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TIME Hotels to open five new properties across Middle East in 2019

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TIME Hotels, the UAE-headquartered hospitality company and hotel operator, is set to announce plans to open five new properties across the Middle East during 2019 – as it targets 35 properties by 2025.

The properties, which will see the growth and launch of existing as well as new TIME Hotel brands to key territories throughout the region, will be unveiled during Arabian Travel Market 2019, which takes place at Dubai World Trade Centre from 28 April – 1 May.

Mohamed Awadalla, CEO TIME Hotels, said: “Our pipeline of hotels and residences meet the demands of multiple value-driven markets by offering a high-quality experience right across all of our branded properties.

“We currently have 15 properties in operation across the UAE and wider GCC with new additions in Dubai, Sharjah and Saudi Arabia scheduled for this year as well as extending our presence to Egypt – further supporting our strategic business plan to increase our total portfolio to 35 properties across the Middle East by the end of 2025.”

TIME Hotels will debut its TIME Express Hotels brand with the opening of a property in Sharjah, during the third quarter of 2019. The three-star TIME Express Hotel Al Khan will feature 55 keys in total and is located 15 minutes from Dubai International Airport, 20 minutes from Sharjah International Airport and a 15-minute walk from Al Khan Beach.

In Dubai, TIME Asma Hotel is scheduled to open during the second quarter of 2019. The four-star property, located in Al Barsha, will feature 232 rooms including 12 suites, a gym, swimming pool, jacuzzi, four meeting rooms, a business centre and two restaurants.

“Plans are in place for two floors of the hotel to be reserved exclusively for female travellers, with dedicated services, including: personalised room service, a female-only check-in counter, dedicated ladies-only guest relations, in-house baby-sitting services, and in-room tablets highlighting all of the services offered for women as well as enhanced bathroom amenities in each room,” said Awadalla.

Meanwhile, TIME Hotels’ international openings in Saudi Arabia and Egypt demonstrate the brand’s strength and popularity in markets outside of the UAE.

TIME Hotels opened its second property in Saudi Arabia at the beginning of April. Featuring 28 deluxe apartments – comprising four one-bedroom units and 24 two-bedroom units – TIME Dammam Residence is located 35 minutes from King Fahad International Airport and just minutes from various shopping and dining destinations in Dammam.

Joining TIME Dammam Residence in the kingdom will be TIME Golden Tower Al Khobar. Scheduled to open August 2019, the 65-key property will be strategically located on Al Khobar Main Street and within close proximity to Al Khobar Waterfront. The property will feature a roof-top garden lounge, a gym and a high-tech business centre.

In Egypt, TIME Nozha Beach Aqua Park Hotel & Resort will open its doors during Q3 2019. The four-star property – located in Ras Sudr, on Egypt’s Red Sea Coast – will feature 52 rooms and four suits as well as five castles, 93 villas, 891 chalets and 136 studios.

Located along a 945 metre stretch of white sand beach, the resort will feature the largest aqua entertainment complex in Ras Sudr, complete with various water slides, wave pools and water sport activities.

Awadalla, said: “This is a very exciting chapter in TIME Hotels’ short history as we open TIME Nozha Aqua Park & Resort, our first beach resort and first property in Egypt. Built with leisure and adventure visitors in mind, this resort is fully-equipped with everything the modern traveller requires for the perfect family getaway.”

These scheduled openings follow the signing of a new management agreement by TIME Hotels Management to operate Dunes Hotel Apartments’ three properties located throughout Dubai.

TIME Hotels took over day-to-day operations of TIME Dunes Hotel Apartment Al Barsha, TIME Dunes Hotel Apartments Al Qusais and TIME Dunes Hotel Apartments Oud Metha following the signing of the agreement on 24th January 2019.

“It has been a busy year for TIME Hotels with a raft of properties announced with several of them due to come online within the next 12 months. We have been very strategic with our openings, identifying and assessing the demand within the market and implementing the most suitable brand from the TIME portfolio, that best matches that demand and we’re looking forward to bringing more properties into our portfolio,” added Awadalla.

Travel News | eTurboNews

Time Hotels to open five additional hotels in Dubai, Sharjah and Saudi Arabia

by

TIME Hotels, an UAE-headquartered hospitality company and hotel operator, is set to announce plans to open five new properties across the Middle East during 2019 – as it targets 35 properties by 2025.

The properties, which will see the growth and launch of existing as well as new TIME Hotel brands to key territories throughout the region, will be unveiled during Arabian Travel Market 2019.

Mohamed Awadalla, CEO TIME Hotels, said: “Our pipeline of hotels and residences meet the demands of multiple value-driven markets by offering a high-quality experience right across all of our branded properties.

“We currently have 15 properties in operation across the UAE and wider GCC with new additions in Dubai, Sharjah and Saudi Arabia scheduled for this year as well as extending our presence to Egypt – further supporting our strategic business plan to increase our total portfolio to 35 properties across the Middle East by the end of 2025.”

TIME Hotels will debut its TIME Express Hotels brand with the opening of a property in Sharjah, during the third quarter of 2019. The three-star TIME Express Hotel Al Khan will feature 55 keys in total and is located 15 minutes from Dubai International Airport, 20 minutes from Sharjah International Airport and a 15-minute walk from Al Khan Beach.

In Dubai, TIME Asma Hotel is scheduled to open during the second quarter of 2019. The four-star property, located in Al Barsha, will feature 232 rooms including 12 suites, a gym, swimming pool, jacuzzi, four meeting rooms, a business centre and two restaurants.

“Plans are in place for two floors of the hotel to be reserved exclusively for female travellers, with dedicated services, including: personalised room service, a female-only check-in counter, dedicated ladies-only guest relations, in-house baby-sitting services, and in-room tablets highlighting all of the services offered for women as well as enhanced bathroom amenities in each room,” said Awadalla.

Meanwhile, TIME Hotels’ international openings in Saudi Arabia and Egypt demonstrate the brand’s strength and popularity in markets outside of the UAE.

TIME Hotels opened its second property in Saudi Arabia at the beginning of April. Featuring 28 deluxe apartments – comprising four one-bedroom units and 24 two-bedroom units – TIME Dammam Residence is located 35 minutes from King Fahad International Airport and just minutes from various shopping and dining destinations in Dammam.

Joining TIME Dammam Residence in the kingdom will be TIME Golden Tower Al Khobar. Scheduled to open August 2019, the 65-key property will be strategically located on Al Khobar Main Street and within close proximity to Al Khobar Waterfront. The property will feature a roof-top garden lounge, a gym and a high-tech business centre.

In Egypt, TIME Nozha Beach Aqua Park Hotel & Resort will open its doors during Q3 2019. The four-star property – located in Ras Sudr, on Egypt’s Red Sea Coast – will feature 52 rooms and four suits as well as five castles, 93 villas, 891 chalets and 136 studios.

Located along a 945 metre stretch of white sand beach, the resort will feature the largest aqua entertainment complex in Ras Sudr, complete with various water slides, wave pools and water sport activities.

Awadalla, said: “This is a very exciting chapter in TIME Hotels’ short history as we open TIME Nozha Aqua Park & Resort, our first beach resort and first property in Egypt. Built with leisure and adventure visitors in mind, this resort is fully-equipped with everything the modern traveller requires for the perfect family getaway.”

These scheduled openings follow the signing of a new management agreement by TIME Hotels Management to operate Dunes Hotel Apartments’ three properties located throughout Dubai.

TIME Hotels took over day-to-day operations of TIME Dunes Hotel Apartment Al Barsha, TIME Dunes Hotel Apartments Al Qusais and TIME Dunes Hotel Apartments Oud Metha following the signing of the agreement on 24th January 2019.

“It has been a busy year for TIME Hotels with a raft of properties announced with several of them due to come online within the next 12 months. We have been very strategic with our openings, identifying and assessing the demand within the market and implementing the most suitable brand from the TIME portfolio, that best matches that demand and we’re looking forward to bringing more properties into our portfolio,” added Awadalla.

Travel News | eTurboNews

Japan’s first domestic passenger plane since 1960s to challenge Boeing and Airbus

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Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation, an aviation unit of Japanese industrial giant, is planning to start deliveries of Japan’s first domestically-produced passenger plane since the 1960s as soon as next year.

The 88-passenger jet has a flight range of about 2,000 miles, while a smaller variant can fly up to 76 people for about the same distance. The MRJ (Mitsubishi Regional Jet) made its maiden flight in November 2015 with the first deliveries slated for mid-2020.

Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation initially planned the first deliveries of the jet for 2008. However, the date was pushed back five times due to production difficulties. Orders for the aircraft that once totaled 474 units from US and Japanese carriers have been reportedly reduced to 407 jets so far.

The Japanese conglomerate, a longtime supplier of aircraft components to Boeing, invested over 600 billion yen ($5.36 billion) into MRJ as of March 2018 with another 200 billion yen ($1.8bn) expected to be pumped into the project by the end of 2020. In October, Mitsubishi announced plans to invest an extra 170 billion yen ($1.5bn) in capital into its aircraft unit, canceling 50 billion yen ($446mn) of the debt owed by the division.

The long-anticipated MRJ, which is designed for local air transportation, may become a peer competitor for such mainstays as Canada’s Bombardier, whose C Series regional planes are marketed as the Airbus A220, after the 2017 acquisition of the unit by the European aerospace giant. The Japanese jet is also expected to provide keen competition to Brazil’s Embraer that announced plans to create a joint venture for Embraer’s airliners in 2018.

The newcomers in the sector of regional air service, such as the Russian Sukhoi Superjet-100 and the Chinese Comac ARJ21, which are currently undergoing test flights, may also challenge Airbus and Boeing.

Mitsubishi is currently involved in legal proceedings with Montreal–based Bombardier. In October, the Canadian aircraft manufacturer filed a lawsuit, accusing the Japanese corporation of stealing secret information and causing Bombardier “to suffer irreparable financial loss.”

Mitsubishi counter-sued, saying that the Canadian aircraft producer had violated antitrust regulations through “a multifaceted scheme to expand its power within the regional jet market by impeding the entrance of a new competing aircraft.”

Travel News | eTurboNews

Four Sri Lankan nationals arrested at London Luton Airport by counter-terrorism police

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British counter-terror police have arrested four men on suspicion of being members of a banned organization hours after they flew into United Kingdom.

The four Sri Lankan nationals arrived at London Luton Airport on 10 April and were arrested by police the next day.

A Met Police spokesman said: “Detectives from the Met Police Counter Terrorism Command are investigating after four men at Luton Airport were arrested on suspicion of membership of a proscribed organization.

“The men, who are all Sri Lankan nationals, arrived on an international flight on the evening of Wednesday, 10 April.

“All four men are currently in custody at a police station in Bedfordshire. Enquiries are ongoing.”

The four remain in custody at a police station in Bedfordshire.

Membership of a proscribed organization is contrary to section 11 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

Travel News | eTurboNews

Easter School Holidays ring in busy travel season at Frankfurt Airport

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With the Easter holidays around the corner, Frankfurt Airport (FRA) is preparing for this year’s first travel peak. Germany’s largest aviation hub expects to welcome up to 215,000 passengers daily – particularly at the start of the Easter school holidays on the weekend from April 12 to 15. The busy travel season will continue also after the Easter holidays. During summer, more than 240,000 passengers are expected to pass through the FRA global aviation hub on peak days, thus reaching similar levels as last year. Passenger volumes are not expected to decline noticeably until October, when Frankfurt Airport switches to the winter flight schedule.

Five tips for a smooth airport experience

Passengers should should therefore follow a few key pieces of advice when preparing for their journey. Each individual passenger can contribute to avoiding unnecessary delays and ensuring a stress-free travel experience at the counters and security checkpoints in the terminals.

  1. Check in online: Passengers can usually check in online 24 hours before departure on their airline’s website. This saves time at the check-in counter.
  2. Arrive early: Passengers should be at the airport at least two and a half hours before departure and make their way to the security check immediately after dropping off their luggage. Once having passed the security checkpoint, passengers will find a wide range of amenities and leisure experiences to choose from, including FRA’s Movie and Gaming Worlds, yoga rooms and play areas for children, as well as shops and restaurants.
  3. Take as little carry-on luggage as possible: Your carry-on luggage should only contain items that are essential during your journey on the plane and at the airport. Carrying light luggage is the best way to ensure a relaxed airport experience. It also saves time at the security checkpoint and when boarding the plane. Packing correctly also helps reduce stress. Therefore, travelers should check their airline’s luggage rules and allowances before starting their trip. The airline will provide details about the size, number and weight permitted. Aviation regulations specify what is allowed in each piece of luggage.
  4. Stow liquids and electronics correctly: Particular attention must be paid to liquids and electronic devices. Batteries, e-cigarettes and power banks must be transported in carry-on luggage. Liquids in carry-on luggage must be stored in individual receptacles of up to 100 ml each in a resealable, transparent plastic bag with a maximum volume of one liter per passenger. Electronic devices and liquids must be presented separately at the security check. Security checks can be sped up considerably by packing everything so that it is quickly accessible and easily restowable.
  5. Book parking online: Booking parking online early is strongly recommended for passengers traveling to the airport in their own car. It is also cheaper. In addition to arriving two and a half hours before departure, we recommend that passengers allow a few minutes’ additional time for traveling between the parking structure and the terminal.

“Following these travel tips and the luggage regulations will help each person have a more enjoyable airport experience,” explains Fraport AG’s General Manager Aviation, Dr. Pierre Dominique Prümm. “This will also positively contribute to smooth operations and the overall situation at our airport. Nevertheless, Frankfurt Airport – like all other travel hubs and routes – will be very busy in the summer months, especially during vacation periods. We are preparing for this as effectively as possible with additional staff and adjustments to our infrastructure. Yet, longer waits can still be expected on peak days. Our aim is to keep waiting times as short as possible. To achieve this, we rely on the cooperation of passengers and our partners on site, as well as airlines and government agencies.”

Passengers can find all the travel tips and a lot more useful information at frankfurt-airport.com and via the Frankfurt Airport app.

Leave your winter coat at the airport

During the Easter holidays, the popular Winter Coat Storage Service is available for the last time this season at the luggage storage service. For 50 euro cents per day, down jackets and thick coats can be left at the airport, while their owners enjoy their vacation in the sun.

Travel News | eTurboNews

Hawaii Tourism: Hawaii hotels’ occupancy, revenue down in February 2019

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In February 2019, Hawaii hotels statewide reported decreases in both average daily rate (ADR) and occupancy, which resulted in lower revenue per available room (RevPAR) compared to February 2018.

According to the Hawaii Hotel Performance Report published by the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), statewide RevPAR declined to $242 (-4.2%), with ADR of $290 (-1.2%) and occupancy of 83.4 percent (-2.6 percentage points) (Figure 1) in February.

HTA’s Tourism Research Division issued the report’s findings utilizing data compiled by STR, Inc., which conducts the largest and most comprehensive survey of hotel properties in the Hawaiian Islands.

In February, Hawaii hotel room revenues fell by 5.6 percent to $360.0 million. There were more than 22,000 fewer available room nights (-1.5%) in February and approximately 58,000 fewer occupied room nights (-4.5%) compared to a year ago (Figure 2). Several hotel properties across the state were closed for renovation or had rooms out of service for renovation during February.

All classes of Hawaii hotel properties statewide reported RevPAR declines in February, except Upper Midscale Class properties ($149, +2.5%). Luxury Class properties reported RevPAR of $447 (-6.2%) with ADR of $574 (-2.2%) and occupancy of 77.9 percent
(-3.4 percentage points). At the other end of the price scale, Midscale & Economy Class hotels reported RevPAR of $154
 (-10.3%) with ADR of $181 (-6.8%) and occupancy of 85.3 percent (-3.4 percentage points).

Among Hawaii’s four island counties, only Oahu hotels reported ADR growth for February ($237, +1.2%). This increase was counter-balanced by a 1.0 percentage point decrease in occupancy to 86.4 percent, resulting in no RevPAR growth in February ($205) compared to a year ago.

Maui County hotels reported a decline in RevPAR to $337 (-4.5%) in February but led the state overall. Both ADR ($420, -2.9%) and occupancy (80.3, -1.3 percentage points) decreased year-over-year.

Hotels on the island of Hawaii reported a drop in RevPAR to $233 (-13.5%) in February, with lower ADR ($285, -5.8%) and occupancy (81.8%, -7.3 percentage points) compared to February 2018.

Kauai hotels’ RevPAR fell to $230 (-12.3%) in February, with declines in both ADR to $306 (-1.3%) and occupancy to 75.1 percent (-9.4 percentage points).

All of Hawaii’s resort regions reported RevPAR and occupancy losses in February. Only Waikiki properties were able to raise ADR for the month ($232, +1.0%) compared to a year ago.

Travel News | eTurboNews

Tunisia reaches out to UNWTO to get travel advisories removed

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The U.S. State Department putting Tunisia  as a category 2 risk for U.S. citizens to travel to. This is on the same level as Germany or the Bahamas, but not as severe as a category 3 warning against Turkey. The U.S. State Department wants citizens to exercise increase caution in Tunisia due to terrorism and lists regions where one shouldn’t go.

Tourism is a major revenue source for Tunisia, and the country has been working hard to overcome a number of deadly terror attacks where tourists were the target.

Currently the Secretary General of the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Zurab Pololikashvili  is in Tunisia meeting with the Head of the Tunisian Government Youssef Chahed. He told UNWTO the country had made a lot of efforts have been made to improve security for both citizens and visitors through effective deployment of effective security and counter terrorism measures.

On his part, Pololikashvili commended the country for taking steps to ensure that tourism development and growth remained a priority and continues to play a pivotal role in the economy of Tunisia.

He mentioned that Tunisia was one of the first countries in the Mediterranean basin to identify the strategic value of tourism development. Tunisia, he said has been able to adapt to different challenges and also seized the opportunity of air connectivity and visa openness in recent years. UNWTO encourages Tunisia to its high visibility in the tourism sector, always against the backdrop of sustainable operations for the benefit of the local population and lasting opportunities emerging from tourism.

This, the UNWTO Boss states is particularly true for tourism as a resilient sector as Tunisia itself is experiencing: international tourist arrivals grew above 23% in 2017. Pololikashvili averred that the UNWTO is committed to supporting sustainable tourism development in Tunisia.

The UNWTO Secretary General is on a two day working visit to the country and being accompanied by Zhu Shanzhong , UNWTO’s Executive Director and Director of Africa Department Ms Elcia Grandcourt.

Tunisia is concerned about travel advisories remaining in Japan and the United States.

UNWTO has little influence on travel advisories by the countries most important to Tunisia in Tourism. The UNWTO chief met with local media in Tunisia, but an international global press support was not part of the agenda. Tunisia urgently needs global outreach and positive media support.

Travel News | eTurboNews

Turkish suspect in Utrecht terrorist attack arrested

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Utrecht’s police chief has confirmed that the 37-year-old Turkish suspect in the deadly shooting on a tram in the Netherlands has been arrested.

Gökmen Tanis was arrested after a major manhunt following the shooting which authorities have confirmed killed three people and injured nine more. The terror threat level for Utrecht was reduced after the suspect’s arrest.

A police spokesperson said Tanis was arrested on Oudenoord street near where a red Renault Clio which he was believed to have been driving was found.

The attack prompted Dutch police to be put on high alert, with military police sent to national airports, railways stations and major roads as citizens were advised to stay indoors. Schools were also closed while the hunt was underway.

Dutch Prime Minister Rutte said during a press conference that the suspect’s motive is still unclear and that there are “many questions and rumors.” Earlier the Dutch counter-terror agency said it appears to be a terror attack.

Utrecht police had warned citizens to watch out for Tanis but not to approach him. Sources told BBC Turkish that the 37-year-old had previously been arrested over “suspected links” to Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) a few years ago, but was later released.

Following the attack, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the Turkish intelligence agency is investigating whether it was linked to terror.

Travel News | eTurboNews

Global Tourism Resilience Centre Board of Governors announces 2019 projects

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Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett joins Board Members and associates of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Center (GTRCMC) after their second meeting, which was held in Berlin, Germany on March 08, 2019. The team discussed their major projects for 2019

Board Members and associates of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Center (GTRCMC) had their second meeting, in Berlin, Germany today to discuss their major projects, which will be completed this year.

Speaking at the board meeting, Tourism Minister and Chairman of the Center, Hon. Edmund Bartlett said, “I am very happy to announce that we are ahead of schedule for many of the plans that we have for the establishment and operations of this very important global institution. Our partners have been very active in securing important potential investors, as well as in the development of our key initiatives.
Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett greets Chairman pro-tem of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, Dr Taleb Rifai

eTN Chatroom: Discuss with readers from around the world:

The major 2019 projects include the appointment of the Professorial Chair in Resilience and Innovation at University of the West Indies (UWI); the development of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Tool-Kit; and the development of the Global Tourism Resilience Measurement Framework for Global Tourism Resilience Readiness. They also intend to develop an appropriate Global Indices for Tourism Resilience Readiness, as well as the official GTRCMC Academic Journal.

The Center, with the assistance from East Park Drive and partners, has also engaged several potential investors to fund other projects. Some of these include the Tourism Seismic Readiness Study of International Airports across the Caribbean; Tourism Climate Resilience Awareness Campaign for Small and Medium Size in Small Island Developing States (SIDS); and the Tourism Health and Wellness Audit among SIDS.

The Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Center (GTRCMC) was launched on January 30, 2019 at the Montego Bay Convention Center and is housed at the UWI.

The focus of the Center includes: Risk Assessment, Mapping and Planning; Cyberspace Policy and Counter-Terrorism; Resilience-Related Research Collaborations; Development of Innovation Systems; Coordinating resilience policies with the government, Resource Mobilization, Capacity Building and Cross-Border Intelligence-sharing.

It will also provide research fellowship opportunities for individuals seeking to either expand their knowledge or, gain experience in tourism resilience and crisis management, through postdoctoral research, and internships for undergraduate and graduate students in fields of study related to tourism resilience and crisis management.

The first Board meeting was held on November 4, 2018 at the Chesterfield Mayfair Hotel in London, UK. The Board discussed among other things: the thematic focus of the Centre; the location of the Center and, possible satellites in the Americas, Asia, Africa, Europe, the Mediterranean, the Middle East as well as Oceania.

Minister Bartlett was accompanied by Dr. Lloyd Waller, Senior Advisor/Consultant and Gis’elle Jones, Research and Risk Management in the Tourism Enhancement Fund, who acted as secretary for the Board of Governors Meeting on the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Center. eTN Corporation President Juergen Steinmetz also attended the board meeting.

The team is expected to return to the island on March 09, 2019.