Category Archives: Hotels

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.”

Marriot International announced the opening of its second hotel ‘Four Points by Sheraton’ in Nairobi Airport, Kenya. The all-new 172 room hotel features spacious and modern rooms including suites. Strategically situated within the main complex of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, the hotel is within easy reach from major highways and overlooks the famous Nairobi National Park. “Four Points by Sheraton Nairobi Airport is a great addition to our East Africa portfolio and strengthens our rapidly growing presence in the region,” said Alex Kyriakidis, President and Managing Director, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International. It also offers exciting dining options including an all-day dining, a lobby café and a rooftop bar and grill, Tazama. Guests can also experience the brand’s signature Best Brews programme featuring a local craft pilsner created especially for the hotel in collaboration with the well-known Big Five Breweries.

Hotel guests to all three regions of Abu Dhabi increased in total by 5 per cent in September as compared to the same month in the previous year, according to figures released by the Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi. Increases for hotel guests have been recorded as 14 per cent in the Al Dhafra Region, 8 per cent in the Al Ain Region and 4 per cent in Abu Dhabi city with a total occupancy rate of 69 per cent. Saif Saeed Ghobash, Director General, Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi, said, “Globally, we have invested heavily in marketing Abu Dhabi as a destination of distinction with an emphasis on its history, culture and heritage. Our strategy is to highlight Abu Dhabi as a wealth of natural and man-made attractions across all regions while providing luxurious yet affordable choices of accommodation.” While September saw a slight drop in domestic tourists into Abu Dhabi, the month was marked by a surge in Chinese hotel guests, recording an increase of 133 per cent in comparison to September 2016. India remained the largest international source market with more than 33,000 hotel guests during the month.

IHG announced the signing of Holiday Inn Cape Town in partnership with Leisure Hotel Holding (Pty) Ltd. Currently operating as Strand Tower Hotel, the property is expected to be rebranded as Holiday Inn by later this year, marking the brand’s debut in the city. With 242 rooms, the hotel will serve all day dining with buffet-style meals and a selection of award-winning estate wines from the nearby Cape Winelands. Holiday Inn Cape Town is also equipped with a gym, sauna and steam room. For business groups and travellers, the hotel offers two large conference rooms and four break-away rooms that are ideal for training and discussion groups. This signing is in line with IHG’s strategy to increase its brand’s visibility and franchise estate in South Africa. South Africa is becoming an increasingly popular destination for tourists from the Middle East, due to its favourable seasons and rich cultural experiences. According to recent research, the growth in visitors to South Africa from the Middle East represented a 36 per cent increase on the previous year.

Continuing its expansion in Saudi Arabia, Swiss-Belhotel International (SBI) signed Swiss-Belhotel and Suites Jazan. The announcement was made by Laurent A Voivenel, Senior Vice President, Operations and Development for the Middle East, Africa and India, Swiss-Belhotel International. The upscale property is owned by Cardamom International Property Management LLC and is located in the port city of Jazan with direct access to the beach. Swiss-Belhotel and Suites Jazan enjoys close proximity to Red Sea coast at merely 20 minutes’ drive from Jazan regional airport. Boasting of 210 keys including 140 well-appointed rooms and 70 studios plus apartments, the hotel is being designed to cater to a diverse mix of travellers. Included in its extensive facilities will be an array of business and lifestyle features, making it the ideal address for both corporate and leisure guests. On site are four dining outlets, a ballroom and three meeting rooms, a health club and a swimming pool. A key highlight is the beautiful marina and restaurant on the beach exclusively dedicated for the hotel guests.

Four Seasons Hotel, Makkah will be the company’s second location in Saudi Arabia, joining Four Seasons Hotel, Riyadh at Kingdom Centre in offering the most luxurious accommodations and personalised service in the region. Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and Jabal Omar Development Company (JODC) announced plans for a new Four Seasons hotel in the Makkah as part of the Jabal Omar integrated real estate development. Ideally located adjacent to the Grand Mosque, Four Seasons Hotel, Makkah will offer the most gracious accommodations in the city. Award-winning architectural firm Foster + Partners was chosen following an international design competition for this project. The multi-towered building atop a retail podium cascades down toward the Grand Mosque, seamlessly integrating its public spaces into the Haram. An innovative design allows clear views of the Kaaba from every guest room and suite, each of which will feature one or more private prayer rooms. Additional features of the hotel include three restaurants and lounges, a ballroom and meeting rooms, and a spa and fitness centre.

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts inked an agreement with Oman’s Golden Group of Companies to manage the 370-key Mövenpick Hotel Muscat Airport, part of a new upscale project under development near Muscat International Airport, set to open in 2021. The project will also feature retail and commercial space. It expands Mövenpick’s inventory pipeline to almost 1,000 keys countrywide after deals to operate Mövenpick Hotel & Apartments Al Azaiba Muscat and Mövenpick Hotel Bausher Muscat were recently signed. The three properties will capitalise on Oman’s growing importance as a regional hub for business and leisure tourism, spurred by the development of new infrastructure which ranges from conference centres to cruise terminals. At the same time, Muscat International Airport is undergoing extensive renovations and expansion that will boost its annual capacity from 12 million to 48 million passengers.

Wyndham Hotel Group announced Riyada International Hotels & Resorts, master franchisor of the Ramada brand in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Concept Towers Real Estate, have agreed to develop a brand-new Ramada hotel centrally located in Riyadh. The 189-room Ramada Riyadh King Fahd Road will become the 11th Ramada in the country, and the 18th hotel under Wyndham Hotel Group’s portfolio of brands, which includes 12 operational hotels and a further six currently under development within the Kingdom.  The globally-recognised Ramada brand encourages travellers to explore the world with its portfolio of more than 850 hotels spanning 64 countries across all six continents. In 2016 Ramada was named the fastest-growing hotel brand in Europe by PKF hotelexperts, an internationally recognised leader in the field of hotel, tourism and leisure consulting

Louvre Abu Dhabi has signed the first exclusive platinum partnership with Etihad Airways. The ceremony took place under the museum’s dome and its ‘Rain of Light’ effect. Louvre Abu Dhabi will officially open on November 11 as an iconic landmark on the city’s geographical, cultural and tourist landscape. H.E. Saif Saeed Ghobash, Director General, Department of Culture & Tourism–Abu Dhabi, said, “This important partnership comes at an exciting time as we prepare for our grand opening next month. Louvre Abu Dhabi and Etihad Airways not only bring people from around the world to Abu Dhabi, but they are both universal in nature. For the museum, this idea of universal is about understanding human connections from the beginning of time until the present through art. We look forward to celebrating Louvre Abu Dhabi’s opening with the support of our Platinum partner.” As a platinum partner, Etihad will work closely with Louvre Abu Dhabi on areas of brand partnership, marketing, social media, public and media relations, events and exhibitions, cultural exchanges, cargo support, inflight programming, and travel trade support. Etihad Airways’ destination management company, Hala, will collaborate with the museum on bespoke tour packages in Abu Dhabi. Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways Chief Executive Officer, said, “Louvre Abu Dhabi is a universal institution showcasing the achievements of mankind in art, in culture, in humanity – a beacon welcoming visitors to these shores for generations to come. Etihad Airways and Louvre Abu Dhabi are two leading characters in the same story and we share a deep bond. As the national airline of the UAE, flying from Abu Dhabi to the world, we are also a universal connector of people. Together with our partners at …