Doha Asian Games buys Club Cars DUBAI‑BASED Hydroturf International, the distributor of Club Car in the Middle East has signed their biggest contract with the largest multi‑sport event ever to be held in the region ‑ the Doha Asian Games from December 1 to 15, 2006. The Doha Asian Games Organising Committee has selected Hydroturf to be the sole supplier of 250 Club Cars, a deal worth a staggering $3 million. Doha Asian Games Committee in conjunction with Club Car will provide the golf carts and appropriate service and maintenance levels to support operations at 50 competition and non‑competition venues. A range of cars will be used including work vehicles, people movers and ambulance cars. Lootah questions Dubai infrastructure
DUBAI is growing at such a fast pace that its infrastructure cannot keep up, according to Hussain Nasser Lootah, assistant director general of building and planning for Dubai Municipality. Lootah was addressing more than 100 industry leaders at MEED's Second Major Project Developments in Dubai conference. The population of the emirate has grown at an average annual rate of 6.4 per cent while the number of cars on the road by 10 per cent each year, as opposed to an international average of 2 to 3 per cent. Lootah said: 'Projects in Dubai are so fastmoving that the infrastructure, including the roads, public transport, and utilities cannot keep up.' Lootah revealed Dubai Municipality's plans for a traffic control centre, providing intelligent information for drivers to avoid high congestion areas and accidents.
Oman Travel Market gears up
OMAN Travel Market, Oman's official tourism exhibition will be held from January 31 to February 2 at the Oman International Exhibition Centre. The annual event organised under the auspices of ministry of tourism is the only and premium event for promotion and marketing of inbound, outbound, intro‑regional and medical tourism in Oman. A new feature introduced at the exhibition this year is the medical tourism section. The exhibition will have an international pavilion, which will witness participation of international tourism ministries and bodies promoting various destinations, attractions and facilities. The internal pavilion titled Discover Oman will showcase various places of interest and facilities. The exhibition is organised by OITE, the Sultanate's leading exhibitions company.
Sabre launches GDS in Kuwait, Abu Dhabi
SABRE announced the creation of a new joint venture that launches its global distribution system (GDS) in Kuwait. Sabre Travel Network Middle East has signed a marketing, distribution and licence agreement with Switch, a Kuwait‑based technology solutions business, giving travel agents in Kuwait access to the world's largest GDS. The market in Kuwait recently opened up for competition as a result of the Kuwaiti government awarding two new GDS licences. But that's not all. Sabre Travel Network Middle East has also launched its operations in Abu Dhabi.
World of Events facilitates top convention
World of Events, the specialist events marketing and management division of Dnata Agencies, has received recognition form the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and Dubai Convention Bureau (DCB) for its role in facilitating the 2005 convention of the influential German Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (DRV). The event, held at the Dubai International Convention Centre recently, was attended by over 1,100 senior managers from the German travel industry including chairman of the biggest travel groups in Europe, and representatives from key German media.