Category Archives: Hotels

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.”

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.