JEDDAH, 25 December 2004 — Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) is resuming its flights to Jeddah from tomorrow. “All our flights from and to Jeddah will recommence from Sunday as per the usual schedule” Manuel Staerkle, Western Province area manager of Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS), told Arab News yesterday. Switzerland’s national carrier had suspended its operations through Jeddah, following a terrorist attack on the US Consulate General on Dec. 6. “Our regular weekly three services from Riyadh and Jeddah will continue as before, as we remain committed to our operations to the Kingdom and will continue to provide top levels of service,” Staerkle said. The airline, which offers convenient connections for destinations in Switzerland, Europe and North America, has also announced a special fair of SR2,005 plus taxes for a return trip to Europe from Jeddah and Riyadh. The promotional offer has to be utilized until Dec. 31 for travel from Dec. 26 to Feb. 10.
BA Hosts Eastern Province Travel Agents Awards
DAMMAM, 25 December 2004 — British Airways (BA) hosted an awards event at the Holiday Inn Resort, Half Moon Bay, to honor its travel trade partners for their support in 2003-04. Richard Hirsch, BA manager for the Kingdom, gave an insight into the future of the travel industry and appreciated the efforts being made to strengthen the Kingdom’s travel industry. Platinum, gold and silver awards, and certificates of appreciations were present dot 35 travel agencies from the Eastern Province. Prominent travel trade professionals were recognized individually for their ongoing support to BA. Abdullah M. Abo Khamseen, Kanoo Travel’s executive general manager for travel, was honored with a lifetime achievement award. The event turned out to be a memorable one for travel agents as they participated in volleyball and football at the beach. Nine of the travel agents won club world return tickets to London and seven others won BA branded prizes. Meanwhile, BA has launched a “10 reasons to become a world traveler” promotion. “The offer is for both ‘world traveler’ class and ‘world traveler plus cabin.’ To 10 selected destinations in Europe and is valid for outbound travel until March 31,” a BA spokesman said in Jeddah.
ATM 2005 Set at Dubai World Trade Center
DUBAI, 25 December 2004 — Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2005, described as the Middle East‘s premier travel and tourism exhibition, is to be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre in exhibition halls one through seven from May 3-6. “There has been a phenomenal response for the show,” said Chris Chackal, group exhibition director for overseas events of Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE), the organizer of the annual show. “To date, exhibitors from 24 countries have confirmed space,” he said. In fact, it is to be a “sell-out” again even with an increase in floor-space to 14,200 square meters. RTE has reported that 78 per cent of its increased floor space has been confirmed after just nine weeks of the sales campaign for next year’s event. “New exhibitors taking dedicated stands for the first time include IFA Hotels & Resorts, which has taken 200 sq m, I&M Galadari, a major developer at Dubailand, and Jumeirah Beach Residence. “We also have new big ticket developers like the Pearl-Qatar, Yoharah LLC Dubai and Majid Al Futtaim Group exhibiting for the first time.” According to Chackal, Nakheel, the developer of Dubai ‘s three Palm Islands and the innovative World project, has booked the largest stand ever at the show, three times bigger than its space in 2004.
Jumeirah Named ‘Best’ Hotel Resort Group
DUBAI, 25 December 2004 — Jumeirah International, the Dubai-based luxury hospitality group, was named ‘best hotel’ resort group in the Middle East for the fourth consecutive year by UK and Irish travel agents ,during the recent ‘Selling Long Haul’ magazine’s travel industry awards. “This year yielded a volume of votes that exceeded previous years, as well as an unprecedented involvement form the UK’s travel agents underlining an enormous respect and esteem for the Jumeirah International group,” a group spokesman said. “This is a record fourth time that Jumeirah International has received this award from the widely read magazine, which is a credit to the continuous dedication and hard work of all its team members.” The magazine, founded in 1990, is claimed to be the only UK travel trade publication dedicated solely to the long haul travel and tourism markets. The publication is circulated among travel agents across the UK and Ireland and is published monthly. Jumeirah International hotels and resorts are among the most luxurious and innovative in the world.
Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa Opens
DUBAI, 25 December 2004 — Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa, which means ‘Gateway to the sun,’ fully opened on Dec. 2 to mark the celebration of the 33rd UAE national day. Described as an elegant desert resort in a traditional Arabic fort setting, “this exclusive low-rise resort, a retreat in the desert, is surrounded by natural landscaping and offers 115 rooms and suites in 16 double-storied buildings, featuring traditional Gulf décor accentuated by the use of natural stones, dark wood and Arabian glasswork,” said Gerald Lawless, managing director of Jumeirah International. It also features a variety of restaurants and bars including Al Hadheerah, the region’s first authentic open air Arabic desert restaurant. “The resort appeals to both GCC and international travelers who wish to enjoy Arabian hospitality in a traditional, yet comfortable surrounding,” Lawless said.
