Tag Archives: Chairman

In 2024, Malaysia aims to welcome 27.3 million international tourist arrivals and generate RM102.7 billion in tourism receipts. The remarkable rise in visitors from the Gulf region in recent years fuels Tourism Malaysia’s enthusiasm to further cultivate this market. Tourism Malaysia participates in the 31st edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2024, showcasing the country’s latest attractions and destinations to attract more tourists from West Asia. The four-day prestigious event held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 6 to 9 May 2024 marks Malaysia’s 31st year of participation, demonstrating its enduring commitment to this burgeoning market. Led by the Honourable Chairman of Tourism Malaysia Datuk (Dr.) Yasmin Mahmood, and accompanied by Dato’ Shaharuddin bin Abu Sohot, Deputy Secretary General (Management), Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, the Malaysian delegation comprises a good mix of 75 organisations, including hotels and resorts, travel agents, tourism product owners, and representatives from state tourism boards. The Malaysia Pavilion will engage with Middle Eastern buyers, generating interest while highlighting tourism products and services tailored to their specific needs and preferences, thus underscoring the importance placed on West Asia as a key source of tourists, especially during its summer vacation. “With the upcoming launch and celebration of Visit Malaysia Year 2026, we strive to attract more West Asia tourists. We recognise the immense potential of this market, not only in terms of outbound tourism but also trade and investment. “We are confident that Malaysia’s position as a top destination for Muslim travellers, coupled with our intensified promotional efforts, will enable us to achieve our target,” stated Datuk (Dr.) Yasmin Mahmood during the launch of the Malaysia Pavilion today.  

Salih Gozcu, Chairman, BTB Tours, has been declared as the Face of the Future. He started his career in the Antalya region of Turkey in 2003 as a hotelier. In 2008, he moved to the emirate.  Between 2012-2013, he worked as a Summer Tour Country Manager. In 2016, he started his own company which by this year has reached out to 50,000 tourists from 15 different source markets. BTB Tours now aims to be the biggest DMC in UAE by 2023 as far as pax, revenue and quality are concerned.

Dubai-based AA Al Moosa Enterprises has announced the rebranding of one of its four-star hotel properties located in a strategic area in Sharjah. Previously managed by Wyndham Hotels & Resorts under Ramada Hotel & Suites Sharjah, the property’s rebranding comes in line with AA Al Moosa Enterprises’ new strategy to strengthen its own local brand Golden Sands, which has been successfully present in the market for 30 years. Entering into force on July 1, 2019, the property’s new contract was signed during the opening of the Arabian Travel Market exhibition by Nayef Al Moosa, Director, ARENCO Real Estate, representing the owning company; and Mohammad Khoori, General Manager, Golden Sands Hotel Apartments. HE Khalid Al Midfa, Chairman, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, was present at the signing ceremony. He commented, “We are grateful to AA Al MOOSA for believing in Sharjah as an attractive tourism destination, and we are looking forward to support Golden Sands throughout its new venture.” “There is no doubt that the UAE hospitality industry is constantly evolving, therefore we must be flexible and adapt our strategies to meet the ever growing market needs,” Nayef Al Moosa said. “We maintain a friendly relationship with Wyndham, and are confident that Golden Sands management will achieve our aspirations for this property.” For his part, Khoori noted, “The emirate of Sharjah has recently witnessed a vast transformation in its tourism sector, and we are delighted to be here to support the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority’s vision for the emirate with a renowned local brand that is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.” He concluded, “We are extremely pleased to be selected by the owners to manage this fine …

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation, has inaugurated the 26th edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM). He was joined by Helal Saeed Al Marri, CEO, Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and Director-General of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), plus other VIPs who embarked on a tour of the show floor as the four-day event got underway at DWTC. Taking place from April 28 to May 1, this year’s event has 400 main stand holders with representation from over 150 countries. With more than 40,000 visitors expected to attend the event, ATM 2019 will showcase over 2,500 exhibiting companies – of which 100 will be making their show debut. The 26th edition of ATM will form part of the inaugural Arabian Travel Week, as well as ILTM Arabia, CONNECT Middle East, India and Africa – a new route development forum launching this year and new consumer-led event ATM Holiday Shopper. Other highlights will include the debuts of Arabia China Tourism Forum and Hotel Industry Summit, as well as the return of Global Halal Tourism Summit. As this year’s main theme, cutting-edge technology and innovation will be integrated across all show verticals and planned activities.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Group, inaugurated Premier Inn Al Jaddaf, the seventh property of the brand within the UAE. During the opening ceremony, His Highness unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion and toured the guest rooms, restaurants and public areas. The event was also attended by Gary Chapman, President Group Services & dnata, Emirates Group; Adam Nicholls, Managing Director, Premier Inn Middle East and other senior officials. Premier Inn Al Jaddaf offers a mixed inventory of spacious guest rooms from double occupancy to those which can accommodate a family of up to four. The 389 stylish rooms come with a working desk space and Premier Inn’s signature Hypnos bed paired with a pillow menu and black out curtains fulfilling the hotels’ brand promise of a guaranteed good night’s sleep. Remaining true to its heritage, the new hotel utilises contemporary design while embracing British charm and local culture. Adam Nicholls, Managing Director, Premier Inn Hotels Middle East, said, “We’re really pleased to add Premier Inn Dubai Al Jaddaf to our portfolio, our strongest proposition in the UAE and our largest hotel in the region. Dubai is a city that continues to grow, and our investment into the region doesn’t stop here, with further hotel openings on the horizon. We’re continually looking at ways to enhance our guest experience to offer a market leading product and provide a proposition that represents excellent value for money.” A joint venture between Emirates Group and Whitbread, the flagship property signals a new era for Premier Inn Middle East, with greater emphasis on guest experience alongside convenience for mid-market business and leisure travellers. The partnership …

Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) will highlight its new milestones and achievements in promoting Sharjah’s tourism industry at ITB Berlin 2019 to be held from March 6-10. SCTDA oversaw unprecedented success in 2018, recording a growth of 23 per cent, and focused on the heritage and culture of Sharjah and the UAE as it welcomed 575,876 European guests throughout the year. SCTDA will strongly emphasise on promoting local culture and distinct leisure activities that the emirate has to offer at ITB Berlin 2019 as they aim to build on this figure. Commenting on the participation, H E Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman, SCTDA, said, “Our latest participation in ITB Berlin represents a new opportunity for us to highlight the most elegant aspects of the Sharjah’s heritage, historic sites, adventures, architecture, culture and other offerings. We hope our focus on the emirate’s ecotourism, outdoor activities and branded hotels will attract more tourists and investors from Germany, a major source market, and other participating nations. The event will also enhance our efforts to meet our target of attracting 10 million visitors by 2021.” “Through our participation in the exhibition, we look forward to strengthen our cooperation with airlines, airports, hospitality and travel facilities. We anticipate new partnerships that will promote the growth of passenger and cargo traffic through Sharjah Airport, which has now become of the leading global networks for many countries. Our presence also seeks to introduce the latest and most important services, innovations and facilities provided by Sharjah Airport as well as present expansion projects currently underway and how they can contribute to tourism growth in the coming years,” he further said. Participating entities under the umbrella of SCTDA include Sharjah …

HE Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman—Board of Executive Directors, Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), received a visiting delegation from Singapore headed by HE Lim Sim Seng, Chairman, Singapore Land Authority. The meeting discussed ways and means of boosting cooperation whilst exchanging expertise between RTA and Singapore Land Authority in the fields of smart mobility, smart services and artificial intelligence (AI) as well as the upcoming roads and infrastructure projects in Dubai. The meeting discussed projects related to smart mobility and Dubai’s Autonomous Transportation Strategy aimed at transforming 25 per cent of total mobility journeys in Dubai into driverless journeys by 2030. Al Tayer briefed the visiting delegation about RTA’s experience in applying AI to projects such as the Dubai Metro, and the Enterprise Command and Control Center; which handles big data besides simulating & forecasting transport & crowds’ movement. RTA also uses AI in the smart testing of drivers and vehicles using robots, and the smart scanning of parking. HE Seng was impressed with RTA’s projects and initiatives for migrating to the Smart City, rendering Dubai a smart technology model. He added that efforts were being made to boost the strategic partnership between RTA and Singaporean entities dealing in the smart mobility field. RTA is currently making trial runs of an electrically powered 10-seater autonomous vehicle featuring high safety standards. Trials are also underway for the Autonomous Air Taxi capable of carrying two persons, autonomous mobility pods, and the first autonomous taxi in the region.

The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has launched the ninth edition of Sharjah Light Festival from February 6-16, 2019 under the patronage of H H Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. The festival will present a line-up of renowned artists during its 11-day run, spread across 20 shows throughout the emirate, on the theme ‘Culture and Family.’ The theme of Sharjah Light Festival 2019 will illuminate 17 leading locations in the emirate of Sharjah including Sharjah University City Campus Avenue, Sharjah Police Academy, University City Hall, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah Book Authority, Sharjah City Municipality, Khalid Lagoon, Masjid Al Noor; Al Qasba (Internal Facades), Palm Oasis- Khalid Lagoon, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Directorate of Human Resources – Kalba, Municipality and Municipal Council – Al Hamriyah & Kalba; Municipality and Municipal Council – Khorfakkan, Directorate of Town Planning Department – Khorfakkan; and Masjid Sheikh Rashid bin Ahmad Al Qasimi – Dibba Al-Hisn will light up in motifs that encapsulate the significance of culture and family, as part of the festival. H E Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman, SCTDA, said, “The festival has achieved great success over the past years, embodying the most important tourist attractions in Sharjah whilst reflecting the richness of the emirate’s culture. There will be a range of artistic performances and a showcase of historical architecture through modern lighting techniques such as laser mapping, which will be shown for the first time in Al Qasba and Khalid Lagoon.” The light shows will be accompanied by specially composed music by renowned artists from all over the world. The daily shows will run from 6:00 pm to 11:00 …

Rotana has signed a hotel management agreement with Al Ibaa Company to operate a five-star property in Baghdad. It will operate the city’s famed Babylon Hotel under its new brand name Babylon Rotana Baghdad. With a prime location next to the high-security Green Zone, close to the banks of the famous Tigris River and just 30 minutes’ drive from Baghdad International Airport, Babylon Rotana will offer long and short-staying guests alike all the comfort required for a pleasant and memorable stay experience. Boasting avant-garde architecture, the hotel features 284 spacious and modern rooms and suites with stunning views of Baghdad’s skyline and the majestic Tigris River. Imad Al Yasri, Chairman, Al Ibaa Company, commented, “It gives us immense pleasure to partner with Rotana to operate our five-star property in Baghdad, and we are excited about the planned upgrade and refurbishment of the hotel. We are confident that the partnership with Rotana will present a compelling value proposition for our guests, employees, and stakeholders, and further drive our business growth. We look forward to working closely with Rotana to enhance the overall performance of the hotel, thereby contributing to the development of a thriving hospitality market in the capital city.” Guy Hutchinson, Acting CEO, Rotana, said, “At Rotana, we are delighted to have made a strong start to the New Year with the signing of the agreement to operate the Babylon Rotana Baghdad. This new milestone is closely aligned with our vision to further deepen our footprint in the region and cement our leadership position in the hospitality sector.”

H E Eng Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, UAE Minister of Economy, and Chairman, General Civil Aviation Authority, in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman, Dubai Airports; President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority; Chairman and CEO of Emirates Group and H E Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General, General Civil Aviation Authority inaugurated the Global Investment in Aviation Summit (GIAS) on January 28. The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the ceremony to develop and expand cooperation for the establishment of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Global Aviation Award (SMBRGAA). The MoU will serve to stablish and implement joint efforts to promote the development of international civil aviation in a safe and orderly manner. The opening ceremony of the summit included a series of keynote speeches and panel discussions for the senior policy-makers and business leaders to share their knowledge and expertise, and to extrapolate the current economic situation and opportunities. In his welcome speech, Al Mansouri said, “I am honoured to welcome you all on behalf of the United Arab Emirates government at the Global Investment in Aviation Summit, under the theme ‘Linking Developed and Emerging Markets through Attractive Aviation Investment Opportunities’. This global marketplace aims to promote investment and enhance international air navigation by encouraging discussions and agreements between governments and decision-makers and investors.” He also stressed that by the year 2034, civil aviation will witness double increase in number of passengers compared to previous years. This will lead to the emergence of the need to implement modernisation and expansion of high-quality airport infrastructure, requiring more investment to match the …