Tag Archives: Egypt

IHG® Hotels & Resorts has signed a management agreement with Arabella Group to develop three new hotels in Egypt between 2023 and 2026. The hotels — InterContinental North Coast Direction White, voco Cairo Arabella Plaza Cairo, and Crowne Plaza Cairo Arabella Clubhouse — will see IHG add over 500 keys to its Egypt portfolio in response to the growing demand for luxury resorts and premium hospitality options in the North African country. The agreement strengthens IHG’s presence in the luxury and premium sectors in the region as well as underlines the appeal of its high-end hospitality offering among owners and guests alike. The new-build hotel projects, currently under construction, are set to open in notable areas of Egypt. The incoming new voco Cairo Arabella Plaza is scheduled to open its doors in July 2023, with the Crowne Plaza Cairo Arabella Clubhouse slated for a January 2026 opening and the InterContinental North Coast Direction White for a September 2026 launch. Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG, commented: “Egypt offers a wealth of opportunity for the hospitality industry today with New Cairo and other attractive, high-end destinations attracting more visitors to the nation. The signing of three new hotels alongside Arabella Group will support the growth we are witnessing in the country by offering new and compelling luxury and premium hospitality experiences to satisfy the most discerning of travelers.” Mohamed Amin El Dokhmesy, president of Arabella Group added: “We are pleased to partner with IHG Hotels & Resorts to expand the footprint of three of its leading brands — InterContinental, voco and Crowne Plaza, in Egypt. IHG has delivered first class hospitality experiences to guests worldwide and in …

Among the many new hotels to be opened by Hilton this year the first would be Hilton Cairo Nile Maadi which   is a newly built hotel offering 255 spacious rooms and suites with a modern design. Located on the Nile Corniche in the upscale district of Maadi, guests staying at the hotel’s stylish suites will enjoy panoramic views of the Nile, complemented by a view of the pyramids on a clear day. The hotel will house Hilton’s renowned Eforea spa, a fitness center with a Nile view, an outdoor pool, and a variety of dining options including in-door restaurants and a Nile view rooftop bar. Perfect for both leisure and business, the hotel will also feature an executive lounge as well as state-of-the-art meeting and event spaces.

Stella Stays announces its expansion into Egypt, introducing a prime location in New Cairo city, through its agreement with Tameer. The agreement that Mr Mohammed Al Ghussein, Chairman of Stella Stays and Mr Saad Al Wazzan, Chairman of Tameer signed in a ceremony on September 27th, 2022 and will mark the joint endeavour between the two companies to build communities rather than general structures, a new living experience rather than dull spaces, to create life and stories within the development. Through this agreement, Stella Stays aims to disrupt Egypt’s residential real estate sector landscape alongside Tameer, Egypt’s well-established residential developer driving the pulse and progression of the housing market since 1954. The highly-anticipated Stella Stays AZ Homes, strategically located in a prime spot in the midst of the bustling New Cairo city, is within fifteen minutes from Cairo International Airport, ten minutes from both downtown Katameya and walking distance from the American University in Cairo; making it highly attractive not only foreign travellers and expats but also local residents. In line with Stella Stay’s modern approach, the property will offer ready-to-live, smart apartments with open kitchens, as well as modern recreational and commercial amenities. The project is unique as it encourages an ever-so-inviting, community-driven lifestyle and provides a social neighbourhood where residents enjoy large open kitchens, outdoor deck and lounge, a swimming pool, an outdoor gym, a cinema theatre and co-working spaces. Stella Stays EZ Homes are well-crafted with facilities that fit every lifestyle, all at the residents’ fingertips. Residents and guests will be able to use the Stella Stays app to navigate the entire journey – from finding, booking and managing their stays, checking in, controlling smart home systems, …

Marriott International announced that its unique hospitality training program, Tahseen, celebrated its first graduating class in Egypt. Developed in partnership with Helwan University and Professional Development Foundation, the company created the unique programme for Egypt in 2018 to support its commitment to further enhance tourism education in the country. The inaugural graduating class featured 80 students who completed the first of its kind Bachelors of Hotel Operations Management Degree. The celebration took place at The St. Regis Cairo with all 80 students accompanied by their families. The milestone event was hosted by Satya Anand, President, Europe Middle East & Africa, Marriott International and was attended by Professor Dr. Hosam Refai, Acting President, Helwan University and Mohammed Farouk Hafeez, Chairman, Professional Development Foundation, along with other senior officials from the organizations. Satya Anand, President, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International said, “We are excited to celebrate the first group of graduates as part of our Tahseen programme in Egypt.  Tahseen is focused on providing young people with the skills and experience to grow and thrive in the hospitality business and to be part of the success of Egypt’s travel and tourism sector. As a company, we remain committed to enhancing tourism education in Egypt and developing the next wave of exciting and impactful local hospitality leaders in the country.” Tahseen was launched in 2018 in partnership with Helwan University and Professional Development Foundation to focus on fast-tracking the next generation of hospitality leaders by providing them with firsthand experience of the industry and a springboard to launch successful careers in hospitality. In 2019, the programme received the Ministry of Higher Education’s approval in Egypt and earned bachelor’s degree accreditation. Today, …

Ishraq Hospitality and Capital Elite Development have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to launch two new hotels in the New Capital, Cairo, Egypt. The properties will jointly add around 600 keys to the Egyptian hospitality market when they open to guests in 2025. The hotels will be developed by Capital Elite Development, a leading real-estate development company in Egypt, born through the development of the New Administrative Capital. The developer is part of the Mustafa Mansour Group and has earned a reputation for its commitment to delivering state-of-the-art projects for its clients. Ishraq Hospitality will work closely with Capital Elite Development to bring the project to fruition, following which, the group will manage operations at both properties, with the goal of adding to its well-earned reputation for highly successful third-party hospitality management. “The signing of the MoU between Ishraq Hospitality and Capital Elite Development brings together two companies that are well regarded leaders in their respective fields. The partnership will see the combining of world-class project development and hospitality management experience, which will result in the delivery and operation of two properties that are sure to dramatically enrich the burgeoning Egyptian hospitality sector. “We are very excited to embark on this journey with Capital Elite Development to expand into one of the most culturally significant tourism destinations in the world,” said Sherif Beshara, Group CEO at Mohamed & Obaid Almulla Group. The signing of the MoU aligns with Ishraq Hospitality’s strategic expansion plans, which were first unveiled in May at the Arabian Travel Market 2022 in Dubai. During the event, the company announced its intent to expand into Egypt, while further developing its home base market of the UAE. …

Rotana announced the signing of the management agreement for the Luxor Rotana. This luxury five-star resort in Egypt’s historic city is set to open in Q4 2023 catering to business and leisure travellers. Located in the heart of the “world’s greatest open-air museum”, this stunning new property will be in close proximity to the city’s ancient ruins including monuments, tombs and temples, set on the beautiful Nile offering stunning river views and more than 18,000 sqm of lush gardens. Integrating modern architecture with authentic designs, the luxury resort will boast 319 spacious rooms, including 48 suites and one exquisitely designed presidential suite offering unobstructed views of the cityscape. Guests will enjoy a wide selection of food and beverage options from four outlets including a lobby lounge, an all-day dining restaurant offering breakfast, lunch and dinner, a sophisticated bar, and Kamoon, a popular Rotana developed restaurant with spectacular views over the gardens and Nile river. Commenting on the announcement, Guy Hutchinson, President and CEO of Rotana said: “As we build on our expansion plans in the region, the signing of Luxor Rotana delivers on our strategic goal to further grow our portfolio in North Africa. Egypt is a key market for us with significant potential and we look forward to further building our brand presence in the country. Adding to our luxury portfolio, we look forward to delivering an unparalleled experience by providing our guests with “Treasured Time” in this timeless city of Luxor.” Luxor Rotana will offer a range of services and amenities including a luxurious state-of-the-art spa and treatment rooms, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, steam and sauna, and a dedicated kids club. Fitness enthusiasts will also enjoy two …

StayWell Holdings announced the launch of a new hotel brand, Park Proxi, a unique hotel offering that has flexibility and hoteliers at its core. Park Proxi will allow hotel owners to co-create and customise the hotel they desire, by deliberately minimising the brand mandatories that usually accompany a hotel design. This approach creates space for true collaboration, and from room styling to flexible zones to the hotel logo, to a choice of 7 signature colours, Park Proxi offers owners the opportunity to develop a hotel that suits not just their personal tastes, but also cultural preferences. Designed to create a truly local hotel experience, the Park Proxi model welcomes collaboration with hoteliers to take advantage of the best that each location has to offer. Based on the understanding that no-one knows an area quite like a local, the Park Proxi hotel brand aims to partner with local businesses to create a true neighbourhood network that becomes available to guests through partnerships and recommendations. Integrating into its neighbourhood will be a core value of the brand, as will amplifying the businesses around each hotel. The first country in the world to sign a Park Proxi hotel is Egypt, with the Park Proxi EL Hayat Sharm hotel officially signed on the 10th June 2022. The 194-room resort style hotel located within Nabq Bay will boast a spa, multiple F&B outlets, nightclub, 3 swimming pools, and an amphitheatre. Known for its sheltered beaches, clear waters, and coral reefs, the Sharm EL Sheikh location includes rooms that overlook the Red Sea. Simon Wan, President of StayWell Holdings is excited to see the new brand come to life around the country and the world. “Our …

flyadeal has listed five international destinations for its flight network in the summer of 2022. The company is expanding the number of flights to meet consumer demand for destinations, including Amman in Jordan, Tbilisi and Batumi in Georgia, Baku in Azerbaijan, and Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt. Flyadeal has also added the King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. The company will also launch a new flight to Cairo from Riyadh and Jeddah. Con Korfiatis, Chief Executive Officer at flyadeal, explained that the new seasonal flights are in line with flyadeal’s ambitious plan to grow and expand domestically and internationally and to provide the opportunity for more of its customers to enjoy a unique travel experience, as well as being able to serve more customers. flyadeal’s seasonal flights will operate to the five destinations from mid-June until late July, with seven weekly flights from Riyadh and Jeddah to Amman. The company will also operate four flights to Tbilisi from Riyadh, three from Jeddah and two flights from Dammam, and Batumi, Georgia’s second destination, with an average of three flights from Riyadh and Jeddah. Initially, there will be an average of four flights to Baku from Riyadh and three flights from Jeddah and Dammam. There will be an average of three flights to Sharm El-Sheikh from Riyadh and Jeddah and two flights from Dammam. flyadeal will also add Dammam as a new starting destination to operate flights to Cairo. It will operate seven weekly flights, in line with the demand for Cairo flights witnessed through both Riyadh and Jeddah. During the summer season, flyadeal flies to 21 destinations, including 14 domestically and seven internationally, supported by a modern fleet of 21 aircraft. …

Bedsonline announced a major milestone for its distribution in Egypt after signing an agreement with Blue Sky to become its new General Sales Agent (GSA) in the country. “We are very pleased to start working with Blue Sky in Egypt on this new venture and to benefit from their in-depth market and product knowledge from their 50-year track record,” said Tomeu Gili, Head of MEAI at Hotelbeds, the parent company of Bedsonline. Tomeu also explained how important client support is for the company and how “being able to offer a personalised and easily accessible customer support service to our clients is key for us and we look forward to work hand in hand with Blue Sky to deliver the very best to our clients”. As a result of the agreement, Blue Sky will offer Bedsonline’s local clients: A dedicated helpdesk located in Egypt, in both the local language and English. This will include dedicated local telephone numbers, which will also help to reduce costs for Bedsonline’s clients. A dedicated sales team to visit travel agencies and provide a highly personalised service to clients in Egypt. Egyptian travel agencies that are already working with Bedsonline will continue to book all their accommodation, experiences, transfers and car rental via www.bedsonline.com.

Egypt is set to increase hotel and entertainment venue occupancy rates by almost a quarter as the country continues with the phased reopening of its vital tourism sector. Hotels, restaurants, cafes, cinemas, and theatres can raise capacity from 50% to 70% occupancy, Egypt’s cabinet confirmed on Monday in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister, Mostafa Madbouly. In the meeting, Egypt’s health minister, Dr Hala Zayed, reviewed the coronavirus situation in the country, including infection rates, and the various precautionary measures designed to curb the spread of the virus. Egypt lifted its initial ban on inbound tourist traffic 12 months ago and has been reopening its tourism market in phases so that it can assess health and safety precautions designed to stem the spread of COVID-19. In one year, Egypt has managed to recover visitor numbers. Since July 2020, some 4 million people have visited Egypt, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. The ministry says it expects visitor numbers to return to pre-pandemic levels by Fall 2022. Dr. Khaled El-Enany, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities of Egypt, said that Egypt’s tourism reopening strategy “is on track” and that the country was able to increase occupancy rates because it closely followed a plan that focused on a cautious reopening. Strict Hygiene safety measures, vaccinating all hospitality staff in several governates and by closely monitoring our hotels and venues, we have been able to reopen safely. Following Egypt’s efforts to introduce precautionary measures, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) granted the country its Safe Travel Stamp, sealing its status as a safe destination.  Inbound travelers are required to undertake a PCR test and the country is also checking all vaccination …