MYTRAVELCHANNEL.COM'S ONLINE TRAVEL SURVEY REVEALS CURRENT TRENDS IN THE TRAVEL TRADE INDUSTRY

Dubai 29 September 2003: To meet the specific needs of regional travellers, myTravelChannel.com, the Middle East's most popular travel website recently conducted a survey online that offered a unique perspective on the concerns and priorities of travellers on general use travel websites.

Simon Lewis, E-Ventures Group Manager and Manager, myTravelChannel.com, said: "It is apparent from the results that more people are becoming internet savvy and comfortable about purchasing tickets online although majority would still like to see more information about security offered for online transactions."

The survey found that consumers enjoyed the value added service of being able to book their holidays and flights from the comfort of their home or office, utilising a real-time availability service that myTravelChannel.com offers. Furthermore, they are more likely to book shorter breaks, which, from the survey results, shows that this type of holiday is becoming more popular. Interestingly, consumers on myTravelChannel.com are likely to plan their holiday at least one month in advance.

About 20% of the visitors claimed they had booked travel online over the last three months and it was interesting to note that majority of the visitors to the site were male between the age of 25 and 34, although 42% were female. Interestingly, the general trend for most website users within this region tends to be 80% male and 20% female. The survey also highlighted that myTravelChannel.com had a wide range of package deals, compared to other sites in the region and that visitors are able to navigate easily to get what they need from the site.

"Based on the survey, the myTravelChannel.com team continues to improve the site and its functionality in both the back-end technology and introducing travel tools to help customers make travel bookings via the Internet with the same ease and convenience as an offline retail customer", added Simon.

"We provide functionality to book flight, hotels, car hire, packages, cruises, travel insurance and events from all major cities in GCC, Levant and Egypt with travel partners and customers benefiting from more than just total travel solutions online."

Simon reiterates, "As per survey participants request, myTravelChannel.com will introduce more promotions and competitions in the coming months with special offers on flights, holidays, cruises and hotel stays in partnership with airlines, cruise companies, tour operators, hotel groups and car hire companies."

Europe and the Middle East continue to be popular travel destinations for the visitors. There was a 5% increase in people taking 3-5 leisure holidays and overall, fewer business trips were booked this year. Visitors participating in the survey were entered for a draw to win two flights to a KLM destination.

The E-Ventures Group, part of the Performance Development department of the Emirates Group of companies, was established to support the development of online strategies within Emirates and DNATA by identifying online business opportunities, researching them and developing proof-of-concepts to support the continued growth and development of the Emirates Group.

Amongst other projects the team manages the MSN Arabia Travel Channel, which has already gained recognition in the online community since its inception in January 2001.

New firm with Bush ties consults on Iraq

WASHINGTON - A company associated with the US President George Bush is created to take advantage of business opportunities in Iraq reported the Associated Press. The firm is allegedlyheaded by Joe Allbaugh, Bush's campaign manager in 2000 and director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency until March. Full Report

Bush's big swindle of Americans and Iraqis to pay off corporations

"We the People" should be rising up in outrage at the squandering of our hard-earned tax-payer dollars, that are obscenely funnelled to the immoral Bushies, Cheney, Rice, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, and, their criminals-in-arms, including Halliburton, Bechtel, Carlyle Group, Big Oil ... and new corporations are set-up by Bush's buddies like Joe Allbaugh's "New Bridge Strategies LLC", and "Iraqi International Law Group (IILG)", a new outfit ready to "help you secure contracts for rebuilding Iraq". Full Report from the Washington Post