Category Archives: Hotels

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has established a hospitality education academy in Abu Dhabi, which will open in September 2024 to be managed and guided under the stewardship of Les Roches. The objective is to provide hospitality skills and academic knowledge to nurture homegrown talent in the UAE, GCC and Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Les Roches Global Hospitality’s first campus in the area will welcome its first students in September 2024. Founded in 1954 in Switzerland, Les Roches ranks fourth in the world’s higher education institutions for hospitality and leisure management (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2023). The hospitality education academy will be defined by its objective to attract UAE Nationals and regional talents to the industry. The academy aims to focus on the practices and values of the UAE within its curriculum. The programme and methodology seeks to support the hospitality sector by cultivating local talent with high quality education and skills needed for the industry’s future. The academy will feature a bachelor’s degree and two master’s degrees. The curriculum includes a range of hospitality-related and practical skills certifications, across areas including hotel operations, travel, tourism, transport and entrepreneurship. His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “In line with our vision of inspiring journeys of creativity and discovery, the new academy will play a key role in ensuring the long-term sustainable growth of the hospitality industry overall, propelling future generations with a keen interest to reach their full potential. Accelerating high potential industries such as hospitality through collaboration and strategic partnerships will continue to contribute to Abu Dhabi’s growth as a dynamic and …

IHG Hotels & Resorts announced the signing of its first Vignette Collection hotel in Doha in partnership with Hospitality for Success H4S Hotels & Residences set to open by the end of Quarter 1, 2024. Velero Hotel Vignette Collection Doha Lusail is IHG’s fifth Vignette Collection hotel signing in the MEA region, following those in Zimbabwe, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Kuwait. IHG continues to bring brands from its luxury & lifestyle portfolio to the region, offering its guests exceptional design, bespoke service and meaningful experiences. The Vignette Collection brand gives owners of world-class independent hotels the opportunity to retain their distinctive identity, while benefitting from IHG’s global scale and luxury and lifestyle expertise. Located at the heart of Lusail, Qatar’s second largest city, Velero Hotel Vignette Collection Doha Lusail will be part of a mixed-use development featuring an adjacent retail mall, welcoming guests seeking rich and varied experiences. True to the Vignette Collection brand, the hotel will blend exclusivity and grandeur with community and locality — evident in its architectural design and ornamented interiors. With 244 beautifully designed rooms, the hotel boasts a modern façade and structure. Alongside its adorned rooms, guests can enjoy three food-and-beverage outlets spanning various cuisines, and premium wellness facilities including a spa, gym, and swimming pool. Corporate travellers can also take advantage of the hotel’s sizeable meetings and events space catering to a range of professional needs.   Haitham Mattar, Managing Director – India, Middle East and Africa, IHG Hotels & Resorts, commented: “We are delighted to partner with Al Baladi Group to bring the first Vignette Collection hotel to Doha. The demands of travelers in the Middle East are ever evolving. There is a …

Mohamed Al Rais, Deputy Managing Director at Al Rais Travel highlighted UK and China has once again become the key source markets responsible for the growth of tourism in GCC.  According to the insights from Al Rais, Dubai’s reputation as a safe and secure destination and trusted brand has resulted in an uptick from key source markets. “Brand Dubai is trusted by people around the world. The country has rebounded incredibly well since COVID-19, with the latest figures for the first half of 2023 the best on record. As a travel company, our figures are very much representative of this. In terms of inbound markets, we’ve seen the top five markets shuffle to some extent, with Saudi dropping slightly and increases in British tourists. “The return of the Chinese market, which, despite only coming back in Q1 of this year, has already moved into a top five position,” said Mohamed Al Rais, Deputy Managing Director- at Al Rais Travel. These trends are certainly borne out by the latest figures released by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and no doubt experienced by ATM’s other partners, such as Emirates and IHG Hotels & Resorts. According to the latest statistics from DET, Dubai’s top source markets include India, which has seen a 44% increase between January and August 2023 compared to the same period last year; Saudia Arabia, which has seen a nominal 5% decrease during the same period; the UK, up 14%; and the Chinese market, which according to the data has witnessed a 309% jump in the first eight months of 2023 when compared to the same period in 2022. The tourism expert also believes Saudi Arabia and UAE, …

An iconic project worth USD 1.3 Billion is to be launched in Al Marjan Island Ras Al Khaimah with 300 key hotel and 524 residences by JW Marriott. The project will break ground by February 2024 and will open doors by end of 2026. The founders of WOW Resorts, Anwar Ali Aman and Bhupender ‘Bruce’ Patel, joined hands with representatives of Marriott International and the respected Arch. Abdulla Al Abdouli, Chief Executive Officer, Marjan. This exclusive collaboration marks the birth of the first JW Marriott-branded resort and residences on Al Marjan Island, poised to captivate over five million visitors annually, thereby enhancing the island’s stature on the world map of tourism and opulent living. Poised to be an architectural masterpiece on Al Marjan Island, this project is designed by celebrity Beverly Hills Architect Tony Ashai with Dubai based Lead Consultants Architecture Design Unit, ADU. Anticipated to open its doors towards the end of 2026, JW Marriott Al Marjan Island Resort & JW Marriott Residences Al Marjan Island herald WOW Resorts’ debut in the UAE’s Northern Emirates, a favoured destination for leisure and luxury. With a legacy of over two and a half decades crafting hospitality and real estate projects across North America, WOW Resorts are bringing yet another exemplar. The newly announced development promises to redefine the very essence of hospitality and residential opulence. Infused with bold design and premium experiences, for which the JW Marriott brand is celebrated, this new establishment is designed as an exquisite haven for both vacationers and those seeking the pinnacle of luxury resort living. This extraordinary property caters to aspiring homeowners, the discerning globetrotter of tomorrow, nature enthusiasts, and aficionados of aquatic sports. Comprising …

Golden Tulip Media Hotel walked away with two wins, one as Issam Slaimi General Manager with ‘Best Hospitality Professional’ and other as ‘Best 4 Star Executive Hotel’. “Being recognized as Best Hospitality Professional of the Arabian Travel Award is tremendous honour. I am grateful for this recognition in the travel industry. On behalf of our entire team at Golden Tulip Media Hotel we are thrilled to win the business award as “Best 4 star Executive Hotel ‘’ . It’s a testament to the unwavering commitment and hard work of our dedicated staff who constantly go above and beyond to deliver exceptional experiences, this recognition inspires us to strive for excellence and continuously improve our services.”

IHG Hotels & Resorts announced the signing of Holiday Inn & Suites Taif and Staybridge Suites Taif, in partnership with Al Jumaiah Group. Both properties are set to open in Q4 2025 in the Al Shafa, Taif, a relaxing destination located 2,500 meters above sea level and known for its historical sites, panoramic scenic views, pleasant weather, and fragrant rose gardens. The new resorts will play a vital role in supporting Taif’s growing hospitality scene and further cementing IHG’s commitment to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. Taif, as of the 10 strategic destinations under Vision 2030, is playing a key role in contributing to achieving Saudi Arabia’s ambitions for the tourism and hospitality sector with substantial government investments in infrastructure and its emergence as a prominent tourism destination. With its all year round leisure demand appeal, the dual signing of IHG hotels will add 280 rooms, catering to the high demand for world-class hospitality offering in the city. Haitham Mattar, Managing Director – India, Middle East and Africa, IHG Hotels & Resorts, commented: “We are pleased to strenghten relationship with our existing partner, Al Jumaiah Group and bring two brands from our essential and suits offering to the beautiful city of Taif. Having opened first internationally branded hotel in Taif – InterContinental Taif decades ago, we are proud to continue to strenghen our footprint and bring new brands to the city as it grows into a prominent tourims destination in the country. He added: “Saudi Arabia is a priority market for IHG – the continuous growth of our global portfolio within the Kingdom reflects our unwavering commitment to the vision of the leadership of the country and emphasizes our dedication to …

BEONx announced that it has become the first Revenue Management System (RMS) to incorporate a dedicated module for tour operation. The BEONx Tour Operation Module innovatively enables resort accommodations to optimize tour operation distribution. Vacation hotels play a vital role in the travel industry and rely primarily on tour operators to drive bookings. However, effectively managing is difficult due to the diverse budgetary and strategic requirements of each tour operator contract requirement and other segments pricing strategies. For this reason, hoteliers struggle with the lack of a comprehensive revenue management tool, resulting in the loss of inventory control, the possibility of human error from manual processes, significant time consumption due to manual reports, and profit erosion as a result of a limited focus on Total Revenue and reliance on legacy systems. These obstacles hinder the industry’s effectiveness and profitability. Cayetana Fernández, VP of Product at BEONx, said: “We are thrilled to introduce the BEONx Tour Operation Module, a revolutionary solution designed to resolve the unique challenges vacation hotels face in optimizing due to their heavy reliance on tour operators. Resorts face challenges in optimising distribution and outperforming tour operation competitors. With our new BEONx Tour Operation Module, hotels will effectively manage its inventory by leveraging advanced systems and AI algorithms, empowering resorts to attract direct reservations, increasing efficiency, and achieving long-term profitability in the dynamic hospitality industry.” BEONx’s TourOperation Module is poised to revolutionise the way vacation hotels manage their tour operations. This innovative solution addresses the intricate challenges faced by vacation hotels in managing tour operators (TOs) efficiently and profitably.   Simplicity in complex revenue management: Intuitive tools to optimize room pricing across different outlets and points of sale, …

Bahi Ajman Palace Hotel was awarded “Best Destination Wedding Hotel” at the Arabian Travel Awards for 2023.  This prestigious recognition is a testament to the hotel’s commitment to offering exceptional wedding experiences, luxurious accommodations, and world-class service. The prestigious travel awards is renowned for recognizing luminaries in the travel, tourism, and hospitality sectors, marking a significant milestone for these industries. The Arabian Travel Awards 2023 show was held at Sofitel Downtown Dubai, and was graced by H.E. Datuk Seri Ahmad Fadil bin Shamsuddin, Ambassador of Malaysia to the UAE who also presented the awards to the stars of the evening. Area General Manager, Mr. Iftikhar Hamdani, expressed his delight about this achievement: “Receiving the title of ‘Best Destination Wedding Hotel’ is a great honour. It reflects the unwavering commitment and effort we put into every wedding celebration. We aim to create magical moments for our clients, and this award is a validation of our excellence.”  He also conveyed his heartfelt gratitude to its team.  “In fact, this wouldn’t have been possible without our expert team of event planners and hospitality professionals.” Bahi Ajman Palace Hotel managed by Hospitality Management Holding, takes pride in its versatility and commitment to hosting a wide range of events. They are not only the perfect setting for dream weddings but also an ideal venue for various other occasions, including sports events, beauty pageants, conferences, and more. This achievement comes as a continuation of the hotel’s success, as they were previously recognized as the “Best 5-Star Luxury Hotel in Ajman 2021” by the Arabian Travel Awards.  Bahi Ajman Palace Hotel looks forward to providing its clients with remarkable experiences that create cherished memories.  

Time Hotels walked away with two titles at the 6th edition of the Arabian Travel Awards with Passionate hotelier Mohamed Awadalla, CEO Time Hotels as the DDP Trailblazer and Time Hotels as ‘Fastest Growing Brand’. Awadalla shared, “The Arabian Travel Awards are renowned for their steadfast dedication to advancing excellence in the tourism and hospitality sectors throughout the Middle East and North Africa region. Being part of such an event not only spotlights the achievements of the nominees but also serves as a testament to their dedication and contributions. Earning recognition as a “Fast Growing Brand” is a moment of triumph and acknowledgment that can profoundly impact both personal and professional dimensions of one’s life. It often signifies the culmination of relentless effort, unwavering dedication, and an unyielding commitment to excellence within the travel and tourism industry. This award serves as a token of appreciation for all members of the TIME team and acts as a motivating force for the challenging year that lies ahead.”

Red Sea Global (RSG) announced it will operate its own luxury hotel brand at The Red Sea destination, named Shebara. Revealed at the World Travel Market in London, Shebara will open in summer 2024 and is the first resort to be owned and operated by RSG at The Red Sea destination. Located on Sheybarah Island in the thriving Al Wajh Lagoon, the resort is home to iconic stainless steel orbs, and is now actively recruiting a world-class operational team ahead of opening. “It has long been our mission to extend our pioneering approach to regenerative tourism across a wider portfolio of brands and subsidiary companies, to create an ecosystem that will drive meaningful change in the global tourism industry. Shebara is a beacon for all that RSG stands for, showcasing the very best in Saudi hospitality while setting new standards in responsible development and sustainable operations,” said John Pagano, Group CEO of RSG. Shebara joins an impressive roster of internationally renowned hospitality brands operating at The Red Sea destination, including St. Regis and Ritz Carlton Reserve, as well as Six Senses, which is receiving guests as of this month. The Shebara reveal follows an announcement last month that RSG is also developing Thuwal Private Retreat, an exclusive, island destination that will also be wholly owned and operated by RSG. Shebara is located on Sheybarah Island, which features a spectacular 30 to 40-meter reef drop-off close to the beach providing the ultimate spot for exploring ocean life. The resort contains 73 keys, including overwater and beach villas and guests arrive either by a 45-minute boat ride from the mainland or 20 minutes by seaplane. The southern approach reveals the first stainless …