Nawras joins basma programme
Mobile service provider says the move is part of its efforts to give customers the best

Telecom major Nawras has joined the basma rewards programme as the fourth partner after BankMuscat, Oman Oil Marketing Company and Lulu Hypermarket. Positioned as a product that helps shoppers 'save as they spend', the basma rewards programme helps shoppers 'get extra' with a world of benefits coming their way.

Says Ross Cormack, CEO, Nawras, "We are proud to be associated with the basma rewards programme. The world today is moving rapidly towards finding methods that promote loyalty in return for giving more value to customers. Reward programmes like basma have shown phenomenal results across various product categories in this regard. Nawras endorses offers that our valued customers will enjoy and make part of their lives. The basma rewards prog-ramme, with the high degree of flexibility that it offers, and the promise of more benefits to come, will definitely support our commitment to remain the most customer-friendly and fastest growing mobile telecommunication operator in the sultanate."

Speaking about the partnership, Sulaiman al Harthy, DGM-consumer banking, BankMuscat, says, "We are extremely happy about Nawras joining us. Now this pioneering initiative has four of the largest and most prominent companies in the sultanate joining hands to provide greater value to customers."

Adds Omar Qatan, CEO, Oman Oil, "Inclusion of Nawras will provide greater services to customers in Oman and give them an extra smile. Our endeavour will change the way people shop in the sultanate."

The basma card also doubles as a pre-paid fuel card at Oman Oil filling stations allowing customers to budget for their fuel spending whilst saving basma points at the same time. Additional merchants, including jewellery stores, restaurants, travel agents and department stores, have also joined the basma rewards programme. The basma rewards programme allows cardholders to accumulate points against every rial spent at any of the basma rewards participating outlets. The accumulated points can then be used as a mode of payment.

Homing in
Home owners and prospective land or house buyers throughout the sultanate are set to benefit from a month-long campaign launched by Alliance Housing Bank (AHB). The campaign comes in response to research, which has shown a low level of awareness of mortgage loans, particularly when it comes to more complicated issues such as the difference between various interest rate options, the security required, and how the term of the loan can affect the eventual cost. The prog-ramme is designed to provide existing and potential customers with clear and simple information to help them understand the overall benefits of buying rather than ren-ting a property, how banks calculate the available amounts and the loan terms and insurance options available to them. Says Ali Hassan Moosa, deputy general mana-ger, "This campaign is all about helping customers make an informed choice. We want people to be able to understand enough about the mortgage process to allow them to shop around and compare deals from various lenders. Many people are confused about the mortgage scenario, especially after the entry of other banks offering housing loans, that we thought it's time for a major bank to take mystery out of what seems to be a complex process. We aim to make sure that every home owner or prospective property buyer has access to information that will help them organise exactly the right mortgage for themselves and their circumstances."

Flying high
Record performance registered at Gulf Air's two hubs
The increase in Gulf Air flights to and from Oman and Bahrain following the airline's introduction of a two-hub strategy earlier this year has produced record passenger numbers at both the hubs. Releasing passenger figures for the year till June 2006, Gulf Air announced a 30.1 per cent increase to 1,137,482 travellers through Muscat, and a 32.3 per cent increase to 2,181,227 travellers through Bahrain compared to last year.
"In our original estimates, we thought Gulf Air's passenger traffic through Oman would grow by around 25 per cent," says airline president and chief executive, James Hogan. "But in fact the numbers have jumped by a third for the first six months of the year. In the first quarter we recorded growth of 20.6 and 24.1 per cent respectively. However, when the full impact of the two-hub model came into effect with the summer schedule in the second quarter, the growth increased to 39 per cent in Oman and 41.3 per cent in Bahrain. Few airports in the world could handle year-on-year growth of even half that level. It is testament to the hard work and efficiency of airport management, staff and catering companies Oman Airport Services and Bahrain Airport Services that Seeb and Bahrain airports have stepped up to the challenge so smoothly."

Since the introduction of the two-hub strategy, the number of direct non-stop Gulf Air flights to and from Seeb International Airport has increased by 45.5 per cent over last year and the airline now accounts for nearly 60 per cent of the passengers at the airport. Meanwhile, flights to and from Bahrain International Airport have increased by 41.9 per cent over last year and the airline now accounts for 70 per cent of the activity at Bahrain International Airport.

Performance indicators (Jan-June)

• Seat factor up by 71.3 per cent
• Premium cabin revenue up by 17 per cent
• Gross unit revenue up 6.5 per cent
• 32.3 per cent increase in passengers through Bahrain; 30.1 per cent increase in passengers through Muscat

City Plaza is now Centrepoint
The Landmark Group opens second outlet in Ruwi, Muscat

The Landmark Group has announced that their store City Plaza in Al Khuwayr has been renamed Centrepoint. "Centrepoint's unified identity has successfully begun to project the group's position as one of the largest retailers in the region," says Willie Dreyer, general manager, Landmark Group, Oman. The first Centrepoint outlet was opened in Ruwi on August 16, featuring a new brand identity, upgraded store design and value added customer service elements like a common cash counter, a help desk, seating areas for customers as well as a coffee area wherever possible.

The Landmark group also plans to launch outlets in Salalah (February 2007) and Sohar (April 2007).

The education collaboration
Competence HR and IIM-Ahmedabad bring management programmes to the Gulf region

Over the years, the evolution of management education has changed set perceptions about organisation as well as learning. The association between the Indian Institute of Management - Ahmedabad (IIM-A), and Competence HR, marked formally at a recently held event, offers executives from across the GCC options to add value to their education. The first of the three-day management development programmes to come out of the association was 'Enhancing Leadership Capabilities', held in May, 2006 at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Nizwa. Four more prog-rammes are scheduled over the next few months. IIM-A is the top rated business school.

IIM-A director Dr Bakul Dholakia said that the association came about partly due to the consistent demand from Middle East-based students at the business school's open enrollment programmes. "We also received expressions of interest from organisations in the region, after which we looked at their profiles, activities and philosophies. Following a series of discussions, we entered into an agreement with Competence HR." Competence director Ali Abdul Adheem informed that IIM-A faculty conduct the programmes for participants and that registrations were on for the next in the series of programmes.

For details, contact +968 24787217 / 24787204 / 99217831 or e-mail iima@competencehr.com