Alshaya Enterprises, a division of Alshaya Group and one of the Gulf’s premier commercial establishments, announced today the opening of their newest showroom in Dubai. Prominently located on Sheikh Zayed Road, the prestigious European lifestyle-concept showroom will be home to the finest commercial equipment and high quality stylish furnishings for the office and home.
 
“We are absolutely delighted with the opening of our new showroom in Dubai as we look to further expand our presence in the U.A.E. We have been growing steadily between 15-20 % year on year, over the past 4 years. We continue to see considerable growth potential in all of the GCC markets, utilizing the synergy between our different divisions,” said Henrik Christiansen, Chief Executive Officer, Alshaya Enterprises.
 
Alshaya Enterprises offers technical and design led solutions within 6 key market segments including Bathrooms solutions, Residential Kitchens, Commercial Kitchens, Laundry equipment, Office Furniture’s and Soft Seating’s, Natural stones, Supermarket Solutions and Racking Systems, Commercial and Residential lighting solutions.
 
The new showroom will offer residents access to some of the world’s most renowned brands of the highest quality including Kitchenhaus, the highest German standard in quality for kitchens. Kitchenhaus kitchens are manufactured by the largest kitchen manufacturer in Germany. Each kitchen is unique; individually planned and produced on highly automated machines, which guarantees a consistently high quality level. The choices range from modern to trendy and classical to timeless.  It is an ideal choice for palaces, private villas as well as business premises.  
 
“We are seeing a rising demand for customized solutions from all across the region and therefore, we have professional consultants from our Architect and Design Center available onsite in each of our showrooms to advise clients and assist them in turning their homes or offices into their own unique works of art,” adds Christiansen.
The Architect and Design center is a concept that was introduced by Alshaya Enterprises to provide customized solutions; creating the perfect environment for architects, designers, contractors and end users. The onsite consultants can advise on materials such as bathrooms fittings, ceramics tiles, accessories, adhesives, sanitary ware, natural stone, wooden flooring, façade solutions and much more.
 
Other renowned European brands such as Imola and ABK tiles from Italy, Kludi and Keramag from Germany and remarkable Spanish mosaics from Vidrepur are also available on display at the showroom among others.

The new Alshaya Enterprises Showroom is located on Al Marabea’ Street (Exit 40) on 732 Sheikh Zayed Road. Customers can call 04- 607 4121 or visit www.alshayaenterprises.com for further information.  If you are looking to create a space that truly inspires you, visit the new Alshaya Enterprises Showroom today!
 
-ENDS-
 
About Alshaya Enterprises™
Alshaya Enterprises™ enjoys a sterling reputation not only as a supplier of the world’s best commercial equipment, but also as a provider of high quality furnishings for the office and home.  We derive our strength from our recognised management quality, innovative strategies, favourable employer culture and substantial financial resources.

Although we serve large and diverse customer base, we adhere to one principle – only top-of-the-line brands are acceptable. Our commitment to high quality products and services is matched by our professional sales and marketing personnel, ably supported by our in-house design, logistics and service teams. This expertise gives us a competitive advantage in executing projects of any scale in the region. 

Additional Contact Information:
Kitchenhaus: 04 607 4214
Architect and Designer Center: 04 607 4121

Basel Holding, an investment holding company based out of Europe providing technology solutions all around the world, announced today that it had recently implemented new-generation self-service kiosks known as “Smart Tellers” in the UAE.

The machines offer a wide range of public services such as vehicle registration renewal, fines enquiry and payments as well as replacing a lost or damaged driving license; procedures that would normally require a lot of time.

“We have been providing world-class solutions throughout the world, and we are very proud to have been involved in the delivery of a truly innovative solution to the residents of the UAE, in association with MLT,” states Burak Basel, CEO, Basel Holding.

The “Smart Teller” kiosks are manufactured within the framework of JOVA UAE, a joint venture consisting of Basel Holding and Multi Level Technology (MLT), an Abu Dhabi-based full-service payment solutions provider.

“We expect to implement at least 1,000 Smart Tellers in the UAE alone over the next two years as the UAE is leading the way in the adoption of smart technology,” adds Basel.
 
The “Smart Teller” kiosks are fully equipped with a passport/ID reader, document scanner, cheque scanner, fingerprint capturer, A4 printing capability, NFC (Near Field Communication), plate number sticker printer, an electronic signature feature and a drop-box for document submission.
 
The built-in ID and QR code readers enable a connection between the smart app and the kiosk so people can apply online and receive the services physically from the nearest kiosk without having to go to various government offices in person. That way, all public services that were previously only available over the counter are now being offered to people at their fingertips.
 
In practical terms, what this means, for instance, is that through the 'Emirates Vehicle Gate' (EVG) service people can now request an insurance quotation and pay for the insurance policy prior to vehicle renewal and registration. They can also receive services related to driver licensing and vehicles licensing, as well as parking services and other government services.
 
Designed to cater for the various nationalities living and working in the UAE, the user interface is currently available in four different languages - Arabic, English, Urdu and Malayalam - with plans to add additional languages soon.
 
The kiosks accept credit and debit card payments, as well as cash payment in banknotes and coins. In addition, they are also user-friendly for people of determination.
 
The state-of-the-art kiosks are currently being set up at a wide range of locations throughout Dubai including the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) Headquarters, affiliated Customer Happiness Centers as well as some of the malls in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra. The aim is to gradually expand and consolidate all government services into one device to help save time, offer convenience and boost overall customer satisfaction.
 
- ENDS - 
About Basel Holding
Basel Holding was founded by Cypriot entrepreneur and investor Burak Basel, as an investment holding company providing high tech solutions and investing in technology around the world. Our top management has been working together for over a decade. We are a big family of seasoned IT people with a mastery over this industry. Our team has gained its experience by benefitting from relations, attracting partnerships and then establishing enterprises that are worth billions of dollars. We are active partners who do all we can for our companies. For further information, please visit http://www.baselholding.com/

About Jova Digital
Jova Digital delivers all-encompassing turn-key revenue management products and solutions for the banking and finance industry, state institutions, and small- to mid-sized businesses across the globe. Focused on financial technology and robust digital infrastructure, Jova Digital is your complete EMV certified, end-to-end payment service provider. With over 20 years of experience in the information and communication technology sector, we stay at the cutting edge of what’s possible, pushing boundaries to offer our clients a service experience that is intelligent, simple and seamless. We’re dedicated to providing customer-oriented technological products and solutions with a multi-level approach and maximum cost efficiency, and as such, have partnered with some of the world’s most innovative and leading companies, including Microsoft and HP. For further information, please visit https://jovadigital.com/

Ethos Integrated Solutions, the region’s leading provider in delivering Customer Service Solutions, will host the 6th annual Service Olympian Awards in Dubai on Monday. The event, which will be held at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers in Dubai, is set to attract business leaders and decision makers from both the Public and Private sectors.

Robert Keay, Chief Executive Officer, Ethos Integrated Solutions, explains, “The Service Olympian Awards program was developed by The International Customer Service Institute to recognize organizations that implement successful customer service strategies. It is designed to reward and recognize Public and Private sector organizations that deliver service excellence around the world.”

Ethos Integrated Solutions is the regional partner for The International Customer Service Institute (TICSI) with exclusive implementation rights for all the TICSI Solutions throughout the MENA Region.

“Our ultimate goal is to make the UAE a source of best customer experience management and practices with regard to improving services,” highlights Keay.

An independent judging panel consisting of industry experts, business leaders and academics from around the world assess the entries against The International Standard for Service Excellence (TISSE2012) as part of the judging process each year.

Some of this year’s award categories include Best Customer Engagement, Best Customer Experience Journey Maps, Best Customer Experience Smart App, Best Customer Experience Strategy, Best Customer Happiness Program, Best Customer Loyalty, Best Employee Engagement, Best Employee Happiness Program, Best Employee Learning Scheme, Best Service Center, Best Service Innovation, Best Smart Service Transformation Initiative, Best Social Media Customer Experience, Best Use of Technologies to benefit customers among others.

The Bank Benchmarking Index Awards
During the evening, Ethos Integrated Solutions will also be presenting The Bank Benchmarking Index Awards with categories including Overall Best Bank, Best Branches, Best Website, Best Call Centre, Best Mobile App, Best Engaged Social Media, Best Live Chat Performance, Best Innovation, Most Improved Branches, Most Improved Call Centre and Most Improved Website.
 
“We introduced the annual Banks Benchmarking Index study back in 2005 with the aim of providing the retail banking industry with a methodology of benchmarking their products and services against the competition to drive continuous improvement and today, the study has developed into a strategic benchmarking tool and has enabled banks to dramatically improve their service provision,” adds Keay.
 
Ethos Integrated Solution’s annual Customer Experience Benchmarking Index has matured into one of the UAE’s most anticipated reports in the retail banking industry. This year the study was more customer focused covering mystery shopping of the bank’s distribution channels to evaluating service provision and customer satisfaction.
 
-ENDS-

About Service Olympian Award
For further information about the Service Olympian Award, please visit http://www.serviceolympian.com
 
About Ethos Integrated Solutions
For further information about Ethos Integrated Solutions, please visit www.ethosplc.com

Tortellini, a new Italian restaurant, has opened its doors in Blue Bay Tower, Business Bay. The restaurant is inspired by the streets of the gastronomical capital of Italy, Bologna.
 
The interiors will leave you mesmerized by the attention to detail before you get your hands on the extensive menu which will leave you spoiled for choice as you browse through the traditional Italian appetizers, pasta, authentic pizza, selection of meat, seafood and much more.
 
The concept is the creation of Amany and Khaled, a married couple who are Interior Designers by profession. The idea was ignited when they had to travel to Bologna, Italy, to attend a trade show.
​
“It was that one night when we returned to our hotel after a long day and all the restaurants were closed. We luckily met one of the Chefs in the lobby and after a long chat, he agreed to open his kitchen and prepare for us a local dish, Tortellini, which we absolutely fell in love with,” recalls Amany.
 
Tortellini is a traditional ring-shaped pasta that originates from Bologna. It is usually filled with meat or cheese, spices and herbs. It is often served in broth, rather like little dumplings, but it can also be prepared with cream and butter, tomato sauce or even with pesto sauce.
 
The casual dining restaurant is located in Blue Bay Tower (next to Steigenberger Hotel), Business Bay, and is open daily from 11:00 AM – 01:00 AM. For table bookings or further information, customers can call 054 – 444 0303 or visit https://www.facebook.com/TortelliniDubai/
 
Visit Tortellini today and take a stroll down the streets of Bologna! Buon Appetito!
 

MTS Globe currently operates out of 65 destination offices in 15 countries, serviced 5 million passengers in 2016 and had a 600 million Euro turnover. A total of 900 employees work for MTS Globe.

According to Michael Frey and Francisco Girona, CEOs of OTS and MTS Globe, with this purchase MTS Globe accelerates its growth in the region. They go on to explain, “As the UAE, Oman and Qatar are fast growing destinations with great connections both for business and leisure clients, we are very pleased to work as partners. Last year, we started our cooperation with Desert Gate and now as shareholder, we will extend our offer of co-branded DMC services with our MTS Globe brand, as well as hotel trading through OTS Globe. Our intention is to use Dubai as a destination hub and swiftly enhance and increase our footprint throughout the Middle East and Asia.”    

Samir Tabbah CEO of Desert Gate continues “Our joint strategy was and is to work as partners with our suppliers, clients and create sustainable long term relationships. The momentum is here. Coupling our access to the Middle East and 25 years in the region with the 50 years of experience of MTS Globe in Europe creates a strong synergy that can add tremendous value to our hoteliers, tour operators and most of all to our guests. With this partnership, Samir Tabbah also becomes an official member of the MTS Globe Partner Network and shareholder in the OTS Holding.
​
Desert Gate and MTS Globe will be exhibiting at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai this week and key executives will be available for comment.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
About the MTS Globe Group:

MTS Globe is the biggest privately owned incoming company in Europe.  Founded in 1968, it serves over 5 million clients with 23 million overnights. Its core business is to support tour operators offering customized high-quality destination services which are then packaged and marketed by MTS’s customers.
 
OTS Globe is a leading provider of leisure trading services that offers partial or complete handling of contracting and product management functions for tour operator clients, combined with advanced technological solutions. The OTS Globe portfolio contains +/- 10.000 available hotels for online transactions.
 
Axis Data is an international enterprise with emphasis on the development and implementation of data processing systems for tourism. Axis Data develops software solutions for incoming agencies, focused on efficient booking management & production and it maintains hardware infrastructures for online reservation.
 
About Desert Gate:

Desert Gate, founded in 2004, is a full service Premium DMC serving the 7 Emirates, Oman and Qatar. With offices in Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah and Muscat (Oman), the company and its 158 experienced team members serve travel partners from Europe, Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, CIS, the GCC as well as North and South America. In all its operating destinations, the company offers hotel contracting, excursions, transfers as well as more bespoke package and tailor-made programmes, all accessible and bookable by its superior technology and online systems.

​The BEEhive, Dubai’s newest edutainment play-area for children, opened its doors along the shores of The Dubai Canal in Business Bay last week. The concept is the brainchild of Mumpreneur, Shahdan ElKhatib; a mother to three children.
 
The idea of the BEEhive was ignited when Shahdan realized that more and more parents are getting frustrated from the current generation’s addiction to technology, gaming and tablets. She was quick to identify a gap and the need of developing a concept to aid children’s motor skills and cognitive skills development.
 
“The concept was inspired from the fascinating beehive hard-working productive structure; where bees go through different developmental stages, and each stage dictates their role in the hive”, explains ElKhatib.
 
The BEEhive is themed to consist of many independent hives; each of different interactive activities covering Science, Music, Art and Crafts among others that allow children to explore, learn, break out of their social shell and uncover their hidden talents while acquiring new skills.                                                                                         
“We provide an environment that promotes creativity, cognitive development and exploratory play that allows children to de-tach from their virtual worlds and get more connected to their surroundings”, adds ElKhatib. The BEEhive will also be hosting regular interactive workshops for children.
 
Play Rates at THE BEEhive start from just AED 45 per hour while a full day pass costs just AED 95. Monthly and annual membership packages are also available.
 
Furthermore, children can celebrate their birthday at The BEEhive’s dedicated party hall which promises a memorable celebration inclusive of a healthy catering menu and plenty of entertainment options.
 
The BEEhive caters to children from 1 to 12 years old and is located on the Ground Floor of Blue Bay Tower (next to Steigenberger Hotel) in Business Bay. For further information, please contact 04- 431 0347.

Crepe Delicious, Canada’s largest and fastest growing mall-based creperie, is pleased to announce the opening of its first location in the UAE. Located in Dalma Mall, one of the largest shopping centers in Abu Dhabi, Crepe Delicious offers an impressive menu.
​
The menu boasts a wide range of signature sweet and savoury crepes including the popular “Brownie Bites” crepe that is made of freshly baked brownie pieces, topped with three different types of the finest Belgian chocolate and served with fresh strawberries on the side. The ‘Lotus Crepe’ made with Lotus spread, crunched Lotus biscuits and chocolate is also very popular. The ‘Cordon Bleu’ savory crepe is made of smoked turkey, diced chicken breast, rocca leaves, tomato and mozzarella cheese.

Other healthy dining options include fresh salads, sandwiches and even pastas that are showcased along with a selection of fresh juices, mojitos, ice-cold beverages and hot beverages. A wide selection of handcrafted gelato flavors are also available.

According to Mr. Nasser Al Darmaki, Chief Executive Officer, Challenge Investment LLC; the Master Franchisee for Crepe Delicious UAE, “We are absolutely delighted to introduce Crepe Delicious to the UAE. It is a great concept that specializes in the creation of world-class sweet and savoury crepes. The company is a leader in the trend towards healthier eating and this is what consumers are looking for today.”

Crepe Delicious uses only the finest and freshest ingredients to fill its signature, fresh to order crepes. The crepe itself has only 130 calories and 3.5 grams of fat; and it can be filled with endless possibilities of nutritious choices including fruits and vegetables, the finest dressings and sauces, and premium lean meats.

Elik Farin, Crepe Delicious Vice President of Business Development and Franchising. “We feel Crepe Delicious’ value proposition will resonate well with guests across the UAE. As an upscale lifestyle alternative to conventional fast food, our concept combines the traditional sit down service with the grab-and-go enjoyment; in addition, we will offer regional menu items to cater to local tastes”.
 
Craving a Crepe? Visit Crepe Delicious Dalma Mall, Abu Dhabi and enjoy a fresh one off the warm griddle, it’s like no crepe you’ve ever tried before! ‘What’s in your Crepe?’

-ENDS-