Category: News

  • Rotana expands into Turkey

    Rotana, the leading hotel management company inside the Middle East & Africa, is increasing its portfolio by a complete of 410 rooms with its first foray into Istanbul, Turkey.

    Rotana will manage both Arjaan by Rotana properties; the Tango Arjaan by Rotana and Burgu Arjaan by Rotana for the Turkish group Dap-Yap.

    The Burgu Arjaan by Rotana that’s divided into two connecting towers, Burgu 1 and Burgu 2, could have a complete of 222 rooms.

    The two towers, with 111 rooms each, will share a number of significant facilities equivalent to the lobby, café, business centre, restaurant, gymnasium and indoor pool, outdoor pool and landscaped areas, in addition to five to 6 meeting and conference rooms.

    The Tango Arjaan by Rotana could be a 188- key hotel.

    Selim El Zyr, president, Rotana, commented: “The new properties will represent a milestone for Rotana – the Tango Arjaan by Rotana and Burgu Arjaan by Rotana often is the first step in taking our brand, that’s already iconic within the Middle East and Africa region, to the broader world.”

    The projects can be found on Turkey’s longest coastal lane ranging from Fener and ending at Tuzla, conveniently situated for both leisure and work guests.

    The new Istanbul properties will offer a privileged city life to families and guests who wish to stay for a protracted period within the most lovely buildings inside the region.

    Guests will feel at home within the fully furnished apartments with 24-hour room service. Each apartment offers fabulous views of the encircling areas and is a hideaway from the hustle and bustle of the town.

    Ultra-high speed wireless internet connections, LCD televisions, fully equipped and furnished kitchens, courteous and discreet staff and the best quality leisure facilities are guaranteed.

    Arjaan Hotel Apartments by Rotana are designed to near the space between hotel and residential.

    Exclusive to those two new properties would be the ‘rent if you are away’ scheme which supplies another source of income for owners.

    The weekly, monthly and annually rented apartments might be operated and managed by a pro system and apartment owners could have the alternative of earning extra income by renting their apartments through Rotana to right away gain a return on investment.

  • Iberia drags International Airlines Group into red

    International Airlines Group has reported an operating lack of €23 million before exceptional items for the year to December 31st.

    While British Airways made an operating profit of €347 million in the course of the period, the crowd was hamstrung by Spanish carrier Iberia, which made an operating lack of €351 million.

    Willie Walsh, IAG chief executive, said: “Last year was a year of transformation for IAG – we bought bmi and integrated it into British Airways and initiated our restructuring of Iberia.

    “Our operating performance was solid and the €23 million loss before exceptional items was better than our guidance to the market.

    There was an important impact at the results from exceptional and non-operating items resulting in a pre-tax lack of €997 million.

    These items include provision for restructuring and impairment costs in Iberia and non-cash pension accounting requirements.

    Revenue for the year was up 10.9 per cent to €18.1 billion, including €872 million or 5.4 per cent currency impact.

    Passenger unit revenue for the year was also up 9.4 per cent, on top of volume increases of two.8 per cent.

    Walsh continued: ““We achieved synergies of €313 million in 2012, exceeding our €225 million target set first and foremost of the year.

    “This is another excellent performance, notably through higher than expected revenue synergies. However, we must never be complacent – while this trend must continue it must be hand-in-hand with structural change.”

    Despite three months of negotiations between Iberia and its trade unions, no agreement was reached on an initial restructuring plan.

    Therefore, IAG has announced that Iberia will proceed with a fifteen per cent cut in capacity and has started the formal collective redundancy process so as to affect 3,807 jobs.

  • Air New Zealand reports rise in earnings despite economy

    Air New Zealand has seen earnings before tax increase to NZ$139 million throughout the first 1/2 financial 2013, up from NZ$33 million last year.

    After tax net profit on the flag-carrier increased NZ$62 million to NZ$100 million.

    Airline chairman John Palmer described the interim profit result as excellent progress given the present economy.

    “This is the most effective interim profit result for 5 years.

    “The substantial change programme the airline have been implementing has positioned the business for consistent growth and sustainable profitability over the arrival years,” Palmer explained.

    Air New Zealand has responded to sluggish global demand by cutting costs, using more fuel-efficient planes and abandoning some unprofitable routes.

    Its long-haul unit made a profit for the primary time because the global financial crisis started five years ago, in response to the statement.

  • JW Marriott Marquis Dubai officially unveiled

    The JW Marriott brand officially celebrated its newly opened landmark luxury hotel today within the Middle East – the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai.

    The 72-story property is the primary JW Marriott Marquis outside of North America and the 59th addition to the brand’s global luxury portfolio.

    A host of international VIPs, including Marriott International president Arne Sorenson are in Dubai this week for the official unveiling.

    Soaring at 355 meters, the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai is solely 26 metres shorter than Ny City’s famed Empire State Building.

    In Dubai, known inside the world for its awe-inspiring architecture, the hotel’s towers have already become an icon at the city’s skyline

    “Dubai is a vital destination for Marriott International as one of the most world’s most enjoyable cities offering world-class facilities and infrastructure, central location inside the region and future growth potential,” said Sorenson.

    “Our expanding choice of world-class JW Marriott hotels offers accomplished travellers a one-of-a-kind luxury experience.

    “The investment during this unique and visually stunning hotel is testament to the ongoing opportunities that lie ahead for the logo and corporate.”

    image[1] align=’right’ border=’0′ style=’padding-left:10px;’ alt=” border=0 >
    Staff on the new JW Marriott Marquis

    In addition to serving luxury business travellers, the hotel, that is owned by Emirates Group, targets the lucrative and increasingly important MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) market by filling a protracted-identified gap within the region.

    Groups, meetings and conventions of as much as 1,000 people can now meet, stay and dine under one roof.

    The hotel is the primary in Dubai it really is in a position to accommodate large groups and can play a key role in attracting major conventions and events to the destination.

    Along with cutting-edge business facilities, the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai features greater than 7,500 square meters of indoor and outdoor event space, including two ballrooms, and a big choice of world-class dining and entertainment options.

    “The opening of this landmark hotel in Dubai is the culmination of a few years of exertions and dedication to delivering the perfect product, facilities and repair on this international gateway city,” said Mitzi Gaskins, vp and global brand manager for JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts.

    “As our global portfolio continues to grow, we remain devoted to offering our guests unforgettable travel experiences with intuitive service, thoughtful amenities and refined design, celebrating the authentic flavour of every destination.”

  • Etihad Airways to upgrade Melbourne flights

    Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, increases capacity on its daily flights between Abu Dhabi and Melbourne, introducing a brand new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft from December 1st 2013.

    Etihad currently operates three daily flights from London Heathrow and two daily from Manchester to Abu Dhabi where passengers can hook up with onward destinations including Melbourne.

    The three-class, 328-seat Boeing 777 will replace the present Airbus A340 fleet, delivering 252 more seats a week – a 12.3 per cent increase – between the capital of the State of Victoria and the capital of the UAE.

    The service upgrade was announced in Abu Dhabi by James Hogan, president, Etihad Airways, at a business dinner hosted by the Victorian government and attended by 400 people.

    “Melbourne is likely one of the best-performing routes in our global network, and has the very best passenger load factor of our three Australian destinations,” said Hogan.

    “Victorians aren’t only flying with Etihad Airways to Abu Dhabi, an emerging business and leisure destination, but in addition directly to destinations inside the Gulf region, Middle East, Europe and Africa.”

    Since launching flights between Melbourne and Abu Dhabi in March 2009, Etihad Airways has carried over 580,000 passengers at the route, including 162,112 last year.

    Already this year, a load factor of 87 per cent was achieved, one of the crucial highest inside the airline’s network of 86 destinations.

    “Our decision to extend capacity between Melbourne and Abu Dhabi reflects not just the expansion we’ve achieved thus far, but in addition our confidence within the Victorian market,” Hogan concluded.