Gulf Tourism and Aviation
- The news you choose »
- Login to Add to Watchlist
Oetker Collection pursues expansion in Middle East
Luxury European hotel operator the Oetker Collection has announced plans to expand its portfolio of hotels into the Middle East and North Africa. The Germany-based company said it will open its first hotel in the region in Morocco in March 2012, and begin construction on a property in Abu Dhabi in four months.
Mergers in Middle East aviation sector unlikely anytime soon, say experts
Mergers and acquisitions in the aviation sector create headlines whenever they are on the cards, primarily because they rarely happen. However, experts say mergers in the Middle East are even less likely in the foreseeable future due to a range of factors, including national pride and lack of economic incentive for the major carriers in the region.
Marriott's incoming Middle East, Africa chief upbeat on region's growth prospects
Despite the struggles that the hospitality industry in the Middle East has faced in recent years due to the economic downturn and the Arab Spring, the incoming chief of Marriott's MEA division believes the region is well positioned for growth in the coming years.
Etihad reports spike in Q3 revenue amidst global airline slump
With the pace of growth slowing throughout the airline industry worldwide, Etihad Airways said this week that its revenues grew 39% to $1.1bn in the third quarter, its highest quarterly result in its history. The carrier said the strong results keep it on pace to break even in 2011.
Dubai's new hotel rating system to acknowledge budget boom
Hollywood, Bollywood, footballers and cricketers, Dubai has certainly built its lodging offering with the super-rich and world-famous in mind. But as the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) prepares the imminent launch of its new hotel classification system, it's not the luxury sector that is being paid the majority of attention, it's the opposite end of the spectrum.
IATA boosts profit forecast for 2011 but warns of bumpy road ahead
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has sharply raised its 2011 profit forecast for the global aviation industry due to higher than expected trade volume in the first seven months of this year. However, the transport agency also predicted that the industry will see sluggish growth and weak profits next year as the global economic outlook worsens.
Middle East urged to diversify tourism offering following Arab Spring
Travel and tourism experts are calling for a diversification of the Middle East's tourism offering to counter negative perceptions about the region that have arisen in the wake of the Arab Spring.
Mideast carriers forge ahead with aggressive expansion plans, but challenges loom
Led by the region's big three carriers, passenger flows to and from the Middle East are expected to reach 140 million by 2015, according to a new report by Boston Consulting Group. However, the region's carriers also face challenges over the next few years as they continue to implement their aggressive expansion plans, BCG warns.
Palm Jumeirah looks to carve niche as tourism destination
After plans for many of its hotel offerings were scrapped or put on hold, the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai is slowly beginning to emerge as a leisure destination in its own right with the recent opening of several new hotels.
Abu Dhabi sees sharp rise in visitors as room rates tumble
Abu Dhabi hotels witnessed a record increase in guest arrivals in July, boosted by a steep drop in room rates and a large influx of travellers from the Middle East in the wake of the unrest in the region.
Budget carriers look to revive fortunes after difficult six months
It has been a tough six months for low-cost carriers in the Gulf, as regional unrest and soaring fuel prices have slammed passenger numbers and driven operating costs sky-high. Is the second half of 2011 likely to offer any respite for the Gulf's embattled budget airlines?
Dubai to spend $7.8bn on airport expansion project
Dubai Airports has announced that it is gotten approval to embark on a $7.8bn expansion programme of Dubai International that would boost capacity at the airport from 60 million to 90 million passengers a year.
Hilton's UAE expansion focuses on Ras Al Khaimah
Hilton is rapidly adding more hotels in the UAE, but not in the widely-known cities of Dubai or Abu Dhabi. Instead, the hotel company is focusing its expansion on the relatively low-key northern emirate of Ras al Khaimah, which aims to attract visitors looking for a quieter and less costly alternative to its glitzier neighbours in the country.
Ritz-Carlton to manage iconic hotel in Oman
Ritz-Carlton has expanded its portfolio in the Middle East with the announcement that it is taking over the management of one of the most iconic hotels in the region, the Al Bustan Palace in Muscat, Oman.
Hotels flock to Saudi Arabia to meet increased demand
A growing number of hotel companies are signing deals to open new properties in Saudi Arabia to meet the rising influx of pilgrims that travel to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, as well as the kingdom's strong domestic tourism market.
It looks like you are using a Mac - check out our 
Web Feeds