Business Traveller Middle East articles from May 2007

Business Traveller Middle East archives from May 2007

Sharjah airport takes off in a big way.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2007... Your feature in the last issue on Sharjah, entitled The next big thing (March/April, page 20) was a real eye-opener and proved to be very informative in charting Sharjah's impressive progress. As the article made clear, Sharjah International...

Feather-free Marriott.(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2007... I am an Elite card holder with Marriott, which means that I stay more than 75 nights a year, and am intrigued about a policy that seems to have changed within the company. That policy is to provide a mixture of feather and non-feather pillows...

Seat selection in club world.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2007... I have just purchased return tickets to Cyprus in British Airways Club Europe on BA's website for almost $1,978. I was surprised to discover that I could not select my seats when I completed the booking so I contacted BA ticketing to ask why....

Tiara Hotels launches with two Dubai properties.(UPfront)
May 1, 2007... A new luxury hospitality concept is coming to the UAE in the shape of Tiara Hotels & Resorts. Described as "thought luxury instead of bought luxury" by newly appointed CEO Danny Haddad, Tiara Hotels' first property will open next summer on The...

Take the strain out of checking in.(UPfront)
May 1, 2007... First Luggage is a new service that specialises in delivering passengers' luggage from their home to their final destination anywhere in the world, leaving them free to travel with just hand luggage. First Luggage works with FedEx and their...

Al Khayala operates first flights from Saudi to DXB.(Al Khayala Airlines)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Al Khayala Airlines, an all-business-class carrier based in Saudi Arabia, has operated its first flights from Riyadh and Jeddah to Dubai. Owned by National Air Services (NAS), a private Riyadh-based aviation company, Al Khayala targets first...

The Business Travel Show comes to the UAE.(UPfront)
May 1, 2007... The Business Travel Show launches in Dubai this autumn under the patronage of HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Emirates Group and President of the Dubai Department of Civil Aviation. The show, which will be held from 2930...

GIBTM set to become annual meeting point.(UPfront)(Gulf Incentives Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... The Gulf Incentives Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM), held for the first time from 13-15 March in Abu Dhabi, drew over 175 participants and threw up valuable insight on the region's meetings and incentives industry. ...

Renaissance hotel number two for Dubai.(UPfront)
May 1, 2007... Dubai Marina's business lifestyle will receive a boost when the Marriott-managed Renaissance Dubai Marina Hotel comes online in 2010. The 300-room hotel will come up as part of the Bay Central mixed-use development with speciality...

Sharjah airport to boast branded hotel.(UPfront)
May 1, 2007... Sharjah Airport is set to get its first hotel in 2009, in line with its continued expansion plans. Sharjah-based low-cost carrier Air Arabia will construct a 300-room Centro by Rotana at the airport, offering superior and affordable...

Emirates will begin non-stop Dubai-Venice services on 1 July.(AIRLINE UPDATE)
May 1, 2007... Emirates will begin non-stop Dubai-Venice services on 1 July. It will initially operate five times a week and go daily from September.

Etihad will launch flights four times a week from Abu Dhabi to Dublin on 2 July.(AIRLINE UPDATE)
May 1, 2007... Etihad will launch flights four times a week from Abu Dhabi to Dublin on 2 July, and also commence non-stop flights three times a week from Abu Dhabi to Milan from 2 September with introductory return fares starting from Dhs2,170 ($602) in...

Lufthansa has upgraded its service from Bahrain to Frankfurt from three to four weekly flights featuring new business class sleeper seats.(AIRLINE UPDATE)
May 1, 2007... Lufthansa has upgraded its service from Bahrain to Frankfurt from three to four weekly flights featuring new business class sleeper seats. Lufthansa now code shares with Turkish Airlines; frequent flyers can collect miles on both networks.

Qatar Airways has introduced double daily Doha-Muscat flights.(AIRLINE UPDATE)
May 1, 2007... Qatar Airways has introduced double daily Doha-Muscat flights. The airline has also launched a new internet booking engine allowing passengers to search for flights and have tickets issued automatically through its website www.qatarairways....

Thai Airways has launched a new website (www.thaiairways.ae).(AIRLINE UPDATE)(Website overview)
May 1, 2007... Thai Airways has launched a new website (www.thaiairways. ae) with information on schedules, booking forms and destinations.

Ethiopian Airlines is launching Addis Ababa-Sana'a services from 14 May with four flights a week.(AIRLINE UPDATE)
May 1, 2007... Ethiopian Airlines is launching Addis Ababa-Sana'a services from 14 May with four flights a week. It will also launch non-stop flights to Bahrain from 3 June.

New regulations in the UAE, in line with current policies in Europe and the US.(AIRLINE UPDATE)
May 1, 2007... New regulations in the UAE, in line with current policies in Europe and the US, will dictate that all liquids, aerosols and gels carried within hand-baggage should be in containers less than 100ml to fit into re-sealable plastic bags.

Conrad Abu Dhabi to offer wider choice.(Abu Dhabi's Tourism Development & Investment Company plans)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... The UAE's rapidly developing capital will boast more business accommodation when Conrad Abu Dhabi opens in 2009. Planned by Abu Dhabi's Tourism Development & Investment Company, the hotel will be part of the $400 million Lagoon Club...

Emirates boosts ground services in Asia-Pacific.(UPfront)
May 1, 2007... Emirates' east-bound premium passengers can take advantage of the airline's new, dedicated first and business class lounges at both Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia and Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Thailand. Services...

Kuwait's first Rotana property opens.(UPfront)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Executives in Kuwait on business now have more hospitality options. Rotana, currently on an expansion spree in the Middle East, has opened its first property in Kuwait, the Al Manshar Rotana Hotel. The 200-unit, 19-storey hotel in Al...

The 195-room Sheraton Khalidiya Hotel Abu Dhabi.(HOTEL UPDATE)
May 1, 2007... The 195-room Sheraton Khalidiya Hotel Abu Dhabi, previously known as Sheraton Suites, has re-opened after a massive overhaul with a spectacular new look to its lobby, deluxe rooms, six meeting rooms and two dining venues, including Downtown...

The Ritz Carlton's Sharq Village & Spa has just opened in Doha.(HOTEL UPDATE)
May 1, 2007... The Ritz Carlton's Sharq Village & Spa has just opened in Doha. Inspired by traditional Qatari architecture, it boasts 174 lavish rooms, a lobby souk and 23 spa treatment rooms designed like Qatari homes.

Dubai-based Jumeirah will manage the Jumeirah Etihad Towers.(HOTEL UPDATE)
May 1, 2007... Dubai-based Jumeirah will manage the Jumeirah Etihad Towers including a 60-storey luxury hotel, offices, residences and retail on the Abu Dhabi Corniche scheduled to open in 2010 with 400 rooms.

Radisson SAS Hotel, Dubai Media City has opened its second tower with 125 rooms.(HOTEL UPDATE)
May 1, 2007... Radisson SAS Hotel, Dubai Media City has opened its second tower with 125 rooms. A bridge will link to the first tower, which opened last year with 121 rooms. The towers have t2 meeting rooms in all.

Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea has opened its main building, adding 201 rooms and executive suites to the existing 117-unit facility.(HOTEL UPDATE)
May 1, 2007... Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea has opened its main building, adding 201 rooms and executive suites to the existing 117-unit facility. By the end of 2007, it will have a total of nine dining venues and will also open the ballroom.

Until 30 May, InterContinental Mzaar in Lebanon is offering a 50 per cent discount on rooms and outdoor activities.(HOTEL UPDATE)
May 1, 2007... Until 30 May, InterContinental Mzaar in Lebanon is offering a 50 per cent discount on rooms and outdoor activities like mountain biking.

Coral International will open Coral Boutique, Aleppo.(HOTEL UPDATE)
May 1, 2007... Coral International will open Coral Boutique, Aleppo, its first deluxe hotel in Syria by the end of 2007 with 65 rooms and a meeting room.

Millennium Hotels & Resorts will open its newest five-star property.(HOTEL UPDATE)
May 1, 2007... Millennium Hotels & Resorts will open its newest five-star property, the Millennium Towers Hotel Dubai, this summer with 149 suites and 203 rooms.

Dubai-based Istithmar Hotels has purchased a majority stake in the five-star Mandarin Oriental, New York.(HOTEL UPDATE)
May 1, 2007... Dubai-based Istithmar Hotels has purchased a majority stake in the five-star Mandarin Oriental, New York, which is part of the Time Warner Center in New York City.

Global Hyatt Corporation has launched Andaz.(HOTEL UPDATE)
May 1, 2007... Global Hyatt Corporation has launched Andaz, a new brand meaning 'personal style'. The first Andaz hotel will be in London, followed by New York.

Following the refurbishment of 44 rooms last year, the Kempinski Hotel in Ajman, UAE.(HOTEL UPDATE)
May 1, 2007... Following the refurbishment of 44 rooms last year, the Kempinski Hotel in Ajman, UAE, will begin the second phase of renovation, revamping 54 more rooms.

Bridgeway at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi is being developed.(HOTEL UPDATE)
May 1, 2007... Bridgeway at Zayed Sports in Abu Dhabi is being developed as a five-star complex with a 306-room hotel, 146 apartments, health club and conference centre.

Nakheel has unveiled details of the first phase of The Palm Deira, the third and last island in The Palm trilogy.(HOTEL UPDATE)
May 1, 2007... Nakheel has unveiled details of the first phase of The Palm the third and last island in The Palm trilogy. It will consist of two different projects: Deira Corniche and The Palm Deira Island. The first phase of the new master plan is Deira...

The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai has introduced the Platinum Card (valid for a year) for couples.(HOTEL UPDATE)
May 1, 2007... The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai has introduced the Platinum Card (valid for a year) for couples. For Dhs175,000 ($48,611), it includes a complimentary night's stay in a suite with access to the Club Lounge, a balcony dinner, daily lunch with house...

Arabian retreat planned for Abu Dhabi's Liwa desert.(Tourism Development & Investment Company)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Abu Dhabi is set to get a signature Arabian retreat in the desert. The UAE capital's Tourism Development & Investment Company is building Qasr Al Sarah, a luxury resort deep in Liwa desert, in the Empty Quarter (Rub Al Khali) made famous by...

KM Holding introduces new hotel brand.(UPfront)
May 1, 2007... Dubai-based KM Holding has diversified into the hospitality business starting with six new hotels in Dubai. Under its real estate arm, KM Properties, and its newly created hospitality and leisure management brand, Tamani Hotels & Resorts,...

More Four Points properties for Dubai.(Starwood Hotels & Resorts Inc. plans)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Starwood is re-launching its Four Points brand in Dubai with two new hotels. The Four Points by Sheraton, Sheikh Zayed Road, will be a 40-storey steel-and-glass structure in the heart of new Dubai opening later this year with 288 rooms,...

Four Seasons Cairo at Nile Plaza: hotel check--Cairo.(TRIED & tested)
May 1, 2007... WHAT'S IT LIKE? Visitors to colourful and chaotic Cairo will undoubtedly appreciate the tranquillity and elegance afforded by this luxurious Art Deco oasis, the perfect base from which to explore Africa's largest city. The 30-storey Four...

Habtoor Grand Hotel: hotel check--Beirut.(TRIED & tested)
May 1, 2007... WHAT'S IT LIKE? As you might expect from a capital once nicknamed the Paris of the Middle East, Beirut has a lot to offer when it comes to luxurious hotel destinations. There are few locations, however, that succeed in distracting visitors from...

Al Hamra Fort Hotel & Beach Resort: hotel check--Ras Al Khaimah, UAE.(TRIED & tested)
May 1, 2007... WHAT'S IT LIKE? This five-star property may not be that well known, but it's dusty Ras Al Khaimah's best-kept secret. It has a 1.5km private beach hugging a blue sea, attractively landscaped gardens and the whole resort bustles with life. ...

Hotel Savoy: hotel check--Florence, Italy.(TRIED & tested)
May 1, 2007... WHAT'S IT LIKE? Located in the heart of picturesque Florence, literally a few steps away from the city's most renowned landmark, the Duomo, this luxury boutique hotel has benefited from an extensive refurbishment, making it one of the city's...

Emirates Business Class: flight check--Dubai-Larnaca-Malta.(TRIED & tested)
May 1, 2007... FIRST IMPRESSIONS The limousine arrived three hours before my 8.15am flight, so I was among the first to check in at Emirate's business class counter. The staff informed me that it was going to be a full flight and, after some deliberation,...

InterContinental Malta: hotel check--Malta.(TRIED & tested)
May 1, 2007... WHAT'S IT LIKE? A large city hotel offering views of the Mediterranean Sea. The airy blue lounge is filled with modern art; you won't find the archetypal centrepiece flower arrangement. WHERE IS IT? In the prime St George's Bay area, it's...

Simply the best: the 2007 Business Traveller Middle East Awards saw a record turnout for the sixth annual event, this year presented by award-winning chef Marco Pierre White. Voted for by the magazine's readers, these independent accolades honoured the cream of the regional and international travel industry.(BTME AWARDS 2007)
May 1, 2007... A lively and revealing question and answer session with award-winning celebrity chef Marco Pierre White entertained and enthralled the audience at this year's Business Traveller Middle East Awards, held at the swish Safinah Ballroom at the...

Tourism attraction: the 14th Arabian Travel Market in Dubai revealed the region's ongoing fascination for top-end accommodation, multidimensional projects and new lifestyle brands, but the focus clearly was tourism.(ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET)
May 1, 2007... Above the din of frantic loudspeaker announcements and the relentless bustle of buyers and businessmen around him, Allan Edgar, Hyatt's Vice-President of Marketing for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, set the tone: "The Middle East is...

Heights of luxury.(business aviation and economic development)
May 1, 2007... In a sector that is growing regionally by approximately 37 per cent year on year, the benefits of business aviation are being discovered by increasing numbers of Middle East corporations and high net-worth individuals who value the immediacy of...

Body of work: greetings around the world can take many forms--should you shake hands, bow or hug the next time you do business abroad? Brian Johnston takes us through the trials and tribulations of body language in an increasingly globalised society.(BUSINESS ETIQUETTE)
May 1, 2007... Think for a moment about the trendy catch phrases of international business: the world economy, trade blocks, the European Union, the internet. These impressive terms all deal with the big picture, but that hasn't changed the fact that even...

Just a sniff away: the phenomenon of the chef's table has spread rapidly. Julian Tan dines face to face with some of Asia's greatest culinary artists.(CHEF'S TABLE)(Restaurant review)
May 1, 2007... There's an ancient Chinese proverb--"To the ruler, the people are heaven; to the people, food is heaven". And what could be more divine than a seat at a chefs table, where the drama of continuous creation and the lively interaction between the...

Time to play: if you thought your laptop might last another couple of years, think again. PC Games are more exciting than ever before, but you'll need one of these machines to get the best out of them.(TECHNOLOGY)
May 1, 2007... Chances are that your laptop has seen little gaming action beyond the odd game of Solitaire on the train. However, if Microsoft gets its way, that may change. Buoyed by the success of its Xbox 360 console, Microsoft is going after the PC games...

Global operations: the opportunity to combine a pressing medical procedure with a holiday in an exotic location means that travelling overseas for treatment is becoming increasingly appealing. Tom Chesshyre looks at the international options.(MEDICAL TOURISM)
May 1, 2007... Medical tourism is one of the fastest-growing areas in travel. Companies offering surgery and dentistry have sprung up by the dozen in the past year--and it's now easy to book a heart operation in India, a dental appointment in Poland, a knee...

Fit to fly: most business travellers live with jet lag day in, day out. But does being permanently out of synch with our body clocks mean problems for our health in years to come?(JET LAG)
May 1, 2007... Jet lag is a fact of life for most frequent flyers. Like hangovers or the common cold, there is no cure, just plenty of short-term remedies. As business travellers we think nothing of squeezing in half a dozen long-haul trips a month, with the...

Greenlight: Ras Al Khaimah is focusing on eco-tourism even as it pushes ahead to enhance its business and hospitality options, as Methil Renuka discovers.(RAS AL KHAIMAH)
May 1, 2007... "This is my office, by the sea," says Miami based Claudio Osorio, pointing to his sofa in the busy, beach facing foyer of Ras Al Khaimah's Al Hamra Fort Hotel & Beach Resort. On assignment from the US to design and manufacture low-cost houses...

Top gear: sporty and luxurious at the same time, these new mean machines will surely redefine your first-class experience on the road.(Lexus LS460, Volkswagen Eos, Infiniti FX, Touareg and Audi TT)(Buyers guide)
May 1, 2007... Lexus LS460 The interiors of Lexus' flagship LS460 sedan reflect Japanese craftsmanship at its best, giving it the opulence of a private jet and ensuring you travel first class. A smart card enables key-less entry, engine start, and sets...

The Golden City: the Czech capital may look like something out of a fairytale, but it has a hard head for business. Guy Dittrich looks at the rapidly expanding hotel market.(PRAGUE)
May 1, 2007... In any contest for the title of Europe's most photogenic city, Prague would surely be a finalist. The cobbled streets and soaring spires of the Czech capital have made it a prime location for movies from Amadeus to Misson: Impossible, as well...

Ask Alex: Alex McWhirter answers your travel queries.
May 1, 2007... Q We recently did a round-the-world trip (RTW) in economy class using a Oneworld Explorer ticket. Our routing from Melbourne took us across the US, then to London, Hong Kong and back to Melbourne. The travel agent correctly told us that my...

New Delhi: from Moghul monuments to bustling markets, New Delhi offers a wealth of vibrant colour. Mark Caswell goes for sensory overload.(4 HOURS IN ...)
May 1, 2007... [1] RED FORT Start by catching a rickshaw to Old Delhi in the northern part of the city. Located at the end of Chandni Chowk, a colourful market area selling everything from saris to spices, Lal Qila or the 'Red Fort' was built in the 17th...

Win a three-day break at a Kerala Resort: enjoy a two-night stay for two at The Leela Kempinski Kovalam Beach and savour the enchanting beauty of the lush, leafy state of Kerala in India.(Competition)
May 1, 2007... Kovalam, 13km south of Kerala's capital city Thiruvananthapuram, is a stunning coast known for its sun-kissed beaches and coconut palm-fringed shores. It is here, perched on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea that The Leela Kempinski Kovalam...

Arabian treasure: a sleepy little enclave is one of the Gulf's best-kept secrets. Teresa Machan meanders through the spectacular scenery of the Musandam Peninsula.(GREAT escape)(Travel narrative)
May 1, 2007... You know all is well in the world when the sun is out, the snorkels are on, there's nothing on the horizon except mountains and sea and the crew are feeding bananas to a cloud of hungry batfish that surrounds your boat. Tucked in the...