This company has long been well known to many of our readers, but especially to those of them who came to the UAE on a tour package in which Al Khalidiah Tourism was listed as the host. Our special correspondent met with the owner of Al Khalidiah, Sirak Muradyan, to talk about the main tasks of the tourism market in the context of the global crisis and the new strategies of leading UAE tour operators.
No matter how I would like not to touch on the topic of the crisis, it is impossible not to talk about what affected, one way or another, everyone.
I think that the current global economic situation has shown the strengths and weaknesses of many companies. The crisis cannot hinder our business, because the strongest survive. Of course, the weaker ones need to hold out, and I wish them to get stronger, hardened and prepared as much as possible for the further development of events. Economic collapse is a very serious matter, and it will last 2 years, at least.
That is, you think that now is the very beginning of the recession?
It is too early to speak about the ending of the crisis, politicians and economists predict that 2009 will be the most difficult, there will not be a recovery in 2010, and then the situation will slowly but surely begin to improve. Al Khalidiah Group of Companies is a leader among travel companies. We are not afraid of financial problems, we will continue to work, and remain leaders. Let those who cannot work be afraid of the crisis.
I would like to add to the above that our company had the honor of twice accepting in the UAE the current Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, then Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad. Even before being elected Patriarch, Metropolitan Cyril explained to the Orthodox the concept of crisis. The very word "crisis" of ancient Greek origin, and it means a court, a turning point, a coup, a time of transition. This is God's judgment on the earth and on its sinful inhabitants. It is the crisis that will put a lot in its place. Therefore, we must learn a lesson from it, draw conclusions and work, taking care not only of our well-being. I was extremely happy for my personal acquaintance with the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill during his visits to the UAE, as well as his invitation to a meeting in Moscow, which I intend to carry out in the very near future to congratulate Patriarch Kirill on his highest appointment and receive his blessing .
I think we have enough discussed the burning topic of the crisis. The only thing that needs to be done in these conditions is to heed the call for mutual support. We cannot survive alone. We must help each other - morally and financially, whenever possible.
What is Al Khalidiah Tourism's strategy today?
All tour operators and hotels in the UAE literally every day change their working methods, prices and special offers. Therefore, our goal is to attract as many customers as possible. Every day we are engaged in processing offers received from hotels, we ourselves compose attractive and affordable packages for our partners in order to reduce the prices of vouchers and provide additional services to tourists.
Hotels usually provide discounts for a certain period, now the situation has changed? Some hotels, such as those located in the Jumeirah region, look at the situation, that is, focus on the volume of reservation. Hotel management knows which months are worse sold by tour operators, and of course, in this season they give special offers, but as soon as the occupancy of rooms exceeds 80%, they either stop selling or give completely different prices for these terms, canceling previous offers. As for hotels in Sharjah or other emirates, the conditions here are more favorable - they offer low prices for the whole season, almost until the summer, because now almost all hotels are on free sale, there are enough vacant rooms. In the summer, I think, hotel occupancy will be even lower, a rather difficult "low" season in the UAE is coming. Unfortunately, and we are preparing for the worst, for sure there will be a reduction in employees in travel agencies and hotels. Employees will have to be sent on indefinite leave, but this is better than dismissal, because vacation is the hope of maintaining a job and a chance to return. I think that people should be sympathetic to the decisions of company executives. Until today, we have managed to avoid drastic measures, not a single dismissal has yet been made, but several people have been sent on vacation. So far for a period of one month, what will happen next, we'll see. I hope that the staff will return and continue to work, at least until the summer.
What is new for Al Khalidia group of tourists?
We are preparing a surprise for residents and guests of the UAE. Our company plans to open a restaurant, the name of which I still keep secret, but I hope that, under a favorable set of circumstances, it will open in 3 months. This time we will need to prepare the hall, personnel and show programs. It will be very interesting, beautiful, prestigious, and, most importantly, delicious. Those of our readers who have visited me at the Marhaba Resort or Al Khaladia Resort know that our cuisine is famous in all the Emirates. They cook flawlessly and very tasty. The new restaurant will raise the bar even higher, because there will be collected all the best from the national cuisines of the peoples of the former USSR - Russian, Armenian, Ukrainian, Belarusian, Uzbek, Georgian ...
Where will the restaurant be located?
At a five star hotel in downtown Dubai. And the level of the restaurant will correspond to 5 stars of the hotel: a bar, a dance (with "belly dance") and music show programs, classical music, karaoke (with songs in Russian, Armenian, Ukrainian and other languages), food delivery to offices or to house. The restaurant will provide the opportunity to organize private banquets and parties, celebrate birthdays and weddings. A professional team will be assembled in it, and we hope to present another wonderful restaurant in Dubai, to which our Russian-speaking diaspora will go with pleasure.
The design of the hall will correspond to a certain topic?
Two designers are currently working on the design of this room. And as soon as the project is ready, we will be able to publish it in the Russian Emirates. When the restaurant is ready for opening, we will definitely invite all our friends to the presentation.
Are you planning to have theme nights in the new restaurant?
For example, a pancake week at Shrovetide? We have many ideas, we don’t want to talk about all our plans, but every day there will be something new in our restaurant, most importantly, it will not be monotonous. I hope that by the May holidays we will open and spend them in our restaurant. This is very good news. It is nice when there is such a positive attitude against the backdrop of the decadent mood of other businessmen. This stimulates activity.
This is not good news. Finally, I have prepared for you an announcement that most recently the Al Khalidiah group of companies, in particular, Al Khalidiah Tourism LLC, was recognized by the Dubai Immigration Department as "The Best Company of 2008". I was honored to receive the award from the hands of the Director General of the Department of Immigration and Naturalization of Dubai, Mohammed Al Marri and His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Board of Emirates Group. The winners were celebrated at a gala evening at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. Three leading companies of the year were announced there. This means that in the Dubai Department of Immigration and Naturalization, we are on the list of VIP companies, for 14 years of work in this country we do not have a single expired visa or a single payment problem. It is a great honor for us.
Please accept our congratulations on such a high award!
Thank! I wish everyone patience, health, happiness, good luck so that they never give up and lose heart. We must fight, we must set a goal and achieve this goal, no matter what.
