ZERMATT, 28 June 2003 — A leading consortium of Swiss Alpine resort hotels has followed up its recent Arabian Travel Mart debut in Dubai by launching tailored packages to attract Middle East visitors looking for an active mountain adventure this summer. Based in the picture-postcard town of Zermatt, Seiler Hotels and Riffelalp Resort at a 2,222-meter altitude has designed three action-packed programs to suit people of various levels of fitness, with a range of mountain activities including hiking, mountain biking and, for the most adventurous visitors, paragliding. Packages include accommodation and breakfast, as well as meals. Guests can choose any one of four Seiler hotels or the Riffelalp Resort, described as a five-star hotel at the highest altitude in Europe. On arrival at their chosen hotel, guests will spend five days enjoying everything from a biking or hiking tour, a climb of the Riffelhorn, crossing the Gorner Gorge, ascending the Breithorn at 4,160 meters — all with expert guides on hand.
Emirates Celebrates With Double Daily
DUBAI, 28 June 2003 — Emirates is commemorating the anniversary of its first flight to Muscat a decade ago to the day by adding another daily service on July 1. Now offering passengers the convenience of traveling by day or at night, the new service will leave Dubai at 10.45 p.m., arriving in Muscat at 11.45 p.m. while the existing daily service leaves Dubai at 8.15 a.m. “The new double daily comes in response to the escalating demand for the airline’s service in the GCC and the Middle East. From Dubai, passengers can connect to Emirates’ expanding network of destinations, which will include Moscow from July 1, Auckland from Aug. 1 Brisbane on Oct. 26 and Lagos from Dec. 1,” Hamad Obaidalla, the airline’s general manager for the GCC, Yemen and Iran, said.
Air France Adds New Daily NY-Paris Service
PARIS, 28 June 2003 — Air France, which claims to be the only airline to offer first class daily service between New York and Paris, added its eighth flight on this route from Tuesday. Flight AF 017 leaves New York JFK at 6.20 p.m. and arrives in Paris-CDG 2E at 7.10 a.m. the next day. The return flight AF012 leaves from the new terminal 2E at Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 11.30 a.m. and lands in New York JFK at 1.25 p.m.
Le Jeddah Meridien Stages Fire Safety Drill
JEDDAH, 28 June 2003 — In cooperation with the Ministry of Civil Defense, Le Jeddah Meridien recently conducted its first annual fire and safety drill, as part of its mission to serve hotel guests with the optimum level of protection from fire and other related public safety hazards. The hotel’s fire intervention team, headed by General Manager Dietmar Kielnhofer has developed solutions to fire safety-related problems aimed at reducing incidents of f fire, fire-related civilian or staff injuries, property losses, and fire impacts within the property. “The activity provides proper education as part of the continuing employee indoctrination to assure prompt reporting of fire, response to fire alarms, and immediate initiation of fire safety procedures to safeguard life and contain fire until the arrival of the Fire Department,” the hotel executive said.
Indian Airlines Offers ‘Saver’ Scheme for NRIs
JEDDAH, 28 June 2003 — India’s domestic carrier Indian Airlines (IA) has introduced a ‘super saver and ‘super saver golden edge’ scheme for non-resident Indians (NRIs) on the country’s domestic sectors with an unrestricted choice of travel on IA and Alliance Air domestic network. The scheme is offered on all flights except between Delhi and four destinations — Trivandrum, Cochin, Coimbatore and Calicut. The scheme is available in economy class for super saver four coupons valid for 90 days at $400 and supersaver golden edge eight coupons at $800. Additionally, golden edge passengers are offered two executive class upgrade vouchers, according to Mohamed Quaiser, IA’s sales and marketing manager based in Riyadh. The scheme is effective until March 31.