Category Archives: Hotels

General Hotel Management Ltd (GHM) has announced the opening of its second resort — Al Bait Sharjah in the Middle East on September 1. Following the success of the award-winning Chedi Muscat, this announcement marks yet another significant milestone to celebrate Arabian heritage. Developed in partnership with Shurooq (the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority), Al Bait Sharjah offers an unrivalled dimension of luxury, sophistication and personalised service never experienced before in the Emirate. Located in the region’s biggest restoration project known as ‘Heart of Sharjah’, the opening of Al Bait plays a key role in re-establishing Sharjah as the cultural hub of the United Arab Emirates. Paying homage to traditional Sharjah architecture, the 53-key heritage resort is constructed from the restored foundations of vintage homes that once belonged to noted Emirati families. Al Bait, meaning home in Arabic, is carefully remodelled and designed to provide world-class hospitality services and luxurious experiences to its guests, through elements that are in harmony with culture, society, history and civilisation as well as quintessential Emirati hospitality and etiquette. “GHM has taken the lead in pioneering luxury hospitality in the Emirate, while connecting the modern traveller to Sharjah’s rich storied past. We eagerly look forward to welcoming guests to Al Bait for an experience comparable to no other,” states Patrick Moukarzel, the resort’s General Manager.

The Merchant House in Manama, Bahrain, is set to open doors in September this year. Located next to the vibrant Bab el-Bahrain Souk, the hotel development comes at an exciting time as the surrounding area is currently being regenerated, re-establishing the prominence of the old Souk and original heart of Manama. The Merchant House will be an all-suite boutique hotel with 47 suites in total, each featuring an open plan kitchen and dining area, as well as open plan sitting rooms which have been designed to be ideal for both business and leisure. As with all Campbell Gray Hotels, artwork will be a prominent feature of the interior design and Gordon Campbell Gray has, over the past year, been putting together an exciting art collection comprising of well-established Bahraini artists as well as new and upcoming young talent from both Bahrain and the region. The design is, as with all Campbell Gray Hotels, completely original and has been created specifically for The Merchant House. The rooftop – another Campbell Gray speciality – is where you will find the main restaurant and the bar with options to eat indoors or outdoors. Commenting on the project, Gordon Campbell Gray, Founder, Campbell Gray Hotels said, “We are so looking forward to bringing our special brand of hospitality to Bahrain this year with the opening of The Merchant House in Manama. We are confident that with its central location, beautiful facilities and comfortable all-suite accommodation, it will be rather special, and we are eager to welcome our first guests through the door.”

Meraas and Bvlgari have announced the handover of Bvlgari Residences Dubai, in the city’s most exclusive residential community. Residences are located within the 1.7 million square foot Bvlgari Resort & Residences Dubai. The resort includes the world’s first Bvlgari Yacht Club, which exudes the unmistakable atmosphere of the Italian Riviera, famous for its glamour and exuberance. As part of the spectacular Bvlgari Resort & Residences Dubai, Bvlgari Residences Dubai sets a new benchmark for exclusive lifestyles and exceptional living spaces. With a range of amenities and services within the community, the homes combine convenience and comfort with luxury living. The handover process affirms Meraas’ commitment to delivering quality projects that enrich life in Dubai. The island neighbourhood is comprised of 168 apartments ranging from one- to three-bedroom units, six four-bedroom penthouses, and 15 mansions ranging from three- to six-bedrooms. Designed by renowned Italian architectural firm Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel, the residences are managed by the adjacent Bvlgari Hotels & Resorts, and residents can benefit from the ‘Hotel a la carte services’, including housekeeping, catering, butler services, personal shopper and impeccable 24-hour concierge services. Buildings are also equipped with a Private Fitness Centre, a swimming pool and a steam room for the residents’ comfort. Pep Lozano, General Manager of Bvlgari Resort & Residences, said, “We are thrilled to welcome our first residents, who will be living in the Bvlgari residential community on the island.”

Emaar Hospitality Group in partnership with the Kalyan Group, marked its expansion to Sub-Saharan Africa to operate Address Hotel 2 Février Lomé Togo in the heart of Lomé . The 30-storey landmark property to be managed by premium lifestyle hotel and serviced residences brand, Address Hotels + Resorts. It will be a 256-room hotel and 64 serviced apartments in the tallest building in West Africa with a wide choice of restaurants and meeting facilities. Only 7 km from the Lomé–Tokoin International Airport, which connects Togo to key African cities as well as Europe and beyond, Address Hotel 2 Février Lomé Togo will be operated by Address Hotels + Resorts, the premium lifestyle hotel and serviced residences brand of Emaar Hospitality Group, which will assume the management of the property shortly. A team of ministers from the Republic of Togo and media attended the event at the Address Boulevard. The Minister of Industry and Tourism, Yaovi Attigbe Ihou thanked Kalyan Group and Emaar Hospitality for their strategic vision of partnership which will reap many benefits in the tourism and hospitality sector in the country. He reiterated that Togo is the main portal to enter Africa. “Emaar Hospitality will revolutionise the hospitality sector beginning with Togo in West Africa. Our country is a hub open for all industries and financially solid.

IHG has opened its 1000th hotel in the EMEAA region with the opening of InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort, in Vietnam. This comes as IHG continues its ambitious growth strategy across its newest and most geographically diverse region. The 1000th opening adds to an already strong portfolio in EMEAA, with hotels across eight brands, working in partnership with more than 500 hotel owners. IHG has an extensive development pipeline in EMEAA with 321 hotels (63,500 plus rooms) set to open in the next 3-5 years. InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort is located on the pristine Phu Quoc island, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve off the coast of Vietnam. The resort combines InterContinental’s signature luxury with the island’s unique natural beauty and features 459 luxurious rooms, suites and villas, an exclusive beachfront, six restaurants and bars, and state-of-the-art meeting facilities. IHG’s EMEAA region is playing a key role in the company’s ambitions to grow at pace in key global markets. The rollout of voco™, IHG’s newest brand in the $40 billion upscale market, will begin in EMEAA, with a first signing already announced in Australia. IHG plans to open more than 200 voco hotels globally over the next 10 years. EMEAA is also a key focus as IHG builds out its luxury capabilities. IHG recently unveiled plans to expand its luxury and upscale estate in the UK through a conditional agreement with Covivio (formerly Foncière des Régions).

Lucid Pay, a smart settlement platform, has recently integrated blockchain technology into the systems of 5-star resort Atlantis, The Palm, making it the first for hotels worldwide. The smart platform enables guests to pay for their activities and amenities in an efficient, secure and effortless manner. The platform also uses smart contracts that allow the hotel to pre-define guests’ terms and refund conditions, enabling stress-free and frictionless transactions. The cashless-based solution eliminates disputes and fraud, while providing automated loyalty programmes and speedy executions, which hotels can take advantage of. As a platform, Lucid Pay’s goal is to interconnect the hospitality industry and break physical boundaries, by providing guests with the opportunity to experience the city while charging back to the host and settling their bill at checkout. Commenting on the integration, Liquid D founder Jawad Riachi said, “We’re proud to be able to integrate our blockchain-based smart settlement platform Lucid Pay into a world-class brand such as Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai. I’d like to thank the resorts’ IT team, finance, marketing and operation, who supported the initiative and worked hard to make the project a reality. We have focused on ensuring the product is easy to use, with a convenient learning process. The users immediately feel at home when they use our solution. ” Anthony Lynsdale, Vice President, Information Technology, Atlantis The Palm, Dubai said, “We chose Lucid Pay as our partner to deliver a seamless integrated point of sale solution using a Blockchain platform.”

After its launch in April of ‘Aquaventure After Dark’, Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark at Atlantis, The Palm announced that it will once again open its doors to excited nighttime revelers. Attracting 3,500 teens and adults first time round, the ultimate slide and dance party will make its triumphant return on June 16th from 8pm, offering guests even more fun. In partnership with Coca-Cola and 104.8 Channel 4 radio, Aquaventure After Dark entry tickets will start from only AED 123 when pre-purchased online, offering party-goers a fun-drenched evening from 8pm to 12am mid-night. Featuring pumping music zones and stacks of inflatable fun, Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark will offer visitors the chance to take on 20 of the region’s craziest waterslides, made all the more exhilarating by night. Hungry thrill-seekers can also feast throughout the evening at the various food stations. Shark Bites and Barracudas will offer indoor and outdoor seating and something for every taste, including Arabic mezze, freshly baked pizzas, shawarma, falafel, dosa, fish & chips and barbeque hot off the grill. Situated on the apex of the Palm in Dubai, and known for its terrifying and record-breaking waterslides, Aquaventure Waterpark is the only attraction in The Middle East that offers marine animal experiences, water slides and over 700 metres of beachline. The waterpark also boasts some record breaking slides including the world’s largest circumference water ride ‘Aquaconda’ and the first twin racing tube rides ‘Slitherine’.

Tivoli Hotels & Resorts has announced its first property in the Alentejo region of Portugal in the historic city of Évora, joining the brand’s other timelessly elegant properties in Portugal, Brazil and Qatar. The Tivoli Évora Ecoresort, scheduled to launch in the third quarter of 2018, will be a nature retreat boasting gorgeous scenery and unique cultural experiences. Currently operating as the Ecorkhotel, Évora – Suites & Spa, the property is located on the lush plains of Portugal’s south-central Alentejo region, just a five-minute drive from the historic centre of Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a one-hour drive from the capital Lisbon. Surrounded by age-old cork oak and olive trees, the property is designed in sustainable contemporary style. Soft architectural lines blend perfectly into the verdant landscape, with 56 suites carefully placed around the 38,000 square metre grounds, providing ultimate privacy and tranquillity for guests. All suites are warmly decorated with natural elements such as wool and cork, with outside areas for relaxing amidst the sounds of nature. As part of a refurbishment programme, an exclusive new villa with nine guest rooms and a private outdoor swimming pool will be added to the resort. The ecoresort also has a spa providing pure serenity for the senses. Treatment rooms, an indoor swimming pool, sauna, Turkish bath and fully equipped fitness room will be available for guests to enjoy. Making the most of relaxing inspirational surroundings, the hotel will also focus on personalised wellness programmes, incorporating both traditional and innovative treatments with healthy eating, exercise and nature-based activities.

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C has announced the opening of reservations for The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection will deliver one-of-a-kind experiences to its guests onboard and transform the luxury cruising industry. Reservations are now open for the inaugural season of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, set to take the seas in February 2020. With several distinct itineraries available in 2020, guests have the option to book back-to-back voyages without repeating ports, allowing them to explore a wider range of destinations and delve into the local culture at each port. “As the first luxury hotel company to bring the legendary service and ambience of its resorts to sea, we are thrilled to offer guests a new way to create memories with The Ritz-Carlton,” said Lisa Holladay, Global Brand Leader for The Ritz-Carlton. “From the yacht’s design, to programming onboard and ashore, every aspect of the voyage has been carefully created to embody the signature service and casual luxury of a Ritz-Carlton resort. We look forward to officially welcoming guests onboard The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection as we open reservations.” The opening of reservations marks an exciting milestone for The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, which is set to redefine luxury at sea,” said Doug Prothero, CEO of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. “Whether you are looking for culture, adventure, or the chance to go off the beaten path, we are thrilled to be able to invite guests to explore the world with The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.”

As part of its ongoing commitment to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Marriott International has announced three deal signings in Jeddah with the Al Murjan Group. The projects will add over 500 rooms in the country and feature the Middle East’s first Delta Hotel by Marriott along with Jeddah’s first Marriott Executive Apartments and Four Points by Sheraton. “We are delighted to work with the Al Murjan Group on three exciting new projects in Saudi Arabia. In doing so, we will be expanding our brand portfolio in the region with the debut of Delta Hotels by Marriott while further strengthening the presence of Four Points by Sheraton and Marriott Executive Apartments,” said Alex Kyriakidis, President and Managing Director -Middle East and Africa, Marriott International. The Delta Hotels by Marriott Jeddah Al Salam and Marriott Executive Apartments Jeddah, Al Salam will be located on King Abdulaziz Road and Al Salam Road at the Globe Roundabout in Jeddah. Developed by the Al Murjan Group, the mixed-use project will include commercial and retail space along with the two hotels. The hotels are scheduled to open by 2023. Delta Hotels by Marriott Jeddah Al Salam will feature 175 rooms including 25 suites, two dining outlets, recreational facilities and a 3,000 sqm grand ballroom with pre-function space including four meeting rooms. Marriott Executive Apartments Jeddah, Al Salam will operate 100 stylish apartments (one, two and three bedrooms) with fully equipped kitchens along with a dining outlet, a fitness centre and swimming pool. Four Points by Sheraton Jeddah, Corniche Obhur will be located on the South Obhur Corniche and will include 306 rooms – 196 studio rooms and 110 one bedroom suites, two F&B outlets, a fitness …