Guidelines

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Emirates Ramadan offers

IF YOU have plans to travel to the United Arab Emirates, and more specifically to Dubai, at this time of the year, then you should seize the opportunity presented by the Emirates Airlines' special offers during Ramadan, Amira Ibrahim reports. If you fly Emirates Airlines from any part of the world to Dubai during the period from 15 October to 15 November, you can enjoy a very special package at some of Dubai's leading hotels. The package includes three nights accommodation on a room-only basis; meet and assist at Dubai International Airport; and special chauffeur-driven private car transfers between the airport and the hotel. Rates start at $49 per person per night in a double room. Passengers travelling via Dubai may take the package on either the inbound or the outbound leg of their journey, or both. The package is available to all passengers, regardless of their airfare or class of travel. The offer is valid only for individuals and does not apply to groups.

The art of Thailand

NO NEED any longer to fly all the way to Thailand to savour the delights of its cuisine. Now the true flavours and aromas of the country are available in Cairo with the opening of Lai Thai, the city's most authentic Thai restaurant, located in the Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at the First Residence. The stunning contemporary-styled interior of Lai Thai, which means "the art of Thailand", is organised around a wooden floor, Thai artefacts and silk clad walls, while the panoramic views of the Nile may remind travellers of Bangkok's Chao Phraya River. In this intimate atmosphere, guests can enjoy the delights of a unique cuisine which artfully blends the coolness of creamy coconut- based sauces and delicately-poached meats and fish, with the union of distinctive herbs such as coriander and fiery chillies. The carefully chosen menu reflects the three most important elements of Thai food, namely, incredible aromas, colourful appearances, and unique tastes. From firm favourites such as Tom Yum Khung, one of Thailand's most famous soups, to a Lai Thai specialty, Arhan Wang Ruam Ros, a tasty mix of five different mini-dishes, there is something to suit every taste. The menu also offers a wide salad selection, famous curries and vegetarian dishes, in addition to irresistible desserts.

Best hotels in town

SHERATON Heliopolis Hotel was recently named best five- star hotel by the Ministry of Tourism for the third year in a row in a ceremony marking World Tourism Day. The hotel earned the award in recognition of the high occupancy levels demonstrated during the year, as well as the exceptional range of services offered, such as the wireless Internet service recently implemented to serve both businessmen and tourists. At the same ceremony, Conrad Cairo Hotel was chosen as the best downtown hotel in the city for the third consecutive year, on account of its excellent, exclusive service standards, its green identity and its achievements in promoting tourism to Egypt.

Club Med in El-Gouna

CLUB Med is back in Egypt after many years of absence. Early this month, a luxurious Club Med resort was inaugurated at El-Gouna, 20kms north to Hurghada on the Red Sea. A big opening celebration was held, attended by Minister of Tourism Ahmed El-Maghrabi and Red Sea Governor Saad Abu Reda, besides representatives of French travel agents dealing with Egypt as well as French, Belgium and Swiss journalists. During the celebrations, the head of the Club Med organisation declared that the company has decided, starting from this summer, to publish a special catalogue on Egypt to market the destination worldwide. The resort offers an exciting array of sports and leisure activities, such as golf, a wellness centre, tennis, squash, sailing, windsurfing, snorkelling and beach volleyball. The resort's 239 rooms and 14 suites overlook three kilometres of scenic beachfront and are only 100 metres from El-Gouna's USPGA golf course. It also has three pools, and five restaurants and bars, offering a variety of cuisines.

Businessmen agreement

THE FIFTH round of Egypt's Mediterranean Travel Fair (MTF) saw the signing of an agreement between the Egyptian Businessmen Association for Tourism (EBAT) and its counterpart in Morocco to exchange experience between the two associations as far as tourism is concerned. The agreement was signed by Ahmed Abdel-Rahman, board chairman of the Egyptian association, and El-Taieby Khattab, head of the regional office of the Moroccan Tourist Authority. The agreement highlights the necessity of holding joint business programmes for businessmen in both countries, and calls for a number of specialised travel fairs to be organised in Egypt and Morocco. Abdullah Kanfawi, regional manager of Moroccan Airlines, announced that members of the association would be granted a special discount at hotels in Morocco through cooperation with Moroccan Airlines, as well as discounts on airfares themselves.

A Mediterranean cooperation

EGYPT, Greece and Cyprus have signed recently an agreement for cooperation in the tourism field. The agreement was signed by Ahmed El-Khadem, head of the Egyptian Tourist Authority (ETA), Photis Photiou, head of the Cypriot Tourist Authority, and Kostas Katsiyiannis, representing the Greek Tourist Authority. The agreement is based on strengthening cooperation between the three countries in the fields of training, promotion and investment.

Faith and strength in Switzerland

AN EGYPTIAN archaeological exhibition is being held in Switzerland under the title "Byzantium, faith and strength". The exhibition, which opened on 5 October and will run for two months, includes 41 exhibits from the Coptic era, as well as items from the Monastery of Saint Catherine in South Sinai. All for this one moment

"ALL for this one moment": With this central message, Lufthansa is currently launching a new, international image campaign. In terms of content, the campaign focusses on the topics of quality, innovation and confidence. The aim is to once again intensify the emotional appeal of the Lufthansa brand and to position Lufthansa more clearly as the "Airline of Trust". The new Lufthansa image campaign is premiering with an advertising motif of a sleeping couple onboard an aircraft, creating a moment of security and well-being that is tangible in both the words and the picture. The focus will be on the aspects of Lufthansa service which generate rational and emotional confidence, and thus lead to this moment of satisfaction. "Our customers don't just book a Lufthansa ticket, they invest their trust in us. With the campaign idea 'All for this one moment', we show that everyone at Lufthansa is committed everyday to justifying this confidence," said Thierry Antinori, vice-president, marketing and sales, at Lufthansa Airlines.

Autumn packages

DURING the autumn, Movenpick Cairo Heliopolis (+202) 291 9400 is offering its clients a particularly advantageous package. Egyptian and foreign residents can stay in a double room for LE225 per person per night on a bed and breakfast basis, including taxes and service charge. During Ramadan, the offer is based on bed and sohour buffet, including service charge and taxes.

A British adventure

EGYPT was the latest stop for the two British adventurers Joanne Bowlt and Tim Nicholson who are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Morris Oxford car by driving from Oxford, United Kingdom, to Oxford, New Zealand, in a 1954 Morris Oxford Series II.

Their journey took them through France, Spain, Morocco and then cross North Africa to Egypt, they will then take a ship to India and drive around the southern tip, then ship via Singapore to Australia and finally to Oxford, New Zealand.

The adventurers departed from Oxford, England, on 5 May 2004 and hope to arrive in Oxford New Zealand, early in 2005.

"Arriving in Egypt is a significant step in our journey across the world; we are very pleased that the car is still going strong as we prepare to cross over into another continent," said Tim.

Tim and Joanne are funding the trip themselves. They are both Red Cross volunteers and hope to raise a substantial sum for the charity process.

The couple stayed at the Semiramis InterContinental during their stop in Cairo.