Category Archives: Hotels

SUNRISE announced expansion plans for the year at Arabian Travel Market 2022 in two areas one in Zanzibar and another in Sharm El Sheikh. This will be in addition to the two newly added resorts in addition to the 5 the group already has, the first will be Meraki. Following the great success of Meraki Hurghada serving as the first boho clubbing resort in the city, SUNRISE decided to open a new branch in Sharm El Sheikh with an extra serving of royalty. Applying a brand-new concept; the futuristic concept in the second resort to open in Sharm El Sheikh, White Hills, located also in Ras Nasrani. The resort implements the driven concept in every tiny detail featuring a set of exclusively selected amenities, outlets and interiors. SUNRISE will witness this year for the very first time, its expansion outside Egypt; a hotel located in Zanzibar. Executing the tropical, coast style, the modern yet earthy resort will behold a long-awaited opening. SUNRISE Resorts & Cruises was founded in 2002 by Egyptian entrepreneur Hossam Gouda El Shaer. Since then, SUNRISE Resorts & Cruises kept developing and expanding within Egypt serving various markets from all over the world. Today, SUNRISE stands as one of the top leading hospitality chains in the region with highly valued guest experience. SUNRISE group currently owns and manages 20 resorts and 7 cruise ships scattered among the most authentic locations in the prominent touristic cities of Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada, Ain Sokhna, Alexandria, Luxor and Aswan. Our continuous dedication and non-stop consistency greatly helped in the challenging period of Covid-19. The year 2020 was more of an interval of devoted planning in which we strategically worked on. …

Jumeirah Group has officially launched the Jumeirah Airport Lounge at Dubai International (DXB), located at the heart of Terminal 3 Arrivals. Designed to deliver the Group’s signature hospitality and encourage guests to relax and enjoy their first moments in the city, the Jumeirah Airport Lounge offers travellers a taste of the brand’s renowned hospitality and Dubai’s seven-star luxury. A unique addition to the brand’s list of innovative offerings, the announcement comes as the global travel and tourism industry prepares to gather at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2022 in Dubai to discuss the future of travel and tourism. Welcoming those with reservations or those looking to book on arrival, the lounge invites guests to start their leisure or business experience from the moment they arrive in its impressive 250sqm salon. Modelled in the style of one of the brand’s luxurious presidential suites, it features an array of services and amenities specially curated to give visitors and guests an unforgettable experience. Exuding warm hospitality, the new airport lounge offers culinary creations inspired by its signature dining destinations as well as lavish surroundings combining contemporary furnishings with striking artworks from Emirati artist, Mattar bin Lahej – the artist behind the Museum of the Future calligraphy, and young up and coming Portuguese artist Ana d’Castro. José Silva, Chief Executive Officer of Jumeirah Group, said: “We are immensely proud that, in partnership with Dubai Airports, we have created an exceptional arrival experience unlike any other, with the Jumeirah Airport Lounge. Beautifully designed in the style of a presidential suite, the lounge caters to indulgent comfort and functional needs of the modern-day traveller. It demonstrates the importance we place on the entire guest journey, ensuring …

Emaar Hospitality Group the official hotel partner again this year at the Arabian Travel Market shared their new plans for the region at the official press briefing held earlier yesterday. This year marks a remarkable recovery of the travel and tourism industry around the world as hotels are nearing the same levels of occupancy as before the pandemic. Hotels across Emaar Hospitality Group’s diverse portfolio have achieved high occupancy rates in Q1, and these are expected to rise further during the year. Emaar Hospitality Group has been focused on reinventing practices and products along with new investments toward the expansion of hospitality brands across the region. The diverse portfolio of brands, including Address Hotels + Resorts, a premium luxury hotel and residences brand, and Vida Hotels and Resorts, an upscale lifestyle hotel and residences brand, will now extend to offer its iconic services to guests at new, exciting locations within the UAE and at up-and-coming, highly anticipated destinations across the Middle East. The first opening of this year is the most monumental as it marks the first expansion of the Palace Downtown which is a part of the group’s luxury segment of Address Hotels + Resorts. Palace Fujairah is set to welcome guests in the coming months as a luxury resort in the culturally rich and scenic surroundings of Fujairah and this resort is expected to attract domestic as well as international tourists. Emaar Hospitality Group has announced 5 new openings with properties located in Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, and Dubai Creek Harbour – which are all key developments of Emaar Properties PJSC. Vida Hotels and Resorts which is known for its choice of upscale and stylish locations in Dubai, …

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN Group), the executive arm of the Sultanate of Oman for tourism development, announce plans for the upcoming Four Seasons Resort and Private Residences Muscat, Oman. The luxury development will comprise of an urban style resort, perfect for business travellers or leisure guests looking to visit the historic sights of Oman’s capital city – a rare opportunity to relish in the relaxing mountain and seaside setting. For those looking to make Four Seasons part of their everyday lifestyle, the project will also include a collection of Private Residences with sweeping views of the Sea of Oman. “The Middle East continues to be an integral part of Four Seasons growth strategy, as we look for opportunities to offer unmatched Four Seasons experiences in exciting and dynamic destinations such as Muscat,” says Bart Carnahan, President, Global Business Development and Portfolio Management, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. “We are excited to be a part of OMRAN Group’s long-term vision for the future development of Oman’s tourism landscape, further accelerating the strategic growth of its capital city and continuing to attract luxury guests and residents from around the world with a brand new Four Seasons offering.” Oman is located on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, along the Sea of Oman. Muscat is an ancient city with a long history as an important port destination with a vibrant culture. The idyllic landscape is marked by the backdrop of the Al Hajar Mountains with unending views across the Arabian Sea. In addition to the tranquil setting, leisure travellers can enjoy local attractions such as myriad museums, mosques and heritage sites. “Muscat is a destination …

The world-renowned hospitality event, The Hotel Show, returns to Dubai in May for three days celebrating the industry’s greatest names, brands and talent. Taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre on the 24-26 May, the event has become a key date in the industry calendar, taking place in one of the world’s greatest destinations. Dubai has become a leading global destination for both leisure, tourism and hospitality and is one of the most attractive hospitality markets in the world, with a constant stream of investment. According to preliminary data from STR, Dubai’s hotel sector experienced its highest occupancy since 2007 during the final weeks before Expo 2020, with a total of 91.7% of Dubai’s rooms occupied. With the growing hospitality industry in the region, The Hotel Show Dubai has grown to become the largest and most prestigious trade event for hospitality in the Middle East and Africa, and the ultimate meeting place for the industry over the last 22 years. “The hosting of The Hotel Show Dubai is testament to Dubai’s ability to organise world class international events while positioning Dubai as a global city that is open, safe and accessible for UAE residents and leisure and business travellers. Over the past year, Dubai’s hotel sector has performed remarkably well, further accelerating momentum across the city’s travel and tourism industry. As a platform where F&B and Hospitality professionals can come together and really connect, and knowledge share and learn from each other, The Hotel Show will reaffirm Dubai’s position as a must-visit global destination,” said Hoor Al Khaja, Associate VP of International Operations at Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism. With supporting partners including Dubai’s Department of Economy and …

The Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) will return to Saudi Arabia in a new format on 24-25 May 2022 in Riyadh Saudi Arabia. Under the theme Reimagined Horizons, co-organisors The Bench and MEED, along with Saudi-based organiser SEMARK, have designed the programme around the key themes of the future of hotel development, destination impact, aviation, sustainability, restaurant investment and human capital. “We’re thrilled to bring three investment communities under one roof at FHS Saudi Arabia this year; Saudi Hospitality Investment Conference (SHIC), Global Restaurant Investment Forum (GRIF) and AVIADEV, which are all represented in our action-packed programme in Riyadh later this month,” said Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of The Bench. “Our focus will be on the future of our industry and delegates will have over 40 opportunities to deliberate, learn and network over two exciting days. With a range of different formats from main stage presentations, workshops and panel discussions to interviews, break-out sessions and networking opportunities, we look forward to facilitating ground-breaking conversations on what’s next for the hospitality industry,” he added. Hosted by Dur Hospitality, FHS Saudi Arabia will kick off with a Moroccan-themed opening reception showcasing the group’s unique hospitality concepts. Ahead of the event, Dur’s CEO Mr. Sultan bin Badr Al Otaibi stated: “It’s a great pleasure to host such a grand event debuting the new era of hospitality and redefining the future of this vibrant industry while creating numerous opportunities to drive collaboration and joint leadership action from across the global hospitality sector.” The GRIF community will be the first to take the stage at FHS with a series of sessions dedicated to the Kingdom’s F&B investment scene, including a focus on dining trends, new brands and …

Hospitality Management Holding (HMH) shares its key takeaways as we look back at the resounding success of Expo 2020, rising above the challenges of a global pandemic to bring the world together in celebration of humanity and our planet. Dubai reached the incredible milestone of 20 million visits by Expo 2020 on 19th March, with 192 Country Pavilions opening their doors over the last six months.  A total of 1938 government leaders, including presidents, prime ministers, heads of state and key officials, have honoured the Expo site, to open their country’s pavilions, speak at official events or celebrate their nation’s Expo National Day. ‘UAE Hospitality Industry was stimulated by Expo 2020 just when we needed it most, and we are confident that this momentum is set to continue, with strong occupancy and revenue rates throughout our hotels,’ commented Haytham Abdelaziz, Director of Operations at HMH. Expo 2020 Dubai has championed three sub-themes to demonstrate how the UAE is “connecting minds, creating the future” – sustainability, mobility, and opportunity. The focus has been on partnering to drive growth, increasing physical and virtual connectivity to share services and goods, and using resources without impacting our habitat and planet. ‘The world got a chance to experience the best that UAE Hospitality has to offer through Expo 2020, raising our profile as an exciting, accessible, and socially responsible travel destination,’ continued Abdelaziz. ‘It has also provided the opportunity to build trade agreements with countries and companies from around the world, creating and strengthening inbound tourism and MICE partnerships.  Dubai welcomed 979.7K overnight visitors in the month of January 2022 alone, with the highest number of international guests from Saudi Arabia at 105K. According to …

UAE-headquartered hospitality company TIME Hotels has outlined ambitious expansion plans to increase its portfolio by 40% to 21 properties throughout the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Sudan. The announcement, which comes ahead of the company’s participation at next month’s Arabian Travel Market, which takes place from 9 – 12 May at the Dubai World Trade Centre, will see an additional six properties added to TIME Hotel’s portfolio, with developments in Fujairah, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and three in Egypt being showcased at the Middle East’s premier travel showcase. Mohamed Awadalla, the co-founder and CEO of TIME Hotels, said: “Following the challenges of the last two years, we have seen unprecedented demand for additional rooms in key territories in the region. This, combined with our in-depth market research, has underscored the need for new, quality-driven, value accommodation. “We have witnessed resounding success throughout the UAE, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, and we feel now is the time to expand for the company’s future success. With six new properties, totalling 781 keys, this is an important time for our expansion and growth both regionally and internationally.” As part of the company’s expansion plans, TIME Hotels will expand its offering in the UAE with the launch of the TIME Moonstone Hotel Apartments in Fujairah, located just 10 minutes from a host of amenities, including Fujairah Mall, City Centre Fujairah, and the Fujairah Corniche.  The 91-key property, which is scheduled to open on 1 May 2022, will feature 13 one-bedroom and 78 two-bedroom apartments, an all-day dining restaurant, a gym, and saunas and steam rooms. The company will also expand in Egypt with three new properties, including the 117-key Marina Hotel & Convention Centre on the …

HyperPay announced that it has achieved an Oracle Validated Integration with Oracle Hospitality OPERA, the property management system for hospitality businesses. HyperPay will showcase HyperBill’s Hospitality Payment Solution for the first time at Arabian Travel Market 2022. The integration will allow hotels across the MENA region to benefit from HyperPay’s e-invoicing payments platform (HyperBill) without the need for the long and complex integration processes. HyperPay recently launched a production Oracle Marketplace APP, the first app that combines the power of Oracle Hospitality Integration Platform (OHIP), Oracle Hospitality Industry Connector (OIC), and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI). The Oracle system partners with brands who can share their expertise, and offer solutions to some of the most complex problems of running a business. This now includes handling all of the billing for even the biggest companies. “Hotels and hospitality professionals from around the world can benefit from the integrated hospitality solution that will debut for the first time at ATM 2022. Combining Oracle Hospitality OPERA with HyperPay’s powerful e-invoicing system HyperBill, to deliver a frictionless, unified customer experience. This will enable guests to secure their reservations and hotels to seamlessly collect their payments.” said Products Development Manager, Obaida Khaleel. Oracle partners need to meet stringent requirements, and brands must show that their integration meets the specified security standards and specifications. This assures the safety and security of the partners. As Oracle describes it, “differentiated services, combined with Oracle’s technology, help enable our customers to achieve their business goals”. One such tool is Opera, the hotel management system that moves the organisation forward, used by hotel chains, resorts, and other hospitality businesses. Opera already makes it simpler to track travel agent and individual bookings, group …

The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), under the umbrella of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), has announced its fifteenth consecutive participation at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from May 9 – 12. The authority will also be present at their online event, ATM Virtual, from May 17 – 18. Furthering its mission to continue boosting the UAE’s and the region’s business and investment potential in the authentic, eco-inspired travel sector, Shurooq will unveil  new hospitality projects at the 29th edition of ATM, along with showcasing its diverse and world-class portfolio of existing eco-destinations that champion the spirit of conservation and the preservation of local culture and heritage, and in doing so, are redefining the leisure and travel landscape of Sharjah and the region. With a physical presence at ATM 2022 at Stand No. ME 2150 in Hall 2, Shurooq will also be turning the spotlight on its latest projects, which will be making their ATM debut. These include Lux* Al Jabal Resort – a luxurious beach resort in Khorfakkan overlooking the pristine waters of the Soueifa Beach; the Lux* Al Bridi Resort in Al Dhaid set adjacent to the Sharjah Safari, the largest wildlife safari in the world outside of Africa, where Shurooq and EPAA will collaborate to curate unique guest interactions with the wild; and Nomad which explores the emirate’s nature through beach trailer experience in Al Hamriya. . Through its presence at the leading travel and tourism event in the region, Shurooq aims to update industry stakeholders as well as regional and international investors on their latest contributions to the emirate’s travel and leisure sector, particularly …