Category Archives: Hotels

IHG signs world’s largest voco with Maad International in Saudi Arabia

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is continuing to expand its footprint across Saudi Arabia with the signing of voco Makkah in partnership with Maad International, among the Kingdom’s largest hospitality real estate development companies. The property will be the largest voco in the world, when operational in early 2020, and it will cater to the growing number of religious tourists in KSA. The 4,200-room hotel will take IHG’s portfolio in the country to over 19,500 rooms, solidifying IHG’s position as one of the largest hospitality players in Saudi Arabia. voco Makkah will occupy a premium location within the greater Maad Hospitality Towers Development, a mega mixed-used development that includes restaurants, lounge areas, event halls and separate male and female prayer halls. Situated in one of the most sought-after locations in the Holy City, the new hotel is within walking distance of Masjid Al Haram, and it will provide an ideal base for pilgrims along with an exceptional guest experience including over 20,000 sqm of dining and meeting facilities. Pascal Gauvin, Managing Director, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG, said, “We are honoured to enter into this agreement with Maad International, which is one of the most renowned hospitality development companies in the Kingdom. We look forward to catering to the influx of pilgrims at voco Makkah, which will provide a welcoming, comfortable and a reliably different experience during the Hajj and Umrah seasons.”

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120-room second Citymax opens in Al Barsha Dubai

In keeping with the mid-market sector UAE’s homegrown brand Citymax launched its second hotel in the Al Barsha area and the fifth across the UAE on June 27, 2019. The opening follows the successful launch of Citymax Hotel Ras Al Khaimah in November 2018, and enhances the Citymax portfolio up to five hotels in operation across the GCC, as well as a sixth Citymax Hotel in Aswan, Egypt. Known for its personality of ‘vibrant simplicity’ and providing its guests with an unforgettable stay, Citymax Hotel Al Barsha will follow in the same steps, but with an added sense of appeal. This Citymax property is uniquely positioned to cater to business travellers looking for the comforts of a well-known brand, but the exclusivity and warmth of a boutique hotel. The hotel boasts 120 spacious rooms, including 24 twin rooms and 96 queen rooms. Each floor of the hotel has only 10 rooms, providing a sense of privacy in the heart of bustling ‘New Dubai’.  The property hosts a meeting room, with a capacity of 8-10 delegates. One of the most unique features in this property is the special floor dedicated to women travellers who would require a little more privacy, hence the whole floor with 10 rooms are dedicated only for women, catered by women. “The introduction of Citymax Al Barsha is a milestone for both Citymax Hotels and the UAE hospitality sector, as we’re now in a position to offer a niche audience quality accommodation that perfectly suits their business needs, whilst at the same time amplifying the unique warmth of a boutique-style hotel,” says Joanne Williams, General Manager of Citymax Al Barsha.

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Mandarin Oriental celebrates 10 years of wellness

The award-winning Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is celebrating 10 years as a leader in wellness at its luxury spas worldwide. Over the past decade, the Group has launched a range of signature concepts, products, and treatments that have helped to establish the Group’s spas as some of the best in the world. Examples of innovation include a collaboration with global health and fitness platform Grokker to bring wellness into the guestroom with a range of complimentary in-room health and fitness videos; the launch of Mindful Meetings by Mandarin Oriental, designed to enhance and energise meetings and conferences with creative solutions that are based on five key elements of wellness: nourishment, movement, stillness, connections and wellbeing; and relaxing Digital Wellness treatments and practical tips that encourage guests to take a break from today’s ever-present technology. In addition, the Group has invested in a number of expertly trained Mandarin Oriental Specialists to provide guests with bespoke, specific treatments and experiences that can be hard to find elsewhere. These include podiatry specialists, TCM specialists, a Turkish Hammam Master, Shaolin Kung Fu Master and Thai massage therapists. The Group started their celebration of innovations achieved over 10 Years of Wellness on Global Wellness Day, June 8, 2019, with complimentary wellness activities at all hotels and resorts worldwide. For the rest of the year, guests are encouraged to rediscover some of the Group’s most popular, ground-breaking signature treatments and products. Those who book the Group’s signature Oriental Qi massage between Global Wellness Day and September 8, 2019 will receive tip sheets for exercise, balance and breathing together with a signature oil that relates to their own personalised element to use at home.

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202-room Hyatt Place Wasl District opens in the heart of Dubai

The third property in the portfolio of Hyatt properties in the Old Dubai area opened recently as Hyatt Place Wasl District joining the two other earlier properties, 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. Hyatt Place Dubai/Wasl District offers 202 guestrooms, including 10 suites, with separate spaces to sleep, work and play, as well as a Cozy Corner sofa-sleeper, 105 well-appointed apartments comprising of studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments that feature kitchenette, modern utility services and more. Meeting spaces amassing over 300 square metres, are designed for clients hosting stylish and flexible small-scale business meetings, conferences or celebrating special occasions. “We look forward to hosting guests both local and international alike as we introduce them to the modern comforts of a Hyatt Place property. The hotel will provide travellers with a unique stay through the design, amenities and warm hospitality offered by the entire team,” shared Fathi Khogaly, Cluster General Manager, Hyatt  Corporation. “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, Hyatt Hotels Corporation. “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.”

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DTCM announces Hotel Emission Analysis Report

Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) announced it will provide Dubai hotels with an individual Hotel Emission Analysis Report, offering an overview of each establishment’s emission performance in comparison to its peers using results from the Carbon Calculator software. Providing hotels with recommendations for improvement by referring them to the ‘12 Steps Towards Sustainability’ manual, which was launched by Dubai Tourism last year, the Hotel Emission Analysis Report has been launched in line with the UAE’s 2021 National Agenda to promote sustainable growth, reinforcing Dubai’s position as the smartest city in the world and role model in energy efficiency. In 2017, Dubai Sustainable Tourism (DST), an initiative under Dubai Tourism, launched the Carbon Calculator software, a tool developed to measure the carbon footprint of Dubai’s hospitality sector. The emirate’s hotel establishments were mandated to record and submit their emission sources, across electricity, district cooling, water and waste, allowing the findings to be collated for valuable industry insights. Yousuf Lootah, Executive Director – Tourism Development & Investments, Dubai Tourism, commented, “In line with the vision of His Highness, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, to transform the emirate into one of the world’s leading sustainable tourism destinations, the Hotel Emission Analysis Report has been developed as a targeted manual to guide hotels on the sustainability performance of their properties. Furthermore, it will provide a cohesive understanding of where they stand comparatively amongst their industry peers on an annual basis, identifying where improvements can be made to facilitate further resource management, in turn reducing the industry’s collective carbon footprint.”  

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Avaya transforms world’s top hotel groups with unique guest experiences

Leading hospitality providers are implementing new and innovative ways to enhance guest and staff experiences with the help of unified communications and contact center solutions from Avaya Holdings Corp., a global leader in solutions, to enhance and simplify communications and collaboration for the global hospitality industry. According to IDG, 62% of businesses believe digital transformation success is defined by excellent customer experience as measured by customer satisfaction scores. “As a significant and growing global hospitality brand known for superior guest experiences across our 5,000 resorts and hotels worldwide, Accor chooses our vendors carefully,” said Denis Collette, Global Call Centre IT manager, Accor. “We have been an Avaya customer over the last 20 years and we look to Avaya for our continued growth in enhancing our guest journey. The Avaya IX Contact Centre solution is rock solid with a history of proven reliability and support.” Moxy Hotels, Marriott’s newest brand, focuses on providing fresh and innovative experiences to guests by combining stylish design and approachable service at an affordable price point. “To ensure we are giving our guests the finest experience we knew we needed a reliable, rich-feature solution that came in at a competitive price point,” said Lowell Beebe-Center, Director of Operations, Moxy Hotels. “Connectivity today is a critical aspect of the hospitality industry. It is essential to have proper infrastructure to provide the reliable services our guests need,” said Joseph Fayad, Corporate Director IT, TIME Hotels, a chain of four resort brands based in the UAE. “Our new Avaya contact centre and unified communications platform helps make it possible for the group to automate key guest services including wake-up calls, reservation reminders, and requests for information on hotel services …

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Expedia Partner Solutions inks deal with dcs plus

Expedia Partner Solutions (EPS), the B2B brand within Expedia Group, is bringing its competitive rates and availability for more than 500,000 accommodations to technology specialist dcs plus and its travel partners. The new venture enabled through EPS’s newest hotel API, Rapid, will broaden and deepen dcs plus’s inventory offering, particularly in emerging markets in Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and Latin America. With the implementation of EPS Rapid, dcs plus will be able to offer its partners access to 35 different accommodation types including hotels, resorts, treehouses and houseboats, across more than 25,000 global destinations. The API’s modular architecture also allows for versatility to meet partners’ varying needs. Fritz Oberhummer, Director of Account Management Platforms, EPS, EMEA says, “dcs plus’s reliable solutions have allowed us to expand our reach and provide travel agents and travel management companies across the world with access to EPS’s extensive accommodation portfolio, through EPS Rapid. dcs plus combines its accommodation offering from EPS with travel products, such as flights and car hire, to build dynamic packaging solutions for travel agents.” Andrei Savin, Alliances and Partners Senior Manager, dcs plus, says, “A key factor in our decision to work with EPS was the ability to further extend our existing partner base and give added value to the travel partners we share. We recognise the value of EPS’s cutting edge travel technology products and are excited to work with these to power our partners’ travel businesses.”    

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GFH and H Hospitality Collection ink new 5-star hotel deal

GFH Financial Group signed the Operation Agreement with H Hotels & Resorts Management (H Hotels) for the operation of an exclusive, new 5-star hotel and residences currently under development at the landmark Harbour Row waterfront project located in the heart of Manama. The move will mark H Hospitality Collection’s entrance into the Bahrain market adding to the UAE based company’s growing collection of luxury hotels and resorts internationally including: The H Dubai, The H Resort Seychelles, CentreVille Hotel & Experiences Montenegro and Villa Diyafa in Morocco. Other properties in the company’s portfolio also include Le Meridien Fisherman’s Cove in the Seychelles and two hotels under construction in Mecca and Abu Dhabi. The hotel and residences will boast a host of world-class facilities including stylish restaurants, meeting rooms, pool, gym and other lifestyle amenities set to attract and satisfy the most discerning visitors and buyers.  Hisham Al Rayes, CEO of GFH, said, “We are delighted to announce this agreement with H Hotels, who have built a world-class portfolio of well-known properties and brands. We are especially pleased that Harbour Row will mark their first property in the Kingdom of Bahrain, both benefiting from and supporting Bahrain’s vision to further elevate its position as a leading regional tourism and leisure hub.” Claudio Capaccioli, CEO of H Hospitality Collection, added, “We look forward to working with GFH in order to maximise the many unique aspects of Harbour Row including its exclusive and much sought-after waterfront location, easy access to all major commercial and business centres and close proximity to key tourist attractions across the Kingdom.”

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Millennium and Copthorne Makkah Al Naseem hotels open doors

Millennium and Copthorne Makkah Al Naseem hotels situated in Makkah City Center at Al Naseem district opened their doors to meet the rapidly increasing demand of rooms and luxury stays within the holy city of Makkah. The two properties add 1307 keys to the 4067 keys currently operated by Millennium Hotels & Resorts MEA in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and supporting the 2030 vision. The two properties are part of Al Rajhi complex in Al Naseem district in the holy city of Makkah and at a walking distance from Al-Rajhi Mosque that is part of the complex. Millennium and Copthorne Makkah Al Naseem provide a convenient location for pilgrims close to the holy sites including Arafat, Mina and Mozdalifa and a relaxing atmosphere to Umrah performers and business travellers. A 24/ 7 free shuttle service to and from the haram, on-site recreational activities, entertainment, restaurants and business facilities are available within Al Rajhi complex for the guests to enjoy while staying in the hotels. Kevork Deldelian, Chief Operating Officer at Millennium Hotels and Resorts MEA, stated, “We are pleased to introduce these new properties to Millennium Hotels & Resorts portfolio in the Kingdom, as the fruitful outcome of our partnership with Sulaiman A.Al-Rajhi Real Estate Investments Company.  We look forward to seeing these properties among top hotels within the Makkah province.” Khalid Saud Abuhaimed, CEO at Sulaiman A.Al-Rajhi Real Estate Investments Company, commented, “We are witnessing a huge leap in the development of Al Rajhi complex and these new openings represent an essential part of the complex complementing its comprehensive facilities.  As one of the leading Saudi holding groups, we are keen to keep up with the strong growth …

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Rove At the Park opens in Dubai Parks and Resorts

Rove Hotels opened its sixth hotel in Dubai – Rove At The Park – in Dubai Parks and Resorts, the largest integrated theme park destination in the region. As the opening offer, guests can stay at Rove At The Park for only AED 199 per night inclusive of two tickets to Dubai Parks and Resorts. Rove At The Park has 579 comfortably sized rooms and interconnecting family rooms, making it an ideal choice for families and groups. Guests at Dubai Parks and Resorts can access more than 100 fun and adrenaline-packed rides and attractions spread across Motiongate, Bollywood Parks, Legoland and Legoland Water Park. This is in addition to free access to themed zones, street ambience and numerous shops and restaurants at Riverland. On the opening of the new hotel, Paul Bridger, Corporate Director of Operations, Rove Hotels, said, “Guests love Rove Hotels for their convenient locations, funky interiors, chilled ambience and great service, which have made the brand one of the most popular in the city. We are excited to open Rove At The Park, our sixth and largest property in Dubai. The hotel offers a launchpad to discover Dubai Parks and Resorts and the rest of the city.” “With the opening of Rove At The Park, guests will have easy access to a vibrant new hotel that is perfect for residents looking for a quick weekend getaway. Opening a second hotel is part of Dubai Parks and Resorts’ strategy to have more than 1,300 keys at the destination by the second half of 2020. We look forward to welcoming even more tourists who will now be able to enjoy rides and attractions at the park, with the option …

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