Sheraton
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced plans to further expand its presence in Saudi Arabia with the opening of two new hotels, which will add 450 rooms to Madinah. Owned by Saudi Brothers Commercial Co., the Sheraton Medina Hotel and Four Points by Sheraton Medina are both scheduled to open in Q4 2012. “We are delighted to extend our longstanding relationship with our partner Saudi Brothers Commercial as we introduce the Sheraton and Four Points by Sheraton brands to Madinah”, said Guido de Wilde, SVP, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Middle East. “Starwood’s expansion throughout Saudi Arabia underlines our commitment to continued growth in this region. This beautiful city is rich in culture and history and we are confident that the facilities and services offered by our new hotels will be appreciated by the pilgrims visiting Madinah.” Situated in the heart of the holy city, both the Sheraton Medina and the Four Points by Sheraton Medina are 150 meters from the Prophet’s Mosque, The Sheraton Medina guestrooms will also feature views of the Prophet’s Mosque and Plaza. The central location enables easy access to the Al-Baqi, one of the focal areas during the annual Haj and Umrah pilgrimage seasons. “At Saudi Brothers Commercial Company, we are committed to expanding the tourism infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, said Sheikh Fahad Al-Nowaiser, CEO of Saudi Brothers Commercial Company. The new Sheraton Medina Hotel will comprise 297 rooms.
Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways will introduce its fourth destination in Saudi Arabia, to the holy city of Madinah with four-flights-a-week, beginning July 14. The Doha-Madinah route will be operated non-stop with an Airbus A320 in a two-class configuration of 12 seats in First Class and 132 in Economy Class. The airline is operating a mix of narrow-body Airbus A320s and wide-body Airbus A330s and its flagship Boeing 777 aircraft on flights to and from Saudi Arabia. The capacity increases help facilitate the growing religious tourism industry in Saudi Arabia. And the extra frequencies provide added convenience for both business and leisure travelers, offering greater connectivity to an array of international destinations served by Qatar Airways across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America via its Doha hub. Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker said: “The extra flights to the Kingdom are a welcome boost to our schedules, for our passengers and also toward our commitment to the market.” Qatar Airways currently operates a modern fleet of 97 aircraft from its Doha hub to 100 key business and leisure cities worldwide. The airline also has launched scheduled flights to the southern Iranian city of Shiraz, marking the first of three route start-ups in June. The latest route further enhances Qatar Airways’ commitment to Iran, where it first began operating services to the country in 2004 with the launch of the Tehran route, followed a year later by flights to Mashad.
Fursan/Sabre
Fursan Travel and Tourism Company Ltd. (Fursan), a major travel corporation in Saudi Arabia, has signed a long-term agreement with Sabre Travel Network Middle East (Sabre), a provider of high-performance travel solutions, to re-energize travel demand, optimize efficiencies and support its growth objectives. Sabre will become Fursan’s primary travel technology partner, providing direct access to Sabre’s complete portfolio of innovative products and services including travel content from hundreds of carriers and thousands of hotels around the world, industry-recognized low-fare shopping capabilities, award-winning efficiency solutions, and Sabre’s world class customer service and expertise. Implementation of the Sabre system is currently under way with Fursan Travel counselors, focused specifically on strengthening their skills to enhance customer service levels across Saudi Arabia. “Fursan Travel has had a long and successful presence in Saudi Arabia, and in line with our current expansion plans, we are upgrading our technology to enable us to enhance the service and value we provide our customers,” said Roger Pfund, CEO, Fursan Travel. Daniel Naoumovitch, CEO of Sabre said: “Over the years, we have made significant investments to deliver innovative solutions tailored to agency customers in the Middle East, and this new relationship with travel powerhouse Fursan reiterates our ability to service their needs, helping them to make money, save money and optimize the service they provide travelers.”
Air Arabia
Air Arabia Egypt is introducing direct services to Riyadh and Dammam from the carrier’s main hub in Alexandria. The airline started flights to Riyadh on Thursday (June 9). Its services to Dammam will commence on (Saturday) June 11. Roundtrip flights will operate twice a week between Air Arabia’s Egypt base in Alexandria and Riyadh. The flights depart Alexandria for Riyadh on Thursdays and Saturdays, and for Dammam on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Commenting on the new service, A.K. Nizar, head of commercial, Air Arabia Group, said: “We are delighted to announce the start of our flights to the cities of Riyadh and Dammam. Air Arabia Egypt now serves the Kingdom with five weekly flights, offering travelers between the two countries a new option for air travel. We are confident the new services between Riyadh, Dammam and Alexandria will offer customers great value for money to travel between the two cities as well as contribute to the growth of travel and tourism between the two countries.” Air Arabia Egypt only flies new aircraft of the type Airbus A320. On its entire network, Air Arabia Egypt offers full economy class with a spacious average seat pitch of 32 inches. Air Arabia (PJSC), listed on the Dubai Financial Market, is described as the MENA region’s major low-cost carrier. The award-winning airline commenced operations in October 2003 and currently operates a total fleet of 27 new Airbus A320 aircraft, serving 67 routes from three hubs in the UAE, Morocco and Egypt.
flydubai
flydubai has been setting milestones on the ground and in the air since its establishment in March 2008. Describe as Dubai’s first low cost airline, flydubai started operations on June 1, 2009. Set up by the government of Dubai, flydubai is aimed at making travel a “little less complex, a little less stressful and a little less expensive.” Based on a low cost business model, flydubai offers a value-for-money product at an extremely competitive price. Throughout the past two years, flydubai is considered the world’s fastest growing start-up airline. It has flown 47.1 million km over the past 730 days, which is more than 1,000 times around the world. Its aircraft were flying for 78,800 hours, or 52,533 football matches. There were 5.6 million seats available on those flights, which is the equivalent to the population of Denmark. Almost 30,000 meters of fabric has been used to make crew uniforms — taller than Mount Everest. There have been 38,685 blue buttons sewn on to the shirts and blouses of the cabin crew, which, when laid out, will cover the bottom of three Olympic sized swimming pools. Since job applications opened, 81,000 people have applied to work at flydubai, equal to the capacity of Beijing National Stadium, more popularly known as the Bird’s Nest, which was the focal point of the 2008 Olympic Games. 5.9 million bags carried, which when put end-to-end would stretch from Dubai to Venice. When stacked, the cartons of Pringles sold on board (and they’re the small cans) would make a tower 26 times the height of Burj Khalifa.
Accor
Accor, a major hospitality group in the region, together with Al Mohammadia Almotahda for Real Estate Investment Company, announced on Monday the signing of a management contract to develop a multi-segment property in Jeddah, which will include an ibis hotel and an Adagio hotel, due for opening in 2014. Christophe Landais, MD, Accor Middle East, told reporters in Riyadh that the partnership would expand the Accor network in Jeddah, which has a huge potential for growth in the travel and tourism sector. ibis Jeddah will be the third ibis hotel in Saudi Arabia, after ibis Riyadh and ibis Yanbu, both to open in 2012. The hotel will feature 180 well-equipped rooms. “We are also pleased to announce the launch of the brand Adagio City Aparthotel in the Kingdom, Adagio being the latest addition to Accor’s brand portfolio. Adagio Jeddah will follow our regional strategy of developing the brand in key business cities, with an Adagio hotel to open in Abu Dhabi in 2012. Designed to be a new network of urban residences, the Adagio chain offers mid-market apartment with a la carte services for “just like at home” stays in major destinations,” Landais added. Adagio Jeddah will have 80 serviced apartments targeting mainly the long-stay customers as well as the local leisure clientele. Khalid Al Turki, executive manager, Al Mohammadia Almotahda, said the two properties will be strategically located within a fast growing business area on Malek Road, a central artery of Jeddah.
Alesayi/Panasonic
Alesayi Electronics has launched the new Panasonic hybrid IP-PBX system, which combines traditional telecommunications with the advantages of contemporary IP technology. The KX-TDA100D is IP-enabled, providing a flexible IP network infrastructure that can carry both voice and data communications. Versatile modular architecture supports IP convergence, allowing for migration from voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). The system has the necessary features and flexibility to handle all of the corporate communication needs of Saudi businesses. The IP-enabled KX-TDA100D offers a wide range of capabilities for optimizing company’s communications and incorporates an impressive array of advanced corporate telephony functions in a cost-effective package. Shoukat Al Mostarihi, networks and communications department manager at Alesayi Electronics Co, commented that Alesayi has the capabilities and expertise to grow this business not only in Saudi Arabia but in the Middle East region as well. “Alesayi Electronics has worked together with Panasonic Marketing Middle East for more than a decade. Over this time the team at Alesayi Electronics has developed a deep understanding of Panasonic’s products and a close working relationship with the Panasonic team. This depth of understanding is matched by an equally comprehensive knowledge of our customers and their communications requirements.” The IP-Enabled KX-TDA100D can connect up to 128 single line telephones.
Samsung
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. recently announced the launch of its new flagship front-loading washing machine, the Eco Bubble Washing Machine. Samsung has started offering to its customers the opportunity to learn more about the features of the “Eco Bubble” Washing Machine by conducting a number of women’s interactive road shows for a period of one month, from Wednesday at several malls across the Kingdom such as Grenada Mall and Al-Hayat Mall in Riyadh, “Red Sea and Mall of Arabia in Jeddah, and Dhahran Mall in Alkhobar. J.S. Park, SVP-sales and marketing in digital appliances business of Samsung, said: “Helping to meet Saudi Arabia’s growing power and water needs, this stylish washing machine offers a unique blend of advanced design and technology, achieving top class energy consumption (30 percent less than the limit for an “A Energy” rated washer) and also allows for cold water washing while still delivering a great wash performance. He added: “These 7 and 8 kg large capacity washers offer advanced features such as reduced energy consumption, the latest motor developments designed for an impressive lack of vibration and noise, a build quality proven to give a long life of faithful service and washing technologies delivering great wash results.” J.C. Ahn, business manager of digital air solutions at Samsung Electronics, Saudi Arabia, said: “The technology inside the Samsung Eco Bubble Washing Machine addresses the efficiency of water use practices in the Kingdom.”
Emirates
An Emirates’ A380 arrived in Rome on Sunday to join celebrations for the 50th anniversary of Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci airport, while marking 150 years of Italian unification. It is the first time a superjumbo landed in Rome. The one-off flight replaced EK 97 and EK 98 - one of two daily services between Dubai and the Italian capital. The aircraft switch enabled passengers to book on the A380 all the way from Auckland to Rome, via the airline’s hub in Dubai. “Bringing an A380 to Rome is an important moment for Emirates and Leonardo da Vinci airport and means another facility can accommodate the aircraft of the future,” said Salem Obaidalla, Emirates’ SVP, commercial operations, Europe and Russian Federation. “Even three years after we brought the A380 into service, people around the world are still fascinated by this quiet and fuel efficient giant of the skies. It is immensely popular with our passengers and these celebrations — for both the airport and the country — provide an ideal platform to bring the aircraft to Rome.” ADR Aviation Director Elia Pistola said: “Emirates’ aircraft is the first A380 to arrive in Rome and we celebrate this event as the first Italian airport with the complete operating infrastructure to accommodate the A380. The new loading bridge is a strategic investment for Leonardo da Vinci airport, since the A380 is the best aircraft to cover major and growing markets, as served by Emirates, via Dubai,” added Pistola.
