DUBAI, UAE -29th November 2011: MMI Travel has been officially appointed by the UAE National Olympic Committee to sell tickets and packages in the UAE for the Olympic Games 2012.

Next year, millions of people will visit the city of London to watch this amazing sporting extravaganza as top athletes from around the globe compete in world-class sporting events in some of London’s iconic venues. MMI travel, one of the Middle East’s leading sports travel management companies will enable sporting enthusiasts from our region to be part of this unforgettable experience.

From those simply wanting to purchase a ticket, to customers who would like to have a complete tailor-made travel package, MMI Travel can help as they have been selected to be the region’s “Authorised Ticket Reseller (ATR) in UAE for Olympics 2012″. Complete packages include flights, hotel accommodation and game tickets, with the added convenience of transfers too.

For sports fans are looking to have an extra special visit to the Olympic Games, MMI Travel has a second option. As “Authorised Marketing Agent of Prestige Ticketing in UAE for sale of Official Hospitality packages for Olympics 2012″ they offer travellers a top notch experience with hospitality access at the venue.

“This appointment recognises MMI Travel as the leading sports travel management agency in the Middle East. It emphasises the value that MMI Travel has provided to the Sports Industry and its considerable experience in arranging specialist sports travel packages”, said Abdulla Tawakul, Senior Vice President for MMI Travel.

“The UAE National Olympic Committee has entrusted MMI Travel with this responsibility based on our credible experience in sports tours management. As the Authorised Ticket Reseller we will be the selected retailer for all event tickets as well as the ‘Prestige Experience’, which promises exceptional food, service and hospitality within the official Games venues. The hospitality, combined with great accommodation, flights and transfers makes this a truly premium product and give customers a day they will never forget,” said Mayank Dhingra, MMI Travel’s General Manager.

“We selected MMI Travel for this appointment due to their excellent reputation and considerable knowledge in the region” said Saeed Abdulghaffar Hussain, Secretary General. “This is the first time in the history of the UAE National Olympic Committee that an official travel agent has been appointed to manage ticket sales and inclusive packages, for the general public. We felt that MMI Travel was the perfect company for us to partner with for the Olympics 2012″.

Ticket and package sales are on sale now and are subject to availability. For more information please contact MMI Travel’s expert planners on +971 4404 5859, e-mail sports@mmitravel.ae  or visit www.mmitravel.com

The new frequencies have been implemented to help passengers reach Emirates Terminal 3 conveniently and with no added stress.

In addition to the increased services Emirates has also invested significantly in revamping the bus, both inside and out. The bus interior is well air-conditioned with new more comfortable seating, whilst the exterior features an impressive Emirates aircraft decal, designed to stand out on the UAE’s busy roads.

Khalid bel Jaflah, Emirates Vice President Commercial Operations UAE said:

“We have a significant number of passengers that travel to Dubai from Abu Dhabi and Al Ain to avail of Emirates’ world class services. As an airline we are all about connecting people and this value added bus service is just another aspect of our dedication to get passengers to their destination, with minimum hassle and maximum comfort.”

With an estimated travel time of less than two hours the newly designed bus has the capacity to seat 49 passengers comfortably.

A single, dedicated pick-up and drop-off point has been identified in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, to help cut down on passenger travel time.

Dubai will have two collection/drop-off points to account for arrivals and departures at Emirates Terminal 3.

The service will now depart Abu Dhabi four times daily from the Emirates Town Office located at Khalidiya area, Corniche at 0330 hours, 0930 hours, 1600 hours and 2130 hours.

It will depart Al Ain three times daily from the Emirates Office, Emirates Commercial Complex in Khalifa Street at 0330 hours, 1000 hours and 2100 hours.

The return journey from Emirates Terminal 3 will depart outside the arrivals hall to Abu Dhabi four times daily at 0200 hours, 0800 hours, 1430 hours and 2300 hours.

Return services to Al Ain will depart Dubai three times daily at 0200 hours, 0800 hours and 1430 hours.

This service is available only if an Emirates flight into/out of Dubai has already been booked.

New bookings can be made via the link above for Emirates, or Emirates’ offices.

Emirates faced stiff competition from other leading airlines to win the accolade at the 2010 Skytrax World Airline Awards which took place in Hamburg on 20th May, 2010.

In an extremely competitive marketplace where many airlines are spending significant sums in their inflight entertainment (IFE) products, Emirates has maintained its leadership position by concentrating on technical innovation and quality content. Since developing ice (information, communications and entertainment), its ground-breaking audio and video-on-demand system, in late 2003, Emirates has continually improved and expanded its IFE offering and has become the benchmark for all other airlines.

Patrick Brannelly, Emirates’ Vice President Corporate Communications (Product, Publishing, Digital & Events), who received the award, said: “When we won this prestigious award for the fifth time in a row last year we knew that we could not rest on our laurels, and we immediately focused on improving ice even further. We’re thrilled that so many Emirates passengers have recognised this by voting for us.”

ice, which is available on over 80 per cent of the Emirates fleet, offers a staggering choice of up to 1200 channels of entertainment including 230 movies from around the world.

In 2009-2010 Emirates selected movies from over 15 countries that were available in over 20 languages, as well as many with the option to choose Closed Captions for the hard of hearing, still a first in the airline industry.

Since becoming the first airline in the world to install TVs on every seat, on every aircraft in 1992,

Emirates has made significant investments to offer the widest range of entertainment to passengers.

Edward Plaisted, Skytrax Chairman said: “Emirates continues to excel in this category, and yet again are a repeat winner of the Best Airline Inflight Entertainment Award.

This aspect of the travel experience gains in importance each year as customers become more demanding, and Emirates are clearly matching these expectations to have been voted the world’s best by passengers.”

The awards follow a 10 month survey between July 2009 and April 2010 of 17.9 million air travellers from over 100 different nationalities.

The survey measures over 38 different items of customer satisfaction for each airline’s product and service standards.

April 1, 2010

Cristal Hotel and Resorts, a luxury hospitality company, has announced that it has signed a partnership agreement with Preferred Hotel Group (PHG), a global sales and marketing conglomerate, in a move that will significantly expand Cristal Hotel’s global market presence and boost sales by an estimated 10 per cent in 2010.

The agreement also makes Cristal Hotel and Resorts the first Middle East hotel to become a member of Sterling Hotels, as part of the Sterling Design category, which is a worldwide collection of fashionable, affordable hotels that appeal to both business and leisure travellers.

The partnership agreement was signed on the sidelines of Cristal Hotel and Resorts’ participation in the Gulf Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) that was held recently in Abu Dhabi.

Cristal Hotel and Resorts has revealed that it intends to leverage PHG’s 28 international sales offices, over 60 dedicated industry sales specialists and more than 300 major corporate accounts worldwide to cultivate new markets and broaden its target audience.

Furthermore, Cristal Hotel and Resorts disclosed that both parties have agreed to expand the partnership with upcoming projects.

Peter Blackburn, CEO of Cristal Hotels & Resorts, said: “The partnership with PHG provides greater leverage for Cristal Hotel and Resorts to sustain our market expansion program.

Being the first in the Middle East to be recognised as a Sterling Design Hotel will also greatly enhance our reputation as a world-class hotel destination, which is crucial in an increasingly competitive market environment. We are confident that the partnership will deliver immediate results, as we forecast an increase in sales of up to 10 per cent this year.”

John Ueberroth Chairman and CEO Preferred Hotel Group, said: “Cristal Hotel and Resorts exemplifies the ideals of the Sterling Design Hotel, which focus on modern and contemporary style, distinct architecture, bold interiors and state-of-the-art technology.

oreover, through this partnership, PHG will help enhance the business performance of Cristal Hotel by providing support in branding, global sales and marketing, and integrated reservation services, which are all designed to increase revenues and reduce overall costs.”

Cristal Hotel and Resorts has emerged as one of the top business hotel destinations in Abu Dhabi despite opening just under a year ago.

Cristal Hotel Abu Dhabi features 192 luxuriously appointed and spacious rooms, complemented by a complete range of business facilities and world-class customer service standards.

The addition of five new lounges in Saudi Arabia, covering Damman, Jeddah and Riyadh, as well as another in Abu Dhabi, means that coverage is even more comprehensive in the region.

Members of Priority Pass can use any of the lounges in the programme whenever they travel, regardless of which airline or which class of travel they are flying.

For members in the Middle East, this means that virtually all major city airports in the region have lounges available for their use, together with over 600 lounges at airports throughout the world.

Priority Pass now includes the following lounges in the Middle East:

Bahrain Bahrain Dilmun Lounge

Jordan Amman Crown Lounge

Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Airways Lounge
Pearl Lounge

Lebanon Beirut Cedar Lounge

Oman Muscat Oman Air Lounge

Qatar Doha The Oryx Lounge

Saudi Arabia Damman Al-Fursan Golden Lounge New for 2010
Jeddah North Terminal First Class Lounge
South Terminal Al-Fursan Golden Lounge New for 2010
Al-Fursan Golden Lounge New for 2010
Riyadh Terminal 1 First Class Lounge
Terminal 2 Al-Fursan Golden Lounge New for 2010
Terminal 3 Al-Fursan Golden Lounge New for 2010

UAE Abu Dhabi Main Terminal Al Ghazal Lounge
Airport Hotel Lounge
Dana Lounge New for 2010
Terminal 2 Al Ghazal Lounge
Dubai Terminal 1 Dubai International Business Class Lounge
Marhaba Lounge
Terminal 3 Marhaba Lounge
Sharjah First and Business Class Lounge

Soukalin Ghosh, responsible for Priority Pass business development and marketing in the region, commented, “Priority Pass has an outstanding selection of lounges across the Middle East, and adding six more for 2010 makes it an even more comprehensive selection,”

“Priority Pass membership is not only attractive to individual frequent flyers, but also to banks, telecom companies and others who wish to offer a powerful and highly-valued incentive to attract new customers to premium products, and to build loyalty among existing customer base.”

Exclusively housed in the distinctive Burj Dubai tower, the world’s tallest building, the Armani Hotel Dubai is the first of a series of hotels, resorts and residences designed by Giorgio Armani to be opened around the globe and marks fashion maestro Giorgio Armani’s debut in to the world of hospitality. Defined by its unique location, highest standards of aesthetics and service excellence, the Armani Hotel Dubai will be the most exclusive destination in the city.

The online bookings for the Armani Hotel Dubai will go live late January 2010, and prospective visitors can register online at www.armanihotels.com to receive further details about the hotel.

The opening of the Armani Hotel in Dubai will be followed by the launch of the Armani Hotel Milano. Other properties underway include the first Armani Resort, planned for Marrakech, and the first Armani Residences villas, for Marassi in Egypt. Further Armani hotels, resorts and residences will open subsequently in key international destinations such as New York, Tokyo, Shanghai and London.

Armani Hotels & Resorts was established in 2005 under an agreement between Giorgio Armani S.p.A. and Emaar Properties, with the objective to develop, own and operate an exclusive collection of hotels, resorts and residences in the world’s most important cities and holiday destinations. Armani Hotels & Resorts plans to open at least ten hotels and resorts within the next ten years.

Giorgio Armani Group is one of the leading fashion and luxury goods groups in the world today with over 5,000 direct employees and 13 factories.

It designs, manufactures, distributes and retails fashion and lifestyle products including apparel, accessories, eyewear, watches, jewellery, home furnishings, fragrances and cosmetics under a range of brand names: Giorgio Armani Privé, Giorgio Armani, Armani Collezioni, Emporio Armani, AJ | Armani Jeans, A/X Armani Exchange, Armani Junior, Armani Teen, Armani Baby and Armani Casa.

The exclusive distribution network of the Group comprises 75 Giorgio Armani boutiques, 19 Armani Collezioni shops, 166 Emporio Armani shops, 165 A/X Armani Exchange shops, 17 AJ | Armani Jeans shops, 8 Armani Junior shops, 10 Giorgio Armani Accessori shops, 2 Emporio Armani Accessori shops, 27 Armani Casa shops and 14 Emporio Armani Caffés in 46 countries around the world.

Emaar Properties PJSC, listed on the Dubai Financial Market, is a global property developer with a significant presence in key markets world-wide.

Besides building residential and commercial properties, the company also has proven competencies in shopping malls and retail, as well as in the hospitality and leisure, education, healthcare and financial services sectors. Emaar inaugurated Burj Dubai, the world’s tallest building and free-standing structure on January 4, 2010, and has opened The Dubai Mall, the world’s largest shopping and entertainment destination.

In Saudi Arabia, Emaar is developing King Abdullah Economic City, the region’s largest private sector-led project, featuring a Sea Port, Central Business District, Industrial Zone, Educational Zone, Residential Communities and Resort District. Emaar has joined with Giorgio Armani to strengthen its presence in hospitality. The company is also opening educational institutions and healthcare centres in South Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and the Subcontinent. Emaar holds 30 per cent equity in Dubai Bank, focused on retail and commercial banking. Emaar is also the largest shareholder in Amlak Finance, UAE’s leading Islamic home financing company.

For more information visit www.emaar.com

On 5 February 2010, Costa Deliziosa will set sail for the first time, cruising from Savona to Dubai where passengers will be invited to the ship’s naming ceremony, the first to take place in an Arabian city.

With ports of call in Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Oman and Abu Dhabi, the inaugural sailing combines an incredible 20-night itinerary, with some of the most fantastic facilities in the world of cruising.

As a sister ship to Costa Luminosa, Costa Deliziosa will also boast an impressive three-storey theatre, an outstanding 4D cinema, a Grand Prix driving simulator, a roller-skating track, an exclusive golf simulator with outdoor putting green and a PlayStation Experience.

The ship will also be home to Costa Cruises’ Samsara Spa, one of the largest spas afloat. Extending over two decks, the spa boasts a Rock Sauna (hotter than a classic Finnish sauna and ideal for cleansing the skin), an Aromatic Turkish Bath scented with rosemary, eucalyptus and lavender and thalassotherapy pools, with jets of seawater to massage the body. Passengers can also indulge with an extensive list of Elemis treatments.

Costa Deliziosa – Grand Inaugural Cruise

20 nights from only £1,629 per person – saving £880

From the Mediterranean to Dubai, discover two extraordinarily beautiful worlds onboard the Costa Deliziosa. In this spectacular cruise, the new diamond of the fleet will visit Italy, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Oman and Dubai.

Begin the grand inaugural cruise in Savona, Italy, and sail on to Civitavecchia, Rome, where you can spend the day admiring the beautiful port and the city’s impressive medieval centre.

Cruise on to Port Said in Egypt and then stop at Sharm El Sheik. Your next port of call will be Aqaba in Jordan, followed by Safaga in Egypt and then Aden, the door to the natural and cultural paradise of Yemen.

Your cruise will finish by visiting Oman, Abu Dhabi and finally Dubai, where the christening will take place on 23 February 2010.
Departs Savona, Italy on 5 February 2010

Prices start at £1,629 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside cabin, for 20 nights, cruise only, including all meals. A package including flights would be an addition £420 per person.

The new interactive online photography portal is the largest photo and video interactive portal ever created that is dedicated to images of the United Arab Emirates.

The announcement coincides with UAE National Day on 2 December. EmiratesRevealed.com forms part of a global trilogy comprising Emirates Revealed – The TV documentary being produced by the prestigious Discovery Channel and Emirates Revealed – The Book, all launching in 2010.

The brainchild of Ms Yasmeen Stewart, Chief Executive Officer, The Image Maker, EmiratesRevealed.com provides a user-friendly site where visitors can both download and upload images and participate in chat forums with instant sharing of these images.

“The site was created out of exhaustive research on what communicates best on a global level. Images and film speak a thousand words and cross all cultural boundaries,” said Ms Stewart.

According Ms Stewart, the site is intended for use by both consumers and professionals.

“The aim is to stimulate the economy of the UAE with this site. First, by showing the diversity of the country by covering all seven Emirates. Further, the site is broken down into all areas of life in the UAE from culture to the UAE global charity vision.” she explained.

Advertising agencies and marketing professionals experience day to day challenges locating high quality images for the development of campaigns and branding. EmiratesRevealed.com simplifies the process, offering a wide selection of only the highest quality images all in one place.

This unique interactive ecommerce portal has been designed to showcase the culturally rich and diverse United Arab Emirates, its extraordinary standard of living and lifestyle, as well as its rapid economic development which promises a future even more exciting and dynamic than its past.

Visitors to the site will be immersed in the visual panorama of the Emirates. Whether a traveler, planning to visit the Emirates who is researching online to get a feel for the destination, a student sourcing images for an assignment or an advertising agency, EmiratesRevealed.com is poised to become the most recognized image library on the UAE globally.

“We are including images of not only Dubai but all of the Emirates equally. There is a focus on the everyday life of the people and as well as art, architecture, history, famous landmarks and cultural events.”

On launch (slated for 31 March 2010) EmiratesRevealed.com will be the most comprehensive collection of images made available at the click of a mouse.

“We are also promoting local talent on the site with direct links to the local photographers, developers and government agencies responsible for the work in the images and footage.” said Ms Stewart.

EmiratesRevealed.com is actively utilizing social viral media as a platform to drive awareness, with links to social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

“Search engine optimization is a crucial part of our roll out plan, ensuring a high ranking when users search for the UAE or UAE-related topics; when you use Google search or any other search engine all the UAE images will cover the page. Through this project we aim to introduce an accurate image of the UAE to a global audience, both media and individuals, making the UAE a vision of inspiration in the new Middle East.” she added.

EmiratesRevealed.com has teamed up with industry leaders such as Corbis and local representatives Graph East.

Prestigious certifications guarantee best quality in spa and wellness and in more than 800 other areas of hotel operation

Hamra Hotels and Resorts has announced that Al Hamra Beach Resort and Khatt Springs Hotel & SPA have been awarded the European Wellness Certificates after successfully passing a rigorous audit by the European Audit Institute Wellness & SPA SCE (EAWS) – the only awarding body in Europe that offers a Wellness Quality Certificate with a seal and guarantee of a publicly certified and sworn expert for wellness concepts and wellness facilities.

Al Hamra Beach Resort and Khatt Springs Hotel & SPA are the first hotels in the UAE to receive such distinctions.

Al Hamra Beach Resort was awarded the Golf & SPA Europe Certificate, while Khatt Springs Hotel & SPA applied for two categories – Wellness & SPA Europe Certificate and Medical SPA Europe Certificate – and successfully fulfilled the requirements for both.

The European Wellness Certificate guarantees the best quality not only for spa and wellness but for all facilities of the hotel as the audit process includes more than 800 criteria covering different sectors of the hotel.

Michael El Nayal, Member of the Board, Hamra Hotels and Resorts said, “The stamp of approval from the European Audit Institute Wellness & SPA reaffirms our strong commitment to deliver the highest quality in terms of service and hotel facilities. We will continue to identify new ways to further raise the bar of excellence in the hospitality sector and ensure a consistently enjoyable and memorable experience for all our guests.”

“Moreover, this certification will provide a significant boost to the continuing efforts of the Hamra Hotels and Resorts team to attract a greater number of tourists from high-potential markets all over the world. We recently succeeded in opening a new charter flight from Copenhagen to Ras Al Khaimah in line with our goal of establishing the emirate as a premier global wellness destination,” added El Nayal.

Founded by hotel and wellness experts from Germany, Austria and Switzerland, EAWS offers the Wellness Europe Certificate in three categories: Wellness & SPA Europe Certificate, Golf & SPA Europe Certificate and Medical SPA Europe Certificate. Aside from the quality of spa and wellness service, the certification also takes into account other facets of the hotel, including the range of its healthy food and beverage products, value-added offerings for outdoor and nature activities and even cultural events held within the hotel or in the surrounding area.

Hamra Hotels and Resorts was established in 1996 with a mission to develop and operate unique hotels and resorts in Ras Al Khaimah and the United Arab Emirates. It has today grown to become one of the leading hotel developers and operators in the region, with new hotel projects soon to be launched in Africa, Asia and Europe.

Take in towering red sand dunes that glimmer in the desert sun for as far as the eye can see. Glimpse free roaming sand gazelles and captivating Oryx, and explore a landscape of breathtaking natural beauty.

The recently launched Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort is located just 90 minutes from Abu Dhabi, set within the famed Liwa Desert – an area steeped with tradition and bursting with legacy.

Step back into traditional Arabia and journey into the fabled desert from this magnificent 206 room resort. Designed to absorb the region’s distinctive custom, guestroom interiors are inspired by the simple grandeur of an old desert fortress and boast locally hand-crafted furnishings, rich carpets and embroidered fabrics to evoke ambient warmth and an inescapable sense of romance.

For the ultimate in lavish experiences, guests are invited to retreat to one of three Villas, each featuring three bedrooms and reflecting a splendid regal retreat.

Promising the finest five star services, including 24/7 butler, these private palaces benefit from two bedrooms with King beds, one bedroom with Twin beds, a common lounge area, pantry, private pool, sundecks, oversized terrazzo bathtubs, rain showers and complimentary WIFI.

Qasr Al Sarab also offers 29 one bedroom Villas, 10 two bedroom Villas and a range of comfortable rooms all exuding sensual Arabian touches.

Adorned with hints of Bedouin tradition and exquisite reminders of timeless culture, guests are assured of feeling a million miles away from the fast pace of city life.

Unveiling a series of gastronomic adventures, the resort offers a variety of enticing dining choices. Relax in comfortable chairs at Suhail Qasr Al Sarab, where guests can feast on the finest grills and seafood whilst taking in sweeping views of the starlit dunes in the distance. Or indulge at Al Waha Qasr Al Sarab restaurant where the finest Middle Eastern and international delights await.

Qasr Al Sarab unfolds a gateway of cultural discovery to the mesmerising traditions of the Liwa Desert. Be prepared to stand in awe at the sight of amazing natural phenomenon, such as the crystallised sand formations known as ‘Desert Roses’ that embellish some of the largest dunes in the world.

Traverse the undulating landscape by traditional means atop a camel and experienced guide, and live out epic Arabian experiences as you soak up the region’s fascinating history.

Glimpse at the Arabian wildlife as they roam in their natural habitat, a 9000 sq km protected nature reserve. Or simply pass an evening in the style of centuries gone by, gazing at a starry sky from the desert’s natural vantage point of a beautiful ochre red dune.

Reveal the true spirit of Arabia with a visit to the Bedouin Tent. Admire a welcoming setting of a Bedouin inspired tent, where dining and entertainment are sensuous arts.

Become immersed in the local way of life and savor a string of authentic Arabian customs against the backdrop of vast dunes and enchanting desert surrounds.

After a day of enthralling activity, let the beautiful and supremely intimate Anantara Spa become the perfect oasis of privacy and serenity. Relax in one of five spacious desert view treatment rooms, from which to enjoy a wide range of divine indulgences.

The highlight of the spa is an exclusive Moroccan-style Hammam with the calming sound of running water echoing from ornately tiled walls. Double heated marble beds, Jacuzzis, steam rooms and an exclusive Ice Cave pamper those who indulge in the ornate Hamman.

Take pleasure in signature experiences, richly inspired by the region and fused with the finest local ingredients. Choose from a soothing selection of Thai-themed treats for overall rejuvenation, and reap never-ending pleasures with luxurious facilities such as a Vichy treatment room, whirlpool bath, steam and sauna.

For those with superfluous energy, a fitness centre complete with kinesis, yoga and aerobic studio, alongside weights and cardio room is also available to work off extra steam.

Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara is a scenic retreat located in an astounding, unique environment, encompassing authentic aspects of desert life and capturing the true heritage and culture of the region.

A tapestry of colour, culture, luxury and ingenuity are just waiting to be discovered at Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara.

For Bookings and Reservations Please contact Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara on Tel: +971 2 886 2088 or email: infoqas@anantara.com  For further information please visit www.qasralsarab.anantara.com