DTCM organises summer programme for Emiratis
DUBAI: For the third year running, the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) has organised a Career Development Summer Programme (CDSP) for young UAE nationals this summer, in line with the Emiratisation Task Force for Tourism’s agenda to attract more qualified and skilled nationals into the emirate’s booming hospitality industry.
The four-week programme for women ran through July, while the men’s equal-duration programme began at the end of July and will run until August 25. DTCM director, operations and marketing, Mohammed Khamis bin Hareb, said, “The CDSP’s purpose is to give UAE nationals an understanding of the hospitality and tourism industry to help them decide the career.”
Cruise Award to recognise Middle East contributions
DUBAI: The Dubai Cruise Award, part of the inaugural Dubai International Maritime Awards, has been launched to recognise a company’s contribution to the expansion of cruise tourism in the Middle East. Organised by Seatrade, the award will be presented during Seatrade Middle East Maritime 2004, the region’s premier forum for the maritime industry, and is sponsored by the Government of Dubai’s Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing.
A four-member panel will judge the awards. Entries are are online: seatrade-global.com/Dubai_Awards.html, to be made before September 30. Seatrade Middle East Maritime will be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from December 6 to 8, while the Fourth Seatrade Middle East Cruise conference will take place on December 6 and 7.
Nakheel tees off with Norman for $272m golf courses
DUBAI: AN agreement between Nakheel and World Golf Hall of Famer Greg Norman brings three new golf courses to Dubai. Norman met with Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, chairman of Nakheel, on the eve of Scotland’s Open Championship at Royal Troon Golf Club to sign the Dh1 million contract.
Norman, known as the Great White Shark, will design the courses, which include an 18-hole signature course that incorporates the natural movement of the desert. With undulating fairways and a variety of tee placements, a second 18-hole course that iswill be a tribute to Norman’s career achievements, and an additional six-hole par-3 course to cater to beginners and veterans alike.
Asia Miles Golf Classic 2004 open to Dubai members
DUBAI: ASIA MILES members in Dubai can join participants from around the globe at the Asia Miles Golf Classic 2004 to be held in Beijing from October 1 to 3. For just 55,000 Asia Miles, members can play on three of the world’s finest golf courses and have a chance to win one million Asia Miles for the first hole-in-one. Asia Miles cardholders currently number 12,785 in the UAE. “With a strong standing in the Emirates, we look forward to seeing representation in Beijing this October,” said Navin Chellaram, Cathay Pacific Airways country manager for UAE & Oman. “The Asia Miles Golf Classic is the perfect place to test your mettle.” Participants tee off with fellow Asia Miles members on three courses: Beijing International Golf Club, Beijing Golf Club and Huatang International Golf Club.
Asia Miles is Asia’s leading Travel Reward Programme with over 230 partners in 15 partner categories.
BBC World broadcast partner for Dubai 2005
DUBAI: BBC World has been appointed 'Official Broadcast Partner' for Dubai 2005, the ninth international aerospace exhibition, being held in Dubai next year. The agreement follows a successful initial alliance between the Dubai Air Show and the BBC’s commercially-funded 24-hour international news and information channel in 2003, when the exhibition was last staged.
“During Dubai 2003, the opportunities generated by BBC World literally took the air show onto a global platform,” said Clive Richardson, chief executive, Aerospace Group, Fairs & Exhibitions (F&E), which organises the show.
The arrangement presents both parties with substantial marketing opportunities. Dubai 2005 will be associated with BBC World in print advertising and on point-of-view material, and will also receive banner advertisements on the channel’s website, bbcworld.com. In return, BBC World will be aired on large monitors both inside and outside Dubai 2005.
Qatar steps up beach security
DOHA: The ministry of municipal affairs and agriculture in Qatar is working on a project to develop “organised beaches” in the country where safety of swimmers will be taken seriously, a senior official of the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) said post an accident in which three Indians drowned.
A report said quoting Fred van Eijk, the CEO of QTA, that Qatar, despite its small size, had the same number of pools as in England. Swimming is part of the school curriculum and children are encouraged to learn how to swim. He hoped that more parents would let their children learn swimming. The QTA is working closely with the ministry on the safety aspects of using beaches, he added.
Alpha to charter corporate jet
DUBAI: DUBAI-BASED Alpha Tours, in association with a Kazakhstan investor, has placed a Dh176 million ($48 million) order for an Airbus A319 corporate jet. The jet is to be delivered early next year.
This is the first of its kind purchase of a corporate jetliner by private investors in the Gulf. The aircraft will be based in Dubai and serve a growing corporate business jet market among multinationals and large companies based in the GCC, according to the report. Officials, however, declined to give any details of the Kazakh investor. Alpha Tours has a strong presence in Kazakhstan.
The aircraft will have around 30 seats, with all modern amenities including bedroom facilities as well as meeting and communication facilities on board. Alpha Tours will manage, market and operate the aircraft.
BA offers Europe packages
LONDON: British Airways will create holiday packages to suit travellers’ needs this summer, including arranging hotel and car hire, travel insurance and sight-seeing tours. For BD392, customers can fly World Traveller to Barcelona with three days group B car hire and four nights' twin-sharing accommodation in the Zenit Hotel. There is even a free upgrade to a group C car if the booking is made 60 days in advance.
A similar deal is available for a London getaway, from BD396, including World Traveller tickets with four nights' twin-sharing accommodation in the Royal National Hotel, a dinner at Chez Gerard Restaurant, a Big Bus tour of London and a trip on the British Airways London Eye.
The airline’s executive club members can access the 'Manage My Booking' link on ba.com. From this link they can look at both a summary and detailed travel itinerary, e-mail those details to family, friends or colleagues, use the interactive seat map to request seat preferences, special dietary requirements, enter Advance Passenger Information (as required by US and Canadian authorities) which will smooth their way through immigration, check-in 24 hours prior to departure, book hotel and car hire and access the latest flight news.