Tourism thread

[TalB]

El Al begins marketing flights to Brazil
El Al begins marketing flights to Brazil

El Al's flight to Sao Paulo in May will be the airline's first-ever direct flight to South America.

Orli Peleg-Mizrahi9 Feb 09 14:58

El Al Israel Airlines Ltd. (TASE:ELAL) today announced that it has begun marketing its first-ever direct flights to South America.

The inaugural flight to Sao Paulo, Brazil will take off on Saturday night May 2. The direct flight will take 14 hours 45 minutes with the return journey taking an hour less.

There will be three weekly flights from Israel using Boeing 777 aircraft leaving on Saturday nights, Mondays and Wednesdays and returning on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Round trip tickets are being sold for these flights for $999 in economy class and $3,299 business class.

El Al will also offer follow-on flights to a range of destinations in South America including, cities in Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Paraguay, Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador as well as Rio de Janeiro and Salvador in Brazil.

El Al president and CEO Haim Romano expects that the new route should significantly increase the number of tourists visiting Israel from South America. He said, "Despite the economic crisis and the recession El Al has not relinquished inaugurating this new line, which is an integral part of the El Al 2010 vision to expand and grow long haul flights."

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - Globes [online] – business and technology news from Israel - on February 9, 2009

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2009

[TalB]

First quarter tourist overnights down 26%
First quarter tourist overnights down 26%

Hotel overnights by Israelis also declined.

Orly Peleg-Mizrachi27 Apr 09 15:21

The Israel Hotel Association today reported that there were 1.7 million tourist overnights at hotels during the first quarter of 2009, 26% fewer than during the corresponding quarter of 2008. Tourism during the quarter was also affected by Operation Cast Lead in Gaza in January, as the military operation as well as a poor global economy combined to reduce the number of tourists entering Israel.

Hotel overnights by Israelis totaled 1.9 million during the first quarter, 3% fewer than during the corresponding quarter. 60% of hotel overnights by Israelis were at the Dead Sea or in Eilat. Hotel overnights by Israelis in Eilat rose by 35 to 815,000 during the first quarter, but fell by 4% at the Dead Sea to 357,000.

The nationwide average room occupancy rate was 48% during the first quarter, down from 66% in the corresponding quarter.

Hotel overnights by tourists and Israelis totaled 3.6 million altogether during the first quarter, 15% fewer than during the corresponding quarter. The sharpest declines were hotel overnights in Herzliya, Haifa, Jerusalem, and Tel Aviv.

Hotel Association director general Shmuel Zuriel said, "The combination of the worsening economic crisis and a media-saturated war incident like Cast Lead cost the hotels a high price. This is definitely not the time to abolish tax breaks for tourists as the Ministry of Finance is proposing."

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - Globes [online] - Israel business news - Home Page - on April 27, 2009

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2009

[TalB]

Alrov chairman: Jerusalem Mamilla Hotel to open in June
Alrov chairman: Jerusalem Mamilla Hotel to open in June

Alrov Properties reported a 48% jump in first quarter revenue.

Globes' correspondent21 May 09 12:50

"The war in the south and the global economic situation has materially affected global and Israeli tourism and affected the results of the David Citadel Hotel. Nonetheless, we still consider the hotels industry in Israel and internationally to be a primary growth engine in which we will invest most of our efforts," said Alrov chairman and CEO Alfred Akirov today. He added, "We will open the Mamilla Hotel in Jerusalem in June. Construction of a hotel in Amsterdam is on schedule and it is due to open in early 2011. Progress on the Cafe Royal in London is also on schedule."

Alrov (Israel) Ltd. (TASE: ALRO) subsidiary Alrov Properties and Lodgings Ltd. (TASE: ALRPR) today published its financial report for the first quarter of 2009. The company posted a net profit of NIS 43.5 million (NIS 2.14 per share), compared with a net loss of NIS 40.5 million for the corresponding quarter of 2008.

Net profit attributable to majority shareholders was NIS 43.7 million for the first quarter, compared with a net loss attributable to majority shareholders of NIS 38.6 million for the corresponding quarter.

Alrov Properties' revenue rose 48% to NIS 125.9 million for the first quarter from NIS 84.9 million for the corresponding quarter.

Operating profit nearly quadrupled to NIS 43.4 million for the first quarter from NIS 11.7 million for the corresponding quarter, and cash flow from operations rose 53% to NIS 26.5 million from NIS 17.3 million for the corresponding quarter.

Alrov Properties' rent from its flagship Mamilla hotel and commercial project opposite the Old City of Jerusalem rose to NIS 7.4 million for the first quarter from NIS 3.2 million for the corresponding quarter. Rent from foreign properties rose 26.3% to NIS 39.3 million.

Alrov Properties' share rose 3.3% by midday to NIS 43, but Alrov Israel's share fell 2% to NIS 47.50.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - Globes [online] - Israel business news - Home Page - on May 21, 2009

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2009

[TalB]

Arkia joins Israir appeal on El Al Eilat route
Arkia joins Israir appeal on El Al Eilat route

Arkia: An El Al executive recently threatened to hit Arkia "where it hurts".

Yuval Yoaz24 Sep 09 11:39

Arkia Airlines Ltd. yesterday also petitioned the High Court of Justice against Minister of Transport Israel Katz, the Israel Civil Aviation Authority, and Antitrust Authority director general Ronit Kan to overturn Katz's decision to grant El Al Israel Airlines Ltd. (TASE: ELAL) the right to make fly between Ben Gurion Airport and Eilat. Arkia's petition follows the petition filed by Israir Airlines and Tourism Ltd. the day before.

Arkia claims that Katz's decision is illegal and would have distorting results because El Al, as a monopoly, would be able to ultimately dominate the Eilat route as well, whereas Arkia is constrained from flying to 99% of El Al's destinations. Arkia says that an El Al executive recently threatened Arkia executives that if Arkia did not stop flying to Paris, El Al would hit Arkia's "soft belly", meaning the Eilat route.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - Globes [online] - Israel business news - Home Page - on September 24, 2009

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2009