Category Archives: Hotels

Taj Exotica Resort and Spa The Palm won the title of ‘Best destination wedding resort’ at the 7th edition of the Arabian Travel Awards. “It is a great feeling and it’s lovely to have received this coveted award from the Arabian Travel Awards, which is a very prestigious award and we, being an Indian brand, getting a lot of Indian weddings and being recognized as a destination for the destination weddings. It’s a great feeling and it’s a testimony to the fact that we have been doing this for the last two and a half plus years and we are committed to continuing this journey with even greater strength and dedication.” Nayan Seth, General Manger, Taj Exotica Resort & Spa The Palm, Dubai.  

HE Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia shared that the Kingdom will be completing over 250,000 hotel rooms in the next few years. The significant increase in the number of inbound tourists reflects travellers’ confidence in the Kingdom’s attractive and diverse tourism offering, thereby enhancing Saudi Arabia’s standing as a leading global tourist destination.  “As the Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the Executive Council of the UN Tourism Organization, I would like to shed light on the global tourism industry. We are finally recovering from the devastating impact of the pandemic, and I am optimistic that by the end of this year, we will see full recovery. Let us hope we never experience another crisis of such magnitude. Tourism is not merely a sector—it is a vital engine for economic growth and job creation. Globally, tourism accounts for 10% of jobs, and 80% of tourism businesses are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)—entities that often cannot withstand major crises. Importantly, 45% of the workforce in this industry comprises women, making tourism an essential driver of social and economic progress, especially for smaller nations like those in the Caribbean and Pacific Islands. The World Travel & Tourism Council predicts that tourism will almost double over the next decade—a testament to its potential. In alignment with Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia recognized this opportunity and pivoted from its historical focus on oil and gas. For decades, we excelled in building industries like petrochemicals—where SABIC is now among the world’s top five companies—and advanced financial services. Today, under Vision 2030, we are unlocking new sectors: tourism, culture, sports, and entertainment. The results speak for themselves.”

Accor and Naif Alrajhi Investment announced the signing of the first TRIBE and TRIBE Living addresses in Saudi Arabia within King Salman Park project. TRIBE Riyadh King Salman Park -The new-build property will feature 250 rooms, two restaurants, including a rooftop dining experience, alongside adaptable meetings facilities and banquet hall. Guests will enjoy wellness-focused amenities, including a state-of-the-art gym and swimming pool, designed to offer both comfort and inspiration for all travelers. This milestone reflects both TRIBE’s ambitious global expansion and the Saudi Vision 2030 to create vibrant urban spaces that inspire residents and visitors alike. This follows the King Salman Park Foundation’s announcement last year to develop the first real estate investment plot within King Salman Park, in partnership with Naif Alrajhi Investment. This agreement reinforces the strong and growing partnership between Accor and Naif Alrajhi Investment following the successful launch of Fairmont Ramla Serviced Residences last year. TRIBE is redefining modern hospitality with its bold, design-led approach that offers everything guests need and nothing they don’t. The brand delivers intelligently crafted spaces that are unapologetically modern, stylish, and accessible – perfect for the new generation of travelers seeking comfort, functionality, and affordability in a connected and contemporary setting. Situated in King Salman Park, one of the world’s largest urban parks, Package 1, spans an impressive 290,000 square metres. This project represents the first mixed-use development in the park to be developed in partnership with Naif Alrajhi Investment and will include residential units, commercial offices, retail spaces, restaurants, a school, hotel, community facilities, and public spaces. Strategically positioned near key park attractions such as the Royal Arts Complex and Visitors Pavilion, the district offers easy access to King Abdul Aziz Road, two …

The Grand Hyatt brand continues its expansion in the Middle East with Grand Hyatt The Red Sea (expected to open in Q4 2025). It will be the first Grand Hyatt property on Shaura Island, serving as the hub of the ambitious Red Sea Project on Saudi Arabia’s west coast and offering 430 guestrooms, along with state-of-the-art meeting and event venues in a stunning seaside setting. Welcoming guests with dramatic architecture, bold design, expansive lobbies, well-appointed guestrooms and luxurious event spaces, the Grand Hyatt brand will reach more travelers with new hotels in exciting destinations across the globe. The new openings will continue the growth momentum following the April 2024 opening of Grand Hyatt Barcelona, which marked the brand’s first hotel in Spain, offering 465 meticulously curated guestrooms and world-class wellbeing and meeting facilities, as well as the December 2023 opening of Grand Hyatt Kuwait Residences, which extends luxurious touches throughout the 33-floor residential offering, minutes away from all that the vibrant Sabah Al Salem area offers.

Situated for both business and leisure travellers, voco hotels brings its unstuffy charm and hosted service to its first location in Jeddah with the opening of a brand-new contemporary hotel voco Jeddah Gate, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ premium portfolio. Located in Ahmed Mohamed Ali Street in the heart of Jeddah with close proximity to the Corniche and Al Balad, the new property spans 7442 square metres (sqm) and accommodates 706 contemporary deluxe, grand rooms, and suites, the biggest in Jeddah. voco Jeddah Gate has the brand’s three hallmarks – ‘come on in,’ ‘me time,’ and ‘voco life’ – woven into its DNA. Upon arrival, guests will experience the brand’s ‘Come on in’ philosophy with a special welcome treat Hijazi Mamoul. Guests will enjoy ‘Me time’ with each of the rooms providing a combination of modern and thoughtful amenities including a 55-inch Smart TV and a Nespresso machine, with spacious spaces ranging between 28 to 38 sqm, and suites from 48 to 114 sqm. The hotel’s vibrant restaurant spaces, are where guests can experience the ‘voco life.’ Offering an unparalleled blend of modern, comfort and convenience, guests at voco Jeddah Gate can look forward to enjoying authentic and exquisite tastes of Japanese, Italian and Steaks at its bespoke restaurants while its all day dining restaurant serves a range of Arabic, Moroccan and Turkish dishes – all crafted using the finest ingredients. Furthermore, its lobby lounge, terrace and pool cafes provide a wide range of delicious beverages. The hotel is also equipped with advanced facilities including 17 versatile meeting rooms, a business centre, and a grand ballroom capable of accommodating up to 700 guests, making it an ideal place to …

Minor Hotels is breaking new ground in the Middle East with a collection of luxurious branded residences in the UAE, Oman and Bahrain.  As one of the pioneering forces behind the branded residences concept, Minor Hotels introduced this model in Thailand in the late ‘90s and has since expanded this luxury offering internationally. Building on its strong hotel heritage, Minor Hotels seeks to meet the increasing demand for premium lifestyle residences across the GCC. By embedding the exceptional service standards and luxury offerings of its world-class hospitality brands into these upscale homes, Minor Hotels is not only delivering elevated living experiences but also positioning the Middle East as a global destination for discerning buyers. Key Developments: • Anantara Mina Al Arab, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE Recently announced as part of Minor Hotels’ partnership with RAK Properties, Ras Al Khaimah’s leading property developer, Anantara Mina Al Arab Residences will represent a new chapter in luxury coastal living for the emirate with 94 residential apartments and 20 overwater villas. JT&P will spearhead the design process integrating traditional Thai features into sustainable developments that blend seamlessly with the surrounding landscape. Residents will relish world-class amenities and direct access to pristine beachfront and lush mangroves while enjoying the comfort and hospitality of Anantara’s signature style. • Anantara Sharjah, UAE Announced in May 2024 and slated to open in 2027, this 100-key collection will be set within the grounds of the upcoming Anantara Sharjah Resort. Offering fully furnished residences designed to established Anantara styles and standards, these striking smart homes feature incredible views across the Arabian Gulf and UAE skyline plus access to the five-star facilities and services of the adjoining hotel. • Tivoli Muscat …

IDeaS announced that it has partnered with Al Habtoor Palace in Dubai to deploy IDeaS’ G3 Revenue Management System (RMS). The rollout of IDeaS G3 RMS will enable the hotel team to further optimize its revenue management practices backed by advanced technology. Flagship of the Al Habtoor City Hotel Collection, Al Habtoor Palace, member of the Legend Collection, Preferred Hotels & Resorts, is situated in the heart of Dubai on the banks of the Dubai Water Canal. The Beaux-Arts-inspired property – an ode to the great palaces and hotels of Europe – features 182 luxurious guest rooms and 52 signature suites, refined dining experiences, and the award-winning Silk Spa.  Benefits of the partnership include: • Advanced Demand Forecasting: Powered by SAS® High Performance Analytics, G3 RMS effortlessly delivers precise, real-time demand forecasting at the room type and rate code level. This accurate and timely forecasting is critical for Al Habtoor Palace as they operate in a highly competitive luxury market that requires a proactive approach to capture the most profitable market demand. • Dynamic Pricing and Inventory Controls: Derived from demand forecasts, G3 RMS automatically recommends revenue maximizing decisions regarding pricing, rate availability, and overbooking to optimize RevPAR. This ensures Al Habtoor’s ability to quickly and effectively adapt to shifting market conditions. • Enhanced Strategic Insights: The What-if Analysis feature within G3 RMS supplies Al Habtoor Palace’s revenue management team with a powerful real-time simulation tool for testing multiple demand scenarios or strategic decisions, such as inventory changes, and understand their effects on demand, occupancy, and revenue. Ibrahim Saba, Principal Sales Director EMEA, IDeaS, said: “We are delighted to work with the team at Al Habtoor Palace and to be …

Kempinski Hotel Muscat announced the promotion of Nadine Al Bulushi to General Manager, making her the first Omani female to achieve this esteemed position in the country. Nadine Al Bulushi’s remarkable journey to this significant milestone began in 2019 when she joined Kempinski Hotel Muscat as Executive Assistant Manager and subsequently promoted to Hotel Manager in 2020. Her extraordinary contributions, particularly during the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 outbreak, went above and beyond her responsibilities, culminating in her well-deserved promotion just one year and eight months after joining the company. Nadine’s exceptional leadership, dedication and passion for the hospitality industry have consistently distinguished her. Her extensive experience spans multiple countries, including Oman, Egypt, the UAE, South Africa, Ethiopia, Libya, Kuwait and Bahrain. As General Manager, Nadine will continue to guide Kempinski Hotel Muscat towards success, with a focus on delivering exceptional guest experiences, fostering a positive workplace culture and driving the hotel’s overall growth. This landmark appointment highlights the company’s commitment to promoting diversity and inclusivity within its organisational culture.

Hilton and Al Sorouh Hospitality Development Real Estate announced the signing of Waldorf Astoria Bahrain Bay in the heart of Manama, marking the brand’s debut in Bahrain. The landmark signing will bring Waldorf Astoria’s signature service and sophisticated accommodations to Bahrain Bay, one of the capital’s most exclusive districts. A refined haven in the heart of the city, Waldorf Astoria Bahrain Bay will feature 120 elegantly designed rooms and apartments. Continuing the brand’s globally renowned seamless service, each guest will be assigned a Personal Concierge who will meticulously attend to every detail of their stay from pre-arrival to post-departure. Waldorf Astoria Bahrain Bay will be located next to The Avenues – Bahrain, a premier waterfront shopping and leisure destination which includes a mix of luxury retail, high-street shopping and entertainment areas. It will also be in close proximity to Bahrain Financial Harbour, the country’s main commercial district, and will have easy access to the highways which connect Bahrain to Saudi Arabia. Chris Nassetta, President & CEO, Hilton, said, “We are thrilled to expand our partnership with Mr. Mohammed Alshaya, his team and Al Sorouh Hospitality Development Real Estate to introduce Waldorf Astoria to Bahrain for the first time. As Bahrain continues to grow and diversify its tourism offerings, we see tremendous opportunities to expand our portfolio. Waldorf Astoria Bahrain Bay will embody the luxury and excellence that travelers expect from our globally renowned brand. We eagerly anticipate the opening of this magnificent new property in the coming years.” Building on Waldorf Astoria’s legacy of culinary excellence, the hotel will offer a carefully curated range of food and beverage options including a brasserie, a specialty rooftop bar and the brand’s famed Peacock …

Dan Company announced the signing of a contract with Abdulmohsen Al-Tamimi Contracting Company to develop Dan’s flagship destination in the Al-Ahsa Governorate, under its local hospitality brand “Tuaja Luxury Resorts”. Spanning 1.8 million square metres, the resort will feature 201 accommodation units, from hotel rooms to high-end villas, some with private pools. Every aspect of the resort is carefully designed to reflect the unique character of Al-Ahsa, offering diverse experiences catering to guests’ needs in agri tourism, ecotourism, and Adventure tourism.  The project marks a milestone in the company’s mission to enhance the tourism sector and elevate the quality of services in the hospitality sector in the Kingdom by developing resorts that combine sustainability, innovation, and authentic hospitality. The project also contributes to strengthening Al-Ahsa’s position as an attractive destination for both local and international tourism. On this occasion, His Excellency Mr. Saad bin Abdulaziz Al-Kroud said “We are pleased to announce the new resort, which aligns with the Kingdom’s efforts to enhance its hospitality and tourism offerings locally and internationally and reaffirms our commitment to contribute to the development of the tourism sector by leveraging the Kingdom’s enchanting natural landscapes and showcasing it’s rich natural diversity through agri, eco, and adventure tourism.” He added: “It is our pleasure to partner with Abdulmohsen Al-Tamimi Contracting Company, a leading company in the Eastern province to develop our flagship project under the TUAJA LUXURY RESORTS brand. This collaboration reflects our shared vision for the future and commitment to excellence. Together, we look forward to Tuaja Resorts becoming a symbol of sustainability and innovation in the Kingdom.” The project is a pioneering initiative that highlights the Al-Ahsa region’s stunning natural beauty and rich …