Category Archives: Hotels

Emaar Hospitality Group in partnership with the Kalyan Group, marked its expansion to Sub-Saharan Africa to operate Address Hotel 2 Février Lomé Togo in the heart of Lomé . The 30-storey landmark property to be managed by premium lifestyle hotel and serviced residences brand, Address Hotels + Resorts. It will be a 256-room hotel and 64 serviced apartments in the tallest building in West Africa with a wide choice of restaurants and meeting facilities. Only 7 km from the Lomé–Tokoin International Airport, which connects Togo to key African cities as well as Europe and beyond, Address Hotel 2 Février Lomé Togo will be operated by Address Hotels + Resorts, the premium lifestyle hotel and serviced residences brand of Emaar Hospitality Group, which will assume the management of the property shortly. A team of ministers from the Republic of Togo and media attended the event at the Address Boulevard. The Minister of Industry and Tourism, Yaovi Attigbe Ihou thanked Kalyan Group and Emaar Hospitality for their strategic vision of partnership which will reap many benefits in the tourism and hospitality sector in the country. He reiterated that Togo is the main portal to enter Africa. “Emaar Hospitality will revolutionise the hospitality sector beginning with Togo in West Africa. Our country is a hub open for all industries and financially solid.

IHG has opened its 1000th hotel in the EMEAA region with the opening of InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort, in Vietnam. This comes as IHG continues its ambitious growth strategy across its newest and most geographically diverse region. The 1000th opening adds to an already strong portfolio in EMEAA, with hotels across eight brands, working in partnership with more than 500 hotel owners. IHG has an extensive development pipeline in EMEAA with 321 hotels (63,500 plus rooms) set to open in the next 3-5 years. InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort is located on the pristine Phu Quoc island, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve off the coast of Vietnam. The resort combines InterContinental’s signature luxury with the island’s unique natural beauty and features 459 luxurious rooms, suites and villas, an exclusive beachfront, six restaurants and bars, and state-of-the-art meeting facilities. IHG’s EMEAA region is playing a key role in the company’s ambitions to grow at pace in key global markets. The rollout of voco™, IHG’s newest brand in the $40 billion upscale market, will begin in EMEAA, with a first signing already announced in Australia. IHG plans to open more than 200 voco hotels globally over the next 10 years. EMEAA is also a key focus as IHG builds out its luxury capabilities. IHG recently unveiled plans to expand its luxury and upscale estate in the UK through a conditional agreement with Covivio (formerly Foncière des Régions).

Lucid Pay, a smart settlement platform, has recently integrated blockchain technology into the systems of 5-star resort Atlantis, The Palm, making it the first for hotels worldwide. The smart platform enables guests to pay for their activities and amenities in an efficient, secure and effortless manner. The platform also uses smart contracts that allow the hotel to pre-define guests’ terms and refund conditions, enabling stress-free and frictionless transactions. The cashless-based solution eliminates disputes and fraud, while providing automated loyalty programmes and speedy executions, which hotels can take advantage of. As a platform, Lucid Pay’s goal is to interconnect the hospitality industry and break physical boundaries, by providing guests with the opportunity to experience the city while charging back to the host and settling their bill at checkout. Commenting on the integration, Liquid D founder Jawad Riachi said, “We’re proud to be able to integrate our blockchain-based smart settlement platform Lucid Pay into a world-class brand such as Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai. I’d like to thank the resorts’ IT team, finance, marketing and operation, who supported the initiative and worked hard to make the project a reality. We have focused on ensuring the product is easy to use, with a convenient learning process. The users immediately feel at home when they use our solution. ” Anthony Lynsdale, Vice President, Information Technology, Atlantis The Palm, Dubai said, “We chose Lucid Pay as our partner to deliver a seamless integrated point of sale solution using a Blockchain platform.”

After its launch in April of ‘Aquaventure After Dark’, Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark at Atlantis, The Palm announced that it will once again open its doors to excited nighttime revelers. Attracting 3,500 teens and adults first time round, the ultimate slide and dance party will make its triumphant return on June 16th from 8pm, offering guests even more fun. In partnership with Coca-Cola and 104.8 Channel 4 radio, Aquaventure After Dark entry tickets will start from only AED 123 when pre-purchased online, offering party-goers a fun-drenched evening from 8pm to 12am mid-night. Featuring pumping music zones and stacks of inflatable fun, Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark will offer visitors the chance to take on 20 of the region’s craziest waterslides, made all the more exhilarating by night. Hungry thrill-seekers can also feast throughout the evening at the various food stations. Shark Bites and Barracudas will offer indoor and outdoor seating and something for every taste, including Arabic mezze, freshly baked pizzas, shawarma, falafel, dosa, fish & chips and barbeque hot off the grill. Situated on the apex of the Palm in Dubai, and known for its terrifying and record-breaking waterslides, Aquaventure Waterpark is the only attraction in The Middle East that offers marine animal experiences, water slides and over 700 metres of beachline. The waterpark also boasts some record breaking slides including the world’s largest circumference water ride ‘Aquaconda’ and the first twin racing tube rides ‘Slitherine’.

Tivoli Hotels & Resorts has announced its first property in the Alentejo region of Portugal in the historic city of Évora, joining the brand’s other timelessly elegant properties in Portugal, Brazil and Qatar. The Tivoli Évora Ecoresort, scheduled to launch in the third quarter of 2018, will be a nature retreat boasting gorgeous scenery and unique cultural experiences. Currently operating as the Ecorkhotel, Évora – Suites & Spa, the property is located on the lush plains of Portugal’s south-central Alentejo region, just a five-minute drive from the historic centre of Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a one-hour drive from the capital Lisbon. Surrounded by age-old cork oak and olive trees, the property is designed in sustainable contemporary style. Soft architectural lines blend perfectly into the verdant landscape, with 56 suites carefully placed around the 38,000 square metre grounds, providing ultimate privacy and tranquillity for guests. All suites are warmly decorated with natural elements such as wool and cork, with outside areas for relaxing amidst the sounds of nature. As part of a refurbishment programme, an exclusive new villa with nine guest rooms and a private outdoor swimming pool will be added to the resort. The ecoresort also has a spa providing pure serenity for the senses. Treatment rooms, an indoor swimming pool, sauna, Turkish bath and fully equipped fitness room will be available for guests to enjoy. Making the most of relaxing inspirational surroundings, the hotel will also focus on personalised wellness programmes, incorporating both traditional and innovative treatments with healthy eating, exercise and nature-based activities.

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C has announced the opening of reservations for The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection will deliver one-of-a-kind experiences to its guests onboard and transform the luxury cruising industry. Reservations are now open for the inaugural season of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, set to take the seas in February 2020. With several distinct itineraries available in 2020, guests have the option to book back-to-back voyages without repeating ports, allowing them to explore a wider range of destinations and delve into the local culture at each port. “As the first luxury hotel company to bring the legendary service and ambience of its resorts to sea, we are thrilled to offer guests a new way to create memories with The Ritz-Carlton,” said Lisa Holladay, Global Brand Leader for The Ritz-Carlton. “From the yacht’s design, to programming onboard and ashore, every aspect of the voyage has been carefully created to embody the signature service and casual luxury of a Ritz-Carlton resort. We look forward to officially welcoming guests onboard The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection as we open reservations.” The opening of reservations marks an exciting milestone for The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, which is set to redefine luxury at sea,” said Doug Prothero, CEO of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. “Whether you are looking for culture, adventure, or the chance to go off the beaten path, we are thrilled to be able to invite guests to explore the world with The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.”

As part of its ongoing commitment to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Marriott International has announced three deal signings in Jeddah with the Al Murjan Group. The projects will add over 500 rooms in the country and feature the Middle East’s first Delta Hotel by Marriott along with Jeddah’s first Marriott Executive Apartments and Four Points by Sheraton. “We are delighted to work with the Al Murjan Group on three exciting new projects in Saudi Arabia. In doing so, we will be expanding our brand portfolio in the region with the debut of Delta Hotels by Marriott while further strengthening the presence of Four Points by Sheraton and Marriott Executive Apartments,” said Alex Kyriakidis, President and Managing Director -Middle East and Africa, Marriott International. The Delta Hotels by Marriott Jeddah Al Salam and Marriott Executive Apartments Jeddah, Al Salam will be located on King Abdulaziz Road and Al Salam Road at the Globe Roundabout in Jeddah. Developed by the Al Murjan Group, the mixed-use project will include commercial and retail space along with the two hotels. The hotels are scheduled to open by 2023. Delta Hotels by Marriott Jeddah Al Salam will feature 175 rooms including 25 suites, two dining outlets, recreational facilities and a 3,000 sqm grand ballroom with pre-function space including four meeting rooms. Marriott Executive Apartments Jeddah, Al Salam will operate 100 stylish apartments (one, two and three bedrooms) with fully equipped kitchens along with a dining outlet, a fitness centre and swimming pool. Four Points by Sheraton Jeddah, Corniche Obhur will be located on the South Obhur Corniche and will include 306 rooms – 196 studio rooms and 110 one bedroom suites, two F&B outlets, a fitness …

Marriott International has announced its transformation vision for Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, the third largest brand in its portfolio. The company, which introduced its new Sheraton guestroom late last year, is showcasing its vision for Sheraton’s public spaces at the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference in New York, bringing to life for owners and investors the company’s brand strategy as well as its signature focus on guest experience, hotel operations and design philosophy. “From the moment we closed the Starwood merger in late 2016, the revitalization of Sheraton has been a top priority for our company,” said Arne Sorenson, President and CEO of Marriott International. “We knew that the way to restore this incredible brand was focus and collaboration with our hotel owners. We wanted to build on Sheraton’s rich legacy of sitting at the heart of communities across the globe, but also to create a differentiated positioning and compelling proposition for our owners. With our Sheraton transformation plan, we’ve put together all of the pieces of the equation to work cooperatively with our owners to set this iconic brand on a new, disciplined and successful path. We are ready, our vision is clear and the energy is robust for Sheraton.” Owners are already responding to the new vision with optimism and energy, committing an estimated half-a-billion dollars in renovations of hotels across the US. Globally, 25 per cent of Sheraton hotels have committed to renovations with some already underway.”

The second hotel in the Zabeel House by Jumeirah collection will open this week, bringing a loft-style vibe to the south banks of Dubai Creek, next door to the earlier opened Zabeel House MINI by Jumeirah. Zabeel House by Jumeirah, Al Seef promises to be the stylish older sibling of its next door neighbour, while still delivering on the collection’s ‘Upscale Casual’ promise of sharp design and smart service, with an informal approach and a moderate price point. With 200 rooms in 3 different sizes for solo travellers, couples or families; a welcoming vast lobby filled with a collection of contrasting art and design pieces and bookcases made for browsing; a destination restaurant that stretches out over the waters of Dubai Creek, and a rooftop bar and pool with views across both old and new Dubai, Zabeel House by Jumeirah, Al Seef provides a completely new experience in this part of the city. Add ample creative spaces to work from as well as five meeting rooms for the corporates, and a design style that is perfectly groomed and stylishly accessorized with enough sophisticated quirks to keep snap-happy guests busy, and you have a hotel that is the perfect hangout for curious travelers with an intrepid spirit, whether they want to stay always on, or go off the grid.

Minor International (MINT)  has announced that it has reached an agreement with HNA Group to purchase an equity stake of 25.2 per cent (on a fully-diluted basis) in NH Hotel Group in a two-tranche transaction valued at EUR 619 million. The purchase follows MINT’s earlier purchase of a 9.5 per cent shareholding (on a fully-diluted basis) in NH Hotel Group. MINT also confirms that it will follow Spanish regulations as applicable to launch an all-cash public tender offer to acquire NH Hotel Group’s remaining shares. Such offer would be at a price not lower than MINT’s highest acquisition price in the last 12 month-period, currently EUR 6.40 per share (subject to fair price adjustments). MINT targets its shareholding in NH Hotel Group at around 51%-55% and intends to keep NH Hotel Group as a publicly-listed company on the Madrid Stock Exchange with strong corporate governance. Based on the target ownership level, the acquisition will be funded through debt instruments, while 2019E interest-bearing-debt to equity ratio is expected to be maintained at a comfortable level of 1.3x. “Today we are embarking on a new era, driving investment strategy to further cement our footprint in the European hospitality industry”, said Dillip Rajakarier, CEO Minor Hotels. “We will be able to create a network of over 540 hotels with a reach across Asia, Oceania, the Middle East, Africa and Europe, all of which are important hospitality regions around the world. The business network will allow the two companies to capitalize on our leadership positions in key growth areas, highly complementary asset and brand portfolio, technology platform and talented employees.”