Al Khoory Hotels has launched its four star hotel in the heart of New Dubai, which will be their third hotel under the brand umbrella. The new hotel is just walking distance away from The Mall of the Emirates, and offers the modern traveller great value and a convenient locality to explore all that Dubai has to offer. Al Khoory Atrium Hotel Al Barsha features 227 well-appointed rooms and suites which is a destination for families, groups and business travellers. The hotel is positioned midway between Dubai International and Al Maktoum International Airport and in short distance from the upcoming Expo 2020 site, Jebel Ali port, the Free zone areas, with Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre just 10 minutes away. Each guestroom features a wide range of amenities including Complimentary WiFi, 40″ flat screen television with premium channels, media hub, tea and coffee making facility, mini fridge, electronic safe and bathroom with a walk-in rain shower as well as bathtub. Each Junior Suite additionally includes a separate living area. The delightful Executive Suite is equipped 60” flat screen television, Espresso machine and a walk-in closet in addition to the bedroom and living area. Al Khoory Hotel Apartments, Al Barsha and Al Khoory Executive Hotel, Al Wasl are the two other hotels under the brand Al Khoory Hotels. For more information about the hotels, please visit www.alkhooryhotels.com.

Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman announced its membership in United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the largest corporate social responsibility initiative in the world. To commence its membership, the hotel associates gathered for an orientation conducted by Ayla Bajwa and Hidaya Mansoor Alfalasi, United Nations Global Compact local network representatives in the UAE. The session provided an overview of the ten fundamental principles of the initiative, which are in the areas of Human Rights, Labour, Environment, and Anti-Corruption, as well as a presentation on The Global Goals for Sustainable Development. Iftikhar Hamdani, General Manager, Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman enthused: “We are honoured to be part of the UN Global Compact! Our management has always ensured the welfare of our work force and has been actively involved in various sustainable initiatives and charitable projects over the years. Through our membership, we seek to enrich our current business practices, and improve our existing CSR programmes. We will strive to become responsible role models in our field and in the community, and ultimately inspire our industry peers to do their share for a socially responsible global economy.” The United Nations Global Compact is a voluntary initiative to promote sustainable development and good corporate citizenship. The initiative was launched in the UAE in May 2015. Established in 2002, the UN Global Compact now has thousands of participating businesses and stakeholders from over 160 countries.

There are 541 new hotels in the pipeline across the Middle East – bringing an additional 158,950 hotel rooms to the region, an industry report has revealed. The Middle East Hotel Construction Overview report prepared by TOPHOTELPROJECTS exclusively for The Hotel Show Dubai 2016 forecasts that the majority of new hotel rooms will open before 2020. The UAE (180 projects) and Saudi Arabia (134 projects) remain the most active hotel construction hotspots in the region. The busiest year for hotel openings leading up to 2020 is forecast to be 2017 with 189 projects and 58,527 rooms. Notable hotel openings scheduled for 2017 include: the world’s largest hotel in Makkah, Saudi Arabia with 10,000 rooms, and the world’s first Paramount Hotels & Resorts property; the Paramount Hotel in Dubai.

Facilities provided to the tourism sector in the recent years had raised Dubai’s hotel capacity from 15,000 rooms to more than 100,000 rooms, and tourist arrivals to more than 14.2 million in 2015, revealed Dubai Crown Prince His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on a recent visit to DTCM. He was there to monitor the progress in keeping with the Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Vision 2020. “Sheikh Mohammed’s directives to property developers to develop family leisure destinations will enable us to welcome an additional five million holidaymakers,” he added. Moreover, His Highness’s directives to grant Chinese tourists visas on arrival would bring about a paradigm shift in the sector, Sheikh Hamdan noted. “We are planning to establish Dubai as the first destination for tourists from Asia,” he continued. Sheikh Hamdan directed the team in the presence of Helal Saeed Almarri, Director-General of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), to adopt an indirect marketing strategy. Dubai welcomed 14.2 million visitors in 2015, a rise of 7.5 per cent from 2014, according to the DTCM. The growth in visitor numbers is double the United Nations World Travel Organisation’s (UNWTO) projected 3-4 per cent global travel growth for the same period.India has become Dubai’s top tourist source for the first time, with more than 1.6 million visitors in 2015. Saudi Arabia followed with 1.54 million visitors.

In recent times, Azerbaijan has become one of the most visited tourist destinations for the UAE nationals and expatriates as well.  Azerbaijan Airlines promoted special packages for Eid from Dubai to Azerbaijan.  In a move to further enhance their operations,  the airline has appointed Aviareps to represent the airline in 12 other markets apart from the UAE. The appointment, made with immediate effect, is the result of the airline strategy to broaden its brand and sales outreach among travellers and travel industry leaders both in markets with direct Azerbaijan Airlines flights, such as the online markets of China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Turkey, Spain and the United Kingdom, as well as in the strategically important offline markets of Denmark, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, where the airline does not operate direct flights. As part of the representation, AVIAREPS will act as the airlines’ sales agent, responsible for its sales and marketing activities within the specified markets. More details in our print version in October 2016.

Doha has 41 projects and 11,722 rooms in its hotel construction pipeline, according to a new report. The Doha Hotel Construction Overview report by TOPHOTELPROJECTS prepared exclusively for The Hotel Show Dubai 2016, reveals that Doha is the 3rd busiest city in the Middle East and Africa for hotel construction, behind only Dubai (133 projects) and Riyadh (47 projects). Doha’s busiest year for hotel openings is forecast to be 2017 with 14 new properties entering the market, including: Pullman Doha West Bay (468 rooms), JW Marriott West Bay (297 rooms), Hilton Garden Inn Doha Al Sadd (225 rooms), and Millennium Plaza Doha (232 rooms). The five-star Millennium Plaza Doha will open as part of the new Barwa Al Sadd development located in the heart of Doha. Comprised of four high rise towers offering commercial, residential and office space, the major project, currently under construction, will also offer a range of restaurants, shops and recreational facilities. Kassab added: “Barwa Al Sadd is set to be an exciting new addition to the city for both visitors and residents. Millennium Plaza Doha will be the only hotel within the development, offering an ideal base for business and leisure trips as well as for residents looking for a central location for business meetings, dining or celebrations.” TOPHOTELPROJECTS will present on development hotspots in the Middle East and Africa including Doha at the 4th edition of The Hotel Show Dubai’s annual Vision Conference, part of the “Update on market and consumer patterns and trends: get the inside track” panel discussion on 18th September 2016, 11:00-11:50am.

The much awaited Hotel Show will be held from September 17-19, 2016 at Dubai World Trade Center. With a surge in technological innovations designed specifically for the hospitality industry, The Hotel Show Dubai 2016 is set to debut a dedicated new feature when it opens this week. Tech start-ups and major global brands will launch innovative new products in the ‘Tec-Innovation Zone’, to feature alongside The Hotel Show’s extended list of exhibitors and TecSec Summit conference. Combined, the Technology and Security Pavilion now takes up almost a quarter (22%) of the event’s 17th edition. LG will be unveiling the world’s first OLED Hotel TV to the Middle East market for the first time at the Tec-Innovation Zone alongside a Pro:Centric Direct hotel content management system which provides solutions such as 1-click service and IP-network-based remote management. Alongside the Tec-Innovation Zone, more than 75 technology and security suppliers will showcase extended ranges of the latest products and services of interest to the region’s hospitality industry including: Bang & Olufsen; GREENTEC Automation DMCC; ASSA ABLOY Hospitality; SALTO Systems; dorma+kaba, and INTEREL. INTEREL has the largest stand planned for the 2016 Technology and Security Pavilion. It is set to showcase its online Water Management System, awarded ‘Most Innovative Hospitality Technology of 2016’ at the Hotel Technology Next Generation (HTNG) TechOvation awards.

The International Travel Week (ITW) has announced new dates for the networking exhibition from November 25-28, 2017, at ADNEC, Abu Dhabi. All summit components will remain unchanged to allow ITW Abu Dhabi to continue its successful growth. More details will be available in due course.

According to sources the Bahrain airport expansion work is to start next month (October). The project will boost passenger capacity to 14 million with an estimated cost of $1.1 billion. The foundation work includes the transfer of Bahrain Aviation Fuelling Company facilities, the building of a main access security gate, the setting up of a new fire station, and the establishment of new staff car parks. It is one of the biggest projects ever held under the Gulf Development Fund. More details to be released soon.

Travelport, a leading Travel Commerce Platform providing distribution, technology, payment and other solutions for the global travel industry, announced the creation of a new organization, Travelport Digital, as part of its strategic focus on the fast-growing digital economy.  At the same time Travelport has appointed a Chief Customer and Marketing Officer, a newly created role that will further heighten Travelport’s focus on delivering a marketing leading customer experience. The new Travelport Digital organization will optimise the investments that Travelport has made into various digital assets and products over the past couple of years with the aim of growing Travelport’s range of digital services.  The formation of the function builds on Travelport’s acquisition last year of MTT, the leading provider of mobile and digital solutions to the travel industry, as well as its investment in Locomote, a corporate travel management system.  Bryan Conway, a seasoned Travelport executive has been appointed Head of Travelport Digital.