Africa

HOTELS Semiramis InterContinental Cairo An institution in Cairo. Located in the heart of the capital, 23 kilometres from the international airport, the Semiramis InterContinental Cairo hotel overlooks the Nile. Other assets of this 721-room establishment include 11 fully-equipped conference rooms with a capacity of up to 1,847 people, ten restaurants and a swimming pool...

After a positive recovery at the end of the pandemic, the impact of the Russo-Ukrainian war proved to be too much for the Egyptian economy. The country is a net importer of fuel and agricultural raw materials. It imports 62 % of its wheat requirements, with four-fifths coming from Russia and Ukraine....

In what direction is the Accor group pursuing its development in Egypt? Laure Morvan - Accor has been present in Egypt for over 35 years and is fortunate to be one of the market leaders. We currently have 33 properties in operation, with more than 9,000 keys. We also have 18 other hotel projects...

FORMALITIES Passport/Visa French nationals, travelling individually or in groups, may enter Egypt with a passport valid for at least six months after the date of return to France. They may also enter Egypt with a national identity card valid for at least six months...

With the summer season upon us, Air France is stepping up its flight schedule from Paris airports. The airline is taking into account the strong demand for medium-haul routes to leisure destinations. The airline will be operating a total of 29 seasonal routes from Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle to: Greece: Santorini: up to...

"Africa accounts for 18 % of the world's population, but only 2.1 % of air transport activity (freight and passengers combined). "Focus Africa" aims to close this gap, so that Africa benefits from the connectivity, jobs and growth associated with aviation," explains Willie Walsh, IATA's Director General at the...

Among the priorities of many international groups, the hotel industry in Africa is continuing to grow. In its 15th annual study, the W Hospitality group forecasts the opening of almost 500 new establishments on the continent in the near future. This specialist in the African hotel industry has looked at the development of local chains and international groups, and has identified 482 projects...

Brussels Airlines closed 2022 with a loss of 74.1 million euros. However, this represents an improvement of 115 million euros on the previous year. With a more competitive structure, Brussels Airlines is looking to the future with greater optimism. The company is therefore resuming growth in the fleet and recruitment. If the...

The Accor group's portfolio is set to expand further in Abidjan next year. With six establishments - including the prestigious Sofitel Hotel Ivoire, as well as Pullman, Novotel, Movenpick and Ibis hotels - the French group is expecting a new complex to open in 2024, comprising two of its brands, Ibis Styles and Adagio. The investment platform...

Middle East Saudi Arabia Fairmont Ramla Serviced Residences, Riyadh (early 2023) Already present in the Saudi capital with a 298-room and suite hotel, the luxury brand Fairmont is adding a second residential address. This long-stay establishment will appeal to business travellers, as it is located close to King Abdullah's financial district and...

One hundred years old. The Centaurus Group, owner of the upmarket Maison Albar boutique hotels, is celebrating this venerable age with a show of its full vigour. Founded in 1923 by a family who came up from the Aveyron to open their first hotel in Paris - and now in its fourth generation at the helm with Céline...

Waterfalls, a beach of fine sand, the shade of luxuriant flora: to read the presentation of Pan Pacific's future flagship hotel, you'd think it was set in the heart of a paradise far from the hustle and bustle of busy life. Not at all: it's right in the middle of Singapore, on Orchard Road, the Champs-Elysées of...

On Monday, Air France released some details of its roadmap for the summer of 2023. And several business destinations are included in this summer programme. The route between Paris CDG and Zanzibar will be strengthened with an additional frequency of three flights a week. Above all, a new route to Dar Es Salam will be...

Hilton has not waited until the beginning of next year to present its list of most eagerly awaited openings in 2023. And, of the twenty or so hotels selected to represent the American group's best projects, two are in French cities linked by a rich wine-growing and historical heritage, Bordeaux and Dijon. While the Burgundy metropolis...

The presence of COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh gave the Egyptian government the opportunity to sign a 15-year renewable contract with Deutsche Bahn to operate Egypt's future high-speed rail network. When completed over the next decade, this high-speed rail network should provide...

Updated on 9 November at 9am. Hotel groups are making no secret of their ambitions in Africa. The Africa Hotel Investment Forum held at the Fairmont Taghazout Bay - a seaside resort north of Agadir in Morocco where Hilton has just opened a new resort - gave them the opportunity to prove it...

Qatar Airways has just announced an increase in its flights to around ten destinations, the vast majority of which are in the Asia-Pacific region. This is good news for business travellers, as there is still a significant shortage of frequencies, particularly to Asia. For example, to Asia, OAG notes that, for the week of November 1, capacity was...

Air Côte d'Ivoire has just signed its first order for two Airbus A330neo aircraft. These are the national airline's first two long-haul aircraft. The agreement was announced at the Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, in the presence of Amadou Koné, Côte d'Ivoire's Minister of Transport, Laurent Loukou, CEO of Air Côte d'Ivoire, General Abdoulaye Coulibaly, CEO of Air France,...

Air traffic in France continues to improve, according to the latest statistics from the DGAC covering the period January-August. The number of passengers in mainland France in August represented 87.5% of its 2019 traffic level and 77.1% cumulatively since January. This translates into traffic of 94...

Security is undoubtedly one of the main criteria of choice for business travellers to Africa. With this in mind, eight Accor Group establishments, all owned by the Kasada investment fund, have just announced that they have obtained Safehotels certification, one of the world's leading hotel safety and security certifications. "The...