bmi celebrates four years in Saudi Arabia
RIYADH: bmi, described as the only British airline with direct flights from Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam to London Heathrow, recently celebrated four years of service in the Kingdom at an iftar gathering in Riyadh. The airline announced that Business Class customers flying from London could now check in until 30 minutes prior to scheduled departure time in a new Premium Check-In area in a new international departure lounge, bmi Number One Heathrow, with distinct areas to work, dine, refresh or relax. bmi’s complimentary Chauffeur Drive service is available in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam.
Marriott campaigning for travel community
JEDDAH: Marriott International Inc. has announced the new global ‘Love Travel Agents’ campaign designed to celebrate and build awareness of the travel agency community and its partners. The comprehensive campaign, launched this week in Las Vegas, is sponsored in part by the American Society of Travel Agents. Love Travel Agents was created to help build knowledge among travel industry leaders and customers of the pivotal role travel agents play within the travel industry.
Summer program at Al Faisaliah hotel
RIYADH: Fifteen Saudi students have celebrated their graduation at Al Faisaliah Hotel, A Rosewood Hotel. The program brought highly qualified Saudi nationals studying tourism to Al Faisaliah Hotel and to Hotel Al Khozama for ‘real world’ training and experience. Al Faisaliah and Al Khozama partnered with King Saud University to select candidates from the College of Tourism & Archaeology. For two months, the trainees developed their skills working in the F&B department, rooms department and front office. The students were thoroughly trained in the art of hotel management under the guidance of Rosewood staff.
Qatar Airways wins accolade in Beijing
DOHA: Qatar Airways has once again demonstrated its ability to deliver the highest levels of service after being named Best Business Class Airline in China at the China Travel & Meeting Industry Awards organized by Travel Weekly China. The ‘Five Star’ carrier was a clear winner at the awards ceremony collecting twice as many votes as any other airline. Since its debut in 2002, the awards have enjoyed wide recognition among industry peers. More than 30,000 readers and subscribers of the publication and 32,000 enterprises and travel buyers, who attended the China Incentive and Business Travel Meeting Exhibition (CIBTM) recently, participated in the poll.
New appointment at InterContinental Oman
JEDDAH: InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced the appointment of Martin van Kan as the new director of operations in Oman and GM for the iconic Al Bustan Palace InterContinental Muscat. Joining IHG in 1984, he was awarded the ‘General Manager of the Year’ title in 2004. Some of his previous positions were in IHG in Shenzhen, China, InterContinental Doha in Qatar, and InterContinental Phoenicia in Beirut. He returns to Oman after an absence of 20 years, when he was the front office manager for the Al Bustan Palace InterContinental Muscat. “My return has been extremely welcoming. Oman is a very unique country and the people’s warmth and hospitality is unprecedented — I simply had to come back,” he said.
Rosewood Corniche hosts ‘Taste of Arabia’ festival< /b>
JEDDAH: Rosewood Corniche is organizing a ‘Taste of Arabia’ food festival from Wednesday. The opening of the festival, which will run till Oct. 2, coincides with the Saudi National Day. Hans-Peter Leitzke, managing director at Rosewood Corniche said: “The festival pays tribute to the culinary traditions of Saudi Arabia and the region, and visitors will be able to appreciate dishes unique to the Kingdom.” The festival also additionally features cuisines of the Gulf, North Africa and the Levant. “From Lebanese hummus bayrouti to Moroccan fish tajine, favorite dishes and regional specialties are prepared with passion and care by our chefs,” he added. On the final day of the festival, the hotel will raffle off air tickets.
