Gulf Tourism and Aviation
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Gulf carriers quiet at Dubai Airshow
Middle East carriers were for the most part silent at the 2009 Dubai Airshow as most of the orders at this year's event were made by carriers outside the region.
The Address hotels eye growth beyond Dubai
The Address Hotels + Resorts, the hotel brand of Emaar Hospitality Group, is seeking to expand in Europe and Asia following the successful roll out of its hotels in Dubai. Launched in 2008, the brand has opened five properties in Dubai, including The Address Downtown Burj Dubai, The Address Dubai Mall, and The Palace - The Old Town. Most recently, the company added the Montgomery Dubai to its portfolio and opened The Address Dubai Marina.
Ski slope remains big draw at Kempinski MoE
The general manager of the Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates says business remains strong despite the launch of Dubai Mall and the opening of several new budget hotels within walking distance of the property.
New hotel rises in Empty Quarter
The Middle East is teeming with new hotels offering world-class quality and comfort, but few are able to deliver an experience that captures the unique heritage of the region. However, this month will see the opening of one of the more adventurous projects in the Gulf, the Qasr al Sarab Desert Resort, which aims to give travellers a truly unique desert experience.
Abu Dhabi races ahead with tourism plans
With events such as The Formula One Grand Prix on the docket, Abu Dhabi is rapidly emerging as a world-class tourism destination and is threatening to overtake Dubai as the top tourism hot spot in the UAE.
Air Arabia sees bright future for low-cost carriers
Air Arabia believes that the outlook for the low-cost carriers in the Middle East is robust as much of the sector is untapped and price is becoming an increasingly important consideration for passengers.
The changing face of corporate travel - the agency perspective
Corporate Travel in the Middle East is arriving at a crossroads. Before long decisions will need to be made by corporate customers across the region as to what is truly important to them in terms of service, cost savings, security and sustainability.
Hotels, airlines adapt to tight corporate travel budgets
The financial crisis wreaked havoc on the corporate travel market in the Middle East as companies slashed their travel budgets as part of a wave of belt tightening brought on by the downturn. Compounding the challenges facing hotels and airlines in the region was the rise of low-cost competitors, which gave business travellers more options when planning their trips.
Budget hotels seek to tap UAE corporate travel market
An increasing number of budget hotels are targeting the UAE in hopes of attracting business travellers who have been trading down to less expensive accommodation as a result of corporate belt tightening brought on by the financial crisis.
Middle East corporate travel outlook looks bright
The forecast for corporate travel in the Middle East is looking stronger for the fourth quarter and beyond as the region's economy shows signs of improvement. Many companies have lifted their travel bans that were imposed during the downturn and hotels and airlines are seeing a rise in bookings.
Gulf Air faces fight for survival
Gulf Air has hired a new CEO and is conducting a review of all its business practices in a bid to return to profitability. However, although air traffic in the Middle East remains strong, questions remain about whether the Bahrain-based airline can compete with the major carriers in the region.
Rotana sees promising signs for Q4
Rotana is pushing ahead with its rapid growth plans despite the challenging economic conditions impacting the Middle East. The hotel chain is on track to open 13 properties across the region in 2009, including 10 in the UAE alone.
Is the worst over for Dubai hotels?
Dubai hotels suffered some of the sharpest declines in the world in the wake of the financial crisis, but recent figures suggest that the worst may be over for the hospitality industry in the emirate. However, experts say that although hotels may be seeing promising signs, it is still difficult to predict what the future will hold.
Middle East hotel market remains buoyant, says Marriott
The global financial crisis has had a severe impact on the hotel industry worldwide as companies and individuals have cut back on their travel expenses. The Middle East, especially Dubai, has been no exception, as evidenced by a new report by STR Global which reveals that hotels in Dubai saw the biggest fall in revenue in the region in the first half of 2009.
Emirates forges ahead with A380 one year on
It has been one year since Emirates Airline flew its inaugural Airbus A380 flight, from Dubai to New York City's JFK airport. While the superjumbo's initial journey for Emirates was trouble-free, things have not always gone smoothly for the Gulf carrier in its efforts deploy the aircraft in its fleet.
