Fusion Marketing Management is a boutique communications and tourism representation company based in Dubai with over 100 years of combined experience. They have represented numerous hotel and tourism clients in marketing, public relations, and business development. One successful project included developing an integrated communications program to increase student enrollment in Jordan from the Gulf region following 9/11. Fusion proposes an integrated PR and trade representation campaign to increase inbound tourism from the Middle East by focusing on cultural, historical, shopping, event, and MICE tourism opportunities in China.
1. Fusion Marketing Management
Fusion Marketing Management LLC was established in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates in 2002. The company
specializes in luxury lifestyle, travel and tourism communications, marketing and public relations, but also carries the
experience to expand its offering to a variety of additional services. The Fusion team has collectively over 100 years of
experience within the public relations, communications and travel and tourism industries at senior management level
and understands the travel distribution in the Middle East region intimately. The company is proud to enjoy a dedicated
team of both Arabic and English speaking staff, who are experienced in public relations, global and regional travel and
tourism, brand management, media relations, marketing, advertising, event management, corporate communications,
journalism and corporate social responsibility.
Fusion Mission Statement & Overview 2009
To position Fusion as the leading tourism, hospitality and business communications consultancy in the Gulf and to create awareness and
demand for our clients products and services.
Fusion is a boutique communications and representation company in Dubai covering the Middle East and North Africa. We consult on
tourism, hospitality and aspirational lifestyle products and services, delivered by our team of local and international communications and
travel industry professionals. Integrated marketing and business development solutions are at the heart of our philosophy, and our success
comes from understanding of local market dynamics, passion for our business and industry knowledge; simply, we know people!
As an extension of your team, we then become: all together…better
Fusion Case Histories
Jordan Tourism Initiative
Following the tragedy of 9/11, it was noted that Arab families and students re-evaluated destinations for higher
education opportunities. In response to this, Jordan approached Fusion to increase its share of students from the
Gulf region.
Fusion implemented an integrated communications programme including advertising, public relations, media
relations, a focused roadshow and mall promotions. The venture proved to be a success, and the ministry of Jordan
was pleased to announce that student intake from Gulf region had increased in line with the ministry’s internal targets.
Hotel clients have included
Emirates Hotels and Resorts brand launch
Depa Middle East & North Africa Hotel Awards
Lebua Hotel, Bangkok
Leading Hotels of the World
Hotel de Paris Monaco
Le Hermitage Monaco
Monte Carlo bay Hotel Monaco
Fullerton Hotel Singapore
La Residence Mauritius
Millennium Hotels and Resorts
Ananda Himalayas
Taj Hotels and Resorts regional office
Taj Palace Dubai &Taj Exotica Maldives
JW Marriott Dubai
Grand Hyatt Dubai
Dusit Dubai
Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts: Dubai; Abu Dhabi
Movenpick Hotels and Resorts
Empire Hotel and Resort Brunei
Langham Hotel London
Stein Hotels,London, Amsterdam, Barcelona
On-property Hotel experience
Director of sales & marketing for:
• Marriott Hotels. UK
Intercontinental Hotels and Resorts. UAE
Taj Hotels and Resorts. Dubai
Worldwide sales & marketing, Gulf Taj Hotels & Resorts
Tourism clients
DTCM - Dubai
Oman Ministry of Tourism
Jordan Ministry of Tourism
Maldives Ministry of Tourism
Pacific Asia Travel Association
Emirates Holidays
Luxury Travel Show Nice
Bahrain Ministry of Tourism
Mall of the Emirates
Business Travel Show Dubai – Dnata/Centaur
Emirates Sunland Group Whitebay resort dev.
Trident luxury real estate apartments
Fusion approach for a PR & marketing representation project for individual Chinese
provincial governments
Presented by Fusion, Dubai
The destination marketing tourism advisors
2. Maldives Post-Tsunami Recovery Programme
In December 2004, tragedy struck the Pacific Asia region when a set of devastating tsunami’s ravaged coastlines as well as numerous
island territories. Of those that were severely affected were the Maldives. A high-yield leisure and honeymoon tourism, the Maldives was
one of the worst affected countries by the tsunami and total damages reached nearly $0.5 billion, equivalent to some 62% of the GDP.
Fusion was approached by the Maldives Ministry of Tourism to organise Pan-Gulf public relations & media events in an attempt to salvage
tourism and real estate initiatives in the region. Fusion supported the Maldives in increasing its passenger arrivals from the gulf region
through a unique project-based approach that included regional roadshows, customized presentations to the travel industry, pr and media
relations support, and a reassurance programme directed at high-yield travelers, post Tsunami
Fusion’s roadshow targeted approximately 200 people per event, representing the travel trade, media, hospitality industry, high-profile
government sector representatives and consumers. In addition to the roadshows, Fusion supported the public relations activities pertaining
to the Maldive’s real estate sector, specifically the sale of Atholls islands.
Marketing Oman
The Oman Ministry of Tourism appointed Fusion Marketing Management as its market-based
representative office in June 2004 with a remit to increase tourism from the GCC by three
million arrivals over three years.
Fusion developed an integrated communications programme through which to raise
awareness of the Sultanate’s many unique attributes that differentiate Oman from its GCC
neighbours. A key element within the communications programme was consumer public
relations, with a view to help maximise inbound tourism from the across the GCC to Oman
through consumer and travel trade PR. Fusion successfully managed to open Oman up to
international clients looking for luxury and authentic Arabic experiences.
World Tourism Today
When it comes to the world’s top tourism destinations, China ranks at fourth position in arrivals, and fifth in terms of receipts. Asia and
Pacific Asia was the world’s second best performing region in terms of arrivals in 2007. Looking at predicted growth rates in tourism, Asia
and the pacific are expected to show a five percent growth in tourism arrivals in comparison to global rates of 4.1%.
However, the face of global tourism is changing. Recent tourism statistics released by the United Nations World Tourism Organization
(UNTWO) stated in a recent report that by June, July and August 2008, growth of international tourism arrivals fell to just two percent (from
over seven percent in May). The report showed, for example, that international tourist arrivals in Asia and the Pacific were estimated to
have increased by around 3% between January and October in 2008 as compared to a 11% growth for the full of 2007. The slowdown was
particularly strong since August following the spike in oil prices and the consequent cuts in airline capacity and increasing transport costs.
Further statistics showed that in the last six months of 2008, growth in both Europe (-3%) and Asia (-3%) was down. The drop is even more
significant in Asia given its double digit growth in 2007 and strong showing in the first part of 2008 (+6%). On the other hand, the Americas
(+1%), Africa (+4%) and the Middle East (+5%) still posted positive results in the second half of the year, although with a significant
slowdown compared with the period between January and June.
2009 Outlook linked to Global Economic Performance
The slowdown in advanced economies, which are facing a contraction in gross domestic product for the first time since World War II, is
already spreading to major emerging markets such as China, India, and Brazil. UNWTO expects 2009 international tourism to be in the
range of 0% to a 2% decline. In Asia and the Pacific, results are expected to be positive, although growth will continue to be much slower
compared with the region’s performance in recent years; the same applies to Africa and the Middle East.
In looking beyond the turmoil, Geoffrey Lipman, the UNWTO Assistant Secretary General, said that it was imperative to look at the longer
term and position tourism against the global challenges like the poverty and climate imperatives. Businesses and destinations which take
the right decisions now will survive in the outcome of the crisis, adopting long-term strategic measures.
Further, despite low consumer and trade confident (as stated in the January 2009 edition of UNTWO Tourism Barometer), initiatives such
as the Open Skies agreement that China is considering in conjunction with low oil prices and low-cost carrier fares, there are still hopes to
stimulate tourism in the region.
A Glance at China’s Tourism Opportunities relevant to the Middle East
3. Tourist resources in China can be divided into three main groups - natural sites, historical and cultural sites, and folk customs – although
the region’s tourism opportunities also expand into the following:
Cultural, historical & heritage tourism
Destination Tourism
Shopping Tourism
Adventure Tourism
Event/Festival Tourism
MICE tourism
These are the areas of tourism Fusion would suggest focusing upon and would work with the client to ensure a
full product and services briefing takes place to support the research phase.
Destination & Adventure Tourism
This will also include, as part of destination tourism, an eco-tourism element pertaining to the region. The
region’s natural sites, which include its mountains, lakes, valleys, caves and waterfalls are key to destination and
adventure tourism, and focus areas would include the Forbidden City; the Great Wall of China; and Mount
Everest.
Cultural, historical & heritage tourism
China celebrates countless historical and cultural sites that draw tourist from across the globe. One of
the most popular tourist attractions is the Great Wall of China, but this is by no means the only wonder of
the region. Also popular are the Forbidden City in Beijing and Silk Road, the Terracotta Army in Shaanxi
near Xi'an, and the Shaolin Temple in Henan Province.
Shopping Tourism
Of course, a trip to the Far East would not be complete without a stopover in Hong Kong ... experiencing
the skyline of Hong Kong Island and the area’s shopping delights.
Event/Festival Tourism
The region features a number of festival tourism events such as Shenzhen Rose Exhibition, Changdian Temple
Fair and the Ice Festival ("Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival"). Cultural and folk customs such
as "March Street", the Water-Sprinkling Festival and dragon boat racing are also favoured tourism highlights.
Dragon boat racing is also growing in popularity in the Middle East and can be utilised as an avenue of tourism
marketing platform.
MICE Tourism
Because of its boombing business sector, China offers a variety of meeting, conference and exhibition opportunities.
Fusion’s Approach to the Project
The Fusion approach for increasing inbound tourism business from the Middle East and Gulf region
On appointment, Fusion would look to deliver an integrated pr and trade representation campaign to increase inbound business from the
Middle East in 2009 and beyond.
We would look to:
1. Develop a travel trade campaign plan including the option for road shows in the region plus support at any planned trade show
presence;
2. Ddevelop meeting schedules for senior members of the delegation to encourage and foster tourism, and trade relations with the
region;
3. Develop a pr communications programme in the region to ensure coverage in the press and increased consumer awareness.