Category Archives: Hotels

The first Citymax Hotel in the Egyptian city of Aswan, featuring 79 rooms equipped with modern comforts and amenities, celebrated its soft opening recently. Owned by Egypt Holland for Touristic Investments, this 4-star hotel is located in Kornish Al Nile in close proximity to Aswan’s key tourist attractions. The hotel boasts of leisure facilities including an outdoor swimming pool and cafe, sauna, jacuzzi and an all-day-dining restaurant. Decorated in contemporary style, some rooms offer beautiful views of River Nile while others overlook the city landscape.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed a partnership with Cairo Sheikh Zayed City in collaboration with Al Badr for Investments and Commercial Spaces Company for the Crowne Plaza. Scheduled to open in 2021, the 187-room new build will form part of Phase II of Arkan Plaza, a prime upscale mixed-used development, and is strategically located in the heart of Sheikh Zayed City. The new Hotel is 10 minutes away from the New Cairo Museum and 15 minutes from the Great Pyramids of Giza. The new development aligns with IHG’s strategy to grow the Crowne Plaza brand across Middle East and North Africa (MENA), by further strengthening its presence in top-tier business epicentres and primary markets in the region. The property is also in close proximity to Cairo International Airport and will be just 10 km away from the Sphinx International Airport. Business and leisure travellers can get the best of both worlds with three meeting rooms and a business centre along with an outdoor pool, Club Lounge and a spa to revitalise both body and mind.

JA Ocean View Hotel in Dubai Marina has been recognised as a five-star beach hotel by the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM). The news comes as JA Resorts & Hotels follows through on a wide-reaching strategy of enhancement across its portfolio. All the rooms and suites at the hotel have private balconies and sea views of the Arabian Gulf. Six restaurants and bars complement an infinity swimming pool, spa, salon, gym and fitness zone. Children enjoy access to a splash pool, kids’ club and a playground. Situated on ‘The Walk’ next to the beach with an outdoor seaside complex with shops, restaurants, cafés, fitness circuits and kids’ play areas, visitors to Dubai will have easy access to sights such as the Burj Khalifa and The Dubai Mall, besides impressive coastal views towards The Palm Jumeirah and a pedestrian-friendly promenade to stroll along. In 2018, a pedestrian bridge will connect the area with Bluewaters Island, where Ain Dubai – the world’s largest and tallest Ferris wheel – will open.

InterContinental Hotels and Diamond Developers held a groundbreaking ceremony for Hotel Indigo Dubai Sustainable City, which is set to be a Net Zero Energy Building, where 100 per cent of its energy needs will be met by solar power. The 143-rooms hotel will be located in Dubai’s first sustainable integrated development. The architecture and interior design across the hotel will incorporate sustainability principles at every step of the guest journey. Offering the best in class dining options to guests, Hotel Indigo Dubai Sustainable City will have a neighbourhood café and a specialty restaurant with fresh produce supplies from urban farming facilities that will be merged to hotel grounds and Sustainable City Bio Domes. Furthermore, the guests will be able enjoy various wellness and leisure facilities such as a fully equipped gymnasium, an outdoor pool inspired by cascading natural pools, an outdoor yoga deck within the orchard as well as two treatment rooms with private terraces.

Radisson Blu launched its first hotel in Ajman, UAE. Located just a few minutes away from the city centre, the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ajman is also home to the Emirates’ newest entertainment destination with seven distinctive restaurants and bars to experience. The hotel is accessible through the main highways connecting Ajman to Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah. It is located in a new and upcoming area – Al Jurf – which is close to government ministries, universities and hospitals, as well as the Hamriyah Free Zone. The Radisson Blu Hotel, Ajman offers upper-upscale and stylish accommodation with 148 guest rooms and suites, all designed with soothing colour tones that reflect the desert sands of Ajman. The hotel upholds the Radisson Blu’s international design heritage with bespoke Arabian artwork reflected in the interiors.

Citymax Hotels launched its new brand identity that is being rolled out in phases across the group’s portfolio of hotels. All operating hotels will be renovated to provide guests with a more contemporary experience while leveraging the brand value of Citymax Hotels. Russel Sharpe, COO, Citymax Hotels, stated, “Citymax Hotels is being revitalised through a series of marketing and product design improvements to meet our guests’ expectations and strengthen our market positioning. Everyone loves something extra- be it extra space, extra comfort, extra connectivity or extra value and that’s exactly what Citymax has to offer.” The first hotel to implement the new brand identity along with product enhancement is Citymax Hotel Al Barsha. The hotel has renovated its reception, lobby, corridors and guestrooms along with bathrooms on first, second and third floors with an imaginative design concept. Other facilities, including the dining outlets, will also be enhanced over the next few months.

Dusit International is set to manage Dusit Thani Zhouzhuang, a luxury hotel in Zhouzhuang, China after signing a hotel management agreement with Kunshan Yuanwanggu IOT Industrial Park Company Limited. Phase one is expected to open in 2018, with phase two following in 2022. Set within the Yungu Pastoral Valley, approximately 50 minutes by car from Shanghai and 40 minutes from Suzhou, the five-star hotel will comprise 30 rooms in traditional houses and 160 hotel guest rooms. The traditional houses will open next year in phase one of the development alongside an all-day-dining restaurant. The main hotel building will open in phase two and will include a dining restaurant, Chinese restaurant with private dining rooms, gym, swimming pool and conference facilities. “We are honoured to be given the opportunity to manage such a luxury hotel in this historic location,” said Lim Boon Kwee, Chief Operating Officer, Dusit International. “By exceeding guests’ expectations with each and every experience, the hotel will be perfectly positioned to meet the needs of domestic and international travellers alike.”

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts released its latest property, Mövenpick Suriwongse Hotel Chiang Mai on November 7. The 266-room hotel marked another milestone in the hospitality company’s Asian expansion strategy. Located in one of the city’s most vibrant neighbourhoods, the hotel overlooks the sprawling Night Bazaar district and is located at a short walking distance to many cultural attractions such as Chiang Mai Old City Wall and Tha Pae Gate. Guests can choose from seven different room categories including Classic, Superior, Deluxe, Premier, Junior Suite, Suites and Family Suites. For diners, the hotel serves Thai and international cuisines at its all-day dining venue which is designed with wooden elements to emulate the style of a local food market. Le Bistrot is a themed Italian-Thai fusion eatery, featuring a terrace with views of the bustling Night Bazaar. For a refreshing drink, the hotel’s Lobby Bar and Rooftop Pool Bar both offer tempting selections, whilst the Sweet House serves freshly brewed coffee and home-made bakery items.

TIME Hotels unveiled its first resort at WTM London with the launch of TIME Beach Villas Resort in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Opening its doors in December 2017, the resort will comprise 61 units with detailed Arabic architecture encompassing a full reflection of authentic Gulf design. Mohamed Awadalla, CEO, TIME Hotels, said, “This resort has been built with both corporate and leisure visitors in mind. It is perfect for long staying corporate guests as well as short stay family getaways. We, at TIME Hotels, have an in-depth understanding of these market segments, how to add value and drive in business.” Located close to the beach and at a 20 minutes’ drive from Jeddah International Airport and city centre, the midrange resort will offer fitness and leisure facilities, high-speed WiFi, LED televisions in all rooms along with concierge and business services.

AccorHotels managed Ibis Deira City Centre celebrated their one millionth made beds with a special programme titled ‘Art of housekeeping’. The housekeeping team demonstrated the way to make a bed with a special room concept kept in the lobby for five days. Any guest had the opportunity to witness or even join in making the bed. Ramesh Bappoo, General Manager, Delegate Hotels and ISS said, “We are very proud to announce Ibis Deira City Centre has achieved a million cycles of making beds. It is a milestone and we want to invite everybody to witness the art of housekeeping where they will demonstrate and allow any guest to participate in making the bed right at the lobby.”