Business Traveller Middle East articles from March 2009

Business Traveller Middle East archives from March 2009

Hotels tighten up security.(Upfront)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Expect hotels to resemble airports very soon, warn security experts, as a result of the chilling terrorist s on the iconic Taj Majal Palace & Tower as well as the Oberoi Trident Hotel in Mumbai last November. ...

Kuwait's Wataniya Airways adds new services to schedule.(Upfront)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Recently launched premium airline Wataniaya Airways is to add Cairo, Beirut and Bahrain to the list of destinations it serves from this month. The Kuwaiti airline already operates a twice-daily scheduled service to...

Low-cost carriers set for growth.(Upfront)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... A recent report by the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) has predicted that low-cost carriers (LCCs) will see increases in both traffic and earnings this year versus legacy airlines. "Stormy conditions in 2008 have already helped the...

Crowne Plaza introduces personal hotelier service.(Upfront)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Guests at Crowne Plaza hotels throughout the Middle East can now take advantage of a personal hotelier service, designed to provide one point of contact to travellers and alleviate the stress of corporate travel. A...

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has officially opened Staybridge Suites Cairo CityStars, the first upscale extended stay hotel brand to be opened in the Middle East and Africa.(Hotel news update)
March 1, 2009... InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has officially opened Staybridge Suites Cairo CityStars, the first upscale extended stay hotel brand to be opened in the Middle East and Africa. It is intended to bridge the gap between conventional hotels and...

Golden Tulip Hospitality Group MENA Region has signed an agreement with Saudi Tourism Development Company to manage Tulip Inn Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.(Hotel news update)
March 1, 2009... Golden Tulip Hospitality Group MENA Region has signed an agreement with Saudi Tourism Development Company to manage Tulip Inn Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Tulip Inn Riyadh is located in central downtown on King Abdul Aziz Road in the bustling business...

A new Ibis is scheduled to fill demand for value pricing in the hotel sector.(Hotel news update)
March 1, 2009... A new Ibis is scheduled to fill demand for value pricing in the hotel sector. The 480-room Ibis Al Barsha, managed by the Accor group, is located on Sheikh Zayed Road and will have a selection of rooms available, each with international direct...

Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa has reopened following a 30-month and $45 million-dollar master makeover.(Hotel news update)
March 1, 2009... Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa has reopened following a 30-month and $45 million-dollar master makeover. The property is 650 miles or a short flight from Cairo and 15 minutes drive from Luxor International Airport.

Emaar Hospitality Group's brand, The Address Hotels + Resorts, has signed a management contract with Azmi Abdelhadi (AAH) Group to operate a luxury property within Jnan Amar Retreat, a mixed-use development in Marrakech.(Hotel news update)
March 1, 2009... Emaar Hospitality Group's brand, The Address Hotels + Resorts, has signed a management contract with Azmi Abdelhadi (AAH) Group to operate a luxury property within Jnan Amar Retreat, a mixed-use development in Marrakech. Scheduled to open in...

Rezidor Hotel Group's brand, Radisson SAS, has announced it is to change its name to Radisson Blu.(Hotel news update)
March 1, 2009... Rezidor Hotel Group's brand, Radisson SAS, has announced it is to change its name to Radisson Blu. The small, but significant name change reflects the natural end of Radisson's links with the SAS Group following Rezidor's IPO back in November...

Movenpick Hotels & Resorts announced the launch of its first residence in Dubai in February.(Hotel news update)
March 1, 2009... Movenpick Hotels & Resorts announced the launch of its first residence in Dubai in February. The new building will adjoin the existing hotel and will have 57 fully furnished, one to three-bedroom apartments. The property will offer a lounge...

Raffles Hotels & Resorts has announced that it will manage a new resort in Taghazout, Morocco, its second in the country.(Hotel news update)
March 1, 2009... Raffles Hotels & Resorts has announced that it will manage a new resort in Taghazout, Morocco, its second in the country. The resort will be located along the Atlantic coast north of Agadir. Set to open in 2010, Raffles Taghazout will be...

Nakheel Hotels has completed the second phase of its Kempinski-managed Djibouti Palace in the country's capital.(Hotel news update)
March 1, 2009... Nakheel Hotels has completed the second phase of its Kempinski-managed Djibouti Palace in the country's capital. First opened in November 2006, the extension brings the guest room inventory to 254 rooms and 55 furnished apartments, from 177...

Rotana has completed the soft opening of Cove Rotana Resort in Ras Al Khaimah.(Hotel news update)
March 1, 2009... Rotana has completed the soft opening of Cove Rotana Resort in Ras Al Khaimah. The resort is located at the entrance of the Ras Al Khaimah emirate on an inlet at Arqoob beach overlooking the Indian Ocean and most of the guest rooms offer views...

Grand Hyatt Doha Hotel and Residential Complex will open in spring 2009 offering 249 guest rooms and 91 private residences.(Hotel news update)
March 1, 2009... Grand Hyatt Doha Hotel and Residential Complex will open in spring 2009 offering 249 guest rooms and 91 private residences. Conveniently situated in Doha's new West Bay Lagoon district, the hotel is located just minutes from the city's financial...

The Rezidor Hotel Group has announced that it will open a Hotel Missoni in Oman.(Hotel news update)
March 1, 2009... The Rezidor Hotel Group has announced that it will open a Hotel Missoni in Oman. The Hotel Missoni Jebel Sifah--which features 250 rooms and 50 apartments and villas--is scheduled to open in 2012. It is the third Hotel Missoni in Rezidor's...

Coral Hotels & Resorts has soft launched its latest property in Dubai.(Hotel news update)
March 1, 2009... Coral Hotels & Resorts has soft launched its latest property in Dubai. The Coral Al Khoory Hotel Apartments are located in the Al Barsha district and offer 144 deluxe apartments, from studios to three-bedroom properties. It is the company's...

Banishing the paperwork.(Upfront)
March 1, 2009... New government legislation in the US has made it mandatory for all travellers from all Visa Waiver countries to have applied online for an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA), prior to travel to the country. Australia has been...

Dnata moves into Afghan market.(Upfront)(DNATA and DNATA World Travel in partnership with Hogg Robinson Travel)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] UAE-based Dnata Travel has announced the opening of a permanent travel shop in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul. In collaboration with its partner, the Hogg Robinson Group (in which Dnata holds a 23 per cent share) and...

Did you know?(Upfront)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Aviation accounts for two per cent of global C[O.sub.2] emissions. IATA estimates that the industry's emissions will fall 4.5 per cent in 2009 thanks to lower traffic during the credit crunch and strategic airline...

Emirates plans to grow international network.(Upfront)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Emirates has unveiled plans to grow the number of flights across its network by 14 per cent in 2009. This year, the Dubai-based carrier will add 18 new passenger aircraft to its fleet, increasing seating capacity by 14...

Meet me: event planners, conference organizers and incentive buyers will meet in Abu Dhabi in March for GIBTM, a show dedicated to the needs of the business traveller. Claire Hill reveals what delegates can expect from the 2009 edition.(GIBTM PREVIEW)(Conference news)
March 1, 2009... Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre is gearing up for the three-day Gulf Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM), scheduled to run from 31 March to 2 April. More than 250 regional and international exhibitors will be present,...

Arabian travel market confident of successful year: Laura Collacott looks at what the region's biggest travel exhibition has in store for this year's event.(ATM)(Company overview)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dubai is gearing up for this year's round of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM), set to be held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from 5-8 May. Since it was established in 1994, the exhibition has...

British Airways Club World.(TRIED & TESTED)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FLIGHT CHECK--DUBAI-LONDON CHECK-IN BA's purpose-built Terminal 5 building at Heathrow is designed around the offline check-in concept; in the place of rows of check-in desks stand neat touch-screen kiosks and...

Six Senses, Zighy Bay.(TRIED & TESTED)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HOTEL CHECK--MUSSANDAM, OMAN WHERE IS IT? The hotel is off the beaten track, to say the least. It is branded a Six Senses 'Hideaway' for good reason, tucked in a rocky, beachffont valley in the Omani peninsula of...

Al Bustan InterContinental.(TRIED & TESTED)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HOTEL CHECK--MUSCAT, OMAN WHERE IS IT? Crossing a border is always of interest if for nothing else than to simply note the differences between countries. When entering the Sultanate of Oman the flat desert becomes...

Atlantis, the Palm.(TRIED & TESTED)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHERE IS IT? Atlantis's reputation as an iconic landmark begins with its location: situated on the Palm Jumeirah, the hotel's imposing structure rises up to meet you as you approach down the Crescent of this amazing man...

The race to Bahrain: with more emphasis on corporate events and increased international exposure from the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix, the Kingdom is speeding down new commercial avenues.(BAHRAIN)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Events within events has been one of the growth industries in the Middle East in recent years, none more so than the sporting arena. With corporates queuing up to swing by the region's three main golf tournaments in...

The 249-room Holiday Inn Express Manama, expected to open in the third quarter of 2010, will be the brand's first venture in the Middle East outside Dubai.(Hotel update)
March 1, 2009... The 249-room Holiday Inn Express Manama, expected to open in the third quarter of 2010, will be the brand's first venture in the Middle East outside Dubai. InterContinental Hotel Group is also opening a 381-room Holiday Inn in Dubai's Al Garhoud...

Hilton Hotels Corporation has signed a management agreement with Diyar Al Bahrain to open the first Conrad Hotel in the Kingdom in 2011, which will contain 250 rooms and 50 apartments.(Hotel update)
March 1, 2009... Hilton Hotels Corporation has signed a management agreement with Diyar Al Bahrain to open the first Conrad Hotel in the Kingdom in 2011, which will contain 250 rooms and 50 apartments. The hotel will be a short distance from the Central Business...

It may be a time for corporate cut-backs but not, it seems, at Sharq Village and Spa.(Hotel update)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... It may be a time for corporate cut-backs but not, it seems, at Sharq Village and Spa. It recently unveiled its 2,099sq metre Royal Villa, ornately modelled on a Sheikh's palace, which is divided into two wings. Alongside the royal suite, guest...

The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel & Spa went smoke-free at all its restaurants and public areas from the start of this year.(Hotel update)
March 1, 2009... The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel & Spa went smoke-free at all its restaurants and public areas from the start of this year, although smokers can still light up in designated areas such as the Burlington Club and banqueting rooms.

Marriott Executive Apartments Manama, targeting long-stay business travellers, has opened its doors.(Hotel update)
March 1, 2009... Marriott Executive Apartments Manama, targeting long-stay business travellers, has opened its doors. Located in Al Fateh/Juffair district, near the diplomatic area, the property offers 188 one, two and three-bedroom apartments.

Bahrain hotels.(BAHRAIN)
March 1, 2009... Bahrain Hotels CROWNE PLAZA MARRIOT EXECUTIVE APARTMENTS What's it like? A low rise hotel with an A fully serviced hotel impressive lobby, ...

Designed to impress: Washington DC encapsulates American hopes and ambitions in its public buildings, parks and even train stations.(WASHINGTON)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Washington DC has been making even more headlines than usual lately. A new presidential inauguration will always be big news, of course, but that of President Barack Obama was very big indeed,...

Service with a smile: the recent political unrest in Thailand has threatened to undermine its image as a peaceful, tourist-friendly destination. However, the country is determined to put on its best game face and prove that 2009 is still the right time to visit 'Amazing Thailand', as Colette Doyle finds out.(THAILAND)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When protestors took over Bangkok's international airport, Suvarnabhumi, at the end of last November, the world watched aghast as hundreds of anti-government protesters stormed the building, shattering Thailand's...

Thailand hotels.(THAILAND)
March 1, 2009... Thailand Hotels CENTARA GRAND DUSIT THANI What's it like? A five-star hotel and Dusit Thani is the city's modern convention centre, landmark, providing fully integrated with...

What lies beneath: India is one of the world's most exciting economic players, but the country is an unconventional host. Laura Collacott charts an urban territory of contrast, colour and history to find out what underpins the glare of success.(INDIA)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] India is chaotic. Everywhere you look there is a writhing mass of industrious bodies. Cleaning the streets, washing clothes, peddling wares, manning call...

India hotels.(INDIA)
March 1, 2009... India Hotels FOUR SEASONS ITC GRAND CENTRAL MUMBAI MUMBAI What it like? A sleek icon in India Inspired by British with spacious...

A home from home: across the globe, extended-stay residences are thriving.(SERVICED APARTMENTS)(Company overview)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Serviced apartments have been around for years, providing a home from home for longer trips away, but interest in using them for shorter stays is on the rise. The economic crisis may well encourage this, as people shop...

Shouldering the pain: back ache? Do you feel like a good knead on the massage table might be the only thing to save your sanity? The problem might be your laptop. Business Traveller brings you some tips that could rescue you from your suffering.(HEALTH)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Most of us will have felt the shoulder-searing pain that comes from sitting at a laptop for too long or lugging one at speed around the international circuit. They maybe more portable than a desktop, but sometimes...

Top bags.(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] $480 KNOMO, VIENNA WWW.KNOMOBAGS.COM This wheelie case is elegantly designed to be practical and comfortable. Wheeled bags take the strain of carrying often cumbersome laptops around on your shoulder or back and...

Ask Alex.
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] QUESTION: I have recently relocated to London from Hong Kong. Should I keep collecting points with my Cathay Pacific Silver Marco Polo card, or use my British Airways blue tier Executive Club? I expect to fly regularly...

Clarification.(Ask Alex)(Correction notice)
March 1, 2009... Several readers have taken me to task over the reply I provided to Dubai reader Sanjay Amarnani, who is a gold tier member of Emirates' FFR He had booked a first class award ticket on Emirates' inaugural non-stop flight to Los Angeles on 1...

Marrakech: a firmly Islamic country within miles of the European mainland, Morocco presents an irresistible destination for many travellers. Business Traveller heads to its most famous city, Marrakech, to uncover its highlights.(4 HOURS IN ...)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [1] DJEMAA EL FNA At the heart of almost every old city lies the marketplace. Marrakech is no exception and is a place for both locals and tourists to enjoy the...

Scribesmen: don't just ink your big contracts with any old biro; pick up one of these finely crafted fountain pens and set the deal off on the right foot, or even hand.(ESSENTIALS)(Buyers guide)
March 1, 2009... $54,500 MONBLANC LIMITED EDITION UAE FLAG PEN WWW.MONTBLANC.COM Although this pen won't be to everyone's taste, no one can deny that it is a spectacular tribute to the UAE's wordsmiths. The flag emblem is embedded into the white gold...

Win a break in the UAE's capital: enjoy a weekend of culture with a stay at the Hilton Abu Dhabi.(COMPETITION)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Hilton Abu Dhabi offers an unforgettable experience for business and leisure travellers. Whether it's indulging at one of the 12 restaurant or bar locations, lounging at the capital's largest private beach, energising...

A roar through time: once taking the form of a giant lion, Sri Lanka's historic Sigirya monument is a testament to the engineering ingenuity of the ancients, as Laura Collacott discovers.(GREAT ESCAPE)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] From the middle of the Sri Lankan landscape rises a great rock. This rock was the chosen home of an ancient colony of people who draped their city over its back in the first millennium. It is a curious decision, as to...