Rehab Saad Airlines and airports More flights to the Gulf AS SUMMER holidays are about to start, EgyptAir has decided to increase its flights to some Gulf countries and to resume some of the routes that were recently cancelled. Amira Ibrahim reports. Effective as of the first of May, EgyptAir raised the frequency of its flights to Bahrain, adding a third weekly flight to its regular schedule. It also decided to operate two daily flights to Kuwait, raising its regular schedule to 14 weekly flights. Moreover, EgyptAir decided to resume its flights to the city of Ras Al- Kheima in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that were recently suspended among other 13 international routes starting the first of April due to excessive losses. A statement by the company said that it is studying a number of alternatives to compensate for the losses. Summer rates STARTING from the first of June, Air France will offer summer holiday-makers flying from Egypt special fares until the end of September on condition they stay for a minimum of six days and a maximum of a month. There are offers from Cairo to 13 destinations inside France including Paris, Nice and Lyon. Prices range from LE3,300 to LE3,915. Special fares are also offered to 15 European cities including Berlin, London and Munich with prices starting from LE3,300 per person. There are also bargain offers to North America and Canada including New York (rates start from LE3,800), Miami (starting from LE4,640) and Los Angeles (rates start from LE5,000). Prices are applicable to a certain number of seats and vary according to occupancy rates. Non-stop flights to Montreal EFFECTIVE 1 June, EgyptAir will operate non-stop flights to Montreal. According to Mohamed Munir, director of the company's commercial sector, there was previously one stop in New York. The carrier made the route change due to tough security procedures adopted by US authorities, unsettling passengers flying to Canada. The carrier will operate two weekly flights on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the summer schedule that lasts until the end of September. Hotels A Romantic dinner CELEBRATING its second anniversary, the Four Seasons Resort Sharm El-Sheikh offers its guests, especially couples, a selection of dining experiences in the most unique way. One of these unique options is to dine at a private table by the Red Sea. With only the glow from flaming torches -- and the moonlight -- a four-course gourmet meal is served in addition to exotic cocktails. You can also be pampered in the resort's spa before feeding your senses with sparkling beverages and snacks. The experience begins at dusk. Candlelight and cushioned comfort in a private setting with only the sounds of the sea and romantic music for company, complete the scene. Couples could also enjoy gourmet dining in the privacy of their own room while music plays softly in the background and, as a personal butler serves the meal, a violinist serenades from the gardens below. And those with thirst for adventure can take to the sea on a privately chartered yacht for an evening dining and romance under the stars. Couples will have a personal butler and on board, a gourmet meal will be prepared and served while music plays and the yacht drifts into dreamland. For more information contact (+2069) 603 555. Food promotions SHERATON Royal Gardens Hotel in Giza this summer offers a variety of options in its various food outlets. In the Fire Place Restaurant & Bar, set in the heart of the hotel with a view of the tropical waterfalls, there is a happy hour where with every two drinks you buy, you get a third for free. While you sip your drink you can enjoy a daily entertainment programme featuring pop singers. If you are a Sushi lover you can make use of the "all you can eat" promotion available at the Japanese restaurant Inaka-Ya for four days a week. And if you are a Lebanese food addict, you can treat yourself to an exquisite taste of an authentic Lebanese mezzas and charcoal- grilled specials at the Layalina restaurant's terrace and pool-side area. For more information call (+202) 781 2211. If you still want to trace the Lebanese tradition you can join the Lebanese brunch in Cairo Sheraton Hotel every Friday from 1pm to 4pm where you can enjoy a variety of traditional Lebanese delicacies for LE100 per person. Children up to six years old eat free of charge whereas those aged between six and 12 are given a 50 per cent discount. If you are more in the mood for light snacks, drinks and desserts, you can head to the Tea Garden Restaurant where you can have an array of fresh fruit juices or tea and pastries while a live music band plays in the background. For more information call (+202) 336 9700. New five-star properties BY 2007, Hilton International will have two more properties in Egypt -- one in Cairo and the other in Ain Al-Sokhna on the Red Sea. At a press conference held late last month, Hilton International signed two new hotel management agreements in Egypt for Heliopolis and Ain Al-Sokhna. David Michels, Hilton Chief Executive declared that Hilton will manage the $20 million Hilton Ain Al- Sokhna La Vista on behalf of Tiba Touristic and Real Estate Investors. The hotel, due to open in 2006, will be the 13th resort run by Hilton in Egypt. The 150 rooms of the hotel will be configured in clustered bungalows. On the other hand, the $150 million Hilton Heliopolis Hotel, due to open early 2007, will be the nearest property to Cairo International Airport and thus will be dedicating lounges for airline crews. It will feature 485 guest rooms and 100 relaxation rooms; a new fashion that allows a trio-room division with an office area within the same regular room space. Cities of the Sun IF YOU want to obtain a 50 per cent discount on meals in Sheraton Montazah Hotel in Alexandria in addition to special discounts on room rates this summer, you will have to join the "Cities of the Sun" programme that offers a bunch of benefits and privileges such as free nights, room upgrade whenever available, early check-ins, late check-outs and a 25 per cent discount on laundry service. For more information contact (+203) 548 0550. News Problems in Taba THE EGYPTIAN Hotel Association, headed by Fathi Nour, held a meeting recently in the border city of Taba in south Sinai to discuss the problems concerning the tourist movement to the city and the obstacles facing investors especially after EgyptAir's decision to halt its trips to Taba and the cabinet's decision to stop its financial support to the charter flights coming to the city. Nour declared that the governmental investments in the infrastructure in Taba are estimated by LE700 million and those of the private sector are estimated by LE3 billion including 36 hotels under establishments. He added that occupancy rates in Taba do not exceed 62 per cent. He explained that one of the major problems of Taba is that it depends mainly on tourism coming from Israel and on charter flights. "Since the outbreak of the Intifada and the Israeli atrocities against the Palestinians, the tourist movement from Israel stopped," he said. He added that this problem was further exacerbated by EgyptAir's decision to halt its flights to Taba because of its excessive losses and the cabinet's decision to stop its financial support to the charter flights. Maged El-Gamal, head of the Association of the Investors of Taba, argued that investors are ready to operate flights to Taba and to the destinations to which EgyptAir has halted its flights owing to excessive losses if the government permits the investors to operate flights to Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada that are monopolised by EgyptAir. ITT conference in Doha OVER 300 key British players in the travel and tourist industry will meet at the annual conference of the Institute of Travel and Tourism (ITT) in Doha, Qatar from 6 to 8 June. The conference is to be hosted by the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA). Inaugurated in 1956, the Institute of Travel and Tourism seeks to develop and maintain professional standards throughout the travel industry for the benefit if its members. "Qatar represents an up and coming destination... very much in keeping with the ITT's objectives of exploring new and exciting locations," said Steven Freudmann, chairman of ITT.
