Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek Acquires Green Globe Status

BRUSSELS, Nov. 24, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — Radisson Blu’s property in Dubai, the Dubai Deira Creek Hotel has been awarded Green Globe Certification.

The luxury hotel in Dubai, which originally opened in 1975, was officially recognized for its environmentally friendly practices after consulting Dubai-based sustainability experts Farnek Avireal which paved the way and brought the Dubai hotels, existing green policies through Responsible Business to meet the exacting certification standards.

Chief Engineer Arthur Rodrigues said: \\\”The Green Globe Certification Audit is based on a number of environmental factors, in all we had 250 points to address. Some of the inefficient old and high-power consuming air-conditioning equipment was replaced, coupled with the energy saving wheel, which cools hot air drawn from outside, before passing it through the hotel chillers. It is always more challenging for an older property to attain such rigorous standards, but considering that, it is so much more rewarding to be recognised for our achievements.\\\”

The Green Globe brand and programme, has primarily been used in the travel and tourism industry but is now being expanded to include a growing number of environmentally responsible businesses in a variety of market sectors. The GGC stamp of approval is an ideal symbol for the world’s increasing awareness of environmental responsibility and response to global climate change.

\\\”We had already completed a number of sustainability initiatives, such as energy and resource saving, the use of biodegradable chemicals and recycling initiatives, but achieving Green Globe status will now have a positive effect on every aspect of the hotel operation,\\\” added Rodrigues.

About Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts

Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts (formerly Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts), part of The Rezidor Hotel Group, provides guests with a contemporary, upscale hospitality experience. Radisson Blu has received numerous awards for Best Hotel Chain and is renowned for its ’Yes I Can’ spirit of service and the ’100% Guest Satisfaction Guarantee’. September 2005 saw the rollout of a free broadband service across the portfolio – the first international hotel chain to offer this service. Radisson Blu currently includes almost 250 hotels either in operation or under development and with more than 58,000 rooms in Europe, the Middle East, including hotels in Dubai, and Africa.

 

Landmark Group Acquires MENA Franchise Of Fitness First

Landmark Group, the leading retail and hospitality Group based in Dubai with a turnover of US$3.8 billion, has acquired the Fitness First franchise business in the MENA region, through its investment arm Landmark Investments.

The transaction, which has been completed, includes the 100 per cent buyout of the business from current franchisee Awwal Fitness Ltd, a Jebel Ali free zone company and part of the Alhokair Group of Saudi Arabia. Alhokair Group is also a major landlord of the Landmark Group in Saudi Arabia.

Fitness First Plc is the largest privately owned health club group in the world with over 540 Fitness First clubs worldwide, reaching 1.4 million members across Europe, Australia, Asia and the Middle East.

Micky Jagtiani, Chairman of Landmark Group, said: “We are excited about this very significant expansion of Landmark Group into the health and fitness segment. Fitness First is a globally recognised brand with an enthusiastic following that fits perfectly into our fast growing cluster of retail and hospitality brands.”

The Fitness First Middle East franchise business presently operates 16 outlets in Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The Landmark Group looks forward to expanding the operations and providing the ‘Fitness First experience’ to a much larger base of customers in the MENA region.

Fawaz Alhokair, Chairman of the Alhokair Group, said: “We are proud with what we have achieved in such a short time – I am sure the Fitness First brand is in safe hands with the Landmark Group’s expertise and we look forward to seeing even greater achievements in the future.”

Colin Waggett, CEO of Fitness First, said: “The development of our franchise business is an increasingly important part of our strategy and we are delighted to partner with Landmark Group to continue the growth of our business in the Middle East region.”

The acquisition comes on the heels of a series of several growth initiatives, marking the continuous diversification of the Group from its traditional fashion retail business.

David Giampaolo, the non-executive Board Director who has facilitated the deal from a Fitness First perspective, said: “We are delighted to have the Landmark Group as our partner to develop and expand the Fitness First presence in the Middle East region. It has acquired a market leading position, and Landmark Group is a tremendously professional and experienced partner with some very exciting growth plans.”

Landmark Group opened its newly built Oasis Centre in Dubai last year. It made retail history in the Middle East with the opening of 25 retail outlets and three restaurants over 300,000 square feet of retail space, in a single location on a single day at Mirdif City Centre. Landmark Group has also launched its own mid-segment hotel brand Citymax and revealed a US$150 million expansion drive across the Middle East in the next three years.

Anuraag Malhotra, Strategic Investment Advisor of the Landmark Group, said: “Landmark Group is unremitting in its promise of delivering exceptional value to all its customers. We will adopt the same approach with Fitness First and are dedicated to the brand promise of taking everyone’s fitness personally, just as we have taken every customer experience with our established retail brands personally since Landmark Group was incepted in 1973.”

Landmark Group intends to absorb all employees of the existing Fitness First outlets in the Middle East.
 

Dubai’s First Five-Star Hotel Acquires Green Globe Status

The Radisson Blu, Dubai Deira Creek, has been awarded the internationally renowned Green Globe Certification (GGC), following a recent AED1.25 million investment in sustainability.

The hotel which originally opened in 1975 was officially recognised for its environmentally friendly practices, after consulting Dubai-based sustainability experts Farnek Avireal to meet the exacting standards.

Rezidor which was handed the management contract for the 276 bedroom property in 2006, has gradually brought its green policies in line with its own Responsible Business Programme, paving the way for the first Radisson Blu branded hotel in the UAE to be accredited with Green Globe certification.

“We had already completed a number of sustainability initiatives, such as energy and resource saving, the use of biodegradable chemicals and recycling initiatives, but achieving Green Globe status will now have a positive effect on every aspect of the hotel operation,” said Chief Engineer Arthur Rodrigues.

“The Green Globe Certification Audit is based on a number of environmental factors, in all we had 250 points to address. Some of the inefficient old and high-power consuming air-conditioning equipment was replaced, coupled with the energy saving wheel, which cools hot air drawn from outside, before passing it through the hotel chillers. It is always more challenging for an older property to attain such rigorous standards, but considering that, it is so much more rewarding to be recognised for our achievements,” added Rodrigues.

Green Globe certification is the premier worldwide sustainability stamp for the tourism industry and more than 800 businesses in 50 countries have so far met the 248 exacting standards. Farnek Avireal currently has the exclusive rights to utilise the Green Globe brand, covering tourism properties within 20 different countries throughout the Middle East.

Through Farnek Avireal’s web-based Hotel Optimiser technology, GGC programme participants can calculate their CO2 emissions including the financial cost, which enables them to track their performance of energy and water consumption as well as non-recyclable waste production.

“The Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek is a great example to prove you don’t have to be a new hotel to be environmentally friendly. Independent surveys have revealed that hotel guests are becoming more environmentally conscious and prefer to stay in sustainable hotels. So embracing sustainability makes good business sense,” said Markus Oberlin, general manager of Farnek Avireal.

The Radisson Blu had a number of unusual issues to overcome, not least of all its dinner cruise boat, the Al Mansour Dhow, stationed on Dubai Creek, and its outside catering vehicles, which had to be taken into consideration. However, the hotel’s management is confident that their investment will payback with significantly lower operating costs as well as lower carbon emissions.

“Hotels have a corporate responsibility to the environment and all of its stakeholders. We invested a lot of time and money into this initiative but now we are reaping the rewards financially, socially and environmentally,” added Rodrigues.

The Green Globe brand and programme, has primarily been used in the travel and tourism industry but is now being expanded to include a growing number of environmentally responsible businesses in a variety of market sectors. The GGC stamp of approval is an ideal symbol for the world’s increasing awareness of environmental responsibility and response to global climate change.

For more information about applying for Green Globe International certification log on to www.farnek.com
 

Mercator Acquires Next Generation tikAERO To Serve Hybrid, Regional And Low-Cost Airlines

Mercator, the IT solutions provider of the Emirates Group and a global leader in business technology solutions for the airline and transportation industry, has today acquired the tikAERO passenger services system solution through TIK Systems. With this acquisition Mercator will now offer world-class, fully functional, flexible and cost effective passenger service and distribution solutions to hybrid, regional, low-cost and start-up airlines worldwide.

Unlike other products on the market, the innovative tikAERO system is built on latest technology systems architectures using Microsoft Technologies, thereby enabling easy configuration, fast multi-language user interface changes and simplified end user training and support. The true essence of the product is its ability to evolve with ever-changing business models, markets and passenger demands of any growing airline.

Patrick Naef, Divisional Senior Vice President Emirates Group IT, stated: “Currently used by 19 airlines around the globe, tikAERO is better, smarter, faster and more efficient than anything on the market. It’s built by staff with airline experience, for airlines. It will help airlines to significantly lower costs by minimising distribution costs, increase their efficiency and lower training efforts. In today’s market where airlines are posting significant losses, this product offers enticing rewards for cutting costs, increasing flexibility and improving long term economic efficiencies and overall net profits.”

Roland Heller, Managing Director of TIK Systems explains: "This acquisition by Mercator will prove a winning formula for airlines seeking a competitive, cost-effective and integrated turn-key solution that includes electronic ticketing and which supports a wide range of distribution channels. tikAERO customers will have an added value through Mercator’s global reach and cutting edge technology and now with the backing of the Emirates Group, our team is really excited that the hard work and the full potential of the system will be realised.”

Patrick Naef added: “This is a really exciting moment for the history of Mercator with our first major acquisition. Our current passenger services portfolio, Jupiter, is rapidly creating a reputation for being one of the most complete and integrated solutions in the market for medium to large network carriers. With the acquisition of tikAERO, we are now able to address a whole new segment of the market. We can manage the needs of an entire airline community covering all shapes, sizes and business models. This strategic move underpins Emirates Group’s commitment to further grow the Mercator business and to strengthen its position as one of the leading IT solution providers for the travel and transportation industry.”

“Unlike legacy system implementations, we can offer a faster and more efficient implementation and customisation process providing cost benefits in terms of lower implementation fees and lower internal project-related costs for the carrier,” said Naef.

With Mercator’s already expansive global reach, wide range of consulting services and the ability to integrate existing products such as SkyChain air cargo management, RAPID revenue accounting and CRIS frequent flyer solution, this acquisition offers a unique choice of solutions and services across the airline industry.

The package includes a modern end-to-end customer-centric airline management solution, including web booking engines for consumers, travel agencies, corporate accounts and mobile devices, as well as connectivity with all major Global Distribution Systems. The system is fully IATA e-ticketing compliant, but can be equally adopted by non-IATA ‘ticketless’ low-cost airlines, therefore combining the best of distribution worlds.

tikAERO integrates key functionality to efficiently manage airline passenger services. This includes applications for inventory management, multi-channel reservation, yield and revenue management, departure control, weight and balance, electronic ticketing, revenue accounting, code-share, interlining, crew management, flight control and real-time reporting to monitor business operations.

It has been specifically designed to suit hybrid environments and can be deployed much easier and faster than legacy passenger service solutions. Hybrid functionality refers to an increasing sector of the airline market that is moving from a pure low-cost model to a model where there is limited distribution through global distribution systems, interline partnership agreements with airlines and the use of industry ticketing standards defined by the airline trade body IATA.

This announcement follows the Emirates Group’s recent posting of record profits for the 2009-10 period, up 248% from the previous year to AED 4.2 billion (US$ 1.1 billion). It is a strategic acquisition in direct response to need for a fully integrated, long-term passenger service solution that can be tailored specifically to any airline’s requirements.

Mercator will establish a new office in Bangkok to which all TIK Systems’ staff will transfer. This office will provide a new base for Mercator’s product development.