Category Archives: Hotels

Starting from April 16, 2018, Wyndham Hotel Group brands is set to unite its family of hotel brands under one umbrella by adding ‘by Wyndham’ suffix to their names. Brands adding the hallmark are Super 8, Days Inn, Howard Johnson, Travelodge, AmericInn, Baymont, Ramada, Ramada Encore, Dolce, Dazzler, Esplendor and Trademark – representing 7,074 properties across the globe. The move not only unites the company’s diverse hoteliers under a common mission and name, but is also expected to favourably impact guest trial and brand awareness throughout the company’s portfolio. “As the leader in midscale and economy lodging, the Wyndham name has become synonymous with making hotel travel possible for all,” said Barry Goldstein, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Wyndham Hotel Group. “This new designation for our brands is a celebration of the accomplishments we’ve made in our mission to make travel possible for everyone, revolutionising Wyndham Rewards and elevating our brands through a laser focus on quality, technology, and sales and marketing,” he said. The updated brand names and logos will appear across Wyndham’s digital placements from brand websites to mobile sites and third-party listings.

Rove Hotels has launched Rove Dubai Marina, the fifth hotel in Dubai that celebrates the inspired setting of its waterfront location. With its central location and tech-savvy environment for the socially connected new generation, Rove Dubai Marina brings a new hospitality choice to visitors to the city with its stylish marina-front setting. A joint venture between Meraas and Emaar Properties PJSC, Rove Hotels currently has four operational hotels in key locations in Dubai – Rove Downtown, Rove City Centre, Rove Healthcare City and Rove Trade Centre. Several Rove Hotels are being planned in other locations within the city. Rove Dubai Marina has 384 rooms that present a design-influenced lifestyle choice for value-conscious leisure and business travellers. Located centrally in one of the region’s largest waterfront developments, the hotel offers leisure guests the ease of accessing Dubai’s popular beaches as well as a vibrant marina. The Dubai Marina Mall, with a vivid array of retail and leisure choices, is located nearby as well as the Dubai Marina Yacht Club that serves as a prestigious address for marina enthusiasts and The Beach, an upbeat urban waterfront destination created by Meraas.

Wyndham Garden opened its doors recently under R Hotels in Ajman Corniche under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ajman; His Highness Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman; and His Highness Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of Ajman Municipality and Planning, and Chairman of R Holding. The new hotel is the first Wyndham Garden to open in the UAE. Boasting sweeping views of the Arabian Gulf, the property features 179 rooms and suites, all facing the beachfront. It will also showcase an executive lounge on the top floor, and state-of-the-art leisure facilities including a modern spa, fitness club, outdoor swimming pool with Jacuzzi, and kids’ club. Al Nuaimi remarked, “The emirate of Ajman welcomes Wyndham Garden Ajman Corniche, a new landmark to showcase exceptional Emirati hospitality to the rest of the world. This is another testament on the continuous growth of the tourism sector in the emirate.” Sumair Tariq, Managing Director, R Hotels, commented, “With the solid performance of Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman and Ramada Beach Hotel Ajman over the years, we are confident that the hotel will deliver the highest standards of service to all the guests, with its seasoned and professional team.

Dusit International has introduced ASAI Hotels for the curious, millennial-minded travellers with authentic local experiences in vibrant cities and resort destinations worldwide. Set to launch in Q1 2019 with its first hotel in Bangkok’s renowned Chatuchak Market, ASAI Hotels embraces a sustainable, community-focused concept, with each property designed to reflect the culture and heritage of its location through collaborations with local artisans. In line with the four core pillars of the brand – Thoughtful Essentials, Common Areas, Locally Inspired and Connected Community – each hotel will feature compact rooms, whose contemporary design will emphasise on key features like superior quality beds and high pressure rain showers. A large mixed-use space, meanwhile, will include a cosy and efficient work space, a leisure area, and a restaurant concept curated by local chefs who champion sustainability. The Chatuchak hotel includes an eatery developed by Bangkok-based chefs and restaurateurs, Jarrett Wrisley and Paolo Vitaletti, whose own restaurants, Soul Food Mahanakorn and Appia, are renowned for their sustainable approach to cooking. Their menu at ASAI Chatuchak will highlight produce from Thailand’s Royal Projects. Each ASAI hotel worldwide will leverage technology to streamline the booking and stay experience. This includes the implementation of self check-in kiosks, and exclusive online guides that link guests with authentic local experiences and lesser-known.

Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum has recently opened for GCC for the summer season with an expanded offering for guests. New villas and suites overlooking the Paradise Bay will be available, and more butlers will be on hand to maintain the resort’s reputation for excellent service. Guests can savour new menus at the resort’s award-winning restaurants and book its new Flavours of Bodrum accommodation package. Guests staying at Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum now have three new villas and the Bougainvillea and Royal Suites to choose from in addition to the existing selection of guest rooms, apartments, suites and villas. The Bougainvillea Suite, also known as the honeymoon suite, is in a secluded spot at the far end of resort. The 95-square metre retreat features a single bedroom and private swimming pool overlooking the Aegean Sea. The sea-view Royal Suite, with seven rooms, private garden and swimming pool is the largest on the Bodrum Peninsula with 533 square metres of space. Including its existing seven-room villa, the resort now offers large-scale family accommodation on the Peninsula. All suites and villas at the resort have infinity pools and private terraces overlooking the sea.

The latest offering by Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts is the unique 16-day adventure private jet itineraries to come to effect by 2019. This new journey is shorter than the 24-day around-the-world journeys, and takes travellers to Miami, Costa Rica, Buenos Aires, Bogotá and even includes an escape to the Galápagos Islands, all in the care of Four Seasons. The Four Seasons Private Jet allows travellers to fulfil their most extraordinary travel dreams aboard a custom designed aircraft, while enjoying personalised Four Seasons service. Guests can opt for a wide range of experiences in each destination and tailor their trip to their interests, discovering authentic flavours and connecting with local cultures and communities without the added stress of planning. The dedicated team on each Private Jet journey takes care of everything, including all air travel, ground transportation, planned excursions, all meals and beverages and luxurious accommodations at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. While visiting the remote Galápagos Islands during the Latin Escape itinerary, guests will stay at accommodations carefully selected by Four Seasons.

Etihad Airways has opened its Etihad Eco Residence in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi’s first purpose-built, sustainable Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum rated project for cabin crew accommodation. The project is the result of a unique partnership between Etihad and Masdar, the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company. The Etihad Eco Residence was inaugurated in the presence of Khaled Al Qubaisi, Chief Executive Officer, Aerospace, Renewables & Information Communications Technology (ICT) for Mubadala and Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Aviation Group.  The complex, which comprises 500 apartments in 11 buildings at the Masdar City development, was recently awarded ‘Sustainable Design of the Year’ at the 2017 Emirates Green Building Council (EGBC) MENA Green Awards, and ‘Sustainable Construction Project of the Year’ at Big Projects Middle East Awards 2017. The residence offers comfortable, high-specification one and two-bedroom apartments which include furniture and white goods provided by Etihad Airways. Mana Mohamed Saeed Al Mulla, Chief Group Support Services Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said, “The opening of Etihad Eco Residence underscores not only the importance we place on providing superior housing to our cabin crew, but also our responsibility as part of the greater Abu Dhabi vision, to play a part in transforming the capital into a global leader in smart urban planning, clean energy and sustainability.”

Emaar Hospitality Group has expanded the portfolio of hotel projects under its Vida Hotels and Resorts brand, with the new Vida Za’abeel. Vida Za’abeel is located in the heart of Za’abeel, mixed-use development, with direct views of the Dubai Frame as well as 360-degree vistas of the city including its famed landmarks. The property is only 10 minutes away from the Dubai International Airport, and offers close proximity to Downtown Dubai as well as Bur Dubai. An elegantly designed twin-tower development of 70 and 68 storeys, Vida Za’abeel will be home to the 220-room Vida Za’abeel hotel and Vida Residences Za’abeel, a collection of serviced apartments in one, two and three-bedrooms. Olivier Harnisch, Chief Executive Officer, Emaar Hospitality Group, said, “As a home-grown brand offering a different experience for the new generation of business and leisure travellers, Vida Hotels and Resorts have set a distinctive niche in Dubai’s hospitality sector. Vida Za’abeel is a significant addition to our portfolio of hotel projects that stands out for its central location and spectacular views of the city’s landmarks. With its focus on convenience and connectivity, Vida Za’abeel will add to the choice of hotel guests and discerning customers who are seeking a vibrant hub where inspiring minds can create and connect.”

The new AVANI Hotel Suites & Branded Residences with a total 527 keys, comprising 263 AVANI Residences and 264 AVANI Serviced Apartments will be the new addition to be opened in Dubai by 2020. The Residences, which will be marketed to investors as a sale and lease-back product, will be a mix of one, two, three and four bedrooms, the latter offering an impressive 425 square metres of contemporary living space. Offering great visibility for the brand, AVANI Hotel Suites & Branded Residences will be located in a prime area of the city, directly overlooking the iconic Palm Jumeirah, adjacent to Dubai Marina and Media City, and half an hour from Dubai International Airport. “The AVANI Hotel Suites & Branded Residences will be our third property in Dubai, signalling the brand’s steady growth in the region as well as around the world. Residence owners and guests will be able to enjoy AVANI, starting from the brand’s designed sleep satisfaction and curated honest food programme, to simply exploring the vibrant destination Dubai through our AVANI lens designed to interact with the new generation of travellers,” said Alejandro Bernabe, Vice President, AVANI Hotels & Resorts.

Pearl Rotana has announced the opening of its business and leisure-led hotel, Pearl Rotana Capital Centre, Abu Dhabi, located a few steps away from the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). An extensive array of spacious rooms and suites await guests, many of which present stunning sea views. The property has five dining venues, including two distinctive new concepts set to disrupt the Abu Dhabi dining scene. With central location to top attractions, in the buzzing Capital Centre area, and 20 minutes from Abu Dhabi’s International Airport, the hotel makes for an ideal place to stay, immerse and experience the UAE capital to the fullest. “We are thrilled to offer Abu Dhabi residents and global travellers with an all new contemporary hospitality experience,” says Karim Nahas,General Manager, Pearl Rotana. “Following the recent announcement from the Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT Abu Dhabi), an impressive 7.4 per cent increase from last year in hotel guests to the capital, shows growth in the market,” he said. The 315 light, modern rooms and suites offer high-speed wireless internet, complimentary coffee and tea making facility, daily local newspapers and IDD telephones together with deluxe beds for maximum comfort. In-room flat-screen TVs come with multi and satellite channels, suitable for all visitors.