SWISS-BELHOTEL INTERNATIONAL SAILS INTO TANZANIA WITH BEACHFRONT SWISS-BELRESORT ZANZIBAR
DUBAI – Swiss-Belhotel International signed today at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai a management agreement with Zanzibar Crown Hotel and Resort Limited to operate the beautiful Swiss-Belresort Zanzibar expected to open for business in 2019. This marks the group’s debut in Tanzania, and with it East Africa, that is currently witnessing a massive demand for quality hotels. Located on an idyllic salt-white beach, Swiss-Belresort Zanzibar is being developed at an investment of US$ 25 million on the prime Indian Ocean coastline merely 3 km from Abedi Amani Karume International Airport and 7 km from the Wonders Palace, Stoned Town and Forodhani Gardens.
Mr. Nadhim Said Hamdan Al Rawahi, the Owner of Zanzibar Crown Hotel and Resort Limited, said, “Zanzibar is the jewel of the Indian Ocean where Africa meets Arabia and we are delighted to expand our attractive local hospitality portfolio with Swiss-Belhotel International. With its fascinating beachfront location Swiss-Belresort Zanzibar is perfectly situated to offer its guests a relaxing and enjoyable experience in this tropical paradise bursting with nature, culture, adventure and history. Embodying high-quality standards with world-class facilities, the hotel is being developed to provide travellers a unique opportunity to intimately connect to their surroundings, beaches, nature and the welcoming Swahili ‘Karibu’ atmosphere.”
Whether you want to simply gaze for hours over the scenic sea and sky, spend dazzling days in the sun lazing on sunbeds alongside the beach, discover the secrets of the sea by diving and snorkeling in the clear blue waters, or enjoy exciting watersports, the resort will make all your dreams come true.
Mr. Gavin M. Faull, Chairman and President of Swiss-Belhotel International, said, “We are thrilled to debut in Zanzibar and very pleased to collaborate with Crown Hotel and Resort Limited in this exciting venture. The Swiss-Belresort Zanzibar will be among the few internationally branded resorts operating in the island to accommodate upper/midscale travellers which gives us access to one of the fastest growing market segments that we are eager to capitalize on. Our aim with this project is to provide guests all the fun, comfort and enjoyment without the hefty price tag.”
Boasting 125 keys (with sweeping views of the Indian Ocean), Swiss-Belresort Zanzibar, is being equipped with a wide range of facilities and entertainment activities to serve the varied needs of its guests. On site will be an all-day-dining restaurant, a specialty restaurant, a banquet hall, a beach lounge, kids pool and kids club, swimming pool, spa and health club and variety of watersports.
Swiss-Belhotel International continues to experience strong growth in the MEA region. Mr. Laurent A. Voivenel, Senior Vice President, Operations and Development for the Middle East, Africa and India for Swiss-Belhotel International, stressed, “We are very excited to expand our footprint in Africa with a historic and vibrant destination like Zanzibar. It is an extremely significant development for us being our first in East Africa which is the continent’s most lucrative market for hotels. Zanzibar is a leading holiday destination. The number of tourists visiting the island has been consistently growing at 8-10 per cent a year for the past decade resulting in exceptional performance by hotels which places us in a very buoyant market. With its stunning coastal location, Swiss-Belresort Zanzibar is being tailored to provide its guests, outstanding comfort and value with an enriching experience.”
In addition to its natural and historic charm, recent upgrade of the airport in Zanzibar with a new terminal and extended runway as well as superb new leisure attractions such as a planned 18-hole Ernie Els golf course are all contributing to the boom in tourism.
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Swiss-Belhotel International will be present at Arabian Travel Market from 22 to 25 April on stand ‘HC1130’ in Sheikh Saeed Hall in Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
For media contact:
Hina Bakht
Managing Director
EVOPS Marketing & PR
Mob: 00971 50 6975146
Tel: 00971 4 566 7355
Hina.bakht@evops-pr.com
www.evops-pr.com
About Swiss-Belhotel International
Swiss-Belhotel International currently manages a portfolio of more than 145* hotels, resorts and projects located in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Australia, New Zealand, Bulgaria, Georgia, Italy and Tanzania. Awarded Indonesia’s Leading Global Hotel Chain for six consecutive years, Swiss-Belhotel International is one of the world’s fastest-growing international hotel and hospitality management groups. The Group provides comprehensive and highly professional development and management services in all aspects of hotel, resort and serviced residences. Offices are located in Hong Kong, New Zealand, Australia, China, Europe, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam. www.swiss-behotel.com
*Numbers may fluctuate
Al Hokair Group Riding High on Growing Demand for Entertainment Attractions Among Travellers in the GCC
Growth of entertainment parks and amusement attractions is driving tourism at an unprecedented pace across the GCC region. Al Hokair Group, one of Saudi Arabia’s leading and most established names in the hospitality and entertainment sector, unveiled today at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) its latest developments and expansion plans in the sector.
Mr. Sami Al Hokair, Managing Director of Al Hokair Group, said, “Having played a pivotal role in the development of family entertainment centres in Saudi Arabia, we are well placed to take advantage of the massive opportunities opening up in the sector. Growth of tourism in the region is generating greater demand for such destinations. At Al Hokair we offer a unique mix of themed attractions and experiences and will soon be expanding out footprint in the region with the addition of new locations.”
Mr. Omar Samara, CEO of Al Hokair Group, said, “We have come a long way to realise our ambition of becoming a leading name in the amusement industry in the last five decades. Today, our entertainment division offers unlimited attractions for families taking into account varied interests of the diverse age groups. To start with we were the first provider of safe entertainment in Saudi Arabia and now have a portfolio of 80 plus amusement centres spread across the Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates.”
Capitalising on the growing demand for family entertainment in the region, Al Hokair Group has been engaged in aggressive expansion. Eight new entertainment centres were added over the past 12 months in Saudi Arabia with an additional six new locations planned for opening this year. Along with the continued expansion of activities across KSA and the UAE, the group is also eager to tap into the emerging opportunities in various other parts of the Middle East and North Africa.
Elaborating on the group’s commitment to ensuring quality and value at every step, Mr. Mishal Abdul Mohsen Al Hokair, Deputy CEO & General Manager of Al Hokair Entertainment Division, stated, “We remain faithful to our core objective of providing well-certified quality service to our customers. Mr father Sheikh Abdulmohsin Al Hokair always said our goal was simply ‘to bring smiles’ and that remains until today integral to our philosophy while dealing with our staff and customers. Our upcoming projects will offer many new exciting games and experiences for players. In addition to entertainment they have also been chosen and developed to provide ‘edutainment’ value to users.”
–ENDS–
Al Hokair Group will be present at Arabian Travel Market from 22 to 25 April on stand ‘HC 0570’ in Sheikh Saeed Hall in Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
About Al Hokair Group Founded in 1975, under the leadership of Sheikh Abdulmohsin Al Hokair, Al Hokair Group boasts a portfolio of 80+ entertainment centres and 40+ hotels comprising more than 5000 rooms spread across KSA, UAE and JORDAN. Occupying over 882,226 sqm of space and employing over 4500 experienced professionals, the group serves over 12 million people annually.
For more information about Al Hokair Group visit www.alhokair.com
For media contact: Hina Bakht Managing Director EVOPS Marketing & PR Mob: 00971 50 6975146 Tel: 00971 4 566 7355 Hina.bakht@evops-pr.com www.evops-pr.com
Al Hokair Group’s Entertainment Brands
Sparky’s
Lighten Up Your Life
Offering modern group computer gaming, mechanical adventure games testing strength, endurance and suspense games played on huge hydraulic screens, Sparky’s Centers are the epitome of fun and happiness – as symbolized by our butterfly logo and now added 3D cinema to the mix, making Sparky’s the premier family destination in the Kingdom.
Sparky’s Zone Centers
The chain of Sparky’s zone characterized by its digital decorations that make the visitor feels as if he is swimming inside the programs, devices and computers to take from them moments of excitement and suspense in climates that are filled with activity and vitality reflected by games that are selected with extreme care and accuracy that observe all age categories.
Sporty’s
Sporty’s is the latest concept in a long line of successful family play brands to be imagined, implemented and operated by the renowned Al Hokair Group.
At the heart of the groundbreaking ‘Sporty’ vision lies the unique concept of blending competitive sports and physical actions within a mould breaking FEC (family entertainment centre) experience.
Set with in a contemporary environment Sporty’s will engage young and old in an enthralling mix of nature, technology, and customer interactivity. Custom themed rides and cutting-edge attractions will ensure families return time and again to play in this magical arena of light, sound and fun.
Snowy Forest
Al Hokair group has launched its new concept of FECs Snowy Forest in kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Snowy Forest is unique with its special interior design and the games that make the visitors feeling like he is in a Snowy forest beside the lovely Snowy special characters and the safe games and soft play areas that fit to the kids aged below 12 years. Snowy forest centers include also special areas for the kids between 1 year to 6 years which are supervised by well-trained employees to take care of the kids. Beside the educational games which fit to their ages. You may also hold your little one’s birthday special at any of Snowy forest branches and give them memories they will never forget.
Sky Zone
Trampoline Park
Sky Zone is dedicated to providing you with the pure joy that comes with flying. They’re sky lovers, thrill seekers and people who believe that jumping is freedom. They believe fitness can be fun and play can be smart. They’re healthy and bursting with energy. They believe in how to fly high and keep it safe. They are Sky Zone. The trampoline parks will operate under the Sky Zone name and will cover, 1,400 square
metres and 2,500 square metres respectively. They will be the first Sky Zone installations
to open in Saudi Arabia and will be equipped not just with basic trampolines, but features
such as side-walls, slopes and basketball hoops will be added plus foam pits. Staff will be
on hand to oversee the operation of the parks, specially trained by Sky Zone.
This will carry on the theme of exercise. Trampolines are recognised as one of the finest
forms of exercise available.
Go Go Toys
Kids Toys Shop
The Group was keen to provide all the services that visitors to amusement centers need. Therefore, the chain of Go Go Toys stores was launched. They are characterized by different formations of games that suit all categories and ages. The Group concluded contracts with the biggest companies that supply the games, so children can access the latest and best games, which focus on developing children’s sensory and intellectual skills.
For media contact:
Travel tech professionals need to collaborate to provide holistic customer experience experts agree
- Future trends in travel technology discussed at Arabian Travel Market
- Shifting customer behaviour, distribution evolution and the changing dynamics within direct and indirect sales channels and the digital transformation come under the spotlight
Central Hotels to Open Two New Hotels in Dubai this May 2018
Bolstering its portfolio, Central Hotels is all set to double its inventory of keys in Dubai next month with the opening of two spectacular hotels namely Royal Central The Palm (207 keys) and Canal Central in Business Bay (280 keys). Both properties have been designed in contemporary style to serve the needs of modern business and leisure travellers. Featuring world-class facilities and inspiring spaces with signature personalised service, each property is unique in its own way.
Central Hotels’ impressive growth in Dubai is fuelled by the city’s extensive expansion of tourism infrastructure in preparation of Expo 2020. Mr. Ahmad Al Abdulla, Chairman of Central Hotels, said, “Our expansion strategy demonstrates our commitment to support the growth of the destination and its envisioned potential. We look forward to being part of this incredible success by contributing positively to the hospitality sector in the UAE.”
Mr. Abdulla Al Abdulla, Vice President of Central Hotels, further added, “The emirates will continue to attract tourists from across the world with its diverse offerings. Our brand is ideally positioned to cater to the needs of local and international travellers seeking world-class service and facilities.”
Mr Ammar Kanaan, General Manager of Central Hotels, stated, “We are very pleased with these new hotels that have a distinct style and personality reflective of the neighbourhoods’ vibe and energy. WhileRoyal Central The Palm offers travellers laid-back luxury in a fun and family-friendly atmosphere, Canal Central in Business Bay is ideal for corporate guests and business travellers while offering unobstructed views of the Dubai Canal and Burj Khalifa.. In addition, both hotels will be made smarter and more environment friendly with our paperless approach and initiative.”
Strategically located in Business Bay on Sheikh Zayed Road, Canal Central is only minutes away from Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Dubai Design District, Dubai International Convention Centre and Exhibition Halls, The Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and Dubai Fountains. Each of the hotel’s 280 spacious rooms and suites offer spectacular Canal or Burj Khalifa views and are equipped with the finest amenities. Completing the experience are a hand-picked selection of dining outlets, flexible meeting spaces, state-of-the-art gymnasium and spa, a stunning infinity swimming pool and male and female salon. A huge attraction will be Lilly’s Social House, that is coming to town for the first time and will offer exceptional food, innovative beverages and live nightly jazz.
Located on the East Crescent of Dubai’s iconic Palm Jumeirah, Royal Central The Palm is a beachside Hotel Resort featuring 207 rooms. From its exceptional location on the shores of the Arabian Gulf, guests can access one of the best private beaches in the city as well as enjoy unhindered views of the iconic destination. An array of recreational facilities ranging from water sports to outdoor swimming pool, state-of-the-art gym and health spa, along with exciting dining options, allow guests to unwind and relax in a beautiful setting. Opening for the first time in Dubai, Hush Beach Bar will offer guests an immersive experience with its unique location and exciting concept of food and beverages.
Visit Central Hotels stand #HC0810 at Arabian Travel Market in Sheikh Saeed Hall, Dubai World Trade Centre from 22 – 25 April 2018.
About Central Hotels Central Hotels has very quickly established itself as a reputed hotel management group in the UAE with its flagship property First Central Hotel Suites located in Barsha Heights (TECOM) near Sheikh Zayed Road. Featuring 524 apartments equipped with top-notch facilities, it offers travellers the best of Arabian hospitality in the heart of Dubai. Building up on this amazing success, the brand is now poised to expand its footprint in the GCC targeting Saudi Arabia and the UAE as the primary markets for growth.
For more information about First Central Hotel Suites and Central Hotels visit: www.firstcentraldubai.com | www.central-hotels.com
For media contact: Hina Bakht Managing Director EVOPS Marketing & PR Mob: 00971 50 6975146 Tel: 00971 4 566 7355 Hina.bakht@evops-pr.com www.evops-pr.com
Al Hokair Group Continues to Expand in the Hospitality Sector with Exciting New Developments
Consolidating its partnership with the world’s leading hospitality brands, Al Hokair Group continues to expand rapidly in gateway business and leisure destinations across the Middle East.Following the addition of 1113 new rooms to its exceptional portfolio of hotels over the last 12 months, the group has increased its inventory of keys by approximately 25 per cent from 4548 rooms to 5661 rooms.
Speaking at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) today Mr. Sami Al Hokair, Managing Director of Al Hokair Group, stated, “Al Hokair’s expansion strategy is in line with region’s growth and investment in the tourism sector. Our partnership with global hospitality brands such as Marriott International, IHG, ACCOR Hotels, Radisson Hotel Group and HILTON gives us a unique edge over the competitors while leveraging Al Hokair Group’s position as a market leader in the hospitality industry. The recent addition of fabulous new hotels namely Jabal Omar Marriott Hotel, Radisson Blu Residence Istanbul Batisehir, Radisson Blu Hotel Jeddah Corniche, Park Inn by Radisson Jubail, MENA Plaza Al Barsha Dubai, MENA Airport Hotel Jeddah, MENA ApartHotel Al Barsha Dubai, MENA Hotel Tabuk KSA and Jeddah Marriott Hotel (opening 2019), has allowed us to penetrate new destinations like Makkah, Tabuk and Istanbul while growing our presence in existing territories”. Mr. Sami Al Hokair added, “Furthermore, we have accelerated the expansion of Al Hokair’s owned brand MENA Hotels & Resorts with a fresh new look and concept reflecting the pulse of Arabian hospitality. This diversity of brands and hotels allows us to serve a wide range of market segments from mid-scale to luxury while providing a superb choice to our guests including the new generation of travellers.” The new additions and development will positively contribute to the revenue and increase market share of Al Hokair hotels’ division. Mr. Omar Samara, CEO of Al Hokair Group, “We believe there is a tremendous potential for growth in the hospitality sector in spite of the current challenges in the market and the global market conditions. Our long-term strategic partnerships are founded on compelling value propositions and business transparency. Combining our resources and in-depth understanding of the region with the global network and expertise of the world’s most successful hospitality brands we aim to contribute positively to the Vision 2030 as tourism and hospitality is a key pillar in the growth of Kingdom’s GDP. All our hotels stand out for their outstanding location, design excellence and facilities developed to match the highest industry standards. Our success is rooted in our unrivalled heritage founded on principles of integrity,efficiency, quality, innovation, value, growth and teamwork.” Mr. Haitham Murad, Managing Director of the Hotels Division at Al Hokair Group, added: “The addition of new hotels to the Group enhances our presence in the Kingdom and beyond. We are always keen on providing quality service to our guests throughout our hotels, while preserving the principles of Arab hospitality that sets us apart and ensuring the guests’ comfort and satisfaction during their stay, thanks to a carefully selected team of experienced hospitality professionals. In addition, we invest heavily in the training of Saudi young men and women and in recruiting them in the vital hotel sector. Our strategic partnership with some of the world’s leading hotel companies has consolidated our position to keep on the path of competitiveness, delivering value and excellence, adopting new technologies and providing top-notch solutions, whether in the local or regional markets.” –ENDS– Al Hokair Group will be present at Arabian Travel Market from 22 to 25 April on stand ‘HC 0570’ in Sheikh Saeed Hall in Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. About Al Hokair Group Founded in 1975, under the leadership of Sheikh Abdulmohsin Al Hokair, Al Hokair Group boasts a portfolio of 90+ entertainment centres and 40+ hotels comprising more than 5500 rooms spread across KSA, UAE and JORDAN. Occupying over 882,226 sqm of space and employing over 4100 experienced professionals, the group serves over 12 million people annually. For more information about Al Hokair Group visit www.alhokair.com For media Hina Bakht Managing Director EVOPS Marketing & PR Mob: 00971 50 6975146 Tel: 00971 4 566 7355 Hina.bakht@evops-pr.com www.evops-pr.comSWISS-BELHOTEL INTERNATIONAL REACHES GLOBAL MILESTONE OF 150 HOTELS IN OPERATION & DEVELOPMENT
DUBAI – Swiss-Belhotel International, the award-winning global hospitality chain, announced today at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai a major milestone of reaching 150 hotels in operation and development.
Mr. Gavin M. Faull, Chairman and President of Swiss-Belhotel International, commented, “Reaching 150 hotels opened or signed globally is a very important milestone for us and highlights our momentous growth. This achievement illustrates the strength of Swiss-Belhotel International’s superb portfolio of brands delivering exceptional guest experience in every segment of the market with the support of our outstanding partners and a great team.”
Mr. Faull further added, “Our global success is driven by our aggressive expansion strategy in high-growth markets. Moving forward, we remain committed to accelerate the growth of our brands and are eager to capitalise on the upcoming opportunities by leveraging on the synergies across our wide industry network.”
Swiss-Belhotel International’s legacy dates back to the company’s establishment in Hong Kong in 1987. The group currently operates 73 hotels worldwide and has 77 projects in the pipeline. It is counted among the top 100 hotel companies in the world offering a choice of 14 brands in 22 destinations across 4 continents with 10 regional offices. Since 2016, Swiss-Belhotel International started expanding aggressively in Australia and New Zealand where the group not only manages hotels but ventured into ownership of the management rights. Europe is also on the radar where the company recently signed a hotel in Italy and is considering 4 more projects in the region.
The Middle East and Africa are strategic markets for Swiss-Belhotel International with 17% of the global portfolio centered in the region. Mr. Laurent A. Voivenel, Senior Vice President, Operations and Development for the Middle East, Africa and India for Swiss-Belhotel International, said, “We have got an extremely strong development pipeline in the Middle East and Africa with a portfolio of over 3,500 rooms across 12 cities. 2018 is a significant year for us with six new hotels opening in quick succession. In addition,we are in negotiations for various other projects that will see our business grow substantially in the region over the coming months. We expect to reach 30 hotels in the Middle East and Africa by 2020.”
Swiss-Belhotel International is present at Arabian Travel Market from 22 to 25 April on stand ‘HC1130’ in Sheikh Saeed Hall in Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
For media contact: Hina Bakht Managing Director EVOPS Marketing & PR Mob: 00971 50 6975146 Tel: 00971 4 566 7355 Hina.bakht@evops-pr.com www.evops-pr.com
About Swiss-Belhotel International Swiss-Belhotel International currently manages a portfolio of more than 150* hotels, resorts and projects located in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Australia, New Zealand, Bulgaria, Georgia, Italy and Tanzania. Awarded Indonesia’s Leading Global Hotel Chain for six consecutive years, Swiss-Belhotel International is one of the world’s fastest-growing international hotel and hospitality management groups. The Group provides comprehensive and highly professional development and management services in all aspects of hotel, resort and serviced residences. Offices are located in New Zealand, Hong Kong, Australia, China, Europe, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam. www.swiss-behotel.com *Numbers may fluctuate
Emirates scoops four awards at the World Travel Awards Middle East 2018
Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, has been recognised at the World Travel Awards Middle East 2018 with four awards – Middle East’s Leading Airline, Middle East’s Leading Airline Brand, Middle East’s Leading Business Class Airport Lounge and Middle East’s Leading Cabin Crew.
The red carpet ceremony was attended by more than 500 industry leading figures and professionals from across the Middle East. Khalid Al Serkal, Emirates’ District Manager Sharjah received the awards on behalf of the airline. Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, Divisional Senior Vice President Commercial Operations Centre said: “It is an honour to be recognised by the World Travel Awards Middle East 2018 for our ongoing efforts to continually enhance the customer experience both onboard and on the ground. Taking the top spot in multiple categories is a reflection of the airline’s commitment to operational excellence, outstanding customer service and a focused approach on building the brand.” Last year, the airline launched product enhancements on its Boeing 777 and A380 aircraft – unveiling its enhanced A380 Onboard Lounge, game-changing Boeing 777-300ER First Class private suites and new Business Class cabin and configuration on its Boeing 777-200LR aircraft. Passengers on Emirates across all cabins can enjoy its award winning in-flight entertainment system ice, with up to 3,500 channels and 20MB complimentary on-board Wi-Fi, as well as regionally inspired meals prepared by award-winning chefs. Emirates’ state-of-the-art, seven Business Class Lounges at Dubai International Airport Concourses A, B and C – boast a total seat capacity of over 4,500. Concourse B lounges recently completed a US$ 11 million makeover, offering Business Class customers, as well as Platinum and Gold Skywards members the highest standards of comfort before their flight. The airline also expanded its global network of lounges to 41 dedicated Emirates Lounges in 2017. The airline’s international team of over 23,000 cabin crew come from over 135 countries, and speak more than 60 languages. Crew members are trained to provide the very best inflight service and Emirates on-board experience. Emirates operates a modern fleet of 269 all wide-body aircraft, and is the first and only airline in the world to operate a fleet of all Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft for its passenger flights. The airline’s extensive network offers customers travel choices to over 159 destinations, in 85 countries, across six continents.Apple adds Earth Day donations to trade-in and recycling program
Ahead of Earth Day, Apple today announced that for every device received at Apple stores and apple.com through the Apple GiveBack program from now through April 30, the company will make a donation to the non-profit Conservation International. As part of its ongoing recycling effort, the company also debuted Daisy, a robot that can more efficiently disassemble iPhone to recover valuable materials. Both Apple GiveBack and Daisy support Apple’s commitment to create a healthier planet through innovation — and help the company move a step closer to its goal of making its products using only recycled or renewable materials.
“At Apple, we’re constantly working toward smart solutions to address climate change and conserve our planet’s precious resources,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives. “In recognition of Earth Day, we are making it as simple as possible for our customers to recycle devices and do something good for the planet through Apple GiveBack. We’re also thrilled to introduce Daisy to the world, as she represents what’s possible when innovation and conservation meet.”
Through Apple GiveBack, customers will be able to turn in their devices at any Apple Store or through apple.com to be recycled or traded in. For each Apple device received today through April 30, Apple will make a donation to Conservation International to support its efforts to preserve and protect the environment.1 Eligible devices will receive credit that customers can use toward an in-store purchase or put on an Apple Store Gift Card for future use.2
Conservation International uses science, policy and partnerships to protect the natural world people rely on for food, fresh water and livelihood. Founded in 1987, the organization works in more than 30 countries on six continents to ensure a healthy, prosperous planet.
Daisy, Apple’s New Recycling Robot
Apple’s newest disassembly robot, Daisy, is the most efficient way to reclaim more of the valuable materials stored in iPhone. Created through years of R&D, Daisy incorporates revolutionary technology based on Apple’s learnings from Liam, its first disassembly robot launched in 2016. Daisy is made from some of Liam’s parts and is capable of disassembling nine versions of iPhone and sorting their high-quality components for recycling. Daisy can take apart up to 200 iPhone devices per hour, removing and sorting components, so that Apple can recover materials that traditional recyclers can’t — and at a higher quality.
Apple’s Commitment to the Environment
As part of its continued commitment to supporting a healthy planet through innovation, Apple will today also release its annual Environment Report, detailing the company’s environmental progress in three priority areas:
- Reducing Apple’s carbon footprint by using renewable energy sources and driving energy efficiency in its products and facilities.
- Conserving precious resources.
- Pioneering the use of safer materials in its products and processes.
Last week, Apple announced its global facilities are now powered with 100 percent clean energy. This achievement includes retail stores, offices, data centers and co-located facilities in 43 countries — including China, India, the United Kingdom and the United States. The company also announced nine additional manufacturing partners committed to powering all of their Apple production with 100 percent clean energy, bringing the total number of supplier commitments to 23.
Today, Apple Watch users will receive a notification about the Earth Day Challenge, an activity encouraging them to get outside, enjoy the planet and complete a workout of at least 30 minutes. If they do so on Earth Day, they’ll receive a special achievement and unique stickers in iMessage. Starting tomorrow, Apple stores around the world will feature logos with green leaves or window decals in honor of Earth Day.
Press Contacts
Sally Hamandi Apple hamandi@apple.com 8000 444 19291
Now Anyone Can Create Their Own Personalized Alexa Skill in Just Minutes
Amazon today introduced Alexa Skill Blueprints, a new way to create your own personalized skills and responses for Alexa. Using a set of easy-to-use templates anyone can create customized experiences for Alexa within minutes just by filling in the blanks. Whether it’s your own answer to the question “Alexa, who is the best mom in the world?” or a skill that offers helpful information for the babysitter, “Alexa, open My Sitter,” Alexa Skill Blueprints allow you to build experiences into Alexa that are personalized to you and help make Alexa even more useful around your home. The skills you create are specially designed for you and your family, and will only appear on the devices registered to your Amazon account.
“Alexa Skill Blueprints is an entirely new way for you to teach Alexa personalized skills just for you and your family,” said Steve Rabuchin, Vice President, Amazon Alexa. “You don’t need experience building skills or coding to get started—my family created our own jokes skill in a matter of minutes, and it’s been a blast to interact with Alexa in a totally new and personal way.”
Using Alexa Skill Blueprints is as easy as filling in the blanks. You can have fun customizing responses to questions like “Alexa, what is the best city?” or “Alexa, who has the best sense of humor?” You can also use Skill Blueprints to create an interactive adventure story with your child as the lead character, “Alexa, start Anna’s Story,” or create a skill to poke fun at Dad’s corny one liners, “Alexa, open Dad’s Jokes.” The skills and responses you create with Alexa Skill Blueprints will be available instantly on the devices associated with your account.
Getting Started with Alexa Skill Blueprints:
Creating your own Alexa skill and responses is simple. Just follow three easy steps:
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1. Select your blueprint template by visiting the Alexa Skill Blueprints website: blueprints.amazon.com. There you can browse more than 20 Skill Blueprints across four categories including Fun & Games, At Home, Storyteller, and Learning & Knowledge.
2. Unleash your creativity. Each blueprint comes with pre-filled content that can be used as-is or customized as you like.
3. With just one click your skill will be available on all Alexa-enabled devices associated with your Amazon account.
There is no limit to the number of skills you can create. Need to add even more hilarious jokes to the “Dad’s Jokes” skill? No problem, editing is just as simple using the Alexa Skill Blueprints website. Alexa Skill Blueprints available at launch include: At Home- Custom Q&A: Customize responses to your questions
- Houseguest: Make your guests feel at home with quick access to important info
- Babysitter: Help your sitter find things, remember steps and get important info
- Pet Sitter: Help your pet sitter care for your favorite animal
- Family Jokes: Create a list of your favorite jokes for when you need a laugh
- Trivia: Create your own multiple choice trivia game on any topic
- Inspirations: Curate a list of your favorite inspirational quotes
- Family Trivia: Play together and brush up on family history
- Bachelorette Party: Play to find out how well the bride’s friends know her
- Birthday Trivia: Play to see who knows the birthday girl or boy best
- Burns: Roast your friends and family with lighthearted burns
- Compliments: Flatter your favorites with a list of custom compliments
- Double Trouble: Find out which couple knows each other best with this customizable game
- First Letter: Play a game of categories starting with a certain letter
- Adventure: Write an adventure story where your child is the hero
- Fairy Tale: Customize an interactive prince and princess-themed tale
- Sci-Fi: Create an interactive story with a far-out theme
- Fable: Create a short narrative with a moral of the story
- Flash Cards: Study, test yourself, and master any subject by voice
- Facts: Keep a list of facts on your favorite topic, all in one place
- Quiz: Challenge yourself and others with a customizable quiz
Emirates scoops four awards at the World Travel Awards Middle East 2018
Airline recognised as the Middle East’s 2018 Leading Airline, Airline Brand, Business Class Airport Lounge and Cabin Crew
Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, has been recognised at the World Travel Awards Middle East 2018 with four awards – Middle East’s Leading Airline, Middle East’s Leading Airline Brand, Middle East’s Leading Business Class Airport Lounge and Middle East’s Leading Cabin Crew.
The red carpet ceremony was attended by more than 500 industry leading figures and professionals from across the Middle East. Khalid Al Serkal, Emirates’ District Manager Sharjah received the awards on behalf of the airline. Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, Divisional Senior Vice President Commercial Operations Centre said: “It is an honour to be recognised by the World Travel Awards Middle East 2018 for our ongoing efforts to continually enhance the customer experience both onboard and on the ground. Taking the top spot in multiple categories is a reflection of the airline’s commitment to operational excellence, outstanding customer service and a focused approach on building the brand.” Last year, the airline launched product enhancements on its Boeing 777 and A380 aircraft – unveiling its enhanced A380 Onboard Lounge, game-changing Boeing 777-300ER First Class private suites and new Business Class cabin and configuration on its Boeing 777-200LR aircraft. Passengers on Emirates across all cabins can enjoy its award winning in-flight entertainment system ice, with up to 3,500 channels and 20MB complimentary on-board Wi-Fi, as well as regionally inspired meals prepared by award-winning chefs. Emirates’ state-of-the-art, seven Business Class Lounges at Dubai International Airport Concourses A, B and C – boast a total seat capacity of over 4,500. Concourse B lounges recently completed a US$ 11 million makeover, offering Business Class customers, as well as Platinum and Gold Skywards members the highest standards of comfort before their flight. The airline also expanded its global network of lounges to 41 dedicated Emirates Lounges in 2017. The airline’s international team of over 23,000 cabin crew come from over 135 countries, and speak more than 60 languages. Crew members are trained to provide the very best inflight service and Emirates on-board experience. Emirates operates a modern fleet of 269 all wide-body aircraft, and is the first and only airline in the world to operate a fleet of all Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft for its passenger flights. The airline’s extensive network offers customers travel choices to over 159 destinations, in 85 countries, across six continents.Arabian Travel Market celebrates 25th year with largest ever hotel exhibition space
Middle East’s largest travel trade event will celebrate its 25th year, with over 2,500 exhibiting companies and an expected 40,000 visitors, showcasing the largest ever hotel exhibition space in the show’s history
Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2018, the region’s leading travel industry showcase, opens its doors on Sunday 22nd April for four days of business networking opportunities and insightful seminar sessions, where deals worth over US$2.5 billion will be agreed.
Now in its 25th year, the 2018 edition will welcome over 2,500 exhibiting companies and an expected 40,000 visitors, with over 150 countries represented, 65 national pavilions, and more than 100 new exhibitors set to make their ATM debut.
Building on the success of last year, ATM 2018, which takes place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from April 22-25, will showcase the largest exhibition of regional and global hotel brands in the history of ATM, with hotels comprising 20% of the total show area.
Simon Press, Senior Exhibition Director, ATM said: “Arabian Travel Market continues to be the preferred route to market for many international and regional hospitality brands and the increase in hotel exhibition space in 2018 reflects the hundreds of new property and brand launches we have seen during the last 12 months.
“Over the coming years, we will see these new properties prosper as millions more tourists visit the region for the first time. The last 12 months brought unprecedented developments in major markets and the region is poised for further great developments in 2018.”
Celebrating its 25th year, ATM 2018 will adopt Responsible Tourism – including sustainable travel trends – as its official show theme, integrating it across all show verticals and activities, including advice clinics and focused seminar sessions, featuring dedicated exhibitor participation.
Press added: “The tourism industry in the GCC has grown ten-fold and more since we first opened our show doors 25 years ago. With a host of top speakers lined up and panel sessions for ATM 2018, we will be looking back on the tourism revolution in the Middle East over the last quarter of a century and also forecasting what lies ahead for the industry, with continuing geopolitical tensions across the globe, economic uncertainties, huge technological advances and, of course, the increasing trend of responsible tourism.”
Hyperloop and future travel experiences will kick off proceedings on ATM’s Global Stage on Sunday 22nd April between 13.30 and 14.30. Moderating the session, Richard Dean, a UAE-based business broadcaster and presenter will be joined by a host of high-profile panellists including Christoph Mueller, Chief Digital and Innovation officer, Emirates Airline and Harj Dhaliwal, Managing Director Middle East and India Operations, Hyperloop One.
This year, ATM has partnered with International Hotel Investment Conference (IHIF) organisers to present the inaugural Destination Investment panel. Taking place on the ATM Global Stage, the session will discuss what drives investment in travel destinations across the Middle East and neighbouring regions.
Also debuting this year will be the ATM Student Conference – ‘Career in Travel’ – a programme aimed at students and graduates who are looking to pursue a career in the travel and tourism industry. Taking place on the final day of ATM, this programme will allow ‘tomorrow’s’ travel professionals and hoteliers, to listen to guest speakers and travel industry leaders.
Perennial calendar favourites at ATM 2018 include the ultra-innovative Travel Tech Show, ILTM Arabia and the Travel Agent Academy as well as the Buyers’ Club and the Wellness and Spa Lounge, both of which offer excellent opportunities to meet and network with likeminded individuals and organisations.
Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai’s Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), said: “This year marks the 25th edition of Arabian Travel Market and we are extremely pleased to be able to extend our support once more. In 2017, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, launched Dubai Government’s 10X Initiative and as a result our projects and initiatives reflect this vision, designed to leverage new technologies and build on our ‘digital, mobile and social first’ agenda. Along with our partners on the Dubai stand we look forward to presenting just some of these immersive experiences – from witnessing Dubai in virtual reality, to our partners from Expo providing insights into the masterplan and much more.”
Thierry Antinori, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates Airline said: “As we celebrate 25 years of partnership and commitment to ATM, it’s remarkable to think how far this event has come in the region, as well as on the global stage, and as an airline we are proud of the role we have played in its growth. International air connectivity is a key driver in tourism, and for the hosting of regional industry events like ATM. With 159 destinations across six continents in our growing network, we will continue to bring travellers to and through Dubai, by innovating and providing the best customer experiences to earn their loyalty to make Emirates their first choice whenever they think of travel.”
Olivier Harnisch, Chief Executive Officer of Emaar Hospitality Group, said: “Now in its 25th year, the Arabian Travel Market has played a transformational role in shaping the tourism and hospitality sector of the region. As one of the leading global platforms that present the newest trends in the industry, the event presents diverse opportunities for all stakeholders to strengthen their business. As the Official Hotel Partner of the event, Emaar Hospitality Group will present its three hotel brands – the premium lifestyle Address Hotels + Resorts, the upscale lifestyle Vida Hotels and Resorts and contemporary midscale Rove Hotels – and their growing footprint. In addition to presenting our digital transformation strategy, we will highlight our focus on innovation to enhancing customer service standards.”
Anwar A.Z Abu Monassar, Destination Director, Strategy & Operation, The Vision, said: “With ATM coming back again as a great show to connect and share, we at The Vision Destination Management are proud of another successful season where we witnessed growth in strong partnerships, both in leisure and events. The Vision’s commitment and recognition, not only as event planner in showcasing the destination, but also as reality that involves and promotes segments of the society is a never-ending focus that we pursue. During the present year we involved reputed and experienced figures that do not only guide travelers, but literally bring them into the local reality in all its different segments. We developed skills of Life Coaching within our team to allow our clients to deeply understand our context, from the past to the future.”
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Photo caption:
From left to right:
Anwar A.Z Abu Monassar, Destination Director, Strategy & Operation, The Vision
Thierry Antinori, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates Airline
Simon Press, Senior Exhibition Director, Arabian Travel Market and World Travel Market
Issam Abdul Rahim Kazim, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing
Olivier Harnisch, CEO, Emaar Hospitality Group
About Arabian Travel Market (ATM) is the leading, international travel and tourism event in the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals. ATM 2017 attracted almost 40,000 industry professionals, agreeing deals worth US$2.5bn over the four days. The 24th edition of ATM showcased over 2,500 exhibiting companies across 12 halls at Dubai World Trade Centre, making it the largest ATM in its 24-year history. www.arabiantravelmarketwtm.com Next event 22-25 April 2018 – Dubai.
About Reed Exhibitions
Reed Exhibitions is the world’s leading events business, enhancing the power of face to face through data and digital tools at over 500 events a year, in more than 30 countries, attracting more than seven million participants.
About Reed Travel Exhibitions
Reed Travel Exhibitions is the world’s leading travel and tourism event’s organiser with a growing portfolio of more than 22 international travel and tourism trade events in Europe, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Our events are market leaders in their sectors, whether it is global and regional leisure travel trade events, or specialist events for meetings, incentives, conference, events (MICE) industry, business travel, luxury travel, travel technology as well as golf, spa and ski travel. We have over 35 years’ experience in organising world-leading travel exhibitions.
Media contact
NATHALIE VISELE
Director
Tel: +971 4 365 2711 | Mobile: +971 50 457 6525
E-mail: nathalie.visele@shamalcomms.com
Office 106, Arjaan Office Tower, Dubai Media City
PO Box 502701 | Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Website: www.shamalcomms.com
UKinbound releases GCC market Business Barometer Results
In association with Qa Research and in light of its inaugural exhibition at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) next week, UKinbound has released its latest Business Barometer results with a focus on the Gulf Corporation Council (GCC) market.
To encourage visitors from GCC countries to explore more of the UK, 75% of respondents stated that increased marketing in these countries is key. 62% of respondents also said that increasing the number of direct flights to UK regional airports from destinations across the GCC would boost visitor numbers. Additionally, the creation of culturally sensitive itineraries, improved UK train links and better signage were cited as important factors that could encourage more GCC visitors to come to the UK.
UKinbound’s chief executive officer, Deirdre Wells OBE said: “Visitors from the GCC countries to the UK in 2016 ranked 15th in terms of numbers (777,000) but 3rd in terms of overall spending (£1.4 billion)*. This is clearly a valuable market with lots of potential that our members are keen to tap into.
“Exhibiting at ATM is therefore an important strategic step for UKinbound and will help our members and other stand sharers to showcase their businesses and secure new opportunities in a growing and emerging market.
“We will also continue to lobby Government on issues such as increasing marketing spend, visas and APD, to ensure that the UK remains a first choice for our international tourists and an attractive business and leisure destination.”
The Business Barometer results also reported that 56% of respondents have seen an increase in overall bookings/visitor numbers/customer orders in January and February 2018 compared to 2017. Similarly, yield was the same or higher for 73% of members during the same period. However, confidence levels experienced a slight dip with 52% of members stating their 12-month business outlook was positive, down from 54%.
UKinbound will be exhibiting at the Arabian Travel Market in the European Hall (stand EU6830) in Dubai from Sunday 22nd April to Wednesday 25th April 2018.
* Source: Visit Britain
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For further information, contact Lauren Broughton
lauren@diligentcomms.com | + 44 (0) 7725 865 063
About UKinbound
UKinbound is a leading travel trade association and the only one which focuses solely on the interests of the UK’s inbound tourism sector. UKinbound addresses and engages with Government, the media, travel trade and the general public to raise awareness of the importance of inbound tourism to the UK economy.
BuzzFeed and The Dodo Help Make Every Day Epic in Super Slow-mo with the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+
This highly shareable campaign will showcase how easy and entertaining it is for users to capture content in slow motion
Samsung Electronics today announced partnerships with BuzzFeed and The Dodo to make everyday moments epic with the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+’s Super Slow-mo camera. Starting today, BuzzFeed − the world’s leading tech-powered media company, with a cross-platform news and entertainment network that reaches hundreds of millions of people globally − and The Dodo − the no. 1 digital media brand for animal people1and no. 1 most-loved publisher on Facebook2− will publish fun, entertaining and highly-shareable super slow-motion videos across social media platforms, including Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. The videos, including the hashtags #withGalaxy and #SuperSlowMo, will show consumers just how easy it is to create and share amazing Super Slow-mo content using the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+. These partnerships will result in more than 30 unique pieces of must-see content that will reach BuzzFeed and The Dodo’s massive audiences over the next two months. Fueling the current trend for creating and sharing slow motion content with the Galaxy S9 and S9+, the posts will capture and replay unique moments in everyday life − from compelling short-form content, to entertaining how-to video. BuzzFeed will showcase relatable everyday moments, taking the unique smiles, laughter and grimaces and turning them into epic, shareable moments. The Dodo will feature funny, emotive videos and stories of animals caught in the act – all shot on the Galaxy S9 and S9+ in The Dodo’s authentic style. “Partnering with BuzzFeed and The Dodo is a natural fit and a great way to showcase how consumers can make everyday moments epic by using the Galaxy S9 and S9+’s Super Slow-mo camera,” said Younghee Lee, CMO and Executive Vice President of Samsung Electronics. “Capturing a moment within a moment has never been easier, and we want these partnerships to inspire more creative Super Slow-mo content.” The Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+’s Super Slow-mo camera captures slow motion video at 960 frames per second, revealing a whole new way to relive and share remarkable moments in the everyday. With automatic Motion Detection, users can simply set up the shot and press play. Users can set their video to music by selecting background music from 35 different pre-set options, or by picking a favorite tune from their personal playlist, before instantly sharing with three creative options – video on loop, reverse or swing mode. “At BuzzFeed we place an emphasis on world class production that gives our content creators the flexibility to shoot content on the go in different locations,” said Ze Frank, Chief Research and Development Officer at BuzzFeed. “With the Galaxy S9 and S9+, we are able to utilize amazing features like slow motion in our production, and at the same time show our audience they no longer need expensive equipment or software to capture their favorite moments in the highest quality and share them with friends.” Izzie Lerer, founder and Chief Creative Officer of The Dodo added, “We’ve built our audience on the back of our uniquely emotional approach to storytelling − putting animals front and center, and showcasing the delightful, inspiring things they do every day. We’re excited to partner with Samsung to continue to capture animal expression and joy in an exciting new way with Super Slow-mo.”Complying With New Privacy Laws and Offering New Privacy Protections to Everyone, No Matter Where You Live
In recent weeks we’ve announced several steps to give people more control over their privacy and explain how we use data. Today we’re introducing new privacy experiences for everyone on Facebook as part of the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), including updates to our terms and data policy. Everyone – no matter where they live – will be asked to review important information about how Facebook uses data and make choices about their privacy on Facebook. We’ll begin by rolling these choices out in Europe this week.
Asking People to Review How We Use Data
As soon as GDPR was finalized, we realized it was an opportunity to invest even more heavily in privacy. We not only want to comply with the law, but also go beyond our obligations to build new and improved privacy experiences for everyone on Facebook. We’ve brought together hundreds of employees across product, engineering, legal, policy, design and research teams. We’ve also sought input from people outside Facebook with different perspectives on privacy, including people who use our services, regulators and government officials, privacy experts, and designers.
We’ll ask everyone on Facebook to make choices about:
We will also ask people to agree to our updated terms of service and data policy, which include more detail in response to questions about how our services work. We’re not asking for new rights to collect, use or share your data on Facebook, and we continue to commit that we do not sell information about you to advertisers or other partners. While the substance of our data policy is the same globally, people in the EU will see specific details relevant only to people who live there, like how to contact our Data Protection Officer under GDPR. We want to be clear that there is nothing different about the controls and protections we offer around the world.
People in the EU will start seeing these requests this week to ensure they have made their choices ahead of GDPR coming into effect on May 25. As part of our phased approach, people in the rest of the world will be asked to make their choices on a slightly later schedule, and we’ll present the information in the ways that make the most sense for other regions.
Introducing Better Tools to Access, Delete and Download Information
The new Settings and Privacy Shortcuts features we announced last month were built with GDPR in mind, and people will start seeing them this week. Our recently-expanded tools for accessing your information will allow people to see their data, delete it, and easily download and export it. These tools are available globally, although we designed them to comply with GDPR too. We’ve also updated our Activity Log on mobile to make it easier for people to see the information they’ve shared with Facebook from their mobile device.
Providing Special Features for Young People
GDPR recognizes the importance of providing special protections and experiences for teens. We’ve built many special protections into Facebook for all teens, regardless of location. For example, advertising categories for teens are more limited, and their default audience options for posts do not include “public.” We also keep face recognition off for anyone under age 18 and limit who can see or search specific information teens have shared, like hometown or birthday. Later this year we’ll introduce a new global online resource center specifically for teens, and more education about their most common privacy questions.
Under GDPR, people between the ages of 13 and 15 in some EU countries need permission from a parent or guardian to allow some features on Facebook — seeing ads based on data from partners and including religious and political views or “interested in” on your profile. These teens will see a less personalized version of Facebook with restricted sharing and less relevant ads until they get permission from a parent or guardian to use all aspects of Facebook. Even where the law doesn’t require this, we’ll ask every teen if they want to see ads based on data from partners and whether they want to include personal information in their profiles.
Beyond today’s announcements, we’ll keep improving. We’re committed to making sure people understand how we use their information and how they can control it.
- Ads based on data from partners. Ads on Facebook are more relevant when we use data from partners, like websites and apps that use business tools such as our Like button. We’ll ask people to review information about this type of advertising, and to choose whether or not they want us to use data from partners to show them ads.
- Information in their profile. If you’ve chosen to share political, religious, and relationship information on your profile, we’ll ask you to choose whether to continue sharing and letting us use this information. As always, including this information on your profile is completely optional. We’re making it easier for people to delete it if they no longer want to share it.
- Allowing face recognition technology. Our face recognition features help protect your privacy and improve your experiences, like detecting when others might be attempting to use your image as their profile picture and allowing us to suggest friends you may want to tag in photos or videos. We’ve offered products using face recognition in most of the world for more than six years. As part of this update, we’re now giving people in the EU and Canada the choice to turn on face recognition. Using face recognition is entirely optional for anyone on Facebook.
We will also ask people to agree to our updated terms of service and data policy, which include more detail in response to questions about how our services work. We’re not asking for new rights to collect, use or share your data on Facebook, and we continue to commit that we do not sell information about you to advertisers or other partners. While the substance of our data policy is the same globally, people in the EU will see specific details relevant only to people who live there, like how to contact our Data Protection Officer under GDPR. We want to be clear that there is nothing different about the controls and protections we offer around the world.
People in the EU will start seeing these requests this week to ensure they have made their choices ahead of GDPR coming into effect on May 25. As part of our phased approach, people in the rest of the world will be asked to make their choices on a slightly later schedule, and we’ll present the information in the ways that make the most sense for other regions.
Introducing Better Tools to Access, Delete and Download Information
The new Settings and Privacy Shortcuts features we announced last month were built with GDPR in mind, and people will start seeing them this week. Our recently-expanded tools for accessing your information will allow people to see their data, delete it, and easily download and export it. These tools are available globally, although we designed them to comply with GDPR too. We’ve also updated our Activity Log on mobile to make it easier for people to see the information they’ve shared with Facebook from their mobile device.
Providing Special Features for Young People
GDPR recognizes the importance of providing special protections and experiences for teens. We’ve built many special protections into Facebook for all teens, regardless of location. For example, advertising categories for teens are more limited, and their default audience options for posts do not include “public.” We also keep face recognition off for anyone under age 18 and limit who can see or search specific information teens have shared, like hometown or birthday. Later this year we’ll introduce a new global online resource center specifically for teens, and more education about their most common privacy questions.
Under GDPR, people between the ages of 13 and 15 in some EU countries need permission from a parent or guardian to allow some features on Facebook — seeing ads based on data from partners and including religious and political views or “interested in” on your profile. These teens will see a less personalized version of Facebook with restricted sharing and less relevant ads until they get permission from a parent or guardian to use all aspects of Facebook. Even where the law doesn’t require this, we’ll ask every teen if they want to see ads based on data from partners and whether they want to include personal information in their profiles.
Beyond today’s announcements, we’ll keep improving. We’re committed to making sure people understand how we use their information and how they can control it. Amazon and Best Buy Announce Exclusive Multi-Year Partnership to Offer New Fire TV Edition Smart TVs
“Amazon and Best Buy have a long history of working together, and today we take our partnership to a new level,” said Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder and CEO. “These Fire Edition smart TVs by Insignia and Toshiba deliver beautiful visuals and all the movies and TV shows you love, with an experience that gets better every day with Alexa. We could not have a better partner in this endeavor.”
“Our goal is to enrich the lives of our customers by offering them the very best products and services, whether they come to us online, visit our stores, or invite us into their home,” said Hubert Joly, Best Buy chairman and CEO. “Our partnership with Amazon is exciting because we believe Fire TV Edition delivers an incredible user experience and further strengthens the growing connection between home theater, home automation and voice control.”
The newly designed smart TVs come with the Fire TV experience built-in, uniquely bringing together live over-the-air TV and all your streaming content into one easy-to-view location. Connect any HD antenna and instantly use Alexa to search for and watch broadcast TV, or choose from a vast catalog of streaming TV episodes and movies from Netflix, Prime Video, HBO, PlayStation Vue, Hulu, and many more. Fire TV Edition includes a Voice Remote with Alexa, making it easy to launch apps, search for TV shows, play music, switch inputs, control smart home devices, and more. It can also be paired with any Echo device allowing you to easily use your voice to control your TV experience hands-free with Alexa.
Fire TV Edition continues to improve even after your purchase, with more new Alexa skills, software features, and applications added regularly. Tens of thousands of Alexa skills are already accessible today, allowing you to have amazing entertainment experiences, view and control your smart home connected cameras, lighting, security systems, and more.
The partnership with Amazon is an example of Best Buy’s unique role in working with the world’s foremost technology companies, helping to commercialize their innovations and bring them to life for the consumer. The company accomplishes this through customer-focused curation of the technology it sells online and in-store; in-store demonstrations offering hands-on experiences for customers; needs-based selling expertise designed to solve problems and address lifestyle needs; and, services that support customers in installing, setting up and operating their technology. Best Buy has played this role in a number of areas, including, most recently, 4K televisions, premium computing and the smart home.
Availability
Customers in the United States will have the ability to purchase the first Fire TV Edition smart TV from Toshiba beginning this summer, with additional models to be released in 2018. Fire TV Edition smart TVs will be available exclusively in Best Buy stores, on BestBuy.com, and for the first time, from Best Buy as a third-party seller on Amazon.com. The new Fire TV Edition smart TVs will be available for purchase in Canada later this year. Customers can learn more at www.bestbuy.com/FireTVEdition or www.amazon.com/FireTVEdition.
About Amazon
Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit www.amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews.
About Best Buy
We at Best Buy work hard every day to enrich the lives of consumers through technology, whether they come to us online, visit our stores or invite us into their home. We do this by solving technology problems and addressing key human needs across a range of areas, including entertainment, productivity, communication, food, security and health. Please visit us at bestbuy.com and follow @BestBuy.
Al Hokair Group Appoints Omar Sami Samara as CEO
Al Hokair Group has announced the appointment of Mr. Omar Sami Samara as its Chief Executive Officer for Tourism and Development. Founded in 1975, under the leadership of Sheikh Abdulmohsin Al Hokair, the group has an outstanding portfolio of 40+ hotels comprising more than 5500 rooms across the Middle East. Mr. Samara’s appointment is testament to Al Hokair’s commitment to ensuring the highest level of professional excellence to its associates and partners.
Making the announcement, Mr. Sami Al Hokair, Managing Director of Al Hokair Group, stated, “Our continued growth has necessitated the expansion of our management team. We are delighted to welcome Mr. Samara to our group and confident his strong experience and market knowledge will prove to be extremely valuable in this exciting phase of our expansion.”
Mr. Samara has a proven track record in the industry and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Decision Science and Management Information Systems from George Mason University, Virginia, USA. During his exceptional career he has held senior executive roles in finance, investment and leadership with some leading companies in Saudi Arabia.
Mr. Samara, said, “I am very honoured and grateful to the board of directors of Al Hokair Group for having given me this opportunity. It is an exciting challenge and I look forward to building on the great heritage of Al Hokair Group that has been at the forefront of the tourism industry in Saudi Arabia and now expanding rapidly in other parts of the region.”
Al Hokair Group will be present at Arabian Travel Market from 22 to 25 April on stand ‘HC 0570’ in Sheikh Saeed Hall in Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
About Al Hokair Group
Founded in 1975, under the leadership of Sheikh Abdulmohsin Al Hokair, Al Hokair Group boasts a portfolio of 90+ entertainment centres and 40+ hotels comprising more than 5500 rooms spread across KSA, UAE and JORDAN. Occupying over 882,226 sqm of space and employing over 4100 experienced professionals, the group serves over 12 million people annually.
For more information about Al Hokair Group visit www.alhokair.com
For media contact:
Hina Bakht
Managing Director
EVOPS Marketing & PR
Mob: 00971 50 6975146
Tel: 00971 4 566 7355
Hina.bakht@evops-pr.com
www.evops-pr.com
Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai Announces its Participation in ATM 2018
The Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai has confirmed its presence at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) taking place in Dubai from 22 to 25 April 2018. The hotel has established itself as a prestigious address for events and will be showcasing it world-class business and leisure facilities at the exhibition.
Mr. Simon Moore, General Manager of Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai, said, “It is extremely important for us to be present at the ATM which is the largest gathering of inbound and outbound tourism professionals in the Middle East. Hence it gives us an excellent opportunity to leverage awareness about our fabulous facilities – ideal for the MICE segment that is now a strategic focus for us. ATM also offers us the perfect platform to strengthen our wide network of travel trade professionals by reinforcing our valuable partnerships with key players and opening new business opportunities. In addition, we are eager to see the new tourism attractions and the latest developments in travel technology that are transforming our industry.”
Giving details of the latest business developments and initiative at the Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai, Mr. Moore said, “We are now increasingly focusing on enhancing our facilities while maintaining the highest quality and standards. The areas of growth that we are looking at is not by simply driving existing business but rather by diversifying our revenue streams. We have recently added fabulous new dining outlets and meeting facilities that are doing extremely well.”
Celebrating 25 years as the Middle East’s most successful travel trade show, ATM will showcase over 2,800 products and destinations while bringing together over 28,000 buyers and 39,000 travel professionals from around the world.
Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai will be present at Arabian Travel Market from 22 to 25 April on stand ‘HC 0650’ in Sheikh Saeed Hall in Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Millennium Hotels and Resorts, Middle East and Africa
Millennium Hotels and Resorts is a dynamic, global hotel company, which owns, asset manages and operates over 130 hotels worldwide. With almost 40,000 rooms and a portfolio of brands; including The Biltmore, Grand Millennium, Millennium, Millennium Place, M Hotel, Copthorne, Agarwood, Kingsgate, Millennium Executive Apartments and Studio M, that serve different market segments, representing quality and value in every class.
Currently operating 32 hotels in the Middle East and Africa, the Group has an extensive expansion strategy in place, with 40 hotels in the pipeline. Each property in the region is unique, catering to the varying tastes and needs of the international business and leisure traveller but with a consistent promise to provide a first class service and a rewarding experience for guests. Millennium Hotels and Resorts is committed to differentiating itself by embracing the true spirit of diverse traditions, with a sincere respect to historical heritage and local culture.
With the motto “More than Meets the Eye”, Millennium Hotels and Resorts is committed to a customer-centric philosophy and complete guest satisfaction.
For more information, please visit www.millenniumhotels.com
For media contact:
Hina Bakht
Managing Director
EVOPS Marketing & PR
Mob: 00971 50 6975146
Tel: 00971 4 566 7355
Hina.bakht@evops-pr.com
www.evops-pr.com
Marriott International Expands Current Middle East & Africa Portfolio With Signing Of Over 30 Projects In Last 12 Months
arriott International (NASDAQ: MAR) today announced ambitious growth plans for its Middle East and Africa region following signings for more than 30 properties and over 5,000 rooms in the last 12 months. The signings put Marriott on track to increase its portfolio in the region to nearly 370 hotels – an increase of more than 50% over the next five years. This will amount to more than 80,000 rooms across 21 brands, including the introduction in the region of brands such as EDITION, Element and AC Hotels by Marriott. Also in line with its development plans, the company and its property owners expect to add 30,000 new jobs across the region in the next five years.
Marriott International’s planned growth over the next five years underscores the substantial emphasis that regional governments are placing on growth and investment in the travel and tourism sector. The company estimates that the 30 projects signed in the last 12 months will drive investment of about $1.8 billion by the property owners.
“It is a really exciting time for the Middle East and Africa region’s travel and tourism sector. With clear and ambitious visions set out by regional governments to grow and invest in the sector, the industry is thriving more than ever,” said Alex Kyriakidis, President and Managing Director, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International. “At Marriott International, we are proud that we and our owners are opening a huge range of jobs, as well as contributing to the ongoing growth and diversification of the region’s economy.”
Marriott International’s announcement of its growth plans in the region comes ahead of the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference, which has centered its 2018 theme on “Focus on the Future.” The conference is taking place under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah; and founding patron His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Airports, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group.
During the annual event, Kyriakidis will join the “Regional Leaders in the Hot Seat” panel session to discuss how hotel operators are supporting owners and adjusting to a maturing and shifting regional market.
“Marriott International’s growth in the region is a result of consistently delivering value to our owners. Our long-established presence in the region, global footprint, compelling portfolio of diverse brands, award-winning loyalty programs and strength of our distribution platforms continue to position us at the forefront, enabling us to leverage trends to benefit our stakeholders in the region,” added Kyriakidis.
“We remain focused on working with our owners to identify synergies and increase efficiencies across hotels by implementing shared services, remote solutions, complexing of hotels where relevant and possible and by bringing state-of-the-art technology to leverage scale, ultimately improving profitability.”
Strong Growth Momentum for Luxury and Upscale Brands
“This dynamic region continues to present immense development opportunities for the company to strengthen its competitive position across established and fast-growing markets,” commented Samir Baidas, Chief Development Officer, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International. “Our growth plans across the Middle East and Africa not only reflect the high demand for our brands, but also the trust ownership groups have in Marriott International.”
Historically featuring a portfolio of hotels primarily in the upper-upscale segment, Marriott International’s robust development pipeline in the region also highlights strong growth opportunities for its luxury and upscale brands:
- Across its seven luxury brands, Marriott International operates over 30 hotels with more than 10,000 rooms across the Middle East and Africa and plans to nearly double the number of hotels in the next five years. That growth will begin with the launch of its EDITION brand in Abu Dhabi later this year.
- The company is also expanding its portfolio of upscale brands across the region where there is strong demand for stylish, smart and affordable hospitality. The company’s upscale brands – such as Courtyard by Marriott, Aloft, Element and Residence Inn by Marriott – represent over 40% of the properties expected to open in the next five years across the Middle East and Africa.
- The growth of Marriott International’s upper-upscale brands, spearheaded by Marriot Hotels, Marriott Executive Apartments and Sheraton, remains steady – accounting for 30% of its hotels expected to open in the next five years.