Category Archives: Hotels

Delve into an Utopic Eid Vacation in The Maldives with Taj Hotels

With Eid Al Adha around the corner, it is time to gear up for the holy festivity. A time of joy and peace, this occasion is best celebrated with family and friends, in a spirit brimming with the love of sharing. This Eid, between July 8th and 14th, Taj Hotels in the Maldives are all set to welcome you and your loved ones to live an exclusive experience and make timeless memories in the mesmerizing Indian Ocean. From family-friendly journeys to refined feasts bursting with succulent flavours, Taj Exotica Resort & Spa and Taj Coral Reef Resort & Spa promise an unrivalled Eid vacation in a private haven of tranquility away from the hustle and bustle. Benefit from thrilling stay packages and Eid activities suitable for families and groups of friends, to enjoy quality time, indulge in luxury and wellness and entice your taste buds with gourmet halal meals. Spread across the Emboodhu Finolhu Island, Taj Exotica Resort & Spa offers you mind-blowing packages to match your vacation needs. You can choose “Suite Saver” to avail exclusive benefits, such as 25% off the best available rate, daily breakfast at 24 Degrees restaurant, personalized butler service, complimentary snorkeling equipment, a 45-minute spa treatment for two once during your stay, in addition to many other exciting inclusions. You can also opt for “Experience More” to avail 10% off the best available rate and benefit from a free daily breakfast and dinner at 24 Degrees restaurant, a free return combined speedboat transfer, among other fabulous benefits. For Eid Al Adha, Taj Exotica Resort & Spa  launched an extensive array of Eid activities and promotions, such as Shisha Promotion at Equator Bar. Satiate your …

Read More »

Hotelbeds reaffirms its commitment to Türkiye

Hotelbeds has recently announced strong demand for Türkiye. In the last 4 weeks, the volume of bookings has doubled compared to the same period in 2019, bringing more than one million international visitors to the country in 2022. To celebrate this success and to reinforce the company’s commitment to Türkiye, Hotelbeds CEO Nicolas Huss – accompanied by CCO Carlos Muñoz, Commercial Director Jorge Cortés and Regional Sourcing Director Jaime Amengual – visited the country at the beginning of June. During their stay, they were able to organise key strategic meetings with the Turkish Minister of Tourism and Culture and the leaders of the TGA (Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency), as well as with the Hotel Association of Türkiye (TÜROB) and several hotel partners. Hotelbeds CEO Nicolas Huss said: “It was a great honor to be received by the Minister of Tourism and Culture, Mr. Mehmet Nuri Ersoy and the TGA. We are very grateful for the opportunity to speak about our full commitment to the development of the destination and our plans for growth in the coming years. It was great to discuss the future of sustainability in travel as we explored different ways of collaboration. “We are also really pleased with the meeting we had with Ms. Müberra Eresin, President of TÜROB, and her team, where we were able to talk about Hotelbeds’ plans in Türkiye as we continue to grow together. At another meeting with AKTOB President Erkan Yağcı and his team, we were able to exchange valuable information about Antalya’s trends in tourism.” Nicolas accepted the invitation of AKTOB President Erkan Yağcı to be the keynote speaker at the 12th Resort Tourism Congress in Antalya in …

Read More »

Stella Stays expand to Istanbul, Turkiye with two towers

Stella Stays announces expansion into Turkiye, launching two towers in prime locations in Istanbul, Turkiye. Stella Stays Istanbul Etiler Tower and Stella Stays Istanbul Galata Tower will welcome guests from June and July 2022 respectively, offering tech-enabled, designer apartments with spacious living space, full kitchens and dedicated workspaces to both travellers and long-term residents. The launches in Istanbul mark the company’s first move into European markets, as part of an aggressive global expansion plan, after launching in Saudi Arabia in early June 2022. Stella Stays is actively exploring further opportunities in Turkey, as well as top destinations in Europe and globally. Mohannad Zikra, Co-founder and CEO of Stella Stays, said: “We are very excited about our expansion into Istanbul as it is one of the most visited cities in the world with north of 13 million annual visitors. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkiye projected about 45 million tourists and $35 billion in revenue for 2022 – a sharp recovery from the pandemic impact, with the majority of visitors coming from Europe. Istanbul is renowned for its rich culture, history, impressive architecture, a modern skyline and delightful shopping experience, which contribute to its popularity. Istanbul is also the gateway between Europe and Asia with a buzzing residential and hospitality real estate sector. These are the attributes that make Istanbul a perfect destination for Stella Stay’s global expansion. We plan to continue developing Stella Stays’s portfolio in Turkiye’s top cities and the surrounding regions.” Stella Stays enters global markets through master leases or profit-sharing agreements with real estate developers and property owners. The company uses proprietary algorithms that identify, evaluate, and select the most desirable properties around the world, …

Read More »

Mandarin Oriental announces its first mountain resort in Cortina, Italy

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has signed a long term management agreement with Attestor Limited to rebrand and manage the historic Hotel Cristallo in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. The property will undergo a substantial renovation after closing in the second quarter of 2023, re-opening as a Mandarin Oriental resort in the summer of 2025, ahead of the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. Mandarin Oriental Cristallo, Cortina will be the Group’s first alpine resort and expands Mandarin Oriental’s presence further in Italy. The property sits above the most recognized mountain village in the Dolomites, a short walk away from Cortina d’Ampezzo, known as the ‘Queen of the Dolomites’, which features many award-winning restaurants, luxury brand boutiques and local arts and crafts. Venice Marco Polo Airport is reachable in one and a half hours by car. Hotel Cristallo was built in 1901 in Art Nouveau style by the Menardi family and was a popular ski destination in the 1930s for the European cultured elite. After the Olympic Games of 1956, the Hotel entered its “golden era” as a renowned ski destination, hosting royals and celebrities, including Peter Sellers, Frank Sinatra, Saul Bellow and Vladimir Nabokov. It has featured as a backdrop for a number of award-winning films, maintaining its historical charm as an early 20th century grand hotel.  In 2021, the property was acquired by funds managed by Attestor Limited, who also own Mandarin Oriental, Lago di Como. Hotel Cristallo will undergo a thorough renovation including a new extension, created by award-winning architects Herzog and deMeuron. On re-opening, the hotel will feature 83 guestrooms, many with balconies, including 30 spacious suites with beautiful views of the Dolomites. The resort will also feature a range of restaurants …

Read More »

HRH Minister of Energy and H.E. Minister of Tourism signs MoU with Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA) to fulfill vision 2030 of sustainability

In the presence of HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Minister of Energy, Chairman of the Supervisory Committee of the Oil Sustainability Program (OSP), and H.E. Ahmed AlKhateeb, Minister of Tourism, Secretary General of the Board of Directors of Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA), the Oil Sustainability Program (OSP) signed an MoU with Diriyah Gate Development Authority to promote collaboration in using sustainable polymer materials in the latter’s projects, provide the required technical and logistic support, and collaborate with relevant entities in this field. The MoU was signed by Eng. Mohammad Hitham AlTayyar, Program Director of OSP, and Mr. Jerry Inzerillo, Chief Executive Officer of Diriyah Gate Development Authority. This MoU reflects the interdependence and integration of the Saudi Vision 2030 programs, given that OSP and DGDA are outcomes of this vision. The OSP aims to sustain and grow demand on hydrocarbons, whether as a competitive energy source or raw materials used to produce various important products, while maintaining the highest levels of economic and environmental efficiency. Meanwhile, the DGDA is carrying out projects that rely on sustainability principles and environment protection. It is noteworthy that this MoU aims at building a strategic cooperation between the OSP and DGDA on hydrocarbon-based materials. This includes identifying opportunities that would improve the construction and operation processes in DGDA’s projects and developing plans to assess and implement these opportunities, as well as to develop awareness strategies to highlight common goals. The cooperation also includes providing the required technical information and support for materials evaluation, coordinating between manufacturers, suppliers and relevant entities, and providing the required support when implementing these opportunities. The Oil Sustainability Program (OSP) was launched in 2020 with …

Read More »

Spa InterContinental opens at InterContinental Ras Al Khaimah Resort & Spa

The idyllic island getaway InterContinental Ras Al Khaimah Mina Al Arab Resort & Spa has announced the opening of Spa InterContinental. A sanctuary for the senses amongst the mountains, desert, and sea of Ras Al Khaimah, the holistic wellness retreat combines eastern and western treatments and techniques to promote a healthy mind, body, and spirit, all using the finest products from Aromatherapy Associates, Proverb and Maison D’Asa. Overlooking the Arabian Gulf and surrounded by lush green landscapes, Spa InterContinental features ten treatment rooms, two of which are for couples, separate relaxation areas for men and women, and an expansive Turkish Hammam. Inspired by its surroundings, each of the treatment rooms has been designed in the shape of a pearl, an homage to the Emirate’s rich pearl diving history, whilst immersive experiences include treatments that are unique to the destination. Escape the everyday with the Spa’s signature ‘Ras Al Khaimah Escape’, a uniquely curated 2-hour 30-minute treatment that rejuvenates, refreshes and resets the body from head to toe. The ritual includes a body scrub, a luxurious essential rose oil body wrap, a cooling mint foot ritual, an organic argan oil hair cleanse, followed by a 60-minute full-body massage with warm stones, and closed by a Maison D’Asa mini-facial. Tension relieving aromatherapy is offered in the form of the UAE Massage (Ultimate Aromatherapy Experience) with the finest in essential oils carefully paired by the Spa therapists to match mood and stress levels. Lavender, peppermint, geranium, vanilla, wild chamomile, and frankincense are expertly combined to respond to individual guests’ needs and stimulate their nervous system accordingly. Guests can also treat themselves to instant glow-up facials, such as the  Argan Ageless Facial which purifies, …

Read More »

Atomize partners with ExploreTECH to support hotels in driving growth in the Middle East

As part of its continued support of hotels in the Middle East, Atomize partners with ExploreTECH to help drive growth and digital transformation in the region. Hotels in the Middle East are leading the global recovery from the pandemic and are boosting their revenues and growing their market share with the help of price automation. Atomize’s solution matches the region’s high demand for lean and easy-to-use revenue management tools that do not require hours of training to use. This is reflected in the company’s recent customer signings. In the last couple of months alone, Atomize has expanded its Middle East footprint with the addition of hotel groups such as JA Resorts & Hotels with its 10 luxury properties representing 1,500 rooms in Dubai, Maldives and Seychelles, Gulf Court Hotel, with the ambition to do a full roll-out across the group’s portfolio and Dubai-based SUHA Hospitality with its four luxury hotel apartment properties in Dubai. As part of Atomize’s increased presence in the region, they have recently partnered with ExploreTECH, the rapidly expanding marketplace platform that presents the knowledge, resources and technology required to fully optimize business performance in the hospitality and travel sector across the Middle East. “The partnership with ExploreTECH is a natural and important step in our continued support of hotels in the region. Not only are Middle East hotels leading the global recovery but they are also embracing price automation to leverage as much as possible from market demand and reach superior results.”, says Alexander Edström, CEO at Atomize. “It is a great pleasure to welcome Atomize to the ExploreTECH family. By providing an innovative revenue management solution for the hospitality industry, Atomize will provide considerable value …

Read More »

The Red Sea Development Company adds three Globally Renowned Hotel Brands to its Luxury Portfolio

The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC) confirmed at the Future Hospitality Summit in Riyadh, that three new hotel management agreements have been signed with international hotel brands to operate resorts in the first phase of development at The Red Sea Project.  These include Ritz Carlton Reserve and Miraval hotels – the first to operate in the Middle East – and Rosewood, a global luxury hospitality company. This announcement demonstrates industry confidence in The Red Sea Project, with a total of 12 hospitality brands now confirmed, and signifies a growing appetite from global leaders to participate in the expansion of the Saudi Tourism market. With two brands now entering the region for the first time, I believe the future of tourism in the Kingdom is bright, said John Pagano, CEO of TRSDC. “Together with our collection of globally recognized and respected partners, we are excited to play our part in opening up this unique and undiscovered part of the world, setting new benchmarks for sustainable development along the way.” Ritz Carlton Reserve is situated at the destination’s idyllic Ummahat Islands, whilst Miraval and Rosewood are located on Shura Island, the main hub for the resort. The new collection of hospitality brands collectively feature nearly 500 hotel keys of the total 3,000 planned for Phase One. The luxury hotel companies join a stellar line-up of globally renowned brands that have already confirmed they will operate at The Red Sea Project, including: EDITION Hotels and St Regis Hotels & Resorts, part of Marriott International; Fairmont Hotel & Resorts, Raffles Hotels & Resorts and SLS Hotels & Residences, part of global hospitality group Accor; Grand Hyatt, part of Hyatt Hotels Corporation; Intercontinental Hotels & …

Read More »

Canal Central Hotel Business Bay strengthens partnership with key industry players

Canal Central Hotel Business Bay highlighted new partnerships with the region’s key hospitality and tourism key decision makers at the recently concluded Arabian Travel Market. The team closed successful deals and welcomed visitors, tour operators, and key stakeholders to the stand during the four-day travel fair. They also showcased the Group’s properties and shared insights about the latest travel trends, updates, and innovations to tap fresh markets. “We are looking forward to exploring business ventures with our existing and potential partners in the industry. In line with this year’s focus on the future of international travel and tourism, we have been seeking ways to adapt to the current demands of modern travelers. We have plotted our projects to elevate the experience of our guests by upgrading our facilities, both rooms, and dining outlets, as well as customize our stay and F&B offerings”, said Mr. Hussein Gamaleldin, Group Director of Sales and Marketing. Canal Central Hotel Business Bay is eyeing to attract more guests from top source markets, including the UK, Russia, Germany, France, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. On its 29th edition, Arabian Travel Market (ATM), the Middle East’s largest travel and tourism exhibition, resumed its physical conference after running virtual and hybrid shows for the last two years that attracted 1500 exhibitors from 158 destinations worldwide with more than 23,000 attendees, an increase 85% from last year. The event focused on seeking out breakthroughs for the hospitality and tourism industry and investment and financial strategies. Canal Central Hotel Business Bay participated along with its sister properties, C Central Resort The Palm, Royal Central Hotel The Palm, and other brands under Canal Hotels & Resorts. Canal Central in Business …

Read More »

IHG Hotels & Resorts launches Staybridge Suites Al Khobar City for corporate visitors seeking long term accommodation

IHG Hotels & Resorts announced the opening of its second Staybridge Suites in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) in Al Khobar, on Olaya Street. Located at the heart of Al Khobar’s corporate and shopping centers, it is the only IHG hotel to offer long-term accommodation, making it the ideal place for corporate visitors to the Eastern Province. With its extensive expertise in hospitality, constant quest to satisfy experienced travelers, as well as its signature suites, Staybridge Suites offers premium accommodation experiences for all its guests, allowing them to feel comfortable, connected, and at home at all times. Situated on Olaya Street, Staybridge Suites Al Khobar City provides easy access to the city’s most happening places, enabling guests to enjoy exceptional shopping experiences, such as at Al Rashid Mall and Dhahran Mall, both of which are located only a few steps away from the hotel. The hotel is also close to Al Khobar’s corporate district, which is just 5 minutes away, and Saudi Aramco – only 15 minutes from the hotel. Moreover, its proximity to King Abdulaziz Air Base makes it an ideal choice for Aramco visitors, armed forces officials, and entrepreneurs on short or long visits, at attractive daily rates. The hotel offers prime accommodation, with a choice of three spacious suites – 68 studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom – all of which are fully equipped with fully fitted kitchenettes, comfortable living space, modern facilities, a well-lit workplace, free high-speed Internet, exceptional bed furnishings, a velvet sofa and plenty of storage spaces. The rooms, further enhanced with panoramic views of Al Khobar, have been designed in a manner to offer unrivalled comfort, making them the perfect place for both long …

Read More »