Category Archives: Hotels

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced the opening of Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya, the first Hyatt Regency hotel to open in Riyadh, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya offers 261 spacious guestrooms, including 40 suites, spread across 28 floors. All guestrooms and suites feature panoramic views of the vibrant city of Riyadh, and incorporate subtle local touches and design elements, including patterned leather panels that are embroidered with a contemporary interpretation of a middle eastern mashrabiya motif. Developed by Mohammed A. Al-Swailem Co. for Commercial Investment, Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya is the third Hyatt-branded hotel to open in the KSA, joining Park Hyatt Jeddah Marina, Club and Spa and Hyatt Regency Makkah Jabal Omar. “We are delighted to announce the opening of the first Hyatt-branded hotel in the capital of Riyadh. We are confident that the globally recognized Hyatt Regency brand will resonate with business and leisure travelers visiting Riyadh,” said Peter Fulton, group president – Europe, Africa and Middle East, Hyatt. “Along with Mohammed A. Al-Swailem Co. for Commercial Investment, we look forward to expanding Hyatt’s brand presence throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.” Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya has been designed to connect today’s travelers to who and what matters most. With its prime location in Olaya, a growing financial district in Riyadh, the hotel is in close proximity to the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) and the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center, and is a less than 40-minute drive to King Khalid International Airport. Located on the 26th floor with spectacular views, the hotel’s Regency Club offers guests exclusive services, including complimentary internet access, use of the lounge meeting room, breakfast, …

Millennium & Copthorne, Middle East and Africa (MEA) has introduced the M Hotel brand with the opening of two hotels in Saudi Arabia and Dubai, signifying continued strategic expansion for the group across the region and ensuring it is firmly on track to meet its target of 100 hotels by 2020. Launched on January 16, 2017, the 242-room M Hotel Dubai Downtown is based in the city’s main business hub, nearby to key destinations such as Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa, Dubai World Trade Centre and Dubai International Financial Centre. Guests can expect an all-day dining restaurant, swimming pool and fully equipped fitness centre as well as five flexible conference rooms, three boardrooms and a business centre. The first M Hotel to launch in the region, M Hotel Mekkah opened its doors in December, catering towards both business travellers and pilgrim guests. Situated on Ibrahim Al-Khali Street, near to the Grand Mosque, the hotel offers 785 guest rooms and suites as well as extensive facilities and amenities including two restaurants, a state-of-the-art spa and two ballrooms to have host events. Designed with the savvy and hyper-connected business traveller in mind, the contemporary M Hotel brand offers urban hotels in sought-after destinations, providing business-ready services and spaces alongside leisure facilities to ensure comfort, convenience and a work-life balance. Francois Kassab, Chief Operating Officer, Millennium & Copthorne Middle East and Africa says, “The M Hotel brand is already well-established in Asia and we have been looking for the right opportunity to debut and grow it within the Middle East. Saudi Arabia remains one of our strongest growth markets in the region and we are on track to comfortably meet our target of 20 …

HotelREZ Hotels & Resorts has completed the migration of its member hotels to Sabre’s SynXis Central Reservations and device responsive booking engine, securing its ability to provide HotelREZ customers with access to Sabre’s technology. Sabre’s broad portfolio of hospitality solutions empowers hoteliers to create and deliver a unique and differentiating guest experience based on their specific brand. “Our customers rely on us to provide them with access to the very best technology available in the marketplace so that we are able to focus on driving incremental revenue for their hotels, through our network of travel agency partnerships and our global sales and marketing initiatives,” said Mark Lewis, CEO and founder of HotelREZ. “We chose Sabre for their innovative technology, product development roadmap and commitment to helping our independent hotel members succeed, both now and in the future.” By implementing Sabre’s technology solutions, HotelREZ will help its member hotels take advantage of connections to new channels and expand beyond its already strong presence in EMEA and accelerate growth further into geographical markets such as the Americas and China, where Sabre has strong channel connections.  In addition, HotelREZ customers will have access to Sabre’s newest device responsive booking engine, which offers some of the most innovative approaches to merchandising and customer experience in the hospitality market.  

Aiana Hotels & Resorts, a global hotel management company, continues to strengthen its position within the Middle East region with the appointment of Arshad Sayed as the Regional Director of Sales for the GCC. In line with the upcoming launch of their first property in Saudi Arabia – Aiana Makkah, this new appointment solidifies Aiana’s commitment to create a globally respected hospitality brand that represents the best of Indian hospitality through exemplary service, design and operating concepts. Aiana Hotels & Resorts’ regional sales office will be based in the Jumeirah Lake Towers vicinity, one of Dubai’s largest free zone areas.  Amruda Nair, Joint Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Aiana Hotels & Resorts said, “Driven by experience and passion, Arshad brings a terrific blend of business and analytical skills that will ensure the solid growth of the Aiana brand across the GCC. With three properties opening in the next year in the GCC there is no doubt that he will work closely with our strategic leadership team and be a key player in establishing AIANA Hotels & Resorts as a leading hotel brand in the region fulfilling a gap in the market for experience-driven, lifestyle oriented accommodation lead by a strong Indian service ethos.”

Royal Continental Hotel has launched its first hotel in Deira, Dubai, with 168 rooms and suites with modern leisure facilities and multi-cuisine dining options spread over 11 floors. The four-star luxury hotel with a unique combination of traditional Arabic design and urban elements of modern architecture offers an unmatched technologically-advanced experience through innovative in-room facilities. Strategically located minutes from Dubai International Airport, the hotel aims to target business travellers and tourists alike. Sultan Al Menhali, CEO, Royal Continental Hotel, said, “We are delighted to announce the launch of our first hotel in the Middle East. Aligning ourselves with His Highness’ vision of focusing on family, Royal Continental Hotel is Sharia compliant and designed keeping in mind the importance of families spending leisure time together. Accelerated towards Dubai’s vision for 2020 and with our expansion plans we are positively looking forward to contribute to the key objective of attracting 20 million visitors per year by 2020 and position Dubai as the ‘first choice’ for the international leisure and business traveller.” Wajeed Bagwan, General Manager, Royal Continental Hotel, said, “Royal Continental Hotel is introduced to the Middle East region with an aim to cater to the growing numbers of guests looking at the region for business and holiday needs offering them with a relaxed contemporary surrounding, perfectly suited to both a short city break or an extended vacation. We are enthusiastically looking forward to our regional growth in the coming years.”

The latest addition to the 204-roomed property located in close proximity to Mall of the Emirates is the launch of the new meeting room with its title “Rendezvous”. It can accommodate up to a maximum of 55 guests for a cocktail reception, 35 theatre style, 28 classroom style, 24 boardroom and 21 in U shape. Provided with state of the art technology with wireless audio visual facilities, Wi-Fi connection, 84 inch LED TV display presented with VGA and HDMI connection and the general material such as flip charts, note pad, name card and an innovative range of food and beverage offerings for the guests. As the area is 75m2 all participants at the meeting can engage themselves in discussions and would be ideal for companies who would prefer to book a boardroom away from their own office in order to generate new ideas or have a small function for staff or a specialized training programme, etc., in this very modern space.

Marriott International, Inc is gearing up to launch its second Marriott Hotel brand property in Abu Dhabi, Marriott Hotel Al Forsan developed by Al Forsan Hotels LLC, under the leadership of the property’s Executive team who will drive the new opening. Positioned in Al Forsan International Sports Resort, located within Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, the 400-bed five-star Marriott Hotel Al Forsan showcases the Marriott Hotels brand innovation by offering sophisticated design, modern services and amenities that enable the next generation of travellers to ‘Travel Brilliantly’ through every aspect of their stay. From modern guest rooms, high-tech meeting rooms, six signature culinary offerings to extensive sports facilities including an equestrian centre and polo field, a waterski and wakeboarding lake and two indoor paintballing areas – it really does offer something for everyone whether a leisure or business traveller. Richard Bleakley, General Manager of the Marriott Hotel Al Forsan, Abu Dhabi stated ahead of the hotel’s opening:  “We are extremely proud to open Marriott Hotel Al Forsan in Abu Dhabi, a property that we believe offers facilities unlike any other resort, not just in the capital but the entire UAE. I am fortunate to be leading an incredibly experienced and diverse team made up of more than 50 nationalities, who bring their strengths and expertise to position the property as a destination within a destination. We can’t wait to open our doors and welcome guests to experience a combination of sophisticated design and innovation, as well as delivering an unrivalled hospitality experience in the capital.”

Fourzone Décor, a UAE-based interior contracting and fit-out company, has recently signed a AED30 million hotel apartment project with Shine Properties, a leading construction company in the region. The hotel apartment project located in Business Bay will be managed by a leading international hospitality brand once completed and will target luxury travellers from the Middle East looking for premium furnished apartments. Ajish Nambiar, Marketing Director, Fourzone Décor, said: “We are proud to begin 2017 with a new project for Shine Properties. We are extremely proud to be associated with Mr Mohammed Salem Al Menhali who is such a reputed builder in the market. We look forward working him in other projects in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Dubai.The construction sector is booming in this part of the world with Dubai being the most active construction market so we are optimistic that the region’s interior and fit-out contracting industry will also grow. This is a situation that will continue this year as investors pushes ahead with projects to ensure delivery before Expo 2020 so we are on track and we plan to keep it that way till the years to come.” Recent reports indicated that the region’s interior and fit-out contracting industry will grow by nearly 20 percent and the market is expected to cross $12.5 billion by end of 2017. Hospitality segments hold majority of the total spends on interiors, followed by commercial and residential sectors.As the fit out contracting company for the hotel apartment project, Fourzone Décor will be handle all interior finishing work like flooring, ceiling, woodworks, furniture, furnishing and decorative lights.

The global wellness industry grew 10.6 per cent to become a $3.72 trillion market in 2015, with the spa market a key driver according to new research from the Global Wellness Institute (GWI). The research mirrored the growth in the MENA region of the tourism-related industry with the UAE at the forefront of growth. The burgeoning sector will be showcased once again at this year’s Arabian Travel Market (ATM) as the dedicated Wellness & Spa Lounge returns for 2017. Over 35 exhibitors representing some of the world’s most recognised health and wellness hospitality destinations will attend with an increase of 40 per cent on last year’s numbers. According to research from Colliers Experiential Travel Series: Wellness, Spa and Medical Travel 2017, the UAE spa industry is estimated to be valued at AED1.7 billion, accounting for 14 per cent of the MENA spa market, and expected to surpass AED1.85 billion by 2020. Dubai currently has more than 200 spas in operation, with 25 new hotel spas expected to open this year. Furthermore, the Dubai hotel spa market continues to experience increasing demand according to the Colliers report with a 9 per cent increase in the average number of treatments sold per day in H1 2016 compared to the same period in 2015. “The global wellness industry has witnessed incredible growth in recent years as more and more people incorporate healthy habits into holidays and corporate travel, with an increasing trend of travelers willing to commit their time and money to wellness proving to be a major driving force when making vacation decisions. The surge of interest in this specialist tourism industry vertical has resulted in a 40% increase of exhibitors and dedicated wellness and spa …

UAE developer Nakheel and Thai hotel group Centara Hotels and Resorts have signed a joined venture agreement to create a 550-room, AED500 million beachfront resort with waterpark at Deira Islands in Dubai. Under the agreement, cemented in Bangkok by Nakheel Chairman Ali Rashid Lootah and Centara Chairman Suthikiati Chirathivat, the two companies will deliver an upscale resort on a prime stretch of beach on Deira Islands – Nakheel’s new, 15.3 sq km, world-class tourism, leisure, retail and entertainment hub that will contribute significantly to the Government of Dubai’s tourism vision. Nakheel’s joint venture with Centara is the latest development in the company’s aggressive expansion into Dubai’s hospitality sector and its second international joint venture for Deira Islands. The first, an 800-room, AED900 million all-inclusive resort and waterpark with Spain’s RIU Hotels & Resorts, was confirmed in February last year. As the first Centara establishment in the UAE, the new resort will cover an area of 295,900 sq ft. Features include a waterpark, dining facilities, business centre, kids’ club, spa and fitness centre. The resort is anticipated to have soft opening in 2019 and grand opening in 2020. Centara Hotels & Resorts is part of Central Group, one of Thailand’s most prominent family-owned conglomerate holding companies that is involved in merchandising, real estate, retailing, hospitality and restaurants. Centara’ s portfolio currently includes around 14,000 room keys across 65 hotels and resorts under six distinctive brands in Asia, Indian Ocean, and the Middle East.