Hotels & resorts Green award SHERATON Heliopolis Hotel, Towers & Casino was recently awarded the Green Globe Certificate presented to organisations which prove operational efficiency in energy, water and solid waste management. The award is also given on the basis of an organisation's commitment to sustainable development, understanding and management of environmental impacts and risks as well as their support for the local community. The hotel was awarded the certificate after having verified that it is operating in an environment-responsible manner. Supporting Sharm ON A RECENT visit to Four Seasons Resort Sharm El-Sheikh, Prince AlWaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdelaziz Al Saud, a combined shareholder in the resort and Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts worldwide, contributed LE5 million in aid following the Sharm El-Sheikh attacks. Opened in May 2002, the Four Seasons Resort Sharm El-Sheikh offers a vacation experience of unlimited variety and highly personalised, anticipatory service that Four Seasons guests expect and value around the world. Information on the company and on Four Seasons Resort Sharm El-Sheikh can be accessed through the Four Seasons website at www.fourseasons.com. Cruise deal MÖVENPICK Hotels & Resorts (MH&R) have signed a contract with Nile Exploration Corporation to manage the deluxe Nile cruiser, Royal Lotus, to enhance its present fleet of Radamis I and II. Royal Lotus will cruise between Luxor and Aswan. Royal Lotus, scheduled to be commissioned in autumn, is a deluxe floating hotel boasting four decks specifically designed for round the year cruising with fully air- conditioned public areas and cabins. The 62 guest cabins are located on the upper decks to allow unhindered spectacular scenery. All have individually controlled air-conditioning and come with en suite shower. "The experienced crew of 70 gives a substantially higher staff-to-passenger ratio than normal," said Jean Gabriel Peres, president and CEO of MH&R, "ensuring truly personal service and attention to detail." "A further advantage of our association with Mövenpick is that passengers can also experience the Jolie Ville Luxor Resort and the Elephantine Island Resort at either end of the cruise," said Nagui Erian, chairman of Nile Exploration. They are both unique hotels ideally located on secluded private islands surrounded by lush tropical gardens. Compensation to Le Meridien A COURT of arbitration in Cairo has awarded damages amounting to LE90 million to Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts which went up against the Saudi Egyptian company for Touristic Developments SEDECO, owners of the former Le Meridien Cairo. The court's decision was taken following the premature termination of Le Meridien's management contract without legal justification. The former Le Meridien Cairo was managed by Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts for 30 years during which it achieved optimum results for the owner and the company. Termination of the contract came in August 2002 despite Le Meridien's technical assistance provided for the completion of the tower, adjacent to the hotel, and the successful management of its first year of operation. The place to be LOCATED in the bustling city of Ismailia, overlooking Temsah Bay, Mercure Hotel & Resort recently underwent a complete revamp of its entire premises and facilities. Just 120km from Cairo, Ismailia is known for its one-day trips and weekends. Mercure Hotel & Resort spent over LE7 million to renovate its facilities which now include 152 rooms, 23 family suites and 15 chalets, each with two to three bedrooms, a living area, a kitchenette and terrace overlooking the lake and the hotel gardens. Targeting families, Mercure is planning several carnivals and activities. With large playgrounds, diverse water sports and several cafés and restaurants offering a multitude of international cuisines, Mercure is now the prime location to enjoy a short vacation within close proximity to Cairo. Airlines and airports Flights resume to Sharm AFTER a two-week suspension, EgyptAir has resumed flights from Cyprus to Sharm El-Sheikh. Mohamed Mubarak, head of the EgyptAir station in Cyprus, said the company now has two direct weekly flights from Larnaka and Bakowi to Sharm El-Sheikh, in addition to three weekly trips from Larnaka to Cairo. This, Mubarak says, is an example of the big volume of Cyprus tourism in Egypt. From Alex to Vienna AUSTRIAN Airlines recently launched its direct flight from Alexandria to Vienna. Maged Shenouda, area director of Austrian Airlines in Egypt, said four flights a week will operate on the route in cooperation with EgyptAir. "This new route is a step in the government's plan to place Alexandria on the international tourist map," Shenouda said. A party thrown at Tabia Ballroom in the Sheraton Montazah Hotel celebrating the event was attended by Goseve Torger, president of Austrian Airlines, Mohamed Mounir, head of the commercial sector of EgyptAir and Koretesh Shpalinger, ambassador of Austria to Egypt. Football nose AS THE 2006 World Cup heads to Germany, the temperature of soccer fans is nearing fever pitch. Reason enough for Lufthansa to kick off 2006 by launching its first Airbus with a "football nose" onto a heavenly pitch. Painted in black and white, the nose tip of the Lufthansa Airbus A340-300 has all the semblance of a football above the clouds. And the message it heralds to soccer fans around the world from all at Lufthansa is "Welcome to Germany". "Germany is again hosting the World Cup for the first time in 32 years," Lufthansa's executive vice president of marketing and sales Thierry Antinori. "Fans the world over will be coming to Germany to support their national teams playing at soccer stadiums around the country. The Lufthansa aircraft with the football nose will act as football's ambassadors, inviting all to enjoy their stay here." The first A340-300 with the football nose operates on all long-haul routes in the Lufthansa global network. About 30 other aircraft in the Lufthansa fleet will have their nose similarly painted in the next few weeks prior to resuming scheduled flights to destinations within Germany and the rest of Europe. News MTF countdown PREPARATIONS are underway to host the sixth round of the Mediterranean Travel Fair from 6 to 8 September in Cairo's International Conference Centre (CICC) in Nasr City. Minister of Tourism, Ahmed El-Maghrabi held a meeting with the executive committee of the fair during which preparations by the Egyptian tourist sector were reviewed to guarantee the success of the event especially since it is the first major international gathering after the Sharm El-Sheikh attacks. El-Maghrabi said the ministry supports inviting ministers of tourism, senior tourist officials and tour operators abroad to give Egyptian travel agencies and hotels the chance to sign agreements with senior tour operators. The MTF, to be held under the auspices of Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif, is organised by British Reed Travel Exhibitions in cooperation with the Egyptian Tourist Authority, the Egyptian Federation of Tourist Chambers, Egyptian Hotel Association, Egyptian Travel Agents Association and EgyptAir. Reed Travel Exhibitions said 35 countries had confirmed their participation and a large number of countries had doubled the size of their booths, including Italy, Greece, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. Amir Fahim, Reed's representative in Egypt said Reed Exhibitions will invite 500 travel agencies from throughout the world in addition to 200 companies specialised in conferences and incentive trips to take part in the event. Tunisia will be the feature country this round and a Tunisian night will be staged on the event's first day. This year, several countries will participate for the first time, including Kenya, Ghana and Cuba. On 7 September, the head of the Cuban tourism sector, Mercedes Cabrera, will hold a press conference on the sidelines of the MTF to promote Cuba's tourist potential and its granting of visas. Saudi Arabia will also participate with a booth bigger than last year's. The Saudi delegation will be headed by Prince Sultan Bin Salman bin Abdel-Aziz, head of the Supreme Organisation for Tourism. On opening day, 6 September, a press conference will be held by Prince Sultan who will review tourism in the Kingdom. WTO report optimistic TOURISTS are proving resilient and sticking to their travel plans despite the recent bomb blasts in London and at the Egyptian resort of Sharm El-Sheikh, the World Tourism Organisation (WTO) has said. "In 2001, the 11 September acts of terrorism have been met more by a feeling of repugnance rather than fear," said WTO Secretary-General Francesco Frangialli. "When faced with terrorism, the members of the society being attacked are determined not to allow violent acts to pressure them into changing their way of life," Frangialli said in a report by the Market Intelligence Department of the Madrid-based organisation. "As we have been seeing of late, attacks can happen anywhere, and are not limited to foreign travel destinations. The public must not let itself be deterred from travelling," Frangialli said. Referring specifically to the 23 July attacks in Sharm El-Sheikh, the report said Egypt was likely to see increased market growth, with visitors set to outstrip the 8.1 million arrivals in 2004, compared to 2.9 million in 1995. Over the period, the WTO said Egyptian receipts from the industry rose from $2.7 billion to $6.1 billion or around six per cent of the GDP. Industry analysts say Sharm El-Sheikh accounts for one in three visitors to the country as a whole. "In the past few years, civil society has become aware of the global nature of these threats and have resisted caving in to them," Frangialli said. "This has been shown following the recent aggressions suffered in different parts of the world."
