Category Archives: Hotels

Mövenpick opens 244 units of a plush apartment complex in Downtown Dubai. Catering to both leisure and business segments, this new Movenpick Hotel Apartments Downtown will very soon be the talk of the town with guests being able to club their holidays with leisure. The complex has one- two-and three-bedroom apartments in threee different colour pallettes that would suit the guests’ mood. The property is located within five minutes’ reach from Burj Khalifa and The Dubai Mall. It also offers accessibility to major business districts such as the Dubai International Financial Centre, Business Bay and Dubai World Trade Centre. Mövenpick Hotel Apartments Downtown Dubai offers a vibrant contemporary fully serviced studios and apartments with fully fitted kitchen, along with an outdoor temperature-controlled pool, 24-hour gym facilities and sauna to keep guests energised. Further, Dubai Airport is the nearest from this apartment complex.  

Meraas aims to pull out all stops to deliver Bluewaters’ unique promise of an island luxe vibe, with unparalleled experiences brought to the region for the first time at the Caesars Palace Bluewaters Dubai, The Residences at Caesars Palace Bluewaters Dubai and Caesars Resort Bluewaters Dubai. These five-star accommodations comprising 495 luxury rooms and 80 serviced apartments will be flanked by The Rotunda at one end and Caesars Forum on the other.  The exclusive 194-key Caesars Palace Bluewaters Dubai will feature an outdoor swimming pool, the wellness concept Qua Spa and a fitness centre with stunning views of Ain Dubai as well as six cutting-edge restaurants. The Residences at Caesars Palace Bluewaters Dubai will offer additional 80 premium-serviced apartments ideal for contemporary living. The second hotel, Caesars Resort Bluewaters Dubai, will comprise 301 rooms, two outdoor swimming pools, six unique restaurants, three meeting rooms equipped to provide business services and a 750-square metre event hall. Since Ain Dubai first made its appearance off the coast of Dubai Marina, it has captured the imagination of the city. Making its presence felt, this new landmark-in-the-making has drawn attention to Bluewaters, the island destination by Meraas that has opened its doors to visitors. Connecting it to the mainland is a sophisticated network of roads, including a direct link to Sheikh Zayed Road, pedestrian access from The Beach opposite JBR and water transport by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). His Excellency Abdulla Al Habbai, Group Chairman, Meraas, said, “Dubai has always had its eye on the future. As the city develops in line with the vision of the UAE’s leadership, we are constantly striving to achieve greater heights. Meraas has been mindful of this, …

The number of Indian visitors travelling to the GCC over the coming five years will create an extra 10.8 million room nights, according to data published ahead of Arabian Travel Market 2019 (ATM), which takes place at Dubai World Trade Centre from April 28, 2019 to May 1, 2019. The latest research published by Colliers International predicts around nine million Indians will travel to the GCC by 2022 – 37 per cent of India’s total outbound market – with business, place of work and leisure underpinning this demand. Indian outbound will account for 22.5 million worldwide tourists in 2018, with reports from UNWTO estimating this figure will increase by 122 per cent to reach over 50 million by 2022. Adding to this, Indian tourists are among the world’s highest spenders per visit made abroad, with visitor spend expected to increase from US$23 billion in 2018 to US$45 billion by 2022. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said, “Despite recent weak rupee exchange rates, which have seen the rupee lose around 14 per cent of its value against the US dollar over the last 12 months, the Indian outbound market has continued to grow at an average annual growth rate of 10-12 per cent over the last seven years. The GCC has benefited from this trend with Indian travellers’ willingness and ability to spend on outbound travel supported by the country’s pace-setting 7 per cent GDP growth and a new generation of leisure attractions in the GCC as well as increased business opportunities and relaxed visa regulations for Indian nationals. We are witnessing this growth first hand with Indian visitors to ATM increasing 27 per cent YoY between 2017 and …

Marriott International is offering event planners and meeting organisers new benefits for bookings at participating hotels across Middle East and Africa (MEA) as part of its ‘Rewarding Events Made Here’ promotion. Meeting planners can now choose from a plethora of unique experiences and earning opportunities across the group’s portfolio of distinct brands. It is now possible to book a meeting, event or group stay at a participating Marriott International property in the region and take advantage of a range of fantastic benefits including 5 per cent saving on the master bill, Double Marriott Rewards points, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards points or SPG Starpoints and earning a signing bonus of 3,000 Marriott Rewards, SPG Starpoints or The Ritz-Carlton Rewards Points for every 10 room nights booked. Providing event organisers and travel planners the opportunity to make stays even more special, the ‘Rewarding Events Made Here’ promotion is available for meetings, events or group stays with 10 rooms per night or more. Bookings must be made before June 30, 2019 for stays at participating hotels from now until January 31, 2020. Offer is available at all participating brands in the region with the exception of Marriott Executive Apartments, Bulgari Hotels & Resorts, Element, Residence Inn and Design Hotels. Neal Jones, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, MEA, Marriott International, commented, “We are witnessing a rapid change in the way businesses and individuals plan events and to meet the increasing demands within this growing segment, it is vital that we create packages that not only offer great value, but also rewards on bookings. Whether it is a meeting, a conference, group or an event, we are committed to creating exceptional experiences through personalised services, innovative …

IHG has signed a management agreement with the Al-Arabiya Real Estate Company, owned by The Bukhamseen Group, to launch Staybridge Suites in Kuwait. The new hotel is due to open in January 2022 and will add to IHG’s growing portfolio in the Middle East. Located in Salmiya, the 120-keys Staybridge Suites Kuwait Salmiya will offer long-stay guests a choice of one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites. The modern serviced apartments will be stylishly designed and furnished, featuring separate living and working areas, fully equipped kitchens, state-of-the-art entertainment systems and free WiFi. Guests staying at the hotel will have easy access to business areas such as downtown where major banks and financial institutions are located, as well as tourist attractions such as the Marine Museum, Shaab Leisure Centre Park and a variety of shopping malls and restaurants. With the modern-day corporate traveller in mind, Staybridge Suites Salmiya will offer facilities such as an on-site fitness centre, so that guests can maintain their exercise regimen and a swimming pool for a refreshing dip after a long day. Pascal Gauvin, Managing Director, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG said, “We are delighted to partner with Al-Arabiya Real Estate Company, owned by The Bukhamseen Group to debut Staybridge Suites in Kuwait. The Bukhamseen Group has been one of our most valued partners in the Middle East since we signed one of our first Holiday Inn hotels in the region with them more than 40 years ago. We are excited to be working even more closely together to expand our footprint in Kuwait and introduce Staybridge Suites, to cater to the demands of extended stay travellers. We look forward to opening the doors of Staybridge Suites Kuwait Salmiya …

Lemon Tree Hotels has announced its latest signing for the first Lemon Tree Hotel in Dubai. The hotel owned by Al Waleed Real Estate LLC is expected to launch in the third quarter of the coming year. The signing of the agreement was facilitated and supported by Raine & Horne, Dubai. Located on Al Wasl Road, this will be the first mid-scale hotel in the area featuring 114 well-appointed rooms and suites, complemented by a multi-cuisine restaurant, Citrus Café, with a beautiful al fresco extension, a conference room, Tangerine, a swimming pool, a well-equipped fitness center and more. Speaking on the occasion, Rattan Keswani, Deputy Managing Director – Lemon Tree Hotels and Director – Carnation Hotels, said, “We are delighted to enter Dubai with our partners Al Waleed Real Estate LLC. This is our first hotel in the UAE, and we feel that it holds immense business potential. We have a locational advantage, with the hotel strategically situated in proximity to famous destinations like Burj Al Arab, Kite beach and the Mall of Emirates, and equidistant from Business Bay and JLT, the two major business districts of Dubai. The addition of this hotel opens a new location for the brand, thereby increasing our appeal to our existing and potential customers.” Mohammed Abdulrazzaq Abdul Aziz Al Mutawa, CEO, Al Waleed Real Estate LLC commented, “We are pleased to announce our partnership with Lemon Tree Hotels for our upcoming hotel in Dubai. There was a need for a mid-scale hotel of this calibre in this location, and we found Lemon Tree Hotels to be the best partner for the project, taking into account that India has been the largest source into Dubai, …

Al Seef Hotel by Jumeirah has opened on the south bank of Dubai Creek. The property is spread across 10 clusters of Arabian Bayts (homes), tucked away amidst the rooftops and courtyards of a souk, offering guests tales of history and culture at every turn. With views down into the alleyways of the souk or out across the busy waterways of the Creek and a restaurant Saba’a, guests can book to stay from just AED 250 plus government fees and taxes as an introductory opening offer. The hotel has a unique Emirati-inspired design. The Arabian Bayts provide areas of personal peacefulness interspersed amongst the vibrant walkways within the hotel grounds – very much like the old neighbourhoods of decades passed. Further traditions of Emirati culture come to life behind the rough plastered walls, such as palm frond motifs, wooden ceilings and windows with traditional wooden panels that overlook the winding outdoor corridors of the Souk or Creek. The interiors of the 180 rooms and 10 suites reflect an age of pearl trading and Emirati crafts with a colour palette inspired by the UAE’s natural environment. Historical artefacts adorn the walls, with furnishings including old-style light switches, rotary dial phones, hanging oil lanterns and framed photographs of the souk and creek through the years – a visual exploration of the heritage of Arabia. Alessandro Cabella, Area General Manager, Jumeirah Group, said, “Al Seef Hotel by Jumeirah is a real passion project. Everyone involved in bringing this idea to fruition has been inspired by the prospect of offering our guests a unique and authentic experience inspired by the stories of Arabia. Everything within the property adds to the authenticity of the environment …

Millenium Hotels has signed an agreement with Hotelbeds Group that grants all of the Hotelbeds Group brands (Hotelbeds, Bedsonline, Tourico Holidays and GTA) with direct real-time access to over 1.4 million of Millennium Hotels and Resorts’ annual room nights in more than 60 global business and leisure travel destinations. The pact will strengthen Millennium Hotels and Resorts’ distribution through Hotelbeds’ presence in more than 140 markets, spanning a wide range of channels including airlines, MiCE operators, point redemption schemes, retail travel agencies and tour operators representing over 60,000 travel distributors. Mark Redmond, Head – Global Chains, Hotelbeds Group, commented: “We are delighted to be connecting to Millennium Hotels and Resorts’ global hospitality offering. This will be a strong relationship in delivering special rates and availability across the MHR portfolio to our clients, while giving MHR access to higher-margin, niche segments of the travel market.” Also, Nayan Peshkar, Senior Vice President, Digital, Distribution and Revenue Strategy, Millennium Hotels and Resorts, said, “We are pleased to be working with Hotelbeds. This supports the Group’s wider distribution strategy of reducing reliance on static rate and room agreements in the leisure segment.”

BYHOURS has officially launched in Manama, enabling users to select the desired check-in time to hotel rooms at any time during the day. The platform allows users to book hotel rooms in sets of three, six or twelve-hour timeslots. BYHOURS offers such flexibility in hotel stays in more than 3000 hotels in 25 countries across Europe, Latin America and the GCC region. This start-up is the first to introduce the concept of micro-stays and a pay-per-use finance scheme in the international travel and hospitality industry. It is aimed at international business travellers’ in-between meetings and for travellers spending time in cities for short layovers.

Ghaya Grand has announced its participation at WTM in London with a host of new activities to entice the UK market. Speaking about the event, Olwin De Souza, General Manager, Ghaya Grand, stated that a record-breaking number of travellers, totaling 15.79 million flew to Dubai last year, with the UK being the third-largest source of tourists. At Ghaya Grand Hotel, UK guests attract the largest number for our luxury serviced apartments, with numbers steadily increasing for short stay guests, checking into our hotel rooms. The UK market, along with other strong European markets, such as the German and Dutch market, contributed to an increase of 15 per cent growth over last year at Ghaya Grand Hotel. While there have been higher visitors from other top source markets such as China and the Middle East, the UK remains one of the most important feeder markets to the hotels in Dubai. De Souza reiterated that at this year’s WTM participation, they hope to meet with their existing and new travel partners to showcase their five-star model at Ghaya Grand Hotel and share their success story. We would like to reach out to partners on our journey of creating memorable experiences for guests; which they like to share with family, friends and other global travellers to Dubai. Our aim is to consolidate relations built with existing agents and interact with new agents and suppliers, to improve the number of visitors coming to Dubai and especially to Ghaya Grand Hotel.”