Tag Archives: inspection
Hotels continue to benefit from Dubai’s growing popularity
Dubai is undoubtedly one of the most sought after holiday destinations on the planet and this is obviously great news for hotel owners.Around 66 million people are expected to land at Dubai International Airport throughout 2013, with many of these visitors staying in the city for a prolonged period.The emirate has also emerged as a global business hub in recent years, so hoteliers are inundated with corporate travellers too, especially when there is a major exhibition or conference being held.Global luxury hospitality company Jumeirah Group is one of many organisations to benefit from the UAE's booming popularity and bosses at the firm said that occupancy rates were up again in the first quarter of 2013.They confirmed that the average daily room rate across its global portfolio of hotels increased by nine per cent during the three-month period, while revenue per available room rose by an impressive 22 per cent.Although these figures were based on resorts all around the world, it is fair to say that Jumeirah's Dubai assets were a driving force behind this improved performance.Speaking at the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference in Dubai, Gerald Lawless, president of the Jumeirah Group, said the first four months of 2013 have been a “tremendous success” for the organisation.”The Dubai hotels have truly benefited from the continuing attraction of Dubai as a prime holiday and business destination,” he remarked.A recent study by TRI Hospitality Consulting highlighted just how popular Dubai has become in recent years. It found that 89.8 per cent of hotel rooms across the city were full in March, which was up by 2.3 per cent when compared to the corresponding month in 2012.Revenue per available room increased by 11.8 per cent during the month, while average room rates rose by nine per cent.This just goes to show how lucrative the UAE's hospitality sector is at the moment and the situation is expected to improve even further in the coming years, which is great news for people who own hotels, apartments and villas in Dubai. Continue reading
Diego Maradona set for Dubai stay?
Diego Maradona could be set for an extended stay in the UAE after the Dubai Sports Council (DSC) revealed it is keen to continue working with the Argentine legend.The former Fifa World Cup winner accepted a role as a sporting ambassador in Dubai last year and his contract is due to expire this summer. Although the DSC has not officially offered Maradona a new deal, the organisation's secretary general Dr Ahmed Al Sharif told the National that the partnership has been fruitful and there is “absolutely nothing” to prevent the relationship from continuing.”We cannot deny that the legend has made his contribution at different levels and played the role required of him to the fullest. We have planned a few more things for next month where Maradona will play a big part, including a forum for academies,” he was quoted as saying.Maradona certainly appears to have plenty of options open to him, as a number of top clubs in Europe are rumoured to be interested in offering him a managerial role.The likes of Montpellier were said to be lining up a move for the ex-Barcelona and Napoli icon, although this has not been confirmed.It is unclear at this stage whether the 52-year-old wants to stay in Dubai, but comments made in recent interviews seem to suggest he is loving life in the Gulf.Indeed, he said in April that his life had been like a Formula 1 car before he moved to the Middle East and the move to Dubai has helped him to settle down a lot.He remarked: “I am now experiencing this wonderful tranquillity.”With beautiful beaches, excellent facilities, stunning buildings and gorgeous weather, it is easy to see why the footballing superstar has taken a shine to Dubai. He is not the only famous football personality to move to Dubai, as former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson recently became the technical director at Pro League club Al Nasr. Continue reading
Cargo volumes up at Dubai World Central
Dubai's status as a global trading hub continued to grow in the first quarter of 2013, as cargo volumes increased significantly.New figures released by Dubai Airports highlighted a 7.8 per cent upturn in air freight deliveries at Dubai World Central when compared to the first three months of 2012.The facility – which is the city's second airport – handled 53,974 tonnes of goods during the quarter, as traders from all over the world transported cargo to the Middle East.Air traffic movements at the airport rose by 16.8 per cent year-on-year, which underlines just how much the airport has grown in its short lifetime.It first opened in 2010 and is now served by 36 airlines. Last year, the airport handled 219,092 tonnes of air freight and this figure is widely forecast to be surpassed in 2013.Dubai World Central is also expected to accommodate passengers for the first time in October 2013 and this will take some of the strain off Dubai International Airport.The latter is the second busiest aviation hub on the planet, with 66 million people expected to pass through the complex this year – up from 57.6 million in 2012.Wizz Air and nasair are both lining up new services from Dubai World Central, making it easier for travellers to fly into the UAE from Europe and Saudi Arabia.Chief executive officer at Dubai Airports Paul Griffiths insisted that maintaining high levels of cargo growth is far from easy in the current climate, even for Dubai.”The next step in the evolution of the airport will see continued cargo traffic growth, the commencement of passenger operations slated for October 27th with launch carriers Wizz Air and nasair, and the hosting of its first ever Dubai Airshow from November 17th,” he remarked.”All will play a role in building our new airport's growing brand reputation.”If current trends persist, aviation experts predict Dubai Airports' total cargo volumes to reach three million tonnes a year by 2015. Continue reading
