Park Hyatt and Andaz brands are set to debut in Jaumur, a cosmopolitan luxury marina community located in Magna on the coast of the Gulf of Aqaba, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The brand-new Park Hyatt Jaumur and Andaz Jaumur Marina, set to open in 2027, will offer a combination of 350 luxurious rooms and suites, offering exceptional experiences for guests. Andaz Jaumur Marina, with 225 modern rooms and suites, will be a celebration of art and creativity, capturing the very soul of Jaumur. Redefining coastal luxury for a new generation, Park Hyatt Jaumur and Andaz Jaumur Marina will offer personalized experiences for visitors seeking indulgence and adventure against a backdrop of awe-inspiring natural beauty. Jaumur offers a visionary blend of land and sea experiences, setting a new standard for coastal luxury living for residents and guests. This exclusive destination features a state-of-the-art 300-berth marina with a gravity-defying cantilever rising above the largest of super yachts, a sculptural landmark that serves as the perfect base for marina attractions. The marina promenade will be a place alive with entertainment, leisure, and cultural experiences alongside the deep-sea diving research centre, dedicated to deep-sea exploration. Park Hyatt Jaumur will sit at the community’s vibrant epicenter, overlooking the bustling marina. Designed as an oasis of relaxation with 125 rooms, Park Hyatt Jaumur will serve as a home-away-from-home that seamlessly blends the very best entertainment, leisure, and cultural experiences, enabling guests to immerse themselves in unmatched offerings. The hotel will inspire innovation while offering an eclectic allure, making it a luxury lifestyle destination for those seeking an escape from the ordinary. With a focus on personalized experiences, Andaz Jaumur Marina will envelop guests in its unique charm, with …
Read More »IHG Hotels & Resorts debuts Vignette Collection brand in Egypt
IHG Hotels & Resorts signed a management agreement with Maxim Hotels and Resorts Management to bring the Vignette Collection brand to Egypt with a signing in Port Said. Scheduled to open its doors in December 2027, Vignette Collection Hotel Royal Maxim Port Said will seamlessly blend heritage and contemporary hospitality, offering guests a luxurious yet authentic experience. The 140-key hotel will feature two distinct sections, each featuring 70 rooms. The first section restored from a heritage building that once housed the Suez Canal Authorities, will provide guests with beautiful views of the canal. The second section will be a newly constructed beachfront property, providing easy access to the shore. Vignette Collection is a family of one-of-a-kind, exclusive hotels curated for guests seeking rich and varied stay experiences in some of the most sought-after urban and resort locations and enriches IHG’s fast-growing Luxury & Lifestyle offer for both leisure and business travellers. The brand also 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. Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, India, Middle East and Africa (IMEA) at IHG Hotels & Resorts, commented: “We are excited to partner with Maxim Hotels and Resorts to debut the Vignette Collection brand in Egypt. With its conversion friendly proposition and a promise to offer unique stays to guests in high-quality luxury and lifestyle hotels, Vignetter Collection brand has seen phenomenal success worldwide. Vignette Collection Hotel Royal Maxim Port Said will be situated in one of Egypt’s most historical landmarks, known for its association to the Suez Canal, and therefore will attract visitors for its strategic location steeped in rich history. He added: …
Read More »UN Tourism Ambassadors name 2027 as Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism
UN Tourism Ambassadors joined in celebrating the establishment of 2027 as the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism. At the Organization’s headquarters in Madrid, the UN Tourism leadership welcomed the Ambassadors to Spain of 24 Member States to look ahead to the seminal year. They included His Excellency Farrukh Tursunov, Ambassador of Uzbekistan, which sponsored the Resolution for the year ahead of its adoption by 86 Member States at the UN General Assembly in February. Rosario Sánchez Grau, Secretary of State for Tourism of Spain, host country of UN Tourism, was also present to mark the occasion. The adoption of the Resolution to proclaim 2027 the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism was a joint achievement. So it is only right we come together today to celebrate it welcoming the dignitaries, UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “The adoption of the Resolution to proclaim 2027 the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism was a joint achievement. So it is only right we come together today to celebrate it. The year will allow us to make clear tourism’s unique ability to drive development and opportunity, while also stressing the need to ensure that the sector’s growth is sustainable in every way and resilient enough to weather future shocks and challenges.” The UN General Assembly Resolution calls on “UN Tourism to facilitate the organization and implementation of the International Year, in collaboration with Governments, relevant organizations of the United Nations system, international and regional organizations and other relevant stakeholders.”
Read More »SODIC and Marriott International sign agreement to bring the Tribute portfolio brand to Egypt
SODIC and Marriott International, Inc. signed an agreement to bring the Tribute Portfolio brand to two of the leading developer’s hotels in Egypt. The anticipated hotels in West Cairo and the North Coast will join Tribute Portfolio’s growing global family of independent hotels, offering captivating designs and vibrant social experiences. Slated to open in 2027, the Tribute Portfolio Hotel at Forty West – SODIC’s signature residential building complex in West Cairo – will comprise of 170 guestrooms, including 48 suites along with multiple dining experiences and recreational facilities. Ideally situated in the heart of the flagship mixed-use development, SODIC West, the hotel will be easily accessible from the newly opened Sphinx Airport and a short drive away from the Grand Egyptian Museum and Giza Pyramids. Anticipated to open in 2029, the second Tribute Portfolio Hotel will be located in June, SODIC’s Miami inspired beachfront destination within the up-and-coming Ras al Hekma area on the North Coast. The hotel will be part of a vibrant development within June, which offers residents and visitors access to a beautiful sandy beach, pristine sea water and a bustling boardwalk and beach club, along with residential villas and serviced apartments. Plans for the hotel include 180 guestrooms along with a variety of dining and leisure facilities. Commenting on the signing, Ayman Amer, SODIC’s General Manager: “We are very excited to be collaborating with Marriott International on these two upcoming hotel developments. This comes as a testament to SODIC’s commitment to joining forces with renowned global industry experts that create further value for our developments. The Tribute Portfolio brand gives SODIC the opportunity to create hospitality offerings that truly reflect the developments’ ethos. We look forward to …
Read More »Cheval Collection’s first property in Saudi Arabia set for completion in 2027
Cheval Collection’s new, luxury serviced apartments in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will break ground this year, with construction due for completion in 2027. CHEVAL LADUN LIVING – a partnership with KSA-based Ladun Investment Company – is Cheval Collection’s first property in KSA and the third in the Middle East. The UK-based, award-winning hospitality brand currently operates Cheval Maison – The Palm Dubai and will open Cheval Maison – Dubai Expo City in 2025. Speaking at Arabian Travel Market, Cheval Collection’s Chief Operating Officer John Philipson, said: “Saudi Arabia is key to Cheval Collection’s continued expansion in the Middle East, and we are proud to add CHEVAL LADUN LIVING to our international property portfolio – and to KSA’s ever-growing hospitality offering. We look forward to breaking ground this year, and opening for business in 2027.” Located on King Fahd Road, close to Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial Centre, CHEVAL LADUN LIVING will contain 130 one to three bedroom luxury apartments. The property will also feature a range of fitness and leisure amenities, including a gym, swimming pool and sauna. Construction of the tower will cost up to US$80 million. Cheval Collection’s first Middle East property – Cheval Maison – The Palm– celebrated its first successful year of operation last month. Meanwhile, the company’s 150 luxury apartment complex at Dubai’s Expo City, a repurpose of the prestigious Leadership Pavilion at EXPO 2020, is undergoing refurbishment ahead of its opening next year. Cheval Collection currently operates 800 luxury apartments across 13 properties in London, Edinburgh and Dubai.
Read More »Aman at Sea, Cruise Saudi’s latest super yacht expected to be ready for cruising by 2027
Cruise Saudi Managing Director Fawaz Farooqui shared about Aman at Sea, Cruise Saudi’s joint venture with Aman, which is a new ultra-luxury yacht aimed at Very High Net Worth (VHNW) travellers. “Aman is a truly unique brand, it’s authentic intent is to provide a level of service, which is a home away from home, that is peerless in every way.” The 183-metre superyacht Aman at Sea will have 47 spacious suites along with a full spectrum of luxury amenities including an Aman-style spa with Japanese relaxation garden, several international Michelin-quality restaurants, and an on-board beach club, giving guests access to the water from the stern of the yacht. Aman at Sea is expected to be ready for cruising by 2027. Fawaz revealed the new Aman at Sea ultra-luxury yacht will have a 2:1 crew ratio to guests, placing a priority on the guest space ratio, along with creating the biggest suites in the industry. Speaking about what makes Saudi a premium destination, Fawaz said it was Saudi’s warm hospitality, authenticity, culture, and nature that made it such a valuable proposition. “We are sitting on thousands of years of heritage. Saudi used to be part of the Incense Route and we have a civilisation that goes back four or five thousand years BC,” Fawaz added.
Read More »Dubai Taxis to become 100% eco-friendly by 2027
In keeping with its position as a sustainable touristic destination, the Board of Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has endorsed a plan to transform taxis in Dubai (Dubai Taxi and franchise company taxis) into 100% environmentally friendly (hybrid, electric and hydrogen-powered) by 2027. The move meets the requirements of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, the Green Economy drive, and the Dubai Government’s strategic directions toward comprehensive environmental sustainability. His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority, said, “The plan to transform taxis into environmentally-friendly vehicles translates the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President, Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai to optimise energy usage and promote environmental sustainability in the UAE. RTA has taken decisive action toward creating a safe, clean, and sustainable environment that befits Dubai’s reputation. This initiative supports the Dubai Government’s efforts to introduce green vehicles and promote a cleaner environment. RTA has made remarkable progress in this regard, successfully transforming 72% of the taxis in Dubai into environmentally friendly vehicles, comprising a total of 8,221 hybrid vehicles. This significant accomplishment aligns with the overarching goal of optimising energy usage, creating a sustainable environment, and positioning Dubai as a leader in promoting green transportation. “The 5-year plan (2023-2027) aims to switch the entire taxi fleet into fully environmentally-friendly (hybrid, electric and hydrogen-powered) within five years at a rate of 10% per annum to achieve the targeted 100% by 2027. The plan is aligned with RTA’s roadmap for transforming public transport means into emission-free by 2050,” explained Al Tayer. “The results of experiments on eco-friendly vehicles, which …
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