Category Archives: Hotels

IHG signed a global partnership agreement with Seera Group, the largest travel and tourism company in the Middle East with a prominent local, regional and international presence. The significant direct connectivity distribution agreement, which was announced at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2019, will provide Seera Group (formerly Al Tayyar Travel Group) with access to IHG’s current global portfolio of 15 brands and over 5,600 hotels, in more than 100 countries, for the leisure travel category. Seera Group will also have access to automated real-time pricing and inventory across IHG’s portfolio. Commenting on the signing, Pascal Gauvin, Managing Director, IMEA, IHG, said, “We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Seera Group. IHG has ambitious growth aspirations for the region, and the exciting agreement will allow us to connect with a wider audience of leisure travellers. Leisure travel is a growing category amongst the region’s domestic and outbound travellers, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with a number of projects initiated under the KSA National Vision 2030. Our global portfolio of well-known brands and hotels, coupled with the partnership, will allow us to be able to bring both greater awareness and choice to the travellers in the region.” The agreement will provide IHG with access to Seera Group’s extensive regional network of retail branches and call centres, as well as the group’s leading consumer travel brand Almosafer and its UAE-focused OTA tajawal, strengthening IHG’s visibility and sales capabilities. Abdullah Al Dawood, CEO of Seera Group, said, “Seera Group is fast becoming the partner of choice for hotel brands looking to harness the power of the Middle East’s travel industry, and with a new partnership, IHG will gain exposure to our …

Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) unveiled three new luxury hospitality projects worth AED 130 million at ATM 2019, which are nearing completion and slated for an official launch in the second half (H2) of  2019. Situated in three distinct historical and natural sites across the emirate of Sharjah, the three projects are Al Faya Lodge at Mleiha Archaeological and Eco-tourism, Kingfisher Lodge at Kalba, and finally, the Al Badayer Oasis being developed in the Al Badayer desert. The projects are poised as world-class additions to Shurooq’s growing portfolio of leading cultural and eco-tourism projects in Sharjah. They make up the ‘Sharjah Collection’ brand, developed and launched by Shurooq and managed by Mysk by Shaza Hotels. Designed to provide guests with comfort, privacy and amazing views overlooking the Indian Ocean and a forest of mangrove trees surrounding its natural location, Kingfisher Lodge is one of Sharjah’s leading eco-friendly hospitality projects. Nestled in central Sharjah, the Al Faya Lodge and Al Badayer Oasis are located in Sharjah’s Mleiha Archaeological and Eco-tourism destination, and the Al Badayer desert, respectively. Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, COO of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), said,  “Shurooq is highlighting its stellar portfolio of hospitality and eco-tourism projects such as Al Bait Hotel, Al Faya Lodge, Kingfisher Lodge, Al Badayer Oasis, Mleiha Archaeological and Eco-tourism project, Al Noor Island and many more at ATM 2019, to educate visitors and investors about the emirate’s tourism sector and lucrative investment opportunities it offers”. Shurooq is participating in ATM 2019 as part of the Sharjah Pavilion under the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority’s (SCTDA) in Hall 4 at DWTC.

Cristal Group unveiled Cristal Amaken Hotel, a four-star hotel with 268 contemporary rooms and suites, designed to offer Cristal’s signature hospitality.  It is the first Cristal Hotel in Riyadh, located in the heart of Riyadh’s second Industrial City and the third Cristal property in the Kingdom. The hotel’s facilities include a state-of-the-art business centre, executive club lounge, valet parking, and outdoor pool. You can relax and unwind at the Cristal Spa which includes a health club with jacuzzi, steam & sauna, and a lavish Turkish bath.  The rooms and suites are enhanced with a variety of features including pillow top mattress, premium linen, IPTV, an executive desk, complimentary high-speed WiFi access, tea & coffee facility, and a spacious bathroom with rain shower. Cristal Amaken Hotel boasts three new dining outlets. You can taste Italy’s classic dishes at Alto Italian Restaurant, or indulge in a wide selection of international dishes at Viewz restaurant where a premium Buffet and a la carte meals are served.  You can also relax and enjoy signature desserts, coffees and teas at Blendz lobby café. The hotel also provides solutions to your event needs, be it a conference, business luncheon, workshops, weddings or receptions.  With a capacity of 300 guests, the conference hall is designed for maximum flexibility with modern audio visual equipment providing a comfortable meeting environment.  Outdoor catering services are also available. To commemorate the hotel’s opening, an introductory offer of 25 per cent discount on room rates is available until June 1, 2019.  Cristal Group together with its partners, Staywell Hospitality Group and Prince Hotels & Resorts currently operate across 16 countries with over 122 hotels and resorts.

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts will to showcase its latest innovative guest experiences and global expansion plans at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2019 in Dubai. Building on its long history of constantly enhancing guest experiences through its innovative approach to luxury hospitality, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts will be highlighting the recent launch of ‘Take Your Time: Daily Discoveries’, a collection of on-property experiences that invites guests to celebrate the culture of each destination. The experiences are designed to encourage guests to truly connect with the world and the people who matter most in their lives. Simon Casson, President – Hotel Operations—Europe, Middle East and Africa, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, said, “At Four Seasons, we have a long legacy of innovation – not only in terms of how we leverage technology to enhance our offering and services, but also in the way we embrace and celebrate innovation as a way to constantly elevate the guest experience. Whether it is by inviting guests to connect with Four Seasons people and destinations in more meaningful ways, such as through ‘Take Your Time’, or providing real-time assistance through the Four Seasons Chat service, innovation has always defined our approach to creating unforgettable luxury hospitality experiences for our guests.” “While technology clearly has a vital role to play in shaping the future of the hospitality industry, we recognise that the human touch remains key to delivering authentic personal care that makes each and every guest feel treasured and understood. We will continue to evolve our services in line with the changing needs of travellers, but without compromising on our fundamental belief in the power of deep personal connections, which remains at the heart of …

Two Seasons Hotel & Apartments Dubai is set to reveal updates on its four new upcoming properties at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) currently underway. The introduction of new living concepts was inspiration behind the foundation of Two Seasons Hotel Management Company — the one that reflects the ever-changing trends towards the specialisation of hospitality products catering to a variety of travellers including corporate guests, business and leisure groups, families and children, long-term guests and independent travellers. The Two Seasons brand represents deluxe hotels and guarantees guests fine accommodation, excellent services and unique atmosphere. The creation of the home-grown brand will certainly enhance guest interaction by offering personalised services and quality standards to guests. Following the same concept and guideline as the first hotel of the brand, Two Seasons Hotel & Apartments in Al Barsha boasts of 188 stylish lifestyle hotel rooms and is expected to open by 2021 with a swimming pool, all-day dining restaurant and a health club. New Seasons Resort and Spa in Dakhla City, Morocco boasts of a beachfront location and will house 120 supreme luxury rooms and suites, along with 24 villas of two-, three- and four-bedrooms. The resort is expected to open by 2022 and falls under a new concept of luxurious, trendy and charming that echoes a new season of lifestyle hotel start up. New Seasons Boutique Hotel, Rabat City, Morocco is a lifestyle property that will have 24 elegant and stylish units and suites with an organic farm is located in the capital of Rabat. Expected to open by 2022, this hotel also falls under a new concept of luxurious, trendy and charming that echoes a new season of lifestyle hotels start-up.

Dubai-based hospitality and travel group company First and Foremost Travel Connections, is launching a dynamic B2B hotel booking system at Arabian Travel Market 2019, having recently signed a partnership agreement with UK hotel and travel distribution company Centrium Systems. “We will market Centrium’s cloud-based software, throughout the Middle East, Indian Ocean, SE Asia and Africa. Through its XML gateway, we can provide direct connectivity between hotels and resorts and contracted blue chip tour operators, many of which feature international brands. In addition, we can offer real time availability, instant, dynamic rate adjustment, up-to-date inventory control, along with instant reservation and confirmation,” commented Michael Scully, Managing Director, First and Foremost Hospitality Group. “The travel industry is a highly fragmented market with an overwhelming number of wholesalers and tour operators, each with their own specifications, policies and procedures. As such it is Centrium’s simplicity and effectiveness that are the keys to its success,” added Scully. Centrium accommodates a much simpler and most importantly, a cost-effective and time sensitive shortcut to integrate disparate channels, by acting as a single hub or gateway for multiple hotel wholesalers. The gateway requires minimal installation and can also be connected to any existing booking engine or GDS.  “Centrium’s distribution model reaches over 100 tour operators, 6,000 travel agents and through more than 100 direct connections interfaces with major tour operators such as British Airways Holidays, Virgin Holidays and dnata, to name but a few,” said Scully. With increased visibility and direct connectivity between hotels and tour operators, hotels can offer tour operators an open inventory, giving them access to the hotel’s inventory through their property management system (PMS) to make direct bookings from their allocation or to free-sell …

Emaar Hospitality Group announced that it will open four new hotels in Dubai under its premium luxury Address Hotels + Resorts and upscale lifestyle Vida Hotels and Resorts, this year. Further, Rove Hotels, the joint venture of Emaar Properties and Meraas, will open a new hotel, further adding to the contemporary midscale hotel choices in the city. Two hotels will open under Address Hotels + Resorts – both in Downtown Dubai: Address Fountain Views and Address Sky View. The new hotels to open under Vida Hotels and Resorts are Vida The Hills and Vida Harbour Point. The new Rove Hotels property to welcome guests this year is Rove At The Park. All the hotels have commenced online booking and the response from guests is strong. Chris Newman, Chief Operating Officer of Emaar Hospitality Group, said, “The five new hotel openings this year further cement our credentials and competencies as the leading homegrown hospitality provider, welcoming visitors from around the world with a diverse portfolio of hotels that meet their lifestyle aspirations. The new hotels also strengthen our role as the Official Hospitality & Hotel Partner of Expo 2020 Dubai, with the city gearing up to welcome over 25 million visits during the six-month period of the much-anticipated event. We are committed to supporting the Dubai Tourism Strategy to welcome 25 million annual visitors by 2025 through our robust portfolio of upcoming hotel projects and will also focus on expanding our geographic footprint through new hotel management agreements.” The hotels to open this year are located in central locations and will appeal to both business and leisure guests, who seek refreshing hospitality experiences in Dubai, one of the world’s top 10 tourist …

BlueBay Hotels, the eleventh Spanish hotel company regarding international presence and the twelfth largest group in terms of hotel rooms, is consolidating its growth in the Middle East with the opening of the Blue Diamond AlSalam Resort (5*GL) in Fujairah (United Arab Emirates). “With this new opening we’re confirming our commitment to high-end tourism in the Middle East, and we’re also strengthening our presence in MENA, where we already have nine hotels in strategic areas such as Dubai, Mecca and Medina. This area is showing strong potential for tourism and is a central element in our current and future growth,”  says Jamal Satli Iglesias, Chairman of BlueBay Hotels. The design of the hotel recovers traditional and luxurious oriental craftsmanship in its details and spaces, along with functionality provided by the western concept, which is something that’s highly demanded by travellers. “The hotel boasts the very latest advanced technology while also maintaining the essence of luxury hotels in the area. Guests may expect to experience an authentic Arab tradition with contemporary touches and spend enjoyable time in an exceptional environment,” explains Ramón Hernández, BlueBay Hotels’ CEO. The resort is one hour drive from the Dubai International Airport and close to major tourist attractions in the emirate. Located on the beachfront, the hotel’s rooms offer tourists the ultimate in luxury and wellness through a harmonious fusion with nature. It has 377 grand luxury rooms and suites, each with a balcony or terrace overlooking the Indian Ocean, offering spectacular views. BlueBay Gourmet offers unforgettable and exotic dining experience featuring a wide variety of international cuisines, prepared by an elite group of global award-winning chefs. The resort boasts several world-class restaurants and cafes specializing …

Hyatt Hotels Corporation officially opened Hyatt Place Dubai/Wasl District, marking the third property under Hyatt’s select service brand portoflio in the United Arab Emirates. The hotel joins Hyatt Place Dubai/Al Rigga and Hyatt Place Dubai/Baniyas Square in increasing the number of contemporary yet affordable hospitality offerings in the city. The opening of the property brings Hyatt hotels in the UAE to 10 properties. Located in the heart of Deira in Old Dubai, the property places guests in close proximity to key landmarks such as the heritage and diving village, the Creek, the famed spice and gold souks as well as numerous retail, dining and entertainment outlets. Furthermore, connectivity is yet another strong suit offered by the location, as Hyatt Place Dubai/Wasl District is close to key metro, dhow cruise and taxi stations. “We look forward to hosting guests both local and international alike as we introduce them to the modern comforts of a Hyatt Place property,” shares Fathi Khogaly, cluster general manager. “The hotel will provide travellers with a unique stay through the design, amenities and warm hospitality offered by the entire team. The decision to introduce a third Hyatt Place property stems from its seamless integration into the city’s contemporary appeal, prioritising consistent development,” said Kurt Straub, vice president of operations, Middle East, Africa and South West Asia. “We’re seeing an increased guest demand for our select service portfolio and as such are meeting these demands across the UAE and KSA. We plan to continue to expand our brand presence across the Middle East, as part of our pipeline of development for the region.” The property offers 202 stylish guestrooms, including 10 suites, with separate spaces to sleep, work …

HotelTonight and Airbnb announced that the acquisition bringing the two companies together has closed. In the first quarter of 2019, the number of room nights booked via HotelTonight increased more than 41 per cent, year-over-year. Airbnb is working to reimagine travel by building an end-to-end travel platform that combines where you stay, what you do, and how you get there, all in one place. HotelTonight is a hotel-booking service focused on making last-minute trips easy and fun, offering travelers seamless, on-demand booking for boutique and independent hotels. Together, HotelTonight and Airbnb will offer guests more choices and make it easier for the world’s best boutique and independent hotels to connect with Airbnb’s global network of guests. The HotelTonight app and website will continue to operate as they do today. Sam Shank, co-founder and CEO, HotelTonight, will lead the boutique hotel category at Airbnb. “When we founded HotelTonight, we sought to reimagine the hotel booking experience to be more simple, fast and fun, and to better connect travellers with the world’s best boutique and independent hotels,” said Shank. “We are delighted to take this vision to new heights as part of Airbnb.” “We want Airbnb to be the place where travellers plan all of their trips, whether they are booking one year or one day in advance,” said Greg Greeley, President of Homes, Airbnb. “The HotelTonight team has a tremendous passion for helping guests and rich industry expertise. We are more than thrilled to have them on board.” The HotelTonight app was designed to delight customers with a truly unique booking experience. The app recently added Daily Drop, a personalised daily deal offering that has been loved by guests and will …