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  • Regency Travel and Tours unveils highlights of Qatar

    As the burgeoning city of Qatar rapidly advances becoming ever more attractive to local, regional and international tourists, Regency Travel and Tours – named World’s Leading Travel Agency by the arena Travel Awards in 2012 – has unveiled a brand new hand-guide to the country’s top excursions.

    Regency Holidays, the leisure & tours division of Regency Travels and Tours, and a household name for holiday travel in Qatar is launching a brand new range of exciting serviced tour packages, allowing both locals and expats alike to find the hidden treasures of Qatar – 101 Activities in Qatar.

    The ‘101 activities in Qatar’ product will offer various serviced packages under History, Culture, Adventure, Entertainment, Water Sports, Shopping and Leisure. Whether you’re a Doha resident searching for a fun family weekend or a traveller in transit seek a gap of culture, Regency Travel and Tours tailored packages and 24 hour booking service make discovering Doha easy.

    From afternoons of adventure for your own private desert camp to a night of romantic dining at a sunken desert dinner table, carved from the sands of the Arabian dunes. See a falcon race around the sky after its prey or take a turn through history on the Museum of Islamic Art. Stroll through Souq Waqif on a hot Doha day and haggle with the spice merchants, watch a superb sunset splinter around the Arabian Sea from the deck of your individual private Dhow, hearken to tales of the undiscovered ocean from the unique pearl divers.

    From jet skiing, to fishing and horseback riding choose any person of the 101 Activities in Doha and discover the town as you’ve never seen it, throughout the eyes of the locals who know best.

    101 Activities in Qatar is the brain child of Regency Travel and Tours, birthed from 26 years of expertise because the leading tour operator within the country. As among the key ambassadors for inbound and outbound tourism in Qatar to both international and native traders, it was only natural that Regency Travel and Tours progress Qatar’s vision 2022 goals to market the rustic to the following level.

    By positioning Qatar as a fantastic cultural and comfort leisure destination for individual and family travellers the hot range of affordable packages designed by the local Qatari community outlines the varied opportunities Qatar holds for entertainment under the 101 Activities in Qatar brand. 

    The core objective of this new brand is to reveal the chances for family and independent entertainment by educating the general public and tourism faculties with a sequence of pamphlets and brochures highlighting prime locations, activities, camps, outings, trainings and recreations.

    With an emphasis on quality and repair, Regency Holidays will roll-out their new campaign from March 2013 with a sequence of trademarked red ‘101 Activities in Qatar’ branded flyer stands, soon to be available in hotels, cafes, restaurants, shopping malls and gas stations around the country; offering free city-guide brochures to the general public, inviting them to experience the city’s best entertainment and excursions.

    On a mission to coach the general public the Regency Holidays team might be inspiring the industry with a branded road show, enhancing the certainty of hotel concierges, and sub-agents within the local market with the total list of ‘101 Activities in Qatar’; equipping them with the ideal tool to sell the experience to travellers who probably excited by what the rustic has to provide inside the way of entertainment. With packages made from as short as a two hour shopping blitz to an afternoon of overnight desert camping anything could be easily and cost effectively arranged through Regency Holidays, counting on the client’s desires and availability. By training these key bodies within the local tourism industry Regency Holidays believe they are going to be ready to provide a neater service to visiting guests from neighboring GCC countries and international travellers by giving them a richer and more meaningful experience of Qatar.

    The new campaign will involve heavy social media plugs and presence at the recently re-launched website,  www.RegencyHolidays.com and on Facebook, with a purpose to captivate a much broader audience, promoting the product extensively because the ‘101 Activities in Qatar’ gathers momentum and champions itself firmly because the countries number leading city-guide. In 2012 Qatar was named World’s Leading Business Travel Destination by the sector Travel Awards.

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  • News: Hilton moves into Myanmar with Yangon property

    Hilton Worldwide has marked its entry into the Burmese market with the signing of a management agreement with LP Holding to cope Hilton Yangon in Kyauktada Township, Yangon, Myanmar.

    The first Hilton Worldwide property in Myanmar, the 300-room Hilton Yangon can be the primary Hilton Hotels & Resorts branded hotel and is scheduled to open in 2014.

    “This agreement is a big milestone for us because it represents both Hilton Worldwide’s and the Hilton brand’s entry into Myanmar.

    “Following the social and economic reforms the rustic has remodeled the past year, Myanmar has seen visitor arrivals grow by 45.1 per cent in comparison to the former year1.

    “Yangon, exceptionally, is positioned to grow much faster than many other emerging markets in Asia. Backed by a powerful partner like LP Holding, we’re very confident that because the first internationally branded hotel in Yangon, Hilton Yangon will set the benchmark for quality hospitality experiences catering to both domestic and international travellers,” said Andrew Clough, senior vp, development, Middle East & Asia Pacific, Hilton Worldwide.

    The 21-storey Hilton Yangon is 14.3 kilometres clear of Yangon International Airport and is a part of Centrepoint Towers, a mixed-use development which contains high-end retail boutiques and a premium office tower.

    Located at No. 65, the corner of Sule Pagoda Road and Merchant Street within the Kyauktada Township, the hotel is found opposite Yangon’s iconic High Court building and the famous Independence Monument Park.

    As the only of the tallest commercial buildings within the city, hotel guests will enjoy impressive 365-degree views of greater Yangon and simple accessibility to the downtown Colonial quarter and business district of town.

  • Grosvenor House Apartments by Jumeirah Living to apply TACSnet

    Grosvenor House Apartments by Jumeirah Living, the plush hotel residence on Park Lane, London has announced it’s now using TACSnet: the automatic online commission payment system for agents.

    As the definitive online resource for Travel Agencies and Suppliers, this internationally-accepted system could be implemented by Grosvenor House Apartments to control commission payments to travel agencies, and to maintain track of any incoming and outgoing commissions.

    Grosvenor House Apartments joins other prestigious hotels and properties in enabling payment to multiple agents easily and quickly, and so continue to construct strong relationships with travel agencies.

  • News: Hotel pipeline reveals growth in African markets

    Research by W Hospitality Group has revealed the variety of planned new hotel rooms inside the hotel development pipeline in Africa has increased by 16 per cent on last year, which was itself 12 per cent up on 2011. 

    This relies on a sample of 29 international hotel chains, with 59 brands between them, and analyses deals that they have got signed with owners.

    As in previous years, the detail behind the headline shows a special tale of 2 Africas.

    In north Africa, the improvement pipeline grew by nine per cent, from 17,217 planned new hotel rooms in 2012 to 18,782 rooms in 77 hotels in 2013. 

    In sub-Saharan Africa, however, the chains’ pipeline now stands at 21,052 rooms in 130 hotels, up from 17,109 rooms in 100 hotels a year ago – a giant 23 per cent increase. 

    This compares to four per cent growth in Europe and eight.6 per cent growth in Asia Pacific, in response to data produced by STR Global (although the expansion in Africa is from a far lower base).

    Trevor Ward, managing director of W Hospitality Group said: “The main reasons for the slower growth in North Africa include the hole of hotels within the 2012 pipeline, particularly in Algeria, a discounted investment discuss North Africa as a result of political concerns and a better emphasis on development in sub-Saharan markets.

    “There is a boom in Africa, in all sectors, including hotels. 

    “Economic growth in lots of countries is 6 per cent or higher and global investors are staring at the continent in a way more serious and complicated way. 

    “We are being contacted by progressively more dedicated investment funds looking to enter the African hotel market.”

    The five countries of North Africa all appear within the top ten countries for brand spanking new hotels, led by Egypt (7,644 planned new hotel rooms), Morocco (5,178) and Algeria (3,160). 

    In sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria has by far the most important pipeline, with 7,470 planned new rooms. 

    The companies leading the best way are Hilton Worldwide with 6,230 rooms in its African pipeline, Carlson Rezidor with 5,947, Accor with 5,165 and Marriott with 3,900.

    Ward added: “The major international brands are still blazing the path, led by Hilton Worldwide, forging ahead with 6,230 planned new rooms for Hilton, Doubletree and Garden Inn brands, a unprecedented 84% increase on 2012. 

    “And it is very encouraging to peer new brands entering the market, including Campanile, Dusit, easyHotel, Fairmont, Hyatt Place and W.

    “This shows the arrogance of the hotel chains not only within the continent conceptually, but additionally as somewhere where they could diversify their brand footprint.”

  • New Zealand to create five new marine reserves

    New Zealand is ready to extend its total mainland marine conservation domain by 50 per cent with the planned establishment of 5 new marine reserves.
    The five reserves, formally approved by NZ Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith, cover 17,500 hectares and have spectacular, unique coastlines and marine habitats.

    They are all at the South Island’s West Coast and can add to the already significantly protected region, which incorporates three national parks and a global Heritage Area.

    The minister’s approval signifies that the method of building the reserves goes into the overall stages of obtaining approval from two other government departments.

    Mainland marine reserves
    Establishment of the brand new reserves was a massive breakthrough for marine conservation, Dr Smith said, because it increased the variety of mainland marine reserves from 30 to 35, boosting the realm protected against 33,574 to 51,102 hectares.

    “We are a nation with one of the crucial most spectacular and unique coastlines on the earth and we have to recognise the significance and usability of not just our special places on land, but our marine habitats in addition,” he said.

    The reserves – at Kahurangi, Punakaiki, Okarito, Tauparikaka and Hautai – would enhance understanding of the region’s unique marine habitats and complement the adjoining protected areas of national parks and the Te Wahipounamu South West New Zealand World Heritage Area.

    Kahurangi Marine Reserve
    Kahurangi Marine Reserve includes examples of northern West Coast marine habitats and ecosystems over various depths.
    There is a rich diversity of fish and invertebrate species, partly because of the abundant reef habitat and the influence of more northern species. The realm is very important for marine mammals.

    The new marine reserve adjoins Kahurangi National Park and includes the catchment area and mouth of the Heaphy River, and Kahurangi-Oparara coastline that’s notable for its sand dunes and beach vegetation.

    Punakaiki Marine Reserve
    Punakaiki Marine Reserve – occupying a dramatic coastline that incorporates the internationally significant Pancake Rocks and blowholes at Dolomite Point – harbours various northern West Coast marine habitats and ecosystems.

    The rocky shore biological communities are typical of the northern West Coast, but their overall extent, diversity, and accessibility is notable relative to many other parts of the identical area.

    It is adjacent to the coastal habitats and ecosystems of Paparoa National Park and closed whitebaiting areas in Bullock Creek and tributaries of the Punakaiki River.

    Waiau Glacier Coast Marine Reserve
    Waiau Glacier Coast Marine Reserve incorporates a choice of central West Coast marine habitats.
    The area is an effective example of central Westland coastal landscapes which can be dominated by past and present glaciations, and it supports fish, invertebrates and seaweeds which are typical of the center latitudes of the West Coast.

    It is with reference to the internationally renowned Ōkārito Lagoon and other natural estuaries which are important spawning and nursery habitat for native fish akin to giant kokopu and inanga. The reserve adjoins the Ōkārito Mataitai Reserve and a few largely unmodified coastal lands within Westland Tai Poutini National Park and Te Wāhipounamu South West New Zealand World Heritage Area.

    Tauparikaka Marine Reserve
    Tauparikaka Marine Reserve is an effective example of natural beach and tidal lagoon habitats.
    The area is notable for coastal dunes which have a high biodiversity value. There are wetland, sand dune, and lowland forest habitats nearby and Ship Creek / Tauparikaka flows through public conservation land from a natural forested catchment that may be portion of Te Wāhipounamu South West New Zealand

    World Heritage Area.
    The sea portion is a part of a place known for an unusually high presence of Hector’s dolphins, and adjoins the Tauparikaka Mataitai Reserve.

    Hautai Marine Reserve
    Hautai Marine Reserve includes representative examples of plenty of southern latitude West Coast marine habitats lying at the inshore margins of a fancy submarine landscape of canyons and rocky reefs.

    This component of coast has habitats of high wildlife value, including marine mammals and seabirds. It adjoins a wide expanse of protected conservation land within Te Wāhipounamu South West New Zealand World Heritage Area.

    Establishment process
    The Department of Conservation publicly notified the recent reserves last year when they were unanimously recommended by the West Coast Marine Forum – representing the resident Ngāi Tahu Maori tribe, commercial and recreational fishers, conservationists, tourism operators and native councils.
    Many people contributed to the lengthy consultation process which included 159 submissions of which all but four were in favour.
    The NZ Marine Reserves Act requires the Minister of Conservation, after considering the submissions, to make your mind up whether to uphold any of the objections, or to proceed.

    The decision to proceed means the method now goes to the ultimate stage of seeking the concurrence of the Ministers of Primary Industries and Transport to enable the reserves to be surveyed and gazetted later this year.

    New Zealand currently has 34 marine reserves, protecting around 13,000 square kilometres. It is 6.9% of recent Zealand’s Territorial Sea and about 0.3% of recent Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

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