Category Archives: Hotels

TIME Hotels Management has announced the signing of a new agreement to operate two additional properties in the UAE. TIME Hotels took over day-to-day operations of the newly-branded TIME Onyx Hotel Apartments Al Qusais and TIME Moonstone Hotel Apartments in Fujairah following the signing of a management agreement onsite during Arabian Travel Market 2019 in Dubai between Mohamed Awadalla, CEO, TIME Hotels and Ali Mohamed Obaid Al Qutami, Managing Director, Jams HR Solutions. Commenting on the new management agreement, Mohamed Awadalla, CEO, TIME Hotels, said, “This new partnership further reinforces our steady and focused growth strategy to expand our footprint in the UAE with further openings in Dubai, and Sharjah, as well as other properties across the region in Saudi Arabia and Egypt.” TIME Onyx Hotel Apartments, Al Qusais, comprises 176 rooms including 42 studios, 99 one-bedroom apartments and 35 two-bedroom apartments. The property features an all-day dining restaurant, coffee shop, a business centre, prayer room and a gift shop. Meanwhile in Fujairah, TIME Moonstone Hotel Apartments feature 89 keys including 13 one-bedroom apartments and 76 two-bedroom apartments, an all-day dining restaurant, fully equipped gym and sauna and steam rooms. Ali Mohammed Obaid Al Qutami, Managing Director, Jams HR Solutions, said, “As a dynamic hospitality company, TIME Hotels was appointed to manage both properties because it is renowned for consistently delivering a value-driven hospitality experience. Not only do TIME Hotels have a wealth of experience successfully running midscale properties in the UAE, GCC and wider MENA region but they are excellent at cross-selling their properties and have exceptional relationships with both GCC travel agents, as well as international tour operators.”

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts continues to ramp up its expansion across the Middle East with the opening of two new hotels in Muscat, Oman. Marking the introduction of the Wyndham Garden and Ramada Encore by Wyndham brands to Oman, the openings underscore Wyndham Hotels & Resorts’ commitment to strengthening its presence in the market and further support Oman’s ambitious Vision 2040 programme, which includes a focus on developing the country’s mid-market hotel sector and creating more job opportunities, in a bid to welcome 11 million visitors to the Sultanate by 2040. Over the past year, the Sultanate has become an increasingly popular destination for travellers, witnessing an increase of more than 25 per cent in inbound visitors in the first six months of 2019 alone. Set across eight floors and bringing 143 new rooms and suites to the city, Wyndham Garden Muscat Al Khuwair is expected to open later this month. Ramada Encore by Wyndham Muscat Al Ghubra is expected to open in March 2020 and will be located in the heart of Muscat, next to the Al Ghubra roundabout on Sultan Qaboos Street. Panos Loupasis, Vice President Development, Middle East, Eurasia & Africa, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, said, “We want to bring diverse accommodation choices to travellers across the Sultanate, and support Oman in its ambitious 2040 tourism plans, particularly on developing its mid-market hotel sector. With their unrivalled locations in the heart of Muscat’s business and leisure district, these newest additions to the Wyndham Garden and Ramada Encore by Wyndham family are the perfect properties to complement our growing offering in the region.”

Nakheel is marking a key milestone in its hospitality business strategy with the opening of the Avani Ibn Battuta Dubai. The hotel was inaugurated on December 9, 2019 by Nakheel Chairman Ali Rashid Lootah and William E. Heinecke, Founder, Chairman and Group CEO of Thailand’s Minor International, owner and operator of the Avani brand. The new-build, 18-storey Avani is the second Nakheel hotel at Ibn Battuta Mall and one of several in operation or under construction in the developer’s hospitality project portfolio. Located less than a minute’s walk from the world-famous mall and its 400 outlets, Avani Ibn Battuta Dubai has 360 guest rooms, including 15 suites, a pool deck with dining and recreational facilities, an all-day dining restaurant, a coffee shop, gym, meeting facilities and parking for 128 vehicles. The hotel is also accessible via Dubai Metro. Ali Rashid Lootah, Chairman, Nakheel, said, “Nakheel continues to play a key role in enhancing Dubai’s hospitality offering in line with the emirate’s economic and tourism goals, and we are proud to partner with Minor Hotels to bring the Avani brand to Ibn Battuta Mall. With more than 21 million visitors a year, the mall is a world-leading destination where quality accommodation is in demand, as is clear from the constantly-high occupancy rates of our first hotel here.” William E. Heinecke, Chairman, Founder and Group CEO, Minor International, commented, “Minor Hotels is thrilled to officially inaugurate Avani Ibn Battuta Dubai today, which represents both a fantastic addition to the brand’s fast-growing portfolio and our first new-build Avani in the Middle East region. We are confident that the property will be very well received in the Dubai market and look forward to working with …

Miral and Warner Bros. announced the world’s first Warner Bros. (WB) branded hotel – The WB Abu Dhabi, is currently being developed on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Set to open in 2021, construction of the USD 112 million hotel is well underway and is now 40% complete. The WB Abu Dhabi will be located adjacent to the award-winning Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi theme park and is set to be a major addition to Yas Island’s immersive hospitality and leisure attractions. The hotel will introduce a new international benchmark for hospitality experiences, offering Warner Bros. fans the unique opportunity of staying at a WB themed hotel while visiting the Island’s other award-wining entertainment and leisure attractions. With a design and concept inspired by the world-famous Warner Bros. brand, the hotel will offer premium amenities and deliver an elevated hospitality offering through distinctive experiences for leisure and business travellers. Commenting on the development, H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Miral, said, “We are excited to announce the development of the world’s first Warner Bros. themed hotel, here on Yas Island. This is yet another step in our journey to position Yas Island as one of the top global destinations for entertainment, leisure and business. Our partnership with Warner Bros. is a unique collaboration that adds another dimension to the outstanding immersive experiences available on Yas Island.” Pam Lifford, President of Warner Bros. Global Brands and Experiences, commented, “Following the successful debut of Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, we are thrilled to expand our presence in the region with the studio’s first-ever branded hotel. This new venture will pay tribute to Warner Bros.’ legacy of rich entertainment, offering fans a unique way …

Hyatt announced the growth of its portfolio of lifestyle hotels across the Middle East. The planned expansion includes the opening of the first Hyatt centric branded hotels in the United Arab Emirates, the State of Qatar and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the first Andaz branded hotel in Dubai, and the second Alila branded property in the Sultanate of Oman. These lifestyle properties will provide luxury and adventurous travellers with unique experiences in hand-picked destinations and are expected to add more than 1,300 keys to the region, bringing the number of Hyatt lifestyle hotels in the Middle East to seven by 2023. There are currently two Hyatt lifestyle hotels in the Middle East; Alila Jabal Akhdar, a luxury boutique resort perched 6,562 feet (2,000 metres) above sea level in the Al Hajar Mountains of Oman, and Andaz Capital Gate Abu Dhabi, located in the iconic Capital Gate building, the world’s furthest leaning hotel at an impressive 18-degree incline. Kurt Straub, Vice President of operations for the Middle East, Africa and South West Asia for Hyatt, said, “The Middle East is seeing a rising demand for lifestyle hotels. At Hyatt, we aim to grow with intent. The five planned openings in the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Qatar and the Sultanate of Oman cement our commitment to the region and will provide an enhanced lifestyle experience for our guests.” The expected growth includes the debut of Hyatt’s fastest-growing lifestyle brand across three countries, with the projected openings of Hyatt Centric Dubai La Mer (2020), Hyatt Centric West Bay Doha (2020), and Jabal Omar Hyatt Centric Makkah Hotel and Residences (2023). Located in the heart of …

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, a new hotel under Ramada by Wyndham brand in Deira to open its doors in late November 2019. Ramada by Wyndham Dubai Deira Hotel is situated in the heart of Dubai’s historical and cultural district of Deira, 10 minutes away from Dubai International Airport and minutes away from Dubai’s first Shopping Mall, the vibrant Al Ghurair Center. The hotel has undergone a multi-million renovations, upgrading all its facilities including bedrooms, restaurants, public areas, and technology. The hotel has 173 bedrooms and suites, two restaurants and a rooftop pool. Ahmed El-Bassyouni, Head of Hospitality at Al Ghurair Hospitality, said, “We are delighted to see the continuing growth of our hospitality portfolio with the addition of such a well-known and loved international hotel brand as Ramada by Wyndham. We are extremely proud of this new partnership with Ramada by Wyndham and we are committed to continuing the new partnerships for Al Ghurair to grow our portfolio and bring more quality hospitality options to those visiting or staying in the UAE.” Al Ghurair Properties, the real estate development arm of Al Ghurair Investments offers a wide portfolio of residential and hospitality properties that strategically respond to the needs of both UAE residents and tourists to the UAE, priding themselves on their relentless commitment to quality and timely completion. Al Ghurair Properties currently own 5 other hotel properties in the Deira area, including Swissôtel Al Ghurair, Swissôtel Living, Star Metro Hotel and Apartments, Nojoum Hotel Apartments and Kings Square.

Al Qana developed by Al Barakah International Investment (BII) in Abu Dhabi, revealed ‘The Bridge Wellness Hub’, one of its seven destinations. ‘The Bridge’ is an integrated lifestyle wellness hub that has been carefully designed to be a disruptive space within its industry. The construction of the concept has commenced already and will open its doors for the first time in Q4 2020 to coincide with the grand opening of Al Qana. The uniqueness of ‘The Bridge’ concept comes from a combination of two ideas. One space that bridges all aspects of one’s life, work, play, and personal & physical development. The second idea is the combination of science and art to deliver a superior design-driven intuitive experience, yet grounded in academic research and delivery of real results. With a total space area of over 8000 square meters, ‘The Bridge’ will feature seven unique and seamless service tracks (Move – Pause – Taste – Seek – Choose – Expand – Learn). Fouad Mashal, CEO of Al Barakah International Investment said, “The Bridge is set to become the largest wellness offering in the Middle East. We joined forces to disrupt the market and introduce to Abu Dhabi an innovative concept that aims to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of residents by offering a new lifestyle journey. We are confident that The Bridge and the overall Al Qana project will play a key role in cementing Abu Dhabi’s position as one of the most liveable cities in the world and the ultimate destination for entertainment and wellbeing.” Khalid Nahhas, Founder of The Bridge said, “Our partnership with Al Qana aims to bring to the capital, a lifestyle destination that will …

Nakheel Mall on Palm Jumeirah will open on November 28, with a huge range of live events and promotions in store for the UAE National Day weekend and beyond. The new centrepiece has five retail levels with more than 300 shops, restaurants, entertainment outlets, and services, including MODO department store, Depachika Food Hall, a 14- screen Vox Cinemas complex, Waitrose supermarket, H&M, Trampo Extreme, Fabyland, Dubai London Clinic and Fitness First. Nakheel Mall is easily accessible by rail, road or on foot. Its Palm Monorail station will be operational on opening day, and there are direct road links to 4000 parking spaces as well as pedestrian access via Al Ittihad Park and Marina Residences. The mall is also the access point for The View at The Palm, a public observatory perched on the top of The Palm Tower, 230 metres above the island and the view will open in 2020. A host of live entertainment, promotions, and activities will take place at Nakheel Mall over the National Day weekend and beyond, with AED 1 million worth of prizes, including a brand new Maserati up for grabs for every AED 250 spent between November 28 to December 7. Visitors can also catch My Little Pony and Baby Shark live, with roaming entertainment, live bands and children’s workshops. Omar Khoory, Managing Director, Nakheel Malls, said, “The mall combines first-class retail facilities with unique attractions at one of the world’s most famous landmarks, Palm Jumeirah.  It is the ultimate destination for new concepts in shopping, dining, entertainment, and leisure, providing on-the-doorstep convenience for The Palm’s 78,000 residents, and a stunning new attraction for the millions of tourists who visit the UAE each year.”

Marriott International announced the debut of Delta Hotels by Marriott into the Middle East and Africa with Delta Hotels by Marriott Jumeirah Beach, Dubai. The hotel is ideally located in the heart of Dubai’s most vibrant destinations, the famous Jumeirah Beach Residences (JBR). With direct beach access, it rises tall between the Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Beach, and The Walk, Dubai’s first shopping and dining promenade. Offering a simple and hassle-free travel experience, allows guests to achieve a perfect balance between their work and personal life whether they are on business or on leisure. The hotel’s 45-story tower houses 360 comfortable and stylish rooms, offering a range of room types including suites and serviced apartments, each equipped with premium amenities, focused on what is important to guests for a flawless experience that allows them to glide through their entire stay. Guests can enjoy spectacular views of the Marina and Dubai’s dazzling cityscape from the beach facing rooms and many different parts of the hotel. Plus, the hotel’s culinary offerings can flare up an appetite for every desire. Alex Kyriakidis, President and Managing Director, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International, said, “We are excited to introduce the first Delta Hotel to the Middle East and Africa region and believe the brand has immense growth potential in our region with its clear ethos of ‘simple made perfect’. We will deliver on this promise by providing a full complement of streamlined services in a simple and straightforward way, offering both choice and flexibility.”

Standard International, the parent company of The Standard is delighted to announce the opening of The Standard, Huruvalhi Maldives and to present the earliest guests with an enticing opening package. With 115 stunning private pool villas, the resort marks the brand’s first property in Asia. The resort is a short seaplane ride away from Male, nestled between the Raa and Baa Atolls, on a naturally protected island. While the Maldives has traditionally been a couple’s destination, as always, The Standard has approached the development with a fresh set of eyes. The resort offers an unmatched combination of relaxation, dynamic social life and vibrant cultural programming that also welcomes groups of friends or singles looking to meet others or just reset and recharge in paradise. The Standard’s newest property is providing a special promotional offer giving extra enticement to those who book early. The special opening rates start from US$ 395 per night, which includes overnight accommodation in one of the private villas along with buffet breakfast in their all-day dining restaurant which includes overnight accommodations in one of the private villas along with buffet breakfast in Kula, the all-day dining restaurant. Each of the 115 villas features its own private lounge deck and plunge pool, and guests can choose from one of six unique culinary offerings. The Standard, Huruvalhi Maldives presents culinary options that are inspired by the bounty and beauty of the Indian Ocean and guided by the brand’s commitment to authenticity. Whether you’re looking for adventure or to learn something new, at the heart of every Standard are unique cultural programming and curated experiences and all are island-inspired.