Category Archives: Hotels

Rotana, one of the leading hotel management companies in the region with hotels across the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe and Turkey, has signed new management agreements with Al Marasem Development and Marina Way Lagoon. The agreement includes the management of two new properties – Lake Residence, serviced apartments in New Cairo which will also mark Rotana’s debut in the capital city and Marina Bay, Hotel Apartments in Alamein, North Coast. Al Marasem Development and Marina Way Lagoon partnered with Rotana to manage and operate the hotel projects, capitalizing the brand’s legacy and its experience in operating an extensive portfolio hospitality brands in the region. With Rotana’s superior level of expertise and deep-rooted knowledge in property management, this partnership aims to achieve the highest return on investment and provision of luxurious services with attractive competitive advantages. Commenting on the announcement, Nasser Al Nowais, Chairman, Rotana said: “We are delighted to partner with Al Marasem Development and Marina Way Lagoon, one of the largest players in Egypt’s real estate sector. We are honoured and grateful to His Excellency Sheikh Khalid bin Laden for entrusting Rotana with the exclusive management of these outstanding hospitality projects in the Republic of Egypt.”   Al Nowais added: “Egypt has always been a strategic market for Rotana as it is one of the world’s leading tourism destinations with a great vision for the future of leisure and business travel. These incredible projects allow us to bring the world-class services and amenities of the Rotana brand to Egypt and provide us with a prime opportunity to strengthen our presence in the market. Through this partnership, we not only aim to showcase the vitality of our brand but …

IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has debuted its world-renowned luxury brand InterContinental Hotels & Resorts in Azerbaijan with the recent opening of InterContinental Baku.   The 128-room, new-build property overlooks the scenic Baku Bay, allowing guests to experience the InterContinental Life in luxurious modern surroundings while enjoying mesmerizing views of the Caspian Sea, harbour and Baku’s iconic Flame Towers. The city of Baku is a melting point of architecture inspired by the city’s rich history and seamlessly combines the ancient and modern.   Baku is known for its “oil-boom architecture,” originating from a period of significant economic growth and development in the 19th century. The hotel’s façade is inspired by this style, and the rest of the hotel’s design is inspired by the region’s breath-taking landscape, history, and culture, and interwoven with InterContinental’s modern luxury design to create an air of elegance and contemporary grandeur.   InterContinental Hotels & Resorts is famed for blending international know-how with a city’s cultural heritage and InterContinental Baku is no exception. Guests can become familiar with legendary medieval poet and scientist Nizami Ganjavi who was born in Azerbaijan in 12th century, considered the greatest romantic epic poet in Persian literature. His greatest collection of poems, Khamsa, have been reflected in the hotel’s interior design and inspired the names of different hotel facilities, from the restaurant to the meeting spaces. The hotel features seven floors of elegantly designed guest rooms, an all-day dining restaurant offering a thoughtful balance of local and Mediterranean cuisine and a SPA with indoor pool and hammam. The mezzanine floor features the hotel’s Club InterContinental – named Iksander-nameh after Nizami’s ode to Alexsander the Great – with …

Bringing an exciting new living experience to Dubai, The Resivation Managed By Leva, is a trendy new property in the heart of Al Furjan. The 150-room property boasts a novel concept, specially designed as a wallet-friendly “home away from home” for Dubai’s travelling professionals. With a range of living experiences to choose from, guests can explore the property’s Executive Room – Twin, Double Room, and Deluxe Room. Room rates start at a jaw-dropping introductory offer of just AED 1,849 per month. The property’s rooms are ideal for co-living colleagues, working couples, freelancing friends, and individual professionals. In-room features range from storage solutions, reading lights, and a desk to wardrobes, mini fridges, and smart TVs. The Deluxe Room includes a chic lounge area and balcony. The upscale co-living space delivers all the comforts of home under a single roof, with the added touch of luxurious hospitality. What distinguishes The Resivation Managed By Leva from other business hotels is its distinct style. Conventional business hotels tend to have a corporate atmosphere, leaving guests unable to truly unplug from work. This property brings first-rate amenities, impeccable service, and contemporary design to the fore. Fusing fun and functionality – The Resivation Managed By Leva creatively combines work and play with a gym and yoga studio, a games room, a community kitchenette, dining rooms, a community laundry room, a grab-and-go facility for busy mornings, and a rooftop shisha terrace for relaxed evenings. Despite its community spaces, comfortable privacy remains a priority at the co-living property. All rooms are fully-furnished and come with a spacious en suite bathroom.   Designed for digital nomads – The Resivation Managed By Leva is designed for professionals on the go. Enjoying a prime …

Radisson Hotel Group is proud to announce the extension of its Moroccan footprint with the opening of four hotels in beloved tourist destinations Al Hoceima, Taghazout Bay, and Saïdia. Located in the south, north and northeast of Morocco, the four hotels consist of three inviting resorts and a comfortable seaside residence, bringing the Group’s fast-growing Moroccan portfolio to more than 10 hotels in operation and under development.   “We are delighted to be boosting the presence of our flagship Radisson Blu brand as well as our resort and Serviced Apartment offerings across Morocco. Morocco is one of our key focus markets in Africa where we are looking to reach 15 hotels in operation and under development in the country by 2025. Offering a base to disconnect in the continent’s number one surf village in Taghazout Bay or soak up the rich culture and superb scenery in Al Hoceima and Saïdia, the addition of the residence and three resorts perfectly complements our current footprint in the country. Travelers can now look forward to experiencing our Yes I Can! hospitality while enjoying endless tranquillity and relaxing summer days whether on a family holiday, romantic getaway, or solo vacation,” says Tim Cordon, Area Senior Vice President, Middle East & Africa, at Radisson Hotel Group.   Radisson Blu Resort, Al Hoceima – Situated on one of the most scenic Mediterranean bays, Radisson Blu Resort, Al Hoceima is surrounded by 64 acres of cedar forest and is ideally located on the Sfiha beachfront. The hotel features 432 luxury rooms and suites with modern decor and breath-taking ocean and garden views. Located just 20 minutes from Al Hoceima’s international airport, Cherif Al Idrissi, the resort provides …

As hospitality’s doors finally reopen, the sector is quickly getting a sense of the evolved “digital-first” world in which it’s now operating. The past year has seen a significant step change in the adoption of technology and digital services, but while some hospitality businesses were able to welcome online models, huge swathes of the industry were forced to remain dormant, leaving many digital advancements relatively untested or stagnating. Now, the whole sector must quickly accelerate its digital transformation to fuel long-term recovery, or risk customer abandonment and falling further behind.   According to research by Aruba, a HPE company, as of last year the hospitality sector was in a healthy – but not leading – place in its adoption of advanced technologies and moving computing to the Edge. Over half of hospitality IT leaders had started to implement trials or applications in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) (55%), Internet of Things (IoT) (70%) and machine learning (57%). However, that compares to figures of up to 75% for AI in the financial services industry, or 77% for IoT in retail, distribution, and transport.   But it was also already struggling significantly with the data these new technologies produces. A quarter (25%) of IT leaders in hospitality said there was too much data for their systems to handle, and that they could not process the data they collected quickly enough to act (25%). With data levels increasing exponentially over the past year, thanks to the Covid-induced rise of smart technologies, IoT sensors, and connected devices the depth of data sprawl will only be greater.   To get a handle on all this data and deliver the type of differentiated customer experiences …

Shaza Hotels maintains ambitious growth plans in the Middle East with various properties to open in the coming years in Jeddah, Dubai, Salalah and Doha. The expansion plans include Mysk Jeddah, Mysk Kuwait, Shaza Salalah, Shaza Doha and Mysk The Palm, on Palm Jumeirah in Dubai that is to open its doors in time for EXPO 2020 Dubai. Another dazzling destination in the pipeline is The Mysk Moon Retreat, settled amidst the sandy desserts of Mleiha region in Sharjah, it is set to open in 2021, offering luxury glamping tents with private pools and unique service standards unheard to the region In KSA, Shaza is already a household name in the hospitality sector as it operates three luxury hotels in three prime locations: Shaza Makkah, one of the first in line hotels in Jabal Al Ka’abah overlooking Al Masjid Al Haram, Shaza Madinah, right next to Al Masjid Al Nabawi, and Shaza Riyadh, in the buzzing heart of the capital next to Al Rajhi grand mosque. Shaza also operates Mysk by Shaza Al Mouj Muscat, overlooking the vibrant marina of Al Mouj in Muscat, and the four retreats of Sharjah Collection by Mysk including Mysk Al Faya Retreat, Mysk Kingfisher Retreat, Mysk Al Badayer Retreat, and the soon to be opened Mysk Moon Retreat at Sharjah. Each of these retreats offer a unique perspective of glamping atmospheres, service rituals, and guest experience that are unheard of in the region, making them serene, luxury, contemporary, and bespoke retreats. Shaji Abu Salih, Corporate Director of Business Development at Shaza Hotels, said, “The Middle East and GCC in particular make the key feeder markets for Shaza Hotels. We aim to become a true …

GCC is one of the main markets for Turkey especially during summer. This year Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul is inviting guests from the region to immerse themselves in Turkish culture, art and natural beauty with a range of new city experiences with their new campaign. When it comes to cities that combine history, beauty and culture with art, style and creativity, there are few places on earth that can compete with Istanbul. And there are few people who know the city like the team of local experts at Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul. Tapping into these deep-rooted connections throughout the city,  Shangri-La has created a series of curated experiences that invite guests to rediscover the best of Istanbul this summer. The new experiences make every Istanbul adventure even richer for guests, whether they’re jewellery lovers, art aficionados, or just love getting out on the water. Loved by celebrities including Elizabeth Hurley, Halle Berry and Whoopi Goldberg, Sevan Biçakçi launched his first collection of extraordinary jewellery in 2002, having spent years working as an apprentice with master craftsmen in Istanbul’s famed Grand Bazaar. His unique pieces are a reflection of Istanbul in miniature, incorporating Ottoman history, art and traditional motifs, with one of his most famous pieces to date incorporating a miniature of the Hagia Sofia mosque embedded into a ring. On this Shangri-La-curated half-day tour, guests will visit Biçakçi’s store deep in the labyrinthine Grand Bazaar for a close-up look into the intricacies of his designs, including one unique and highly desirable piece that is usually under wraps and off-limits to visitors. A must for lovers of jewellery and Ottoman style, the experience is priced at EUR 250 per person for a minimum …

IHG Hotels and Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, is expanding its presence in Egypt with four new Hotel Indigo branded properties. As part of a Management Agreement signed with real-estate specialists Mountain View, IHG will introduce the world’s first globally branded boutique hotel brand, Hotel Indigo, to Egypt with Hotel Indigo Mountain View North Coast, Hotel Indigo Mountain View iCity New Cairo, Hotel Indigo Mountain View iCity  6th of October City and Hotel Indigo Mountain View Ain El Sokhna. The signing ceremony was held in the presence of His Excellency Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister of Egypt, and Dr. Assem el Gazzar, Minister of Housing and Development.   The four new hotels will reflect the unique ethos of Hotel Indigo – to serve the curious – by creating an immersive hospitality experience that draws on the history, rhythm and pulse of each of the four distinct neighbourhoods, providing diverse vantage points to view the country and its culture. All new built properties will cater to a broad range of travelers as leisure and business tourism rapidly rebounds across the country.    Speaking on the agreement, Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG said: “Egypt is one of the most dynamic tourism markets in the region with a great vision for the future of leisure and business travel. We have a long-standing legacy in the country and are proud to continue to support the development of its hospitality sector through the introduction of our boutique, lifestyle brand, Hotel Indigo. Our partnership with Mountain View, one of the most forward-thinking developers in Egypt, is testament to our continued commitment to bolstering the hospitality sector with more versatile properties, diverse offerings and immersive experiences for domestic as well as new segments of international visitors that are expected to visit Egypt as travel returns. Through …

The UAE welcomes a new experience-driven, hospitality group to the market, Limestone Lab, a company with a vision of introducing new and innovative hospitality concepts to the UAE social and dining scene. With the notion of “re-imagining” hospitality experiences, Limestone Lab is set to roll out a lineup of unique concepts to the market between Q4 of 2021 and Q4 of 2023, with a disruptive approach to the traditional brick-and-mortar models. The company’s solid pipeline of bespoke F&B venues will be nothing short of innovative and cultural, boasting of interactive experiences, socially-elevated ambiances, which will be paired with culturally-infused cuisines and themes. Limestone Lab will also bring together a team of prominent designers, architects, hospitality experts to create thoughtfully designed properties located in unexpected destinations. All the venues will be unified by a common goal: to create spaces and experiences that hold lasting memories. Founded by Dubai-based serial entrepreneurs, Hassan Ballout and Hani Doueik, the formation of the company was an inherent process sparked by the passion of these two businessmen, accompanied by their extensive hospitality expertise, to bring truly inspirational F&B and nightlife concepts to the UAE. Ballout, CEO of Limestone Lab, is most known for his recent position as Chief Growth Officer for Seven Management, where he launched and managed Seven Sisters and Antika Bar in Dubai. Ballout has in addition co-created and rolled out 12 virtual restaurant brands in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait & Saudi Arabia, including Tawook Nation, Luca, Japang and Vigilante, to name a few. Alongside Ballout, Hani Doueik will also serve as the Co-Founder and COO of Limestone Lab. Doueik prides over a decade of experience in consulting multiple international brands within creative advertising …

It was recently announced that Sun Siyam Resorts regional office will be opened in Dubai, which will enable the hospitality group to tap into the GCC market following a rise in travel as we near the end of the Covid-19 pandemic.  Since opening its first resort over 20 years ago, Sun Siyam Resorts have grown to own and manage five luxury private island properties in the Maldives and a boutique beach retreat on the East Coast of Sri Lanka. Each resort is unique, but what unites them all is the genuine warmth and heartfelt hospitality of their people, many of whom have been with the hospitality group from the beginning. Previous Emirates Holidays’ Product and Contracting Manager, Manica Radjou, speaks on the “exciting opportunity that this new office will bring by opening many doors for the resort, attracting a new demographic and customer base within the UAE and Middle East.” Stepping in as Director of the Dubai office, Radjou has the experience needed to take the Sun Siyam Resorts to new heights within the GCC. Beginning with the intent to promote inbound tourism to the Maldives, Sun Siyam Travels was established in 1990, founded by Ahmed Siyam Mohamed, the Chairman and Managing Director of the Group. The opening of a Dubai based office will allow the company to begin expanding their operation globally with attentive focus on the GCC region to gain market share for its portfolio. Sun Siyam Resorts, has announced that Siyam World, their fifth property in the Maldives, a stand-alone brand in its collection is due to open on 28th October 2021 – a revolutionary resort, located on a stunning natural island nestled in the Noonu Atoll …