Category Archives: Hotels

Five-star luxury Waldhotel Health & Medical Excellence in Lucerne, Switzerland has opened its doors within the historic Bürgenstock Hotels & Resort after an extensive regeneration programme. The 160-room Waldhotel Health and Medical joins Switzerland’s world-class collection of exclusive wellness centres, which attract more than 250,000 GCC medical tourists per year. The luxury Swiss resort offers non-invasive medical treatments, recuperation, rest and relaxation. The integrated, state-of-the-art alpine facility is an exclusive retreat for medical tourists, wellbeing enthusiasts and athletes, providing diagnostic, therapeutic and rehabilitation programmes, in addition to preventative and cosmetic treatments. Set in the luxury of the five-star Waldhotel, the holistic approach to health encompasses nutrition, exercise and rest, balanced with the healing qualities of Lake Lucerne, to create a bespoke wellness experience for each guest. With alpine air, dramatic scenery and a focus on health and nature, as well as exclusive shopping districts, it makes for a compelling proposition for a growing number of visitors from the GCC region. Switzerland is now a destination of choice for 253,919 outbound medical tourists from the GCC countries. According to the Deloitte Swiss Hospitality Study 2015, GCC health and medical tourists accrued 735,318 overnight stays in 2014, marking an increase of 23% on the previous year, with the highest number of visitors arriving from Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Swiss arrival figures received a further boost in 2017, with UAE passport holders no longer required to obtain short-stay visas – music to ears of luxury hoteliers, especially when GCC visitors spend up to $450 per day, four-times that of domestic Swiss tourists

Attracting a wide segment of tourist population from GCC countries, Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort has weaved several offers for GCC guests including ‘Your Holidays in Ocean View’, which starts at MAD 2650 per night; ‘Unlimited Golf Offer’ at MAD 2300 per night; ‘30 Days Advance Purchase’, which offers visitors a special 15 per cent off, ‘Family Holidays in Mazagan’ starting at MAD 1800 per night and ‘Emirates Skywards Special Offer’, which allows visitors to enjoy exclusive benefits and earn 1Miles for every $1 spent on accommodation when booked via this website or reservations call numbers. Additionally, the resort has also crafted deals for its GCC tourists including ‘Etihad Guest Members Offer’ and ‘Exclusive AlFursan members offer’. “Of the guests that visited the resort, 12 per cent were GCC visitors, who look for real, authentic experiences. At Mazagan Beach and Golf Resort, we have crafted some special offers which not only serve as an attraction for the GCC visitors, but also align with their idea of ‘memorable holiday experiences’,” said Khadija El Idrissi, Director of Communication and Public Relations, Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort.

JA Hatta Fort Hotel celebrated the festive season in the greenest way to raise awareness about the importance of protecting the environment. Around 275 recycled car tires have been used to build a unique Christmas tree. The tree was made up of recycled car parts, recycled timbers, LED fairy lights and a GI chain. Deborah Thomson, General Manager, JA Hatta Fort Hotel, commented, “As we continue with our holiday celebrations and enjoy the festive period, it’s important that we remember the environment around us. Our ‘very green’ tree is a small reminder to keep recycling and contributing to sustainable initiatives. It’s a fun and different way to celebrate Christmas and we look forward to welcoming all our guests to JA Hatta Fort Hotel over this joyful period.”

Ascott, the world’s largest serviced residence provider, has secured two properties in Accra, Ghana. The 220-unit Ascott 1 Oxford Street Accra will open in phases from 2019, while the 40-unit Kwarleyz Residence will open in 4Q 2018. Lee Chee Koon, Chief Executive Officer, Ascott said, “We are excited to close a record year of growth for Ascott with the successful addition of Africa to Ascott’s global footprint. Ascott added 18 new cities across nine countries and secured a record of over 21,000 units in 2017. This is not only twice the increase in 2016, but also Ascott’s largest ever portfolio expansion in a single year. As these properties progressively open and stabilise, we can expect more fee income contribution to Ascott annually.

The much-awaited Dubai Frame will be opened to the public as soon as next week. Visitors can pre-book their tour through the website or app apart from the paper tickets that will be available too. Only a specific number of people will be accepted at one time. The Dh160-million Dubai Frame will provide visitors with a 360-degree view of Dubai as they walk through a 93-metre glass bridge to see old Dubai from the north and modern Dubai from the south. The rectangular structure, consisting of two 150-metre towers, connects the past and present of Dubai. Visitors will enjoy a journey through time for only Dh50 for adults and Dh30 for children. Free tickets will be offered for children under three, people over 60 and people of determination.

Scheduled to open in 2020, the 250-key AVANI Muscat Hotel will be located in Seeb to the west of the city at a 15 minutes’ drive from Muscat International Airport. Seeb is a prime residential area in Muscat and a key area for future development as the city grows westwards. The hotel will be connected via a sky bridge to the upcoming Al Araimi Boulevard Mall, which is currently being developed and is scheduled to open in 2018 with over 250 retail and dining outlets, a medical centre and a 10-screen cinema complex. With a total development cost of USD 50 million by Safari International Group, the new hotel will open in two phases. The first phase will comprise 160 guest rooms and suites, an all-day dining restaurant, an AVANI pantry and a rooftop lounge. Additional facilities will include a swimming pool and health club along with a 1,000 square metre ballroom and eight meeting rooms. The second phase, which will commence two years after the main hotel opens, will offer a total of 90 serviced apartments including studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments, plus two 175 square metre three-bedroom apartments.

In partnership with Accenture Strategy, Emaar Hospitality Group has unveiled three new projects for digitalisation that will leverage the Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence to promote organisation-wide digital innovation and enhance guest experience. Olivier Harnisch, Chief Executive Officer, Emaar Hospitality Group, said, “The three new projects will position us a leading digital player in the hospitality sector, underpinned by our commitment to maximising the guest experience by drawing on the power of data to do our work better and more efficiently.” The new projects cover the digital transformation of Emaar Hospitality Group, which has three brands – Address Hotels + Resorts, Vida Hotels and Resorts and Rove Hotels – as well as Emaar Leisure Group assets and Lifestyle Dining outlets. Using its innovation and design capabilities, as well as its global expertise in the travel and hospitality sector, Accenture will help design and build new capabilities aimed at improving guest satisfaction. Alexis Lecanuet, Managing Director and Products Lead for Accenture in the Middle East and Turkey said, “To keep up with the demands of an increasingly tech savvy clientele, hoteliers have to think of innovative ways to reinvent the entire guest experience—even from the time before they book through to after check out.”

JA Bateaux Dubai, the five-star luxury floating experience is now ready in a new location with a revamped new menu for the upcoming tourist season. Set in the historical rejuvenated Al Seef area, the air-conditioned glass enclosed vessel is the ideal luxury cruise which would take guests through the leading trading routes and the historical Bastakiya district. Visitors can discover historical sights of Dubai on board JA Bateaux Dubai with their personalised service along with freshly prepared delectable gourmet cuisine while enjoying a 360-degree view of Dubai.

In an effort to expand its luxury portfolio across UAE, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announced the opening of the InterContinental Fujairah Resort in Dibba. The resort’s 190 stylish guest rooms and suites, including 44 Club InterContinental Rooms and 38 suites, feature expansive balconies offering the perfect vantage point to admire uninterrupted views across the sea. InterContinental Fujairah Resort is a beachfront property situated on the shoreline of the Al Aqah Beach, beneath the spectacular backdrop of the Hajar Mountains. The luxury resort consists of a series of low-rise Arabesque village-style buildings and combines contemporary design elements with strong Arab influences that reflect the local heritage and culture. The resort offers unrivalled facilities and amenities including a gymnasium, spa offering an extensive menu of signature therapies, as well as four meeting rooms, a boardroom and a ballroom. Guests will also have the exclusive benefit of the Concierge programme, which is designed to provide travellers with experiences of local insight. Family travellers can indulge in the hotel’s unique offerings for children of all ages, including a family pool, Kids’ Club and a Teens’ Club.

The newest addition to the Dubai Marina is the new five-star Stella Di Mare Hotel to be completed by Q1 in 2018. The property will comprise 252 king rooms, 72 twin rooms and 45 suites. All rooms will be fully air-conditioned, with high-speed Wi-Fi, flat-screen TV, personal safe, mini-bar and 24-hour room service. It will feature three restaurants offering a range of dining experiences including Italian, Mediterranean and international buffet. Three bars in the hotel would include a lobby lounge Orphic Bar providing snacks and Italian coffee, the pool bar providing daily refreshments and the signature rooftop bar Skyland, located on the 31st floor of the property with spectacular views of Dubai Marina. The 550 sq m spa will offer a variety of treatments, including massages, facials and beauty therapies. There will be separate male and female saunas, steam room, indoor jacuzzi and swimming pool. The health and wellness options will also include an indoor gymnasium with a range of high quality equipment, plus a salon offering hair, nail and other beauty treatments.