Tag Archives: DTCM

Golden Sands Hotel Apartments is looking forward to an increased share of travellers from Russia after a successful roadshow in St Petersburg and Moscow. The team of Golden Sands Hotel Apartments joined the 2018 Dubai Tourism Russia Roadshow held from September 3 to 6, where they received great interest from travel agents and tour operators who were interested to learn about the services offered by mid-scale and budget hotels, including hotel-serviced apartments. “The Russian market is an emerging market for Golden Sands Hotel Apartments. The trip to two major cities in Russia opened a huge opportunity for the property. We received a huge number of enquiries and interests from the travellers from Russia who are looking for more affordable deals and value-based option. Dubai has traditionally been a popular tourist destination among Russians and majority prefers the beachfront properties when staying in Dubai but we saw a new segment of visitors who are willing to stay in city hotels that offer shuttle buses to take them to the beach and other popular attractions in the city,” the team said. Visitor numbers from Russia visiting Dubai have continued to rise, delivering 405,000 visitors for the first half of 2018, a growth of 74 per cent over the same period in 2017, according to figures released by DTCM. Mohammed Khoori, General Manager, Golden Sands Hotel Apartments, said, “We hope to get a share of the market, especially the Russian travellers. Based on the feedback received from our participation in the Russia roadshow, we look forward to reaping the results of our hard work this coming tourism season.”

Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) is providing various options for students this year with its innovative programme of vocational education offered at its Dubai College of Tourism (DCT), that was established to lay the groundwork for talented Emiratis and expatriate residents in the UAE to join the city’s rapidly evolving tourist-facing workforce. The college will commence its range of courses on September 9, 2018 and admissions for the new intake are still open. The vocational courses offered by DCT have been designed to bridge the gap between hands-on training and a conventional university degree, preparing students for exciting and rewarding career opportunities. DCT’s courses are focused around five core programme areas – Tourism, Events, Hospitality, Retail and Culinary Arts – and will help young people learn from established professionals in the industry. The programmes also include internships in the industry to provide students with valuable real-world skills and practical applications. Essa Bin Hadher, General Manager of DCT said, “Students are often faced with grave academic pressures during this nerve-wracking period around results day, with some often finding themselves in a predicament about the future of their careers. As such, it is crucial to remember that there is no right way or shortcut to success – especially in Dubai’s fast-paced tourism and hospitality industries. Dubai College of Tourism is committed to helping students develop their practical skills, industry talents and self-confidence by supporting and empowering young talent. This forms the basis of our practical courses and active industry collaborations, both aimed at providing students with a transformational educational experience that is tailored to meet the needs of future employers”.

Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) has successfully participated in the ‘Recycle Reforest Repeat’ campaign, launched by the Emirates Environmental Group (EEG), to contribute to the national objective of reducing the level of wasted paper consumed. This, in turn, helps combat wide spread desertification, with colleagues at the department achieving results above and beyond their target, responsible for recycling 280 kg of paper during the course of one month. As an accredited UN organisation, Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) has collaborated with the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in its efforts to restore degraded soils. The project has reinforced the need to preserve the environment by constructively engaging the community, challenging companies, academic institutions, families and individuals to a month-long mission “Recycle. Reforest. Repeat.” to collect as much wasted paper as possible to contribute to an overall campaign target. Commenting on the programme, Yousuf Lootah, Executive Director – Tourism Development & Investments, Dubai Tourism said, “Supporting initiatives such as ‘Recycle. Reforest. Repeat’ is a key enabler to help transform Dubai into a more sustainable working environment. Encouraging effective resource management by reducing the amount of wasted paper is the first step in empowering employees towards more sustainable business practices and we were delighted to extend our support to the Emirates Environmental Group to help achieve this shared vision.”

Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) has published the first interactive, web-based, manual under the Dubai Sustainable Tourism (DST) Initiative to help hotels and hospitality establishments map out a sustainable journey and trigger a positive impact on the environmental performance of the tourism industry. This has been designed in line with the Department’s commitment to ensure that the emirate takes the lead in promoting sustainable best practices and green initiatives, in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to transform Dubai into a leading sustainable city globally. By identifying the collective environmental impact in the tourism industry, the guidelines provide practical and cost-effective solutions around four key themes: energy conservation, water conservation, waste management and sustainability engagement of staff and guests. These form the basis for key objectives that the Manual sets out to achieve, including the promotion of energy and water conservation measures by benchmarking activities that help to identify and implement effective policies and incentives; the development of training programs, communications campaigns and events to promote sustainability initiatives to all staff and guests; and the further development of Dubai as a “smart city” by extending the use of new technologies in daily operations, e.g. remote load control, Building Management Systems (BMS), and control sensors. Commenting on the launch of the industry standards, Yousuf Lootah, Executive Director – Tourism Development & Investments, Dubai Tourism said, “Reflecting outstanding work in the field of green tourism, this pioneering document published by Dubai Tourism under the DST initiative serves as a valuable guide to help create a sustainable future for our …

Passengers travelling through Dubai International (DXB) can now virtually explore Dubai and experience the wide array of offerings available, as a new, technologically-advanced digital installation has been set up in Terminal 3, Concourse A, that creates and sends to passengers a tailor-made two-day Dubai itinerary based on the passengers’ interests and preferred experiences via email. Launched by Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism), in collaboration with Dubai Airports and Emirates Airline, the activation, titled ‘MyDubai Experience’ in reference to the emirate’s hugely successful local advocacy movement, is designed to provide a futuristic and innovative way for travellers to discover and learn more about the city without setting foot outside the airport. The ultimate goal is to inspire the millions of transit passengers passing through DXB to revisit Dubai in the near future by showing them everything they can experience during a holiday in the city. Located in one of the busiest parts of the terminal and measuring an impressive 6 metres in height and 4 metres in diameter, the new installation comprises state-of-the-art LED tiles positioned to create five 360-degree rings, each exhibiting a variety of photographic, video, social media and user-generated content that has been carefully curated to draw the attention of passers-by and optimally showcase the Dubai proposition. The rings can either work together to produce a single large visual, or operate independently to create a collage depicting a multitude of different Dubai experiences and offerings.

Aiming to strengthen the retail tourism sector, Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) will offer many discounts for tourists and residents during the upcoming weekend. This citywide retail extravaganza will see participating outlets offer 25 – 90% off on a wide range of merchandise. Organised by the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), an agency of Dubai Tourism, over 300 brands will participate in the eagerly-anticipated sale where shoppers can bag bargains from over 1000 outlets featuring a range of retail segments – lifestyle, beauty, homeware, and much more. Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO, Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), an agency of Dubai Tourism, said, “Together with our retail partners, we are pleased to be able to offer huge savings to people across the city during this year’s 3 Day Super Sale this weekend. From top fashion items, to the finest interiors collections and state-of-the-art electronics, shoppers can enjoy hefty discounts of up to 90% off top brands, giving them the ultimate chance to bag a bargain. We encourage shoppers across the emirate to take advantage of this exciting event in the Retail Calendar and rush to the malls this week to get great savings on their favourite brands.”

Celebrating its 25th year, the Arabian Travel Market press conference has kicked off amidst a crowd of local and international media at the Address Boulevard Dubai . Simon Press, Director Reed Exhibitions for ATM and WTM stated that this year they expect over 40,000 visitors and 2,500 exhibitors from over 100 countries at the event. Issam Kaim, CEO, DTCM reiterated their efforts to attract more travellers to the destination by various programmes implemented with their partners and stakeholders to enable 20 million visitors by 2020 and beyond. The latest news shared from DTCM and Emirates was the plan to introduce a transit visa package to those who travel to different destinations via Dubai. Olivier Harnisch, CEO, Emaar Hospitality Group shared the latest trends seen in the region and the introduction of a unique brand aimed at the millennials who would spend less time in the hotel room but more time on other activities of entertainment and leisure. This supports the overall vision of Dubai tourism to further go ahead with their 2020 strategy to attract the type of clientele they seek.

Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) announced the winners of the inaugural Dubai Sustainable Tourism Awards at a ceremony held at The Westin Dubai Al Habtoor City. Comprising 17 different categories, the Awards celebrate the role of Dubai’s hotels and tourism companies in advancing sustainability within the emirate’s tourism industry. The event was attended by His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of Dubai Tourism; His Excellency Ahmad Butti Al Muhairbi, Secretary General, Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, Yousuf Lootah, Executive Director – Tourism Development & Investments, Dubai Tourism and over 600 players within Dubai’s hospitality and travel sectors. The Dubai Sustainable Tourism Awards received 151 entries from tourism and hotel establishments ranging from five-star hotels and resorts to guest houses and desert camps. In addition to the 17 winners, Dubai Tourism also honoured the Awards’ three Strategic Partners – Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, Dubai Municipality and Dubai Electricity and Water Authority. The special ‘Sustainability Champion’ award was won by Abdul Quddus Sheikh of Armani Hotel for its sustainability leadership.

JA Ocean View Hotel in Dubai Marina has been recognised as a five-star beach hotel by the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM). The news comes as JA Resorts & Hotels follows through on a wide-reaching strategy of enhancement across its portfolio. All the rooms and suites at the hotel have private balconies and sea views of the Arabian Gulf. Six restaurants and bars complement an infinity swimming pool, spa, salon, gym and fitness zone. Children enjoy access to a splash pool, kids’ club and a playground. Situated on ‘The Walk’ next to the beach with an outdoor seaside complex with shops, restaurants, cafés, fitness circuits and kids’ play areas, visitors to Dubai will have easy access to sights such as the Burj Khalifa and The Dubai Mall, besides impressive coastal views towards The Palm Jumeirah and a pedestrian-friendly promenade to stroll along. In 2018, a pedestrian bridge will connect the area with Bluewaters Island, where Ain Dubai – the world’s largest and tallest Ferris wheel – will open.

Hotels and desert camps in Dubai have just one more month to enter the 2017 Dubai Sustainable Tourism Awards. Part of the Dubai Sustainable Tourism (DST) initiative, the awards will recognise hotels and individuals who are adopting tangible measures to contribute to enhanced sustainability within the Emirate’s tourism sector. Establishments can enter the awards via the Dubai Sustainable Tourism website; nominations will close on September 14 and winners will be announced at a ceremony in mid-November. Inaugurated this year, the Dubai Sustainable Tourism Awards feature 20 categories; 13 main awards targeted towards different types of hospitality establishment, and seven special awards that recognise individuals who are true champions of sustainability. Winners of the seven special awards will be leaders and teams who truly embody the sustainability principles of DST, and who have inspired remarkable changes within their organisations. The awards criteria have been designed to meet the challenges outlined in Dubai’s Carbon Abatement Strategy; issued by the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, this commits to reducing carbon emissions by 16 per cent by 2021. The awards also support the UAE’s Green Growth Strategy that aims to build an economic system that has sustainability at its core. These initiatives in turn, are in line with Dubai Plan 2021 and Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030. The deadline for hotels to enter the Dubai Sustainable Tourism Awards is September 14. This will be followed by an evaluation process and approval by the final DST committee to select the winners. Adjudication of the awards will cover both strategic and operational initiatives, which will be benchmarked against standards set by highly qualified subject matter experts representing various entities. This process will be supervised by a …