Category Archives: Hotels

TRYP by Wyndham Dubai is set to open this summer with 650 hotel rooms including 25 of the brand’s signature fitness rooms, with exercise equipment for private workouts. The hotel will also offer an inviting, social lobby known as Plaza Central where guests can eat and drink, work, relax, or meet. Other facilities include a swimming pool, fitness centre, and meeting space. Wyndham Dubai Marina and TRYP by Wyndham Dubai are owned by subsidiaries of leading Dubai based property developers The First Group and are managed by Wyndham Hotel Group. Wyndham Dubai Marina and TRYP by Wyndham Dubai participate in Wyndham Rewards, the simple-to-use, revolutionary loyalty programme from Wyndham Hotel Group, offering members generous points earning structure along with a flat, free-night redemption rate in 75 countries across the world – the first of its kind for a major hotel rewards programme.

The Oberoi Beach Resort, Al Zorah’s first waterfront hospitality project opens its doors to the world this week, making it the fifth five-star hotel in the emirate. Operated by Oberoi Hotels and Resorts, the 113-key Oberoi Beach Resort, Al Zorah, designed by famous Italian architect Pierro Lissoni, is a luxury eco-destination set on white-sand beaches, and in close proximity to azure lagoons and lush mangroves. The resort is located beside 247 acres (one million square metres) of rich ecological wetland around which Al Zorah is centred and offers a 18-hole Nicklaus Design championship golf course, motorised and non-motorised watersports which include among others jet skiing, banana boat rides, boat and fishing trips, kayaking, windsurfing and sailing; amongst several other amenities. Covering an area of 5.43 million square metres, Al Zorah is a mixed-use coastal development situated on 1.6 km stretch of a beachfront. Owned by Al Zorah Development Co., a joint venture between Solidere International Limited and the Government of Ajman, the project combines intricate master planning with the natural environment to create a distinctive luxury destination that will attract visitors and residents from across the region, if not the world. Imad Dana, Chief Executive Officer, Al Zorah Development Co., said: “The classification of The Oberoi Beach Resort, Al Zorah as a five-star property further strengthens our promise and commitment to attracting the best products and services to the region. Visitors to our destination are already enjoying the 18-hole championship golf course, navigating the development through the completed landscaped roads and infrastructure, the recreational public parks and the soon-to-open Marina 1. Now with the five-star hotel open to tourists and residents, Al Zorah will serve to enhance the UAE’s luxury …

AccorHotels signed a hotel management agreement with Arabia Group to open Fairmont Pyramids Hotel & Residences, slated to open by 2022. The property will have 250 rooms and 200 branded residences. Spanning 20 floors, the hotel will form the highest tower in 6th of October, a city in the Giza Governorate, and will constitute the majority of the hospitality component within the upcoming Madinat A’Shamss development – a mixed-use project spanning over 56 hectares within close proximity to the Pyramids of Giza. Designed in accordance to a blend of Pharaonic and modern design aesthetics, the hotel is located just four kilometers from the Great Pyramids with unobstructed views of the wonders of the World as well as direct access to the new pyramids entrance. The hotel is only three minutes away from the new Egyptian grand museum with easy access to the new ring road connecting to the new capital city, and is also a short 15-minute drive from the new Sphinx International Airport. Sami Nasser, Chief Operating Officer, Luxury Brands, Middle East, AccorHotels, said: “We are excited to announce the addition of Fairmont Pyramids Hotels & Residences to our Egypt luxury portfolio.” He added, “This announcement further underscores the Group’s commitment to the destination and its envisioned potential, evident with our existing portfolio of luxury properties including seven operational hotels under the Fairmont, Sofitel and Sofitel Legend brands and a robust pipeline to open within the next five years.” “We look forward to playing an integral role in re-energizing the country’s tourism infrastructure,” said Frank Naboulsi, Regional Vice President and General Manager, Fairmont Nile City. “The destination has demonstrated positive growth over the past few years which has also …

Minor Hotels (MH) has announced the signing of a management agreement for a new AVANI property in the United Arab Emirates – AVANI Al Marjan Island Ras Al Khaimah Resort. The 225-key AVANI Al Marjan Island will be located on View Island. Facilities at the purpose-built resort will include a selection of King, Twin and Disabled Access guest rooms and AVANI Suites, an AVANI Living Space and Pantry. The resort will also host all-day dining and poolside restaurants, meeting and event facilities with a capacity of 200 people, a kids’ club and a spa. In addition, the new resort will have an outdoor swimming pool and beachfront access with 360 degree views. Minor Hotels’ luxury Anantara brand already has a new resort under development in the emirate – the 225-key Anantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah Resort is scheduled to open in 2019. Minor Hotels currently operates 10 properties across four of its brands in the UAE in the emirates of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The group’s pipeline for AVANI hotels includes two other upcoming properties in the UAE – the 372-key AVANI Ibn Battuta Dubai Hotel and the 230-key AVANI Jebel Dhanna Resort in the coastal area of the Al Gharbia region of Abu Dhabi, both scheduled to open in 2019. Ramzy Fenianos, VP Development, Minor Hotels Europe, Middle East and Africa, commented, “We are delighted to announce the signing of this management agreement with Crowngate International to bring AVANI to the fast developing tourism destination of Ras Al Khaimah. We see a lot of potential in the emirate, both for our upscale AVANI brand and in the luxury segment, where we already have an Anantara resort under …

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has inked an agreement with the Civil Service Employees Pension Fund to operate its first property in Oman’s capital city, Mövenpick Hotel & Apartments Al Azaiba Muscat. Mövenpick Hotel & Apartments Al Azaiba Muscat will feature 274 guest rooms and suites and 50 serviced apartments. Standout facilities will include six market-oriented food and beverage outlets, a rooftop restaurant, swimming pool, meeting and event space, a ballroom, a rooftop gym with spa, executive lounge and a residents’ lounge. “This new property will be a welcome addition to our already extensive portfolio of hotels in the Middle East,” said Andreas Mattmüller, Chief Operating Officer, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, Middle East and Africa. “With Muscat undergoing rapid development and significant funds being invested into major tourism infrastructure projects, the time is right to put the Mövenpick brand on the map in this important regional city.” Oman is considered a market brimming with opportunities for the hospitality sector, with some $640 million ploughed into travel and tourism projects in 2015, or 3.1% of total investment, World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) statistics reveal. In 2016, the Sultanate was on track to receive more than 1.8 million international tourists – a figure expected to almost double to 3.34 million by 2026. “Oman’s tourism industry is flourishing, and we are enormously encouraged by the government and private sector’s commitment to exploit its true potential,” said Amir Lababedi, Vice President Development – Middle East and Africa. “This management agreement consolidates Mövenpick’s position as one of the region’s leading hotel operators and marks another milestone in our strategy to maximise our exposure in every major Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) market.”  

Rotana has signed an agreement with RSG International, a UAE-based global conglomerate, for a new five star hotel and serviced apartment project in Dubai, located in Sufouh Gardens on Sheikh Zayed Road. Named Sabah Rotana, the 54-storey, 534-room property will be managed by Rotana on behalf of RSG International and is scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2020. The agreement was signed by Raj Sahni (Abu Sabah), Owner and Chairman of RSG International, and Nasser Al Nowais, Chairman of Rotana. Also present at the signing ceremony were Sabah Sahni, Vice Chairman of RSG International, Sumeet Sahni, Deputy Vice Chairman of RSG International and Jasjit Singh Jaaj, Group CEO of RSG International, Selim El Zyr Vice Chairman of Rotana and Omer Kaddouri President & CEO of Rotana. “We are very pleased to partner with RSG International, that brings over 25 years of experience in real estate and property development, on this new venture,” said Nasser Al Nowais. “Sabah Rotana has been designed keeping in mind the comfort and flexibility that today’s modern traveller demands, and will offer guests an enriching experience. The project continues Rotana’s strategy of centrally locating its properties in prime city areas in order for guests to enjoy greater convenience and easy accessibility.” Raj Sahni (Abu Sabah) said, “We are proud to award management of one of our distinguished projects to the region’s premier hotel management company. Set in a prominent location in one of Dubai’s most vibrant and dynamic communities, on Sheikh Zayed Road, we hope to create an iconic hospitality landmark in Dubai. RSG International has long been a trusted name in the region’s property development market, and our collaboration with Rotana on this …

Wyndham Garden Ajman Corniche will exhibit as part of R Hotels stand alongside Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman and Ramada Beach Hotel Ajman, which are also owned and managed by the same group. The first Wyndham Garden hotel in the UAE is slated to open in the last quarter of 2017. The four-star hotel will feature a total of 179 rooms and suites, an executive lounge on the top floor with panoramic sea views, two restaurants, an outdoor swimming pool, gym and spa, separate health clubs for men and women, and a kids’ play area. Iftikhar Hamdani, the cluster general manager for the three properties, commented: “We are excited to introduce the new Wyndham Garden Ajman Corniche. On top of the Middle East market, we are also eyeing Baltic, Balkans, East Europe, Germany, and Central Asia during the exhibition. Along with our two Ramada properties, the group is expected to accommodate the growing number of guests in Ajman, thus reinforcing our status as the leading group in terms of number of rooms and occupancy in the Northern Emirates.” R Hotels stand will be at HC0425 of the hotel pavilion. Wyndham Garden Ajman Corniche will also be joining the Ajman Tourism Development Department (ATDD) stand.

Marriott International has taken an equity stake in PlacePass, a provider of travel technology solutions and the online meta-search platform for in-destination experiences and activities. Global travellers will soon be able to choose from an additional 100,000 plus authentic local experiences in 800 destinations worldwide when they book direct on Marriott.com or SPG.com or their respective apps. Travellers can go to members.marriott.com to learn even more about what’s in store and the types of experiences Marriott will offer with PlacePass, as well as the personalized experiences already available to travelers through its loyalty programs. “The addition of PlacePass activities and tours beginning later this year reflects Marriott’s commitment to giving our guests a complete travel experience whether they are in planning mode, staying in our hotels and even in-between stays when they’re thinking about travel,” said Stephanie Linnartz, Global Chief Commercial Officer, Marriott International. “We want our guests to count on Marriott to give them access to more of the destinations and things they love to do when they travel.” With an ever-increasing array of travel experiences and 30 diverse global brands, 6,000 hotels and resorts in 122 countries and territories, as well as the largest collection of luxury properties, Marriott is uniquely positioned to offer all its guests unrivaled and memorable experiences when they travel.

The five-star Ghaya Grand Hotel, in Dubai’s International Media Production Zone, is all set to host the cricketing legends and star players as Emirates Airline Twenty20 tournament kick starts in Dubai. Named the official hotel partner for this event, this is the first time that Ghaya Grand hotel is partnering to host a sporting event. In an inauguration ceremony held at The Ghaya Grand Hotel, cricketing legends Jimmy Anderson, Aaqib Javed, Ashley Giles and Paul Collingwood discussed the upcoming two-day tournament scheduled for the weekend (March 23– 24,2017) at the ICC academy in Dubai’s Sports City. Olwin Desouza, General Manager, Ghaya Grand commented “We are delighted to host the players and team officials for the tournament and we look forward to enjoying some top-quality cricket. Being an avid sports follower, my ideology is based on if you can dream it you can achieve it. Supporting sporting events like these is part of our strategy and this event provides us with the platform to engage with our customers directly.” The 2017 edition of Emirates Airline T20 is slated to be the biggest till date with both new and existing teams competing for the coveted title. Emirates has been successfully bringing international cricket clubs to Dubai to compete for the trophy. The tournament has grown substantially, since its inception in 2010, featuring stars such as Yuvraj Singh, Alister Cook, Nick Compton among its various teams. In its seventh year, the cricketing tournament will be played by six T20 teams with international and domestic players from countries across the globe.

Seeking to provide a more efficient and prompt service to its guests, Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman recently inked a partnership with ProntoResolved, a software which manages propriety complaints and handles special requests. The contract was signed by Iftikhar Hamdani, general manager of Ramada Ajman, and Franco Moline, president of ProntoResolved. ProntoResolved allows hotels to have a paperless operation by electronically streamlining guest service issues and requirements. The software takes in and resolves the requests in a timely manner; then generates reports and tracks the proficiency of response of the departments involved. Hamdani commented: “Our property is pleased to partner with ProntoResolved in providing enhanced service to our clients, thus generating higher ratings in several platforms. In addition to its systematic and effective process, the software also enables us to have a paperless, sustainable operation, which is in line with our green vision.” Moline enthused: “ProntoResolved is happy to help Ramada Ajman take customer service experience to advanced level. We are confident that this will be a fruitful partnership, and boost the property’s satisfaction ratings in various booking engines and review websites.”