Category Archives: Hotels

Hotel Show Dubai has launched an initiative for region’s hospitality community from February 18-27, 2021. Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) has organised the 10-day event which will see a select group of popular hotels on Sheikh Zayed Road transformed by night into illuminated beacons of hospitality. Each hotel has been partnered with an internationally acclaimed lighting design firm with full creative license to construct a custom exterior façade installation under the theme titled a ‘Celebration of Lighting and Hospitality’. “Following an extremely challenging trading year for the hospitality industry in 2020, and the knock-on effect that the pandemic has had on those industry sectors that support tourism GDP contribution, we wanted to shine a light on the importance of this vital economic backbone,” said Jasmeet Bakshi, Group Event Director at dmg events – the organizer of The Hotel Show Dubai. “Dubai has been a tourism pioneer for decades, from planning and delivering its architecturally iconic skyline to developing an exceptional tourism offering that attracted 16 million tourists in 2019. Illuminate Dubai is a wonderful opportunity for us to highlight our work and the ever-evolving appeal of the emirate’s hospitality sector,” said David McNeil, Director of dpa lighting consultants. For Samer Moukalled, Vice President of headline sponsor Scientechnic Lighting Solutions, “The hospitality industry has long been a backbone to the thriving tourism sector of the UAE, and the idea of using light to reestablish its importance is a major boon for lighting experts like myself. Lighting is often termed the unsung hero and Illuminate Dubai has created a platform to showcase its true power. We are lighting up the city, and what better medium than on the facades …

Marriott Bonvoy has released a redesigned, more intuitive version of its mobile app in anticipation of increased desire and demand for travel later this year. As a part of the refresh, members residing or visiting the UAE can access a QR code in the app that can be scanned at select on-property restaurants to earn and redeem points for food and beverage purchases. The programme also announced that the app will be available in Arabic from August. As the centerpiece of the company’s mobile-first mindset, the Marriott Bonvoy app ensures guests receive the best available rate; enjoy programme benefits such as exclusive member rates and accruing points for stays; and enables members to customise their experience. “The pandemic has accelerated the trend of digitalisation in the travel sector.  Digital platforms, which have long been the preferred source of content and commerce for Millennials and Gen-Z, will increasingly become a source of both inspiration and sales embraced by all generations. The enhanced Marriott Bonvoy Mobile app is a must-have travel companion. It simplifies the travel planning process, allows for a frictionless experience before and during your stay and gets smarter the more you interact with it,” said Neal Jones, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, Marriott International, Europe, Middle East & Africa. “The Marriott Bonvoy Mobile app offers travellers access to so much, whether it is the breadth of our global portfolio of 7,500 hotels among our 30 brands or home rentals, to destination experiences and customisable content for travel inspiration. Through tailored offers, members can learn how to earn hundreds of thousands of points just by booking stays, booking a Day Pass to work from a hotel or going about their …

Katara Hospitality announced a new partnership with Accor, a world-leading hospitality group with the two-fold signing of Raffles and Fairmont hotels in Qatar. The management agreement was signed by His Excellency Sheikh Nawaf Bin Jassim Bin Jabor Al-Thani, Chairman of Katara Hospitality and Mr. Sébastien Bazin, Chairman & CEO of Accor. The agreement signing was held at Katara Hospitality headquarters in Doha in the presence of Katara Hospitality Management represented by Andrew Humphries, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Kamal Rhazali, General Counsel, Irfan Sharief, Chief Asset Management Officer, Juan Aguilar, Acting Chief Technical Officer. As well as Accor Management represented by Mark Willis, CEO India, Middle East, Africa & Turkey and Gaurav Bhushan, CEO of Accor’s Lifestyle Brands. On this occasion, HH Sheikh Nawaf bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani, Chairman, Katara Hospitality said, “Katara Hospitality is one of the first investors that understood the significance of the project, committing to developing the hospitality icon of Doha for the 21st Century in the State of Qatar. We are confident the ethos of Accor brand is a strategic fit for this iconic project as it is important that we have an operator who understands our vision and strategy, while ensuring it occupies its rightful position in the local and global marketplaces when it opens next year.” “While we regard 2022 as a milestone in the country’s development, this new property in Lusail will also occupy a focal point for residents and travellers during the FIFA World Cup. We believe that this is our opportunity to showcase a country that has grown into an international destination and Katara Hospitality will create the landmark to underpin lifetime memories. As Qatar National Vision 2030 creates …

Citymax Hotels gets off to a flying start in 2021 with the launch of their first 4-star hotel. Located conveniently in the heart of Downtown Dubai, Citymax Hotel Business Bay is a short 10-minute drive from The Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), and a 15-minute drive from the Dubai International Airport. Citymax Business Bay’s foray into the 4-star market showcases the brand’s ambition to increase versatility within their portfolio and position the hotel as their new flagship property. Raj Rana, CEO – Citymax Hotels & Foodmark said: “We are delighted to announce the opening of the all-new 4-star Citymax Hotel Business Bay, an important milestone for us at Citymax Hotels and Landmark Group. We are truly excited for the fruitful journey ahead and look forward to offering our guests an enhanced experience while maintaining efficiency, value for money and the highest quality of service.” “We have redefined the brand in the present era of hospitality to emphasize consistency, comfort and convenience. Our loyalty factor has always been high and though we have entered the four-star segment we have ensured that the ambience of the Citymax experience has only been enhanced,” added Satish Nambiar, General Manager – Citymax Hotel Business Bay, Dubai.

Miral, Abu Dhabi’s leading curator of experiences, announced that Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island is set to welcome guests from the 18th of February. Situated within Yas Bay, Abu Dhabi’s vibrant waterfront destination on Yas Island, the five-star hotel, will feature 545 rooms and an accompanying unique beach club. Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island is part of Miral’s AED 4 billion investment into the overall AED 12 billion masterplan of Yas Bay. Yas Bay will feature three distinct areas across 14 million square feet; The Waterfront, where Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island is located, The Residences, and Yas Creative Hub. Once complete, the project is set to attract 15,000 future residents and over 10,000 top business professionals. Commenting on the announcement, H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Miral said: “We are proud to see the Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island on Yas Bay’s waterfront, opening its doors to guests.  The Hotel complements our leisure and entertainment attractions on Yas Bay, bringing our vision for the waterfront to life, and further positioning Yas Island as a top global destination for leisure, entertainment and business. This is yet another milestone in achieving our leaderships’ vision for Abu Dhabi.” Offering a variety of premium facilities alongside a beach club, Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island will also be home to signature dining venues and cafes, a fully equipped kids’ club, a spa, and a multi-purpose conference centre. Located in close proximity to diverse leisure and entertainment attractions on Yas Island, the Hotel provides guests with luxurious accommodation while they experience all that the Island has to offer. Jochem-Jan Sleiffer, Area President, Middle East, Africa & Turkey (MEA&T), Hilton, said: “Hilton is proud to …

Staytus announced Hotel Chat, the first chat platform built exclusively for hospitality. The web-based service is designed to connect guests and hotels before, during and after the stay. Publicly accessible by all guests regardless of their personal messaging preferences, Hotel Chat is free of charge for hotels to use. Hotel Chat bridges the gap between guests’ demands for contactless interactions and hotels’ need for a simple, secure means of managing communications and delivering service digitally. From the hotel side, messages are received on a purpose-built platform designed for service. Messages can be viewed by an unlimited number of staff users. Staff can respond to guests in their native language and collaborate internally for a faster response. Hotel Chat also provides a secure, GDPR-compliant environment and no data is stored on staff mobile devices. This avoids potentially compromising guest data when using personal messaging apps such as WhatsApp or Messenger. “Our team loves the capabilities of Hotel Chat, which speed up communication between departments, help reduce workload, and also generate more guest engagement and guest satisfaction,” said Olivier Lenoir, General Manager, Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur. “More and more guests prefer to chat with their hotel. This growth trend started even before the pandemic,” said Troy Simoni, CEO, Staytus. “It’s about convenience and service. Excellent service is fast and personal, but doesn’t always need to be face-to-face anymore. People want to chat with real humans, not chatbots, and they want quick answers. These trends helped us design Hotel Chat. It’s made to be the world’s best chat platform for hotels and guests.”

Radisson Hotel Group has started moving towards normality with a host of expansion and opening announcements over the past months. From the first Radisson RED in the region to making history with the appointment of the world’s first female Saudi General Manager in the hospitality industry, Radisson Hotel Group looks back on a year of mixed emotions and many great achievements. Looking back at 2020, Radisson Hotel Group has announced more than 40 new hotel signings across EMEA, five of which comprising 1,500 keys fall within the Middle East region. With that in mind, Radisson Hotel Group is confident that travel will continue to rebound, and more capital will be invested in the industry from both the private and public sectors. While customer preferences, financial markets, and real estate dynamics may evolve, the group continues to put their owners and guests at the heart of its initiatives. While many hotel groups have put their development plans on hold, Radisson Hotel Group and its shareholders have remained committed towards their ambitions. The group remains focused on its  mission to be recognized as one of the top three hotel brands in the world and the brand of choice for owners, guests, and talent. The recently announced signings re-affirm the group’s commitment to its owners, employees, guests, and partners and further strengthens its global scale of over 1,100 hotels in operation and another 300 in the pipeline. Elie Milky, Vice President Business Development Middle East, Cyprus, Greece and Pakistan said, “Moving forward we aim to continue expanding our brand architecture covering all product types and hospitality models as we strengthen our presence across the Middle East, primarily through conversions. We have a very …

Shaza Riyadh Hotel Residences is gearing up for the return of businessmen with several offers and bespoke spaces catering to the businesses as the economy recovers. The Saudi capital is witnessing an economic recovery that is mainly led by the ease of restrictions by the authorities. This is mainly due to the drop in COVID numbers nationwide, as well as the trust and confidence the business sector has in the Kingdom for the way they handled the pandemic. There is nothing that makes a businessman’s heart chirp like striking a good business deal, and Shaza Riyadh offers exactly the place to do so while giving the best deals for each stay as well. Business travellers can take advantage of the ongoing “It’s Time To Travel” campaign using the promo code – TIME, including 25% off on rooms (with an additional 10% discount for Discovery members), 20% off on dining and spa, and children below 12 years eat free. The property, inspired by the rich silk heritage, derives inspiration from the Andalusian charm. Each detail of its interiors and architecture boasts a story about the bygone days of  enchanting Andalusia. Great deals need great places and the hotel’s exceptional scent-inspired meeting rooms are the best fit for conferences, banquets, and more. From Saffron to Areej, each of the six meeting rooms boasts its own story and fragrance. Additionally, each one is equipped with the state of the art audio-visual systems and can be set up for respectful privacy. Andre Saade, General Manager at Shaza Riyadh Hotel Residences, commented, “At our hotel, it is our business to plan, execute and help you make your business successful. In Bayt Al Hikma, we have …

Hilton Salwa Beach Resort & Villas announced the opening of its highly-anticipated new hotel accommodation which features spacious, modern guest rooms and joins the resort’s wide range of offerings, including its 84 beach villas and Qatar’s largest theme park, Desert Falls Water and Adventure Park. Every guest is entitled to daily access to the waterpark, the hotel promises a relaxing yet fun filled experience for all the family. In addition, the resort has opened a range of new dining venues including Dante Cucina Italiana which offers an immersive culinary journey to Italy. Another option is Levantine, where diners can explore the flavors and aromas of Levant cuisine. In the heart of the hotel lobby, Nesma Lounge offers curated menus of traditionally prepared beverages and afternoon tea, with a surprising Middle Eastern twist.  In addition, visitors to Desert Falls Water and Adventure Park can dine at Telal Café and enjoy comfort food, perfect for a day of fun-filled activities. “We are delighted to have opened this incredible property and look forward to welcoming guests to our new hotel accommodation and dining venues,” said Etienne Gailliez, Country General Manager, Hilton, Qatar. “With elegant beach villas and guest rooms, enticing dining and a range of leisure facilities, the hotel is set to be an exciting addition to Hilton’s portfolio, and to Qatar’s tourism offering.” Marrying bright blue and white exteriors with regionally inspired design, the hotel features 246 spacious rooms and suites, boasting a contemporary interpretation of Arabian décor – as well as84 beach villas and the signature Arabian village with 31 villas. The elegant rooms all have private balconies and terraces that overlook lush scenic gardens and offer incredible views of the …

Hundreds of hospitality employees working in Yas Island hotels have chosen to vaccinate as part of Abu Dhabi’s efforts to ensure a safe reopening to tourists and a safe hosting of the recent UFC Fight Island Triple Header event. More than 240 people working inside the UFC Fight Island ‘bubble’ hotels on Yas Island received their first dose of the vaccine, via an initiative to provide free vaccines to all hotel staff who choose to vaccinate. The initiative was launched in line with Abu Dhabi’s coordinated and collaborative response to COVID-19, the emirate-wide ‘Choose to Vaccinate’ campaign and the nationwide immunisation programme. HE Ali Hassan Al Shaiba, Executive Director of Tourism and Marketing at DCT Abu Dhabi, said, “The safe and successful return of fans to live events at UFC Fight Island Triple Header showcased the hard work and collaboration of government departments, public and private sectors and UFC to make it possible. Abu Dhabi is open; Abu Dhabi is safe. This vaccination drive for hospitality staff, who are the face of Abu Dhabi and work tirelessly to uphold the emirate’s standing as a world-class leisure destination, will help reassure visitors that they are in a safe and secure environment and reaffirm our efforts to press forward with our tourism plans, guided by the country’s visionary leaders.” Fahad Al Mahmoud, Executive Director Stakeholder Management at Aldar, who was one of the 240 to receive the vaccine, said: “Our leadership’s tireless efforts and rigorous approach to managing the COVID-19 pandemic have enabled us to remain resilient throughout. The tourism sector is a vital pillar of our economy and this vaccination drive will ensure we continue to play our part in supporting …