Travco's Middle East expansion plans moving forward

Travco's expansion plan aims to serve its partner tour operators worldwide, making best use of its long experience, valuable business relationships and renowned reputation of excellence.

Earlier this year, Travco has branched out in two GCC countries introducing Oman, and then Abu Dhabi, with future plans to add Qatar and Jordan to Travco's portfolio. Meanwhile, the leading leisure company has initiated development projects with tourism ministries and authorities of these countries to further capitalize on the promising tourism potential of the region.

In Dubai, Travco operates through its regional office, managed and operated by a dynamic, professional, multilingual team, qualified to handle all travel demands. The team has succeeded at perfecting tailor-made packages to suit both individual and MICE market's most exacting demands. In addition, Travco Dubai is proud of its exclusivity in desert operations. In 2005, Travco Dubai served 125,000 tourists a year out of the UAE and has recorded 25% growth year on year.

Adding to its success in Dubai, Travco is set to further expand its portfolio in May 2007 with the launch of its first resort in Dubai, the Iberotel Royal Miramar Fujairah Hotel. The US$ 44 million property features a 200 m-long private beach and a delightful setting in an area of unspoiled natural beauty making it an ideal destination for a relaxing holiday. The luxurious 5-star hotel is designed in a Moroccan-inspired architecture with clusters of 321 guest rooms, most of which are overlooking the sea.

Miramar Fujairah hotel features a wide variety of dining venues, beach and pool bars, and a discotheque. Moreover, the hotel comprises a shopping arcade with 12 shops; a meeting room and a business center, a kids' club, and a beauty parlor. For active travelers, the hotel offers a highly equipped gym, a spa featuring two saunas, two steam rooms, two massage rooms and a Jacuzzi, two tennis courts, one multi purpose court, a large open air amphitheatre and a billiard room; in addition to a water sport center for the adventurers.

The Miramar project's second phase construction will be underway early in 2007 with estimated expenses of US$ 154 million upon the completion of the third phase and the entire project. The second hotel will feature 350 superior guestrooms and five private villas, several dining venues featuring three specialty restaurants, pool and beach bars, a health club with an indoor swimming pool, a children's pool, and an annex to the first hotel's shopping arcade with additional 50 shops and specialty restaurants.

With its high reputation maintained in Dubai, Travco has added a representation office in Abu Dhabi for the emirate poses an economic choice and is in high competition with Dubai. As figures indicate, tourism is a very lucrative source of income to the Abu Dhabi market. The tourism industry in the UAE is fast becoming an attractive destination not only for an individual tourist, but also for business, leisure and corporate groups alike.

In July 2006, Travco has joined forces with Abu Dhabi National Hotels Company (ADNH) to set up a new tourism investment company, implementing tourism development and hotel investment projects in the UAE. Travco Chairman and CEO Hamed El Chiaty and Khalifa Nasser Al Mansouri, ADNH chairman, signed the official agreement in the presence of the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan. The two parties have agreed to co-operate for their best mutual interest and develop travel, tourism and hospitality related projects in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, and to further expand in other territories. The strategic alliance is estimated to significantly boost inbound tourism to the emirate, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority's first priority. "This agreement and partnership is consistent with the ADTA strategy to develop the tourism and hotels sector. It will also reinforce the role of the private sector in tourism development in the emirate", says Al Nahyan pointing out the significant success Travco has achieved in the Middle East, making it the perfect associate for such venture.

As a pioneer in exploring new tourism markets and promoting new destinations across the Middle East, Travco chose the Sultanate of Oman for its booming tourism industry, not only to represent Oman as a significant destination, but also to be involved in greater projects such as constructing and managing hotels and resorts in the country. Travco Oman is currently in operation, building upon Travco's excellent relationship with the most recognized tour operators in Europe, Far East, Scandinavia, CIS and the Middle East region, which will support and enhance Travco's mission toward unveiling the Sultanate of Oman as a tourism hot spot on the global map.

In the second quarter of 2006, Travco Group and the Omani Ministry of Tourism have signed up a memorandum of understanding in regards to pioneering ventures in promoting the destination and extending paramount efforts in differentiating the Sultanate of Oman as a leading tourism destination on the global tourism map. Travco in co-operation with the Omani Ministry is to expand in the Gulf with four hotels, starting by one in Muscat with the expenses of US$ 55 million. "The initial capital is estimated to be US$ 13 million, likely to increase according to the company's aggregate investment projects," explained Osama Boshra, the regional manager of Travco Dubai, adding that Travco enjoys a 50% of the shares in the projects' investments.