Business Traveller Middle East articles from May 2006

Business Traveller Middle East archives from May 2006

Emirates to open budget hotels.(HOTELS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... IN A JOINT VENTURE with UK hospitality group Whitbread, the Emirates Group is launching Premier Travel Inn in Dubai followed by the GCC. The first to open in 2007 will be a 300-room hotel at Dubai Investment Park, followed in 2008 by a...

Landmark aviation hub to be world's biggest.(TRAVEL)(Dubai World Central)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... DUBAI WORLD CENTRAL, the 140sqkm airport city planned in Jebel Ali, will include an international airport (JXB)--boasting the combined capacity of London's Heathrow and Chicago's O'Hare and capable of handling A380 aircraft and 120 million...

New hotel city drawn up.(HOTELS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... BOOSTING DUBAI'S REPUTATION as a glamorous destination, the Dhs100 billion ($27.2 billion) Bawadi hospitality project will be a 10km strip at Dubailand with 31 themed hotels (such as Desert Gate Hotels & Resorts, Wild Wild West Hotels, Africa...

Rezidor SAS will open The Regent Kuwait, its first Regent hotel in the Middle East, by end 2007.(HOTEL BRIEFS)
May 1, 2006... Rezidor SAS will open The Regent Kuwait, its first Regent hotel in the Middle East, by end 2007. It will have 310 luxury rooms.

Starwood will open the 175-room Le Meridien Ibom Hotel & Golf Resort in Nigeria in December.(HOTEL BRIEFS)
May 1, 2006... Starwood will open the 175-room Le Meridien Ibom Hotel & Golf Resort in Nigeria in December. The group's fifth property in Nigeria, it will include an 18-hole golf course and marina.

Dubai's Al Mulla Hotels Group has announced a new 252-room Ramada Hotel in Jumeirah.(HOTEL BRIEFS)
May 1, 2006... Dubai's Al Mulla Hotels Group has announced a new 252-room Ramada Hotel in Jumeirah, which will be primarily a business hotel.

Ritz-Carlton will operate the 174-room Sharq Village & Spa, its second property in Doha.(HOTEL BRIEFS)
May 1, 2006... Ritz-Carlton will operate the 174-room Sharq Village & Spa, its second property in Doha, due to open later this year.

Kempinski plans to roll out seven more hotels in the region.(HOTEL BRIEFS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Kempinski plans to roll out seven more hotels in the region, including Kempinski Hotel Aqaba Jordan, Kempinski Hotel Old Palace Sahl Hasheesh in Egypt, Kempinski Hotel Djibouti (Eastern Africa), Kempinski Hotel Royal Palace Agadir (Morocco),...

Italian airline Eurofly is to launch a twice-weekly direct service between Milan and Dubai.(AIRLINE BRIEFS)
May 1, 2006... Italian airline Eurofly is to launch a twice-weekly direct service between Milan and Dubai from December.

Frequent flyers can gain 500 bonus miles on Lufthansa's Miles & More with each overnight stay at Movenpick Hotels & Resorts.(AIRLINE BRIEFS)
May 1, 2006... Frequent flyers can gain 500 bonus miles on Lufthansa's Miles & More with each overnight stay at Movenpick Hotels & Resorts. In May, guests get double bonus miles.

Low-cost carrier Air Arabia is now flying daily from Sharjah (UAE) to Kochi and Jaipur (India).(AIRLINE BRIEFS)
May 1, 2006... Low-cost carrier Air Arabia is now flying daily from Sharjah (UAE) to Kochi and Jaipur (India), four times a week to Kabul (Afghanistan) and twice a week to Istanbul (Turkey).

Qatar constructs first class terminal.(AIRLINES)
May 1, 2006... QATAR AIRWAYS IS TO build the world's first-ever dedicated terminal for first and business class passengers at Doha International Airport. Speaking at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker said: "The new...

Saudi Arabia relaxes visa protocol for tourists.(TRAVEL)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI Arabia is to make it easier for visitors to enter the country with the introduction of tourist visas. According to HRH Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Secretary General of the Supreme Commission for Tourism,...

Shaza Hotels launches in the Middle East.(HOTELS)(Guidance Financial Group)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... THE FIRST HOTEL brand to be created specifically for the Middle East was unveiled at May's Arabian Travel Market. Shaza Hotels, a joint venture with luxury hotel chain Kempinski and international financial firm Guidance Financial Group, will...

Etihad innovates with 'Wi-Fli' internet.(AIRLINES)(Etihad Airways)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... ABU DHABI-BASED CARRIER Etihad has introduced wireless broadband on its flights. Called Wi-Fli, the onboard system is operated via Connexion by Boeing and will be available in all classes. "This represents another milestone in in-flight...

Kempinski opens at MOE.(HOTELS)(Mall of the Emirates)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... KEMPINKSI MALL OF the Emirates in Dubai has finally opened its doors, two months behind schedule. The 395-room hotel, which overlooks the world's third largest indoor ski resort, also contains 15 ski chalets. The 15-room Conference Wing...

Virgin marks its territory.(AIRLINES)(Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... VIRGIN'S DUBAI-BOUND Upper Class passengers can unwind at a new 11 [pounds sterling] ($20.1)million clubhouse at London Heathrow, which contains a multi-screen cinema, hair salon and Cowshed spa. Passengers can kill time at a 14-metre...

The first Crowne Plaza in Russia opens early next year, adjoining Moscow's World Trade Centre.(HOTEL BRIEFS)
May 1, 2006... The first Crowne Plaza in Russia opens early next year, adjoining Moscow's World Trade Centre. The 572-room property will contain five restaurants, three bars and health facilities.

Hilton's second property in the Northern Emirates, the 200-room Ras Al Khaimah Resort & Spa, is due to open on 1 December (first phase) and be fully open towards the end of 2007.(HOTEL BRIEFS)
May 1, 2006... Hilton's second property in the Northern Emirates, the 200-room Ras Al Khaimah Resort & Spa, is due to open on 1 December (first phase) and be fully open towards the end of 2007. All 102 rooms at the Hilton Fujairah Resort have been...

InterContinental Hotels Group is developing its first European hotel as part of an Austrian healthcare complex.(HOTEL BRIEFS)
May 1, 2006... InterContinental Hotels Group is developing its first European hotel as part of an Austrian healthcare complex. The 119-room InterContinental Resort & Spa in Krems will open in autumn 2008 alongside a 120-room healthcare clinic.

Air France rings the changes.(AIRLINES)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... MOBILE CALLS AND texting will be allowed on Air France's services to Europe and Africa between March and September next year. The services will be trialled on new A318 aircraft equipped with the OnAir inflight system, which allows mobiles to...

Luxury hotel opens in Syria.(HOTELS)
May 1, 2006... THE 297-ROOM FOUR Seasons Hotel Damascus is the new luxury option in the Syrian capital. It also features 54 suites and 12 residential suites that offer modern comforts and wireless internet. The hotel boasts Syrian (Al Halabi) and Italian...

Deals boost for expat drivers.(CAR RENTAL)(NAtional Car Rental Inc. launches Expat Rate service for Middle East residents)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... NATIONAL CAR RENTAL has launched an Expat Rate that offers Middle East residents competitive deals on rentals back home. Daily rates range from 19 [pounds sterling] ($34) in the UK and $32 in the US, to 34 [euro] ($43) in France, AD$60 ($45)...

Kuwait pursues top-end business.(HOTELS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... KUWAIT'S HOTEL scene is turning on the style as more premium hotels come to the fore. InterContinental Hotels Group recently opened its second Holiday Inn in the city and will open a five-star InterContinental Kuwait next year. The new...

Retreat to blissful Bali.(HOTELS)(Legian Bali)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... HIGH-FLYING CORPORATES will be able to recharge themselves at Bali's new Beach House which opens on May 1. The one-bed property, part of The Legian Bali's portfolio, has been designed for complete privacy, with a walled garden and 16-metre...

Emirates has introduced a new health monitoring system, (Tempus) which is wired up to the 24-hour Medlink Response Centre in Phoenix, US, enabling doctors on the ground to assess any problems with passengers in the air.(AIRLINE BRIEFS)
May 1, 2006... Emirates has introduced a new health monitoring system, (Tempus) which is wired up to the 24-hour Medlink Response Centre in Phoenix, US, enabling doctors on the ground to assess any problems with passengers in the air. The lifesaving...

Air Arabia's new four-a-week service between Sharjah and Kochi rises to daily on 20 May.(AIRLINE BRIEFS)
May 1, 2006... Air Arabia's new four-a-week service between Sharjah and Kochi rises to daily on 20 May and the low-cost airline also starts daily services to Jaipur from mid-May.

Gulf Air's summer schedule sees four-a-week flights between Muscat and Paris from 1 July and seven-a-week services to Jakarta and Kathmandu.(AIRLINE BRIEFS)(Gulf Air Company GSC)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Gulf Air's summer schedule sees four-a-week flights between Muscat and Paris from 1 July and seven-a-week services to Jakarta and Kathmandu. Amman is served by six flights a week with two-a-week services to Islamabad and Dammam. A direct...

Fine dining meals, new cabins and Aigner-branded amenity kits are all on the menu when flying business class on Qatar Airways' daily A330 service between Doha and Hong Kong.(AIRLINE BRIEFS)
May 1, 2006... Fine dining meals, new cabins and Aigner-branded amenity kits are all on the menu when flying business class on Qatar Airways' daily A330 service between Doha and Hong Kong. Laptop power points, 15-inch TV screens and back massage functions...

Kingfisher Airlines has taken delivery.(AIRLINE BRIEFS)
May 1, 2006... Kingfisher Airlines has taken delivery of the first of 35 ATR 72-500s.

Hyatt Regency Kolkata.(HOTEL CHECK: KOLKATA)(Company overview)
May 1, 2006... WHAT'S IT LIKE? This contemporary hotel is centrally located just 20 minutes from the airport and 20 minutes from the main city so it makes an ideal base for tourists and business people. It features rich chocolate wood contrasted with white...

SriLankan Airways business class.(FLIGHT CHECK: COLOMBO-DUBAI)
May 1, 2006... FIRST IMPRESSIONS The drop-off point didn't have the usual manic subcontinental feel and it was a relatively painless trolley grab into the airport, albeit via a slightly dodgy-looking corrugated corridor. The check-in area was quiet and it...

A night to remember: An array of accolades was the order of the evening as the good and the great of the region's travel trade were acknowledged at this year's Business Traveller Middle East Awards.(Business Traveller Middle East Awards 2006)
May 1, 2006... The splendid Majlis Al Salam ballroom at the Mina A' Salam hotel was the setting for around 330 guests to enjoy a evening of networking, fine cuisine and well-deserved honours, courtesy of the Business Traveller Middle East Awards 2006, held...

The grand scheme.(ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET)
May 1, 2006... Thirteen may be unlucky for some, but it certainly wasn't the case for this year's Arabian Travel Market (ATM). The exhibition showcased the Middle East's towering tourism and leisure developments. On the cards are deluxe hotels at one end...

Going up in the world: Dubai's hotel market goes way beyond the classic five-star property and is diversifying in novel and ingenious ways, providing accommodation to suit all budgets and tastes, as Frank Coles discovers.(Dubai)
May 1, 2006... Dubai is an emirate driven by superlatives. It is by all accounts, the fastest growing city in the world with the largest amount of cranes and people working on the biggest, tallest, grandest, most opulent, most imaginative variety of...

Natural advantage: Jordan banks on its natural and historical attractions to lure both leisure and business travellers a like to the shores of the Dead Sea and Aqaba. Methil Renuka reports on the Hashemite Kingdom's latest moves.(Jordan)
May 1, 2006... Harry Corken strides out of the leafy foyer of the Sheraton Amman Al Nabil Hotel & Towers in a tracksuit for his evening stroll. Around him, the lobby of the Amman hotel is crawling with laptop-laden executives in sharp business suits. Most...

Beating the clock: There's not much point in travelling half way around the world for a meeting only to fall asleep halfway through. Sarah Maxwell investigates jet lag.(Health)
May 1, 2006... Everyone who travels has felt it: that fuzzy-headed sensation as you lose the thread of a meeting you had to cross continents to attend. Then, only a few hours later after a short sleep, staring at the ceiling of your hotel room because your...

4 hours in Vienna: What is there apart from opera and Mozart in Austria's capital? Felicity Cousins explores the medieval centre of Vienna and finds plenty more cultural treats.
May 1, 2006... Vienna is divided into districts starting from the medieval centre (known as the Innere Stadt, or inner town) and moving outwards. The Hapsburgs built a protective ring around the original village, which housed all the grand palaces and...

Ask Alex: Alex McWhirter answers your travel queries.
May 1, 2006... Dear Alex, My luggage was lost on Swiss when I was travelling between Barcelona and Athens (via Zurich). Although I am a UAE resident I had purchased this ticket in Barcelona. I claimed the value of the lost contents in the baggage...

Caviar nights: Moscow's restaurants are ahead of the game, now it's time for the hotels to catch up.(Moscow)
May 1, 2006... There can be few surer signs that a city has arrived on the world scene than it starts to shout about its restaurants. It is strange that only 16 years ago, the arrival of McDonald's was considered a world event, such a potent symbol of...

Murder most unhurried: When it comes to travelling on the Orient Express, it's not all about getting from A to B, discovers Mark Caswell.(Orient Express)
May 1, 2006... It was 9.30am on a Friday morning, and my train pulled slowly out of a bustling London Victoria station on its way to a party political conference in Brighton. But this was no ordinary commuter train, and the conference would prove to be...

Runway pride: Corporate travellers have never had such a slew of hi-tech mobile business gizmos at their fingertips as now. Methil Renuka tracks down the bestsellers.(Gadgets)(Directory)
May 1, 2006... Presto X55 The new DTK Presto X55 is a 15.4" widescreen notebook that comes with an AMD Turion 64 processor or a Mobile AMD Sempron and is bluetooth-enabled. The Presto X55 has a 4-in-1 card reader and boasts of a built-in high...

Win a historic six-night break in scenic Jordan: Enjoy two nights at each of the three Marriott properties at the Dead Sea, Petra and Amman in Jordan.(Competition)
May 1, 2006... Described by Lawrence of Arabia as "vast, echoing and God-like", Jordan's scenery and heritage create the breathtaking backdrop against which its trio of Marriott hotels offers a world-class experience for the business traveller who wants a...

Vegetation state: With its enchanting forest views and spa delights, Teresa Machan revels in one of India's premier retreats.(Great Escape: India)
May 1, 2006... From my princely perch in an infinity-edge Jacuzzi that appeared to pour itself into a forest of pines below, I was soaking up more than restorative water-jet bubbles. The view, over the fir trees and undulating green valley to the Western...