreement solidifies Unison’s key relationship with the world’s largest operator of A380 and B777 aircraft. Unison is now primed to provide unparalleled support to Emirates operations.”

LATAM Airlines Group and Qatar Airways, both members of the oneworld alliance, have entered into a subscription agreement providing for Qatar Airways to acquire up to 10 per cent of LATAM’s total shares, which will be acquired in connection with a capital increase. As part of the agreement, LATAM Airlines Group will hold an Extraordinary Shareholders Meeting no later than 2 September, 2016 to propose a capital increase in the amount of $613 million through the issuance of new shares at a price of $10 per share. The announcement was made at the Farnborough International Air Show in England, by both airlines’ CEOs: His Excellency Akbar Al Baker, Group Chief Executive of Qatar Airways and Enrique Cueto, CEO of LATAM Airlines Group. The companies expect the transaction to be completed within the fourth quarter of 2016. Qatar Airways was advised by HSBC Bank plc, Weil, Gotshall & Manges LLP and Carey, whilst LATAM Airlines Group was advised by JP Morgan, Claro & Cía y Sullivan & Cromwell.

Virgin Atlantic and Airbus have announced the agreement on a firm order, valued at $4.4 billion, for 12 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft. The investment is part of a fleet modernisation program which will see 50 percent of Virgin Atlantic’s aircraft replaced in a six year period – creating one of the world’s youngest fleets. Of the 12 firm orders, eight will be purchased and four leased, as Virgin Atlantic continues its investment into increasing the mix of owned and leased aircraft in its fleet.

GE Aviation’s new Digital Solutions business has created a scaled digital collaboration center in its pavilion (P2) at the Farnborough International Air Show much like the centers being built around the world. GE is collaborating with customers in the centers to identify and address customers’ operational challenges and drive better business outcomes. As a result of recent customer collaboration, flydubai and GE Aviation launched one of the first digital customer solutions built on GE’s Predix platform. The network operations insights solution is designed to help flydubai minimize the impact of unavoidable delays, enhance pilot operational understanding, while optimally protecting schedules and revenue. Network operations insights on Predix were successfully implemented at flydubai in late June.   Jim Daily, Vice President and Chief Digital Officer of GE Aviation stated that this is exactly how they want to work together and help customers to drive greater efficiency. This solution gives flydubai the real-time tools to understand the impact of potential operational disruptions in order to minimize an impact on their network. GE’s software architects and developers are working with customers in the collaboration center at Farnborough, while demonstrating digital solutions, including network Operations Insights, mobile Pilot Insights, flight Analytics on Predix, Flight Phase Analyzer, Water Wash Optimizer, Digital Solution for TrueChoiceTM Flight Hour, ClearView Invoicing, Digital Solution for TrueChoiceTM Flight Hour and Engine Health Validator, Digital Solution for TrueChoiceTM Transitions. These advancements in data and analytic technologies are examples of where GE is taking Predix, the cloud-based platform for creating innovative, Industrial Internet applications that turn real-time operational data into actionable insights for aviation.          

flydubai has launched a double daily service to Thailand’s capital city, Bangkok, starting on 29 November 2016. flydubai will operate its services between Dubai International’s Terminal 2 (DXB) and Bangkok International Airport (BKK). Business Class return fares to Bangkok will start at AED 3,999 while Economy Class return fares will start at AED 1,499, including taxes. Commenting on the announcement of the new route, Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer, flydubai, said: “Bangkok is an extremely popular destination and the launch of double daily flights reflects the increasing maturity of the flydubai network and operation. This route launch is an important milestone for flydubai, offering business and leisure travellers from both Dubai and Bangkok increased choices and flexibility across our network.” Passengers will also have the option of a Business Class experience, benefitting from a dedicated 24-hour Business Team to assist with bookings and enquiries throughout the journey, as well as priority check-in service, comfortable spacious seats and a range of in-flight entertainment and dining options. Sudhir Sreedharan, Senior Vice President, Commercial (GCC, Subcontinent and Africa), flydubai, said: “Since its launch, flydubai has developed a network of more than 85 destinations. With the launch of our double daily Bangkok route, we will be further expanding travel opportunities for passengers looking to use Dubai as a hub for connecting routes from the GCC to Russia and Europe.”