Category Archives: Hotels

Marriott International has announced the re-launch of its Arabic website to enhance the online customer journey of the Arab traveller. With nearly 400 million Arabic speakers in 22 countries, the company is now providing an end-to-end solution for a seamless Arabic booking experience. The relaunch follows the recent announcement detailing the company’s ambitious growth plans for the Middle East and Africa region where it will expand its current portfolio by 50 per cent, and as a result add 30,000 jobs. With such an emphasis placed on the region, the relaunch of its Arabic website is the next step in an exciting growth story. To mark the occasion this Ramadan, Marriott International hosted a Majlis panel joined by Aida Al Busaidy, Director, C2C Marketing & Campaigns at DTCM, Talal Al Rashed, Co-founder Contourage and Hospitality Consultant and Vladimir Dabbah, Vice President, Global Sales MEA at Marriott International. The esteemed panel discussed the importance of catering to the Arab Traveler, who often have a fierce sense of pride and remaining true to their identity. Arab travellers generate more than double room revenue per stay compared to other travellers, and annual revenue per Arab customer is 38 per cent higher than other travelers. In order to cater to the traditional customs of the Arab travelers, symbols of Arab culture should be demonstrated in both communication and on hotel properties.

Majid Al Futtaim and Marriott International have announced the opening of Aloft City Centre Deira, the Aloft brand’s third property in Dubai. Owned and developed by Majid Al Futtaim, Aloft City Centre Deira is situated in the cultural heart of Dubai and is the first hotel in the region to offer movie-themed suites, alongside a VOX Cinemas’ OUTDOOR screen and the Aloft brand’s signature programming. Jalil Mekouar, Chief Executive Officer of Hotels at Majid Al Futtaim – Properties said, “I’m delighted to announce the opening of the Aloft City Centre Deira, which is our 13th hotel in the region. This is a milestone moment for Majid Al Futtaim as we integrate our VOX Cinemas brand into one of our hotels for the first time. This concept will provide a completely new offering within Dubai’s hospitality sector and will see us create even more authentic and personalised experiences that will delight guests in our home market. Aloft City Centre Deira is testament to our unique integrated destination offering, that brings together our award-winning hospitality, shopping, leisure and entertainment lifestyle excellences to create memorable experiences for our guests.” Aloft City Centre Deira delivers a fresh approach from the traditional hotel landscape with its emphasis on a lively, in-hotel social scene, modern design, innovative music programming, and thoughtful technology incorporated to enhance guest experience.

The Hotel Galleria, part of the Elaf Group has become the biggest hotel to be directly connected to a mall in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and one of the few hotels that combine architectural splendor with high-end services. With 364 rooms, the Hotel Galleria, which is inspired by the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan, Italy, offers a range of world-class services and modern facilities for its guests. The hotel is directly connected to the mall which hosts a range of world-class luxury brands, providing guests with an exceptional experience according to the highest standards. The hotel offers facilities for business meetings, events, and luxurious banquets, an executive lounge, and other recreational amenities such as fully equipped health club and spa, and fine dining restaurants such as The Kitchen, El-Vaquero, The Birdcage, Milano, and Aqua. Ziyad Bin Mahfouz, CEO, Elaf Group, said, “We are proud to have opened the biggest hotel connected to a mall in Saudi Arabia, which serves as a new addition to our journey of success and excellence. This achievement comes in line with the Group’s strategy to promote the Kingdom’s tourism and hospitality, while providing the needed impetus to our expansion plans aimed at strengthening the Group’s strong market presence. The hotel has a sophisticated design that combines the magnificence and aesthetics of Italian architecture.”

Address Downtown, the flagship hotel under Emaar Hospitality Group’s premium lifestyle Address Hotels and Resorts brand, has opened its doors to hotel guests in Dubai with several innovative features including new restaurant concepts, additional rooms and suites, The Spa and a brand-new interior design. The hotel has 220 guest rooms and suites. Olivier Harnisch, Chief Executive Officer of Emaar Hospitality Group, said, “Address Downtown holds a very special place in the hearts of all discerning travellers and guests. Defined by its central location overlooking Burj Khalifa, the hotel has consistently secured the world’s leading tourism and hospitality awards. With the opening of Address Downtown, Emaar is bringing to life a crowning glory in its hotel assets. Working with world-leading designers and consultants, the all-new Address Downtown ushers in an exceptional lifestyle choice and set new standards in luxury hospitality. The hotel will continue to uphold its distinctive positioning of ‘where life happens’.” Towering high at 302 metres in 63 levels, Address Downtown is one of the world’s foremost references for luxury hospitality, only 15 minutes from the Dubai International Airport. Set in the heart of Downtown Dubai, the hotel is in walking distance of The Dubai Mall and directly overlooks Burj Khalifa. Guests have uninterrupted views of The Dubai Fountain, the world’s tallest water-music spectacle.

FORM Hotel Dubai has announced the opening of its flagship property, located in the heart of Dubai’s cultural village, in the Al Jadaf neighbourhood.  The 15-storey hotel also represents the latest addition to the prestigious Design Hotels™ collection; the first Dubai-based member to be selected. The property merges an emphasis on well being with a carefully curated design concept, offering technology-driven and customised travel experiences to business and leisure travelers alike. As such, FORM Hotel Dubai is proud to bring a unique and unchartered concept to the UAE hotel market. The property, with its 136-rooms, presents four room configurations including the cozy, ideal, plus+ and the mega with starting room rates at AED 349 per night inclusive of breakfast, exclusive of taxes and 5 per cent VAT. The special opening rate during the Eid period guests can avail starting night rates of AED 224 per night inclusive of breakfast, exclusive of taxes and 5 per cent VAT. Conveniently positioned close to the Dubai International Airport, Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa, Dubai Design District (d3), and Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), FORM Hotel Dubai is carved from an Architecture Studio-designed structure that relives the origins of Dubai’s heritage. Inside, art deco-inspired bespoke furniture — also by the Paris-based Architecture Studio — fills guestrooms alongside custom-crafted art and photography by Nina Dietzel, for an understated yet sharp interior that is at once timeless and contemporary.

IHG has announced opening of Crowne Plaza Riyadh Palace in partnership with Dur Hospitality. The 304-room hotel adds to the growing portfolio of IHG hotels in Saudi Arabia. Crowne Plaza Riyadh Palace is strategically located in the Ministries Quarter, a popular business district that is close to major Saudi financial institutions and government offices. The hotel is located 15 minutes from King Fahd Stadium and the King Fahd Cultural Centre, and is less than 30 minutes’ drive from King Khalid International Airport, making it easily accessible for visitors to the city. Productivity and rejuvenation go hand in hand at the Crowne Plaza Riyadh Palace, which is redefining the business travel experience and offering a comprehensive range of facilities to meet the needs of corporate and MICE travelers. For those in town on business, the hotel features five meeting rooms spanning 1,400 sqm and a dedicated team to execute seamless events. With free Wi-Fi access throughout the hotel, the guests can stay connected to their business or home. Additionally, the 24-hour business center is fully equipped with the latest technology and amenities, providing a great working space to the hotel guests. During downtime, guests can enjoy the hotel’s outdoor pool, Club Lounge or rejuvenate and relax at the spa. The guests staying at the hotel can keep their workouts on track at the well-equipped fitness centre.

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has invited its guests around the globe to join its efforts to mark World Environment Day on June 5. From beach clean ups and tree planting to fun recycling projects and organic gardening, the hospitality firm’s hotel teams across the globe are embracing the United Nations initiative with a raft of events. Selected properties across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East have planned a vast range of activities in support of the UN initiative, which encourages worldwide awareness and action for the protection of the environment. This year’s theme is ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’– a call to action to combat one of today’s greatest environmental challenges, with plastic pollution posing a significant threat to natural places, wildlife and human health. Mövenpick – the world’s most Green Globe certified hotel company – aims to raise awareness of this and other major environmental issues by staging a variety of educational and practical activities at several properties worldwide on June 5, with guests of all ages invited to join its hotel teams to take part.

Minor International (MINT) announced that it has acquired 30,000,000 shares in NH Hotel Group in a transaction valued at EUR 192 million, which together with its existing shareholding will increase MINT’s stake in NH Hotel Group to 8.6% on a fully diluted basis. NH Hotel Group is on a strong growth trajectory as it has successfully enhanced operational efficiencies across its group in recent years and is also now benefitting from the improving European macroeconomic outlook, both of which have been reflected in its strengthening financial results and rising ADRs. In particular, its four main clusters, Spain, Benelux, Central Europe and Italy, have been, and will continue to be, the drivers for solid growth going forward. The investment in NH Hotel Group also marks a strategic progression given MINT’s current presence in Asia, Australia, the Middle East and Europe. The investment in NH Hotel Group is a further move into Europe by MINT following its earlier expansion into Portugal and Brazil through the acquisition of Tivoli Hotels & Resorts in 2016, and one that is complementary to the geographical footprint of MINT’s pre-investment portfolio. NH Hotel Group has a portfolio of 382 hotels and resorts with 59,350 keys spanning across 30 countries in Europe, the Americas and Africa. The NH and NH Collection brands have gained fast-growing recognition, particularly in Europe, with the strong potential to expand its footprint and enhance its reputation even further globally.

The Ascott Limited (Ascott) has secured a second property under the Citadines brand in Turkey: Citadines Maslak Istanbul, scheduled to open in Q2 2019. The newly built serviced residence is in Maslak 1453, one of Europe’s largest lifestyle developments and one of Istanbul’s main business and leisure districts. This is the same development as Somerset Maslak Istanbul – Ascott’s first property that opened in Turkey, last year. The property is ideally located in the city’s major commercial hub, which is home to many multinational corporations, such as Ericsson, Cisco and Ford, as well as educational institutions including Nisantasi University and Istanbul Technical University. Popular leisure destinations close to the the property include the mall Istinye Park, which offers 291 retail stores and food bazaar, sports stadium Türk Telecom Arena that houses football club Galatasaray SK; and the Istanbul Sapphire, an integrated development comprising retail and residential components. “Istanbul is a thriving city, for both business and leisure,” says Vincent Miccolis, Ascott’s Regional General Manager for the Middle East, Africa and Turkey. “It has increasingly become an attractive destination for investors and multinational corporations as a regional hub, and the number of tourists visiting is on the rise. Our research shows that occupancy levels have been gradually recovering since 2017. This, when coupled with the current deficiency in quality serviced apartments in the region, gives us confidence that Citadines Maslak Istanbul can meet the demands of the mid-market hospitality sector.”

Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi’s new luxurious beachfront resort, will open on November 11, 2018. Surrounded by natural beauty, the  beachfront resort is just 10 minutes from downtown Abu Dhabi and 20 minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport. Located on a stunning island, overlooking turquoise waters and protected sand dunes, the 293 room hotel values sustainable tourism and will be plastic bottle and plastic straw free. In partnership with Trust Your Water, the hotel will provide solutions to eliminate the need for single use plastic water bottles. Proposed measures include complimentary, reusable plastic bottles for all guests who will be encouraged to refill at water stations throughout the hotel. In addition, local filtered water will be served in glass bottles throughout the resort. The modern and light rooms feature expansive sea views and six panoramic suites offer floor-to-ceiling glass walls which can open up to take advantage of the sea breeze. The eight food and beverage outlets include the chic all-day dining venue White for buffets and live cooking stations; Mare Mare for fresh and authentic Italian summer food; Levantine inspired TEAN for mezzes and grills next to the beach and Al Majilis for a cup of rich roasted coffee and patisseries.