Tag Archives: Oman

Mustafa Sultan Enterprises signed an agreement with Marriott International to debut the first Four Points by Sheraton in Oman, scheduled to open in early 2024. Operated by Valor Hospitality Partners, a third-party hotel management and development company, Four Points by Sheraton Muscat will offer a centralized location for both business and leisure travellers in Qurum. “It gives me great pleasure to announce our first franchise collaboration with Marriott International in the Middle East as we expand our full-service hotel management services in the region. We are honoured to have Mustafa Sultan Enterprises, a trusted and established owner, for our first property in Oman,” said Julien Bergue, Co-founder and Managing Partner, Valor Hospitality Middle East & CIS. “We are working closely with the ownership and Marriott International on the full renovation plan,” Bergue continued. Expected to feature 201 guest rooms, the hotel will also offer visitors ballroom and conference facilities, leisure and fitness amenities, and multiple food and beverage venues. Four Points by Sheraton Muscat is anticipated to reflect the brand’s promise of ‘travel reinvented’, providing everything that matters most to today’s travellers seeking balance on the road, including timeless style and comfort with genuine service. Shabeer Mustafa Sultan, Chairman of Mustafa Sultan Enterprises, said, “We are thrilled to work with Valor Hospitality Middle East and Marriott International to bring the Four Points by Sheraton brand to Oman.  This collaboration points to a full renovation and rebranding investment that supports our mission to create long-term value for the tourism, real estate and leisure sectors across Oman. It also supports the vision of Oman’s leaders, particularly in the upscale hotel segment.” Saahil Lalit, Vice President, Development – UAE and Oman, Marriott International …

IntercityHotel Muscat, the hotel brand’s third property in the Sultanate of Oman, has opened its doors on 1st September 2022. The new hotel building is located within the Ministry and Embassy district of Al Khuwair and is part of the prestigious A’Raya development Complex.  IntercityHotel Muscat boasts 273 guest rooms ranging from Standard Rooms to Deluxe Suites. The property includes a special Business Floor offering Business rooms and suites with added benefits of early check-ins, late check-outs, complimentary welcome drinks, and VIP in-room amenities, to name a few. Furthermore, the hotel features the all-day-dining restaurant Citrine as well as a lobby cafe, a pool and gym, a spa with six treatment rooms, four multi-function meeting rooms with a capacity of up to 135 guests and A’Raya Ballroom which can accommodate up to 1,200 guests. According to Siegfried Nierhaus, Vice President Middle East, Deutsche Hospitality: “The Middle East is an important destination for both classical tourism and business travel. IntercityHotel fits nicely into the region, as the concept accommodates the needs of any and all travelers. We look forward to our continued successful trajectory in positioning the brand in Oman alongside the hotels in Salalah and Nizwa while successively expanding our portfolio in this region.” General Manager Renjith Chandran adds: “We are delighted to open the IntercityHotel Muscat in the Sultanate of Oman. The hotel will cater to all markets from business and leisure to major MICE events. Also working with the National Hotel Management (NHI) and Ministry of Manpower, I look forward to welcoming Omani talents to the team.” IntercityHotel Muscat is perfectly positioned within easy reach of Muscat International Airport and the cultural sights of Al Alam Palace and …

RezLive.com hosted two networking events, firstly in Muscat, followed by Bahrain which was attended by leading local travel agents and tour operators. The purpose of the event was to thank the local travel industry for its consistent support and to inform travel partners about the additional benefits of working with RezLive.com. Real business discussions, a flow of knowledge and information, and a few feedbacks and suggestions took place throughout the session. Jaal Shah (Group Managing Director – Travel Designer Group), firstly expressed his gratitude to the local travel partners for the resounding support they have received from the respective local markets. He also stressed the significance of maintaining and bolstering the strong foundation they share with RezLive.com. Last but not least, he added, we at RezLive.com (A Product of Travel Designer Group) recognise the value of our travel partners and work tirelessly to provide them with cutting-edge services that will simplify their tasks. Zaheer Jeddy, Deputy Regional Manager, updated the travel partners with innovative offerings from RezLive.com and at the same time oriented them about An Exclusive Loyalty program i.e “rezREWARDS”, which was appraised by the local travel partners and they look forward to continuing their support and business cooperation to RezLive.com (Preferred B2B Global Travel Wholesaler).      

Jumeirah Group further expands its international portfolio with the unveiling of an exceptional new resort in the Middle East – Jumeirah Muscat Bay. Nestled within the secluded cove of Bandar Jissah between the Hajar mountains and Gulf of Oman, just 15 minutes from the capital Muscat, Jumeirah Muscat Bay will offer a true sense of serenity and escapism. With sea, mountains and a historic city on its doorstep, it is the ideal spot to disconnect and spend blissful days on the beach, explore the great outdoors via an array of adventurous wellbeing experiences, or venture out to discover the Sultanate’s rich history. Mr. José Silva, Chief Executive Officer of Jumeirah Group, said: “Oman is a popular destination for those looking to combine nature and wellness with cultural interest. At Jumeirah Muscat Bay, we have focused on taking cues from the natural landscape and its restorative energy and have brought this to life through design and architecture and in keeping with the hallmarks of Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts, our innovative dining concepts, signature service and exceptional experiences are well represented throughout this resort. As we continue to expand our portfolio, we are delighted to open the doors to this beautiful resort and bring our brand promise of Stay Different, for the first time to Oman.” Jumeirah Muscat Bay will offer 206 spacious rooms and suites, all assuring breath-taking ocean vistas, with connecting rooms available for the perfect family holiday. In addition, five secluded summerhouses in two- and four-bed configurations, and the exceptional Sanctuary Villa, will provide the ultimate hospitality experience, each with a private pool, dedicated butler service and access to an exclusive private beach. Modern arabesque design features throughout the resort …

Oman Air welcomes all guests to the Sultanate of Oman on board its award-winning flights. All remaining COVID-19 precautionary safety measures and procedures in place at airports across Oman have been lifted. Arriving international travellers no longer need to register through the eMushrif portal or undertake a PCR test before or upon arrival, as previously required. Furthermore, authorities have removed all quarantine requirements as well as the requirement to download the Tarassud+ Track & Trace application prior to departing for Oman. Guests departing Oman should ensure that they are aware of all pre-departure requirements and requirements during their flights, which are provided at omanair.com

Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced the opening of Alila Hinu Bay in Oman which joins Alila Jabal Akhdar as the brand’s second hotel in Oman along with 15 other Alila properties worldwide. Distinguished a strong commitment to sustainable tourism, the award-winning brand features luxury hotels and resorts in some of the most spectacular natural locations. The 112-key hotel is nestled on a secluded beachfront in Oman’s southwest region of Dhofar. The untouched area is best known for its lush landscapes, cool summers, and it is within easy driving distance from Salalah International Airport. Between Samhan mountain and the blue waters of the Arabian Sea, Alila Hinu Bay caters to well-traveled guests seeking reflection and impactful connections. Along with the breath-taking scenery, the area is known for its rich traditions and the renowned warmth of Omani hospitality. Combined with a personalized experience that is crafted for each guest, travelers can expect to be immersed in authentic yet bespoke journeys tailored to their preferences and interests. “We are very excited to add Alila Hinu Bay to the Hyatt portfolio and welcome guests to this region of Oman, a true nature lover’s paradise full of stunning landscapes, waterfalls and greenery,” said Martin Persson, general manager, Alila Hinu Bay. “Dedicated to being responsible and sustainable, guests can enjoy exquisite culinary experiences evoking local and international flavours at one of our dining options or treat themselves to a customized spa experience that uses natural products.”

Oman will close its land borders for one week from Monday to curb the spread of the coronavirus, especially a more contagious variant, state news agency ONA said on Sunday. The measure will come into effect from 6 p.m. (1400 GMT) on Monday and can be extended for longer than the initial one week closure, ONA said, citing a decision by the Gulf state’s coronavirus emergency committee. The committee is concerned about a new coronavirus variant — although it didn’t specify which one — as well as lax adherence inside the sultanate with the wearing of face masks and avoidance of large social gatherings. Oman earlier this month registered its first case of the variant of the virus that emerged in Britain, in a resident who arrived from the UK. It reopened its land, air and sea borders on December 29 after a one-week shutdown over the new variant. Neighbouring United Arab Emirates has seen a surge in daily infections to above 3,000 while the other five Gulf states, including Oman, have seen daily cases drop below 500. The UAE on Sunday reported 3,453 new infections taking its total to 225,374. Oman had registered a total of 13,1790 cases and 1,512 deaths as of Sunday. It has rolled out an immunization campaign using the vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech for its population of roughly 4.2 million, with a first phase prioritising exposed health care workers, people over 65 years of age and those with chronic diseases. The health minister, receiving his second jab on Sunday, said Oman had so far received around 38,900 doses. The health ministry has said that 24,204 people have received their first dose and that …

Oman Air is adding flights connecting Muscat with 25 cities including Doha, Dubai and London. Flights are added starting early January 2021. Flights connecting Muscat and Doha will also increase from 2 to 4 per week. Flights connecting Muscat and Dubai will increase from 3 to 5 flights per week. Flights connecting Muscat and London will increase from 2 to 3 flights per week. Additionally, flights will be added to and from Muscat to Mumbai, Cairo, Kochi, Delhi, Hyderabad, Islamabad, Lahore and Chennai. Oman Air will continue to maintain its comprehensive safety program throughout all elements of the travel journey to ensure that guests fly confidently. Masks are required when guests are on board the aircraft and in Oman’s airports. Distancing is maintained while guests board and exit the aircraft, which are carefully cleaned after each flight and at the end of every day. Cabin crew all wear a full set of personal protective equipment, meal service has been modified to further ensure safety and a number of other steps have been taken to ensure that the airline’s guests and crew are safe at all times.

Due to the wake of another mutation of the Covid 19 virus Middle East nations have decided to close their borders with immediate effect. All international flights are cancelled, due to the closure of Saudi Arabian, Kuwaiti and Omani borders. Customers connecting on flights bound for these destinations will not be accepted at origin. We regret any inconvenience caused. Affected customers should contact their travel agent or contact centre for rebooking options. To receive update notifications, customers are requested to ensure their contact details are correct by visiting Manage Your Booking.

Jabal Al Akhdar has begun welcoming visitors across Oman who are searching for a haven to escape the summer heat. The area is ideally positioned as a must visit destination for a special summer experience, and is made more secure with the implementation of precautionary measures to ensure the highest levels of safety for visitors, locals, and workers in the hospitality and tourism sector. Asma Al Hajry, Deputy Director General of Tourism Promotions, Oman Ministry of Tourism pointed out that Jabal Al Akhdar is important to the local tourism scene as it serves as a prominent haven for those looking to enjoy a summer spent in the bounty of nature. Al Hajry further explained that the moderate climate in summer is one of the most attractive features for visitors from all over the Sultanate who come to enjoy the calm and pleasant atmosphere and explore the natural treasures. “Amid the extraordinary circumstances that the world is currently facing, we have a responsibility to ensure the full adherence to all precautionary measures that have been implemented to guarantee the safety of visitors, residents and workers within the tourism and hospitality sector,” she added. “As the summer season begins, we invite everyone to experience and enjoy the splendour of Jabal Al Akhdar, which fully complies with the precautionary guidelines that prioritise everyone’s health and security. We are confident that our people are working closely with us in the move to ensure that these measures are properly observed. This enhances our optimism about the future of the tourism sector and the entry of the summer season proves to be a timely opportunity to enhance domestic tourism and encourage all members of Omani society …