The News Review:

- Islamic travel demand represents 10% of the global travel market and…
- Nakheel backs Arabian Hotels Conference
- Search on for the envoys of business and industry
- Asia is fed up with the US’many rate cuts
- What is the point of an English night in Moscow?

Islamic travel demand represents 10% of the global travel market and…
Al-Bawaba – May 3, 2008
com The Islamic hospitality market or Sharia-compliant hotels is pegged to be one of the fastest growing hospitality segments according to Jonathan Worsley conference co-organiser Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC). He said that Dubai-based hospitality group Almulla Hospitality has recently launched its Sharia-compliant hotel portfolio comprising three brand tiers. The group has also cited plans to target development in Saudi Arabia UAE Jordan Egypt and Malaysia in the first instance with Thailand and Europe following closely behind. “Almulla joins other UAE-based players including Shaza Hotels from Kempinski and Tamani Hotels & Suites from KM Group among others” he said. Rotana too has tickled the sector recently launching Rayhaan Hotels & Resorts with offer-specific ‘no-alcohol’ label… com The Islamic hospitality market or Sharia-compliant hotels is pegged to be one of the fastest growing hospitality segments according to Jonathan Worsley conference co-organiser Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC). He said that Dubai-based hospitality group Almulla Hospitality has recently launched its Sharia-compliant hotel portfolio comprising three brand tiers. The group has also cited plans to target development in Saudi Arabia UAE Jordan Egypt and Malaysia in the first instance with Thailand and Europe following closely behind. “Almulla joins other UAE-based players including Shaza Hotels from Kempinski and Tamani Hotels & Suites from KM Group among others” he said. Rotana too has tickled the sector recently launching Rayhaan Hotels & Resorts with offer-specific ‘no-alcohol’ label. Almulla Hospitality’s chairman Abdulla Almulla said that the demand for Sharia-compliant accommodation is on the increase and represents 10 per cent of the world tourism market. ”In less than a decade Middle East leaders have transformed the landscape and created one of the world’s fastest growing regions with hospitality investment at its core” Almulla said.

Nakheel backs Arabian Hotels Conference
Trade Arabia – May 3, 2008
The event will be held from May 3 to 5 2008 at Madinat Jumeirah. Nakheel a Dubai World company and one of the world’s largest and most innovative real estate developers is quickly becoming a major global player in the travel and tourism industry as its hotels division expands its impressive portfolio to key cities around the world. CE of Nakheel Hotels Joe Sita CE of QE2 Enterprises Manfred Ursprunger and executive director of Nakheel Investment Projects Robert Lee will be speaking as industry authorities during the conference. “AHIC is one of the premier events in our industry and reflects the prominence of the Middle East and specifically Dubai in the international hotel investment landscape. We are proud to be one of AHIC’s top sponsors. 2008 has been an incredible year so far for Nakheel Hotels” said Sita. “We’ve expanded our portfolio to include some of the best properties and brands in the world and our first hotel in Dubai Atlantis on the Palm Jumeirah will be opening this November… In February Nakheel acquired a 50 per cent stake in the Mexican resort ne&nly Palmilla in Los Cabos and a 33 per cent stake in the Metropole Hotel in central London and last month Nakheel announced its investments of $375 million with Fontainebleau Resorts LLC in exchange for a 50 per cent interest in the company’s iconic Fontainebleau Miami Beach resort. Another aspect of the Nakheel Hotels’ strategy is reflected in its ownership of the master franchise of the innovative easyHotels brand which operates in the budget hotel sector. Nakheel Hotels also has a joint venture in a fund to develop budget hotels called Tune for which Nakheel plans to roll out 30 branded budget-hotels in the next three to five years including sites in Indonesia Malaysia Thailand and possibly the Philippines. TradeArabia News Service.

Search on for the envoys of business and industry
Manila Standard Today – May 3, 2008
Twelve finalists six female and six male will compete during the final selection before a distinguished panel of judges. Prior to the final selection the 12 finalists will undergo series of seminars and experiential learning sessions in arts culture public speaking social graces entrepreneurship tourism and current issues to be conducted by the CCCI Speechcom and DoT7. The nomination forms will be available in the various schools CCCI Speechcom and Eddie’s Hotel. Deadline for the submission of nominations will be on May 23 at the Speechcom Rivergate Gen. For more data call 253-3656 or 513-7088 and look for Christiana. Maytime Santacruzan The month of May is the season for Santacruzan and Flores de Mayo… Last April 29 the Amcham honored the secretary during dinner at the Teatro Casino-Pagcor Waterfront Cebu City Hotel with Hans Hauri on top of the preparations. There was the celebration of Town and Country with the Citibank and Shangri-la Mactan Resort and Spa last April 25. The Marco Polo Plaza took us to a delightful culinary journey to Thailand last April 18 at Cafe Marco featuring chef Raki Urbina corporate chief of Lemon Grass and the Laguna properties. Again at Marco Polo a fashion show of bridal collections of the Fashion Council of Cebu awed so many hotel guests and visitors. The event was co-hosted by the Metrobank and the Wedding Essentials. The bridal fair was held last April 26 to 27. I missed the annual Merchants Rewards Program of the Ayala Malls Group of Ayala Land held at Greenbelt 5.

Asia is fed up with the US’many rate cuts
China Post – May 3, 2008
?many rate cuts – The China Post. I bumped into Chalongphob at a Madrid hotel Thursday as he grappled anew with the vagaries of exchange rates ? this time as a consumer exchanging dollars… ?many rate cuts – The China Post. I bumped into Chalongphob at a Madrid hotel Thursday as he grappled anew with the vagaries of exchange rates ? this time as a consumer exchanging dollars.

What is the point of an English night in Moscow?
Daily Mail – May 3, 2008
If UEFA really cares about the environment then it has acurious way of showing it. Then there is the cost to supporters with airline seats sellingat £1500 return and black market tickets similarly priced. And that is before reaching the city which is now the world'smost expensive capital with hotel chains charging the first figurewhich enters their heads. Inconvenience? What about the problems of ensuring that knownEnglish hooligans are prevented from travelling? r encouragingMoscow's own thugs not to view the invasion as a challenge? rpersuading the Moscow police to curb their robust inclinations whenconfronted by raucous belligerent and possibly drunken Englishfans?We may therefore deduce that on environmental financial andsafety grounds the entire event is a potential calamity. fcourse there are winners: Russian hoteliers bar ownersrestaurateurs and taxi drivers; British airlines travel agents andticket touts. But must their profits prevail over sanerconsiderations? Sadly it would seem so. The official line is that boats must not be rocked old friendsmust not be offended and nothing must come between all thosecorporate junketeers and a few days of intensive free-loading… Sohere's a million to stuff in your back pocket now kindly leavethe office keys at the front desk. Some situations resist parody and City's sacking ofEriksson comes high on that list. The media are bemused the fansare outraged and those members of the City board who have no linkswith Thailand or its problematical politics are said to be mortallyembarrassed. But Sven is on his way and there is nothing more to be done. And sooner or later City will have another manager who may notlast even as long as Eriksson. For that is Shinawatra's way. And as those clever peoplewho run the Premier League will tell you he is a Fit and ProperPerson.

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