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The Westin Resort & Spa Ubud, Bali Opens

Westin Hotels & Resorts yesterday announced the opening of its latest Bali Resort, The Westin Resort & Spa Ubud, Bali. The Westin Resort & Spa Ubud, Bali features 120 contemporary guestrooms, suites and villas, each equipped with the brand's signature Heavenly® Bed and Heavenly® Bath that deliver total relaxation. Additionally, there are two private Pool Villas that offer an intimate experience for larger groups and families with prime views overlooking the entire resort. The resort also has numerous dining options, including the all-day dining venue Tabia - featuring hand-painted murals by local artists, this restaurant offers international cuisine, local specialties, and healthy dishes from Westin's Eat Well menu. Tall Trees offers a splendid dining experience complemented with a view of the river and tropical forest, highlighting flavors inspired by ancient recipes in which fresh ingredients are cooked.

Create: Feb 19, 2020 Edit: Feb 19, 2020 International News

Iran to pursue visa-free travel with Russia at Moscow tourism fair

TEHRAN – The Iranian tourism minister on Monday said that the country will follow up on the issue of visa-free travel for mutual tourist groups with Russia at the upcoming [27th edition] Moscow International Travel & Tourism Exhibition (MITT), which will be held from March 17 to 19. “The Russian fair is very important [for us] so that we should have a strong and influential presence in this exhibition… One of the major issues is to pursue and finalize visa cancellation for Iranian and Russian group tours,” Ali-Asghar Mounesan said, CHTN reported. He made the remarks at a meeting with representatives of the private sector active in tourism projects. In December, Mounesan announced that Tehran was considering to allow Russian tourists to visa-free entry into the country to boost tourism after it granted the same privilege for some other nationals including Chinese and Omani passport holders. In 2017, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin inked a preliminary visa-free agreement for certain tourist groups during their meeting in Moscow. Based on the agreement tour groups of 5 to 50 people heading to [easternmost parts of] Russia from Iran or vice versa are granted a visa-free stay of up to 15 days. MITT is the largest B2B travel & tourism trade show in Russia, attracting representatives of the tourism industry from Russia, regions and all over the world. According to organizers, a total of 22,289 travel industry professionals visited MITT in 2019. The participants ranged from the representatives of tour operators, travel agents to various other companies involved in the travel industry such as airlines, transport companies, hotels, and IT businesses.

Create: Feb 18, 2020 Edit: Feb 19, 2020 Regional News

Novel Coronavirus(2019-nCoV) - Situation Report 19

WHO has developed a dashboard for Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) with the number of confirmed cases globally, which includes cases in China by provinces, regions and cities, as well as confirmed cases outside China by country. HIGHLIGHTS No new countries reported cases of 2019-nCoV in the past 24 hours. The infection prevention and control (IPC) global network is convened through weekly teleconferences with international IPC experts to discuss technical aspects of IPC measures, share epidemiological updates and experiences regarding the IPC measures put in place in affected countries. In consultation with the global IPC expert network, WHO has released three key IPC interim guidance materials on IPC measures during health care and home care, as well as advice on the use of masks in various settings. RECOMMENDATIONS AND ADVICE FOR THE PUBLIC During previous outbreaks due to other coronavirus (Middle-East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), human-to-human transmission occurred through droplets, contact and fomites, suggesting that the transmission mode of the 2019-nCoV can be similar. The basic principles to reduce the general risk of transmission of acute respiratory infections include the following: - Avoiding close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections. - Frequent hand-washing, especially after direct contact with ill people or their environment. - Avoiding unprotected contact with farm or wild animals. - People with symptoms of acute respiratory infection should practice cough etiquette (maintain distance, coverncoughs - and sneezes with disposable tissues or clothing, and wash hands). - Within healthcare facilities, enhance standard infection prevention and control practices in hospitals, especially in emergency departments. - WHO does not recommend any specific health measures for travellers. In case of symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness either during or after travel, travellers are encouraged to seek medical attention and share their travel history with their healthcare provider.

Create: Feb 9, 2020 Edit: Feb 9, 2020 International News

Marriott announces seventh consecutive year of record organic worldwide rooms signings in 2019

Marriott International announced it signed a record number of rooms in 2019, pushing its global pipeline to approximately 515,000 rooms as of year-end 2019 for the first time in the company’s history. The company signed 815 agreements, representing more than 136,000 rooms, marking the seventh consecutive year of record-breaking volume of organic rooms signings. Growth was fueled by unprecedented levels of organic rooms signed in each of the company’s international regions. During 2019, the company added 516 properties with more than 78,000 rooms in 60 countries and territories – an average of one new property every 17 hours. “With growth and loyalty as the cornerstones of our company’s success, our unrivaled 2019 signings illustrate our winning strategy, which combines leading brands, powerful business platforms and an enduring focus on our associates,” said Tony Capuano, Group President, Global Development, Design and Operations Services, Marriott International. “We continue to drive value for our owners with quality branding options for both property conversions and new builds, backed by our leading business support systems and loyalty platform. By staying true to our growth philosophy and continuously responding to the evolving preferences and lifestyles of travelers, we are poised for a successful 2020 and beyond.” At the end of 2019, Marriott International’s worldwide system consisted of more than 7,300 properties and roughly 1.38 million rooms in 134 countries and territories. More than half of the company’s record global development pipeline is located outside North America. “With 141 million Marriott Bonvoy members who increasingly crave travel to new cities and unique experiences around the world, a record-breaking year of deals means new, exciting properties are coming for travelers worldwide,” said Stephanie Linnartz, Group President, Consumer Operations, Technology & Emerging Businesses, Marriott International. “Our stellar growth results prove that our broad brand portfolio and platforms are resonating with owners and developers, as well as with customers.” Record-setting year for growth in valuable international markets In 2019, 53 percent of the company’s signed rooms were outside North America with record-breaking organic volumes in the company’s Asia Pacific (38,000 rooms), Europe (17,000 rooms), Caribbean and Latin America (more than 9,000 rooms), and Middle East and Africa (8,000 rooms) regions. Additionally, in 2019, Marriott International debuted its first hotels in four additional countries – Cyprus, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan and Latvia. Company extends its lead in luxury Marriott International did a record-breaking number of deals for its global luxury hotel brands, bolstering its lead in this high-value segment. In 2019, the company signed 42 luxury projects in 27 countries and territories, while opening or converting 34 properties such as The St. Regis Venice, W Dubai – The Palm, The West Hollywood EDITION and The Ritz-Carlton, Pune. As the company focuses on expanding its leading luxury footprint, it is revitalizing W Hotels. Last year, the company purchased the W New York – Union Square, with plans to transform the property into a showcase for the brand’s future look. Successful all-inclusive launch Last August, Marriott launched its all-inclusive platform to bring its brands, scale and trusted service to this growing, global vacation segment. Less than six months after its launch, the company has signed seven management and franchise agreements for all-inclusive properties representing nearly 3,200 rooms. Among the all-inclusive projects in development are an 800-room Marriott Hotels resort in Jamaica and a 240-room Ritz-Carlton resort in Mexico. The company last year also completed its acquisition of Elegant Hotels Group, which consists of seven hotels and 588 rooms located on the picturesque island of Barbados. Affordable lifestyle hotel brands buoy company growth Catering to the next generation of travelers, the company’s AC by Marriott, Aloft and Moxy brands opened nearly 10,000 rooms in 2019. Combined, these brands represent more than 65,000 open rooms in 44 countries and territories, including new hotels in Greece, Ireland, Jamaica, Latvia, Nepal and Switzerland. The company signed nearly 24,000 rooms across the AC by Marriott, Moxy and Aloft brands during the year – with record room signings for both AC by Marriott and Moxy.

Create: Feb 9, 2020 Edit: Feb 9, 2020 International News

IHG debuts voco brand in Africa

nterContinental Hotels Group has signed voco™ The Bank, Rosebank in South Africa in partnership with Valor Hospitality Partners Africa. Last year, IHG announced the signing of a Master Development Agreement (MDA) with Valor Hospitality Partners Africa to roll out multiple franchise hotels over the next 10 years, across IHG’s portfolio of brands in midscale, upscale and luxury segments. This is the first signing under the MDA and adds to IHG’s growing pipeline in the Middle East and Africa whilst strengthens the growth of company’s new upscale brand, voco in the region. voco, combines the informality and charm of an individual hotel with the quality and reassurance of a global and respected brand. The brand allows guests to enjoy an upscale experience with the freshness of a unique, independent hotel under a name they can trust. Since being launched globally just over a year ago, voco has enjoyed rapid growth with multiple signings across the Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia (EMEAA), and signing of voco The Bank, Rosebank marks the brand’s debut in the African continent. A new built property, voco The Bank, Rosebank, will open its doors to guests in 2020 and feature 131, well-designed rooms. Reflecting brand’s unstuffy service style, the hotel will welcome guests with little personal touches and offer a memorable stay experience. Located in Rosebank, a cosmopolitan commercial and residential suburb close to central Johannesburg, the hotel will provide easy access to all key business districts and directly links into the Rosebank Mall and pedestrian precinct, and is located at a convenient distance of 19kms from the city airport, (Gautrain Metro station is directly under the Hotel). The hotel will feature an expansive dining facility which will include a two-level restaurant, a lounge and bar. Catering to the needs of the corporate guests, the hotel will feature 3 meeting rooms, accommodating approximately 80 people. Speaking on the announcement, Pascal Gauvin, Managing Director, India, Middle East and Africa, IHG said: “We are pleased to announce the first hotel under our agreement with Valor Hospitality Partners Africa and debut our newest upscale brand voco, in the African continent. Receiving immense interest from owners and partners, voco has gained tremendous momentum in the EMEAA region, and we are excited to be expanding the brand footprint further in the region. True to the brand promise, the new hotel will offer a unique hospitality experience to guests, and will cater to the increasing number of domestic and international travellers looking for quality branded accommodation in South Africa. He added: we look forward to signing more hotels under our agreement with our valued, long-term partner, Valor Hospitality Partners Africa and expand our offering across key markets in the continent.” Euan McGlashan, Global CEO and Founder of Valor Hospitality Partners added: “We are excited to announce our first hotel with IHG on the African continent. voco, IHG’s latest upscale brand is a unique offering and we have received significant interest from the owner community in Africa. In partnership with IHG, we look forward to developing this distinct hotel with an individual character, to welcome leisure and business guests visiting South Africa and offering them a dependable upscale experience. We are also confident that the hotel will benefit from the strength and scale of IHG’s global systems, best in class technology and capabilities and the world’s largest loyalty programme – IHG Rewards Club.”

Create: Feb 8, 2020 Edit: Feb 8, 2020 International News

Marriott to open three EDITION Hotels in 2020

Ian Schrager and Marriott International‘s EDITION brand will open three new hotels this year, taking its sophisticated, minimalist-chic approach to luxury to Japan, Iceland and Dubai. Each EDITION is designed to feel exclusive to the city in which it is located. “All of the EDITION hotels are unique, original and one of a kind, embedded with a sense of time and place,” Schrager said in a statement. EDITION Hotels expects to open its first property in Japan with The Tokyo EDITION Toranomon, launching mid-2020. The 205-room property will house four food and beverage outlets, dedicated meeting and events spaces, a swimming pool, a fitness center and a spa, as well as EDITION’s much-loved Punch Room cocktail bar. Located in Tokyo’s upmarket Toranomon neighborhood, the hotel is expected to offer easy access to some of Tokyo’s most iconic sites, including the Tokyo Tower and Tsukiji fish market. Later in the year, The Reykjavik EDITION in Iceland will debut in the city’s downtown area. Adjacent to the prominent Harpa Concert Hall, the hotel is situated in both a vibrant and scenic part of Iceland’s historical capital, Marriott said. The hotel’s 250 rooms and suites will be complemented with a private rooftop, nightlife space and ballroom. In addition, the hotel is expected to offer guests and locals a diverse culinary offering with three restaurants and a café. EDITION will also expand its footprint in the Middle East, with the opening of The Dubai EDITION in late 2020, the second hotel in the UAE following last year’s launch of The Abu Dhabi EDITION. The property is slated to open in downtown Dubai, opposite the world-famous Dubai Mall. Plans for the hotel call for 210 rooms and suites, along with seven restaurants, swimming pools, pool deck dining, a spa and fitness center, in addition to event spaces with multiple meeting rooms and a ballroom. Since launching the lifestyle concept in 2007, EDITION currently operates 10 hotels in New York, London, Miami Beach, West Hollywood, Barcelona, Shanghai, Sanya, Abu Dhabi and Bodrum. Marriott has another 15 hotels in EDITION’s signed development pipeline which, upon opening in coming years, should more than double the brand’s footprint.

Create: Feb 8, 2020 Edit: Feb 8, 2020 International News

Enabling the Service Experience - Chapter 2

Frontline Employee Training Technique 16 Ingrain the Ten Feet Rule; During new employee orientation, it must be emphasized to all new employees that they must greet guests whenever they pass within 10 feet of them. It is never acceptable to not greet a guest. If the guest is on his/her mobile phone then a smile, a nod, and a wave can serve as the greeting. Technique 17 Help Employees to Remember Guest Names; During new employee orientation, everyone should be provided with some tactics regarding how to remember repeat guests’ names. Technique 18 Offer Body Language Training; During new employee orientation, all new frontline asso- ciates should be provided training regarding how to manage their body language cues when interacting with guests. Such cues include items such as smiling, eye contact, hands in pockets, etc. Technique 19 Incorporate Surprise Stories in Shift Huddles; In every daily shift huddle, one associate should be ran- domly selected to tell the group how s/he positively surprised a guest in the past 48 hours. Technique 20 Incorporate Encounter Stories in Shift Huddles; What guest did you meet today? In every daily shift hud- dle, one associate should be randomly selected to name a guest s/he met and tell the group something about the guest such as where they are from, their family, etc. This practice in the huddle will encourage the staff to talk to the guests. Technique 21 Conduct a Core Value Rotation in Shift Huddles; Every hotel should have between 8–10 core values that define the organizational culture. At the end of each daily shift huddle, one of the core values should be discussed so that each one is covered in an 8–10 day rotation. Technique 22 Conduct a Core Value Rotation in Shift Huddles; Every hotel should have between 8–10 core values that define the organizational culture. At the end of each daily shift huddle, one of the core values should be discussed so that each one is covered in an 8–10 day rotation. Technique 23 Use Foreign Language Greetings When Appropriate; In hotel properties with an international clientele, the front desk agents should know greetings in various languages and use them when appropriate. Technique 24 Ingrain the Drama Metaphor; All associates should be taught that they are on-stage whenever a guest can see or hear him/her. Such on-stage behavior applies to associates regardless of whether or not they are clocked-in for work. In other words, a guest perceives a uniformed employee as a representative of the hotel whether the employee has begun his/her shift or not. Technique 25 Train the ‘Again’ Effect; If an associate recognizes a guest as being a repeat patron, but cannot recall his/her name, the associate should be trained to say ‘nice to see you again.’ Inserting the word ‘again’ helps strengthen the relationship between the guest and service provider. Technique 26 Express Gratitude to Guests; A guest must feel appreciated and cannot be thanked too much. Associates should be trained to thank them for their business throughout their stay: “Thank you for staying with us”, “Thank you for dining with us”, etc. Technique 27 Teach Proper Response to ‘Thank You’; All associates should be trained to reply with ‘thank you’ when a guest says ‘thank you’. Intense competition in the hotel sector mandates that guests feel appreciated for their business. Replies to ‘thank you’ such as ‘no problem’ do not communi- cate appreciation or leave a lasting impression. Technique 28 Set the Tone During the Reservation Process; When a guest makes a reservation via the hotel, it creates a great opportunity to get them excited about coming to the hotel. The tone of the reservationist’s voice is very important and has the opportunity to start the exceptional guest service before they even arrive at the hotel. Reservationists should be trained to speak with enthusiasm, so the guest will feel it too. This enthusiasm sets the tone for their stay. Technique 29 Smile While on the Telephone; A mirror should be hung in front of all hotel reserva- tionists and they should be trained to check their smiles in the mirror when conversing with potential guests. Smiling changes voice tone and inflection. Technique 30 Do Not Unnecessarily Disclose Overbooking; Reservationists should be trained never to tell guests that they are overbooked on a requested night. Simply stating that the hotel is full would suffice in the conversation. Overbook- ing is viewed by many consumers as an unethical and greedy practice. Technique 31 Use Hospitable Responses to ‘How are you?’; If an associate is asked by a guest ‘how are you?’ the asso- ciate should not respond that s/he is happy because s/he is ‘off tomorrow.’ Expressing happiness because of an upcoming separation from guests does not communicate a hospitable culture. Technique 32 Tell Jokes and Riddles to Children When Appropriate; All frontline associates should be instructed to learn at least one children’s riddle that can be told when children move through their areas accompanied by their parents. A basic Internet search reveals numerous websites listing children’s jokes and riddles. Technique 33 Use Strong Telephone Greetings; An associate’s name is important to a guest. All associates should be trained to state their names when they answer the telephones in their departments. Technique 34 Make Guests the First Priority; Who’s more important, the manager or the guest? The entire management team should understand that when an employee is engaged with a guest, the guest is most important. Likewise, some employees think that “Oh there is a manager, I better acknowledge him/her.” Both management and staff should be taught to focus on the guest first. Technique 35 Check Websites for Accuracy; During off-peak times, front desk associates should be trained to routinely check websites that describe the hotel for accuracy. Are the hours of operations correct for the various departments? Are the hotel’s features and amenities listed correctly? Technique 36 Learn the Language of Guest Segments Do you know who your guests are? If you are near a uni- versity, medical center, or in a leisure market—bring in “spe- cialists” to talk and train the hotel staff on what to say, ask and explain. These specialists normally will do it free of charge. The more knowledge your staff has, the easier it is to provide a more personalized style of service. Technique 37 Eliminate Hairs; All housekeepers should be trained that the most com- mon cleanliness problem in the guestroom experience is hair in the bathroom (on floor, tub, or vanity). Technique 38 Offer Luggage Assistance; All hotel staff should be trained to spot guests carrying bags and to tell the guests that they would like to help carry the items for them. If the guests decline, the service offered signals care and attention to detail. To be continue...

Create: Feb 1, 2020 Edit: Mar 31, 2020 Hotel Management

Marriott International Signs Agreement to Bring Iconic St. Regis Brand to New Administrative Capital of Egypt With St. Regis Almasa

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) (www.Marriott.com) today announced that it has signed an agreement to open a St. Regis in the New Administrative Capital of Egypt, just outside of Cairo. In the second quarter of this year, The St. Regis Almasa is expected to occupy an existing luxury hotel at the entrance of the up-and-coming city that is slated to become the administrative and financial hub of Egypt. “We are delighted to be working with the National Authority for Management & Investment on this exceptional conversion opportunity to bring St. Regis to Egypt’s New Administrative Capital,” said Jerome Briet, Chief Development Officer, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International. “This signing further enhances the St. Regis brand portfolio in Middle East and Africa and underscores the tremendous momentum that our luxury brands have in the region.” Speaking on the occasion, Colonel Waleed Samy Salama, CEO, National Authority for Management & Investment commented, “The National Authority for Management and Investment is pleased to start a relationship with Marriott International. The St. Regis Almasa will be positioned as the luxury hospitality hub in the New Administrative Capital and with the largest state-of-the-art convention center in Egypt, the hotel will be the ideal host to the country’s largest events, conferences and summits. We are confident that this deal signing will play a vital role in the development of tourism in Egypt.” Also present during the signing ceremony were General Mohamed Amin Ibrahim Nasr, Advisor to the President of Egypt for Financial Affairs and Liam Brown, Group President Europe, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International. With the population of greater Cairo expected to double in the next few decades, the government in Egypt announced plans to build the New Administrative Capital. Almasa Royal Palace, which the owner has operated for the past two years, is located adjacent to a 42,000-square-foot convention center that hosts official government conventions and events, as well as official foreign presidents’ visits. The hotel consists of 270 rooms, 90 suites, 60 apartments and 14 villas. Other facilities include outdoor and indoor swimming pools, a gym, spa, club house and 20 food and beverage outlets. When it opens, The St. Regis Almasa is expected to encompass the hallmarks of the brand such as its rich traditions and rituals, and signature St. Regis Butler Service. Through a phased approach, areas across the hotel will undergo a refresh to deliver an on-brand experience in New Cairo whilst remaining open to guests.

Create: Jan 31, 2020 Edit: Jan 31, 2020 International News

Now is the time to prepare for the post-virus wave of Chinese tourists

On February 15th, 2003, the first group of 67 Chinese officially travelling for leisure arrived in Germany, based on the ADS Approved Destination System agreement China and Germany signed the year before, second in Europe only to the island state of Malta, while for the rest of the Schengen Area the ADS agreement came only into force in September 2004. Your humble editor had stopped a few years earlier to be an inbound tour operator for Chinese delegations and had just finished the first semester as a tenured university professor. Witnessing the high expectations of my former colleagues, all buying coaches, employing additional staff and moving into bigger offices, I wondered if I had taken the wrong decision to opt out of the business just before the biggest bonanza ever for the German China inbound tour operators, looking forward to enjoying a year without competition in Europe. Unknown at the time, in November 2002 SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) started in Guangzhou and spread to many countries in the world. On March 15th, 2003, the WHO issued a global alert about a new infectious disease, advising against any unnecessary travel to and from East Asia. On April 2nd, Chinese officials finally began reporting the severity and extent of the SARS outbreak. As a result the second quarter of 2003 saw almost no Mainland Chinese citizen arriving in Germany, pushing several inbound tour operators close to bankruptcy. For the whole year, the number of arrivals however reached the level of 2002, and 2004 saw an increase of almost 40%, as many of the trips to Germany influenced by the SARS crisis were only postponed, not cancelled. Globally the same happened: From 16.6 million in 2002 the number of outbound trips jumped to 20.9 million in 2004 despite the three-month hiatus. With the yet not fully named 2019-nCoV, things could turn out in a similar way, based on what is known until now. On the one hand the disease is spreading much faster, given the much improved domestic and international transport infrastructure available in comparison to 2003, on the other hand the Chinese government reacts in a much different way to the crisis. Among many others, starting from the 27th of January, all group travel from China has to cease. Individual travellers however will have a bigger incentive than before to go abroad. The biggest difference is clearly the fact that in 2003 outbound tourism was the least concern except for those few directly involved during the SARS crisis. In 2020 there are already articles published discussing the fate of the tourism industry of Thailand, Japan and other countries if the main source market China implodes. Via an open letter of the CATS China Association of Travel Services published on the 26th, the international partners have been asked to “introduce relative refund and changes policies to minimize Chinese tourists financial loss”. How much this will remain a wish or will become a demand, is one of the many unknown factors in the 2019-nCoV development. The main concern remains of course to minimize the loss of life in China. In all previous cases, being it SARS, MERS or the Lehman Brothers global economical crisis, demand bounced back stronger than before after two or three months. So it will be a good idea to use the time of the slowdown to train everybody involved in servicing Chinese customers, using the brand new CTT China Tourism Training. Let’s hope that the Year of the Rat will have a better ending than this dire beginning and that all our readers, their colleagues, family and customers will stay healthy.

Create: Jan 31, 2020 Edit: Jan 31, 2020 International News

Crowne Plaza Dubai Marina opens its doors

IHG announced the opening of Crowne Plaza Dubai Marina, part of the newly designed flagship properties launching globally offering a new distinctive stay experience, designed to meet the needs of the modern business traveller. Crowne Plaza hotels & resorts is one of the world’s largest upscale hotel brands, with an increasingly strong reputation for being the first choice for business-class stays. Designed with the modern traveller in mind, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts know that business travel isn’t just about business – it’s about balancing work and life so guest feel fulfilled and successful. This opening represents a landmark moment for Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts in the Middle East and marks the beginning of ambitious expansion plans for the brand in the region. With 24 Crowne Plaza hotels (6,836 rooms) open in the Middle East (GCC, Levant and Egypt) and a further eight (2,738 rooms) in the pipeline – three of which are in the UAE and three in KSA, the brand is perfectly positioned to cater for a rising number of regional business events and travel to the Middle East. Within only a 20-minute drive to Expo 2020 Site, close proximity to important business hubs including Jumeirah Lake Towers, Jebel Ali, Dubai Media City and Dubai Internet City, Crowne Plaza Dubai Marina is set to become an important hub for business travelers in the lead up to Expo 2020. Georges Farhat, General Manager, Crowne Plaza Dubai Marina said: “Our flagship property in Dubai Marina is an exciting addition to the Crowne Plaza portfolio in the region. As a flagship property, the hotel will feature a new modern design philosophy which better meets the needs of our guests: productivity, advanced restoration and inspiration, seamlessly blending work and play. It features a new approach to lobby design, which can be used for co-working or relaxing. Its location makes it ideal for guests looking to stay ahead of their game while travelling for business; from a morning run on the marina waterfront walkway to after work chilling out in the heart of one of Dubai’s most exciting districts.” Located primely on the banks of Dubai Marina with direct access from the promenade, the 24 storey building occupies 3,037 square meters and boasts 273 stylish and ultra-modern hotel rooms including 61 Club Rooms and 32 suites. Offering panoramic views over the water, these rooms come with a number of technology-driven features to provide guests with a harmonious stay experience day and night. A spacious club lounge is located on the fourth-floor exclusively for Club guests. Crowne Plaza Dubai Marina boasts state-of-the-art meeting facilities including the Marina’s first ballroom with natural light. Located on the second floor, the spacious meeting and conference rooms occupy 460 square meters of space and are fully-equipped with advanced audio-visual technology for a seamless working experience. The property comes with a number of notable technologies driven features, designed to answer the growing trend in flexible work and life preference, and people’s desire to work from anywhere. This includes an efficient GRMS system (Guest Room Management System) which intuitively manages guest preferences including temperature, lighting and heating through a touch panel. All rooms come with a built-in Media Hub which allows guests to connect to a surround sound system with their devices using Bluetooth meaning guests can even listen to their own playlists in the bathroom. Screen mirroring technology allows guests to display content from their devices on the TV seamlessly. Crowne Plaza Dubai Marina offers a more social take on traditional business hotels, complete with six unique dining concepts including the signature Thai restaurant ‘Charm Thai’ located on the marina Promenade level with an expansive al fresco terrace overlooking the Marina Waterfront. Lo+Cale is the hotel’s main all-day dining restaurant featuring an array of international cuisines positioned on the ground floor alongside Connexions, the hotel’s lobby lounge serving coffee and ‘grab’n’go’ bites. Hive is the hotel’s lobby bar and Nara are the outdoor Arabic style shisha lounge. On the 4th floor is Aqua Marina, the sophisticated pool bar providing bites and refreshing cocktails for guests to refresh and unwind throughout the day. Health and fitness enthusiasts will enjoy a fully equipped state-of-the-art gym open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in addition to the hotel’s new amenities with ecofriendly, all natural with no paraben products.

Create: Jan 31, 2020 Edit: Jan 31, 2020 International News

‘Country-size guesthouse of Iran wholeheartedly ready to receive tourists’

Iran’s tourism minister on Saturday issued a statement, inviting all travelers and holidaymakers to visit the ancient land, saying that the country-size guesthouse is wholeheartedly ready to receive tourists from around the world. Ali-Asghar Mounesan emphasized that the Iranian government is trying its best to host incoming tourists by improving tourism infrastructure, offering attractive and pocket-friendly packages, as well as incentives such as visa waivers or 90-day visas on arrival. Mounesan’s statement comes weeks after the country’s tourism suffered losses in the wake of recent tensions in the region by mistakenly downing of a Ukrainian airliner, with 176 people aboard, by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) air defense system in Tehran airspace. “Nowadays, the world is even more involved in fast and surprising upheavals and ups and downs as a result of unprecedented progress in technology and industry. As such, the modern human is also influenced by the urban, mechanical life and his soul needs some refinement and relief,” the statement reads. “In such a situation, only travel and tourism can give us relief, joy, and sympathy and provide us with unforgettable experiences and memorable coexistence. In fact, tourism can be thought of as a familial or friendly gathering, the pivotal contents of which are kindness, cooperation, and synergy. In this chaotic era, tourists are like a delightful breeze endearing our souls and uniting all the people from around the world, regardless of their race, country, language, and beliefs.” Referring to the advantages of visiting the country, the minister explained, “With a deep and practical faith in this attitude, the Iranian government is trying its best to pave the way for incoming tourists and this is why there is a significant growth in tourism infrastructure in our country. In this regard, some incentives such as visa waiver, 90-day visa on arrival, standard residence services, attractive tourism routes and packages, and cheapest and most secure tours to Iran along with the last international tourism standards have enabled us to experience a 53% growth in our inbound tourism, winning the first place in the world in this regard. In addition, when it comes to the prices, Iran has the most competitive prices for tourism in the world and has emerged as a new phenomenon in the world of tourism, attracting the attention of many countries.” “Even if we disregard all that has been said, the unique tourist attractions of Iran are a good reason to have a journey to the land of history, civilization, and nature. With 24 UNESCO World Heritage sites, 34,000 nationally registered heritage sites and 600 active museums, Iran has a huge capacity to receive international tourists. In addition, high security, cheap tours, premium travel facilities, hospitable people, numerous historic and natural treasures, unique ecotourism facilities, diverse tourism packages (historic-cultural tourism, sport tourism, marine tourism, food tourism, medical tourism, etc.), interesting rituals, and diverse handicrafts and traditional arts provide enough reasons to visit Iran.” Pointing to unique and unparalleled beauties of Iran, Mounesan said, “The rich history and civilization of this land, the numerous and spectacular tourist attractions, four-season weather, and high cultural and ethnic diversity have made an invaluable treasure of Iran and put this country in the top 10 tourist destinations in terms of tourism, cultural and natural attractions. Astonishing mountains, breathtaking glaciers, beautiful volcanos, pristine forests, green foothills, delightful lakes, springs and waterfalls, picturesque beaches and wonderful islands, historical sites and distinct architecture, globally registered cities and villages, diverse and colorful handicrafts, delicious traditional cuisine and organic, healing drinks, etc. are only a small part of the beauties you can visit while staying in Iran.” “With such advantages, each day the beautiful and safe cities of Iran are hosting thousands of tourists from different countries, having enjoyed the unique experience, most of whom decide to return and bring new fellow travelers with them.” “Hereby I invite all the tourists from around the world to visit Iran during these last months of the Persian year, as well as the spring, and experience a distinct journey to the land of history and civilization,” the minister concluded. Mounesan said earlier this month that the country’s tourism sector has suffered a major setback but it will certainly return to “normal”. On Thursday, he unveiled an action plan, aiming to increase and improve [international] interactions for introducing Iran and clarifying its safety conditions to the target countries. Under the 2025 Tourism Vision Plan, the country aims to increase the number of tourist arrivals from 4.8 million in 2014 to 20 million in 2025.

Create: Jan 26, 2020 Edit: Jan 27, 2020 Regional News

Japan to experience highest growth in international arrivals by 2022

Following the news that the number of international tourists is set to reach a record in 2022 and no country will see a greater increase in international arrivals than Japan. Johnatan Vandesquille, Analyst, Travel & Tourism, at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view on the situation: “The tourism industry is forecast to maintain steady growth up to 2022, driven by the rise of middle and upper classes in emerging economies, as well as the development of new destinations. “GlobalData forecasts Japan to experience growth in the number of international tourists at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.3%, the largest increase among the countries observed. This growth can be attributed to the overall success of the 2019 Rugby World Cup and the positive impact of the Olympics, which are being held in Tokyo this year. These events have helped the development of tourism infrastructure and will increase the visibility of the destination in the near future. “France is expected to remain the most visited country in the world with 99.6 million tourists in 2022, but more than a year of civil unrest and the potential impact of Brexit (the UK being its main source market) will slow tourism growth and the country may fall short of its objective of 100 million visitors, originally set for 2020. “Diplomatic tensions are the main obstacle to international growth, as illustrated by South Korea and China, which are both currently experiencing issues with their main source markets. “However, these tensions seem to benefit Vietnam, the fastest growing tourism market in South-East Asia, which is expected to capitalize on the overall popularity of the region and the projected exponential development of South Korean outbound tourism.”

Create: Jan 26, 2020 Edit: Jan 26, 2020 International News