Nepal’s CG Corp Global has been in Dubai through its business vertical for over 15 years, and the multinational is a major shareholder in the recently launched Taj Jumeirah Lake Towers. With this investment, CG Hospitality has established its headquarters in Dubai to cover the Middle East, Europe and Africa markets. Poised to be one of the most iconic hotels in CG Hospitality’s portfolio, the hotel will also be the first in the world where Nepal’s national flag will fly proudly, permanently. Taj JLT Dubai is a timeless combination of century-old legacy and luxury woven together with contemporary sensibilities and quintessential Indian heritage. With Taj JLT Dubai, CG Hospitality brings luxury and ethical benchmarks to the UAE, and the iconic hotel will set a new benchmark in ‘Business Luxury’ in the region’s hospitality sector. With footprints in 20 countries around the world, CG Corp Global is a multinational conglomerate, spanning four generations. The global conglomerate’s journey started in 1933 and it is currently Nepal’s first and only billion-dollar corporation listed by Forbes.

Alshaya Group announced plans to bring the Canopy by Hilton hotel brand to Kuwait, offering locals and visitors alike a fresh guest experience. Canopy by Hilton Kuwait will be located on Arabian Gulf Street in the popular Bneid Al-Gar area, and guests will enjoy stunning views of the Gulf and benefit from easy access to downtown Kuwait City. Development of the hotel will start shortly, with the opening planned for late 2022. Canopy by Hilton hotels are inspired by their surroundings and feature open flowing spaces, abundant natural light and design cues from the local neighbourhood. “Canopy by Hilton responds to a growing customer preference for upscale hotels that fit authentically into local neighbourhoods and cultures,” said Rudi Jagersbacher, President – Middle East, Africa and Turkey, Hilton.  “We can tick all the boxes with our plans to bring the brand to Kuwait – with a great location in a great neighbourhood, and a trusted partner in Alshaya Group.” Commenting on the announcement, James Tynan, President of Hospitality at Alshaya Group said, “Canopy by Hilton is an exciting young hotel brand which is already attracting international attention for its unique guest offerings. We think the brand is a perfect fit for the Kuwait market and look forward to welcoming guests when our doors open in 2022”.

Nakheel’s second hotel at Dragon City – a 304-room Premier Inn – is now open, marking another key milestone in the developer’s hospitality business strategy. Premier Inn Dragon City, located just steps away from the world-famous Dragon Mart and its 5,000 shops, restaurants and attractions, was officially opened on December 12 by Ali Rashid Lootah, Chairman of Nakheel and Alison Brittain, Chief Executive Officer of Whitbread, the UK’s largest hospitality company and owner of the Premier Inn brand.   The eight-storey hotel features a 320-seater restaurant, a Costa Coffee shop, a fully-equipped gym and meeting facilities. It is the fourth Nakheel hotel to be delivered, coming hot on the heels of the inauguration last week of its second hotel at Ibn Battuta Mall. Premier Inn also operates Nakheel’s first hotel at Ibn Battuta, opened in 2016. Ali Rashid Lootah said, “Today marks another milestone for Nakheel, Dragon City and Dubai as we deliver the fourth hotel in our hospitality project portfolio, and the second at this globally-renowned destination. We are confident that this new hotel will be a big hit with Dragon City’s 40 million annual visitors, who come from the UAE, GCC and beyond to shop and trade at this world-famous destination.” Brittain said, “Having been part of the UAE hospitality landscape for more than a decade, it’s a true testament to the quality of Premier Inn that we are able to open our eighth hotel in the region. Our hotel at Dragon City marks the second in our strategic partnership with Nakheel, following the successful launch of Premier Inn Ibn Battuta Mall in 2016.”

In a partnership expected to drive further business tourism from China to the UAE capital, the Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau (ADCB), part of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT – Abu Dhabi), has established the first ever dedicated advisory committee in China with the goal of engaging the ever-growing outbound M!CE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) market there. Top leaders from the M!CE industry in China were appointed as part of the advisory committee following a strategic partnership agreement, which was signed in Abu Dhabi on December 12, 2019 at an industry forum for knowledge sharing about the Chinese market. The partnership came as part of Abu Dhabi’s wider strategy to increase international M!CE arrivals from China and encourage M!CE visitors to extend their stays in the UAE capital, in addition to raising awareness about the capital’s unique offerings. The role of the advisory committee will include providing insight into M!CE trends, business travel, and challenges and behaviours within the Chinese market, enabling ADCB to employ the best channels, which in turn would lead to an increase of M!CE groups to Abu Dhabi. Ali Al Shaiba, Acting Executive Director of Tourism and Marketing from DCT – Abu Dhabi said, “China is a strategic partner for the UAE, and a key player in the M!CE industry, making this unprecedented agreement one of the most important aspects of our plan to further boost M!CE visitors to Abu Dhabi. The positive impact that business tourism has on an economy is tremendous, and with China’s vast outbound M!CE market, the business and economic opportunities are profound.”

Etihad Airways has announced its “Etihad Airways” mobile application on the HUAWEI AppGallery enabling 390 million global monthly active users in more than 170 countries and regions to manage their journeys with even greater ease via the app. The Etihad Airways mobile app is simple and user-friendly, enabling comprehensive trip management functionalities by taking full advantage of the latest innovations in mobile technology. Guests can now organise their journeys via the app, including booking flights, checking-in for flights, securing a mobile boarding pass, checking flight status, or viewing their Etihad Guest miles balance. The addition to the HUAWEI AppGallery is a step forward in Etihad Airways Digital Guest Innovation strategy to enable a convenient, personalised digital travel experience and marks the first step in a new partnership between Etihad Airways and HUAWEI AppGallery. Etihad Airways and HUAWEI AppGallery will jointly explore more possibilities in this digital collaboration. For a start, Etihad’s mobile application will also be integrated into HMS ecosystem, delivering an even better user experience for Etihad Airways users on HUAWEI and HONOR devices. Robin Kamark, Chief Commercial Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said, “By launching this mobile app, we will be the first MENA carrier to launch a mobile app in the HUAWEI AppGallery, further solidifying its commitment to the China market and Chinese guests.” “The United Arab Emirates has gradually become one of the preferred places for Chinese outbound travel. The cooperation between Etihad Airways and HUAWEI AppGallery will be a big step attempt, since we aim to build the bridge between the best local content and our global users,” comments Adam Xiao, Managing Director of HUAWEI Mobile Services MEA, Consumer Business Group.

Marriott International announced an agreement with Landmark Sabbour to bring the W Brand to Cairo, underscoring the growing demand for luxury in Egypt. Expected to open in 2024, W Cairo will be situated in 1-Ninety – a 300,000 sqm mixed-use development in the emerging New Cairo district featuring retail space, commercial and residential components. To be located just 25 kilometres from Cairo International Airport, the new hotel will add its own vibrant W experience to the ultra-modern urban landscape of New Cairo. Known for seeking out new/next destinations in buzzworthy markets around the globe, W is poised to welcome guests and locals to the new-build locale as the city’s reputation for ground-breaking design grows as fast as its skyline. When W Cairo opens in 2024, the hotel will embody W Hotels’ work hard, play hard philosophy with a signature WET Deck (pool deck), AWAY Spa and FIT Fitness Centre alongside 350 stunning rooms and suites. The hotel is also expected to offer multiple food and beverage venues, plenty of spaces to mix and mingle, plus meetings and events space which will include a 500-square-metre Great Room. “We are excited to collaborate with Landmark Sabbour to redefine modern luxury in one of the most awe-inspiring travel destinations in the world. This signing not only illustrates our commitment to Egypt but also reinforces the increasing demand for the W Hotels brand in this region and around the globe,” said Alex Kyriakidis, President & Managing Director, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International. Eng. Amr Sultan, Managing Director of Landmark Sabbour, added, “Our collaboration with Marriott International represents another milestone in our growth; it further demonstrates our commitment to collaborate with industry leaders and …

The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) announced the hosting of 20th edition of the Sharjah World Championship Week to be held from December 17-21, 2019 on Khalid Lagoon during a press conference at the Al Majaz Waterfront, in the presence of H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority; His Excellency Ali Salem Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Airport Authority and Chairman of Sharjah International Marine Sports Club; Nicolo di San Germano, Promoter, UIM F1 Powerboat and Aquabike World Championship, and a group of racers who are participating in the championship. The event will be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Sharjah Executive Council. H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, said, “Our main promotional message for this year’s tournament is reflected in the slogan ‘Go Full Throttle into Thrill,’ which highlights the emirate’s passion for water sports activities and offering all that is distinctive and exceptional in a renewed and interesting template filled with competitive spirit, entertainment, excitement of winning and championships.” His Excellency Ali Salem Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Airport Authority and Chairman of Sharjah International Marine Sports Club, said, “We are proud to be once again hosting this year’s edition of Sharjah World Championship Week, which follows the mandate of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, to consolidate Sharjah’s leading position as an ideal destination for sports and leisure based activities.”   Nicolo de San Germano, Promoter, UIM F1 Powerboat and Aquabike …

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group signed management contract to manage and brand, the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The Group will take over management of the property from January 1, 2020. It will be Mandarin Oriental’s second hotel in the United Arab Emirates following the opening of Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai in early 2019. The hotel will be rebranded as a Mandarin Oriental property, following a phased renovation over two years, during which time the hotel will remain open. The work will encompass significant upgrades to guestrooms and recreational amenities, as well as new food and beverage facilities. The Emirates Palace hotel sits on a 1.3 km private beachfront, featuring 394 guestrooms and suites, 12 restaurants and bars, 40 meeting rooms, a concert grade auditorium and a ballroom that can accommodate up to 2,500 people. Leisure facilities include a marina, two swimming pools, a spa and two fitness centres. “This is a unique opportunity to manage one of the most high-profile properties in the Middle East and will be an excellent addition to our portfolio in the region. We look forward to bringing the group’s exemplary service standards to Abu Dhabi and to introducing the brand to a new audience,” said James Riley, Group Chief Executive of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. “The partnership with Mandarin Oriental represents an important milestone and aims to propel the property’s profile into a new era. We look forward to a mutually prosperous and fruitful relationship with Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group,” said His Excellency Sultan Dhahi Sultan Al Humairi, Managing Director of Emirates Palace Company (EPCO).

H.E. Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, and Chairman of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) headed the third periodic meeting of the Board of Directors of BTEA for 2019 at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC). Commenting on the occasion, H.E. Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani said, “The BTEA has focused on the development of new projects in order to contribute to enhancing Kingdom’s position as a leading tourism destination and a leader in the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (M!CE) sector compared to other countries in the region.” During the meeting, the Board reviewed and discussed several topics on the agenda which included the budget for the year 2020. In addition, the Board were briefed on the latest developments regarding projects related to the tourism strategy, which seeks to attract an increased number of tourists as well as implement a set of projects that will contribute to strengthening the position of Kingdom. By launching the Hospitality and Culinary Institute, the BTEA also aims to develop the tourism sector in order to elevate the industry by training the Bahraini workforce and creating a generation that can further boost this sector and represent the Kingdom. The Board also discussed the latest special developments that aim to attract more foreign tourists through the representative offices of the BTEA, alongside the annual calendar of events and activities organised by BTEA, as well as the tourism indicators for the Kingdom of Bahrain in the third quarter of the year. Towards the end of the meeting, the Board expressed their gratitude to the management and employees of BTEA for their sincere efforts in achieving the BTEA’s plans …

Hotelbeds launches partnership with RateGain, the market leader in hospitality and travel technology solutions. RateGain will provide Hotelbeds with ‘Parity+’ – an advanced end-to-end rate integrity management solution that use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to track integrity issues in real time – to help identify for its hotel partners cases of opaque rates intended for offline channels being sold in other channels. Hotelbeds has chosen to work with RateGain following a competitive RFP to find the world’s leading third party provider of rate integrity technology and monitoring tools. Entering into this agreement forms part of Hotelbeds’ commitment to take on responsibility for leading the fight against rate integrity abuse on behalf of the owners of the 180,000 properties that it partners with. As part of this Hotelbeds has created a team dedicated to monitoring rates and invested in automated technology unavailable elsewhere in the market that uses data analytics to track travel sellers’ flows. More recently Hotelbeds has introduced comprehensive measures and technology solutions, including a strict ‘three strikes’ policy for channels that violate distribution rules; tools that allow full traceability of rates; and the data-driven segmentation of customer channels to more closely align them with the distribution strategies of hotel partners. Carlos Muñoz, Managing Director at Hotelbeds comments, “This year we have made significant progress in fighting rate integrity abuse on behalf of our hotel partners and I am pleased to confirm that incidences are now down to just 0.01%.”