Istanbul, Turkey February 2012: The CATHIC event in Istanbul began today with the WTTC’s Marketing Director Geoffrey Breeze outlining predictions for the Global Travel and Tourism industry over the next decade.

“In 2012 the global tourism industry provides 1 in 12 of all jobs, and accounts for nine per cent of global GDP. By 2022, we predict that this will change to 1 in 10 of all jobs worldwide, and 9.6per cent of GDP”, said Breeze.

He also predicted that by the end of 2012 one third of all worldwide travel sales will be made online. Turkey currently has the 7th largest online audience in Europe, with a 44 per cent penetration rate; Turks spend more time online than any other European country.

Issues affecting the Turkish tourism sector were addressed by Mehmet Ersoy, Chairman of Etstur, Haluk Kaya, Chairman of Bekay Property Partners and John Wilson, Executive Board Member of Dedeman Hotels & Resorts,

Ersoy said: “The Turkish government is working towards eliminating visa problems, developing more airports and extending existing ones.” He added that Istanbul’s role as a major hub will also be enhanced by a new airport which will open in 3 years’ time.

Kaya pointed out that there are two distinct tourism sectors in Turkey – all-inclusive resorts and city tourism. Istanbul has experienced a very fast growth of tourist arrivals, from just 2 million five years ago to 8 million in 2011. But this does not even compare with Prague. He predicts that Istanbul will welcome 15 million visitors by 2015. “So of course, everyone wants a hotel in Istanbul”.

Kaya also raised the issue of inclusive resorts which do not generate income or jobs for the local community. “Belek is a disaster. Not a single restaurant in the town even though there are more than 40 four and five star hotels”, he said. There is some investment now from Rixos hotels – but it is an important lesson for other resort locations, he added.

John Wilson added: “There is Istanbul and there is the rest. This is an extraordinarily dynamic marketplace and there is no sign of a slowing down in the growth in the Turkish tourism business. While we’re not immune from Europe’s troubles, I am not worried because Turkey’s unique geography means we can explore alternative and emerging markets to replace lower numbers from Europe’’.

The complexities of financing new hotel construction was explored in detail by Andrew Sangster, Editorial Director of Hotel Analyst Emerging Markets, in conversation with Puneet Chhatwal of Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, Carlton Ervin, Chief Development Officer for Marriott International, Ömer Isvan, President of Servotel Corporation and Peter Norman, SVP Development at Hyatt International.

Sangster posed the question of how much equity the large global hotel management companies were prepared to commit to emerging markets in general, and Turkey in particular.

For Servotel, Isvan said: “Here in Turkey there is a ‘footprint’ race between the hotel companies. Particularly in resort areas, the traditional management contracts are the norm in this market. The big global brands are reticent to introduce different equity models because they don’t want to set a precedent. However, some of the smaller chains are more aggressive and are embracing more creative financing deals.”

Norman said Hyatt has more asset investment than other global bands, with about 20 per cent of its portfolio in owned assets. “We believe that the bricks and the brains under one roof is good. You have to eat your own cooking sometimes, and as owners ourselves, we have the confidence of our other owners. In these more difficult times, we have to see what we can do to help owners get financing for projects, so we may look at joint ventures and ownership options in emerging markets on a case by case basis.”

Marriott’s approach is somewhat different according to Carlton Ervin. “We recently made two strategic acquisitions in Western Europe, to give our Edition brand a presence in key markets. But we do these with an eye to recycling this capital as soon as possible. We also tend to consider this option only in established markets, so while we never say never, we are not contemplating on buying assets in Turkey in the foreseeable future.”

The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group has long experience of asset investment in this region, Chhatwal said: “We were first to do this in Istanbul 15 years ago, and we sold that asset recently. We also have experience in Tlbisi, Kievand St Petersburg. But Istanbul is not the place to invest these days, as the prices are too high.”

‘’But I think it is a good time for investing in mid-market hotels in secondary Turkish cities and we would certainly use our balance sheet for that purpose.” He added.

The final session of CATHIC 2012 was with Turkish hotel veteran Murat Dedeman, Chairman of Dedeman Hotels & Resorts International and President of Dedeman Holding who was presented with the CATHIC 2012 Leadership Award by Mehmet Önkal, Managing Partner at BDO Hospitality Consulting.

The award recognizes Dedeman’s forty-year contribution to the region’s tourism and hospitality sector.

An exhibition of sponsors runs alongside the conference, with more stands than the inaugural event in 2011. Sponsors for this year’s event are: Platinum sponsors: BDO Hospitality Consulting, Corinthia Hotels, Dedeman Hotels & Resorts International, Hilton Worldwide, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., Moroccan Agency for Tourism Development (SMIT), Marmara Collection, Wyndham Hotel Group. Gold sponsors: Accor Hospitality, AECOM Design + Planning, Argentina National Institute of Tourism Promotion, Best Western International, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, Horwath HTL, Hyatt International, IHG, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels, Jumeirah Group, Marriott International, Inc., Orient-Express, Premier Inn, Rixos Hotels, Servotel Corporation, T&T Consulting, WATG.

The Central Asia & Turkey Hotel Investment Conference will run from February 6 -8, 2012 at Ceylan Intercontinental, Istanbul and is organised by Bench Events and Questex Media. Details can be found on www.cathic.com

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Media Contact: Strategic Solutions, media@strategicsolutionsonline.com
Sarah Azad +97150 9803810, Sarah@strategicsolutionsonline.com

Emirates celebrated its first full year of operations to Basra today, marking the occasion with a celebratory cake for the station’s employees.

Since the operation began on 2nd February 2011 Emirates has operated over 400 flights between Dubai and Basra, flying thousands of passengers on the route.

“Basra is a strategically important market for Emirates. The success of this destination paved the way for our second Iraqi gateway, opening up a significant new passenger segment for us,” said Haitham Al Battaway, Emirates Manager Iraq.

“We have a strong and dedicated team of staff working for us in Basra who have collectively helped to make this route successful. Since coming online Basra has become one of our most lucrative routes, yielding strong and consistent revenue.”

A total of 43 Iraqi Nationals are working for Emirates across Iraq supporting the airline’s two destinations, Basra and Baghdad.

Emirates’ office in Basra offers five customer service desks enabling customers to book their flights as well as offering assistance with visa application, Skywards enrolment and shortly Emirates Holidays bookings. Language capabilities at the Basra office are Arabic and English.

Outbound, one of the key destinations for passengers from Basra is Kuala Lumpur where Iraqi travellersreceive a free visa on arrival. Emirates also offers an A380 service to Kuala Lumpur with the route enjoying good connection times from Basra.

Since operations began one year ago, China has also become a key destination from Basra due to the significant trade opportunities across the country. India also receives good patronage from Basra due to the country’s strong medical facilities.

Emirates currently operates a four weekly service to Basra and daily service to Baghdad, connecting customers in Iraq to the airline’s network of 121 worldwide destinations.

ENDS-

Contacts

Anna Garcia, Emirates Corporate Communications.

Tel: (+9714) 708 5266,

Mob: (+97150) 9115447.

E-mail: anna.garcia@emirates.com

visit: www.ekgroup.com/mediacentre

Istanbul, Turkey January 2012: Turkey and Central Asia’s hospitality sector is experiencing buoyant growth, showing little sign of any negative fall out from the global economic slowdown, according to Jonathan Worsley, Chairman, Bench Events and co-organiser of the Central Asia & Turkey Hotel Investment Conference (CATHIC) in Istanbul next month (February 6-8 2012).

“The multi-faceted CATHIC region is showing up as one of the world’s fastest growing travel and tourism hotspots, with the sector driving the growth of many economies, including Turkey,” he said.

Indicators show that demand has driven investors to pump up Turkey’s room stock pipeline by 120,000 rooms across 1,000 new properties up to 2015. Flags include those of Marriott, Wyndham, Radisson, and UAE’s Jumeirah. This builds upon 250,000 room keys added during the past decade. Worsley noted that the increase in inventory has been able to sustain a strong occupancy and average room rate.[1]

In support of Worsley’s observations, Michael O’Hare, Managing Director of Horwath HTL Russia confirmed that Turkey is emerging as a favourite market for hotel investment. He said that Turkey provides ideal criteria for potential investors looking for new markets and opportunities for development.2]

However, Worsley was quick to observe that while development has a direct positive impact on tourism and business growth, there is a need for the market to embrace global industry guidelines and standards if Turkey’s burgeoning sector is to remain competitive alongside the lodging portfolios of other international destinations. He said that investors need to work closely with the international brands to help ensure that global benchmarks across product and service are injected and respected in Turkey, and the wider region.

Wyndham Hotel Group is among the growing number of international players moving in on Turkey’s potential. The Wyndham Istanbul Kalamis Marina and the 306-room Wyndham Petek Istanbul are both set to open this year.

“Turkey plays an important role in our plans to expand Wyndham Hotel Group’s portfolio in Europe and the Middle East providing travellers with first-rate accommodation around the world,” said Eric Danziger, president and chief executive officer of Wyndham Hotel Group.[3]

Meanwhile, Marriott International recently marked the entry of its JW Marriot brand into the Turkish market with the opening of the Ankara property last year. A new Renaissance Hotel also is set to open in Istanbul later this year.

Other flags that are set to fly across Turkey’s skyline include Hilton’s Doubletree brand, which has signed 11 properties last year, with a development pipeline of more than 14 hotels due to open by 2014. In addition, Holiday Inn Express, and Shangri-La are also expected to announce properties later this year.

Worsley said that the upcoming CATHIC 2012 provides a timely platform to discuss the future of tourism in the region, and further encourage inward investment.

Key speakers at CATHIC 2012 include: Hamdi Akin, Chairman of Akfen Holding Company; Cevdet Akcay, Chief Economist, Yapi Kredi Bank; Denis Hennequin, President & CEO, Accor SA; Eric Danziger, President & Chief Executive Officer, Wyndham Hotel Group; Angela Brav, Chief Executive Officer – Europe, IHG; Kurt Ritter, President & CEO, The Rezidor Hotel Group; Serdar Bilgili, Chairman, Bilgili Holding; Simon Vincent, President – Europe, Hilton Worldwide; Roeland Vos, President EAME, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide; and Lado Sakvarelidze, Chief Financial Officer, Redix.

The Central Asia & Turkey Hotel Investment Conference will run from February 6 -8, 2012 at Ceylan Intercontinental, Istanbul and is organised by Bench Events and Questex Media. Details can be found on www.cathic.com

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Media Contact: Strategic Solutions, media@strategicsolutionsonline.com
Sarah Azad +97150 9803810, Sarah@strategicsolutionsonline.com

Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Wednesday, January 18th 2012 [ME NewsWire]

In an initiative to support developing Iraqi business segments, Emirates has announced a 75 per-cent additional capacity increase between Dubai and Baghdad, growing its services to seven flights per week.

Starting from 2nd February 2012, EK941 will depart daily from Dubai at 07:55am touching down at Baghdad International Airport at 09:40am the same day. At 11:35am, return flight EK942 will depart Baghdad arriving in Dubai at 14:55pm the same day.

“Since launching flights to the Iraqi capital three months ago our operations have gone from strength to strength, on both the passenger and cargo side. There is a significant demand for travel in and out of Baghdad and this new daily service offers a significant boost to this strategically important route for Emirates,” Ahmed Khoory, Emirates’ Senior Vice President, Gulf, Middle East and Iran said.

Emirates’ additional flights are a key element in supporting Iraq’s rebuilding efforts. In particular the UAE has a significant interest in promoting trade and investment with Iraq, as highlighted by the latest trade figures released by the Iraqi Embassy.

According to the Iraqi Embassy, the volume of investments of UAE companies in Iraq reached US $3 billion by the end of 2010 and is expected to rise to US $6 billion in the coming years.

“We thank the Government of Iraq for their trust and will work hand in hand with the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority to continue supporting the country’s booming business sectors’,” Khoory added.

Emirates SkyCargo will continue to play a critical role in transporting important commodities into Iraq including, foodstuffs, medical products, spare parts and telecommunication equipment.

The extra flights will increase existing capacity by 75% per week in both directions, making it easier for both business and leisure travellers in Baghdad to connect to Emirates’ network of global destinations. Popular destinations will include; the GCC, Levant, India, China, US and the UK via Dubai.

The service will continue to be operated by an Airbus 330-200 in a three class configuration, offering 12 seats in First Class, 42 seats in Business Class and 183 seats in Economy Class.

In addition to Baghdad’s flight, Emirates currently operates a four weekly service to Basra in Iraq and has offices located in both Basra and Baghdad.

Emirates’ first flight to Baghdad landed on November 13th 2011.

Contacts

Media contact:

Shireen Deeb, Emirates Corporate Communications

+9714-7082208;

shireen.deeb@emirates.com

www.ekgroup.com/mediacentre

Istanbul, Turkey January 2012: Turkish hotel veteran Murat Dedeman, Chairman of Dedeman Hotels & Resorts International and President of Dedeman Holding has been named the most influential hotelier by his industry peers, according to Jonathan Worsley, Chairman, Bench Events and co-organiser of the Central Asia & Turkey Hotel Investment Conference (CATHIC) in Istanbul next month (February 6-8 2012).

He said that Dedeman will receive the CATHIC 2012 Leadership Award at the event for his decades-long contribution to the region’s tourism and hospitality sector.

Over a 40 year-span, Dedeman Hotels & Resorts International has grown to become a leading regional operator, and Turkey’s first hotel chain to forge an international presence with a footprint extending to Cyprus, Moldova and Uzbekistan, across 22 properties.

According to Worsley, Dedeman scooped the award following voting by CATHIC’s 30-strong advisory board made up of key industry leaders. “The Leadership Award is presented to an individual acknowledged by the hospitality sector as someone who has significantly contributed toward the development, success and growth of the industry,” Worsley noted.

Among many touch points that have helped develop the nation’s now burgeoning industry, Murat Dedeman has offered his counsel to numerous professional associations, such as the TYD (Turkish Tourism Investors Association), TUGEV (Tourism Development and Education Foundation) and SKAL (International Association of Travel and Tourism Professionals), among others.

Worsley promised that the upcoming CATHIC 2012 will provide a timely platform to discuss the future of tourism in the region and the drive to encourage inward investment. Alongside Dedeman, key speakers include Hamdi Akin, Chairman of Akfen Holding Company; Cevdet Akcay, Chief Economist, Yapi Kredi Bank; Denis Hennequin, President & CEO, Accor SA; Eric Danziger, President & Chief Executive Officer, Wyndham Hotel Group; Angela Brav, Chief Executive Officer – Europe, IHG; Kurt Ritter, President & CEO, The Rezidor Hotel Group;; Serdar Bilgili, Chairman, Bilgili Holding; Simon Vincent, President – Europe, Hilton Worldwide; Roeland Vos, President EAME, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide; and Lado Sakvarelidze, Chief Financial Officer, Redix.

The Central Asia & Turkey Hotel Investment Conference will run from February 6 -8, 2012 at Ceylan Intercontinental, Istanbul and is organised by Bench Events and Questex Media. Details can be found on www.cathic.com

-Ends-

Media Contact: Strategic Solutions, media@strategicsolutionsonline.com
Sarah Azad +97150 9803810, Sarah@strategicsolutionsonline.com

Central Asia & Turkey Hotel Investment Conference (CATHIC)
February 6-8 2012, Ceylan InterContinental, Istanbul
www.cathic.com
Istanbul, Turkey December 2011: Istanbul looks poised to enjoy a period of exponential growth in terms of revenue per available room (RevPAR) and daily rate (ADR), accordingly to Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of Bench Events, co-organiser of the Central Asia and Turkey Hotel Investment Conference (CATHIC).

Reports reveal year-to-date performance up to September 2011 of ADR growth of 34 per cent and RevPAR of 29 per cent[1]. Meanwhile, other reports suggest Istanbul is the third-fastest growing tourist destination in terms of visitor numbers, surpassing New York and Amsterdam with most visitors travelling from Saudi Arabia, Iran and UAE closely followed by the United States and Europe.

Worsley said that industry figures show Turkey as the hot spot of the region and sitting high on many ‘Top Destinations 2012’ guides.

Quoting figures by STR Global, Worsley said that the hotel infrastructure in Turkey has undergone development, with an addition of 1,868 hotel rooms since 2011.

“After a period of economic lull, Turkey is experiencing steady positive GDP growth. At the same time, the Turkish Lira’s flexibility against the Euro and US Dollar is very reassuring to the overall hospitality industry.” concluded Worsley.

The Central Asia & Turkey Hotel Investment Conference will run from February 6 -8, 2012 at Ceylan Intercontinental, Istanbul and is organised by Bench Events. The conference features a cast of speakers with knowledge and expertise in regional and international hotel development, finance, hotel branding and operations, plus sessions giving perspectives from industry analysts.

Speakers include Cevdet Akcay, Chief Economist, Yapi Kredi Bank; Denis Hennequin, President & CEO, Accor SA; Eric Danziger, President & Chief Executive Officer, Wyndham Hotel Group; Angela Brav, Chief Executive Officer – Europe, IHG; Kurt Ritter, President & CEO, The Rezidor Hotel Group; Atilla Ozturk, CEO & Board Member, ASTAY; Serdar Bilgili, Chairman, Bilgili Holding; Simon Vincent,

President – Europe, Hilton Worldwide; Roeland Vos, President EAME, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide; and Lado Sakvarelidze, Chief Financial Officer, Redix.

The event also offers various networking opportunities, as well as an exhibition. Details can be found on www.cathic.com.

-Ends-

Media Contact: Strategic Solutions, media@strategicsolutionsonline.com
Sarah Azad +97150 9803810, Sarah@strategicsolutionsonline.com

Kanoo Travel’s inaugural Partner conference titled ‘The Power of Partnership’, a special initiative taken by Mr. Nabeel Kanoo, Director of Kanoo Travel to bring together travel agencies and partners within the Kanoo and American Express partner network, was a huge success. At the conference, Kanoo Travel was able to collect feedback from industry partners and put together solutions to further deliver world-class business travel service in the region.

Speaking on their plans, Mr. Nabeel Kanoo, Director, Kanoo Travel said, “Kanoo Travel’s value proposition has been to work closely with our partners to offer our customers only the best travel products and services. To stay competitive and consolidate our position as market leaders, we needed to re-evaluate our position and make decisions on what needed to be done differently. In order to collaborate with our partners and prepare for future growth, we recently held our first Partner conference in Dubai, which was a huge success with some interesting feedback from our partners.”

“At the conference, we discussed the opportunity of shifting our focus from being a traditional travel agency to becoming a complete solutions provider with greater penetration of the online business, improved mobile solution offerings and increased footprint in strategic emerging markets. Going by the response we received at the conference, we look forward to making it an annual event, where Kanoo Travel and American Express can collectively improve services,” Mr. Kanoo added.

The Middle East travel market is expanding at an impressive rate with the region recording an 18.1% increase in air passenger demand from 2007 to 2010, when the global average was just 7.4%. With more international companies entering this market due to the infrastructure growth, there is a significant potential for the travel industry to grow further. Over the last few months, Kanoo Travel and American Express have been working on a range of initiatives designed to build on the foundation created with strategic partners in the region. Kanoo Travel is also working closely with its industry partners to offer innovative travel solutions, deliver premium value and provide a globally consistent high quality of service and advice to its regional customers.

-Ends-
Note to Editors
About Kanoo Travel:
The Kanoo family’s involvement in air travel goes back to 1937 when the company provided refueling facilities in Bahrain for Imperial Airways seaplanes on route to India and Australia. In 1947 Kanoo Travel became the first IATA agency in the Gulf and in 1997 they became the very first Travel Company in the Middle East to receive the ISO certification.
Today, Kanoo Travel is the largest travel company in the Middle East, with a team of travel specialists operating a network of over 170 offices in the region and through a global network of world-class travel partners. Kanoo Travel provides the most comprehensive and specialised services in the travel industry with unmatched quality awards and achievements that guarantees the highest level of customer satisfaction.

Kanoo Travel provides its services in five main specialised areas:
• Kanoo Corporate – Business Travel Services
• Kanoo Retail- Travel Services for the individual travelers.
• Kanoo Holidays – For all type Leisure Travel
• Kanoo Marine – Marine and Offshore Travel Services.
GSA’s- General Sales Agents for international airlines.

For further information, please visit www.kanootravel.com

PARIS – Tuesday, November 22nd 2011 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)– Regus, the world’s leading provider of flexible workspaces, has signed a ground-breaking deal with SNCF, the French national railway company, to open an initial six drop-in business centres in its railway stations.

The deal is a strong sign of the growing momentum behind the shift towards flexible and mobile working. It will enable millions more business travellers and mobile workers to operate more effectively on the move.

Mark Dixon, CEO of Regus, commented: “An estimated 1 billion people work on the move, with the total predicted to reach 1.2 billion by 2013. SNCF see the demand for smarter, more flexible ways of working, and they understand that businesses and their staff want support whilst on the go. They’ve selected Regus to provide that support, with specialist workspaces designed for the specific needs of business travellers and workers on the move.”

Technology has enabled the rise of flexible, mobile working, but people still struggle at times to work effectively on the go. Regus and SNCF are taking mobile working to a new, more productive level by opening these drop-in centres at railway stations.

Sophie Boissard, CEO, Gares & Connexions, SNCF commented: “Developing drop-in workspaces has emerged as a pressing need in today’s society – turning waiting time into useful time for professionals on the move. We’re especially pleased to be working with Regus, a globally acclaimed expert in providing innovative flexible workspaces.”

Users will be able to access workspace for as little as ten minutes, using it to work, meet, catch up with emails, deal with unexpected issues, or just find somewhere to think. The business centres will also offer professional business support, such as video communication, printing, copying and scanning.

About Regus

Regus is the world’s largest provider of flexible workplaces, with products and services ranging from fully equipped offices to professional meeting rooms, business lounges and the world’s largest network of video communication studios. Over 900,000 customers a day benefit from Regus facilities spread across a global footprint of 1,200 locations in 550 cities and 92 countries, which allow individuals and companies to work wherever, however and whenever they want to. For more information please visit: www.regus.com

Contacts

Regus

Andrew Brown, +44 1784 898 128

andrew.brown@regus.com

Istanbul, Turkey November 2011: The outlook of the Turkish tourism industry is more buoyant than ever, with an increasing number of international and local hotel companies investing in the sector, said Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of Bench Events, co-organiser of the Central Asia and Turkey Hotel Investment Conference (CATHIC), to be held in Istanbul from February 6-8 2012.

“It is the ideal time to invest in Turkey’s hospitality sector with international tourist arrivals expected reach 33 million by 2012[1]. Indeed, more than 1.4[2] million Arab visitors are recorded so far this year.”

Figures reveal that the tourism sector is currently contributing 11 per cent year on year economic growth, with Istanbul seeing a 30 per cent increase in tourist revenue for 2011. Worsley noted that this sets the pace for Turkey to achieve its goal of welcoming 70 million tourist arrivals by 2023 – the 100th Anniversary of the Republic.

Meanwhile, Mehmet Önkal, Managing Partner, BDO Hospitality Consulting in Turkey warned that investment in the sector is crucial.

“One of the key drivers of sustainable development is the consistent flow of investment and Turkey is lucky as it does not face the same challenges with financing as other markets. There does however need to be a more strategic drive that appreciates the needs of the market, as well as recognition of the unique requirements of a hotel development, as opposed to other asset classes.”

Önkal said that Turkey is at the beginning of a property boom and that investors and stakeholders have yet to fully identify and utilise the investment opportunities presented by the tourism and hospitality sector, proven to be a catalyst for economic growth.

Worsley said that the upcoming CATHIC will address both the opportunities and challenges, specifically those related to the availability of capital. “We will be joined by representatives from major Turkish banks and will discuss hotel financing structures and lending criteria, as well as issues involved in ensuring properties provide long term return on investment for owners”.

The conference programme includes speakers with knowledge and expertise in regional and international hotel development, finance, hotel branding and operations, plus sessions giving perspectives from industry analysts.

Key speakers at CATHIC 2012 include Cevdet Akcay, Chief Economist, Yapi Kredi Bank; Denis Hennequin, President & CEO, Accor SA; Eric Danziger, President & Chief Executive Officer, Wyndham Hotel Group; Angela Brav, Chief Executive Officer – Europe, IHG; Kurt Ritter, President & CEO, The Rezidor Hotel Group; Atilla Ozturk, CEO & Board Member, ASTAY; Serdar Bilgili, Chairman, Bilgili Holding; Simon Vincent, President – Europe, Hilton Worldwide; Roeland Vos, President EAME, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide; and Lado Sakvarelidze, Chief Financial Officer, Redix.

In addition to the conference programme, CATHIC offers various networking opportunities, as well as an exhibition. Delegates will have ample opportunity to meet other participants, discuss opportunities and to do business.
-Ends-

Platinum sponsors BDO, Corinthia Hotels, Dedeman Hotels & Resorts International, Hilton Worldwide, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Moroccan Agency for Tourism Development (SMIT), Marmara Hotels & Residences, Wyndham Hotel Group

Gold sponsors Accor Hospitality, AECOM Design + Planning, Best Western International, Carlson & The Rezidor Hotel Group, Horwath HTL, Hyatt International, InterContinental Hotels Group, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels, Jumeirah Group, Marriott International, Inc, Orient-Express Hotels, Rixos Hotels, Servotel Corporation, The Rezidor Hotel Group, T&T Consulting, WATG

Media partners Destinations of the World News, Europaproperty, Global Hotel Network.com, Hotel Analyst, Hotel Management, Hsyndicate, Hurriyet Daily Travel News, Istanbul Deluxe, Oxford Business Group, Sleeper Magazine

Supporters International Tourism Partner (ITP), EHL, World Toursim & Travel Council (WTTC), Cornell School of Hotel Administration, Turkish Investors Association (TYD), EMITT

NOTE TO EDITORS:
Central Asia and Turkey Hotel Investment Conference (CATHIC) – February 6th – 8th 2012, Ceylan Intercontinental, Istanbul. To register to attend this event, and for details of the conference programme, please visit www.cathic.com

CATHIC is co-organised by Bench Events and Questex Media, who also organise the Russia and CIS Hotel Investment Conference, Arabian Hotel Investment Conference, International Hotel Investment Forum Asia Pacific and the International Hotel Investment Forum Berlin.

About the Turkish Tourism Investors Association
(Türkiye Turizm Yatırımcıları Dernegi -TYD)
Established in 1988, TYD is a private, non-governmental association comprising the principal tourism investors in Turkey. TYD members represent two thirds of all private investment in tourism in Turkey. The organisation’s objectives include increasing Turkey’s share of the global tourism industry, bringing together entrepreneurs who wish to invest in the tourism sector, and promoting the importance of the tourism sector to the Turkish economy to a wide audience. TYD members represent two thirds of private investment in tourism in Turkey and the organisation works with government and non-governmental organisations in furthering its objectives. For further information, please visit www.ttyd.org.tr

About Bench Events
Bench Events has a long track record in hosting the premier hotel investment events in Europe and the Middle East. Bench Events’ Chairman, Jonathan Worsley, is one of the organisers and founders of the highly successful International Hotel Investment Forum now in its fourteenth year (www.berlinconference.com). In 2005, he was responsible for launching the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference in Dubai (www.arabianconference.com); in 2008 launched the Russia & CIS Hotel Investment Conference (www.russia-cisconference.com) and in 2011 will premier the Central Asia and Turkey Hotel Investment Conference (www.cathic.com). Bench Events’ sister company, JW Bench, is a benchmarking company that has successfully launched the Conference Bench and the Productivity Bench. An industry first, the Conference Bench, measures performance data for conference and banqueting space in hotels 10 cities throughout Europe and the Middle East. www.benchevents.com

About HotelWorld Network – Questex Media Group LLC
The HotelWorld Network encompasses a series of publications and live events that provide news and networking to the largest group of hospitality professionals in the industry. HotelWorld Network delivers hotel industry news through its print publications Hotel & Motel Management and Hotel Design magazines in addition to its innovative breaking-news portal www.hotelworldnetwork.com. The HotelWorld Network also offers cutting-edge educational content and valuable networking opportunities via its International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) Berlin, IHIF Asia Pacific, Russia & CIS Hotel Investment Conference, Distressed Hotels Summit, Central Asia & Turkey Hotel Investment Forum, HotelWorld Asia, and transform: design differently.

(BUSINESS WIRE)– Emirates Airlines has selected a comprehensive package of Rockwell Collins avionics for 32 new Airbus A380 and 30 new Boeing 777 aircraft. Aircraft deliveries are in progress and will continue through 2015.

The agreement was commemorated today at a signing ceremony at the Dubai Airshow.

The deal includes Rockwell Collins’ award winning MultiScan™ Threat Detection System and the GLU-925 Multi-Mode Receiver (MMR), the industry’s first MMR certified for precision landing using either Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) or Instrument Landing Systems (ILS).

Emirates also selected the following sensors: ADF-900 Automatic Direction Finder, DME-900 Distance Measuring Equipment, HFS-900D High Speed Data Radio, VHF-2100 Very High Frequency Transceiver, CPL-920D Coupling Unit, and VOR-900 VHF Omnidirectional Radio.

“This important win signifies the strength of the long-standing, trusted relationship we have with one of the most respected airlines in the world,” said Claude Alber, vice president and managing director of Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EuMEA) for Rockwell Collins. “We commend Emirates for selecting the most advanced communication, navigation and surveillance systems available which will make for a smoother and safer travel experience.”

Rockwell Collins’ industry-leading WXR-2100 MultiScan™ Threat Detection System− with more than 4,100 systems flying on over 145 airlines today − provides superior weather assessment that helps pilots easily discern between threatening and non-threatening weather. It also alerts them to other atmospheric threats that may be invisible to the naked eye − such as the potential for turbulence, lightning or hail − all presented through an optimized, clutter-free display that increases crew situational awareness while reducing pilot workload.

The advanced GLU-925 Multi-Mode Receiveris the primary navigation sensor for all phases of flight, and meets the stringent Required Navigation Performance (RNP) requirement of 0.1 n.m. As the first-ever certified GPS Landing System receiver, the Rockwell Collins GLU-925 offers rock-solid performance and dependability for Category III ILS and Performance-Based Navigation RNAV/RNP operations.

About Rockwell Collins

Rockwell Collins (NYSE: COL) is a pioneer in the development and deployment of innovative communication and aviation electronic solutions for both commercial and government applications. Our expertise in flight deck avionics, cabin electronics, mission communications, information management, and simulation and training is delivered by 20,000 employees, and a global service and support network that crosses 27 countries. To find out more, please visit www.rockwellcollins.com.

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Contacts

Rockwell Collins

Laurence Deforeit (onsite at Dubai Air Show East Hall, Stand E350)

+33.680473062 mobile

ldeforei@rockwellcollins.com

Josh Baynes

+1.319.491.5796 mobile

+1.319.263.9132 office

jebaynes@rockwellcollins.com

or

Follow us on Twitter: @RockwellCollins