New Park Slated for 2022 Debut Will Be Part of Qiddiya, the Kingdom’s New Entertainment Destination
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (NYSE: SIX), the world’s largest regional theme park company, and the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, today announced plans to develop a Six Flags-branded theme park in the city of Riyadh. Six Flags has entered into an arrangement with the PIF to develop, design and license the Six Flags brand for Qiddiya—Saudi Arabia’s first entertainment, sports and cultural destination—which is expected to open in 2022. “Innovation is synonymous with the Six Flags brand, and our international licensing business provides a unique opportunity to continue our strong global growth,” said David McKillips, President of Six Flags International Development Company. “We see great potential in the Saudi Arabian market and look forward to collaborating with the PIF to create a world-class entertainment destination for Saudi’s young and dynamic population.” Located 40km from downtown Riyadh, Qiddiya will provide an unprecedented leisure option for the seven million plus residents of the Saudi capital. The Public Investment Fund of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia said, “The entertainment sector has an important role to play in the transformation of Saudi Arabia’s economy. The Six Flags-branded theme park in Riyadh and other similar developments will create new employment opportunities and harness the talent, energy and imagination of Saudi youth. Our investment in this sector is in line with our mission and delivers on a key element of Vision 2030.” Michael Reininger, Chief Executive of Qiddiya, commented, “Our goal is to create an exciting one-of-a-kind destination that will draw visitors from throughout Saudi Arabia to experience record-breaking roller coasters, innovative rides and attractions, as well as the sporting and cultural facilities that Qiddiya will offer. By partnering with a global leader, we know that we are going to deliver something exceptional.” Terms of the arrangement were not disclosed. About Six Flags Entertainment Corporation Six Flags Entertainment Corporation is the world’s largest regional theme park company with $1.4 billion in revenue and 20 parks across the United States, Mexico and Canada. For 57 years, Six Flags has entertained millions of families with world-class coasters, themed rides, thrilling waterparks and unique attractions. For more information, visit www.sixflags.com. Follow us on Twitter @SixFlags Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/sixflags About the Public Investment Fund: The Public Investment Fund (PIF) seeks to become one of the largest and most impactful sovereign wealth funds in the world, enabling the creation of new sectors and opportunities that will shape the future global economy, while driving the economic transformation of Saudi Arabia. To achieve this, the PIF is building a world-class, diversified portfolio through investments in attractive, long-term opportunities across sectors and asset classes at both the domestic and international level. Working alongside global strategic partners and renowned investment managers, the PIF acts as the Kingdom’s main investment arm to deliver a strategy focused on achieving attractive financial returns and long-term value for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in line with Vision 2030. About Qiddiya The vision of Qiddiya is to be the iconic entertainment destination of the Kingdom, the home of activity, discovery and engagement. Backed by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, Qiddiya will be built 40km from downtown Riyadh. Visitors will have access to ground breaking recreational and educational facilities across six innovatively designed clusters: Theme Parks; Wheels and Wings; Scenic and Animal Encounters; Water and Snow; Sports; Events, Culture and Education. Groundbreaking will be in 2018, and the first phase of the development will be launched in 2022.Emaar Hospitality Group and ARADA join hands to launch three distinctive hotels in Aljada, Sharjah’s new lifestyle hub
Emaar Hospitality Group to operate Address, Vida and Rove hotels in ARADA’s flagship destination Aljada in Sharjah
• A joint venture between KBW Investments and Basma Group, ARADA launched Aljada, a 24 million sq ft mixed-use megaproject, in September 2017
• Emaar Hospitality Group’s three hotel and serviced residences brands will enrich the hospitality offering of Aljada setting a new benchmark in the emirate’s hospitality sector
• Address Aljada Sharjah (150 rooms), Vida Aljada Sharjah (175 rooms) and Rove Aljada Sharjah (300 rooms) to support emirate’s growing tourism sector
In a significant deal that will boost the hospitality landscape of Sharjah, ARADA, a joint venture between KBW Investments and Basma Group, today signed a management agreement with Emaar Hospitality Group, the hospitality & leisure subsidiary of Emaar Properties PJSC, to launch three new hotels in Sharjah.
The three hotels under Emaar Hospitality Group’s premium lifestyle Address Hotels + Resorts, upscale lifestyle Vida Hotels and Resorts, and the contemporary midscale Rove Hotels will be located in Aljada, a 24 million square foot integrated lifestyle destination, and a new leisure and entertainment hub for Sharjah.
The agreement was signed by HE Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of ARADA, HRH Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal, Vice Chairman of ARADA, and Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman of Emaar Properties, in the presence of senior officials of the two companies as well as Emaar Hospitality Group.
Under the terms of the agreement, Emaar Hospitality Group will manage Address Aljada Sharjah with 150 rooms, and Address Residences Aljada Sharjah, an exclusive selection of only 150 serviced residences, located in Aljada’s Central Hub, the heart of the megaproject. Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, the 1.9 million square foot Central Hub will be a new focus for leisure and entertainment in the UAE, and a significant addition to an Emirate that is already widely regarded as the cultural capital of the Arab world. Aljada’s Central Hub will be a major destination for tourists and residents in its own right, offering a carefully selected mix of world-class offerings, complemented by community facilities and an array of retail and dining experiences.
In close proximity is the Vida Aljada Sharjah with 175 hotel rooms and Vida Residences Aljada Sharjah with 120 residences. Located within Aljada’s Business Park is the 300-room Rove Aljada Sharjah. The serviced residences under Address and Vida will be offered for sale in the fourth quarter of 2018.
His Excellency Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi said: “Our flagship development, Aljada is a first-of-its-kind integrated lifestyle destination in Sharjah that will add tremendous value to the economy. Hospitality is one of the core aspects of the mega-development. With the growth in tourist arrivals to Sharjah, and the emirate’s status as a cultural hub, there is strong potential for building a robust hospitality infrastructure. Our agreement with Emaar will bring proven hospitality competencies to this spectacular development that will transform Sharjah’s economy.”
Mohamed Alabbar said: “ARADA is redefining the residential and commercial landscape of Sharjah with Aljada, its ambitious master-planned destination that will catalyse all sectors of the economy. Through our partnership, we are bringing three distinctive hotel experiences that will meet the requirements of visitors and residents. This is a great example of the collaborations we foster to create iconic destinations of the future. Our three hotel brands – Address, Vida and Rove – have set high industry standards and will be a sterling addition to Aljada.”
Olivier Harnisch, Chief Executive Officer of Emaar Hospitality Group, added: “Sharjah has unique touristic value that is defined by its cultural museums as well as natural attractions. With our three hotel brands marking their entry to Sharjah for the first time, we are not only expanding our footprint in the UAE but also contributing the strengthening the tourism sector of the emirate. While Address Aljada Sharjah will appeal to luxury travellers, Vida Aljada is for the new generation of entrepreneurs and travellers, and Rove Aljada Sharjah brings the midscale offering. All hotels stand out for their brand philosophy and design approach, and are located centrally adding to the connectivity and mobility of our guests.”
Address Aljada Sharjah brings the same ‘where life happens’ approach to ensure that guests receive the highest service standards in a central location. The hotel will have all modern amenities such a selection of exclusive restaurants, including The Restaurant at Address Aljada Sharjah as well as a fitness centre, meeting rooms and more. Address Hotels + Resorts has already announced its expansion to operate hotels in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Turkey and the Maldives as well as the UAE.
Vida Hotels and Resorts is a refreshingly different upscale lifestyle hotel and residences brand for the new generation of business executives, entrepreneurs and leisure travellers. Vida, meaning ‘life’ in Spanish, embraces warmth, simplicity and creativity in design-led spaces. Vida Aljada Sharjah will deliver its differentiating value proposition in Sharjah with a wide range of amenities and lifestyle choices. Emaar Hospitality Group has expanded the footprint of Vida to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt in addition to several new hotels in the UAE.
A contemporary midscale hotel brand that reflects the pulse of Dubai, Rove Hotels is a joint venture between Meraas and Emaar Properties PJSC. Designed for the new generation traveller who recognises value, stays connected through technology and gravitates towards culturally-inspired surroundings, Rove Hotels defines a new niche in Dubai’s vibrant hospitality sector. Rove Hotels already has five operational properties in well-connected locations across Dubai – Rove Downtown, Rove City Centre, Rove Healthcare City, Rove Trade Centre and the most recent addition, Rove Dubai Marina, which opened in April.
Launched in September 2017 by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the AED 24 billion Aljada has swiftly become Sharjah’s fastest-selling residential community. Delivered in phases starting in 2019, the entire project is expected to be completed by 2025.
The Aljada masterplan is carefully designed with walkability and wide green spaces in mind, allowing residents, workers and visitors the ability to live, work, play and be entertained within a fully integrated and sustainable community. Aljada is ideally situated on the last major plot of undeveloped land in the heart of Sharjah, with exceptional connectivity to surrounding areas, and is an all-encompassing district that comprises considerable retail, leisure and entertainment options, in addition to a wide range of residential and commercial offerings.
Dubai Parks and Resorts reports another record quarter
DXB Entertainments PJSC (DFM:DXBE) today announced that Dubai Parks and Resorts, the region’s largest theme park destination, welcomed 851 thousand visits during the first quarter of 2018, an increase of 45% compared to the first quarter of 2017, and an increase of 55 thousand visits compared to the last quarter of 2017. This sets a new record quarter visitation figure.
The first quarter’s record visitor figures follows a successful fourth quarter of 2017, when Dubai Parks and Resorts attracted close to 796 thousand visits.
The Lapita™ Hotel average occupancy rose to 62% in the first quarter of 2018, compared to 22% for the same period last year, and 48% in the fourth quarter of 2017.
2018 is the first full year of operations for Dubai Parks and Resorts and the growing visitor numbers and hotel occupancy reflect the ramp up in operations and the implementation of coordinated resident and international sales and marketing strategies.
Mohamed Almulla, CEO, DXB Entertainments, said, “We are pleased to have grown our first quarter visitation by 45% when compared to the same period last year, a clear sign our new strategy is delivering results. Visitor numbers are steadily increasing as we continue to focus on our core markets of GCC residents, annual pass holders and international visitation.
“It is important to note that in a normal annual cycle the fourth quarter should deliver the highest visitor numbers as it is the peak tourist season for the city of Dubai and therefore quarter-on-quarter improvement is a further sign of our continued growth.
“Theme parks are seasonal in nature and whilst we expect to deliver year-on-year growth, we anticipate the warmer second quarter to deliver lower visitation than the cooler months of the first quarter.
“Dubai Parks and Resorts is great product and a world class destination and we are excited about our growth potential as we progress through our first full year of operations.”
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Marwa Gouda, Head of Investor Relations, DXB Entertainments PJSC
+97148200820
IR@dxbentertainments.com
Jon Earl, Managing Director, FTI Consulting
+97144372104
jon.earl@fticonsulting.com
Anca Cighi, Director, FTI Consulting
+97144372111
anca.cighi@fticonsulting.com
DXB Entertainments PJSC
DXB Entertainments PJSC (previously Dubai Parks and Resorts PJSC) is a Dubai-based operator of leisure and entertainment destinations and experiences. The Company is traded on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) under the trading symbol DXBE. We bring together a diverse portfolio of world-class brands to offer entertainment in the areas of theme parks, family entertainment centres and retail and hospitality.
DXB Entertainments is the owner of Dubai Parks and Resorts, the region’s largest integrated theme park destination, with five Theme Parks (Six Flags Dubai under development), two Hotels (LEGOLAND® Hotel under development), and one retail and dining facility all spread over 30.6 million sq.ft of land, with an estimated AED 13.2 billion in development costs.
DXB Entertainments also manages six Dubai-based mid-way attractions in addition to a chain of cinemas, all owned by Meraas.
With a diverse portfolio of 16 leisure and entertainment assets, DXB Entertainments is the largest leisure and entertainment company in the region.
For more information, go to: www.dxbentertainments.com
Dubai Parks and Resorts
Dubai Parks and Resorts, owned by DXB Entertainments PJSC, is the Middle East’s largest multi-themed leisure and entertainment destination comprising four separate theme parks: MOTIONGATE™ Dubai, the region’s largest Hollywood-inspired theme park, featuring immersive rides and attractions based on Hollywood hits; LEGOLAND® Dubai, a unique, interactive theme park for families which brings the well-known LEGO® brick to life in a playful learning environment; and BOLLYWOOD PARKS™ Dubai, a first-of-its-kind theme park that showcases rides and attractions based on some of Bollywood’s biggest blockbusters. It also hosts the LEGOLAND® Water Park, the region’s first water park catering to families with children aged 2-12. Expected to open in late 2019, Six Flags Dubai will be destinations fifth theme park and the regions first Six Flags themed park.
The entire destination is connected by Riverland™ Dubai, the free to enter themed recreational hub with a multitude of dining, shopping and unique entertainment options, that connects the theme parks, perfect for friends and families of all ages. Guests can stay at the Lapita™ Hotel, a Polynesian themed family hotel part of the Marriott Autograph Collection.
Located on Sheikh Zayed Road opposite the Palm Jebel Ali in Dubai equidistant to Dubai and Abu Dhabi International Airports, the destination offers over 100 rides and attractions
For more information, go to: www.dubaiparksandresorts.com
FIRST QUARTER SALES UP 11 % AT DUBAI DUTY FREE
Perfume sales reached over Dhs276 million (US$75.7 million), accounting for 14% of total revenue in the first quarter of 2018.
Dubai Duty Free announced first quarter sales of Dhs1.91 billion (US$523.46 million) representing an 11% over the same period last year and signaling a positive start to 2018 on the back of record sales of Dhs7.05 billion (US$1.93 billion) in 2017.
Sales for March reached a new monthly record of Dhs660.36 million (US$180.92 million), which represents a 10% increase over March 2017. So far this year, monthly sales are in excess of Dhs600 million (US$164.38 million), with an average daily sale of Dhs21.23 million (US$5.82 million).
Commenting on the positive sales performance, Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Dubai Duty Free said: “We are very pleased with the first quarter of the year sales and are focused on reaching our targets for the year. Sales are ahead of passenger numbers at Dubai International Airport and we are seeing double digit growth across a wide number of categories.”
Sales across all three Terminals at Dubai International Airport showed an upward trend, including a 14% increase in Terminal 2 and a 13% increase in sales in Terminal 3.
Liquor, Perfumes and Tobacco held the top three spots category-wise in the first quarter of the year. Perfume sales reached over Dhs276 million (US$75.7 million), accounting for 14% of total revenue. Sales of Tobacco was up by 37% to Dhs220 million (US$60.33 million) while Cosmetics was up by 25% to Dhs183 million (US$50.04 million) accounting for 10% of total sales.
Other categories showing robust growth included Electronics, up 34% to over Dhs169 million (US$46.41 million) while Watches rose by 16% to Dhs127 million (US$34.80 million).
“There are a number of factors behind the sales growth, including the refurbishment of Concourse C, which will be fully completed shortly and other ongoing projects,” said Mr. McLoughlin.
“While the introduction of VAT and Excise duty in our Arrivals Duty Free has resulted in a drop in revenue in these areas, the fact that VAT is not applicable for the majority of sales in Departures has contributed to an increase in certain categories for departing and transit passengers.”
Looking ahead, Dubai Duty Free will continue to enhance its retail operation in 2018 including the expansion of the Passenger Terminal Building at Al Maktoum International, a Fashion revamp in Terminal 3-Concourse B and refurbishment of Terminal 1 – Concourse C.
In the meantime, the operation is continuing with its busy events and promotional calendar, which includes the Dubai Duty Free Stakes taking place at the Newbury Racecourse in the UK on 20 and 21 April, followed by the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival (28th -30th June) and Dubai Duty Free Irish Open (5th-8th July) to be held in Ballyliffin, Co. Donegal. LAURENT A. VOIVENEL SPEAKS ON BUSINESS BEYOND 2020 AT 10TH ANNUAL GM CONFERENCE BY HOZPITALITY GROUP
DUBAI – Laurent A. Voivenel, Senior Vice President, Operations and Development for the Middle East, Africa and India for Swiss-Belhotel International, participated today in a panel discussion on Business Beyond 2020 at the 10th Annual GM Conference by Hozpitality Group.
Addressing the gathering, Laurent stressed, “Dubai is among the top four most visited cities in the world and was recently named the ‘Rising Giant’ in the global hospitality industry. The city is rapidly emerging as a world-class leisure and entertainment destination. Expo 2020 has given a great boost for development of tourism infrastructure and attractions in the emirate which willserve as a new foundation for growth of tourism.”
According to industry experts, the legacy of Expo 2020 will expand well beyond the event. Laurent agreed and added, “The Expo is just one stop along the way. The huge investment in airports and hotels, broadening portfolio of attractions and facilities, diversification of source markets and collaboration between various business sectors are all accelerating the pace of Dubai’s growth into the future.
With this growth the competitive landscape for the hotel industry is also changing. Laurent stated, “We are in an era of shared economy. Rate pressures owing to supply and demand chain dynamics, expanding middle class in key source markets, growth of low-cost carriers, changing requirements of travellers based on changing demographics, continued challenges from OTAs, emergence of new forms of competition such as Airbnb, rapid digitalization and advancing technology are all pushing our industry towards a new ecosystem defined by collaboration, quality and consumer value.”
Laurent continued, “This change requires a new strategic approach from hoteliers – one that enables hotels to understand market trends and build the internal capabilities needed to succeed in a new environment. The more we tailor our products to offer local experiences and value for money the better conversion we can expect. There is need to build on experiential travel and hospitality.”
According to World Travel and Tourism Council statistics, Dubai’s hospitality sector is forecast to experience strong, sustained growth over the coming years, with occupied room nights set to reach 35.5 million annually in 2019, representing a robust 10.2% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the next 20 months.
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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
In a first: Saudi Arabia hosts Arab Fashion Week
RIYADH: Jean Paul Gaultier and Roberto Cavalli are in Saudi Arabia — headlining the kingdom’s first ever Arab Fashion Week, an event that opened Tuesday to equal parts excitement and controversy.
Two weeks later than initially planned, the Saudi Arabian edition of Arab Fashion Week joins designers from Europe and the Arab world over the course of four days — including the kingdom’s own Arwa Banawi, whose The Suitable Woman line is adored by fashionistas across the region, and Mashael Alrajhi, the eponymous gender-inclusive label of a rarely-seen Saudi sheikha.
Princess Noura Bint Faisal Al-Saud, honorary president of the Arab Fashion Council in Riyadh, joined designers, influencers, and industry insiders from Ukraine to Lebanon for the inaugural season of fashion week at the Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh, the hotel now infamous as the holding place of hundreds of royals and businessmen arrested in a state-sponsored corruption crackdown.
“Fashion has always an interest of Saudi Arabia,” Princess Noura told AFP at the event.
“It has not been something that wasn’t on the table or in the picture,” she added. “Our fashion council is trying to bring the fashion industry in Saudi Arabia to a whole new level, a whole new industry.”
Listed as an international fashion week alongside Paris and Milan, Arab Fashion Week offers exclusively see-now-buy-now collections and pre-collections. Until this week, it had been hosted exclusively by Gulf fashion capital Dubai.
But unlike Dubai, the Riyadh shows are not open to cameras, and attendees remain women-only.
The ultraconservative kingdom has witnessed rapid policy change since the June appointment of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, son of the king and heir to his throne.
As of this summer, women will be allowed to drive in the kingdom.
The crown prince has also hinted that the abaya, the long loose robe worn by women from the neck down, may not be compulsory.
“We are so excited today to be announcing a history and new era for the kingdom, and for the entire Arab world, which is Arab Fashion Week,” said Jacob Abrian, CEO of the Arab Fashion Council.
A second edition of Saudi Arab Fashion Week is already scheduled for October.
Dubai will continue to host its own parallel Arab Fashion Week, with the sixth edition slotted for May 9-12.
Foreign and Saudi women attend the opening ceremony of Arab Fashion Week, on April 10, 2018, at Ritz Carlton hotel in Riyadh. / AFP PHOTO / FAYEZ NURELDINE
Women attend the opening ceremony of Arab Fashion Week, on April 10, 2018, at Ritz Carlton hotel in Riyadh. / AFP PHOTO / FAYEZ NURELDINE
Women attend the opening ceremony of Arab Fashion Week, on April 10, 2018, at Ritz Carlton hotel in Riyadh. / AFP PHOTO / FAYEZ NURELDINE
A labourer prepares signs ahead of the opening ceremony of the Arab Fashion Week, on April 10, 2018, at Ritz Carlton hotel in the Saudi capital Riyadh. / AFP PHOTO / FAYEZ NURELDINE
Data Abuse Bounty: Facebook Now Rewards for Reports of Data Abuse
Today, Facebook is launching the Data Abuse Bounty to reward people who report any misuse of data by app developers.
We committed to launching this program a few weeks ago as part of our efforts to more quickly uncover potential abuse of people’s information. The Data Abuse Bounty, inspired by the existing bug bounty program that we use to uncover and address security issues, will help us identify violations of our policies.
This program will reward people with first-hand knowledge and proof of cases where a Facebook platform app collects and transfers people’s data to another party to be sold, stolen or used for scams or political influence. Just like the bug bounty program, we will reward based on the impact of each report. While there is no maximum, high impact bug reports have garnered as much as $40,000 for people who bring them to our attention.
We’ll review all legitimate reports and respond as quickly as possible when we identify a credible threat to people’s information. If we confirm data abuse, we will shut down the offending app and take legal action against the company selling or buying the data, if necessary. We’ll pay the person who reported the issue, and we’ll also alert those we believe to be affected.
This program is the first of its kind so it will change as we learn and get your feedback. For more information, please visit: facebook.com/data-abuse
Emirates sets new record with over 1 million Wi-Fi connections on board in March
Emirates has set a new record with over 1 million Wi-Fi connections made on board its flights in March alone. During the month, 1,037,016 Emirates customers connected to the internet during their flight.
The connections were mainly made over mobile devices with over 94% of users connecting with a smartphone –twice as many connections were made on an iOS mobile phone as compared to an Android mobile, and about 2% with a tablet. The remaining connections were made with laptops and other devices. Wi-Fi connectivity is available on over 98% of the Emirates fleet, including all A380s, 777-300ERs and 777-200LRs. Customers in all cabin classes receive 20MB of free Wi-Fi data. Emirates Skywards members enjoy special benefits depending on their membership tier and class of travel, including free Wi-Fi when travelling in First Class or Business Class. Over 94% of passengers connecting to Wi-Fi on board Emirates in March took advantage of the complimentary offer and logged on free of charge. The highest data usage from a single passenger was made by an Emirates Skywards member who stayed connected throughout their flight from Dubai to Johannesburg, consuming 4.9 GB of complimentary data. Emirates continually invests in improving bandwidth on board by upgrading the connectivity solution on the fleet. Staying connected has become a mainstay and an expectation on Emirates flights and the demand for Wi-Fi on board has been steadily increasing each month. The route with the most Wi-Fi connections in March was EK215 from Dubai to Los Angeles with over 6,000 customers connecting in flight. Emirates has been at the forefront of innovation with connectivity and inflight entertainment on board. It was the first airline to allow mobile phone use inflight in 2008, and the first to install TV screens in every seat on every aircraft in its fleet in 1992. Today, the airline provides one of the most comprehensive and state-of-the-art entertainment and connectivity services in the skies. ice, Emirates’ award-winning inflight entertainment system, now offers over 3,500 channels of entertainment, including over 700 movies from around the world. This unmatched variety of content will continue to grow, offering Emirates customers even more choice.About Emirates
Our Media centre contains all of our business updates, including the latest press releases and articles and our contact details.
The Emirates story started in 1985 when we launched operations with just two aircraft. Today, we fly the world’s biggest fleets of Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s, offering our customers the comforts of the latest and most efficient wide-body aircraft in the skies.
We inspire travellers around the world with our growing network of destinations, industry leading inflight entertainment, regionally inspired cuisine and world-class service. Find out more.
International Expansion Continues with Six Flags-Branded Park in Saudi Arabia
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (NYSE: SIX), the world’s largest regional theme park company, and the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, today announced plans to develop a Six Flags-branded theme park in the city of Riyadh. Six Flags has entered into an arrangement with the PIF to develop, design and license the Six Flags brand for Qiddiya—Saudi Arabia’s first entertainment, sports and cultural destination—which is expected to open in 2022.
Located 40km from downtown Riyadh, Qiddiya will provide an unprecedented leisure option for the seven million plus residents of the Saudi capital.
The Public Investment Fund of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia said, “The entertainment sector has an important role to play in the transformation of Saudi Arabia’s economy. The Six Flags-branded theme park in Riyadh and other similar developments will create new employment opportunities and harness the talent, energy and imagination of Saudi youth. Our investment in this sector is in line with our mission and delivers on a key element of Vision 2030.”
Michael Reininger, Chief Executive of Qiddiya, commented, “Our goal is to create an exciting one-of-a-kind destination that will draw visitors from throughout Saudi Arabia to experience record-breaking roller coasters, innovative rides and attractions, as well as the sporting and cultural facilities that Qiddiya will offer. By partnering with a global leader, we know that we are going to deliver something exceptional.”
Terms of the arrangement were not disclosed.
About Six Flags Entertainment Corporation
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation is the world’s largest regional theme park company with $1.4 billion in revenue and 20 parks across the United States, Mexico and Canada. For 57 years, Six Flags has entertained millions of families with world-class coasters, themed rides, thrilling waterparks and unique attractions. For more information, visit www.sixflags.com.
Follow us on Twitter @SixFlags
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/sixflags
About the Public Investment Fund:
The Public Investment Fund (PIF) seeks to become one of the largest and most impactful sovereign wealth funds in the world, enabling the creation of new sectors and opportunities that will shape the future global economy, while driving the economic transformation of Saudi Arabia.
To achieve this, the PIF is building a world-class, diversified portfolio through investments in attractive, long-term opportunities across sectors and asset classes at both the domestic and international level. Working alongside global strategic partners and renowned investment managers, the PIF acts as the Kingdom’s main investment arm to deliver a strategy focused on achieving attractive financial returns and long-term value for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in line with Vision 2030.
About Qiddiya
The vision of Qiddiya is to be the iconic entertainment destination of the Kingdom, the home of activity, discovery and engagement. Backed by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, Qiddiya will be built 40km from downtown Riyadh. Visitors will have access to ground breaking recreational and educational facilities across six innovatively designed clusters: Theme Parks; Wheels and Wings; Scenic and Animal Encounters; Water and Snow; Sports; Events, Culture and Education. Groundbreaking will be in 2018, and the first phase of the development will be launched in 2022.
Twitter: @Qiddiya
Contacts
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation Media Relations: Sandra Daniels, 972-595-5178 sdaniels@sftp.com or Investor Relations: Stephen Purtell, 972-595-5180 spurtell@sftp.comSpace Hotels’ affiliates: a fine example of the importance of web reputation
According to an analysis carried out by Travel Appeal, the web reputation of the group’s hotels is clearly superior to other Italian hotels.
With regards to online reputation, we are all well aware of the important influence it has on the choices we make every day. When we are looking for a particular restaurant, store or supermarket, the first thing we do is a web search to see what users have said about it. How can a business become aware of its own web reputation? Space Hotels, the Italian group with over forty years’ experience in the hospitality sector, has been keeping pace with change and has built advantageous working relationships to monitor and respond to the evolving needs of its clientele. Thanks to a recent project with Travel Appeal, Space Hotels has been able to confirm the satisfaction of its clients via the web.
Through an analysis of over 60,000 comments on the web and over 270,000 reviews from September 2016 to October 2017, Travel Appeal identified the level of satisfaction of guests who stayed at Space Hotels’ affiliates and then extrapolated data related to client satisfaction, which were very positive. In fact, 88% of Space Hotels’ affiliates showed a positive sentiment with respect to the 83.6% seen for Italian hotels in general. This result comes from an analysis that looked at hospitality in general, hotel location, staff helpfulness, guest rooms, cleanliness, meals and services offered, as well as access to and cost of Wi-Fi. Some of the specific results were: hotel location 94.5% vs 89.1% for Italian hotels in general; staff helpfulness 95.5% vs 90.7%; cleanliness 93.8% vs 88.3%. These excellent levels of guest satisfaction are the result of Space Hotels’ longstanding commitment to its clientele. The analysis method. The heart of Travel Appeal is an artificial intelligence system that collects, evaluates and analyses thousands of pieces of online information precisely and completely in real time. It then transforms the results into intelligent and concrete suggestions and actions to be taken immediately in order to improve one’s reputation. Travel Appeal uses a semantic engine specialised for the hospitality sector (accommodation, meals, attractions, culture, transport, etc.) that can “read” individual comments, find specific words and interpret the opinion given. Every comment contributes to the overall percentage of the sentiment; i.e., the level of positive perception of a hotel. Travel Appeal Travel Appeal is a B2B startup owned by H-FARM that collects and analyses online data regarding the travel sector in real time. It uses an artificial intelligence system that interprets and transforms data into practical advice that tour operators can use to improve their positioning and digital reputation, thus having a positive impact on their revenue and the management of their priorities and operations. Travel Appeal offers both software to individual businesses (hotels, B&Bs, campgrounds, restaurants, museums, etc.) and specific analysis solutions to groups, chains, consortia and local authorities (DMO, DMC, tourist bodies, etc.). Travel Appeal has recently created a new “virtual assistant” based on its chatbot that allows hospitality operators to simplify and improve interaction with their clients and collect further data on their behaviour in order to optimise marketing. Travel Appeal was founded by Mirko Lalli in January 2014 and now has a staff of 30 and two offices, one at the H-FARM Campus in Treviso and one in Florence. About Space Hotels Space Hotels, a hospitality group founded in 1974, has a unique collection of over 60 three to five star hotels in 35 business and leisure destinations throughout Italy. The Space Hotels offer includes: business or leisure stays; organisation of meetings and conferences; fine cuisine by some of the best Italian chefs; relaxation, massages and saunas in elegant spas and wellness centres. Room rates always include complimentary Wi-Fi, breakfast and a bottle of water. Reservations can be made through a toll-free number 800.813.013, the GDS (code SX) or the website www.spacehotels.it.