Category Archives: Hotels

Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts announced its expansion into Egypt with the opening of Waldorf Astoria Cairo Heliopolis. A blend of modern elegance and local authenticity, the hotel features 252 luxurious and contemporary deluxe rooms and suites. Four exquisite restaurants and bars invite guests on a journey of discovery, whilst best-in-class facilities include a Waldorf Astoria Spa and stunning event spaces. The elegant hotel brings a welcoming atmosphere, unforgettable experiences, and seamless, personalised service to the Egyptian capital, providing a tranquil oasis, complete with beautiful botanical gardens, for guests to unwind away from the bustling streets of the city. Perfectly located in the ancient city of Heliopolis, Waldorf Astoria Cairo Heliopolis is close to Egypt’s main presidential palace, with must-see spots like Downtown Cairo, Khan El Khalili Bazaar and the highly anticipated Grand Egyptian Museum all easily accessible from the hotel. The up-and-coming New Administrative Capital, a new urban community home to government, residential, business and cultural districts, is also within convenient reach from the hotel. Simon Vincent, executive vice president and president, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Hilton, said: “Egypt welcomed 11.7 million tourists in 2022, up 46% on the previous year, and with Cairo often being the starting point for travellers’ journey to discover Egypt, we are delighted to bring the world-renowned luxury of Waldorf Astoria to this sought-after destination. Waldorf Astoria Cairo Heliopolis will appeal to discerning guests seeking world-class luxury, offering enriching experiences and unparalleled service within easy reach of Cairo’s vibrant cultural and heritage sites.”

Gates Hospitality announced its partnership with frntlne to reshape the landscape of the hospitality and customer service industries in the UAE. frntlne’s innovative platform, is shaped by its proprietary methodology, The ‘frntlne Interactive Knowledge Methodology’. It is designed to empower frontline staff by providing engaging and memorable content. Founded in 2021 by serial entrepreneur Mark John, frntlne’s methodology offers short, TikTok style videos and interactive content that enhances information retention and make the upskilling process enjoyable. “We are excited to be the first client in the Middle East for frntlne,” said Naim Maadad, Chief Executive and Founder of Gates Hospitality. “At Gates, we are always on the lookout for initiatives to empower, train, and educate our employees, and frntlne’s innovative platform aligns perfectly with our vision of advancing the skills and expertise of our workforce through various training programs.” frntlne’s success is evident through its high-profile partnerships with multinational retail and consumer brands, including L’Oreal, P&G, Swisse, Mumm Champagne, and Bondi Sands to name a few. “What we’re doing at frntlne is building a new way to engage frontline team members and influence buying decisions.” Said Mark John, CEO and Founder of frntlne.  “We are committed to up-skilling workforces across industry, driving profitability, which is ever so important in the current economic climate.”

The latest property to be added on to the Address Hotels and Resorts is the opening of Address Beach Resort in Egypt. The stylish destination in the northern coast of Egypt boasts of 118 hotel keys, 169 serviced apartments, 48 private cabanas, and 21 day-use cabanas. With its own private beach and white sandy shore, the resort takes influence from its coastal location, destination, navigators from the past, and the beautiful crystal waters. A few steps away from all that Marassi has to offer, guests at Address Beach Resort Marassi will have everything their hearts desire in one place. Enjoy taking strolls along the resort’s private beach, swim in one of the three pools, or take refuge in the Spa while the kids are entertained at Qix Club, as no matter what you choose, the team at Address are there to ensure a memorable stay.

Hilton is continuing its expansion across Saudi Arabia with the signing of Hilton Dammam Airport, its first airport hotel in the country. The 273-key property will be completed in partnership with Al Musbah Group and Damman Airports Company (DACO). Hilton Dammam Airport will offer guests spacious and contemporary accommodation with direct skywalk access to the terminal building at King Fahd International Airport, one of the busiest airports in Saudi Arabia which welcomes approximately 10 million passengers per year. The property is also ideally located for Dammam City Centre, as well as Dharan, Khobar, and nearby Bahrain. King Fahd International Airport serves as a hub for Saudia Airlines, Aramco Aviation, and FlyNas, with flights to over 70 international destinations by over 50 airlines. It also operates a dedicated Saudi Aramco terminal and Oxford-authorized training centre, an aviation academy, and a large-scale cargo village. Mohammed Al Hassani, CEO, Dammam Airports Company (DACO) expressed his pride in this agreement, and its positive impact for the future of passenger services at the airport, adding, “We are delighted to work with our partners Al Musbah Group and Hilton to develop this new Hilton hotel at the busy King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. We are confident the Al Musbah Group and Hilton partnership will be a great, long-term success.” Hilton Dammam Airport will feature a combination of 273 guest rooms, junior suites, as well as larger one and two-bedroom suites. Featuring an all-day dining restaurant, complete with an outdoor terrace, a café, an outdoor pool with adjacent café, and fitness centres, the hotel will have a range of leisure facilities for guests to enjoy. Hilton Dammam Airport will also offer state-of-the-art meeting facilities for business …

Hilton announced it has signed two hotels under its flagship Hilton Hotels & Resorts and lifestyle Canopy by Hilton brands in Abha city’s iconic The Point development. Hilton The Point Residences and Canopy by Hilton The Point will feature a combined total of 250 guest rooms, suites, and residences, paired with state-of-the-art facilities for guests to enjoy. The shared amenities are complete with an indoor pool, fitness centre, spa, multiple dining outlets, and a children´s pool and kids club. The hotels will also be well-positioned to cater for large-scale leisure and business events, with 600 square metres of outdoor event space, a 500-square-metre ballroom, and 250 additional square metres of meeting space. The properties have been signed with Red Sea Aseer Fund, a fund made up of unitholders from Red Sea Markets and the Tourism Development Fund, and a project developed by SEDCO Development and managed by Saudi Fransi Capital. The announcement follows the signing of Hilton´s Memorandum of Understanding with the Saudi Tourism Development Fund to develop iconic leisure tourism destinations in Saudi Arabia. Work on Hilton The Point Residences and Canopy by Hilton The Point has already received a number of prestigious accolades, particularly for the interior design of the properties, winning “Highly Commended” in the Saudi Commercial Interior Design Awards, Interior Design of The Year: Concept category; “Best Future Concept” in the Commercial Interior Design Awards: Hospitality category; as well as “Highly Commended” in Global RLI Awards, RLI Future Project.  

According to Statistics issued by the National Center for Statistics and Information revenues of hotels rated from 3 to 5 stars in the Sultanate of Oman at the end of June 2023 amounted to about 110 million and 31 thousand Omani riyals, an increase of 32 percent compared to the end of June 2022, which amounted to 83 million and 359 thousand Omani riyals. It further indicated that the total number of hotel guests increased by 27.4 percent, recording about 943 thousand and 68 guests at the end of last June, compared to 740 thousand and 50 guests in the same period of 2022 AD, while the occupancy rate recorded a growth of 10.8 percent to reach 47.1 percent, compared to 42.5 percent during the same period in 2022. The number of Omani visitors reached 337,682, while the number of Gulf visitors increased by 28.7 percent, to 72,849 inmates, and the number of European visitors increased by 46.3 percent, to 250,151 visitors. The number of registered American guests reached 29,899, an increase of 3.2 percent, and the number of guests from the African continent reached 5,451, a growth rate of 41.3 percent. guest, an increase of 252.2 percent.

Ras Al Khaimah announced the addition of new hotels to its portfolio with Nobu Al Marjan Island (300 keys) in 2026, Westin Resort (257 keys) in 2024, Le Méridien Al Marjan Island Resort (350 keys) and Earth Shore Al Marjan Island (265 keys) in 2025. With Anantara Mina Al Arab (174 keys) and Sofitel Al Hamra (300 keys) set to open this year plus several other global names in the near future, the Emirate plans to double the number of keys over the coming years. This includes the largest-of-its-kind foreign direct investment, the USD $3.9 billion Wynn Al Marjan Island, which is set to transform and accelerate the Emirate’s rise as a major global tourist destination. The integrated resort’s design vision was unveiled earlier this year and will include 1,500+ rooms, suites and villas, shopping, gaming area, a state-of-the-art events center, wellness and spa facilities, 24 dining and lounge experiences and extensive entertainment choices.

Rixos Hotels UAE is proud to announce that it has been awarded the esteemed certification by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), making it the first hotel brand in the region to attain such prestigious recognition. This achievement underscores Rixos Hotels Gulf’s commitment to responsible and sustainable tourism practices, aligning seamlessly with the UAE’s initiative to declare 2023 as the “Year of Sustainability.” The GSTC is internationally renowned for establishing and managing global sustainable travel and tourism standards through its comprehensive GSTC Criteria. This recognition signifies that Rixos Hotels UAE’s operations adhere to the highest social and environmental standards, contributing positively to local communities and the broader environment. The certification process involves rigorous assessment by an Accredited Certification Body, ensuring a transparent, impartial, and competent evaluation. “At Rixos Hotels UAE, we are honoured to be at the forefront of sustainable hospitality in the region, taking a significant step towards aligning with the UAE’s visionary sustainability initiative,” stated Ozgul Aktolga, Country Director of Quality and Sustainability for UAE. “This milestone reaffirms our dedication to not only providing exceptional guest experiences but also minimising our ecological footprint and enhancing the well-being of our communities.” The GSTC certification recognises Rixos Hotels UAE for its exceptional achievements in meeting key criteria across various domains. Rixos Hotels UAE’s effective and sustainable management approach is fundamental to this recognition. This reflects their commitment to responsible practices prioritising long-term sustainability while elevating guest experiences. Rixos Hotels UAE sets a perfect example for the wider hospitality industry by striking a harmonious balance between operational excellence and environmental consciousness. Another significant facet of Rixos Hotels UAE’s recognition is its positive social and economic contributions. Their active engagement with local …

The new government fee amendments include reducing a tourism fee issued to guests from six per cent to four per cent, removing a municipality fee of AED15 per room per night, removing a six per cent tourism fee and four per cent municipality fee applied to hotel restaurants. The municipality fee for 4 per cent of the value of the invoice issued to the customer will continue. The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT – Abu Dhabi) has reduced government fees applied to hotels in the emirate, supporting the continued growth of the hospitality and tourism sector, and enhancing Abu Dhabi as a leading global leisure and tourism destination. The change is set to take effect from 1 September 2023 and follows directives from Abu Dhabi Executive Council to further encourage tourists as well as residents to enjoy hospitality offerings in the emirate. This revision of fees seeks to further grow the emirate as a tourism and cultural destination while bolstering support for its thriving hospitality sector. As part of its mandate, DCT – Abu Dhabi continuously elevates the standards of the emirate’s tourism, culture, and hospitality offerings in the emirate. By curating a diverse range of experiences that cater to the preferences and interests of a wide spectrum of travellers, DCT – Abu Dhabi aims to enable sustainable growth and long-term success.

Continent Worldwide Hotels announced the signing of two remarkable hotels in Madina and another prestigious property in Al Dammam. These strategic developments mark a significant milestone for the brand as it continues to expand its footprint in the Gulf and MENA regions. Continent Al Waha Riyadh, located in the heart of Riyadh, offers an oasis of comfort and luxury with its meticulously designed rooms and impeccable service. Continent Al Ertiqaa Jeddah, situated in the vibrant city of Jeddah, captivates guests with its modern elegance and convenient access to key attractions. Meanwhile, Continent Al Uqayr Eastern Province showcases the brand’s dedication to providing exceptional experiences in the tranquil setting of the Eastern Province. Continent Worldwide Hotels is proud to introduce the Continent Areola Hotel and the Continent Rose Hotel, two exquisite properties poised to elevate the hospitality experience in Madina. The Continent Areola Hotel, a 4-star establishment with 216 luxurious rooms, buffet restaurant, fine dining restaurant and a meeting room, is set to become a cornerstone of comfort and elegance. The Continent Rose Hotel, offering 286 rooms, a restaurant, and a meeting room, is ready to extend warm hospitality to its guests. Meanwhile Continent Al Khobar is  a mix use project with Hospital and Business Building in the strategic area of Al Dammam District, consisting of 42 luxury rooms and suites, an all day dining area, a coffee shop on the roof top with beautiful view of Dammam, a Spa & Healthclub on the 21st floor of the tower.