By Compiled by Rehab Saad Airlines and airports From Newcastle to Sharm El-Sheikh EGYPT'S Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh in south Sinai will be available starting November 2004 on a weekly direct service with British Thomson Flights. For the first time ever Thomson has added a new route to its Newcastle flying programme for the winter of 2004 to 2005 to Sharm El-Sheikh. Starting November, Thomson customers will be able to jet off to this winter sunshine destination from their local airport without the hassle of getting to London. "This is a very exciting development for Thomson and shows that we're committed to offering a wide range of great value holidays and flights from local airports," said Chris Mottershead, Thomson managing director. He added that the Red Sea Riviera is a fantastic new holiday destination which the Egyptians have invested a huge amount of money in. "The hotels offer extremely high quality, the diving is world class and it has guaranteed sunshine." Lufthansa profits THE GERMAN carrier Lufthansa continued to improve in the first quarter of 2004. The company invested in its fleet and service, pursued an active portfolio management strategy and lowered costs. "We are better learners and more efficient," Chairman and CEO Wolfgang Mayrhuber said when presenting the figures for the first quarter. Following an operational loss of 419 million euros in the first quarter of 2003, the Lufthansa Group generated a revenue of 3.9 billion euros, which was 5.5 per cent higher than in the same period of 2003. The group's airlines adapted their capacity according to the demand and thus raised the load factor significantly. Thanks to these network optimisatioins and the positive trend in average yields in the passenger airline business, traffic revenue was raised by 10.5 per cent to 2.9 billion euros. The operating revenue for the first three months came to 116 million euros, compared with 419 million euros at the same stage last year. The net result improved substantially to 62 million euros, as against 356 million euros one year ago. The group's net debt remained low at 663 million euros. Lufthansa's capital expenditure totalled 650 million euros, of which 562 million euros were invested in modernising and expanding the fleet. Hotels The Thomas Cook travel agency, (+202) 417 1407, has several offers for summer holidaymakers. You can have four nights accommodation in Sheraton Miramar in El- Gouna for LE511 per person in a double room and LE844 for single rooms on a bed and breakfast basis. The offer is valid until mid- July. On the other hand, the Ocean View Hotel also offers three nights for LE360 per person in a double room and LE465 in a single rooms on a bed and breakfast basis. The offer is valid until the end of July. In Taba, you can stay for three nights in the Steigenberger resort for LE420 per person in a sea-view double room and LE600 for a single on a half board basis. The offer is valid until mid-July. The Baron Resort in Sharm El-Sheikh offers three nights for LE489 per person in double rooms and LE900 for singles on a bed and breakfast basis. The offer is valid until the end of July. In Ain Al-Sukhna you can have four nights accommodation in Palmera Resort for LE440 per person in a double room and for LE680 for single rooms on a half board basis. The offer is valid until the end of September. Thomas Cook also offers special packages for non-resident foreigners all over Egypt. In Alexandria, travellers could have three nights accommodation in the historical Sofitel Cecil Hotel in downtown for $365 per person in a double room and $545 for a single on a bed and breakfast basis. Offer is valid until the end of October. Travellers have another option in Alexandria in the Metropole Hotel, where they can have three nights for $246 per person for a double and $405 for a single on a bed and breakfast basis. The offer is valid until the end of September. The package includes private transfer on arrival in Cairo and Alexandria, full day private tours with an English- and French-speaking guide to Alexandria's ancient sites, museums and the Montazah gardens as well as the train tickets from Cairo to Alexandria and back. There are more summer packages on offer in Sharm El-Sheikh in the Hilton Waterfalls and Marriott Mountain Side for three nights on a bed and breakfast basis for $185 per person in a double room and $228 for a single room from May to 22 July and from 21 August to 1 October. From 23 July to 2 August, rates will be $200 per person in a double and $305 in a single. The package includes a private transfer on arrival and departure. Children under 12 sharing their parents' room will be accommodated free of charge, but will not be provided with an exPackage also includes a free shuttle bus from and to Hurghada airport, a free welcome drink upon arrival and a complimentary fruit basket. During their stay, the couple could have one snorkelling excursion and one candle-light dinner at L'Emporio Restaurant. The offer is valid until the end of July. In August until 11 September, a supplement of LE40 per person per night will be added to the package. The offer is valid only for Egyptians and foreign residents. You can also spend your honeymoon on the nine luxurious islands of the Sheraton Miramar Resort, (+202) 335 201, where you can have the most memorable four nights for LE1,210 for a double room including an open buffet breakfast, a complimentary wedding cake, a complimentary fruit basket and one candle-light dinner at the Miramar restaurant. The package is valid until the end of September, subject to availability and not valid during public holidays. Valid only for Egyptians and foreign residents. The Thomas Cook travel agency, offers a honeymoon package for LE1,050 per couple for four nights on a half board basis. The offer is valid until the end of October. Honeymoon hideouts HAVEN'T you planned your honeymoon yet? Here are some deals that are designed especially for honeymooners. The Sheraton Soma Bay Resort on the Red Sea (+2065) 545 915 offers three nights' accommodation for LE900 per person in a double room on a half board basis. The couple will receive VIP treatment and their room could be upgraded to a suite upon availability. Package also includes a free shuttle bus from and to Hurghada airport, a free welcome drink upon arrival and a complimentary fruit basket. During their stay, the couple could have one snorkelling excursion and one candle-light dinner at L'Emporio Restaurant. The offer is valid until the end of July. In August until 11 September, a supplement of LE40 per person per night will be added to the package. The offer is valid only for Egyptians and foreign residents. You can also spend your honeymoon on the nine luxurious islands of the Sheraton Miramar Resort, (+202) 335 201, where you can have the most memorable four nights for LE1,210 for a double room including an open buffet breakfast, a complimentary wedding cake, a complimentary fruit basket and one candle-light dinner at the Miramar restaurant. The package is valid until the end of September, subject to availability and not valid during public holidays. Valid only for Egyptians and foreign residents. The Thomas Cook travel agency, offers a honeymoon package for LE1,050 per couple for four nights on a half board basis. The offer is valid until the end of October. Prestigious awards STARWOOD Hotels and Resorts, Africa and the Middle East has recently swept up a number of prestigious awards. Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) was voted "Best Hotel Loyalty Scheme" by business travellers. Moreover, Sheraton Abu Dhabi, Sheraton Cairo and Sheraton Doha were designated as "Best Business Hotels" in their respective cities. This recognition is a result of Business Traveller Middle East's travel survey directed at its readers and was presented at an annual awards luncheon held in Dubai during the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) show. The occasion coincided with last week's 16th Annual Freddie Awards, where SPG was voted programme of the year in America and internationally for the fifth consecutive year, and took top honours for Best Web site, Best Award Redemption, Best Customer Service and Best Elite Level. Starwood also had the most hotels of any company recognised on the recently announced Conde Nast Traveller Gold List. During the Business Traveller Awards, Sheraton also came runner-up as "Best Hotel Chain in the Middle East" and Sheraton Bahrain, Sheraton Jeddah and Sheraton Kuwait were named runner-up in the Best Business Hotel category for their own cities. "We are honoured to once again be recognised for our dedication to business travellers in the region and for our innovation," said Phillipe Cassis, Senior Vice President and Director of Operations for Starwood Hotels in Africa and the Middle East. "We will continue to pursue our goal of exceeding client expectations and setting benchmarks in the travel industry." Travel News Eco-tourism declaration ON 31 MAY, Minister of Tourism Mamdouh El-Beltagui has declared the Red Sea area of Marsa-Alam-Ras Banas to the south of the Red Sea an eco-tourism area. The national declaration took place in a major press conference attended by ministers of state for environmental and foreign affairs, the head of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the ambassadors of Germany and Italy. The declaration came in line with the framework of the comprehensive plan adopted by the Tourist Development Authority (TDA) to develop tourism in the southern region of the Red Sea. This particular area is considered to constitute a link between the type of cultural tourism in Upper Egypt and the beach and leisure tourism of the Red Sea coasts. In the press conference, El-Beltagui said that the aim of that declaration is to support local citizens of the area as much as possible and to partake in tourism development and in the conservation of environment on all levels, and to consider them as a major element in the drive to attain comprehensive development of the area. The declaration also aims at embodying eco- tourism in the special practices of land use and in the plans of the conservation of natural and cultural resources as well as the programmes of supporting local communities and socio- economic development besides correcting the imbalance in the ratio of the tourist establishments built in remote areas to those of traditional tourist development areas. "This declaration also aims at carrying special programmes where local communities and NGOs could share in planning, developing and operating eco-tourist local establishments. Also we have to stress that the governmental support and finance of environmental management and conservation of the eco sensitive areas shouldn't be a target in itself, but we have to think seriously to adopt the concept of eco-tourism and ecolodges as an important alternative to traditional establishments which could guarantee the fulfilment of the principles of sustainable development," El- Beltagui said. Compiled by Rehab Saad
