Accor honours 10 travel agents

European hotel group Accor has awarded 10 travel agents from around the Gulf for their contribution in achieving sales growth of 30 per cent from the GCC last year.

The awards were presented during the Arabian Travel Market at the Sofitel City Center Hotel in Dubai. Accor's vice president for worldwide sales, Christophe Jeannest, emphasised Accor's mission to become a major player in the Gulf and the Middle East.

Maldives resort voted the best

The Soneva Fushi Resort and Spa in Maldives was voted the best leisure hotel in the world last year by readers of the Conde Nast Traveller magazine in the UK. The exclusive 'Robinson Crusoe' style hideaway tucked on a private tropical island in the Baa Atoll, north of Maldive's capital Male won the Readers Travel Award 2000.

The resort secured a 98 per cent satisfaction rate on location, service, ambience, environmental friendliness, food and restaurants, leisure facilities, shopping and value for money.

The Genesis of entertainment

Quadriga Worldwide, the media and communications partner to the hotel industry, launched Genesis, a technology package which provides guests with the ability to customise their world of entertainment and communication within the hotel room, at the ATM in Dubai.

With a current European audience of more than 100 million, Genesis is set to reach a captive audience greater than that of any terrestrial channel, offering unlimited potential to hoteliers, and more choice and flexibility than ever before to the guest.

Trade centre showcases its services

The Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), the venue for this year's ATM, showcased its facilities and services at the event for the first time.

Eager to increase awareness of the range of hospitality services it has to offer, the centre also used the show to announce a range of special offers to coincide with this year's Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) festival.

40 Bahrain firms take part

Around 40 Bahrain companies took part in the ATM with the country's Tourism Affairs Directorate heading the contingent.

The directorate featured a 100-metre stand depicting Bahrain's unique heritage, culture and architecture.

Tourism Affairs marketing head Bader Nasser said the show was helpful for people looking for inspiration for holiday venues, he said.

Algosaibi launches 2001 brochure

Bahrain-based Algosaibi Travel launched its brochure for 2001 at the ATM in Dubai.

The 32-page brochure in English is a mine of tourist information on Bahrain and the various facilities the company offers visitors to the island.

With a tradition of over 50 years, Algosaibi is a full-fledged destination management company.

It has a 24-hour airport office and has special contracted rates with hotels and apartments. Algosaibi plans to launch brochures in German, French, Spanish and Russian languages soon.

Indonesia 'a safe destination'

Indonesia remains a safe tourist destination despite the turmoil in several places in the country was the message brought to the ATM by its tourism industry representatives.

The representatives of the Indonesian Tourism Council and the Department of Culture and Tourism stressed at the premier travel industry event that Indonesia was a big country and popular tourism destinations remained safe with good infrastructure and attractions.

Resort offers spa packages

An Austrian spa resort has introduced its 2001 summer spa packages to attract Middle East visitors. Herzog Tassilo Kurhotel spa resort offers a wide range of carefully designed and selected packages such as the Special Health & Eye Package, Naturally Beautiful Week, Naturally Slim & Trim Spa and Extensive Medical Check Ups for men and women.