Tag Archives: Hilton

Miral, Abu Dhabi’s curator of experiences, appoints Hilton, to bring two of its new and unique hospitality offerings to Yas Island, while it invests AED 627 Million in their development. The WB Abu Dhabi, the world’s first Warner Bros. branded hotel, will be operated and managed by Hilton under its upper-upscale Curio Collection by Hilton brand, while the serviced residences to be managed by DoubleTree by Hilton. B.R. Kiran, Chief Portfolio Officer at Miral said, “Hilton is a globally recognized partner and we are honored to be partnering with them to bring the Curio Collection by Hilton and DoubleTree by Hilton brands to Abu Dhabi for the first time. This supports our strategy and vision of creating unforgettable experiences for every guest on Yas Island, while increasing the diversity of hospitality options available to them. We are confident that residents and visitors alike will welcome the diverse and flexible range of new accommodation options, whilst enjoying the unmatched experiences and unique attractions available to them on Yas Island.” Carlos Khneisser, VP of Development, MEA at Hilton said, “We are proud to be partnering with Miral on these two new hotels which will see us introduce two new brands to Abu Dhabi. The WB Abu Dhabi, which will be part of Hilton’s Curio Collection is a magnificent example of the sort of unique guest experiences we look for with our Curio Collection, while DoubleTree by Hilton Yas Island Residences continues the successful growth of this brand in the UAE. Miral has a clear vision to develop Yas Island into a global destination and we look forward to being a part of this transformation.”

‘Namaste’, Hilton’s guest offering designed to deliver a truly tailored experience for guests travelling from India to Middle East & Africa offers services for destination weddings, bollywood shoots and meetings. ‘Namaste’ is a one of its kind programme ideal for the up and coming Indian globetrotter. Wall-to-wall sunshine, a rich cultural history and massive investment in tourism have put the Middle East on the world tourist map. Across the Middle East, tourism is seen as one of the most viable tax-raising alternatives for oil-producing nations as those revenues start to decline. The United Arab Emirates, for example, is aiming to reduce the hydrocarbon sector’s share of GDP from its current 30 per cent to 20 per cent by 2021, predominantly by boosting income from tourism. Dubai and a few more cities in the UAE, besides Europe, the US and the UK, are among the top destinations for Indian tourists, according to tourism industry officials. Apart from the Middle East, South Africa is also targeting Indian tourists after relaxing its visa rules. The Number of Indian travellers arriving in South Africa has been on the rise over the years, with a surge of 21.7 per cent recorded during the previous years. The demographics too have displayed a noticeable curve, with more and more young persons below 30 years of age opting for South Africa as the destination for adventure tourism, replacing the earlier market of family vacations. “Direct flights to Johannesburg and visa on arrival have further improved the arrivals and the tourism industry in Africa, and we have already seen strong demand from India as a result,” said Jan Van Der Putten, Vice President Operations, Africa and Indian Ocean, Hilton.

Hilton announced the opening of three hotels at Al Seef in Dubai under three of its industry-leading brands. In partnership with Dubai-based holding company Meraas and under the terms of the agreement, Hilton will operate Hampton by Hilton Dubai Al Seef, Canopy by Hilton Dubai Al Seef and Al Seef Heritage Hotel Dubai, Curio Collection by Hilton. Owned by Meraas, the three hotels, which originally opened in 2018, are located at Al Seef, the bustling waterfront destination by Meraas, along the shore of Dubai Creek, and are now open under these Hilton brands. Commenting on the opening of these hotels, Rudi Jagersbacher, Hilton’s President for Middle East, Africa and Turkey said, “We are delighted to be adding these three spectacular hotels to our portfolio here in Dubai. Reflecting the best of both old and new Dubai, they are perfectly suited to our brand portfolio and are great additions to our existing properties in the city.” Mukesh Sodani, Deputy CEO of Meraas, said, “To be collaborating with three Hilton brands is a testament to the diversity of the hospitality portfolio that we have developed and delivered over the past decade in Dubai. It’s also another example of how we continue to enhance the hospitality sector in Dubai and contribute to achieving the Emirate’s Tourism Vision 2020. We are delighted to have Hilton as the new operator of our hotels and have confidence that the contribution will strengthen not only the services that we offer, but also the overall performance of the business.”

Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) held a strategic meeting with Hilton, as part of its continuing series of engagements with key industry partners to provide them an overview and outlook of Dubai’s tourism industry and explore ways of further increasing the level of stakeholder collaboration and leveraging all efforts that are underway to achieve the goals of Dubai’s Tourism Vision 2022-25. The meeting was held in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Airports, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and CEO of Emirates Group, and was attended by His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, Dubai Tourism as well as Christopher J. Nassetta, President and Chief Executive Officer for Hilton, Simon Vincent, President Europe, Middle East and Africa and Mr Rudi Jagersbacher, President Middle East, Africa and Turkey. The meeting highlighted the invaluable role that is being played by the hospitality sector, particularly by global partners such as Hilton in supporting Dubai’s endeavour to become the world’s No. 1 most visited, revisited and preferred city as envisioned by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. Hilton has been consistently present in Dubai for more than 40 years and is committed to the long-term growth and development of travel and tourism in the city. Hilton currently has 18 hotels in Dubai with a further 14 hotels in its development pipeline. During the meeting, Dubai Tourism shared new destination insights and highlighted the strong growth in tourism traffic to Dubai in the first three quarters of 2019, the key strategies that were implemented to drive sustained visitation …

Hilton and Alshaya Group announced a significant development of their ongoing relationship with the exclusive signing of a master development agreement to rapidly launch and develop 70 Hampton by Hilton hotels in nine countries, with the majority of these in the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey and Russia. With the first hotel expected to open in Kuwait in 2021, Alshaya Group will deliver 50 hotels in the next eight years, with another 20 in the development pipeline, significantly expanding Hampton by Hilton’s presence in the region. Hampton by Hilton is the leading global hospitality brand in the focused service hotel category, with nearly 2,500 hotels operating in 27 countries and territories around the world, making it the largest brand in Hilton’s portfolio. “We are delighted to reach this exclusive agreement with Alshaya Group, strengthening our partnership and further expanding our global Hampton by Hilton portfolio,” said Chris Nassetta, President and CEO of Hilton. “Alshaya has been an important partner, particularly as we celebrate 100 years of pioneering the hospitality industry this year, and we look forward to working together to introduce travellers to Hampton by Hilton in these high-growth destinations.” “There is growing demand for high quality accommodation in the region and we are excited by the potential of the Hampton by Hilton brand”, said Mohammed Alshaya, Executive Chairman of Alshaya Group. “This is an important new partnership for Alshaya, further diversifying our offer to consumers, and allowing us to replicate the global success of Hampton by Hilton in our operating markets.”

Hilton has signed an agreement with AW Rostamani Group to develop an upscale DoubleTree by Hilton property in Bur Dubai. DoubleTree by Hilton Dubai Al Mankhool will join 11 hotels operating currently, or in the pipeline for the brand in the UAE. The construction for the property is already underway on the mixed-use development, which will house the property. Nestled within the portion of Dubai commonly referred to as the city’s ‘Old Town’, guests will be ideally located to enjoy attractions such as Dubai Museum, Al Fahidi Fort, Dubai Creek and the range of lively souqs which characterise the area’s heritage. The hotel itself will contain 327 guestrooms with 131 serviced apartments. It will include five food and beverage outlets and two outdoor pools, and fitness and business centers situated on Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street, within close proximity to two metro stations and Burjuman Shopping Mall. Carlos Khneisser, Vice President of Development — Middle East & North Africa, Hilton, said, “Since we introduced DoubleTree by Hilton to the UAE four years ago, the brand has been a real success story, and is now one of the fastest growing in the market. It offers the versatility to create a hospitality experience that fits an owner’s personal vision, supported by the established standards and global reach of an established brand. We look forward to working with AW Rostamani Group to bring about a new and unique offering for travellers looking to experience staying in the heart of Dubai’s traditional, cultural district.” Khalid Abdul Wahid Al Rostamani, Chairman, AW Rostamani Group, said, “DoubleTree by Hilton Dubai Al Mankhool represents the expansion of the AWR Properties portfolio, whilst also supporting the leadership’s Dubai Plan 2021 …

Hilton and Tilal Properties have signed an agreement to come up with a new property adjacent to Tilal Mall by 2021. This will be the second Double Tree-branded property in Sharjah. DoubleTree by Hilton Sharjah Tilal Mall will offer 200 guest rooms, an outdoor pool and café, a restaurant, lobby lounge, fitness centre and business centre. Hilton announced the DoubleTree by Hilton Sharjah Waterfront Hotel & Suites in April 2017, which offers 254 suites and serviced apartments. Together with the new DoubleTree by Hilton Sharjah Tilal Mall and its existing Hilton Sharjah on Corniche Road, Hilton will operate three hotels in the emirate. According to Tilal Properties, the 2 million square meters (21.5 million sq. ft.) Tilal Mall will be Sharjah’s largest shopping mall and will open before the end of 2020. The mall is part of the AED 2.4 billion (US$ 653m) Tilal City mixed-use Tilal City community project and will offer a hypermarket, a fashion corner with exclusive brands, a family entertainment centre, a multi-screen cinema and Tilal Boulevard, a restaurant area featuring a selection of culinary outlets. A 65-hectare recreational park is being landscaped in the area next to the mall. Strategically located on the Emirates Road (E611), close to Al Dhaid interchange, Tilal City is just 10 kilometres away from Sharjah’s International Airport and within convenient commuting distance to nearby emirates, with Dubai only 2 kilometres away.

The Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island Resort, a 641-Room Property opening in 2019, will be located in the Yas Bay, a 3-kilometre stretch that is anticipated to become one of the most iconic and vibrant waterfront destinations in the region. The resort’s facilities will include a multi-purpose conference centre, seven dining outlets and an innovative urban beach concept with an infinity pool suspended above the waters of the Arabian Gulf. The resort is also nearby the Yas Arena, a multi-purpose indoor arena designed to host large- and intimate-scale events, including sporting competitions, major cultural performances, concerts and MICE activities. B.R. Kiran, Chief Portfolio Officer of Miral said: “We are proud to announce our partnership with Hilton, which represents another milestone in our journey to establish Yas Island as a top global destination. The creation of a world-class family resort at the heart of Yas Bay, our iconic waterfront development, will provide visitors with a five-star opportunity to extend their leisure and business stays and enjoy the unique attractions and memorable experiences that only Yas Island can offer.”

Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton’s midscale brand, and RAK National Hotels LLC opened Hilton Garden Inn Ras Al Khaimah, marking the brand’s entry into the northern most Emirate of the United Arab Emirates. The hotel joins five other Hilton properties operating in the Emirate and 22 across the UAE. Located in the heart of the Al Nakheel area, just steps from two major shopping malls and minutes from the souks and historical sites of the old city, Hilton Garden Inn Ras Al Khaimah features 240 modern and comfortable guest rooms, including 10 family rooms and eight suites, with sweeping city, creek and garden views. Commenting on the opening, HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Chairman of RAKHH and RAKNH, said: “Hilton Garden Inn Ras Al Khaimah is a very strategic asset within our portfolio of hotels. It presents a significant opportunity for us to satisfy the needs of travellers who visit Ras Al Khaimah from all around the world. We have seen a shift in recent years towards the mid-market segment, which goes in hand with the growing importance of the emerging modern traveller. The hotel therefore, is the right choice for us and for Ras Al Khaimah. We look forward to seeing it grow and succeed.” Hilton Garden Inn Ras Al Khaimah guests will be treated to numerous amenities and services, including complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the property, a 24-hour business center, two tennis courts and a state-of-the-art fitness center open all day. The property also offers an outdoor pool, a separate shaded pool for children, and access to the beach facilities at Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Resort & Spa via complimentary shuttle. For conferences and other events, …

Dubai Tourism’s two major initiatives, being carried out by its Dubai College of Tourism  (DCT) –  ‘Medyaf’ (Generous Host) and the ‘UAE Tour Guide Programme’ under its Emiratisation Programme, are aimed at training UAE nationals for a future career in the tourism industry. Dubai Tourism was at this year’s Careers UAE, which ended a few days ago at the Dubai World Trade Centre. At this event, DCT is also promoting the programme of Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS), the summer extravaganza run by the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), an agency of Dubai Tourism, to recruit young UAE nationals as volunteers during DSS 2017. The participating partners of Dubai Tourism representing various sectors including retail, hospitality and entertainment are: Emaar, Jumeirah Group, Dubai Parks and Resorts, Chalhoub Group, Shangri-La Hotel, Millennium Hotels and Resorts, AccorHotels, Rotana Management Cooperation, Habtoor Grand Resort, Marriott International, JA Resorts and Hotels, IMG Worlds of Adventure, Plazzo Versace, Hilton and InterContinental Hotels Group. Essa Bin Hadher, General Manager, Dubai College of Tourism, said:  “Young Emirati men and women are being encouraged by the leadership of the country to participate in all aspects of development of this nation and contribute towards economic growth. As a result, Dubai’s rapid development has seen the emergence of highly qualified young UAE nationals in the local workforce, both in government and private sectors, and more and more of our nationals are getting actively involved in imparting their knowledge and skills in diverse sectors. Against this backdrop, and based on our commitment to support the on-going programme of Emiratisation, we have joined hands with our partners in the private sector at this year’s Careers UAE to provide promising young UAE nationals …