JEDDAH -— Starwood Hotels in Middle East and Africa are driving a new initiative to promote direct bookings on their branded websites by offering guests the chance to win back the room nights they booked and stay for free. With Starwood’s “Best rate guarantee” launched mid-2003 offering deals on their branded websites, online guests now stand a “win-win” situation by knowing that they have the best deal online, and a chance to also win their stay for free. “The complimentary online room promotion was launched in mid-October. We had one winning couple since then from the UK who checked into Sheraton Cairo on Oct. 30,” says Jirayr Kececian, area director marketing, MEA. The online random complimentary room program offers free room nights, up to a three-night stay excluding incidentals. Two guests will be randomly chosen every month and will be informed by the participating hotels upon check-in.
Air France Offers Discount on Seat
JEDDAH — For tickets issued from Feb. 1, Air France has been offering passengers requiring extra comfort a discount on the purchase of a second seat in the ‘Tempo’ cabin. The discounts, applicable on all flights operated by Air France, BRIT AIR, CityJet and Regional, are valid for practically all fares, except for full fares and travel saver fares, on departure from French and foreign destinations and are calculated thus — 25 percent discount on the price of a fare paid for a short-haul flight (excluding tax and airport fees), 25 to 33 percent discount on the price of a fare paid for a medium— or long-haul flight (excluding tax and airport fees). The additional seat providing extra space may be required for medical reasons, for example a leg in a plaster cast, corpulent passengers, special baggage requiring space in the cabin, for example a cello, or those requiring additional calm, according to the local Air France ticket office.
Emirates Adds Flights to Sydney via Bangkok
DUBAI — Emirates, the Dubai-based international airline, will soon boost services to Sydney, Australia and Bangkok, Thailand, with additional flights. From March 29, Emirates will introduce an extra thrice-weekly service from Dubai to Sydney via Bangkok. Initially operating on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, the airline will increase this from May 1 to a daily service. On May 1, Emirates’ new Dubai-Bangkok-Sydney daily service will also be extended to Auckland in New Zealand, replacing the current Dubai-Sydney-Auckland daily service, which will then terminate in Sydney. This move opens up new connections between Bangkok and Sydney, and Bangkok and Auckland.
Dubai Shopping Festival Takes Occupancies Higher
DUBAI — Dubai has started 2005 on track to register record hotel occupancies and visitor numbers. The Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) looks set to boost hotel revenues again, leaving business on a high for months to come, according to Amal Benzari, general manager of Al Sondos Suites by Le Meridien. Having registered occupancy rates of near 85 per cent in the last six months, Benzari predicts this boom will be consolidated throughout 2005 for both Al Sondos Suites and its sister property Dar Al Sondos Hotel Apartments by Le Meridien, which registered more than 95 percent year round in 2004.
Official Hosted Buyer Hotel for ATM
DUBAI — Grand Hyatt Dubai has recently become the official hosted buyer hotel for Arabian Travel Market 2005 (ATM), the Middle East’s premier travel and tourism exhibition, which runs at the Dubai World Trade Center from May 3-6. Grand Hyatt Dubai, which boasts 674 guest rooms and suites, will host 70 top regional and international travel industry buyers, including contractors from the lucrative meetings, incentive, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) sector. “This property is ideal for our well established hosted buyer program being as it is in a city center setting, close to the Dubai World Trade Center, and with extensive convention facilities which can be showcased to the MICE contingent,” said Vicky Crane, Marketing Manager, Overseas Events Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE), which organizes ATM. The ATM hosted buyer program allows exhibitors to meet the industry contractors in one-to-one appointment sessions.
Muscat Festival Boosts Gulf Air Traffic
MUSCAT — Gulf Air claims the ongoing Muscat Festival is once again providing the impetus for another record-breaking year in terms of passenger traffic in and out of Oman. Jaffar Juma, Gulf Air’s manager for Oman, who recently revealed a 34.3 percent increase in passenger traffic at Seeb International Airport for 2004, says the special fare offers from around the GCC has already attracted a great deal of interest. “The Muscat Festival can provide Gulf Air with just the start it needs in its effort to grow passenger traffic for a third consecutive year and contribute to the corporate goal of achieving profitability in 2005,” he said.