Category Archives: Hotels

The Ascott Limited (Ascott), the world’s largest serviced residence owner-operator, is strengthening its presence in Saudi Arabia with the opening of its latest luxury executive residence, Ascott Rafal Olaya Riyadh. The 234-apartment luxury executive residence opened on March 12, 2017 in the financial heart of KSA’s capital. The exclusive serviced residence will provide guests with luxurious lifestyle facilities, within an elegant environment and complete with efficient business support services. With a soft opening scheduled for March, Ascott Rafal Olaya Riyadh is an ideal choice for short, medium and long-term visitors who want the luxury of an internationally-branded hotel, with the flexibility and privacy of an apartment. The property is located close to King Abdullah Financial District – the city’s prime financial centre – and 15 minutes’ drive from Riyadh King Khalid International Airport, making it highly convenient for business travellers. The onsite business centre ensures executives have everything they require, from meeting rooms and AV equipment to secretarial and courier services. Additional facilities include a residents’ lounge, prayer rooms, boutiques and a selection of restaurants and cafes. There is also an outdoor terrace, swimming pool, gymnasium, steam and sauna room, separate day spas for men and women and a children’s playroom. “We are delighted to welcome guests to Ascott Rafal Olaya Riyadh, our first serviced residence to open in the Saudi capital,” says Vincent Miccolis, Ascott’s Country General Manager, Middle East & Turkey. “The Ascott brand is renowned for providing attentive and highly personalised service which is exactly what travellers need to enjoy a hassle-free stay in this busy and dynamic city.”

St. Regis Hotels and Resorts announced the opening of The St. Regis Dubai, Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club. Owned by the Al Habtoor Group, the resort is feted as the first St. Regis property of its kind, promising exhilarating polo experiences combined with the brand’s iconic personalized service across 136 rooms and suites, 25 St. Regis branded villas and six culinary venues. The St. Regis Dubai, Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club is set around four lush polo fields, approximately 25 minutes from Dubai’s Downtown area. The association between St. Regis and polo emerged at the turn of the 20th century, as both polo and The St. Regis New York were essential to New York’s vibrant summer social scene. Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, Founding Chairman, Al Habtoor Group, said: “The Al Habtoor Group creates luxury lifestyle destinations in Dubai. We are committed to growing with the UAE and promoting it as a tourism destination. The St. Regis Dubai, Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club is a unique destination that will attract equestrian enthusiasts locally, regionally and internationally.” “Today we are proud to debut the first St. Regis polo resort in the brand’s history with the opening of The St. Regis Dubai, Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club, featuring the bespoke service delivery for which the St. Regis brand is known,” said Alex Kyriakidis, President And Managing Director, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International. “This opening not only strengthens our collaboration with the Al Habtoor Group, but it also reinforces our leadership position in the United Arab Emirates and brand’s commitment to the ‘sport of kings’.”  

Steigenberger Hotel Business Bay has launched a new Presidential Suite with a modern design, featuring relaxed pastel décor, and commanding views of the Dubai Water Canal. The Presidential Suite adapts equally well to business or leisure travellers alike, and is equipped with a beautifully furnished and spacious bedroom, elegant living room, dining room, pantry, and opulent bathroom facilities with an energizing walk-in rain forest shower. Presidential Suite Guests enjoy complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi access, priority restaurant reservations, in-room check-in and check-out service, and airport transfers from Dubai International Airport, dining privileges in all F&B outlets and Spa treatments, as well as laundry, telephone and meeting space benefits. Also overlooking the Dubai Water Canal are the two CEO Suites, with elegant décor inspired by the first cherry tree blossom in the Himalayas. Along with a spacious bedroom, luxurious bathroom facilities, living room and visitor bathroom, the 93m2 CEO Suite also features a flexible dining room, which can easily be converted into a private meeting space.Suite guests also gain access to Neunzehn Lounge, Steigenberger’s premium lounge facility along with a number of accompanying privileges.

Sbe will open its first hotel in the Middle East with the launch of Mondrian Doha, Qatar in Q2, 2017. This soft opening will set the stage for Mondrian Doha’s grand opening celebration, which follows in September 2017. The 270-room hotel has been designed in collaboration with world-renowned Dutch designer, Marcel Wanders, along with South West Architecture – the architectural company of record for Mondrian Doha, responsible for the design of the building. The hotel will be an exceptional lifestyle offering for Doha and will be Marcel Wanders’ first hotel for the region. Guests can choose from five distinctive room categories including penthouse suites, studio suites, one and two bedroom suites and a range of standard guestrooms – all of which share the universal design details of Swarovski crystal chandeliers and sumptuous bespoke furniture in hues to mirror the desert. Sam Nazarian, founder & CEO, sbe, commented, “We are delighted to open our first hotel in the Middle East in Doha, Qatar which is one of the most dynamic cities in the region. We’re additionally set to open two more hotel properties in Dubai in 2017 and 2018 and a number of restaurants. I know that Mondrian Doha will be an incredible destination for international and local travelers alike. It will be also a fantastic destination for the locals to experience all our culinary venues. Following our acquisition of Morgans Hotel Group, sbe is now unrivaled with its unique platform, offering experiences encompassing all areas of hospitality.”

HMH – Hospitality Management Holding unveiled a new logo in keeping with the group’s unique selling proposition ‘Beyond Hospitality’. It has been developed, to not only meet the evolving needs of the market but also, to reflect the group’s distinctive character, exceptional brands and aggressive expansion strategy. Launching the logo, Ferghal Purcell, Chief Operating Officer, HMH, said, “The new HMH logo demonstrates a decade of success. Reflecting our brand culture, built on our commitment to excellence and consistent quality of service, the new identity has been designed to broaden our appeal at every level of our business. The rationale behind our new logo is to highlight the fact that we offer more with added value and have the formula for both growth and success in the dry segment. The uniqueness of the new logo says it all and allows us to embrace the future with a contemporary and energetic look.” A dynamic and progressive feel is the inspiration behind the logo design, with high-rises and tall buildings reflecting HMH’s expansion in a modern world. The letters have been placed in a geometrical way to represent the height of the letter “H” and highlight it, reflecting the heart of our business “Hospitality”. The process of creating the new logo took over a year in the making and involved guidance from top marketing experts as well as team members. Equally stimulating and exciting is the selected color palette of blue and orange inspired by the cities at night. Ferghal stated, “The deep blue sky, with its reflection on the water, works really well with the vibrant orange/gold lights filling the skyline to create a vibrant scene full of energy and life. Unifying …

Sharjah hotel occupancy grew by 5.5 percent during January compared to the same month in 2016, according to the latest report from STR, a firm that provides global data and analysis for the hotel industry. Average occupancy levels across the United Arab Emirates increased by 0.5 percent during January to reach 81 percent, although average room rates at hotels across the UAE fell 8 percent in January to reach AED 712 ($195) due to strong market growth in room supply. The UAE’s hotel occupancy rates are among the highest in the world. STR has also reported that the overall hotel occupancy across the Middle East region decreased 2.7 percent to an average occupancy level of 68.4 percent during January, while the average daily room rate fell by 8.4 percent to $177.81. Meanwhile, hotels in Europe reported a 5.1 percent increase in occupancy to an average of 57.1 percent, hotels in Africa saw a 4.5 percent increase in occupancy to reach an average of 50.6 percent, and hotels in Asia Pacific reported a 0.8 percent decrease in occupancy to an average of 64.8 percent. According to the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), Sharjah hotels and hotel apartments registered a 19 percent increase in room nights booked during the first nine months of 2016, totaling 2.94 million room nights. Sharjah offers more than 100 hotels and hotel apartments, including properties managed by some of the leading hotel groups in the world including Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, Louvre Hotels Group, Premier Inn Hotels, Rotana Hotels and Resorts, Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, and Wyndham Worldwide. A number of new hotel and resort developments are currently underway in Sharjah, including the construction of …

Address Hotels and Resorts unveiled its new city lifestyle resort in Dubai, Address Boulevard. It adds to Emaar Hospitality Group’s impressive and growing portfolio of luxury hospitality venues that have redefined the hotel industry and set new benchmarks in service standards. Address Boulevard has 196 spacious rooms including 116 spacious Deluxe Rooms, 44 Deluxe Club Rooms, 28 One-Bedroom Suites, seven Two-Bedroom Suites and a luxurious Presidential Suite offering spectacular views of The Dubai Fountain and Burj Khalifa. In addition, there are 532 serviced apartments including duplexes and two penthouses, with short-term guests at the residences also guaranteed access to the hotel’s facilities. Chris Newman, Chief Operating Officer of Emaar Hospitality Group, said: “Address Boulevard is another statement on the ambition of Emaar Hospitality Group to set new industry standards. A celebration of the hospitality excellence that we have brought to Dubai, it is uniquely positioned as a city lifestyle resort – which integrates all the romantic charm of a resort with the convenience, amenities and appeal of a city hotel. Address Boulevard is exceptional in all its facets – from the architecture to the interiors, the unobstructed views of iconic attractions, and our uncompromising approach to superior guest service.” Appealing to leisure and business travellers, Address Boulevard enjoys an exclusive city location that is perfect for overseas visitors who yearn to be in close proximity to retail and leisure attractions. Within walking distance of The Dubai Mall, the world’s largest retail and entertainment destination, the hotel is also on the vibrant Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, offering an extensive choice of specialty food and beverage concepts, ideal for families and young visitors. It is also in close to Dubai Opera, the …

Rotana made its long-awaited debut in Africa with the official opening of Kin Plaza Arjaan by Rotana in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The luxury five-star hotel was inaugurated by His Excellency the Governor of the city of Kinshasa, André Kimbuta Yongo, in the presence of prominent dignitaries and members of Rotana’s senior management including Nasser Al Nowais, Chairman and Selim El Zyr, Vice Chairman. Omer Kaddouri, President & CEO of Rotana, “Rotana has been increasingly looking to markets in Africa to drive business growth and expansion, and today we mark a major milestone in our efforts to extend our geographical presence in the continent. We are very excited to bring our decades of hospitality expertise to the Democratic Republic of Congo – a country we believe has immense tourism potential which has largely remained untapped. As the second largest city in Africa, Kinshasa offers tremendous business opportunities and is renowned for its nature attractions. Yet, the city is still vastly underserved when it comes to hospitality, especially in the upper end of the market. The opening of Kin Plaza Arjaan by Rotana marks a significant step in the further development of Kinshasa’s hospitality industry, and will enhance the city’s positioning and credentials as a destination that offers comfortable accommodation to visitors. The five-star hotel will bring a new standard of refinement and guest comfort to Congo’s fast-growing hospitality sector.” A modern property equipped with contemporary technology and facilities, Kin Plaza Arjaan by Rotana include 101 luxurious rooms, studios and suites along with a selection of three food and beverage outlets. The hotel offers four meeting and conference rooms – all fully equipped with the latest technology …

Park Inn by Radisson Hotel Abu Dhabi Yas Island has undergone an AED9 million refurbishment project. The new design delivers a fresh, modern and fun experience. The property has completed the refurbishment of 100 guest rooms, with the remaining rooms to be refurbished in summer of this year. The rooms have been overhauled to deliver the modern essentials of a great hotel experience with up to date technology matched with an uncompromised level of design and comfort. One of the very cool features about the new rooms is that each of them has Apple TV, a feature that allows guests to wirelessly stream videos, music, and photos from any Apple mobile device. Complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel as it has always been but later this year the hotel will be investing AED1.5 million in upgrading the wireless Internet to provide better and faster connectivity for their guests. The interior of the rooms is fresh and modern with more focus towards sleek fittings and space, with a more minimalist approach to create space and less bulky furniture. The trendy décor also aims to deliver a “fresh, modern and fun guest room experience” that will resonate well with international and domestic travelers. State-of-the-art headboards with colour-changing LED mood lights complete the “cool” guest experience. The makeover does not just focus on design but the comfort factor for guests has not been forgotten; and all the Next GEN rooms have brand new higher quality mattresses to ensure a great night’s sleep for all its hotel guests.

FORM Hotel, the upscale hotel brand in Smartotels Hospitality International’s portfolio, was launched at GIOHIS 2017 (Gulf & Indian Ocean Hotel Investors’ Summit) in the UAE. A pioneering ‘concept hotel’ brand, FORM offers business and leisure travelers accessible premium hotel fundamentals with the flexibility of add-on service and amenity features in a technologically-advanced, design-forward and socially-responsible environment. FORM Hotel’s 143-key flagship property is being developed by Dubai Contracting Company (DCC), a world-class UAE-based contracting and development company with significant long-standing experience in hotel real estate, and designed with inimitable timeless elements and custom-designed furniture by Paris-based global architectural firm, Architecture-Studio, known for creating global landmarks such as the Arab World Institute in France and the National Theatre of Bahrain. FORM Hotel Dubai’s facilities will include an all-day dining lifestyle restaurant, a rooftop infinity pool, a fully-equipped rooftop gym, a specialized design boutique, and a technology-focused boardroom. The hotel is situated by the newly-extended Dubai creek in Al Jaddaf, a location rooted in tradition and evolving with the urban landscape of Dubai. FORM Hotel Dubai is located within close proximity and favourable accessibility to some of Dubai’s most famous landmarks and business and leisure destinations. Currently under construction, the hotel is expected to open in Q1 2018. Smartotels Hospitality International LLC’s Founder and Managing Partner, Tarek M. Daouk said: “By offering a core hospitality experience with the flexibility of add-on service and amenity features, FORM Hotel will empower its guests to customize their journey. The hotel will benefit from an operating model that is engineered to drive strong returns to investors through an increased ability to control operating expenses by compressing fixed costs and exploiting variable costs”. FORM Hotel has designed …