Category Archives: Hotels

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 …

In line with the long-established tradition of BurJuman Arjaan by Rotana and Jumeira Rotana, the hotels once again reached out to their communities during this holy Month of Ramadan. Following 2 years of restrictions due to COVID-19, the two properties incorporated the blessings of the event under the theme of “The Act of Kindness”; 240 construction workers benefited from bags filled with dried and grocery items ensuring food rations for at least 3 days. Mr. Ulrich Hoffmeister, Cluster General Manager of BurJuman Arjaan by Rotana and Jumeira Rotana said, “It is our pleasure to organize such initiatives, especially in the most difficult times like these where the pandemic is still very much active. That being said, we are delighted to share the spirit of giving and to engage in acts of kindness by sharing something with our community.” “It is our responsibility to support the people around us through CSR initiatives, especially during the Holy Month of Ramadan,” Ulrich added. For the past years, BurJuman Arjaan by Rotana Jumeira Rotana have been active with several community services and support of non-government organizations. The hotels’ initiatives confirmed the commitment to their core values of respect and integrity, demonstrated by the desire of “giving back” to the community.

W Hotels Worldwide, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of 30 extraordinary hotel brands, announced the opening of W Dubai – Mina Seyahi. Situated on the highly sought-after Jumeirah Beach coastline, the 31-storey hotel boasts striking glass architecture with unobstructed views of the sun-soaked Arabian Gulf and Dubai’s iconic landmarks. “Dubai is an always-on, high-energy city with a growing luxury lifestyle scene, making it the perfect destination for the iconic W Hotels brand,” said Candice D’Cruz, Vice President – Luxury Brands, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International. “W Dubai – Mina Seyahi is the third W hotel to launch in the UAE and reflects its world-famous culture and social vibrancy, and brings the W brand’s signature style of luxury to travellers looking for new ways to celebrate the destination. Guests and locals can expect the unexpected with intriguing spaces, vibrant dining experiences and dynamic programming.” Dubai’s historical, cultural and social fabric is woven throughout the design of the hotel with surprises waiting to be discovered around every corner. Upon arrival, guests are greeted by the artfully designed porte-cochère that leads to a show-stopping Welcome Desk featuring bold colours and textures inspired by the romanticism of a snake charmer – a nod to the Middle East’s history of mystique and its mix of poets, storytellers, and performers who brought the energy of the region to life. Inside, the W Lounge – the brand’s take on the hotel lobby – pays homage to famed, Middle Eastern gold souks, with rich, warm hues and gold accents to create a lively, modern-day bazaar. Guests can connect over imaginative cocktails and savoury bites infused with local flavours, complemented by live music and nightly DJ sets. …

Kerzner International Holdings Limited (“Kerzner”), the owner of the iconic Atlantis Resorts and Residences, ultra-luxury One&Only Resorts worldwide, is proud to announce the launch of Rare Finds; a diverse collection of resorts celebrating the individuality of each property, showcasing their unique identity, location, talent and expertise, with a distinct ability to captivate the imagination, provoke thought and elevate a destination through transformative experiences, unmatched food and beverage offerings and spectacular entertainment. Under this new vertical, Kerzner has assumed management of Bab Al Shams, Dubai’s quintessential desert resort, owned by Meydan. The resort will close for an extensive reimagination between May 2022 and early 2023, reopening as part of Rare Finds. “I am excited to welcome Bab Al Shams Desert Resort to the newly introduced Rare Finds collection. The addition of this legacy landmark desert resort marks Kerzner International’s continued growth and expansion within the region,” commented Philippe Zuber, CEO of Kerzner International. “We have been part of Dubai’s storied history with one of the first ultra-luxury resorts with One&Only Royal Mirage followed by the epochal Atlantis, The Palm and we continue to be very bullish on the destination with the upcoming opening of Atlantis, The Royal Resort & Residences later this year and One&Only One Za’abeel joining Bab Al Shams next year.  We are thrilled to continue to be part of the future of Dubai, and we look forward to welcoming guests to discover this new, evolved idyllic retreat.” The extensive reimagination of the iconic desert resort will introduce a completely renewed aesthetic whilst maintaining the resort’s authentic equestrian identity. Captivating destination experiences and vibrant entertainment will be the beating heart of the reborn resort, spreading an intangible energy to …

Akhom Consulting and Crown & Champa Resorts, a luxury collection of island resorts in the Maldives announce their partnership effective from April 2022.Akhom Consulting will be responsible for the sales & marketing representation of this unique and diverse brand in the Middle East region, more strongly in the GCC countries. Throughout 2022, the Maldives will be celebrating 50 years since tourism to this spellbinding island-nation began. Crown & Champa Resorts, the leading local hospitality group of Maldives, boasts with a legacy of strong ownership which forms part of the pioneers bringing the very first Tourists to the destination. Crown & Champa Resorts are part of this 50 years journey , which is what leaves this brand with  a well-known reputation of strong and reliable business practices in Maldives. One is spoilt by choice with over several unique resorts in the Maldives. The Crown & Champa Resorts collection leads the destination with continuously developing and growing the resort portfolio. CCR strives to constantly deliver great quality, value for money, and authentic Maldivian experiences across all their resorts. Following the very well-known Maldivian concept of one island one resort, each resort has its very own unique design which reflect their surroundings and heritage, creating getaways filled with authentic beauty and allure. There is a unique resort within the CCR collection for every purpose including choices from romantic, relaxing holidays to adventurous water sports and beach family escapes. With adult-only and family-friendly resorts to luxury and more affordable resorts , CCR is bound to deliver  a wide selection of accommodation options. Within the luxury resort selection of Crown & Champa, Kudadoo Maldives Private Island, Hurawalhi Island Resort and Kagi Maldives Spa Island are …

Valor Hospitality Middle East announced its first hotel in Muscat, Oman, adding to its portfolio in the Middle East. The upscale, full-service hotel in Muscat, Oman is scheduled to open in Q1 2024, after complete renovation, refurbishment and rebranding. When open, the hotel will feature 201 guest rooms, ballroom and conference facilities, leisure and fitness amenities and multiple bars and dining venues. Located in the centre of Muscat, in Qurum, the hotel will offer a great location and diverse room mix for both short and long stays, corporate and leisure travellers. “After our recent hotel opening in Dubai, UAE, it gives us great pleasure to expand our third-party hotel management services in the Middle East by partnering with Mustafa Sultan Enterprises for our first of, hopefully, many hotels in Oman,” said Julien Bergue, Co-founder and Managing Partner, Valor Hospitality Middle East. “We are working closely with the ownership on the full renovation plan and in identifying a suitable brand fit for the fully revamped hotel” Bergue continued. Shabeer Mustafa Sultan, Chairman of Mustafa Sultan Enterprises, said, “We are thrilled to partner with Valor Hospitality for operating an international branded hotel in Muscat, Oman and to provide the best possible guest experience.  This collaboration points to a full renovation and rebranding investment that supports our mission to create long-term value for the tourism, real estate and leisure sectors across Oman. With our shared values and Valor Hospitality’s global expertise in managing hotels, we are confident the hotel will add great value to the vision of Oman’s leaders, particularly in the upscale hotel segment. We look forward to delivering an engaging and positive experience for all our guests”.

The Ascott Limited (Ascott) announces the re-opening of its fully renovated Qatar-property, Somerset West Bay Doha.  The revamp is in line with the group’s tenacious expansion plans for the region. Owned by Katara Hospitality, Somerset West Bay Doha originally opened in 2008 with a total of 200 units comprising of two- and three-bedroom apartments and was primarily focused to cater to long-stay guests. In line with changing traveller needs, the newly revamped property now offers 228 units in one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and is the perfect choice for solo, business, and leisure travellers. Mr. Vincent Miccolis, Ascott’s Managing Director for the Middle East, Africa, Turkey and India, said: “We are delighted to announce the re-opening of our newly renovated flagship Qatar property, as we introduce stylish urban living in the heart of Doha once again.  Sharing the neighbourhood with some of the country’s most iconic establishments, we are confident that Somerset West Bay Doha will provide an elevated accommodation offering for our existing traveller base as well as new markets. This much awaited re-opening is among the many exciting upcoming projects we have planned for the region in the coming months and beyond.” Offering style, comfort and a sense of home, the fully refurbished rooms exude a warm setting, inspired by contemporary and Arabesque décor. Each guest room is complete with floor-to-ceiling windows that provide breathtaking views of the gleaming Doha skyline, along with a range of modern appliances, a fully-equipped kitchen and a dedicated living and dining area, to make each stay convenient and memorable. A range of recreational facilities, lifestyle activities and business support services are available at the property, including a swimming pool, gymnasium, business centre, …

Hilton and Al Taif Investment announced the signing of an agreement to open DoubleTree by Hilton Fujairah City Centre – a new build hotel that will soon welcome guests to this vibrant city of the northern United Arab Emirates. This hotel will provide all of those travelling to and living in Fujairah with Hilton’s world-class service standards and DoubleTree by Hilton’s signature hospitality,” said Carlos Khneisser, vice president, development, Middle East & Africa, Hilton. “We are grateful for the opportunity to bring DoubleTree by Hilton to the emirate and delighted to support the vision of our partners at Al Taif Investment – as we strive to support Fujairah as it continues to enhance its tourism and visitor offering.” Located in the city centre, the hotel forms part of a mixed-use development known as Al Taif Business Centre which includes offices and residences. Al Taif Business Centre also has a shopping mall, which the hotel will have direct access to. We conceptualized and designed Al Taif Business Centre as an inclusive facility, providing an iconic fusion of business and leisure facilities, and we are pleased to be working with Hilton to open the hotel at our flagship project in Fujairah,” said Khalid bin Kalban, CEO, Al Taif Investment. “With the emirate continuing to be an important logistics hub for the UAE, hosting several world-class medical facilities and developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects, it is an ideal venue to host many domestic and international tourists – and we are positive that this new addition will serve as a catalyst for the emerging needs of the emirate.” Expected to open in late 2022, DoubleTree by Hilton Fujairah City Centre will have 228 …

UAE-based smart and green facilities management (FM) company Farnek, is to launch ‘Trendz’ a new standalone hotel management company, at Arabian Travel Market (ATM), which takes place at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) on 9-12 May 2022. “‘Trendz’ offers a unique 360-degree service for hotel owners and operating companies with an accent on technology and sustainability, two of the most important trends in hospitality today,” said Walter Knight, Director of hospitality at Farnek.   “Farnek, which has over 8,000 employees, has traditionally provided manpower and outsourcing services, such as cleaning, security and property maintenance. However, ‘Trendz’ takes that market proposition one stage further, managing front office requirements, reservations, concierge, housekeeping and room service – we can also manage sales operations, marketing and PR.   “It is a cost-effective and totally flexible hospitality proposition. Hotels can engage with us for specific operational requirements or contract us to manage an entire property, either under the ‘Trendz’ brand or as a white label product,” added Knight.   One of Farnek’s most recent accomplishments, was the development of an app called ‘Flexi-Guest’ which digitalises the guest journey from pre arrival to check out.   The app, which was developed in-house, interfaces with a hotel’s property management system (PMS) affording guests a whole suite of services from uploading travel documents, such as vaccination certificates, ordering a car on arrival, room service and laundry. The hotel app can also send automated electronic updates and alerts to the guest, as well as e-registration documents, e-invoices and e-receipts, all in one convenient space.   “This gives the guest an enhanced experience, providing a seamless pre-arrival and check-in procedure. They can order room service in advance, have laundry …

After its successful start in Europe, with more than 40 affiliated hotels in just 5 months –including the first hotel affiliated in Northern Cyprus, Celebi Garden Hotel, in Famagusta– the European hotel group Quartz Inn Hotels & Resorts arrives in the Middle East to help hotels and independent establishments boost their sales under the umbrella of a sustainable brand. Egypt, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar will be the first countries in which the group plans to develop its operations. Quartz Inn was presented last year at the World Travel Market in London, with great media coverage, after being the first European hotel chain made up entirely of independent and sustainable properties. The idea is based on facilitating access to technology for those independent hotels that do not have sufficient means to compete with the large chains. Direct sales is one of the factors on which they have put their main focus, in order to avoid the high commissions paid to OTAs. The properties that join the group must commit to comply with a series of standards in terms of respect for the environment, such as the elimination of single-use plastics in the rooms, saving energy and water or minimizing food waste, among others. The group carries out different sustainability programs, to which the affiliates can join. According to Ignacio Merino, co-founder and Managing Director of the London-based group, “We are very excited to be able to contribute to the development of independent hotels and the local communities in the Middle East that need help in terms of technology, marketing and sales, as well as in the implementation of sustainable policies. In Europe, more than 40 establishments in 10 …