Over 200 members of Gulf Air’s Marketing and Sales force converged in Bahrain last week for a daylong Marketing and Sales conference.
Held annually, the conference is a major event for Gulf Air and is where the top management meets with the company’s worldwide Marketing and Sales team to review its past performance while making blueprints for the forthcoming year.
Focussing on the theme, “WE CAN DO IT,” this year’s conference opened with President and Chief Executive André Dosé presenting the restructuring ‘Get Well” programme for Gulf Air. Michael Wette, a member of the Gulf Air Board of Directors, presented the new network schedule to be introduced from 1 July.
“This conference is very important for our team as we prepare ourselves to the new network and a whole new way of improving around Gulf Air,” says Gulf Air Executive Vice President Marketing and Sales Lee Shave, who made a presentation on Gulf Air’s marketing and sales plan for the coming year.
“Revenue generation is the backbone for any company’s survival and the marketing and sales teams play a very prominent role in this. Given the competition and the opportunities in the Middle East aviation industry, we need to arm ourselves with well-planned sales and marketing strategies. Our conference just did that,” Shave concluded.
Following the inaugural sessions, participants, in groups, were engaged in various hands-on workshops and activities.
About Gulf Air
Founded in 1950, Gulf Air, owned by the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Sultanate of Oman, is the only truly Pan Gulf carrier in the Middle East region.
The regional, geographic and cultural values that the airline has embraced over more than half a century are still central to defining its brand and service ethos.
Today the airline’s network stretches from Europe to Asia and covers 47 cities in 30 countries. The fleet comprises 34 aircraft and has the distinct advantage of possessing the strongest network across the Middle East.
A platform for sustained commercial operation has been established over the past three years as part of a multi-phased turnaround programme. It has also provided a framework for a succession of innovative products and services including the unique Sky Chefs and Sky Nannies that form part of Gulf Air’s ’smart airline, successful business’ vision.
International recognition has been achieved as a result of the turnaround programme leading to numerous awards for the airline’s innovative and high quality products and services: These include:
Best Onboard Catering in First Class 2006 (Sky Trax Awards)
Best Onboard Catering in Business Class 2006 (Sky Trax Awards)
Best Business Airline 2006 (British Travel Awards)
Best Onboard Service 2006 (Gold) (Mercury Awards)
Best Onboard Catering in First Class 2005 (Sky Trax Awards)
Best Onboard Catering in Business Class 2005(Sky Trax Awards)
Best designed in-flight magazine 2005 (American Creativity Awards)
Middle East Leading First Class Airline 2005 (World Travel Awards)
World’s Leading Airport Lounge 2005 (World Travel Awards)
Middle East region’s best airport restaurant for its restaurant in Bahrain International Airport lounge 2005 (PAX International Readership Awards)
Middle East & North African Platinum Best Airline 2004 (MENA Travel Awards)
Most Improved Airline 2004 (Skytrax Awards)
Middle East First Class Airline (Arabian Business Awards)
Best new product launch for in-flight services (PAX international Readership Awards)
Best First Class Onboard Food 2004 (Skytrax Food Category)
Best Business Class Check-in 2004 (Skytrax Check-in Category)
