JEDDAH, 3 July 2004 — Elaf Group of Companies for Travel, Tourism & Hotels has become the general sales agent (GSA) for EgyptAir and Karnak Tours in Saudi Arabia. This follows an agreement signed between Moutaz F. Kayal, chairman of Elaf Group of Companies and president of ASTA Saudi Arabia, and Samir Embabi, regional director of Egypt Air for the Middle East at the EgyptAir office in Jeddah recently. The agreement is for airline tickets as well as air for cargo. Elaf Group of Companies is a fully integrated group covering hotels, travel, tourism, GSA, cargo, catering and transportation, and also includes Haj and Umrah services. “It’s set to play a pivotal role in developing tourism in the Kingdom by providing superior quality of service,” Kayal said. The group is claimed to be the first to receive two ISO certificates — one for Elaf Travel & Tourism Company and the other for Elaf Hotels Company. Elaf Travel & Tourism Company is a member of IATA, ASTA and FIATA. Elaf’s GSAs include Saudi Arabian Airlines, Royal Air Morac, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Air Tanzania and Air Sahara.
Jeddah Hilton Is Summer Festival’s Host Hotel
JEDDAH, 3 July 2004 — Jeddah Hilton gears up for a busy season, as it has been selected as the host hotel for the ongoing Jeddah Summer Festival (JSF). The selection follows the huge success achieved during 2003 when the hotel attracted important conferences and seminars. “Jeddah Hilton has become an ideal setting for workshops and seminars and we’re proud to be selected by the high committee of JSF,” Hagop Doghramadjian, general manager of the hotel said, adding that the property looks forward to contribute toward making the festival a success.” Hilton’s facilities are at par with the best industry can offer and that’s the reason why it has become a favorite venue. The hotel is hosting a number of entertaining events for families and surprises to guests during the festival. Doghramadjian expressed his confidence that the hotel’s new events and promotions would boost tourist traffic because of attractive offers and events in the hospitality industry. Aside from creative and innovative events targeted at families, the hotel has its own special events lined up its own promotions at the various restaurants such as Amwaj, Manhatan, Hilton Tiras, and Al Safinah.
Burger King Opens New Outlet in Khureis Plaza
RIYADH, 3 July 2004 — Burger King has increased its number of restaurants with the opening of a new branch in Khureis Plaza in the Khureis area. “Our new restaurant in the Khureis Plaza is meant to provide diners with fast-food varieties in this mall. As a locally owned franchise, we’re proud to be serving to the local community and will continue to open new restaurants across the Kingdom,” said Samer Khawashki, Burger King’s general manager for Saudi Arabia. Burger King Middle East is managed by Hana International Company and operates more than 120 restaurants around the region through local Arab franchisees that are committed to serving guests the flame-grilled Whopper sandwiches. In the region, all Burger King Corporation’s pure beef and chicken patties are 100 percent halal and the vegetables used in its products are fresh and locally sourced, the company said.
Gulf Air Awarded Skytrax Airline Excellence Award
BAHRAIN, 3 July 2004 — Skytrax chief executive Edward Plaisted presented 2004 Skytrax Airline Excellence Award to Gulf Air at a ceremony in the airline’s first and business class lounge at Bahrain International Airport recently. Gulf Air won the award in the “excellence in quality improvement’ category of the world’s largest survey of passenger attitudes in which Skytrax polled the views of 10.82 million travelers between June 2003 and March 2004. The award was made to the airline in recognition of, “the dramatic changes that have been achieved in the last two years, and the manner with which it is now re-establishing as a force across the Middle East.” Plaisted said: “Quality improvement is not an overnight process but we have seen such clear evidence of real change within Gulf Air that there was no viable challenge for this award category.” Gulf Air also won the award for the “world’s best first class onboard catering” and came third in the “best first class lounge in the world” category for its new lounge in Bahrain. The airline was named second in the “best business class lounge in the world” category. Gulf Air has recently teamed up with Ali Mushaima, a tour guide and publisher of the “Visitor’s Complete Guide to Bahrain,” in an exciting overland trip to promote Bahrain internationally to key interest groups and media.
Emirates Launches Online Offers for Saudis
JEDDAH, 3 July 2004 — Emirates Airline has announced a bouquet of online promotions to its passengers in Saudi Arabia. These promotions that took effect on July 1 will continue up to Sept. 30. “The Kingdom’s internet-savvy population is in for a treat,” Mohamed S. Alfalasi, Emirates regional manager for the Kingdom said. One of the promotions offers seven passengers booking online on www.emirates.com/ksa a chance to win one package from a pool of six short breaks to Dubai and one to London. Everyone booking online from Day One will be qualified to win seven draws being held during the promotion. Customers who book more than one trip online will have an edge, as their probability of winning will be higher. After the promotion, the airline will announce the names of two grand prizewinners who stand to collect business class tickets for the entire family and luxury holidays of a lifetime. One grand prizewinner will receive four business class return tickets, for two adults and two children, to Brisbane and a five nights’ stay at Meridien Outrigger Sun City Resort in Gold Coast, Australia. The other winner will receive four business class return tickets, for two adults and two children, to Kuala Lumpur and five nights’ stay at the Regent Hotel Kuala Lumpur. Both offers include transfers between the airport and hotel in Brisbane and Kuala Lumpur. The website offers special fares to selected destinations such as New York, Johannesburg, Osaka and Bangkok; and cities in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Passengers booking online will receive Skywards’ bonus miles.
