Business Traveller Middle East articles from September 2007

Business Traveller Middle East archives from September 2007

Maldives is an upmarket proposition.(Letters: We want to hear your travel stories)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2007... Your news report, 'Maldives pitches for MICE business' in the July/August issue of Business Traveller Middle East (p6) talked about the Maldives developing its infrastructure to position itself as a new conference and meetings destination. I...

Are you sitting comfortably?(Letters: We want to hear your travel stories)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2007... Having travelled a lot--between 200,000 and 300,000 miles a year--I have learnt some tricks of the trade, and maybe others can benefit. 1. Creating a flat-bed: Sometimes the foot rest can be too low or inclined at an odd angle. Putting a...

Club world fails to impress.(Letters: We want to hear your travel stories)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2007... I love BA and am a huge fan of their service, style, ethos and crew. However, I just feel their manufacturers and designers have really let them down this time around: (see BTME March/April, page 58, BA's new Club World) 1. The IFE looks...

Gulf Air downsizes.(Letters: We want to hear your travel stories)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2007... Having read recently that Gulf Air is to downsize its operation (see also our interview on page 55), I now hear that Oman is also pulling out and leaving just a 20 per cent stake in it. Oman Air is going to introduce long haul flights and is...

From 28 October, Emirates will introduce a third daily service to Mumbai, a double daily operation to Chennai and daily services (except Tuesdays) to Ahmedabad.(AIRLINE UPDATE)
September 1, 2007... * From 28 October, Emirates will introduce a third daily service to Mumbai, a double daily operation to Chennai and daily services (except Tuesdays) to Ahmedabad. Emirates will also launch its second daily service to Shanghai on 1 February...

Emirates has extended its free chauffeur-drive services (for first and business class passengers) in Europe.(AIRLINE UPDATE)
September 1, 2007... * Emirates has extended its free chauffeur-drive services (for first and business class passengers) in Europe. On its new daily Dubai-Newcastle service, it is now offering transfers within a 70-mile radius of Newcastle airport.

KLM is offering Air France flights on www.klm.com.(AIRLINE UPDATE)
September 1, 2007... * KLM is offering Air France flights on www.klm.com, making it possible to leave on KLM and return on Air France.

Post Qatar Airways' recent foray into New York and Washington, the airline will be code-sharing flights with United Airlines, giving it access to many US cities.(AIRLINE UPDATE)
September 1, 2007... * Post Qatar Airways' recent foray into New York and Washington, the airline will be code-sharing flights with United Airlines, giving it access to many US cities. For passengers, it will mean seamless transfers and through-checked baggage.

From 28 October, Lufthansa will commence three weekly flights from Karachi via Lahore on to Frankfurt.(AIRLINE UPDATE)
September 1, 2007... * From 28 October, Lufthansa will commence three weekly flights from Karachi via Lahore on to Frankfurt. The new non-stop connection will reduce travel time by up to three hours compared to current connecting flights from the Gulf. The German...

Singapore Airlines gears up for first commercial A380 flight.(UP front)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Singapore Airlines is all set to make aviation history as the first commercial airline in the world to fly passengers on the new double-decker Airbus A380. The maiden service will fly from Singapore to Sydney at 5am...

The Chedi Muscat reopens with new facilities.(UP front)
September 1, 2007... The Chedi Muscat in Oman's capital has reopened and is offering upgraded five-star rooms and facilities. The luxurious sea-facing property now has serai superior rooms equipped with flat-screen TV. The Beach Restaurant, the resort's new...

Palatial Sofitel property to debut in Dubai.(UP front)(Accor S.A. will open luxury property of hotel in Middle East)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... In mid-September, European hotel chain Accor will host the soft opening of its flagship luxury property in the Middle East at The Old Town Island in Downtown Burj Dubai. The Palace at The Old Town, managed by Accor's luxury brand Sofitel, is a...

Emirates enhances onboard experience with ICE.(UP front)(information, communication, entertainment)(Emirates Airline uses digital screens for flights)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... * Emirates has launched its next generation ICE (information, communication, entertainment) digital widescreen system, to be fitted on all the new aircraft the airline is set to receive--including the A380s--over the next 16 months. ...

DFC adds rooms for long-stay guests.(UP front)
September 1, 2007... * Dubai Festival City (DFC) had added a new and exclusive residential tower offering accommodation for corporate travellers. Marsa Plaza, which will be open for tenants from 1 October, includes resort-style rental apartments and penthouses...

Rezidor targets mid-market in Saudi Arabia.(UP front)(The Rezidor Hotel Group)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... * Executives looking for competitively priced accommodation in Saudi Arabia will now have more options. Brussels-based Rezidor has announced it will open its third Park Inn at Makkah in 2009. The Al Diyafa Park Inn Makkah will have 221...

Burjuman Rotana Suites in Dubai is offering meeting packages starting from Dhs129.(HOTEL UPDATE)
September 1, 2007... * Burjuman Rotana Suites in Dubai is offering meeting packages starting from Dhs129 ($35.80) per person from 13 September until 10 October.

The Kempinski Zamani Zanzibar is offering special Ramadan rates from 11 September until 18 October starting from $249 per room per night.(HOTEL UPDATE)
September 1, 2007... * The Kempinski Zamani Zanzibar is offering special Ramadan rates from 11 September until 18 October starting from $249 per room per night. The hotel is also celebrating Ramadan with lavish Iftar buffets at the Indian Ocean property.

The Nagfa Hotel and mall under construction in Al Ain in the UAE will have 160 rooms.(HOTEL UPDATE)
September 1, 2007... * The Nagfa Hotel and mall under construction in Al Ain in the UAE will have 160 rooms, 70 chalets, a spa, and an infinity pool. The mall will include a multiplex and souk.

Yet another addition to the Golden Tulip Hospitality brand is Dubai's newly opened Golden Tulip Al Barsha, with 125 rooms.(HOTEL UPDATE)
September 1, 2007... * Yet another addition to the Golden Tulip Hospitality brand is Dubai's newly opened Golden Tulip Al Barsha, with 125 rooms. It features a sports bar and nightclub.

The Landmark Group of Hotels has announced the opening of the four-star 107-unit Landmark Suites on Corniche Road in Ajman, close to Dubai.(HOTEL UPDATE)
September 1, 2007... * The Landmark Group of Hotels has announced the opening of the four-star 107-unit Landmark Suites on Corniche Road in Ajman, close to Dubai. It will include a health club and 24-hour restaurants.

Net Golf, the golf-tourism division under Net Group in Dubai.(HOTEL UPDATE)
September 1, 2007... * Net Golf, the golf-tourism division under Net Group in Dubai, is now offering golf packages in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah, allowing customers to stay in the finest hotels and play on golf courses of their choice.

The Dunes, the 18-hole championship golf course designed by golfing legend Ernie Els in Dubai Sports City.(HOTEL UPDATE)
September 1, 2007... * The Dunes, the 18-hole championship golf course designed by golfing legend Ernie Els in Dubai Sports City, is expected to be ready to play by December.

From 13 September until 12 October, the Arabian Park Hotel in Dubai has a special Ramadan offer of $99 per person.(HOTEL UPDATE)
September 1, 2007... * From 13 September until 12 October, the Arabian Park Hotel in Dubai has a special Ramadan offer of $99 per person, including complimentary iftar meals and a free stay for a second guest.

Key players sign up for Dubai's first Business Travel Show.(UP front)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The first Middle East edition of established London event The Business Travel Show is gearing up to make a big impression on visitors, after having attracted a number of key tourism and hospitality players from the...

Falcon Aviation teams up with Alpha Tours.(UP front)(launched luxury helicopter service)(Falcon Aviation Services )(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * Falcon Aviation Services and Alpha Tours have joined forces to offer private luxury helicopter services to the corporate and tourism markets in the UAE. The strategic partnership is being funded by an initial...

Jordan's Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea is offering rates of Dhs1,000 ($277.80) per night for a superior sea view room until 31 October.(HOTEL UPDATE)
September 1, 2007... * Jordan's Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea is offering rates of Dhs1,000 ($277.80) per night for a superior sea view room until 31 October, inclusive of breakfast and a treatment at its Anantara Spa.

From 13 September until 13 October the Movenpick Hotel Bur Dubai is offering the chance to enjoy two interconnecting rooms and a buffet breakfast.(HOTEL UPDATE)
September 1, 2007... * From 13 September until 13 October the Movenpick Hotel Bur Dubai is offering the chance to enjoy two interconnecting rooms and a buffet breakfast or suhoor meal for Dhs999 ($277.50) per person.

Indigo, an Indian fusion restaurant.(HOTEL UPDATE)
September 1, 2007... * Indigo, an Indian fusion restaurant, has just opened at the Beach Rotana Hotel & Towers in Abu Dhabi.

The Caracalla Spa at Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa in Dubai is now one of 17 spas to have joined the Starwood Spa Collection.(HOTEL UPDATE)
September 1, 2007... * The Caracalla Spa at Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa in Dubai is now one of 17 spas to have joined the Starwood Spa Collection, synonymous with luxury indulgence.

Hotel and leisure group Iberotel has selected Fujairah as the base for its first property in the UAE, the five-star Miramar Al Aqah Beach Resort, scheduled to open in October.(HOTEL UPDATE)
September 1, 2007... * Hotel and leisure group Iberotel has selected Fujairah as the base for its first property in the UAE, the five-star Miramar Al Aqah Beach Resort (below), scheduled to open in October. The hotel has its own open-air amphitheatre and shopping...

The Monarch Dubai, operated by Refad Hotels and Resorts.(HOTEL UPDATE)
September 1, 2007... * The Monarch Dubai, operated by Refad Hotels and Resorts, is set to open later this year on Dubai's Sheikh Zayed Road.

Hilton Hotels is to open its first property in Ghana, West Africa, the Hilton Accra Airport City.(HOTEL UPDATE)
September 1, 2007... * Hilton Hotels is to open its first property in Ghana, West Africa, the Hilton Accra Airport City. The 186-room hotel, scheduled to open in early 2010, will become Hilton's ninth property in Africa and has a prime gateway location at Airport...

Qatar Airways is starting twice-weekly flights from Doha to Nagpur in Maharashtra on 23 September and daily services to Ahmedabad in Gujarat on 12 December.(AIRLINE UPDATE)
September 1, 2007... * Qatar Airways is starting twice-weekly flights from Doha to Nagpur in Maharashtra on 23 September and daily services to Ahmedabad in Gujarat on 12 December. The airline has also reached agreements with 50 airlines for interline...

All Emirates customers can now secure preferred seats when purchasing tickets online at www. emirates.com.(AIRLINE UPDATE)
September 1, 2007... * All Emirates customers can now secure preferred seats when purchasing tickets online at www. emirates.com. This service was previously only available for premium passengers.

Emirates and Sri Lankan Airlines will offer its Global Reduced Rewards promotion to Skywards members who redeem miles for tickets online.(AIRLINE UPDATE)
September 1, 2007... * Emirates and Sri Lankan Airlines will offer its Global Reduced Rewards promotion to Skywards members who redeem miles for tickets online. Members can fly for 50 per cent fewer miles between 11 September and 11 October.

Etihad boosts flight schedule with slew of new routes.(UP front)
September 1, 2007... * UAE national airline Etihad is to increase its flying programme by 21 per cent, as it boosts its weekly flights from 564 to 716 this autumn. The carrier's newest route is Milan, which was due to be inaugurated on 2 September. The...

IRIS introduces new business card scanner.(UP front)
September 1, 2007... Business travellers can make the tedious and time consuming work of typing up their contacts' details a thing of the past, thanks to an ingenious new device, the IRISCard 4. Developed by Belgian company IRIS (Image Recognition Integrated...

Swiss-Belhotel brings more four-star rooms to ME region.(UP front)(Swiss-Belhotel International has constructed new hotel in Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabiaand resort and spa in Sharjah )(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... * The Hong Kong-based Swiss-Belhotel group has announced new four-star hotels in Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. First to come online in 2008 will be the Swiss-Belhotel Doha, Suites & Residences, including two 17-floor towers with residences,...

Hilton Colombo: hotel check--Colombo, Sri Lanka.(TRIED & tested)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] WHAT'S IT LIKE? Situated on a leafy, sloping hillside, the 19 storey Hilton is one of a cluster of high rise buildings that lends a majestic character to Colombo's skyline. The hotel lies in its own extensive...

Le Meridien Amman: hotel check--Amman, Jordan.(TRIED & tested)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] WHAT'S IT LIKE? Despite looking slightly old-fashioned from the outside, Le Meridien Amman recently underwent a major face lift, which has seen 300 of its guestrooms, 34 suites, and four presidential and royal...

The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel & Spa: hotel check--Manama, Bahrain.(TRIED & tested)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] WHAT'S IT LIKE? This hotel didn't win Business Traveller's award for best business hotel in Manama for no reason. Luxury is the name of the game, and the facilities on offer for business travellers and tourists...

Shanti Ananda Riviere des Galets: hotel check--Mauritius.(TRIED & tested)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHAT'S IT LIKE? It's Mauritius' first destination spa, not so much a hotel with a spa attached, but a spa with a hotel attached. As such it's incredibly tranquil, beautifully furnished and the manager says he hardly...

Flight check: the skies over the Gulf are gearing up for some major activity with the launch of dozens of new routes and innovative in-flight initiatives being undertaken by the leading national airlines. Dominic Ellis weighs up the competition among the region's primary carriers.
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Emirates Airport lounges: these are setting the pace regionally, if not internationally, with $20 million being pumped into lounges across the network. Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok came on stream in March, taking...

Culture club: Abu Dhabi has hitherto taken a cautious approach to tourism, but all that is changing as it embarks on an amazingly ambitious programme to make over the city as a centre of cultural excellence Iain Akerman reports on the art of investment.(ABU DHABI)(City overview)(Company overview)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Deep inside Abu Dhabi's colossal Emirates Palace hotel lies an exhibition. Not just any exhibition, but one that drives home with breathtaking clarity the emirate's lofty ambition to become one of the great cultural...

That's entertainment: Methil Renuka explores three popular wining and dining streets in Kuala Lumpur and discovers that the Malaysian capital's nightlife scene is red hot.(MALAYSIA)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] "There's a party at the Asian Heritage Row tonight," says Tiang Li Ming, Director of Communications at The Westin Kuala Lumpur," Why don't you come?" It's a wet, late Wednesday afternoon in July and we are seated on...

Into Africa: Djibouti may be a relatively unknown quantity to many, but Middle East investment is helping the country realise its ambitions to become a major regional business hub. Colette Doyle went there to discover how this tiny East African nation has big ideas when it comes to tourism.(DJIBOUTI)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Djibouti's relatively obscure status on the world map is obvious as soon as you tell people where you're going. "Jib-what-ummy? Oh right, that's in West Africa somewhere, isn't it?" says a colleague. Actually, it's...

Cabin fever: what can cause an otherwise calm and rational person to turn violent at 30,000ft? Katharine Cooke investigates the factors behind the air rage phenomenon.(AIR RAGE)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] What do a Conservative peer, a 56 year old grandmother from Liverpool and a senior British diplomat have in common? They have all been accused of air rage: in other words, of disruptive or violent behaviour in which...

In transit: Gulf Air is going through a transition phase following the withdrawal of shareholders Abu Dhabi and Oman and the cancellation of six routes. Executive VP Lee Shave tells Richard Abbott how the airline plans to transform its fortunes under sole Bahraini ownership.(Interview)
September 1, 2007... Withdrawal is a word heard all too often around Gulf Air these days. Following Abu Dhabi's exit from the loss-making airline last year to focus on the burgeoning Etihad, fellow shareholder Oman followed suit in May this year, leaving the...

4 hours in ... Amman: Jolanta Chudy takes a whistle-stop taxi tour of Jordan's 'White City', discovering its evocative remnants of bygone times while enjoying what the modern capital has to offer.
September 1, 2007... [1] THE CITADEL The hill on which the Citadel rests is a good place from which to begin a tour of Amman, offering as it does a near-panoramic vista of the city below. Nestled between the densely packed white and limestone blocks and...

Ask Alex: Alex McWhirter answers your travel queries.
September 1, 2007... Q In January last year I booked three business class tickets to fly with SIA between Singapore and Auckland. I reserved them in the UK and each ticket cost S$5,000 ($3,267).When we arrived at Changi airport two and a half hours beforehand, SIA...

Mobile mates: more than just good-looking companions, these handheld devices also promise to be with you for the long haul.(Gadgets)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Motorola MC35 Motorola's new MC35 Enterprise Digital Assistant (EDA) is a compact handheld mobile computer in every sense. The third device in Motorola's illustrious family of advanced EDAs, it withstands the...

Win a break at a luxury hotel in Kuwait: take a break from work for two nights at the new Movenpick Resort & Residence Al Bidaa Kuwait.(Competition)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Located in a prime spot in the prestigious Salmiya quarter, the Movenpick Resort & Residence Al Bidaa Kuwait is just 15 minutes by road from Kuwait International Airport. Constructed as a contemporary low-rise...

In the pink: recently nominated as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, Petra is Jordan's rose-hued relic of an ancient civilisation. Brian Johnston goes back to the stone age.(GREAT escape)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Call me lowbrow, but I went to Petra to follow in the footsteps of Indiana Jones. The final scenes of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade were filmed here and, if you want to know why Steven Spielberg chose this...