Category Archives: Hotels

Expanding its footprint in the hospitality sector, Dubai-based The First Investor group, a subsidiary of Al Fardan Group, announced the purchase of the Carlton Downtown hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road. Formerly the Warwick Hotel, it is the third hotel to be operated by Carlton Hotel Management – a brand owned by The First Investor, and the ninth in the group’s collection of hotels. Commenting on the strategic investment, Hosni Abdelhadi, CEO of Carlton Hotel Management company stated, “The Carlton Downtown hotel is an exciting addition to our portfolio of hotels as we continue to expand our presence in the region. Our strategy is to invest in high-growth markets such as Dubai and this fantastic acquisition will reinforce our market position. We are confident that the Carlton Downtown hotel will prove to be a valuable asset for us and will generate superb financial returns for the company.” Located in close proximity to the World Trade Center, DIFC and Downtown Dubai, the 47-storey spectacular tower features 357 rooms (275 suites and 82 spacious rooms). Included in the hotel’s fabulous facilities are 7 restaurants and bars, 10 meeting rooms, a health club and spa. Carlton Downtown hotel is also home to Dubai’s highest open-air rooftop pool and bar with spectacular 360º views over the city. With a strong presence in real estate, hospitality, shipping, finance, retail, security, IT, food and beverage industries, The First Investor has a diverse portfolio. Over the last few years the company has emerged as a major player in the hospitality sector with a total investment of over AED 2.2 billion in various hotel projects. Hotels owned by the company include Carlton Downtown – Dubai, Carlton Palace Hotel – …

AccorHotels announced the extensive conversion and rebranding of a former Sheikh Zayed Road landmark into the Mercure Dubai Barsha Heights Hotel Suites & Apartments. The property is currently undergoing the first of a two-phase comprehensive refurbishment and is anticipated to open under the Mercure brand on May 19, 2017. As part of the first phase, 120 hotel rooms will be renovated to fit Mercure brand dimensions by blending classic design with a modern and contemporary aesthetic. The second phase of renovations will focus on enhancing additional guestrooms and facilities to meet AccorHotels’ international standards and will elevate the hotel from a four star ranking to five stars in the form of hotel suites.  As a premium product, the apartments will be refreshed and reintroduced to the market. The renovation and refurbishment is anticipated for completion by the end of 2018. Upon opening, the 1,015 room hotel will be the largest Mercure property in AccorHotels’ global portfolio. Olivier Granet, Managing Director & Chief Operating Officer of AccorHotels Middle East and Africa (MEA), said: “We are delighted to enter into another high-profile agreement with our existing and trusted partner to further elevate the Mercure brand within the United Arab Emirates with the largest Mercure hotel in our global network. The project presents AccorHotels with an unrivalled opportunity to further expand our portfolio at an iconic business and leisure destination while cementing our presence across the growing midmarket segment within the region.” N.A. Aliyev, Board Director, commented: “We are thrilled to partner with AccorHotels to launch the world’s largest Mercure in Dubai. The Mercure Dubai Barsha Heights Hotel Suites & Apartments is an important hotel that we have established with the Group in …

AccorHotels has signed a new agreement with R Hotels for one of the first MGallery hotels in the Middle East. The 255-room The Retreat Palm Dubai, MGallery by Sofitel is part of AccorHotels’ distinctive collection of contemporary and thought-provoking boutique hotels. Scheduled for soft opening in summer 2017, The Retreat Palm Dubai is situated along the iconic coastline of Dubai Palm Jumeirah’s East Crescent, offering beachfront access and skyline views. The resort will feature a world-class holistic wellness center, designed to answer to the demands of the today’s burgeoning wellness tourism market. Sami Nasser, Chief Operating Officer, Luxury Brands, AccorHotels Middle East, said: “Today’s announcement in collaboration with our trusted partner – R Hotels, signals the much anticipated launch of our flagship MGallery in the United Arab Emirates. The hotel will soon bring a truly unique wellness hospitality experience to Dubai, building on the Emirate’s unique ability to expand its offering to attract visitors from around the globe.” Sumair Tariq, Managing Director, R Hotels, commented: “Our group is excited to introduce the first of its kind holistic health and wellness resort in the UAE, located at the iconic Palm Jumeirah. We are happy to again collaborate with AccorHotels in bringing in a new luxury brand into the region. Catering to the growing demand for wellness tourism, we are confident that its distinctive concept will stand out within the region’s competitive hospitality scene.” The 255-room upscale resort will offer a range of guestrooms and suites, as well as an array of wellness facilities including a gym, yoga room, tennis court and swimming pool. Guests will also enjoy access to world-class wellness consultants and wellbeing treatments, in addition to bespoke nutritional programs …

Hilton has signed a management agreement with Sharjah’s Al Marwan Group to open the emirate’s debut DoubleTree by Hilton property opposite Al Majaz Waterfront in the centre of the city. The $43 million (AED 158m) development will be called the DoubleTree by Hilton Sharjah Waterfront Hotel & Suites and will offer 254 suites and serviced apartments. The new hotel, which is expected to open in 2020, will be Hilton’s second property in the emirate after the Hilton Sharjah on the nearby Corniche Road. Sharjah offers visitors more than 100 hotels and hotel apartment properties and occupancy rates recently beat regional averages, growing by 5.5 percent during January compared to the same month in 2016 (according to global analyst STR). Some of the leading hotel groups in the world operate properties in Sharjah, including Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, GHM, Louvre Hotels Group, Premier Inn Hotels, Rotana Hotels and Resorts, Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, and Wyndham Worldwide Sharjah currently has a variety of new hotel and resort developments under development, including the construction of a new $100 million (AED 367m) art and culture themed 5-star luxury beachfront hotel and resort; a 4-star, 200-room Novotel located adjacent to Sharjah Expo; a 4-star Sheraton Four Points hotel; and an Aloft boutique hotel. In addition, Al Bait Hotel, a new 5-star hotel being built by Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) in the Heart of Sharjah, is expected to open later in 2017.

Real estate developer Nakheel’s signed a construction contract worth Dh136 million ($37 million) with Al Ghurair Contracting and Engineering Works for its second hotel at Dubai’s Dragon City. With a total project value of Dh176 million ($48 million), the 304-room Premier Inn is one of 16 hotels in Nakheel’s Dh3 billion hospitality portfolio and part of a huge new master plan that is transforming Dragon City into a giant retail, residential and recreational complex of more than 11 million sq ft, said a statement. Set for delivery in 2019, Premier Inn Dragon City will have a restaurant, Costa Coffee shop and gym. The hotel will span 178,000 sq ft in built-up area, over eight floors. Premier Inn Dragon City is one of two Nakheel hotels managed by the UK’s Premier Inn. The first, a 372-room hotel at Ibn Battuta Mall, opened last October. Nakheel’s expanding Dragon City mixed-use community comprises four million sq ft of retail space, a twin-tower residential complex with 1,120 apartments and two hotels with 516 rooms between them. It is currently best known for Dragon Mart – the world’s largest Chinese trading hub outside China – featuring the globally-renowned Dragon Mart 1 and its sister mall, Dragon Mart 2, which opened in February last year. The two malls welcome 40 million visitors a year. Dragon City’s retail expansion includes a 375,000 sq ft showroom complex, currently under construction. Nakheel’s expansion into the hospitality industry is bringing 16 new hotels and serviced apartment complexes, with over 5,300 rooms between them, to Dubai.  Two are open and operational and last month the company awarded a construction contract for a second hotel at Ibn Battuta Mall. Others are at …

TRYP by Wyndham Dubai is set to open this summer with 650 hotel rooms including 25 of the brand’s signature fitness rooms, with exercise equipment for private workouts. The hotel will also offer an inviting, social lobby known as Plaza Central where guests can eat and drink, work, relax, or meet. Other facilities include a swimming pool, fitness centre, and meeting space. Wyndham Dubai Marina and TRYP by Wyndham Dubai are owned by subsidiaries of leading Dubai based property developers The First Group and are managed by Wyndham Hotel Group. Wyndham Dubai Marina and TRYP by Wyndham Dubai participate in Wyndham Rewards, the simple-to-use, revolutionary loyalty programme from Wyndham Hotel Group, offering members generous points earning structure along with a flat, free-night redemption rate in 75 countries across the world – the first of its kind for a major hotel rewards programme.

The Oberoi Beach Resort, Al Zorah’s first waterfront hospitality project opens its doors to the world this week, making it the fifth five-star hotel in the emirate. Operated by Oberoi Hotels and Resorts, the 113-key Oberoi Beach Resort, Al Zorah, designed by famous Italian architect Pierro Lissoni, is a luxury eco-destination set on white-sand beaches, and in close proximity to azure lagoons and lush mangroves. The resort is located beside 247 acres (one million square metres) of rich ecological wetland around which Al Zorah is centred and offers a 18-hole Nicklaus Design championship golf course, motorised and non-motorised watersports which include among others jet skiing, banana boat rides, boat and fishing trips, kayaking, windsurfing and sailing; amongst several other amenities. Covering an area of 5.43 million square metres, Al Zorah is a mixed-use coastal development situated on 1.6 km stretch of a beachfront. Owned by Al Zorah Development Co., a joint venture between Solidere International Limited and the Government of Ajman, the project combines intricate master planning with the natural environment to create a distinctive luxury destination that will attract visitors and residents from across the region, if not the world. Imad Dana, Chief Executive Officer, Al Zorah Development Co., said: “The classification of The Oberoi Beach Resort, Al Zorah as a five-star property further strengthens our promise and commitment to attracting the best products and services to the region. Visitors to our destination are already enjoying the 18-hole championship golf course, navigating the development through the completed landscaped roads and infrastructure, the recreational public parks and the soon-to-open Marina 1. Now with the five-star hotel open to tourists and residents, Al Zorah will serve to enhance the UAE’s luxury …

AccorHotels signed a hotel management agreement with Arabia Group to open Fairmont Pyramids Hotel & Residences, slated to open by 2022. The property will have 250 rooms and 200 branded residences. Spanning 20 floors, the hotel will form the highest tower in 6th of October, a city in the Giza Governorate, and will constitute the majority of the hospitality component within the upcoming Madinat A’Shamss development – a mixed-use project spanning over 56 hectares within close proximity to the Pyramids of Giza. Designed in accordance to a blend of Pharaonic and modern design aesthetics, the hotel is located just four kilometers from the Great Pyramids with unobstructed views of the wonders of the World as well as direct access to the new pyramids entrance. The hotel is only three minutes away from the new Egyptian grand museum with easy access to the new ring road connecting to the new capital city, and is also a short 15-minute drive from the new Sphinx International Airport. Sami Nasser, Chief Operating Officer, Luxury Brands, Middle East, AccorHotels, said: “We are excited to announce the addition of Fairmont Pyramids Hotels & Residences to our Egypt luxury portfolio.” He added, “This announcement further underscores the Group’s commitment to the destination and its envisioned potential, evident with our existing portfolio of luxury properties including seven operational hotels under the Fairmont, Sofitel and Sofitel Legend brands and a robust pipeline to open within the next five years.” “We look forward to playing an integral role in re-energizing the country’s tourism infrastructure,” said Frank Naboulsi, Regional Vice President and General Manager, Fairmont Nile City. “The destination has demonstrated positive growth over the past few years which has also …

Minor Hotels (MH) has announced the signing of a management agreement for a new AVANI property in the United Arab Emirates – AVANI Al Marjan Island Ras Al Khaimah Resort. The 225-key AVANI Al Marjan Island will be located on View Island. Facilities at the purpose-built resort will include a selection of King, Twin and Disabled Access guest rooms and AVANI Suites, an AVANI Living Space and Pantry. The resort will also host all-day dining and poolside restaurants, meeting and event facilities with a capacity of 200 people, a kids’ club and a spa. In addition, the new resort will have an outdoor swimming pool and beachfront access with 360 degree views. Minor Hotels’ luxury Anantara brand already has a new resort under development in the emirate – the 225-key Anantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah Resort is scheduled to open in 2019. Minor Hotels currently operates 10 properties across four of its brands in the UAE in the emirates of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The group’s pipeline for AVANI hotels includes two other upcoming properties in the UAE – the 372-key AVANI Ibn Battuta Dubai Hotel and the 230-key AVANI Jebel Dhanna Resort in the coastal area of the Al Gharbia region of Abu Dhabi, both scheduled to open in 2019. Ramzy Fenianos, VP Development, Minor Hotels Europe, Middle East and Africa, commented, “We are delighted to announce the signing of this management agreement with Crowngate International to bring AVANI to the fast developing tourism destination of Ras Al Khaimah. We see a lot of potential in the emirate, both for our upscale AVANI brand and in the luxury segment, where we already have an Anantara resort under …

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has inked an agreement with the Civil Service Employees Pension Fund to operate its first property in Oman’s capital city, Mövenpick Hotel & Apartments Al Azaiba Muscat. Mövenpick Hotel & Apartments Al Azaiba Muscat will feature 274 guest rooms and suites and 50 serviced apartments. Standout facilities will include six market-oriented food and beverage outlets, a rooftop restaurant, swimming pool, meeting and event space, a ballroom, a rooftop gym with spa, executive lounge and a residents’ lounge. “This new property will be a welcome addition to our already extensive portfolio of hotels in the Middle East,” said Andreas Mattmüller, Chief Operating Officer, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, Middle East and Africa. “With Muscat undergoing rapid development and significant funds being invested into major tourism infrastructure projects, the time is right to put the Mövenpick brand on the map in this important regional city.” Oman is considered a market brimming with opportunities for the hospitality sector, with some $640 million ploughed into travel and tourism projects in 2015, or 3.1% of total investment, World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) statistics reveal. In 2016, the Sultanate was on track to receive more than 1.8 million international tourists – a figure expected to almost double to 3.34 million by 2026. “Oman’s tourism industry is flourishing, and we are enormously encouraged by the government and private sector’s commitment to exploit its true potential,” said Amir Lababedi, Vice President Development – Middle East and Africa. “This management agreement consolidates Mövenpick’s position as one of the region’s leading hotel operators and marks another milestone in our strategy to maximise our exposure in every major Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) market.”