Category Archives: Hotels

Residence Inn by Marriott has announced its debut of the longer stay brand in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with the opening of Residence Inn by Marriott Al Jaddaf. Located in a prime city district and boasting spectacular views of the Burj Khalifa, Residence Inn by Marriott Al Jaddaf offers convenient access to key areas including Downtown Dubai and Business Bay. Welcoming guests into a flexible, comfortable, and intuitive space, the Residence Inn experience is designed for guests to travel the way they love to live by blending comfort with style. “We are delighted to bring Residence Inn by Marriott, a global leader in the extended-stay lodging segment, to the UAE. Dubai is a key market for longer stay travel, and we know that as travelling styles have evolved, there is greater demand for accommodations which offer flexibility and home comforts for business travellers and families,” said Guido de Wilde, Chief Operating Officer – Middle East, Marriott International. “As a thriving destination for leisure and business travellers alike, there is no better place than Dubai to debut Residence Inn by Marriott in the UAE,” said Jenni Benzaquen, Vice President, Brand, EMEA, Marriott International. “Guests will benefit from the upscale living experience paired with hotel amenities that this pioneering longer stay brand offers, allowing them to maintain a healthy balance, maximise their time and connect with the local scene in a prime city location.” “I am proud to welcome guests to experience the first Residence Inn by Marriott in the UAE and provide the personal and flexible service that the brand is renowned for around the world,” said Hossein Garan, Multi-Property General Manager, Marriott Executive Apartments Manama, Residence Inn by Marriott …

Ramada hotels and suites by Wyndham JBR are offering a specialized daycation package to entice the residents and visitors in the UAE.  The hotel’s daycation packages start at AED 249/, inclusive of a day-stay in a deluxe room, pool access with a view of Ain Dubai, and 30% discount on spa treatments at Rayya Wellness. For the price of AED 299/, guests will receive hotel credits worth AED 250/ on top of a day-stay in a deluxe room, plus a gym and pool access. AED 100/ can be used at any of the dining outlets, while the remaining AED 150/ credit can be redeemed at Rayya Wellness. For AED359/, guests can avail the above benefits plus four tickets to Laguna Waterpark OR The Green Planet.

Marriott announces another opening in Q3 in 2021, this time in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. JW Marriott Burj Rafal is expected in the third quarter in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Situated on King Fahad Road, a peaceful oasis amidst a dynamic city and just a 5-minute drive from King Abdullah Financial District, JW Marriott Burj Rafal resides in one of the most desirable addresses in Riyadh. The landmark hotel will stand as the tallest residential building in the city, spanning 70 floors, with 349 rooms and suites.

Kerzner International Holdings Limited (Kerzner) continues to innovate with the introduction of a new hospitality experience, SIRO. Conceived with fitness and wellbeing at the core, SIRO will be an immersive lifestyle destination, blending the boundaries between hospitality, fitness, and wellness through a fresh perspective and energizing experiences. SIRO will create a collective global community of like-minded individuals who live a high-performance lifestyle passionate about driving achievement and living their fullest potential. “We have always been pioneers, true disruptors within the hospitality space. We have built destinations through the personalities of our brands and understanding our guests’ journey, creating a meaningful legacy,” commented Philippe Zuber, Chief Executive Officer, Kerzner International. “We look forward to continuing the improvement of people’s lives with the introduction of SIRO.  We recognize that holistic health is more important than ever, and the primary focus of SIRO will be exceptional fitness and wellness to support a modern and balanced global lifestyle, delivered with our renowned service in a transformative and nurturing urban environment. As innovators, we are always looking to revolutionize the guest experience and anticipate travellers’ needs. We felt the time was right to introduce the SIRO concept to the world as we continue the strategic growth of the Company. We look forward to SIRO becoming part of key cities around the world.”

GHM announced plans to open a new luxury resort, composed of 59 rooms and suites as well as 32 chalets and villas at Katara Cultural Village in Qatar’s capital city, Doha. Developed by the Qatari real estate consortium, Triple-A in partnership with Katara Cultural Village, The Chedi Katara Hotel & Resort, Doha, Qatar shall occupy a beachfront setting within the landmark 100-hectare (247 acre) Katara Cultural Village district that includes theatres, concert halls, exhibition galleries, mosques, restaurants, shops, a park, and an open amphitheater. The area is a magnet for well-heeled travellers and Qataris who are keen to explore the cultural heritage of the region. All of Katara’s pedestrian-friendly attractions will be accessible from the property, either by foot or buggy. “The Katara Cultural Village is a microcosm of everything that Qatar stands for and what it aspires to be,” said Tommy Lai, Chief Executive Officer, GHM. “Our resort shall be both a springboard to and a respite from one of the most invigorating experiences to be had in the region. It is an oasis of calm and heritage in the middle of a dynamic and modern city.” With a design that pays homage to the glories of Indian Mughal architecture and a touch of Ottoman influence, the new Chedi’s principal hotel building will house a lobby lounge with 180° views of the sea, an expansive spa and fitness facility, and rooms and suites with terraces and views over the Arabian Gulf and Doha skyline.

St. Regis Hotels and Resorts announced the opening of The St. Regis Almasa with the rebranding of the Almasa Hotel. Located in the New Administrative Capital of Egypt, The St. Regis Almasa is poised to becoMarrme the best address in the heart of the up-and-coming city, which is slated to be the new face of Cairo and the administrative and financial hub of Egypt. “We are delighted to bring our iconic St. Regis brand to the New Administrative Capital together with the National Authority for Management & Investment,” said Guido De Wilde, Chief Operating Officer, Middle East, Marriott International. “This opening is a significant milestone in our journey and underscores the tremendous trust and confidence our owners have in us and in the power of our luxury brands in the region.” General Sherif Salah El-Din Chairman of The National Authority for Management & Investment said, “The National Authority for Management and Investment is excited to collaborate with Marriott International to bring the classic sophistication of the St. Regis brand to the New Administrative Capital of Egypt. The St. Regis Almasa will play a significant role in giving the tourism industry much-needed support and will become the new destination for luxury hospitality in Egypt, playing host to the country’s most coveted events, conferences, and summits.”

Recent hospitality industry reports and analysis published by STR and Colliers International, have revealed that hotels in the UAE have put up a sterling performance, given the challenges of operating during the pandemic last year. To support the hotel industry still further during the vaccine rollout, Arabian Travel Market (ATM), which will take place in-person at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) 16-19 May 2021, is organising a Hotel Summit on Tuesday 18th May. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said, “According to STR data, the Middle East region was a top performer globally during 2020, with an average occupancy of 45.9%. One of the best-performing countries was the UAE with an average occupancy of 51.7% and an average daily rate (ADR) of $114. Although these figures were 29.3% & 16.5% down Y-on-Y, given the challenges presented by the pandemic, it is a remarkable achievement and proves just how resilient the hotel sector is in the UAE and wider Middle East. “Furthermore, if we drill down on these figures, ADR in Fujairah and RAK actually rose last year by 7% and 1% respectively, compared with 2019 and over the New Year’s celebrations hotels in Dubai were running average occupancies of 76% with an ADR of $300. I am certain that many hoteliers in the Middle East are now preparing for a V-shaped recovery, especially with the successful rollout of the vaccine and the ensuing herd immunity,” added Curtis. “Moreover, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also indicated that British nationals may be allowed to travel without any restrictions as soon as June 21st, which, given their close ties, would be a major boost for business and leisure travel …

Holidays by flydubai has launched attractive packages for travel to Sarajevo and Tbilisi. The packages start from AED 1,539 and include hotel accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis and return economy class tickets for two people. flydubai passengers looking for a getaway can book these special packages by March 15 for travel by March 20. Sarajevo is a city with a rich history and architecture set against the backdrop of beautiful mountains. The district of Baščaršija is Sarajevo’s vibrant centre and is where most of its sights are located. Hiking, shopping and museum hopping are just a few of the numerous activities this tourist-friendly city has to offer. Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi, has been attracting visitors for centuries. Nestled in a valley between the North and South Caucasus mountain ranges, this lively and colourful city has a fascinating old town full of narrow streets, sulphur bathhouses and buildings with distinctive carved wooden balconies. A big part of experiencing Georgian culture is by sampling its amazing food, taking a stroll through its many traditional bazaars or booking a day trip to Kazbegi, one of the most stunning mountain regions in Georgia.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest hotel franchising company by a number of properties with over 8,900 hotels across nearly 95 countries, today announced the debut of its La Quinta by Wyndham brand in the Middle East with a new 100-room property in Dubai. Expected to open in March 2021, La Quinta by Wyndham Dubai Bur Dubai will be centrally located in the historic Bur Dubai district. Dimitris Manikis, President Europe, Middle East, Eurasia and Africa (EMEA), Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, said, “We are on a strong growth trajectory for La Quinta by Wyndham, and this latest addition further highlights our commitment to expand the brand in EMEA and around the world. Dubai is one of the most sought out destinations for travellers from all corners of the globe, making it the ideal location to launch La Quinta in the market. This property perfectly complements our portfolio of over 60 hotels in the Middle East and Africa and we look forward to continuing to grow our robust pipeline in the region.”

Sabre Corporation announced a strategic long-term technology partnership with Louvre Hotels Group, Europe’s second-largest enterprise hotel group counting almost 1,600 hotels across 54 countries and a subsidiary of Jin Jiang International. With this new agreement, Louvre Hotels Group will benefit from SynXis Central Reservations and its industry-leading reach with connections to almost 900,000 travel agents and nearly 700 online channels across the globe, including hundreds of online travel agencies (OTAs) and metasearch engines. Louvre Hotels Group will be able to pursue its ambitious plans to expand its hotel portfolio footprint and global distribution reach while benefiting from improved operational efficiencies. “This partnership with Sabre is a priority to sustain our ambitions, especially in this global context. We constantly develop our network across the world with our brands from 1 star to 5 stars. Therefore, we want to deploy innovative distribution strategies with robust technology solutions, to provide cutting edge solutions to our investors and franchisees while ensuring technical and operational efficiency for our hotels,” said Pierre-Frédéric Roulot, CEO at Louvre Hotels Group. “For us, Sabre Hospitality Solutions is offering the best combination of innovation, platform, security, scale and service.” “In today’s evolving travel and hospitality industry, it is critical that hoteliers have a unified, highly-flexible technology platform that allows them to drive commercial performance, enable operational excellence, and do this on a reliable platform that just works,” said Scott Wilson, president of Sabre Hospitality Solutions. “Sabre’s industry-leading solutions will extend Louvre Hotels Group’s distribution reach with the speed of innovation, performance, and stability inherent in an industry-leading platform while providing the ability to create highly differentiated experiences for both its brands and its guests.”