C&B partner with Y&D Communications

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Cicero & Bernay Public Relations (C&B) has partnered with Saudi-based public relations and social media agency Y&D Communications, as part of a GCC expansion plan. The collaboration will see C&B enhance its suite of capabilities in order to develop in the communications industry across the MENA region. Both agencies will combine their capabilities and expertise in strategic planning, public relations and technical proficiency, as well as benefit from mutual insights and tactical abilities.

“This partnership agreement is part of our long-term strategy of building a communications network spanning across the region,” says Ahmad Itani, COO, Cicero & Bernay Public Relations. “Public relations is becoming an increasingly important and valuable asset for organisations across all four corners of our region. We are pleased to be part of the current wave of growth and we are confident that our affliation with Y&D will provide even more expertise and geographical reach for our clients.”

Younus Inayat, COO, Y&D Coommunications, adds “We are confident that our alliance with C&B will prove to be a highly valuable and complementary collaboration for both companies. Our agency has a long-established reputation and significant presence within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s modern communications landscape and this new cooperation with C&B will ensure we are extremely well placed to take advantage of the sterling growth that the public relations industry is seeing across the region.”

An opulent offering

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When Team TMN were invited to experience a luxury Iftar we got ourselves down to Jumeirah Beach Hotel to see what one of Dubai’s most well-known venues had to offer for the holy month of Ramadan…

What: Iftar at the Majlis Al Safinah, Jumeirah Beach Hotel

Where: Majlis Al Safinah, Jumeirah Beach Hotel

When: Every day during Ramadan, from sunset until 8.45pm

The promise: “Situated within the beautiful Safinah Ballroom, Majlis Al Safinah is a contemporary space that breathes life into the traditions of Ramadan. Impeccably decorated and elegantly furnished, the Majlis Al Safinah blends prestigious Jumeirah hospitality with culinary excellence.”

Did it deliver? Jumeirah’s Majlis Al Safinah space looks nothing short of full-on opulence. From the red and gold décor, to the shimmering accents, lanterns and huge selection of flowers, the room exudes an aura of decadence from the moment you step in. An enormous yet unintimidating space, the room’s layout somehow manages to accommodate smaller tables and create an intimate ambience, alongside the larger seating areas for groups and parties. Waiters are attentive without being overbearing and float around the space, offering fresh juices and mocktails, including a particularly tasty apple blossom drink.

After being seated with a drink and having broken our fast with a few dates that were plated on the table, Team TMN ventured towards the enormous selection of food on offer. Traditional Arabic salads and lamb ouzi were on display alongside less traditional offerings such as roast beef with all of the trimmings, garlic and chilli marinated grilled prawns as well as mixed noodles. All of the food that we sampled was prepared to an excellent culinary standard. The roasted root vegetables, prawns and traditional salads proved particular hits with the more health-conscious members of Team TMN! The variety of food on offer meant that even the pickiest of eaters were happy and the high quality of ingredients used ensured that everything was exceptionally tasty.

Following the starters and main courses, we felt it would be rude to ignore the vast number of delicious-looking desserts that were on display, taking up nearly one third of the buffet area; so we took it upon ourselves to tackle the sweets. The desserts can only be described as heavenly – from Arabic sweets to fruit tarts, every possible form of chocolate you can imagine was available (including an enormous chocolate fountain) to home-made ice creams and freshly hulled coconuts. We were particularly fond of the strawberry custard tarts, although could have happily scoffed seconds of all the sweets on offer, if we had not been already full from the delicious main dishes.

Sitting back with a cup of tea to chat amongst ourselves and our guests, we took a moment to look around and admire the lovely venue once again, noting the friendly atmosphere and effortlessly relaxed vibe that seems typical of Dubai around this time of year.

The verdict: Iftar at Majlis Al Safinah is not a particularly subtle affair. It is, however, a wonderful way to wile away a special evening with friends, colleagues or family over the month of Ramadan. The atmosphere within the Majlis area is that of a community, which is befitting the time of year, the food and service on offer is truly impeccable. At AED210 per head, this isn’t a terribly cheap Iftar, although the quality on offer renders it excellent value in our eyes. The leisurely pace of the iftar, as well as the sheer size of the venue, means that this is a much more luxurious offering and would also be an excellent way of introducing visitors to the concept of an Iftar.

Dubai Lynx welcomes new Festival Director

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Dubai Lynx International Festival of Creativity has welcomed Thea Skelton to the role of Festival Director. With over 13 years of experience in the events industry, including seven years in various roles across the Middle East, Thea has worked on numerous large-scale events and award shows. She will now be responsible for overseeing Dubai Lynx and ensuring the continued success and innovation of the festival.

Hayley Nolan, who has been with Dubai Lynx for three years, has now been promoted to the role of Event Manager, while Emma Farmer will be taking a short sabbatical before returning to Dubai in September as an Events Consultant where she will continue to assist Thea and the team.

“Thea joins Dubai Lynx with a vast array of experience and a deep knowledge of the region – she will ensure Lynx will continue in the seamless way it has in the past,” says Terry Savage, Chariman, Lions Festivals. “In welcoming Thea it is important to recognise the role that Emma Farmer has played in the last five years leading and shaping this great event.”

Ian Fairservice, Vice Chairman, Dubai Lynx and Managing Partner, Motivate Group, adds “Having recently enjoyed our highly successful 10th edition, Dubai Lynx is undoubtedly the best established event of its kind in the MENA region. We are sorry to be losing Emma at such an exciting time but very much look forward to welcoming Thea Skelton and working closely with her to grow the event in coming years.”

OSN secures rights for SyFy

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OSN has acquired the regional rights for SyFy, NBCUniversal International’s science-fiction channel. The channel is due to launch in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, through OSN, on July 8, 2016 and the launch will bring with it a roster of original series, original movies,classic science-fiction and fantasy programming to OSN subscribers, with almost 80 percent of the content available in Arabic, either dubbed or in subtitles.

The launch of the channel is part of OSN’s new and extended long-term deal with NBCUniversal International, signed in January this year.

In The Hot Seat – Sara Hamdan

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Sara Hamdan, Founder of the newly-launched holidaysinheels.com, talks to TMN about her experience in media within the UAE and what has inspired her new travel and style blog…

Name: Sara Hamdan                           

From: US   

Current Job Title: Founder of holidaysinheels.com. I am also working part time on a content project at Google and contributing to the New York Times. 

When did you first arrive in Dubai?
I arrived in 2005 – pre-Atlantis, Burj Khalifa and Mall of the Emirates!

Where did you work prior?
I’ve been writing for the New York Times based in Dubai since 2010. I was Deputy Editor of VIVA magazine, a monthly columnist at Stylist Arabia and editor of Dubai Magazine (the official quarterly title of Dubai Tourism Board). I am currently working on a part time content project at Google alongside running holidaysinheels.com.

What were your first impressions of the media industry in the Middle East?
I thought it was young and superficial, but then so was I ten years ago! Dubai in particular has become a great media hub and I feel so blessed to have worked with some of the best titles in the city – from CNN and Rolling Stone tothe New York Times and VIVA.

Has your opinion changed much?
There’s nowhere else in the MENA region that offers the kind of media activity that you can find here. The best international and local media outlets have a presence here today as well.

Is blogging your full time job or a part time passion?
Currently it’s a part time passion, but at the rate it’s growing, ask me again at the end of the year and we’ll see!

Tell us about your blog…
www.holidaysinheels.com is a luxury hotel review site with a section on what to pack. You can directly click and buy the items displayed. I curate some of the outfits from online stores like net-a-porter and also get input from some amazing fashion consultants. I will also feature friends who are inspirational – hotels reviewed by them and a section on how to get their look. The Instagram account @holidaysinheels has managed to pick up 1,000 followers in just one month and already has a sponsor – the retailer Bmore Bugatti that houses Tom Ford, Roberto Cavalli and dozens of other brands in the region, so I’m really excited to see where we go next!

What’s the most rewarding part of blogging?
Holidaysinheels.com is my way of continuing to write about luxury hotels and fashion – and I get to directly connect with readers. It also means that I get to relive my best holidays by writing about them. 

Which international Bloggers inspire you?
I really like theblondeabroad.com and travelfashiongirl.com – both make for unpretentious and fun reading. 

What advice would you offer to someone looking to start a blog?
Don’t overthink it, just begin and ask for help where you need it. When I decided to start holidaysinheels.com, I contacted my very talented friend Tarik Kaddoumi, who built the website for me so it looked just how I had hoped.

What do you think of the quality of media publications in the region?
There is such a diverse range of titles. I’m quite partial to VIVA because I used to work there and the Editor, Anita Quade, is such an inspiration to me!

How do you find PRs in the region?
Helpful and determined! I’ve had amazing experiences with agencies such as Think Liquorice, TishTash and Toh PR, who have great relationships with brands and know how to pitch the right stories at the right time. The Think Liquorice team – Zahirah Variawa and Felicity Stokes – beautifully handled the launch of my blog at the Fashion Weekend event in Souk Madinat Jumeirah along with talented celebrity stylist Kelly Lundberg.

What’s your pet PR peeve?
Getting totally irrelevant, mass emails.

Do you accept press material from PRs?
Yes, it’s a great way to brainstorm new story ideas as well as discover new hotels and products. I particularly like those shining a light on regional designers and hotel chains.

How would you rather be contacted at work
Email please! sara@holidaysinheels.com. 

Describe yourself in five words…
Creative, ambitious, bookworm, beach-lover and chocoholic.

How do you see online journalism/blogging changing in the UAE in the coming years?
The internet is a big place and as this blogging/online journalism space becomes more popular, quality content should continue to stand out. 

What would be the next step for you as a blogger (would you look to launching a publication, collaborating with any brands/media etc.)?
It’s only been 8 weeks and I’ve already got a celebrity stylist who will collaborate on the #WhatToPack outfits and an amazing sponsor in BMore Bugatti – it’s crazy! I’d love to have a regular column in a lifestyle publication, like the monthly column I used to write at Stylist Arabia and I would love to work with brands that are interested in the same target audience: for example, a promo code for online shopping or a car-booking app. Stay tuned!