Category Archives: Hotels

A Green Key Workshop was organised by Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority to promote sustainable practices in hospitality sector. Green Key certification will be a priority area for Sharjah in developing the emirate’s hospitality sector and enhancing its position as a leading tourism destination in the region, said His Excellency Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA). Addressing a Green Key Workshop organised by the Authority in Sharjah, HE Al Midfa said: “The UN World Tourism Organisation forecasts 1.6 billion tourists by the year 2020. In order to minimise the negative impacts of this growth and harness its power to help make positive change, sustainable tourism must become a reality for all tourism stakeholders.” HE Al Midfa called upon the hospitality industry to enhance awareness among hotel staff for the successful implementation of sustainable practices across the industry. “We must work together to create tools and training to boost sustainable practices and meet the demand for sustainable tourism products and services,” he added.The Green Key Workshop was organised to spread awareness about the most efficient methods of sustainable hospitality and waste and energy management practices in Sharjah. The workshop demonstrated the emirate’s commitment to promoting sustainable tourism and green economic growth. The workshop highlighted the economic and socio-cultural benefits of sustainable practices to the over 50 staff and clients from the tourism and leisure industry. Calling on the industry for efforts to prevent climate change by facilitating sustainable economic growth, the workshop pointed out that responsible energy usage, and waste and resource management will enable the industry to reduce operational costs. The participants were given a step by step approach to engage hoteliers and staff for a …

Aimed at reinforcing their presence in the Indian market, Ramada Downtown Dubai and Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Jumeirah Beach Residence inked an exclusive partnership with Hotel Representation and Development Services (HRDS) Global in India. Under the agreement, Ramada Downtown Dubai and Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham officially appoint HRDS Global as their exclusive sales, marketing and public relations partner in India. HRDS Global will negotiate with tour operators, corporate entities and third party agents on behalf of the hotels, and will represent them in relevant exhibitions and trade shows across the country.

Dubai’s Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) and Airbnb, the community-driven hospitality company, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to help promote responsible hosting and help grow and diversify tourism in the emirate. It follows the introduction of enhanced regulations last month that make obtaining a ‘holiday home’ license more streamlined for individual tenants and homeowners who want to rent their homes to guests.The MoU will bolster collaboration between the two parties and help enhance and diversify the emirate’s holiday home sector, boosting competition through a safe and transparent holiday home segment. Under the agreement, Airbnb will cooperate with Dubai Tourism on preventing breaches of the regulation by informing all host members of the Dubai Tourism regulations via its website and through email reminders of the rules. The two parties will also explore joint marketing and promotional activations for Dubai as a tourism destination. The MoU agreement states Dubai Tourism and Airbnb will work together to help grow and diversify tourism in Dubai, and promote innovative forms of tourism; Airbnb will raise awareness on the positive impacts of the Airbnb community by sharing aggregated, anonymised data about short term rental hosts; Airbnb will help promote responsible sharing of holiday homes by creating a “Hosting Page” on its platform, informing hosts of the rules and linking to official information and Airbnb will send regular reminders to its hosts in Dubai to remind them of the rules around responsible home sharing Airbnb is an increasingly popular way for guests from around the world to experience Dubai by staying with local hosts. There are almost 3,500 Airbnb listings in Dubai. This number and the number of guests choosing Airbnb when …

Marriott International has revealed the details of the United Arab Emirates’ first Renaissance Hotel. It is set to open at the end of 2016; the Renaissance Downtown Hotel, Dubai will be a 298-room luxury hotel aimed at business and leisure travellers who seek both authentic and unexpected experiences. Details of the brand’s UAE debut come as the travel company plans to open an additional four hotels in the country throughout 2016. Amongst the 2016 openings are Abu Dhabi’s first Marriott Hotel, the 315-room five-star Marriott Hotel Downtown Abu Dhabi as well as the 64-suite Marriott Executive Apartments Downtown Abu Dhabi. Further strengthening Marriott International’s luxury lifestyle offering, scheduled 2016 openings also include the 86-room La Ville Hotel CITY WALK Dubai, Autograph Collection, the 68-suite La Ville Apartments CITY WALK, Dubai and 500-room Lapita Hotel, Autograph Collection, all set to open by the fourth quarter of this year.

In line with its aim of attracting new markets, Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman and Ramada Beach Hotel Ajman will take part in the roadshow in East Europe organised by UAE National Council of Tourism and Antiquities. The week-long roadshow will cover the cities of Prague, Czech Republic; Warsaw, Poland; and Budapest, Hungary. The delegation seeks to reinforce the UAE’s position as the leading travel destination in the Middle East, by showcasing the diverse offerings and attractions of the seven emirates. Iftikhar Hamdani, Cluster General Manager, Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman and Ramada Beach Hotel Ajman, commented that they are keen to diversify the guest nationality mix by tapping tourists from East Europe in their properties. As these markets have excellent potential; they have seen an increase in arrivals from Hungary and Poland in 2015, and they have already started to sign contracts with some tour operators for the summer period.  Currently there is a robust competition within the hospitality sector therefore they will continue to explore new markets to maintain their strong performance.

Contributing to the growing of mid-market segment, Al Khoory Hotels has announced their expansion plans. In addition to existing properties such as the Al Khoory Hotel Apartments in Al Barsha and Al Khoory Executive Hotel in Al Wasl; Al Khoory Hotels launched their latest mid-market proposition at this month’s Arabian Travel Market (ATM) with the 227-room Al Khoory Atrium Hotel Al Barsha which is set to open in July 2016. Mohammed M T Khoory, Managing Director, Al Khoory Group, stated that they plan to offer 1,100 rooms in Dubai by end of 2019. During this time, they will explore opportunities internationally and create management contracts with stand-alone properties in the UAE and GCC market, where they can see long term growth opportunities.

At the recently concluded Arabian Travel Market, Mohammed M T Khoory, Managing Director, Al Khoory Group, announced their plans to open 1100 rooms in Dubai by end of 2019, where they will start to explore opportunities internationally and foresee to create management contracts with stand-alone properties in the UAE and GCC market for long-term growth opportunities. Al Khoory Atrium Hotel in Al Barsha is set to open in July 2016 with 227 rooms. The hotel is in short distance from the upcoming Expo 2020 site, Jebel Ali port and the free zone areas. The property also offers meeting rooms with banquet and conference facilities for up to 70 people. All hotels within the group are dry, serve Halal food and have a no smoking policy, making it a family friendly hotel.

Emaar Hospitality Group has marked the opening of the first Rove Hotel – Rove Downtown Dubai. It is the first property under Rove Hotels, a joint venture by Emaar and Meraas, a Dubai-based holding company. The 420-room Rove Downtown Dubai exemplifies all the core values that Rove Hotels will bring to Dubai, as the first of ten planned hotels operational in the city by 2020, seven of which have already been announced. Just about 20 minutes from Dubai International Airport and located right next to Downtown Dubai, Rove Downtown Dubai celebrates the very pulse of modern Dubai, with its unique approach to delivering high quality hospitality experiences that transcend typical value hotel norms. Chris Newman, Corporate Director of Operations at Emaar Hospitality Group, said: “Rove Downtown Dubai marks the beginning of a new journey for us, inspired by the city of Dubai, past, present and future. It delivers up-to-date convenience packaged in a thoughtfully developed hotel concept that complements Dubai’s booming tourism sector, which welcomes visitors from across the globe.”

Thailand-based hospitality group Dusit International has announced the launch of its dusitD2 brand in the United Arab Emirates this July with the opening of the dusitD2 Kenz Dubai. The hotel joins the Dusit Residence Dubai Marina as the second property launched in the Emirate with local partner Al Masar Holdings. The hotel offers 237 modern and sleek guestrooms and suites complemented by Dusit’s signature Thai service. Guests enjoy plush high-thread count linens, free Wi-Fi access, a state-of-the-art digital media hub with universal power outlets and LED TV screens with a built-in sound bar in each guest room. Located in the TECOM district of Dubai facing Sheikh Zayed Road, the dusitD2 Kenz Dubai is an upscale hotel that caters to business and leisure travellers. The hotel is located directly next to Dubai Internet City Metro Station, with major leisure and business destinations such as Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai international Airport, Dubai Marina and Dubai Mall within easy reach. Popular attractions including Marina Beach, Jumeirah Beach and Wild Wadi Water Park are also nearby.