Category Archives: Hotels

IHG announced the signing of Staybridge Suites Manama Al Seef, marking the debut of the brand in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Expected to open in January 2020, the 128-room extended stay hotel will operate under a management agreement with major developer, Bin Faqeeh Real Estate Investment Company S.P.C. The signing was held with the attendance of H.E. Sheikh Khaled bin Humood Al Khalifa, CEO of Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) in the headquarters of the Bin Faqeeh Real Estate Investment Company S.P.C. Located in the heart of the capital, Staybridge Suites Manama Al Seef will benefit from proximity to the popular shopping and commercial destination, the Seef District. Guests can also enjoy home-like surroundings and amenities throughout the hotel with a feeling of community including a fully equipped kitchen, spacious suites, large workspaces, complimentary WiFi, a business centre and a fitness centre. Commenting on the signing, H.E. Sheikh Khaled bin Humood Al Khalifa, stated, “The development of Staybridge Suites comes in line with BTEA’s strategy which focuses on four pillars, ‘awareness, attraction, access, and accommodation’ in order to attract regional and international visitors, further increasing the tourism sector’s contribution to the national economy.” In a statement on the signing, Pascal Gauvin, Managing Director, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG, said, “The tourism industry in Bahrain is gaining momentum with an increase in leisure and business travellers, especially from the GCC countries, that is resulting in a rising demand for long stay accommodation.” Faisal Faqeeh, Chairman of Bin Faqeeh Real Estate Investment Company S.P.C., added, “The fantastic location combined with the unique offering of Staybridge Suites Manama Al Seef, make it the ideal choice for travellers looking for a home …

In the run up to Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2019, Jannah Hotels & Resorts, the UAE’s leading luxury halal hotel brand, has announced that it is expanding its footprint in the UAE by adding two new properties to its current portfolio. Jannah Dubai Creek, a new four-star upscale hotel in Dubai is scheduled to open its doors to the public in September 2019. The 138-room hotel will feature five food and beverage outlets, a private swimming pool, gym and spa as well as a multitude of innovative features, including a seamless check-in experience, highlighting Jannah’s continued focus on technology. The popular hotel chain is also opening a 57-storey property in Sharjah in 2022.  Located in one of the most exciting areas of the city, world-class amenities at Jannah Ras Al Khor will include a private swimming pool, state-of-the-art health club, children’s play area, cafes and restaurants. These strategic and exciting developments will be showcased at the Jannah stand at ATM 2019, according to Richard Haddad, CEO of Jannah Burj Al Sarab Hotel. “Strategic locations, coupled with Jannah’s unparalleled Arabian hospitality and some very symbiotic partnerships, have helped the brand register phenomenal growth in the past few years. At ATM 2019, we look forward to the opportunity to network with colleagues near and far to build new relationships whilst showcasing the niche hospitality services that have stood us in good stead,” Haddad said. “Be it Sharjah’s growing reputation as a cultural, tourism and leisure centre or the phenomenal growth we have seen in the Dubai Creek area, we are certain that our new properties will be just as successful in attracting discerning business and leisure travellers looking for five-star services, and …

Aldar Properties PJSC’s (Aldar’s) latest development, Lea located on the northern shores of Yas Island has sold out during Cityscape Abu Dhabi generating over AED 400 million in sales. Offering land plots starting at AED 990,000 and sizes ranging from 405 sqm – 1,800 sqm, and available for purchase by all nationalities, Lea features 238 residential plots in a prime location adjacent to Aldar’s flagship Yas Acres project. Lea boasts parks, promenades, and waterside walkways. In addition to this, residents benefit from all of the amenities within Yas Acres – parks, swimming pools, play areas,  picnic areas, schools, mosques and the Yas Acres full length nine hole golf course. This most recent sell out follows the successful launch of Alreeman, a land plot masterplan located close to Abu Dhabi Airport, which generated AED 1.6 billion in sales. Commenting, Talal Al Dhiyebi, Chief Executive Officer, Aldar Properties, said, “Selling over AED 400 million of real estate is a ringing endorsement of what we do best – understanding what our customers need and then creating the right product to fulfill their requirements. We are off to a flying start this year, and we are seeing really strong demand for land opportunities within well thought out, master planned communities. Generating over AED 2 billion from our two most recent developments – Al Reeman and Lea, shows how market sentiment is moving in a positive direction.” Maan Al Awlaqi, Executive Director – Commercial, Aldar Properties, said, “We are delighted with the response we received for Lea from both investors and homeowners of various nationalities. This is further evidence of the strong demand for land plots, following our launch of Alreeman. This is also our …

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has signed a Master Development Agreement with Valor Hospitality Partners Africa to roll out multiple franchise hotels over the next 10 years, across IHG’s portfolio of brands in mid-scale, upscale and luxury segments. The agreement will see IHG expand its presence in Sub-Saharan Africa, including key countries such as South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, Mauritius, Ethiopia, Zambia and Kenya. The development adds to IHG’s growing pipeline in the Middle East and Africa and cements its position as one of the leading operators in the region. Valor Hospitality Partners Africa is a subsidiary of Valor Hospitality Partners Global that manages projects across America, the UK, Middle East, South Africa and South East Asia. IHG currently operates hotels with Valor Hospitality Partners in America and the UK. Speaking on the announcement, Pascal Gauvin, Managing Director, India, Middle East and Africa, IHG, said, “Valor has been our long-term partner in America and the UK for many years and we are pleased to be building our network with an experienced existing operating partner in new markets. This signing is in line with our growth ambition in the region and will add approximately 1,000 rooms to our portfolio in the African continent, primarily in the mid-scale segment and select hotels in upscale and luxury segments. We currently have 26 operating hotels across eight countries in Africa, and we are looking at expanding our presence further by close to 40 per cent, in three to five years.” Graham Wood, Managing Director of Valor Hospitality Partners Africa, added, “We have consistently benefitted from IHG’s global distribution system in the Americas and the UK, best-in-class revenue management tools, …

Marriott International celebrated the opening of its 7,000th property – The St. Regis Hong Kong. The stunning, 27-storey luxury hotel, which features butler service, and multiple restaurants, is emblematic of Marriott’s global expansion strategy which disproportionately focuses on the highest lodging tiers as well as fast-growing international markets such as Hong Kong. The company’s first property, the Twin Bridges Marriott, opened in 1957 and was a four-storey motor hotel in Arlington, Virginia. “It’s thrilling to open our 7,000th property, an incredible milestone for a company that began as a nine-stool root beer stand in 1927 and didn’t even open its first hotel until decades later,” said Arne Sorenson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Marriott International. “I can’t think of a more fitting property to hold the honour than The St. Regis Hong Kong which underscores the benefits of our merger with Starwood, the importance of luxury and the tremendous opportunity in Asia.” Today, Marriott’s pipeline is growing with an increasing number of legacy-Starwood branded hotels with brands such as St. Regis, Luxury Collection and W. “Our newest luxury hotel – The St. Regis Hong Kong – is a testament to our well-defined global growth strategy,” said Tony Capuano, Marriott’s Executive Vice President and Global Chief Development Officer. “By leveraging our industry-leading luxury brands, including those we gained from the Starwood merger, our robust relationships with multi-unit owners and our expertise in identifying strategic opportunities in global gateway markets such as Hong Kong, we are well positioned to expand our global footprint by 25 per cent in the next three years.” The milestone follows Marriott’s announcement in March that it expects to add more than 1,700 additional hotels by the end …

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) signed two franchise agreements including Holiday Inn Madinah King Abdulaziz Road with Loulouat Al Madinah Hospitality and Holiday Inn Jeddah Al Hamra with Al Hokair Group. The agreements were signed and announced at Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC) 2019 in Ras Al Khaimah. The signings consolidate IHG’s strategy to expand its footprint across the kingdom, with its midscale offerings. Holiday Inn Jeddah Al Hamra will feature 253 rooms and a host of facilities for business and leisure travellers including three food and beverage outlets, six meeting rooms, and a business centre. In addition, guests will be able to take advantage of recreational facilities such as the outdoor pool, a gymnasium and a spa. Due to open in 2020, Holiday Inn Madinah King Abdulaziz Road will be strategically located near Al Haramain Railway Train Station and other major transport hubs. The 180-key hotel will feature 2,000 sqm of banqueting space for events and conventions, a business centre as well as a gym and two dining options. Given its location in the Holy City and close proximity to Knowledge Economic City, it is expected to attract both pilgrims and corporate travellers. Commenting on the agreement, Pascal Gauvin, Managing Director, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG, said, “We are excited to leverage our experience of this market to bring more hospitality options to a broad range of travellers.” Omar Samara, CEO, Al Hokair Group, added, “IHG understands the market and has demonstrated its credentials to us as a strong partner. The tourism landscape in Saudi Arabia is changing, in line with Vision 2030, and offers unprecedented opportunities for the hospitality sector.” Sami Al Hokair, Managing Director, Loulouat Al Madinah Hospitality, said, …

Citymax Hotels officially opened their second Citymax Hotel Al Barsha, the latest property to join the group’s expanding portfolio and the first hotel to effortlessly combine business travel with the charm of a boutique style setting. The opening follows the successful launch of Citymax Hotel Ras Al Khaimah in November 2018, and bumps the Citymax portfolio up to five hotels in operation across the GCC, as well as a sixth Citymax Hotel in Aswan, Egypt. Known for its personality of vibrant simplicity and providing its guests with an unforgettable stay, Citymax Hotel Al Barsha will follow in the same steps, but with an added sense of appeal. This Citymax property is uniquely positioned to cater to business travellers looking for the comforts of a well-known brand, but the exclusivity and warmth of a boutique hotel. Citymax Hotel Al Barsha is set alongside its sister property, Citymax Hotel Al Barsha at The Mall, which is largely popular amongst families and leisure travellers. The hotel boasts 120 spacious rooms, including 24 twin rooms and 96 queen rooms. Each floor of the hotel has only 10 rooms, providing a sense of privacy in the heart of bustling ‘New Dubai’. Each room is larger than average and kitted out with a variety of in-room facilities that meet the specific needs of business travellers; workstations with universal sockets and a media hub with Bluetooth capability for wireless audio streaming to the TV. The property hosts a meeting room, with a capacity of 8-10 delegates. Featuring three unique dining venues, guests are sure to be spoilt for choice. The Stag will be the city’s newest gastro-pub, which is set to launch in the first week of …

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) signed franchise agreements for two hotels, Staybridge Suites Dubai Financial Centre and Staybridge Suites Dubai Internet City, with the Dubai-based real estate development firm, SRG Holding. The agreements will see the conversion of two SRG-owned developments to IHG’s extended-stay brand Staybridge Suites. The two franchised assets will be operated by SRG Hospitality, the group’s hotel management arm with opening dates set for January 2020. The hotels are strategically located along Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai’s main commercial artery with convenient access to the Dubai Metro system and the city’s major business and leisure attractions. Pascal Gauvin, Managing Director, India, Middle East and Africa at IHG, commented on the signing, “The extended-stay sector performs extremely well in Dubai and the Middle East, and we are pleased to be partnering with one of the leading family-owned companies in Dubai, SRG Holding. The Staybridge Suites brand is successful due to its combination of home-like convenience and comfort. We are excited to be expanding our extended-stay offering in Dubai and look forward to building a successful relationship with SRG Holding as we cater to the varied needs of travellers visiting the city.” Fahad AlRafi, CEO at SRG Holding, said of the partnership, “We are delighted to partner with a globally renowned hospitality company such as IHG for Staybridge Suites Dubai Financial Centre and Staybridge Suites Dubai Internet City. This fantastic brand will give us the opportunity to deliver a service style that is little more relaxed than traditional serviced apartments in the city.”

Fraser Suites Muscat officially opened this month with their commitment to offer high-quality luxury experiences which are designed to embrace the needs of the modern traveller and saw media attendees given an exclusive tour of each of the unique facilities at Fraser Suites Muscat. The facility hosts 120 luxury serviced apartments and complete rooftop pool and spa amenities. The apartments comprise of studios and various bedroom configurations equipped with renowned brands such as L’Occitane and Nespresso, together with all-around city views. Boasting modern décor throughout the facility alongside a touch of Omani hospitality, Fraser Suites Muscat has several features that make this a one of a kind of property in the Sultanate. Apart from hosting a rooftop swimming pool with a poolside juice counter and boutique-shopping arcade, Fraser Suites Muscat also accommodates a 24/7 fitness room with the latest gym facilities, a lavish spa with four treatment rooms, and large indoor and outdoor children play areas. The Fraser Suites Muscat Ballroom has a capacity for more than 800 people and is perfect for planning a wedding, the launch of a special product, a general business meeting, or any major occasion. The 1500 sqm of space can be used as the main hall or partitioned into four separate conference rooms as required. Vincent Le Gorrec, General Manager of Fraser Suites Muscat said, “We are keen to reach out to countries in the Middle East, which have the potential for several cultural tourism prospects, including Saudi Arabia, Oman and UAE. Coupled with a unique range of facilities and amenities and situated close to several lifestyle options, Fraser Suites Muscat is an ideal choice for corporate travellers, vacationers, and even families, looking for …

The new 133-key Hilton Garden Inn Al Jubail has opened in Saudi Arabia’s commercial centre in Jubail, Dammam. It joins three existing Hilton Garden Inn properties in Saudi Arabia. Helmed by Dewan Architects + Engineers as the lead consultant and designer of the project, the hotel building serves as a contemporary hospitality haven in the heart of Al Jubail, the industrial hub of Saudi Arabia. The hotel’s modern form is a new visual anchor for this emerging city. Set on the Jubail Corniche near the Jubail Commercial Port, the property is conveniently located between King Fahd Airport in Dammam and the Royal Commission of Jubail and its industrial city. “The completion of Hilton Garden Inn Al Jubail marks a key moment in this district’s transformation,” says Dewan Architects +Engineers Executive Director, Ammar Al Assam. “The hotel’s contemporary architectural expression reflects the spirit of its surroundings – a growing and constantly evolving city.” In line with Dewan Architects + Engineers’ “go green” initiatives, Hilton Hotels recently announced it is teaming up with Clean the World, an organisation that collects used soaps from hotels, melts them down, sanitises them, and creates brand new bars of soap for people in need. The eight-storey hotel, located on King Faisal Street East, offers 133 spacious guest rooms; a contemporary lobby overlooking the Arabian Gulf; modern meeting rooms (Najla and Dalal); the Panorama (Ladies) lounge; a stunning rooftop swimming pool with views over the Gulf; separate his and her gyms; and high-speed internet access. Guests can enjoy fine dining, themed buffets and weekend brunches at The Garden Grille restaurant, while the Garden Café offers snacks and beverages.