Category Archives: Hotels

The House Hotel Jeddah CityYard, part of Jeddah’s first lifestyle destination City Yard – a vibrant and connected community home to upscale gourmet venues, community events and entrepreneurial networking – is opening next week in the city’s trendy commercial hub – Al-Rawdah. The House Hotel is a Kerten Hospitality luxury boutique hotel brand known for its distinctive properties that tell a story. Marrying art and culture with a blend of classic and contemporary styles, this collection of hotels offers guests boutique luxury experiences tailored for each property. Maria Bou Eid, GM of The House Hotel Jeddah CityYard, said, “We are thrilled to be opening our doors for our first guests very soon. Our team is ready to share a taste of the real authentic hospitality and personalised experiences in our lifestyle hotel, which is also part of such a dynamic mixed-use destination curated by our visionary owners – that now offers experiences to stay, connect, dine and have a place to be inspired. This will be the space where interaction between local and international guests will come naturally creating memories.” The 114-roomkey hotel will be the focal point of the trendy City Yard complex – Saudi Arabia’s first mixed-use lifestyle hub in the city’s upmarket district making its mark as a luxury design-led hotel connecting guests and residents, offering luxury and soft touch hospitality. The hotel venue is part of the vision of Pure Houses, City Yard owners, to bring transformative brands together that build a destination and create an opportunity for entrepreneurial networking, local community and pop-up events. The purposefully-built lobby staircase will not only be a place to socialise, but to also meet others over coffee and Arabic …

Park Regis Kris Kin Hotel, the vibrant hotel that connects the historic and modern Dubai, is ready to welcome visitors to the city as the doors to the much-awaited Expo 2020 opens on October 1. The world’s most significant and impactful event ever to take place in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) will welcome participants from different nations, multilateral organisations, businesses, and educational institutions who will witness the event with the theme of “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future.” To date, 191 nations have confirmed participation at the event, which will last for 182 days until March 31, 2022. “The opening of Expo 2020 will be a historic event for the UAE and an exciting period for the hospitality industry. We have been preparing for years, and Park Regis Kris Kin is all set to welcome visitors and participants to the largest cultural gathering in the world. We have seen a steady pick up on group inquiries for Expo, which in turn complements our forecast of recording a strong occupancy during Q4 of 2021,” noted Colin A. Baker, Regional Director, Middle East, StayWell Holdings. The mega event is forecasted to bring in 25 million visitors to the country, of which 11 million are international travelers. With 12,000 new keys expected to be added in the second half of 2021 in Dubai and 1,400 in Abu Dhabi, the industry gears for a good recovery. “Expo 2020 remains a great contributor to the hotel’s occupancies during the six-month event. We are closely monitoring the countries travelling inbound, which may still have travel restrictions when Expo begins whilst being optimistic that these [restrictions] will be lifted before the opening,” reveals Baker. …

Farnek has developed its hospitality division into an all-embracing hotel management company under the leadership of renowned UAE-based international hotelier Walter Knight.  Knight was originally responsible for structuring and developing Farnek’s fledgling hospitality division earlier this year. Farnek started by providing a comprehensive range of outsourced and third-party services, including concierge services, housekeeping, property operations, maintenance, energy consultancy (POMEC). Farnek’s endeavours met with early success, securing numerous contracts which included the new Expo Village, situated on the Expo 2020 site. Farnek is currently responsible for managing the reservation services, concierge, front office services and housekeeping, for the 2,273 apartments. Furthermore, under the trade name of Farnek Hotel Management, the company can now expand its services to cover all aspects of hotel and resort management from initial consultation to day-to-day operations.  Knight, director of hospitality commented: “Originally we were aiming for a service offering, which not only embraced traditionally outsourced FM and manpower services, but also managing revenue driven services, such as central reservation offices and associated sales services. “Now with our hotel management licence, we can approach hotel developers, investors, owners and management companies direct with a full suite of services including consultancy, management, outsourcing and manpower services proposition.” Farnek is no stranger to the hospitality sector in the Middle East and has been supporting the UAE’s hospitality sector for over 40 years, in which time it has amassed an extensive portfolio of hotel contracts, which include five-star brands such as Marriott, Sheraton, Sofitel and Rotana. Its consultancy division has been helping hotels and resorts become more sustainable over the past 15 years. Indeed, Farnek’s Hotel Optimizer software, can record, analyse and benchmark a property’s energy and water consumption, as …

Marriott International announced that the Four Points by Sheraton Bur Dubai, in one of Dubai’s historical districts, will reopen on 1st September 2021. Located in the historical center of Dubai, the hotel is a convenient starting point to discover local shopping areas including the jewelry, spice and textile markets and the cultural sites of the historical Bastakiya and Dubai Museum. The hotel is well connected with 2 metro stations within walking distance and a short 15 minute drive from Dubai International Airport. Bringing together authenticity with modern design guests can enjoy bright and spacious rooms, award-winning restaurants and attentive service. The hotel’s casual yet upbeat atmosphere sets the tone for a journey of exploring the city with ease and adventure. Four Points by Sheraton Bur Dubai offers a collection of 125 thoughtfully designed spacious, modern and bright guest rooms. Each furnished with plush Four Points by Sheraton Four Comfort Bed and other modern amenities, the rooms are ideal for business travelers and holiday-seekers. Guests opting for a Classic room can enjoy spacious bathrooms, coffee and tea making facilities, high-speed Wi-Fi, a flat-screen TV and other hospitality services. Executive travellers will appreciate the Executive Rooms with a total space of 33 sqm. Our Grand Rooms offer a space of 42 sqm, more room to feel completely at home and the perfect ambience to lounge and work. For discerning travellers, the Suite Room, with a total space of 63 sqm, offers upgraded facilities and higher views of the city area. After a hard day’s work or city tour, guests can relax at a local favorite, The Viceroy Pub and enjoy a great selection of imported brews or indulge in authentic cuisine at …

Mantis ‘brand to debut on Bahrain’s Hawar Island, merging luxury with eco-tourism, while redefining adventure. Mantis was founded in 2000 by global entrepreneur and conservationist Adrian Gardiner, and features a diverse collection of extraordinary destinations around the globe. Since joining forces in 2018, Accor and Mantis have worked together to take on new opportunities to welcome guests in authentic curated Hotels, Eco-Lodges and Waterways while prioritizing the cause of sustainability and to promote further appreciation of the natural environment across every unique destination. The group is partnering with Edamah (Bahrain Real Estate Investment Company), the real – estate arm of Mumtalakat Holding Company, the sovereign wealth fund of the Kingdom of Bahrain. Incorporated in 2006, Edamah manages a dynamic portfolio of real estate projects within the Kingdom, ranging from commercial and retail, to leisure and hospitality. The Mantis project will be based on Hawar Island, which is a 45-minute boat ride from the Bahrain mainland and enjoys recognition from UNESCO for its natural history. Guests will have the chance to stay in overwater villas offering direct access to the sea while experiencing superior service, quality, and the beautiful island nature. “We are looking forward to partnering with Accor to open the first Mantis brand in Bahrain on Hawar Island and welcoming visitors from across the region with the traditional warm hospitality that Bahrain is known for”, said Edamah CEO Amin Alarrayed. “The island’s pristine environment has been virtually undisturbed, resulting in a vibrant ecosystem which will appeal to nature lovers. Our aim is to showcase this natural beauty while focusing on sustainability to preserve it for future generations.”   Situated on the West coast of the Hawar Island, the property will …

Hospitality brand Stella Stays has launched operations in Bahrain ahead of a major expansion in the region. The firm’s expansion plans seek to take advantage of Bahrain’s booming real estate sector, with $12 billion worth of real estate projects in the pipeline. Stella Stays operates a portfolio of managed properties scattered around UAE, Bahrain and Canada. Positioned to rival traditional hotel chains, the company is targeting tourists and residents who want short, medium, and long-term stays in well designed, furnished, regulated apartments, townhouses, and villas. Each of Stella Stays’ units is designed by its in-house interior design team and features stylish modern furniture, pre-loaded Netflix accounts, PlayStations, espresso machines and 100+ on demand services in addition to standard hotel like facilities. The start-up launched in late 2019, and has grown to manage nearly 300 properties as of August 2021. “We have an aggressive growth plan and the new properties being built in Bahrain will play a crucial role in our strategy.” said Mohannad Zikra, CEO and Co-founder at Stella Stays. “Our expansion into Bahrain coincides with the Kingdom’s major real estate developments. Our model is the perfect fit for the Bahrain market and will be an excellent stepping stone in rolling the concept out to key locations in the region and eventually expanding to Europe and North America.” Despite the onset of the pandemic, Stella Stays was able to pivot from targeting tourists to offering residents and inbound travellers places to work remotely and undergo quarantine. The company has already secured one round of initial funding. Now the business aims to achieve a comparable level of success to a similar firm in the US; Sonder, which announced earlier this year …

Izmir Marriott Hotel made its debut and is now welcoming guests to the newest hospitality experience in the heart of Alsancak.  The city hotel offers an urban resort experience on the coastline of Izmir. The hotel has been designed to reflect the newest global design vision for Marriott Hotels, featuring sophisticated and intuitively designed spaces for today’s modern traveller, enabling guests to relax, work and find inspiration during their stay. Izmir Marriott Hotel comprises 149 guestrooms and seven suites each with panoramic views of the shoreline or the vibrant city of İzmir. The spacious guestrooms are thoughtfully designed with contemporary décor and intuitive in-room amenities. For larger groups of families and friends, the hotel features Junior Suites that offer connecting rooms offering more space. The hotel also offers an 80-sqm Presidential Suite that offers extra comfort and privacy along with a private terrace overlooking to the Gulf of Izmir. Set to become the city’s new lifestyle destination, Izmir Marriott Hotel offers a diverse selection of restaurants including, Lima, an all-day dining restaurant with an outdoor space overlooking the Pasaport waterfront promenade; Alcedo, a lobby bar; and Pagos, a rooftop bar perfect for admiring sunset views over Izmir Bay. The hotel features The M Club, an exclusive space reserved for Elite members and Club guests that provides complimentary breakfast, evening drinks, hors d’oeuvres and premium beverages throughout the day. The M Club also offers the brand’s signature Mind Menu, a selection of delicious snacks and beverages with active ingredients to enhance mind and body. Accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the M Club provides free Wi-Fi, printing services and power supplies to ensure uninterrupted productivity for business travelers. …

Radisson Hotel Group aims to support womens’ growth within the tourism industry by empowering the younger generation and supporting them with their dreams. A key objective for Radisson Hotel Group is to achieve balanced leadership by increasing the representation of women in senior positions, breaking down the barriers that prevent women from speaking openly about their careers and harnessing the individual strengths of their female leaders. The group’s Balanced Leadership initiative aims to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The program takes a three-pronged strategy to tackle the continuing problem of diversity at the top of organizations: leadership programs, inclusive policies and awareness of the issue from top to bottom, including how to tackle barriers to women succeeding in business. At the forefront of this initiative, is Stephanie Aboujaoude, Senior Area Director of Marketing and Communications, Middle East and Africa for Radisson Hotel Group. She has been one of the ambassadors for the Group’s Balanced Leadership programme since its launch in 2014 and is the force championing Woman in Leadership across Middle East and Africa. As men and women grow and continue their education, they have equal ambitions to pursue a successful professional career, with roughly equal levels of achievement — though some studies suggest that women do slightly better. Women in hospitality in the Middle East are not a rare occurrence, but in senior management roles, from general manager to board of director level, the numbers start dwindling. Many women who start out in the hospitality industry reach a certain level and remain there, or leave to join another industry or start a family. A common reason attributed to this is the ‘beyond-9-to-5’ lifestyle of the industry, making …

Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers has become the first Abu Dhabi hotel to partner with Evolvin’ Women, a social enterprise dedicated to the advancement of women in developing countries by providing skill development opportunities in the hospitality sector. During the two-year partnership, Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers will support Evolvin’ Women in driving women empowerment in the hospitality industry by facilitating two year skill development placement for the women under the Evolvin’ Women Program. As a starting point, the Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers team has reviewed over 10 profiles and already hired five women in housekeeping and one in F&B who they will train and mentor throughout their work placement. In addition, working in line with both organizations’ commitment to paving gender equality in the hospitality industry, the hotel has appointed two women in the front office as door women – a historically male-dominated role. Assia Riccio, CEO, Evolvin’ Women said: “We are pleased to partner with Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers and grateful for their support to advancing our cause of gender equality, female empowerment, and diversity in the hospitality industry. I believe appointing doorwomen instead of doormen is a revolutionary step towards breaking gender stereotypes and highlighting women’s potential to excel and grow in any role when given the right opportunity and support. I look forward to working with the hotel and witnessing the positive impact of mentorship from the Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers team on their professional and personal growth.” Tarek Jarrouje, Director of Human Resources, Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers said: “We are proud to be the first Abu Dhabi hotel to partner with Evolvin’ Women. By placing women in traditionally male-dominated roles and …

Marriott International, Inc. announced plans to expand its portfolio in Turkey with the expected opening of 10 properties by the end of 2022. With the anticipated openings, the company’s portfolio in Turkey is expected to encompass 43 properties with over 7,000 rooms across eight markets by the end of 2022. Reinforcing its long-term focus on the market, the company also announced two recent deal signings under the Four Points by Sheraton brand. “Marriott International has a strong history of successful operations in the Turkish market,” said Begüm Kaya, Director of Development, Turkey at Marriott International. “With our captivating portfolio of brands, world-class distribution platform and all-encompassing travel program, Marriott Bonvoy, we appreciate the confidence our owners and franchisees have with us in this exciting market.” Marriott International continues to see growth in its select portfolio across brands such as Four Points by Sheraton and Residence Inn by Marriott. Four Points by Sheraton builds upon its momentum in the Turkish market with the Four Points by Sheraton Istanbul Kagithane expected to open this year and the Four Points by Sheraton Elazig projected to open in 2022. To meet the demand for longer-stay accommodations in the country, the company is expected to debut its extended stay brand, Residence Inn by Marriott, with the anticipated opening of Residence Inn by Marriott Istanbul Atasehir later this year. The brand is ideal for guests seeking the comforts of home with modern, flexible suites with full kitchens and separate living and sleeping areas, providing the perfect solution for travelers mixing business and leisure travel. The company’s renowned premium brands also remain a strong driver of growth in the Turkish market. Following the recent opening of Orientbank …