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K E R A L A M O N I T O R N E W S P O R T A L June 29 2004 More and More

Cisco Advanced IP Network To Offer Unprecedented Services In Kuwait's Arraya Center

Best-of-Breed Solution Provides Wide Range of Services to Guests, Tenants and Staff-

Dubai, UAE, June 24, 2004 - Cisco Systems today announced the deployment of a converged voice, video and data network solution at Kuwait's Arraya Centre. The Arraya Centre is an upscale development and the first organisation of its kind in Europe, Middle East and Africa to deploy an Internet Protocol (IP) telephony (integrated voice), Internet and intranet (data) and interactive TV (video) converged infrastructure. The Arraya development includes the 310-room Marriott Courtyard Hotel, seven storeys of multi-tenant offices, and an annex of real estate owner and developer offices, in addition to a three-storey shopping mall that caters to over 70 tenants (120 shops). Cisco bid in a tender open to all vendors and underwent a detailed evaluation of its technology and solutions offerings by Salhiya's Management and Medcomm, Arraya's consultants to emerge the partner of choice. The key criteria assessed the proposed infrastructure for stability, scalability, manageability, cost, product maturity and return on investment. Reference site visits also were conducted. Cisco's expertise and track record in deploying such large-scale projects was leveraged throughout the design and deployment stages by Khorafi Business Machines (KBM), the selected integrator for the solution. "When we thought of Arraya, we wanted an innovative infrastructure that would differentiate us from our competition in the real estate market, an infrastructure that would allow us to increase our customer satisfaction and attract new business and revenue sources," said Engineer Saud Al Saqr, Real Estate and Development Head, Salhiya Real Estate (SREC), which is the holding company for Arraya. "As a real estate company, we are not focused on technology, but rather on the services that this technology allows us to provide. We found that a collaboration with Cisco would help us provide superior services and achieve our business goals." The Arraya center has set several precedents in Kuwait and the region. It is the first to offer 'Service Provider-like' products for voice, data and video and has also been able to secure additional services that will further harness the potential of Cisco's technologies. Arraya now offers video on demand and gaming services within the hotel, in addition to connectivity services, virtual PBX, telephony direct inward dialing (DID) and data services for commercial and retail tenants. The flexibility of Cisco's solution is further demonstrated through the ability of offer guests' the freedom to roam throughout the center and stay connected, the availability of English and Arabic text in the Nevotek Hotel voice-mail system, and access to information about events and the local business directory through the hotel and online community portals.

Arraya Complex which includes a 310 room hote, multi tenant office complex, shopping malls employes IT telephony, wireless system from CISCO.-KM

The seamlessness connectivity of the IP telephones, computers, and televisions with which the rooms are equipped, allows easy access to the multitude of services available. Guests are able to get a wide selection of information and interactive services through their IP Telephone terminals for example. Guests can also send email directly through the Cisco IP phones without using a computer. Hotel staff located anywhere in the hotel are also able to answer a guest's request and respond quickly and efficiently using IP communications.

"Real estate projects like the Arraya center are sustaining the region's economic growth and promoting its image as a burgeoning player in the global economy," said Labib Matta, Business Development Manager, Cisco Systems Europe Middle East and Africa. "We are eager to play a role in enhancing the offerings of key real estate properties and providing added value through Cisco's IP infrastructure." The integrated voice, video and data infrastructure on a high speed secure backbone is common to all hospitality, commercial and retail areas in the Arraya center and Marriott hotels and further allows the holding company, Salhiya Real Estate Company (SREC), to provide leading services to all its tenants and hotel guests.

"Further to an intense evaluation, we chose Cisco Systems and Kuwait Business Machines as our partners as we felt that we could rest assured with a safe, secure and reliable partnership," said Engineer Kifah Georges, Construction Department Manager, Salhiya Real Estate. "The commitment and response that we received from the Cisco team was also a major reason we were confident of their support in our project." The solution deployed has allowed SREC to concentrate its communication links, resulting in integrated billing facilities and a centralized management and provisioning center for all services, whether commercial, retail or hospitality-related. Cost savings have been realized by aggregating all voice, video and data requirements and scalable services seamlessly across all SREC properties with significant savings in cabling, and reduction in upgrade costs. The culminating infrastructure is a cost effective blueprint for growth that promises revenue generation that would allow SREC to realize a return on investment in an estimated two year period.

The infrastructure initially deployed in the Arraya received positive feedback that has already lead to an expansion in the portfolio of services offered, as well as an extension in the scope of the project to serve the staff quarters of the Marriott Courtyard and the employees working in SREC's Management offices, which are located in a separate building.
The success of the Arraya project has led to an enhanced ability to attract new customers to Salhiya Real Estate's properties. The center contributes to the overall SREC's real estate portfolio by acting as the host to corporate travelers, shoppers and conference delegates visiting Kuwait. Plans are in place to expand this model to all of SREC's development projects. This includes plans currently underway for a 44-storey commercial tower to be completed in 2006 and other projects due to be complete by 2009."

Mina appeals to the Senses with beach massage Reflexology tent allows peace of mind - and Sole

(Dubai, May 2004) : Sunbathing at Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina just got even easier, with the addition of a SoleSenses massage tent just yards from the sea and sunloungers.There's no need to stroll too far from the warm waters of the Arabian Gulf, thanks to the discreet tent, which is veiled with flowing muslin for privacy.On offer are reflexology treatments, Indian head massages, back massages and other relaxation methods to help ease the pressures of every day life while you unwind in the sun.

SYNTAX re-brands and redesigns The Jordan Times newspaper Amman, 28th June 2004 Amman - SYNTAX, the Amman, Jordan based multidisciplinary design, media and technology consultancy has recently completed the re-branding and redesign of Jordan's leading English language daily, The Jordan Times. The new design of the paper appeared on newsstand April 13, 2004 and has thus far generated an overwhelmingly approving reaction form readers and the media industry in Jordan. Over the past few years, Jordan has been witnessing a publishing frenzy of sorts, with new Arabic and English titles appearing and transforming the magazine and newspaper landscape in the Kingdom. SYNTAX's involvement with The Jordan Times started in 2002, when it was commissioned to develop a tabloid sized format and structure for the paper's Weekender supplement. The successful launch of the Weekeneder resulted in a commission to re-design the daily paper. Working closely with Acting Editor in chief Jennifer Hamarneh and her team, SYNTAX carried out a reader survey to gain insights into reader perceptions and to develop a blueprint for a new structure, design and branding for the 29-year-old paper. Readers of the Jordan Times were asked what they wanted from their daily newspaper, what they liked and what they thought could be improved. The answers were that they expected a strong focus on local and regional political and business news, issues and opinions, coverage of Jordan's culture, arts and entertainment scene as well as relevant coverage of the emerging modern lifestyles in Jordan. Another factor in the redesign was that in the age of the web and satellite TV, a newspaper's role has to significantly change. Faced with a flood of information, readers want their newspaper to be well organized, clear and "user-friendly". All-round improvements The redesign of The Jordan times left no aspect of the paper's presentation untouched: Flying a new banner. An-all new, classic identity We felt that Jordan's only English language daily deserved an elegant, timeless, clear and humane identity and a color inspired by the rose shades of Petra. Logical! A revamped structure More focus on local news and events and a logical page sequence taking the reader from local to regional and global news in one go. Two pages of opinion and analysis transition you into our daily features page. Business picks up the pace again followed by sports, listings and lifestyle. Engaging. A totally new back cover. A lifestyle and Amman-focused back cover for readers who read the paper backwards! Our CITY page tells readers what is going on in Amman (and other cities) and covers Amman's arts, culture and entertainment events. Find what you want. Better navigation * A new front-page navigator intelligently guides readers to the paper's highlights. * Topic indicators help readers make their reading decisions * AT A GLANCE: a package of short news items that give readers a quick overview of the day's other news that didn't make the big headlines. Easy on the eye: A clean, modern layout * A clean modern layout style and an uncluttered presentation of information * Informative boxes, graphs, maps and info-nuggets * Crisp typefaces for text and headlines.Reader reaction to the redesign has been overwhelmingly positive. A notable endorsement came in the form of a letter to the editor sent by Mr William F. Lee, editor, The Jordan Times, 1978-1981. "It is a delight to see that Ahmad Humeid and his team have worked the same magic on the daily paper that they have previously applied to the Weekender, one of the most attractive and readable weekend supplements of any paper I know," Mr Lee wrote. "I am sure your splendid new design will help to put the daily paper on the world media map," he added. SYNTAX has been a pioneering force in the area of editorial design in the Middle East since the mid nineties, having been heavily involved in groundbreaking print and electronic publishing projects such as the first incarnation of BYTE Middle East, Popular Science Middle East and Arabia.com.