Category Archives: Hotels

Capella Hotels and Resorts announces its first coastal destination in Saudi Arabia, set within NEOM at Elanan, one of Magna’s destinations, against the backdrop of stunning desert mountains and the Gulf of Aqaba coastline. The resort will open an exclusive wellness retreat as part of the sustainable development unfolding in northwest Saudi Arabia. Emerging from a lush oasis embracing the landscape’s ancient natural springs, the resort features 80 bespoke rooms and suites. Guests are enveloped in a world of tranquillity where contemporary design meets the beauty of the environment. Capella’s craft of hospitality is further enriched by a holistic wellness experience and innovation driven by Capella Wellness, creating a sanctuary for relaxation infused with innovative design. Paying homage to the region, Capella at Elanan incorporates interlocking geometric shapes that evoke a modern aesthetic reminiscent of nature. From the moment visitors set foot into Elanan, they embark on a journey enveloped in the soothing embrace of nature’s beauty. Guests can explore the expansive plazas, unwind amidst the sun-kissed gardens, or marvel at the breathtaking views from the observation tower’s summit. From healing therapies to world-class facilities, Capella is synonymous with enriching wellness — where every experience is meticulously tailored to meet guests’ needs. The resort invites guests to enjoy an extensive menu of wellness offerings based on phases of the moon. Each treatment is crafted with authentic Arabian wellness practices and modern therapies for guests to embark on wellness journeys based on ingredients and rituals passed down through the generations. Cristiano Rinaldi, President of Capella Hotel Group, said: “We are thrilled to collaborate with NEOM in unveiling our second property in the Middle East: Capella at Elanan, on the Gulf of …

Virgin Hotels  announced its first London hotel to open on 1st August 2024 in the heart of Shoreditch. Continuing its global expansion, London will be the eighth Virgin Hotels location as it brings the brand home to its birthplace and where it all started for Sir Richard and the Virgin Group. It will become the 17th property for the wider Virgin Hotels Collection, having just announced a new property in Kenya and following the successful launches of Virgin Hotels Edinburgh and Virgin Hotels New York in 2023. The hotel will form part of a long-term agreement between Virgin Hotels and Reuben Brothers – global leaders in real estate investment and development. It will bring Virgin’s iconic trademark and unrivalled personalised hotel experience to one of London’s most vibrant neighbourhoods, known for its tech, fashion, culture and creative arts scene. The 120-bedroom hotel, located at 45 Curtain Road in the heart of Shoreditch, is one of the most striking buildings in London’s East End landscape, making it the perfect fit with Virgin Hotels’ ethos and philosophy. Its seven other luxury lifestyle hotels are also located in iconic urban locations across key cities in the US and UK. Sir Richard Branson, Founder of the Virgin Group, commented: “We’re all absolutely delighted that Virgin Hotels Collection will be opening a Virgin hotel in London. Since the inception of Virgin Hotels, we’ve had our sights set on London; a place that so many of our customers either call home, or name as one of their favourite destinations – and of course where Virgin’s story started. “At Virgin, we’ve been disrupting the travel industry for more than 40 years, from land to air to sea …

Hilton Al Khobar King Fahd Causeway has opened its doors to guests, marking the arrival of the latest Hilton property in Al Khobar. The hotel comprises 344 rooms and suites, ranging from standard and deluxe guest rooms to executive suites, spacious one-bedroom suites, presidential suites, a royal suite and hotel apartments, each with a panoramic sea view. Hilton Al Khobar King Fahd Causeway is situated along the beautiful Corniche, offering stunning views of the Arabian Gulf while guests get to enjoy a harmonious blend of Saudi Arabia’s rich cultural heritage and Hilton’s world-class hospitality. Discover the vibrant energy of Al Khobar Corniche, located just steps away from the Hotel, or immerse yourself in a world of retail therapy at Al Dharan Mall, one of the largest shopping centers in the eastern region. Hilton Al Khobar King Fahd Causeway Hotel is part of Hamad Bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Mousa Holding Company for Hotel Investments, which is committed to offering the finest hotel and tourism establishments. Mr. Hamad Bin Abdul-Aziz Almousa, Chairman of Hamad Bin Abdulaziz Almousa Group and owner of Hilton Al Khobar King Fahad Causeway, said: “We are pleased to announce the opening of Hilton Al Khobar King Fahd Causeway, as a hotel that aspires to become the main destination in Al Khobar City, offering Hilton’s globally recognized hospitality and high-quality amenities as part of our commitment to boosting the local economy and tourist attractions in the Kingdom.” Emad Mahmoud, General manager of Hilton Al Khobar King Fahd Causeway, said: “We are delighted to bring Hilton’s award-winning hospitality to Al Khobar. We aim to provide an unparalleled experience for guests by providing modern facilities complemented with world-class service, all amidst a breathtaking backdrop of the …

SODIC and Marriott International, Inc. signed an agreement to bring the Tribute Portfolio brand to two of the leading developer’s hotels in Egypt. The anticipated hotels in West Cairo and the North Coast will join Tribute Portfolio’s growing global family of independent hotels, offering captivating designs and vibrant social experiences. Slated to open in 2027, the Tribute Portfolio Hotel at Forty West – SODIC’s signature residential building complex in West Cairo – will comprise of 170 guestrooms, including 48 suites along with multiple dining experiences and recreational facilities. Ideally situated in the heart of the flagship mixed-use development, SODIC West, the hotel will be easily accessible from the newly opened Sphinx Airport and a short drive away from the Grand Egyptian Museum and Giza Pyramids. Anticipated to open in 2029, the second Tribute Portfolio Hotel will be located in June, SODIC’s Miami inspired beachfront destination within the up-and-coming Ras al Hekma area on the North Coast. The hotel will be part of a vibrant development within June, which offers residents and visitors access to a beautiful sandy beach, pristine sea water and a bustling boardwalk and beach club, along with residential villas and serviced apartments. Plans for the hotel include 180 guestrooms along with a variety of dining and leisure facilities. Commenting on the signing, Ayman Amer, SODIC’s General Manager: “We are very excited to be collaborating with Marriott International on these two upcoming hotel developments. This comes as a testament to SODIC’s commitment to joining forces with renowned global industry experts that create further value for our developments. The Tribute Portfolio brand gives SODIC the opportunity to create hospitality offerings that truly reflect the developments’ ethos. We look forward to …

BWH Hotels (BWH) announces plans for significant growth of its portfolio in the Middle East  in 2024 and beyond. BWH executed signings of brand-new management deals in Saudi Arabia, BWH will soon bring eight new hotels and one new branded residence in the region into its portfolio of brands, with other development prospects in the works. BWH is demonstrating its commitment to growth in the Middle East with these new signings and associated management agreements. The new additions will feature its “core” brands as well as several boutique and extended stay brands.   The new hotel signings include: o Best Western® at Taysir Hotel Makkah (150 rooms) o Best Western Plus® at Taysir Hotel Makkah (150 rooms) o Best Western Premier® at Taysir Hotel Makkah (150 rooms) o BW Signature Collection® Jeddah (48 rooms) o Best Western Makarim Palace Rabigh (91 rooms) o Shades, Aiden® by Best Western (120 rooms) o Executive Residency by Best Western®, Al Shafa Hotel Jeddah (200 rooms) o Best Western Kindah Hotel Makkah (420 rooms) o Best Western Plus Madinah Hotel (560 rooms) The Executive Residency by Best Western, Al Shafa Hotel Jeddah, the Best Western Kindah Hotel Makkah, and the Best Western Plus Madinah Hotel reflect significant milestones for the brand as they will be directly managed by BWH. “As tourism continues to gain momentum in this region, our team is taking notice,” said Wytze Van den Berg, Vice President of International Operations EMEA at BWH. “It is important for us to grow all aspects of the brand across chain scales, from value-driven offerings and boutique options to WorldHotels’ upper upscale selections. These announcements are also exciting as BWH Hotels is pleased to be directly …

Middle East government policy and its pivotal role in the growth of tourism and hospitality sectors globally fell under the spotlight on the second day of The Hotel Show, the undisputed flagship event for the Middle East’s hospitality industry. Speaking during the opening session of the Hospitality Leadership and F&B Forum, Nadeem Zaman, Group Chief Strategy Officer at Rua Al Madinah Holding in Saudi Arabia, explained his company, which is PIF-owned, has a mandate to build 47,000 keys over the next 10 years. The Kingdom as a whole expects to add around a quarter of a million keys by 2030, while the objective is for international tourism to triple from around 26 million to 75 million within that same period. Such goals are impossible without intricate collaboration between government and developers, be it in terms of legislation, policy, or even societal development in general. “It’s all about understanding how we can align interests to make this a win-win situation for everyone,” said Zaman, whose company is partnering with local universities and vocational training hubs to help Saudi citizens earn qualifications and enter the hospitality industry. “Hilton, who we’ve also signed with, have as of today 55 per cent of their workforce Saudi nationals and the first female GM of Hilton was put into Makkah. Imagine that, even five years ago, that was never something that anyone could even contemplate, so it’s about keeping an open mind.” Later in the afternoon, the subject of government policy was raised again during a session on sustainability in hospitality. Highlighting last year’s COP 28 summit and the UAE Government’s engagement, John Timson, Accor’s Vice President for Sustainability and Safety – Premium across the Middle East, …

Continuing its expansion in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, Swiss-Belhotel International, announced the signing of an agreement for Swiss-Belresidences Rivan, an upscale new residential development, located in Cairo, Egypt. The agreement was formalised at the Swiss-Belhotel International’s regional headquarters in Dubai on May 14th and the official launch event took place in Cairo on 2nd June, 2024. This sealed the deal between the owning company Al Tameer Al Arabia for Real Estate Development and Investment Sae and Swiss-Belhotel International. Eng. Marzouk Mansour Abdelrazek Namnam, owner and CEO of Al Tameer Al Arabia for Real Estate Development and Investment Sae, said, “With our extensive experience in real estate and collaborations with major global companies and consultancy firms, we are unveiling a new vision to revolutionise real estate in Egypt. Our goal extends beyond creating residential, administrative, or commercial units; it is about crafting environments that enhance daily life through upscale and sustainable developments. Our collaboration with Swiss-Belhotel International for developing Swiss-Belresidences Rivan reflects our commitment to creating a new standard for high-end living in Cairo, while contributing positively to the city’s growth.” Gavin M. Faull, Chairman and President of Swiss-Belhotel International, said, “We are glad to partner with Al Tameer Al Arabia for Real Estate Development and Investment Sae to bring this project to life. The Swiss-Belresidences Rivan in Cairo embodies our commitment to providing high-quality accommodation options in prime destinations. Our growth in the MENA region continues to be a key focus of our global expansion strategy. With our winning partnership philosophy, we work hand in hand with owners and investors to achieve the desired business objectives that the Swiss-Belhotel International is known for globally.” Laurent A. Voivenel, Senior …

After nine consecutive years of Green Globe certification, the Mercure Dubai Barsha Heights Hotel Suites and Apartments has enhanced its sustainable credentials by achieving gold certification of the internationally renowned Green Globe Certification (GGC) programme, which is specifically designed for the travel & tourism industry. During a recent independent audit and assessment carried out by Green Globe’s preferred partner in the Middle East, Dubai-headquartered sustainability consultancy Farnek, the property achieved a rating of 96%, having complied with or exceeded more than 380 rigorous sustainability indicators. Farnek’s dedicated team also supported hotel management with its Hotel Optimizer, a comprehensive and data-driven energy performance monitoring software tool. Through efficient measuring, tracking, monitoring, and benchmarking of energy and water consumption, as well as waste management, the hotel was able to calculate its carbon footprint during 2023. Highlights of the recertification included an annual energy performance savings of 4.3% through multiple retrofits, such as chiller optimisation, frequency controls for fresh air handling units, and LED light installation. The hotel also managed to save 2.6% on water consumption by fitting 300 tap aerators and diverting 21% of its waste from landfills through innovative reduction and recycling initiatives. The hotel also offset 100% (19 tonnes) of the carbon emissions generated from business travel made by its management team and saved 12% of the carbon emissions generated by individual guests. Levent Tasbas, General Manager at Mercure Dubai Barsha Heights, said, “We are proud of our sustainability achievements over the past nine years. This year, we have achieved gold certification, and next year, we are aiming for platinum certification. Putting that into perspective, currently, only two hotels in the UAE hold that status within the GGC programme, underscoring our drive and …

Rotana announced the opening of Al Manakha Rotana in Madinah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Each of the hotel’s 512 rooms and suites is thoughtfully designed and equipped with modern fittings and furnishings. Many of the rooms also offer uplifting views of Madinah’s most sacred site, the Prophet’s Mosque, adding a touch of serenity to every stay. For guests looking to maintain their fitness, a fully equipped gym with sweeping vistas over the holy city’s landmarks is located on the 12th floor. To ensure a comfortable and inclusive environment, specific timings are allocated for male and female guests. With a landmark location in the centre of the holy city of Madinah, Al Manakha Rotana aims to serve travellers seeking a unique cultural experience, as well as the millions of pilgrims who partake in the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Madinah, home to Islam’s second holiest shrine, the Prophet’s Mosque. Commenting on the announcement, Philip Barnes, CEO of Rotana, said: “We’re thrilled to inaugurate the new Al Manakha Rotana in the historic city of Madinah. Religious tourism remains a key pillar of Saudi’s economy and plays a vital role in supporting the Kingdom’s growth strategy. Marking our tenth property opening in Saudi Arabia is a proud milestone for Rotana, reinforcing our commitment to the country and serving all travellers to the holy city.” Situated in front of Islam’s second-holiest shrine, the Prophet’s Mosque, and surrounded by vibrant shops and cafes, as well as iconic historical sites such as Omar bin Khattab Mosque and Al Ghamamah, the four-star Al Manakha Rotana offers a haven of comfort and convenience for pilgrims and travellers alike. In addition, the property offers four distinctive dining venues, including two …

Aman Group announces Janu Dubai in DIFC, anticipated to open in 2027. The visionary hospitality group recently unveiled plans for Aman Dubai which will be set in a prime location directly on Jumeirah Beach. This announcement follows the successful launch in March 2024 of Janu’s inaugural property, Janu Tokyo, which made an indelible mark as the city’s newest luxury destination, captivating guests with the energetic spirit of its dining scene and landmark wellness centre, setting a new standard in hospitality. Janu Dubai, located in the business heart of Dubai International Financial District (DIFC), will sit in a key position close to world-class retail, restaurants, entertainment venues, and in close proximity to Downtown Dubai. It will offer sweeping views across the skyline towards the Burj Khalifa on one side and garden views on the other. A leading Pritzker Prize-winning architecture practice, Herzog & de Meuron has been appointed as the building’s architect, with plans to make the property the first of its kind in the UAE by embracing a connection to nature through expansive outdoor terraces and balconies with abundant planting and gardens. Janu Dubai is owned by Alia Developments, an investment vehicle backed by local and international investors. It will be led by H&H Development, a leading real estate developer with a proven track record in the UAE. H&H Development will serve as both a shareholder of the project and the development manager. Pioneering a new direction in luxury hospitality, Janu – derived from the Sanskrit word for ‘soul’ – is a hotel brand designed for a new era of restorative travel, enriching lives through transformative experiences, which celebrate genuine human interaction, playful expression, and social wellness. Janu Dubai will …