Business Traveller Middle East articles from July 2007

Business Traveller Middle East archives from July 2007

IFA opens first Yotel at Gatwick airport.(UPfront)
July 1, 2007... The Middle East-based IFA Hotels & Resorts (IFA HR) has launched the first Yotel in the South Terminal of London's Gatwick Airport. A revolutionary new hotel concept in long-haul travel, it's also the first hotel to be located inside a UK...

IHG adds more luxury rooms in Kuwait.(InterContinental Hotels Group PLC)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Kuwait is set to get more luxury business accommodation with the opening of a branded five-star property. The InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is developing an InterContinental hotel in Kuwait City, set to open in early 2009, for the...

British Airways has introduced online boarding passes.(AIRLINE UPDATE)
July 1, 2007... British Airways has introduced online boarding passes, allowing customers on the Dubai-London Heathrow route to print their own boarding cards.

Emirates has introduced a water limousine airport transfer service.(AIRLINE UPDATE)
July 1, 2007... Emirates has introduced a water limousine airport transfer service for first and business class passengers arriving in and departing from Venice.

Travellers who purchase tickets in Doha on SriLankan Airlines are now entitled to carry 40kg of baggage.(AIRLINE UPDATE)
July 1, 2007... Travellers who purchase tickets in Doha on SriLankan Airlines are now entitled to carry 40kg of baggage on their return journey.

Air France is now offering business class passengers a new type of seat.(AIRLINE UPDATE)
July 1, 2007... Air France is now offering business class passengers a new type of seat, now available on the Dubai-Paris route on daily night flights.

Maldives pitches for MICE business.(Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... The Maldives is developing its infrastructure to position itself as a new conference and meetings destination. A second international airport, Gan, is to open in November this year, with two charter airlines, Germany's Condor and Italy's Blue...

Per Aquum resort arrives in Dubai.(UPfront)
July 1, 2007... Per Aquum, the Maldives-based resort, spa and residence management company, is expanding into the Middle East with an Arabian avant-garde resort on a private polo island in Dubai. Desert Palm, set amidst polo grounds and along the lines...

Palm Jumeirah to be permanent home for QE2.(UPfront)
July 1, 2007... The legendary Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) cruise ship has been bought by a Dubai-based investment company and is set to become a permanent tourism destination at The Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. Cunard Line sold the famous ocean liner in a $100...

Dusit to offer serviced apartments.(UPfront)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Thai hotel operator Dusit is entering into the rapidly expanding residence and serviced apartments sector with projects in Thailand and the Middle East. Coming up in Dubai in 2010 is the exclusive Moroccan-inspired Dusit Residence on The Palm...

Rotana has launched a new website (www.rotana.com) with interactive maps and 360-degree hotel tours.(HOTEL UPDATE)(Website overview)
July 1, 2007... Rotana has launched a new website (www.rotana.com) with interactive maps and 360-degree hotel tours. It has also launched the Rotana Rewards Select programme to enable guests to redeem points on stays and dining.

Movenpick will manage the Movenpick Resort & Spa Salalah.(HOTEL UPDATE)
July 1, 2007... Movenpick will manage the Movenpick Resort & Spa Salalah, scheduled to open in 2009 with 400 rooms and an 18-hole golf course.

The InterContinental Hotels Group is developing a Crowne Plaza hotel in Sohar.(HOTEL UPDATE)
July 1, 2007... The InterContinental Hotels Group is developing a Crowne Plaza hotel in Sohar in Oman with 126 rooms.

Together with RCI Global Vacation Network, real estate company First Qatar will offer short-term rentals on First Tower.(HOTEL UPDATE)
July 1, 2007... Together with RCI Global Vacation Network, real estate company First Qatar will offer short-term rentals on First Tower, its 20-level serviced apartments property at the Pearl Qatar, once it's ready in 2008.

Abu Dhabi is creating a multi-experience tourism destination, The Desert Islands.(HOTEL UPDATE)
July 1, 2007... Abu Dhabi is creating a multi-experience tourism destination, The Desert Islands, consisting of eight islands incorporating a nature reserve and cultural destination, to be complete by 2010.

Rezidor is set to open its fifth property in Egypt, the Radisson Hotel, Alexandria, in 2009.(HOTEL UPDATE)
July 1, 2007... Rezidor is set to open its fifth property in Egypt, the Radisson Hotel, Alexandria, in 2009. The 270-room hotel will include a golf clubhouse, business centre, executive lounge and meeting rooms.

Damac Properties has launched The Corner, a commercial development in Business Bay.(HOTEL UPDATE)
July 1, 2007... Damac Properties has launched The Corner, a commercial development in Business Bay. The 19-storey tower will feature offices, retail and recreational facilities.

Crowne Plaza opens at the double in KSA.(InterContinental Hotels Group and Saudi Telal to develop hotels in Saudi Arabia)
July 1, 2007... InterContinental Hotels Group has signed an agreement with investors Saudi Telal to develop two new Crowne Plaza hotels in Saudi Arabia, swelling its portfolio in the Kingdom to 19 properties. The 247-room Crowne Plaza Al Khobar, due to...

Emirates extends Bahrain services.(Emirates Airline)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Emirates has introduced three more services between Dubai and Bahrain, boosting its overall operations to the Kingdom by 17 flights a week. The extra frequencies are operated on Airbus A330-200 aircraft with 27 seats in business and 251 in...

Gulf airlines steal the show in Paris.(UPfront)
July 1, 2007... Gulf airlines used the Paris Air Show to underline their sky-high ambitions once again--and put some much-needed smiles back on Airbus executives' faces. Emirates signed up for another eight A380s worth $2.6 billion, taking its order to 55,...

Ground breaks on Capital Centre.(Abu Dhabi)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Work has started on the $2.2 billion Capital Centre in Abu Dhabi, designed to be the world's first 'exhibition and lifestyle destination'. The development, springing up around the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), will contain six...

Empire Aviation launches in UAE.(UPfront)
July 1, 2007... Emirates Investments Group has launched Empire Aviation Group to meet growing regional demand for business jets. The Middle East region, particularly GCC countries, has witnessed an increase in the number of business people who make use of...

Zenath sets sights on 10 luxury hotels.(UPfront)
July 1, 2007... Zenath Real Estate plans to have 10 luxury hotels up and running across the UAE in the next years, as part of a $545 million investment in hotel, commercial and residential sectors. These include the $16.3 million Landmark Inn four-star...

BA gives first class upgrade.(British Airways PLC)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... BA is offering business travellers a complimentary one-leg upgrade to first class if they fly on Club World between the UAE and UK, US or Canada before 31 July. The promotion forms part of the run-up to the airline's 75th anniversary of...

Etihad steps up capacity east and west.(UPfront)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Etihad Airways has started direct flights between Abu Dhabi and Toronto and Brussels--routes it previously dovetailed together--and will start three-times-a-week flights to Singapore in September. Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad are all...

Gulf Air business class: flight check--Bahrain-Dubai.(TRIED & tested)
July 1, 2007... FIRST IMPRESSIONS Bahrain International Airport is perhaps one of the better airports after Dubai in the Middle East--it's bright, roomy and fairly quiet, and since Gulf Air is Bahrain's national airline, it has plenty of counters here. I had...

Banyan Tree Desert Spa & Resort: hotel check--Bahrain.(TRIED & tested)
July 1, 2007... WHAT'S IT LIKE? Banyan Tree Hotels & Resort's first Middle Eastern property is a green oasis in the heart of the desert in Bahrain. Inside, the sweetly perfumed and soothing beige and cream interiors combine opulent Arabian architecture with...

Al Raha Beach Hotel: hotel check--Abu Dhabi.(TRIED & tested)
July 1, 2007... WHAT'S IT LIKE? This five-star boutique hotel is situated in the UAE capital, overlooking the Guff. It's part of a complex and has a relaxing, landscaped setting. Its low-rise profile and mix of modern and traditional architecture makes a...

Blades, Four Seasons Golf Club: restaurant review--Dubai.(TRIED & tested)
July 1, 2007... Not being a big fan of the sport, I wasn't too thrilled initially at the prospect of having dinner at a golf club. Visions of a stuffy dining room filled with clubhouse bores and food reminiscent of school dinners plagued me, but I needn't...

Cathay Pacific business class: flight check--Hong Kong-Dubai.(TRIED & tested)
July 1, 2007... FIRST IMPRESSIONS Hong Kong's bustling international airport, colloquially known as Chek Lap Kok, is Cathay Pacific's hub so its check-in desks are well represented. The first class check-in looked particularly impressive as I passed, with...

InterContinental Hong Kong: hotel check--Hong Kong.(TRIED & tested)
July 1, 2007... WHAT'S IT LIKE? One of the swankiest addresses in all of Hong Kong, the InterContinental is situated right on the Kowloon waterfront. The property expertly capitalises on its panoramic harbour's-edge location with an impressive glass-walled...

Money talks: Bahrain is basking in the glory of its financial might and throwing the doors open to international visitors with a flurry of cutting-edge business landmarks and boutique hotels.(BAHRAIN)(Cover story)
July 1, 2007... On the Gulf Air flight from Bahrain to Dubai, Dennis K. Nelsen, Vice-President of Sales and Marketing at MPR Services, an off company based in Texas, sips Arabian coffee and settles into his business class seat to read a book. A regular...

The middle ground: visitors to Qatar will be able to book into cheaper hotels from next year. Dominic Ellis casts his eye over an emerging mid-market and asks if it will trigger a fierce fight for business travel custom.(QATAR)(City overview)
July 1, 2007... Qatar is busy setting out its premium stall with a spate of luxury hotels, targeting discerning Arab travellers and well-heeled, culturally-minded tourists from Europe and Asia. This strategy isn't going to change. But since business...

Game plan: the great economic resurgence of China will reach fever pitch next year when Beijing plays host to the Olympic Games. Paul Mooney looks at how the city's infrastructure is meeting the challenge of a lifetime.(BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008)(City overview)
July 1, 2007... After 20 years of reform, Beijing is bursting at the seams. As the Chinese capital prepares to host the 2008 Olympics, the city is embarking on one of the most ambitious urban makeovers the world has ever seen. This ongoing...

Cab culture: around the world, the taxi is your best bet as a business traveller to get around locally and hone your negotiation skills on the road. Brian Johnston flags down some fares.(BUSINESS ETIQUETTE)
July 1, 2007... It's getting dark, you have just arrived in a strange city and you are looking for a taxi. It's a nerve-wracking moment for the frequent business traveller: what to expect? You might get a gleaming new Mercedes-Benz or a beat-up old jalopy...

Streets of Shanghai: what better way to start the day than with a run through China's largest city? Brent Hannon wakes up to a different perspective on Shanghai living.(SHANGHAI)
July 1, 2007... Anyone who thinks Shanghai is a lazy town has never jogged its early morning streets, as I have repeatedly (okay, twice) in the past month. This belated burst of fitness was not my idea: it came courtesy of the Westin Shanghai and the Portman...

Driving away: renting abroad involves numerous pitfalls, but with a little research and a few simple precautions you are more likely to have an enjoyable, hassle-free experience.(CAR RENTAL)
July 1, 2007... As many of us drive every day of the week, we don't think we need to take precautions when renting a car abroad. Recent research by National Car Rental showed that 41 per cent of travellers planning to travel abroad in a rental car did not...

Madrid: Madrid's answer to Knightsbridge, Barrio Salamanca is often overlooked by visiting tourists. But Beverley Fearis finds that among these wide, elegant avenues, just northeast of the city centre, there is plenty to see, do ... and buy.(4 HOURS IN ...)
July 1, 2007... [1] PLAZA DE LA CIBELES Start at the home of one of Madrid's most famous and impressive monuments, a fountain depicting the Ancient Greek goddess of nature, Cybele, riding in a chariot drawn by two lions. This square is the focus of...

Ask Alex: Alex McWhirter answers your travel queries.
July 1, 2007... Q When I returned home last November using a Gulf-based airline I was downgraded from first to business class on the first sector out of London. Airport staff at Gatwick airport gave me forms entitling me to compensation under EU regulations...

Summer promotions.(DEALS)
July 1, 2007... UNDER $250 * Until 31 August, Al Raha Beach Hotel, Abu Dhabi's five-star boutique property, is offering special summer rates. Superior rooms are priced at Dhs345 ($95.83) per person per night, while deluxe Gulf view rooms are for Dhs385...

Win a three-night break in Beirut: enjoy three nights in a double room at the Gefinor Rotana Hotel, Beirut and experience the glorious history and nightlife of Lebanon's vibrant capital.(Competition)
July 1, 2007... Lebanon's capital city Beirut is a favourite getaway for Middle Eastern travellers and the Gefinor Rotana Hotel, located in the heart of Beirut in close proximity to the business and banking districts and the city's main shopping malls, is...

Fantasy island: Teresa Machan encounters spotted pumpkins, mysterious forests and a shrine to James Bond on a trip to the art lover's paradise of Japan's Naoshima Island.(GREAT escape)
July 1, 2007... As I boarded a small ferry bound for a self-contained art island in Japan's Seto Sea, I pondered the visionary ostentation that follows art around Japan. The previous day, in Shiga prefecture, a bullet train ride away from Tokyo, I...