December 30, 2011 - I recently attended our Uniglobe Chairman’s Circle meeting at the world class
Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai United Arab Emirates (a.k.a the UAE or “the Emirates”) – an amazing business and leisure facility with magnificent beaches.
Annually, top-performing members of the UNIGLOBE organization in both business and leisure travel are invited to attend this global meeting somewhere in the world, to discuss strategies and ideas for the upcoming year. This year our destination was Dubai.
Our hotel was located right in front of the famous
Burj el Arab hotel - accessible ONLY via pre-screened passes for security by way of a bridge or helicopter landing pad on the roof. I expect that Burj el Arab will be home to many celebs during the Dubai International Film Festival. I believe that the Presidential Suite there will cost you a cool $28,000 per night.
I’m writing this blog from a suite on the 23rd floor of the sister hotel, looking out to gleaming skyscrapers, endless desert, pristine beaches below and mesmerizing sunsets. Dubai is a stark lesson in contradictions in a stunning and unique part of the world.
It is one of seven Emirates that make up the UAE, the capital of which is nearby Abu Dhabi. Dubai City sits on the shores of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Desert, which only adds to its contrasts – not to mention its wider contrast to more fundamentalist Middle East neighbours.
As tourism is the life blood of Dubai, the city is generally very safe and hotel staff is unreservedly polite. The tourism sector here is populated largely by expats ‘imported’ on contracts to cater to a large tourist population from around the globe. I’ve noticed many Russian and Indian Tourists here;
flights to the Emirates from these regions are only about three to four hours, and daytime temperatures this time of year are in the very comfortable mid to high 20s range.
I rose early this morning to sounds of ancient ritual Islamic chants (‘adhans’, or calls to prayer) sung five times daily by the muezzin from the mosque. On the water you can still see the dhow boats – reminders of the once-flourishing pearl trade in this region. Here bikini-clad beach goers and western-garbed youth mingle with white robed Emirati (local residents) and black robed and head-scarved Emirati women, who appear to be dressed identically with the noticeable exception of jewelry, name brand accessories, watches and purses proudly displayed. There is no lack of high-end western style shopping centres and name brand products in Dubai.
Dubai all-in-all...was a great experience. It’s an anomaly amidst the spartan climate of the Arabian Desert. If you want a place to relax, shop, hold a meeting or conference and be pampered, Dubai resorts will not disappoint. The amenities at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel are first class and the service is exceptional.
Tomorrow, our journey home will see us flying over Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, Scandinavia, Scotland, Iceland, the Atlantic, Newfoundland and over to the West Coast of Canada – our
UNIGLOBE international headquarters.
Dubai, in so many aspects, is a world away.
U. Gary
June 17, 2011 - Less than two days after the Stanley Cup riot, Vancouver is giving us plenty of evidence that this city is safe, friendly, peaceful and a wonderful place to visit. Despite the unfortunate happenings of June 15, tourists should not be influenced by what they might see or read in the international press. We are the same city with the same positive atmosphere that was enjoyed by the world during the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Today, boarded windows are covered with messages of support and thanks for those who stood up against the so-called
anarchists who instigated the mayhem.
The public and media are
sharing images of rioters and looters with police, and I understand that a few of those caught on camera have already turned themselves in. And then there are the volunteers who spontaneously descended on downtown Vancouver Thursday to help businesses to clean up.
Thankfully, others did us all an enormous service by filming local citizens trying heroically to protect lives and property. "This is my city!" one man shouted while trying to ward off crazed looters. It was in my opinion one of the most disturbing yet oddly inspirational videos captured during the riot. His words and actions speak for us all.
The images broadcast around the world have been a rallying cry to Vancouver citizens bruised and embarrassed by the actions of a malicious few. Of course, it is very important to study this riot and learn from it. I have faith that the police and the City of Vancouver will do just that, and foreign tourists will not fear gathering for future celebrations in our streets.
U. Gary
January 15, 2011 - Travel and adventure have always been in my blood – from my early days as a tour guide in Europe to the airline career that precipitated my taking the risk to go out on my own as a franchisor of business concepts, that eventually led to the forming of
UNIGLOBE Travel International.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the opening of our first UNIGLOBE franchise in 1981 in British Columbia, Canada. I look back with pride on the changes and challenges that this industry has survived – and reflect on the ever-changing cycle of business, travel and world events.
The first UNIGLOBE Travel agency opened its doors in the same year that IBM launched the
personal computer. Email didn't exist and the only thing we could do with a phone was talk into it. Today, I'm posting a blog and am about to utter my first words on Twitter. I don't think I've put more thought into typing 140 characters at any other time in my business career.
The rise of the internet and communication technology has revolutionized every industry, and I would argue that travel has experienced the greatest transformation of them all.
In Europe, about half of the
independent countries we freely interact with today didn't exist when I started franchising. Communist and free market ideologies were antithetical, and escape was the only means for citizens of many of these countries to travel outside of their borders. There is more mobility and freedom for travellers today than ever before.
As we enter our 30th anniversary year, I am attending the UNIGLOBE Chairman's Circle in Hong Kong with our leading travel franchise locations from around the world. It's serendipitous that I look ahead to the next decade from China, which along with countries in South Asia and Latin America will surely transform franchising and travel.
A report for Amadeus predicts that
world travel spend will double by 2020, with the above regions gaining market share. I think all industries will be affected. Western-based franchise organizations will have to learn to adapt their business methods to new cultural norms if they are to harness the rising wealth and entrepreneurial spirit of these populations.
From our very first UNIGLOBE location in Canada 30 years ago, to our more than 750 locations now operating in more than 50 countries – it has been quite the trip.
U. Gary
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