Category Archives: Hotels

JW Marriott  announced the opening of JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge, marking the company’s highly anticipated debut in the luxury safari segment. Sitting within the Masai Mara National Reserve in Southwestern Kenya, one of Africa’s most renowned wildlife and wilderness conservation regions, the lodge is a sophisticated and thoughtful sanctuary from which to discover nature and breathtaking vistas in harmony. Exhilarating guided game drives offer guests the opportunity to observe the “Big Five” that Masai Mara is home to, including lions, leopards, buffalos, rhinoceros, and elephants. Between June and September, the reserve is host to the annual great wildebeest migration, which sees more than 10 million animals travel a distance of 1,800 miles from the Serengeti in neighbouring Tanzania. “Fostering meaningful connections and nourishing the soul is at the heart of the JW Marriott brand, so entering the luxury safari segment is a natural next step,” said Bruce Rohr, Global Brand Leader, JW Marriott. “Offering our guests once-in-a-lifetime experiences and a deep connection to place, JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge balances the thrill of a game drive with thoughtful opportunities to switch off and take it all in. We are excited to welcome travellers to a transformative and wellness-forward stay delivered with JW Marriott’s legacy of extraordinary hospitality.” The lodge’s elegant interiors, designed by Kristina Zanic Consultants, seamlessly blend the savannah inwards, drawing inspiration from the elements with soft, warm tones, natural materials and textures, and native colours thread through its design. Each of the lodge’s 20 private tents provide a peaceful sanctuary to recharge and reset, and feature terraces overlooking the River Talek, a water source and habitat for many wildlife. The tented honeymoon suite offers a private plunge …

With its prime position on the pristine northern Mediterranean coast, Rixos Alamein is pleased to announce its reopening this summer season 2023, and welcome guests with modernity and elegance while still associating the rich culture and heritage of El Alamein. This opulent resort provides guests with breathtaking panoramic views with a vibrant splash of colors of the desert with glittering blue sea and pristine white sands, perfected with lush gardens and green palm trees.  Apart from the relaxing scenery, Rixos Alamein offers an exquisite line-up of activities and leisure to bask in, sophisticated rooms and suites to loosen up, private cabanas, and commendable restaurants with top-class chefs creating flavors to take you on a spectacular gastronomic journey. Youngsters can have a blast too! As the Rixy Kids Club offers them a haven where they can create the best memories, make friendships, and wallow in endless hours of activities under the watchful eye of the specialist staff. Mr. Erkan Yildirim, Managing Director of Rixos Hotels Egypt, said, “We are thrilled to announce that one of our luxurious properties, Rixos Alamein is ready and looking forward to welcoming its guest once again with more state-of-the-art facilities and well-curated entertainment and activities awaiting ahead. And we always aim to serve our guests with world-class hospitality service and to be a curator of memorable experiences.”

Aloft Hotels announces plans to open Aloft Muscat in Spring 2023. The highly anticipated opening is expected to mark the brand’s debut in the Sultanate of Oman. Designed for the next generation of traveler the hotel will be a new vibrant destination and will feature eclectic spaces, distinctive design, live music programming, and 199 modern loft-style guestrooms complete with the brand’s signature amenities. The hotel is expected to feature three dining outlets, places for guests to come together, including a Californian style eatery, an international restaurant with a Mediterranean twist, and the brand’s signature bar W XYZ®.  Other facilities will include a rooftop pool and gym. Danny Al Chayeb will take the helm of the new hotel as General Manager. With more than two decades in hospitality across the MENA region, Al Chayeb brings a wealth of experience to Aloft Muscat, including a proven track record of creating new food and beverage concepts and providing the highest guest service standards. A hands-on GM, he aims to turn moments into memorable stays for guests, with a desire to lead by example while driving business. “We are thrilled to debut Aloft Hotels in Oman. A brand known for its design-driven and tech-savvy ethos, Aloft Muscat will bring a modern, friendly, and comfortable option for global travelers and a new hotspot for residents in the Sultanate,” said Danny Al Chayeb, General Manager. Aloft Muscat is located 10 minutes from Muscat International Airport and is nearby to the city’s attractions including The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Royal Opera House Muscat, Mall of Oman, Oman Avenues Mall, Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Oman Convention and Exhibition Center, and three major golf courses.

London has long been known for its lavish five-star hotels and GCC travellers always seek for the ultimate luxury experience, and the city is set for a boom of new luxury accommodation openings in 2023. From international brands making their UK debut, to existing brands expanding their portfolio with new properties, there’s definitely no shortage of options for discerning GCC travellers. The latest additions to London’s luxury hotel scene promise to be truly spectacular. Visitors will be in awe of Europe’s art-inspired lifestyle hotel brand, Art’otel, which opened its first UK hotel in December 2022, right next to the revamped Battersea Power Station. Spring 2023 will see the opening of Britain’s first Raffles property in a Grade II listed landmark steeped in history, The OWO Residencies by Raffles. Also opening in spring is the much-anticipated 1 Hotel London Mayfair, which will debut overlooking Green Park as the brand’s flagship British hotel. In addition, Mandarin Oriental’s new Mayfair property and Britain’s first Peninsula Hotel will open in the heart of Belgravia. Later in the year, London will also open its doors to the UK’s first St. Regis hotel in Mayfair. Also adding to its luxury portfolio will be the Park Hyatt London River Thames and Six Senses London, which will mark the UK debut for the iconic wellness hotel brand. Finally, The BoTree Marylebone Lane is opening in summer 2023, within the Preferred Hotels and Resorts Legend Collection. Blending Marylebone flair and Mayfair chic, be immersed in an experience created through 199 bespoke guestrooms and suites, destination restaurants, bars, and nightlife. If you’re planning a visit to London in 2023, be sure to keep an eye out for these exciting new …

Rosewood Hotels & Resorts has been selected by Red Sea Global to manage Rosewood Amaala in the Red Sea Region of Saudi Arabia. An area considered to be at the center of the world’s most ambitious regenerative tourism projects, the Red Sea is situated along the country’s west coast and is home to some of the most diverse and delicate natural environments. Rosewood Amaala will be part of Red Sea Global’s Amaala destination, an integrated wellness haven.  Phase One of Amaala – focused on the Triple Bay masterplan – is well underway, with the first guests set to be welcomed in 2024. It will consist of eight resorts offering upwards of 1,200 hotel keys. Once complete, Amaala will be home to more than 3,000 hotel rooms across 25 hotels, and approximately 900 luxury residential villas, apartments, and estate homes, supporting high-end retail, fine dining, wellness and recreational facilities. Sustainability will be at the cornerstone of the property’s entire design and the larger Amaala development has set meaningful targets toward zero impact. The entire destination will be powered by 100% renewable energy and aims to have zero-carbon footprint—with plans to be both zero waste to landfill. Additionally, the endangered Hawksbill and Green Turtles have many nesting sites around the Rosewood Amaala beaches, meaning all construction and design work has been centered around ensuring the turtles are left uninterrupted. For instance, no construction will take place around the nesting areas, and the lighting strategies has been designed to ensure no bright lights shine in the area to avoid disruption. “We are deeply honored to partner with Red Sea Global on Rosewood Amaala and work together to offer a more regenerative model of …

IHG® Hotels & Resorts has signed a management agreement with Arabella Group to develop three new hotels in Egypt between 2023 and 2026. The hotels — InterContinental North Coast Direction White, voco Cairo Arabella Plaza Cairo, and Crowne Plaza Cairo Arabella Clubhouse — will see IHG add over 500 keys to its Egypt portfolio in response to the growing demand for luxury resorts and premium hospitality options in the North African country. The agreement strengthens IHG’s presence in the luxury and premium sectors in the region as well as underlines the appeal of its high-end hospitality offering among owners and guests alike. The new-build hotel projects, currently under construction, are set to open in notable areas of Egypt. The incoming new voco Cairo Arabella Plaza is scheduled to open its doors in July 2023, with the Crowne Plaza Cairo Arabella Clubhouse slated for a January 2026 opening and the InterContinental North Coast Direction White for a September 2026 launch. Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG, commented: “Egypt offers a wealth of opportunity for the hospitality industry today with New Cairo and other attractive, high-end destinations attracting more visitors to the nation. The signing of three new hotels alongside Arabella Group will support the growth we are witnessing in the country by offering new and compelling luxury and premium hospitality experiences to satisfy the most discerning of travelers.” Mohamed Amin El Dokhmesy, president of Arabella Group added: “We are pleased to partner with IHG Hotels & Resorts to expand the footprint of three of its leading brands — InterContinental, voco and Crowne Plaza, in Egypt. IHG has delivered first class hospitality experiences to guests worldwide and in …

A homegrown Qatari brand with ambitions for international expansion, The Outpost Al Barari is designed to help preserve the natural heritage of its surroundings and is a self-proclaimed ode to the country’s history and culture. Recently opened, visitors can learn about local wildlife on a guided desert walk, or simply bask in the beautiful sunshine at one of the resort’s opulent tented villas. Commenting on one of the country’s most exciting and newest luxury hospitality openings, Co-founder of The Outpost Al Barari, Dr. Peter Van de Bunt said: “The Outpost Al Barari brings an entirely new, one-of-a-kind luxury hospitality concept to Qatar by integrating immersive nature experiences, and sustainability into a close-to-nature resort concept. The resort is all about celebrating the rich natural heritage of Qatar and will be an inspiring place for the domestic, regional, and international traveller to get a well-deserved break from the hectic, overworked world and to learn about Qatar’s stunning natural environment.” He added: “Beyond delivering high-end hospitality, our resort takes guests on an adventurous and thoughtful journey with insightful activities, signature wellness treatments and delectable gastronomic experiences. We are excited to welcome visitors and invite them to indulge in one-of-a-kind hospitality experience that they will love and will never forget.” Reflecting on the expansion of the hospitality landscape in Qatar, Haya Al-Noaimi, Head of Marketing and Promotions Sector, Qatar Tourism, said: “The Outpost Al Barari is sure to become one of Qatar’s most prized luxury leisure destinations. In what has already been a banner year for new hotel and entertainment venue openings, this has been one of the country’s most highly awaited new launches. Sustainability is of paramount importance to the tourism sector and …

As the world’s tallest hotel, Ciel is set to become one of the region’s most famous buildings. The property’s incredible rooftop glass observation deck will make it a magnet for locals and international visitors to the city, promoting the hotel as a one-of-a-kind development in one of the world’s most exciting cities. This global profile makes Ciel one of the hottest investment options in our fast-growing portfolio. Reaching a remarkable height of 365 metres, Ciel in Dubai Marina is a stunning development that will set a new global benchmark as the world’s tallest hotel upon completion. The architectural masterpiece is the latest landmark addition to the Marina district’s world-famous skyline, and The First Group’s largest and most luxurious project to date. Designed by award-winning London-based architect NORR, Ciel features a striking design, contemporary interiors and a remarkable glass observation deck, which will offer incredible 360-degree vistas across Dubai Marina, the Palm Jumeirah and the Arabian Gulf.

Radisson Hotel Group continues its strategic digital transformation with the expansion of its innovative real-time, self-service online booking platform for meetings and events. Book it easy is now available across all key conference hotels in EMEA. This best-in-class digital solution allows meeting and event organizers to save hours of precious time when planning for a meeting and booking a venue by making the process faster and more efficient. In response to the rapidly changing meetings and events landscape for which meeting organizers need to book meetings and events ever more swiftly, Radisson Hotel Group’s Book It Easy platform allows planners to organize events seamlessly by simplifying the venue sourcing and booking process online. Planners can simply enter their event details, check real-time availability of meeting spaces, view the room options with ground-breaking 360 technology, book their preferred venue, and receive instant booking confirmation. Book It Easy key functionalities include: 24/7 real-time availability of meeting spaces 360-degree views of rooms Best available rate guaranteed and transparent pricing Custom-made packages, including AV equipment or additional amenities Easy and secure online payment “We are incredibly proud to have launched our Book It Easy tool successfully across key hotels in our EMEA portfolio over the last 12 months. Radisson Hotel Group has a strong reputation for delivering world-class meetings and events facilities, and we are now making the booking process even easier. We conducted extensive research with our valued meetings and events partners to create this new platform and to ensure it includes all the technology and information required for a seamless, real value, and real time experience,” says Chema Basterrechea, Global President and Chief Operations Officer at Radisson Hotel Group. Radisson Hotel Group …

As part of its continuous efforts to support the development of the travel and tourism sectors in the KSA and the growth and sustainability of the national tourism sector, Elaf Group participated recently in the debut edition of the Saudi Tourism Forum, the leading platform highlighting most important trends and latest developments in the Saudi tourism sector, which congregated over  350  specialised entities in the Saudi tourism industry, at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Centre. The forum served as an ideal platform for Elaf Group to highlight its leading portfolio of services in the field of hospitality, tourism, and travel. The group’s pavilion attracted a sizeable turnout amid a significant appreciation for its services, programs and exclusive offers that support Saudi Arabia’s effort in achieving “Saudi Vision 2030”. Elaf’s involvement in the event, which attracted significant local, regional, and international participation from investors, experts, and organisations involved in the travel and tourist business, is in line with its efforts to boost regional tourism. Additionally, the forum held a group of panel sessions exploring prevalent challenges facing the tourism industry in Saudi Arabia. Dr. Adel Ezzat, CEO of Elaf Group, took part in a panel discussion that covered a range of topics, including the use of technology in tourism, hospitality’s future in Saudi Arabia, the role of transportation in the tourism industry and Saudi ecotourism. Ezzat further highlighted the potential for growth in the tourism and hospitality industries as well as the solutions needed to enhance performance in both industries in line with Saudi Vision 2030. Dr. Ezzat emphasised the importance of the tourism sector in the KSA, for its contributions in supporting the growth of the national economy. He …