Airlines & airports E-tickets EGYPTAIR last month started the e-ticketing system as an alternative to normal ticketing that will be terminated by the end of 2007 according to a resolution adopted recently by IATA. The new system was first implemented on the Cairo-Luxor route and was gradually implemented in other domestic routes. Starting from 8 January the system will be applied on all international lines. EgyptAir officials say the new system will save $1 million annually, which was the cost of issuing ordinary tickets, and will facilitate travel procedures. Domestic rates down RATES for EgyptAir domestic flights are expected to decrease by 25 per cent during 2007. According to company officials the decrease is due to the operation of smaller jets by Air Cairo and Express, owned by EgyptAir, on domestic routes. They say the big increase in rates of domestic flights was due mainly to the usage of big jets. New web design LUFTHANSA recently launched a new design for its website www.lufthansa.com. A quick glance at the home page reveals the creative improvements, such as making the site more user friendly. A new navigational structure now allows the net surfer to reach the information he wants quicker; for example top flight offers. The content has now been divided into subject areas "Booking", "Top Offers", "Info & Service" and "Miles & More", providing the searcher more clarity and enabling him to find the subject matter he is looking for more easily. After the first visit, the searcher will be automatically directed to the pages of his country of origin. It will no longer be necessary to select the relevant pages manually. Booking flights will be much easier in future thanks to the optimised representation of the individual steps in the booking process. The Top Offers section shows the traveller the best prices at a glance. All the latest offers are clearly summarised on one page and in just a few steps he can book his or her dream destination. Travellers will find Lufthansa's complete services at Info & Service. From tips about preparing for their journey through check-in, lounges and in-flight services to departure, detailed information is just a click away. The search function, which is available on every page, helps searchers to find the information they want quickly. Through the new redesigned site you can play the Lufthansa Christmas game and win a free ticket to Europe. All you have to do is log on to www.lufthansa.com to play. The game is online till 7 January. Hotels & resorts Major coast development TRAVCO Group has announced the inauguration of its first property development and real estate company in the region, Travco Properties. Travco Properties has stepped up efforts to build its projects' infrastructure with construction fully under way for the first phases of both Madinat Makadi in Hurghada, on the Red Sea, to be delivered beginning 2007, and Almaza Bay, on the northwestern coast to follow in December of 2007. With the completion of the six planned hotels and resorts of the massive five million metre square area, the capacity of Almaza Bay Resort will reach 2,300 guest rooms and 2,500 residential units of various designs and sizes, overlooking either the sea, lagoons, bays or the golf course. Almaza Bay Resort will provide its guests with endless recreational options with a vast marina, aqua park, a tennis academy, shopping mall, world-class spa and a wellness centre, horse-back riding tracks, a movie theatre and a conference centre for business travellers, plus an 18-hole golf course. The second project under way is Madinat Makadi Village covering three and a half million square metres. It is a fully developed tourist village featuring eight hotels in the four- and five-star categories. It includes a luxurious residential area over 700,000 square metres and 2,000 residential units. Madinat Makadi has been furnished with all leisure, recreation, entertainment and sports amenities to guarantee a soothing, prolonged stay in the Red Sea resort. Gulf expansion M�VENPICK recently announced the opening of a second establishment in Qatar. The five-star city property Mövenpick Tower & Suites Doha has 350 modern rooms on 26 floors and is aimed first and foremost at business travellers. The unique concept combines the very latest technology with the traditional values of Swiss hospitality. The building is in a prime location, directly at the entrance to the prestigious West Bay Area, a booming trade district, an only 15-minute drive from Doha International Airport. Altogether 350 spacious rooms including 40 suites offer contemporary design and first-class comfort. Besides an LCD TV and 24-hour room service the rooms have a fully equipped kitchenette, ideal for long-term stays. All the rooms are linked to an interactive telecommunication system (Internet Protocol Network) which allows guests to retrieve a wealth of information and directly access hotel services including wake- up calls, concierge service, express check-out and video on demand. Four meeting rooms with natural daylight, including "Zurich", a 220sqm multi-purpose hall, and a business centre, are equipped with state-of-the-art audio-visual technology. Public Wireless LAN is available to guests every where on the premises. Leisure and relaxation facilities includes an indoor swimming pool, a health and wellness centre, four massage rooms, a beauty salon and a games room for children. "The new hotel is a key element of our strategy of dynamic growth in the Middle East, and we are delighted with our second establishment in the flourishing city of Doha," says Jean Gabriel Pérès, president & CEO Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts. "With its futuristic amenities the Mövenpick Tower & Suites Doha is setting new technology standards and is one of the jewels in our portfolio's crown," Pérès said. Iberotel awards IBEROTEL Lamaya Beach on the Red Sea, and Iberotel Palace in Sinai have won the Thomson Gold Medal for best retail travel agent for 2006. Over 100,000 consumer votes were received to decide the winners. The awards are a new annual event which recognise consumer favourites in hotels and resorts. "What makes this award really special is that unlike other travel awards, this one is voted for by customers and it's their opinion that matters the most for us," said Nigel Galbraith, area manager Egypt, Thomson. Black Box winners GRAND Hyatt Cairo Hotel was the overall winner of the MLA Black Box Culinary Challenge. The competition, which was triggered by a black box of mystery ingredients, ended last month. Grand Hyatt Cairo was among seven teams from hotels across Egypt competing in this prestigious event. The others were InterContinental Group who came in second and the InterContinental Citystars which won third place. The challenge was staged by Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA). Other award winners were the InterContinental Group for Best Table Display; Grand Hyatt Cairo Hotel the Best Soup award; InterContinental Group for Best Entrée; Hyatt Egypt Best Main Course; and the Nile Hilton for Best Dessert. Much more than a competition, the MLA Black Box Culinary Challenge is one of the world's most popular and prestigious culinary challenges. Founded by MLA in 1996, it was instituted to provide a platform where young chefs from around the world can showcase their culinary skills as drivers of future culinary trends in a competitive and creative atmosphere. Another aim of the competition was to promote the quality and demand for Australian beef products worldwide. The Grand Hyatt Cairo team will now go on to represent Egypt at the Global final of the MLA Challenge scheduled for Dubai 2008. Qatar acquires Renaissance QATAR has announced the acquisition of the Renaissance Sharm El-Sheikh Resort in Egypt. Qatar purchased the Renaissance Resort from the Kiroseiz for Touristic Investment Company for approximately $50 million. The 87,000 square metre resort is nestled at the southern tip of Egypt's Sinai Peninsula at Um Al-Sid Hill. A Qatari official said the acquisition comes under the state's plan to invest in the tourist sector, in particular in neighbouring Arab countries. This, the official added, will enhance bilateral cooperation between the countries and the development of mutual investments among them. The hotel, built as a tourist destination resort, is managed by Marriott International under the name Renaissance Golden View Beach Resort Sharm El-Sheikh. The resort, which opened in 2004, has 408 units consisting of five-star hotel rooms and suites. From Sharjah to Alexandria TO PROMOTE the new direct flight between Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates and Alexandria, Egypt, Sheraton Dubai Creek and Sheraton Montazah Alexandria, together with Harty Tours and Air Arabia, recently organised a trip for journalists from Sharjah to Alexandria. The trip included major media representatives from the magazines Al-Sada, Travel Arabia and Zahret Al-Khaleej, and Radio FM El-Arabia. The three-day trip included sightseeing tours to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and meetings with top Alexandria officials. New Four Seasons chefs FOUR Seasons Resort Sharm El-Sheikh recently announced the appointment of Thai chef Attapol Thangthong and Italian chef Christian Maurizzi. Thangthong's culinary talents and experience will help create a brand new menu of Thai dishes including stir fried garlic prawns, seared salmon fillet, wok fried seafood with green peppercorn and hot basil and sun dried beef strips. Lovers of pasta, risotto, ravioli and tiramisu will admire Maurizzi's list of specialties that are reflective of his home country. "We're delighted to welcome chef Attapol and chef Christian to our team," said Luca Allegri, general manager of Four Seasons Resort. "The extent of their knowledge and expertise will undoubtedly enhance the overall dining experience of our guests." News Nine million visitors ABOUT nine million tourists visited Egypt in 2006, Minister of Tourism Zoheir Garanah has said. Garanah said the number of tourists had increased by 4.4 per cent in the period from January to November 2006 compared to the same period last year and that tourist nights had also increased by five per cent resulting in $7.2 billion in revenues compared to $6.4 billion last year. Garanah said the ministry had a five-year plan targeting 14 million tourists for 140 million tourist nights and to establish 15,000 hotel rooms annually to accommodate the expected increase in the number of tourists which will consequently provide two million job opportunities. He added that the plan also aims at increasing tourist revenues to $11.9 billion. Events Fayoum conference THE FACULTY of Tourism and Hotels in Fayoum University will hold its second tourism festival in March which will include a conference called "Tourist development in light of international challenges". The conference will tackle methods of encouraging tourist investment, international agreements and their effect on the tourist industry, GATT, the development of tourism education and training and the role of tourist development in provides job opportunities. The festival will also include trips to Fayoum's tourist sites, exhibitions for hotels, travel agencies and tourist establishments, a book fair and a recruitment exhibition where owners of travel agencies and hotels will meet students in their final year and discuss the best job opportunities for them. Silver Jubilee The Egyptian Tourist Authority (ETA) has recently celebrated its 25th anniversary in Nefertari Hall in Cairo International Conference Centre (CICC). The ETA was established on 1 March 1981 and has played an essential role in the big tourist developement that Egypt witnessed all over these years and in the promotion of Egypt worldwide. Head of the ETA Ahmed El-Khadem said the number of tourists was only 1423,251 in 1981, while now it is about nine million.
