Category Archives: Hotels

The Elaf Group recently opened Elaf Galleria, a five-star hotel in Jeddah. The soft opening of the hotel is part of the Group’s strategic expansion plans aimed at further solidifying its presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Elaf Galleria has 364 rooms spread across seven floors on two separate wings enclosed by a vaulted glass and metal roof. The property also features banquet and events facilities, an Executive Lounge and other recreational facilities including a health club and spa. Restaurants providing fine dining inside the hotel include The Kitchen, El-Vaquero, The Birdcage, Milano and Aqua. Ziyad Bin Mahfouz, CEO, Elaf Group said, “The opening of Hotel Galleria by Elaf in Jeddah is in line with ongoing efforts to strengthen our leading presence in the KSA and the rest of the GCC. We remain committed to our goal of supporting Saudi Vision 2030’s objective of reinforcing the national economy with non-oil revenue sources by providing the highest quality of hospitality services to our guests.”

Protea Hotels by Marriott, in partnership with Zambian business giant, Union Gold Zambia Limited, has signed Protea Hotel by Marriott Bonanza Estate, Lusaka. With 241 rooms, the hotel will be the largest operating hotel under the brand in the country. Strategically located within the new upmarket lifestyle hub, the hotel will be within easy reach from the international airport and major city landmarks. “Protea Hotel by Marriott Bonanza Estate, Lusaka will be a significant addition to our fast growing portfolio,” says Volker Heiden, Vice President, Protea Hotels by Marriott, Marriott International, Middle East and Africa. “The hotel’s planned facilities are geared to provide for a range of much-needed amenities in the city – additional conferencing venues, high-end food and beverage services and a spa. Most exciting is the amphitheatre which will attract mega events into the city.” According to Mark O’Donnell, Chairman, Union Gold Zambia, “We have enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship with Protea Hotels for the past 17 years, and look forward to the expansion of our association through the development of this new property. Our new venture will meet the rising demand for quality lodging in the country.”

Smartotels Hospitality is set to open its flagship property, Form Hotel Dubai- a technology-driven upscale design concept hotel in the upcoming neighbourhood of Al Jadaf and Culture Village. Form Hotel Dubai presents a timelessly-designed environment built around brand obsessions and curated add-ons to deliver all that guests value. With a strong visual art and design narrative, and emphasis on wellbeing, Form Hotel Dubai is conceptualised as a sanctuary from the city, in the city, whilst being conveniently located near to major cultural and commercial hubs. The Dubai project has been delivered with the collaboration of Dubai Contracting Company and firm Architecture Studio. Tarek M. Daouk, Founder, Smartotels, comments, “We announced our intention to bring a technology-driven design hotel concept to the UAE precisely one year ago. Today, we’re delighted to be able to confirm that we will be delivering this landmark project to guests both on time and under budget. We believe Dubai’s maturing hotel market is now prepared to welcome a creative hotel offering like ours, and that it is the ideal time to deliver Form, a novel and design-focused boutique hotel aimed at forward-thinking travellers.”

Set to transform the virtual reality entertainment landscape, Emaar Entertainment has announced a first-of-its-kind VR Park in Dubai due to open in the first half of 2018 at The Dubai Mall. The attraction will provide an unprecedented breadth of games, rides and experiences to suit all ages. Combining Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality and experiential attractions, VR Park is designed to blur the lines between perception and reality through game changing experiences, spanning wholly immersive rides, educational journeys and interactive games. Focusing on the concept of ‘Shared Escapism’, many of the attractions offer a multi-player experience – allowing visitors to interact with one another and live the experience with family and friends. VR Park has been specifically designed with attractions appealing to all interests, across adrenaline, horror, leisure and more.

Shaza Hotels has signed its third Mysk project in the Middle East, Mysk by Shaza, in Palm Jumeirah. The hotel marks a new milestone for Shaza with the entry of the group into the ever-growing Dubai market that has one of the best performing hospitality sectors in the world. The hotel aims to add a new flavour to the Dubai hotel scene, bringing an intimate and personalised experience for both the corporate market and leisure market. Commenting on the project, Simon Coombs, President and CEO, Shaza Hotels said, “Since the recent launch of Mysk by Shaza, we have been actively looking at signing a project here since the need for upscale hotels in Dubai was one of the reasons that encouraged us to create the Mysk brand. I am very happy that the first Mysk in Dubai will be located in such a prestigious location, and I am grateful for Aqua Properties for having entrusted us with their asset.”

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced the opening of Crowne Plaza Riyadh–RDC Hotel and Convention Center. The newly opened hotel will be the seventh IHG hotel in Riyadh and the 31st in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The 326-room hotel is strategically located in the Al Ra’idah Digital City (RDC), a mixed use district expected to accommodate over 20,000 employees and up to 10,000 residents. Crowne Plaza Riyadh–RDC Hotel is in close proximity to the new financial district, the Riyadh CBD, King Saud University, Diplomatic Quarter and lies within 25 minutes of King Khalid International Airport, making it an ideal choice for business travellers. The hotel also offers a comprehensive range of facilities to meet the needs of corporate and MICE guests travelling to and within the Kingdom. The hotel features over 12000 m2 of exhibition and conference space including a three-level circular conference centre, a ballroom, large pre-function areas and 12 meeting rooms equipped with modern digital technology. Guests can enjoy the hotel’s large outdoor swimming pool or re-energise with a game of tennis at the outdoor court. An on-site business centre is equipped with the latest technology to keep guests connected to their business and their families back home.

Dubai’s Gevora Hotel, with 75 floors standing tall at a height of 356 metres, has claimed the title for the tallest hotel in the world by Guinness World Records. Located on the Sheikh Zayed Road adjacent to the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC), Gevora was built by Majid Al Attar. With 528 keys consisting of 232 Deluxe Rooms, 265 one-bed room deluxe and 31 two-bedroom suites, the four-star luxury city hotel will now even wear the crown as the tallest hotel from its predecessor JW Marriott Marquis. The opening ceremony of the property was presided over by owners Majid Al Attar, Khalid Al Attar, Ahmed Abdul Rahim Al Attar, Salah Ameen, Mana Al Attar and Mohammed Al Attar. The hotel has been launched at a time when Dubai prepares for the influx of tourists for Expo 2020. The state-of-the-art meeting room facilities in the property will be a key driver for the business clientele in the area who require smaller board room type of facilities. The rooms are fully equipped with a kitchen especially designed for the GCC clientele.

Wyndham Hotel Group has become the official partner hotel of the second edition of ITB China 2018, set to take place from May 16-18 at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Conference Centre. A corresponding agreement was signed by Leo Liu, President, Greater China Wyndham Group and David Axiotis, General Manager, ITB China. The hotel group will connect brand new products and innovative services of tourism with the best industry experts in one place. With becoming the official hotel partner of China’s new marketplace for the travel industry, the Wyndham Hotel Group Greater China further solidifies its position as a leading international hospitality company. Liu said, “As one of the international leading hotel groups, Wyndham Hotel Group is pleased to partner with ITB China, a leading international travel expo, in a premier event that offers a professional take on the travel industry in a joint effort to promote its development and therefore deliver better travel experience for Chinese travellers.“ Axiotis said, “We are proud to collaborate with the Wyndham Hotel Group as partners who understands their business and markets so well. I am confident this will be a win-win partnership for both ITB China and Wyndham.”

Emirates Palace has partnered with the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) to launch UAE’s premiere catering company–Emirates Palace Catering by Dubai World Trade Centre (EPC by DWTC). This joint venture is set to elevate the events and catering scene in the capital, offering the best in local and international cuisine. The collaboration will bring a fully integrated, turn-key catering enterprise, both for events at the hotel and off-site. Commenting on the partnership, His Excellency Sultan Dahi Al Hameeri, Managing Director, Emirates Palace Company Owners (EPCO) said, “The collaboration of two such distinguished brands is the answer to the capital’s demand for a catering concept that attends to the needs of our discerning local community and offers traditional cuisine. EPC by DWTC will strive for a level of luxury and distinction that is simply unprecedented in the region”. Mahir Julfar, Senior Vice President–Venue Services Management, DWTC said, “Our partnership with a celebrated brand like the Emirates Palace allows us to tap into the capital’s thriving culinary scene, showcasing our market-leading skills and offering guests events that are most memorable.”

Rove Hotels has announced its expansion to Saudi Arabia with Rove King Abdullah Economic City, located centrally in the Bay La Sun waterfront district of King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) in the vicinity of a newly established entrepreneurship hub. The construction work is anticipated to start in the second quarter of 2018 with the soft opening scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2019. Featuring 240 rooms, fitness centres and a wide range of lifestyle amenities, Rove Hotels aims to deliver reliable, modern and efficient hospitality services that appeal to all. Like all Rove Hotels, Rove King Abdullah Economic City also takes its contemporary design cues from its surroundings. All rooms will have 48-inch interactive TV screens with smart media hubs and free Wi-Fi. Comfortable mattresses, sofa beds for extra guests, mini-fridges, safety lockers and modern bathrooms with power rain showers are standard for all rooms. Several rooms will be interconnected, ensuring the hotel is suitable for groups and families with children.