JEDDAH, 24 July 2004 — A three-day seafood festival begins at the Trident Hotel here from tomorrow. The festival follows a European food fair recently held at the hotel. “Our expert chefs offer a wide range of sea food dishes to guests,” said Chander Nain, general manager of the hotel. The festival is being held at the hotel’s Al Rawdah Coffee Shop. The hotel is planning some more festivals and events during the rest of the year. The hotel is also getting busy with the seasonal rush of Umrah pilgrims. “We already have some groups and are fully geared to receive many more pilgrims,” he said.
Cyprus Airways to Assist Visa Applicants
JEDDAH — The honorary consul of Cyprus has started issuing visas to Saudi nationals and other residents of the Kingdom. Cyprus Airways has said that Cyprus visa seekers may contact the airline’s offices in Jeddah, Riyadh and Alkhobar for completing the visa processing formalities. The airline has been witnessing a busy vacation season with Saudi families and other residents visiting Cyprus or transiting through to various destinations including those in Europe and America, Cyprus Airways manager George Kapello said. The airline’s various offers, including honeymoon packages, have been popular, he added.
Young Cultural Envoys Visit Sri Lanka
COLOMBO — It was a particularly warm and sunny day in Thailand when eight children from district of Watana set off on an adventure to see an island in the sun. The story of how these children boarded their dream flight is intriguing. “Hailing from one of the poorer districts in Thailand these were children for whom the magic of boarding a plane to visit an exotic distant land would have remained a dream if SriLankan Airlines had not decided to grant them a wish,” a spokesman for the Sri Lankan national carrier said. These 11- and 12-year olds were stars in their own right, being the best in dance, culture or academia in their schools and were ideally suited to their role as young cultural ambassadors — part of Sri Lankan Airlines’ project to exchange culture between Thailand and Sri Lanka to mark their 25th anniversary celebration. They visited Negombo and the historic city of Dambulla. The languid air of this sleepy city was a sharp contrast from the blue seas and busy fishing village of Negombo but for the children the excitement of exploring the Dambulla cave lay ahead.
Hilton’s 8 Rebranded Hotels in India
DUBAI — Following its strategic alliance with EIH Ltd., Hilton International (HI), has rebranded seven Trident hotels throughout India as Trident Hilton and transformed the former Oberoi Towers in Bombay to become Hilton Towers. “For the first time, Hilton guests from around the world, including the Arabian Peninsula, can visit India and stay in a network of Hilton-branded hotels in eight locations. Whether they meet for business in Delhi, Madras or Bombay, or tour the historical attractions in Rajasthan or Kerala, they can now experience Hilton standards delivered through the superior expertise of the EIH Group,” said Gunnar Brandberg, HI’s vice president for business development in the Middle East and Asia Pacific. Under the strategic alliance, EIH will continue to manage all hotels and undertake domestic marketing promotion and reservation in India, while HI will assume responsibility for all international marketing, promotional and reservation activities through its global network. The eight re-branded hotels include Trident-Hilton Gurgaon, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur, Bhubaneshwar, Madras, Cochin and Hilton Towers in Bombay.
Jordan Highlights Summer Attractions
AMMAN — The Jordan Tourism Board (JTB) recently launched a series of exciting summer packages, backed by its campaigns — “Awaken Your Senses at the Dead Sea” and “Feels good to be miles away.” They are aimed to offer families in the Gulf the ideal holiday destination. “People normally recall Petra and Jerash when they think of Jordan, but we’ve so much more to offer than our renowned archaeological heritage. Our spa holiday offering has developed tremendously over the past couple of years to answer for the rising global trend of pursuing a healthier way of living,” said JTB Managing Director Marwan Khoury. JTB’s first campaign aims to encourage families and friends to take advantage of the wellness and health spas in Jordan, and in particular the Dead Sea, with a promise of the ultimate luxury and pampering. The second campaign revolves around its fantastic weather, beautiful scenery, breathtaking desert oasis, waterfalls and fantastic sights — all aimed at luring families away from the harsh conditions of the summer in the Gulf. Jordan’s spa experience at the Dead Sea, which is already regarded as one of top 10 spa resorts in the world, was the country’s main focus at the Arabian Travel Market 2004 held recently in Dubai. The Dead Sea, a tranquil spot at the lowest point on earth, is renowned for its therapeutic, relaxing and revitalizing benefits. In addition to the treatment of various medical conditions such as psoriasis, visitors to the Dead Sea come away with an unforgettable swimming experience, as the high salt density of the water makes sinking virtually impossible.
SWISS Offers Relaxing Stopover Option in Zurich
DUBAI — Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) has launched a stopover program in Zurich for its passengers. Passengers traveling to Switzerland or beyond can avail of one or two night’s complimentary accommodation at the deluxe Zurich Intercontinental hotel prior continuing their journey. For the summer period, Switzerland’s flag carrier and Movenpick Hotels have signed an agreement to provide the SWISS passengers with up to 60 percent off room rates at all Movenpick hotels and resorts in Switzerland. Passengers traveling to Switzerland until September can avail of the offer and get a free room upgrade with gourmet buffet breakfast included. The package also allows for the possibility of two children up to 16 years of age to share with their parents at no extra cost. Travelers can choose from Movenpick Hotels such as Movenpick Egerkingen, Geneva, Lausanne, Zurich-Airport or Zurich-Regensdorf. “SWISS and its partners can offer some of the best vacation packages available. At SWISS we want the experience to continue after arrival. Additionally, the stopover option is designed to allow our passengers to experience a little taste of Zurich and rest before continuing their journey, be it in Switzerland or elsewhere in our network,” said Felix Rodel, SWISS area manager for Middle East, Pakistan and Iran said.
