Category Archives: Hotels

Al Hamra announced the opening of Sofitel Al Hamra Beach Resort, a notable addition to its distinguished hospitality portfolio. The announcement perfectly aligns with Al Hamra’s 5-year strategy which involves expanding its portfolio, optimizing assets, and upgrading existing services, thereby contributing to Ras Al Khaimah’s transformative growth towards becoming the ultimate liveable destination. The partnership with Accor to introduce Ras Al Khaimah’s first Sofitel resort was initially announced in late 2021. Sofitel Al Hamra Beach Resort seamlessly blends French elegance with local heritage to offer guests an unmatched experience amid the picturesque landscape of Ras Al Khaimah. The resort features 292 intricately designed lavish guest rooms that embody modern luxury and comfort. Complementing its exquisite accommodations are seven dining venues offering a diverse array of flavors from around the world to satisfy every palate. Furthermore, available are an array of amenities, including a spa, fitness center, beachfront swimming pools and kids and teens’ club. Given its location, guests at the resort can take advantage of the various leisure activities offered in the destination Al Hamra. The championship 18-hole Al Hamra Golf Course is a golfer’s haven, while The Royal Yacht Club of Ras Al Khaimah provides a fully serviced marina with both dry and wet berthing options, along with a variety of water sports and entertainment choices. Benoy Kurien, Group CEO, Al Hamra, said, ” The opening of Sofitel Al Hamra Beach Resort is another step towards bringing the firsts and bests to the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. The addition of diverse hospitality options aligns perfectly with the Emirate’s goal of enhancing its tourism offerings.” Al Hamra remains committed to fostering innovation and excellence across its varied asset portfolio. …

Minor Hotels announced an enhanced strategic partnership with dnata Travel Group to elevate the booking and in-destination experience for global travellers. The long-term agreement is aimed at advancing the travel experience through flexibility, exclusive packages, and savings for leisure and corporate customers, whilst driving the mutual global growth plans for both companies. Minor Hotels is expanding rapidly, aiming to add more than 200 hotels to its global portfolio by the end of 2026. In partnership, dnata will support Minor Hotels in the launch of new hotel and resort openings, through dual-branded business opportunities. The strategic partnership will cover dynamic distribution for leisure and corporate travellers, wholesale distribution for the travel trade, destination management company (DMC) integration to elevate the travel and in-resort experience, and an aligned sustainability programme and initiatives. Leisure travel Minor Hotels is offering dynamic rates to dnata Travel Group brands in all markets in which the Emirates Group operates. Leisure travellers will have access to all direct rate types from every brand under the Minor Hotels portfolio including Anantara Hotels & Resorts; Tivoli Hotels & Resorts; Avani Hotels & Resorts; NH Hotels & Resorts; NH Collection Hotels & Resorts; nhow Hotels; Oaks Hotels, Resorts & Suites; and the Elewana Collection. Travel agencies under the dnata portfolio will create preferred travel packages inclusive of Minor Hotels stays for select destinations. Minor Hotels is also integrating with dnata Travel Group DMC businesses – Arabian Adventures and Destination Asia – and its leisure, MICE, cruise, and ancillary sectors. This will increase traveller flexibility in booking dynamic packages, and in-destination experiences, with plans to improve direct access to booking an enhanced range of world-class activities and travel extras in resort. Corporate …

Praveen Shetty Chairman and Managing Director Fortune Group of Hotels shared with TravelTV Middle East that the focus for 2024 are Far East which includes China, Asia, Apart from the source markets the next big announcement made at the Arabian Travel Market is the addition of a new 4 star property in the heart of Bur Dubai. Shetty reiterated, “This reflects our commitment to growth and long-term plans, extending even to our food and beverage offerings. Thanks to our dedicated team, Fortune continues to thrive, and we look forward to the journey ahead. Arabian Travel Market is very instrumental for us as a group, helping us to expand our reach, foster partnerships, drive business growth, and stay informed about industry trends and market dynamics. One of the events we look forward to attending, as it showcases a very diverse audience not only from the middle east, but also other emerging markets like North Africa and beyond. The event also offers us with networking opportunities with industry peers, potential partners, and suppliers.”  

IHG Hotels & Resorts introduces its first collection brand to Kuwait as Arabella Beach Hotel Kuwait, Vignette Collection opened on 6th May 2024. Prominently positioned on the Arabian Gulf shoreline, the 195 room property joins IHG’s growing Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio – now the second largest in the world – to mark the GCC region’s second Vignette Collection, following Th8 Palm Dubai Beach Resort Vignette Collection’s opening in Summer this year. Central to Vignette Collection is the balance of individuality and belonging. A family of like-minded hotels, each Vignette Collection property is entirely individual in its identity yet unified by the vision to offer a more authentic way to travel. Arabella Beach Hotel, Vignette Collection gives a glimpse into Kuwait’s rich heritage to capture the breathtaking allure of the region. Its location embodies the political, cultural, and economic pulse of the nation with the governorate houses of Seif Palace, government offices, and headquarters of many Kuwaiti corporations and banks within reach. Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, India, Middle East & Africa at IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: “We are thrilled to announce the second Vignette Collection hotel opening in the Middle East, in Kuwait, as we continue to expand our luxury and lifestyle portfolio in the region. The partnership with Aqarat marks an important milestone for IHG Hotels & Resorts, singling a shift in the local hospitality market as we cater to the growing number of guests seeking curated hotel experienced driven by luxury and personalised services. As a group, IHG Hotels & Resorts remains dedicated to the delivery of unique, immersive, and authentic stay experiences that anticipate guest needs at every touchpoint of their personal journeys.” Talal Jassim Al-Bahar, Vice …

The 31st edition of ATM 2024 kicks off in Dubai featuring over 2,300 exhibitors from more than 165 countries, new destinations, including China, Macao, Kenya, Guatemala, and Columbia and expects over 41,000 visitors. Held under the theme ‘Empowering Innovation: Transforming Travel Through Entrepreneurship’, spotlighting a pivotal area for the travel and tourism industry. From startups to established brands, ATM 2024 will highlight how innovators are enhancing customer experiences, driving efficiencies and accelerating progress towards a net-zero future for the industry. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market added: “ATM 2024 is gearing up for an exciting lineup spread across two stages, with the Global Stage returning alongside the new Future Stage. The conference agenda will feature key industry speakers from around the world and address the emerging trends that are fueling the travel and tourism sector’s growth.” Curtis added: “An eagerly awaited addition to ATM 2024 is the new Entrepreneurship-focused summit, which will delve into the role of travel start-ups in the Middle East economy, spotlighting their pioneering approaches. As entrepreneurship and innovation take centre stage, the exciting ATM Start-Up Pitch Battle, in partnership with Emirates Group’s Intelak provides the perfect platform to celebrate the immense potential for innovators in the region and for brands to present their industry solutions.” The number of participating hotel brands for ATM 2024 has increased by 21% year-on-year, with a 58% rise in new Travel Technology products showcased. Several new destinations will be introduced at ATM 2024, including China, Macao, Kenya, Guatemala, and Columbia, while returning countries include Spain and France, among many others. Upticks across all key verticals with year-on-year growth across all regions participation including ME 28%, Asia and Europe 34%, and …

Dusit Hotels and Resorts will showcase the much-anticipated first hotel in Saudi Arabia – Dusit Princess Al Majma’ah, Riyadh and September reopening of its iconic flagship Dusit Thani Bangkok hotel at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2024. Led by Mr Gilles Cretallaz, Chief Operating Officer, Dusit International, Dusit’s team of corporate executives will present a comprehensive overview of Dusit Hotels and Resorts’ global portfolio and its commitment to uniquely delivering Thai-inspired gracious hospitality to the world. This legacy, pioneered 75 years ago this May by the company’s founder Thanpuying Chanut Piyaoui with the opening of her first Bangkok hotel, continues to define the Dusit experience today. Beyond the company’s rich history, attendees can expect to learn more about a diverse range of participating properties, including established favourites such as Dusit Thani Dubai, Dusit Doha Hotel, Dusit Thani LakeView Cairo, and Dusit Thani Maldives, alongside a curated selection of luxury villas from Elite Havens. The spotlight will shine on last year’s international openings, including the boutique Dusit Suites Athens, Greece, Dusit’s first hotel in Europe; the lifestyle-oriented ASAI Kyoto Shijo and luxurious Dusit Thani Kyoto, Dusit’s first properties in Japan; and the breathtaking Dusit Thani Himalayan Resort Dhulikhel and contemporary Dusit Princess Kathmandu, Dusit’s first entries into Nepal. Last year’s openings in Dusit’s home base of Thailand will also be showcased, including ASAI Bangkok Sathorn, the second property in the capital under Dusit’s affordable lifestyle brand; the upscale dusitD2 Samyan Bangkok, the first dusitD2-branded hotel in the city; and Dusit Princess Phatthalung, a beautiful resort in southern Thailand, bringing Dusit’s domestic property count to 18. Alongside these recent additions, Dusit will also reveal more about its expected 2024 openings, including up to …

Club Med will debut for the first time in the Middle East in Musandam, Oman. The 300 rooms’ resort will be an Exclusive Collection, the most exclusive and premium line of product of the Club Med portfolio. It offers a refined and authentically luxurious way of living, free from pretension and ostentatiousness while still catering to the standards and needs of an elevated clientele. Club Med Musandam will be carrying a strong flair of the Oman culture, the resort interiors, entertainment and even food and beverages will be inspired by the location, climate, and cultures of the region. The Club Med Exclusive Collection currently consists of 20 properties including: 5 Exclusive Collection Resorts, 10 Exclusive Collection Spaces, 4 Villas and Chalets, and 1 Sailing Yacht, the Club Med 2. Fun family activities creating a warm and inclusive environment together with quiet private spaces will co-exist in a complete vacation offer. For families, this will translate into world-class kids’ clubs with tailored facilities and certified staff for children of all ages, from 4 months old, inspiring curiosity, fun, and friendship. Activities and sports are an integral part of the Club Med DNA and expertise, and active guests can expect a diverse array of land and water activities. One will find sporting sites and professional staff (called G.Os “Gracious Organizers”) who aim to have you discover new sports or improve your skills. With an all-inclusive holiday at Club Med Musandam, holidaymakers can enjoy tennis, paddle tennis, beach tennis, archery, scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing, kayaking and paddling over the water. For those looking for a wellness retreat, the Resort will offer a full holistic well-being experience with a real sanctuary to reconnect yourself with …

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) announced that its Hotel Sustainability Basics (Basics) has achieved a significant milestone, with 3,400 properties now verified across almost 80 countries. Designed to help hoteliers on their first steps to improve their sustainability ratings and raise the bar of sustainability across the global hospitality industry, this independent global sustainability verification programme is overseen by internationally recognised verifiers Green Key and SGS. It empowers hotels of all sizes to follow a 12-step programme aimed at reducing carbon emissions, promoting nature conservation, and ensuring local communities benefit from a hotel’s operations. This latest achievement marks a pivotal step forward in Travel & Tourism towards a more resilient and sustainable future. Hotels groups from major Travel & Tourism destinations such as Germany, China, Mexico, United Arab Emirates, Sweden, Spain, India, Madagascar, and Turkiye, amongst many others, have joined the groundbreaking initiative. ‘Basics’ has now been adopted by hotels across all continents, signifying the eagerness from major hospitality players across the globe to move forward in their sustainability journey. In addition to its geographical expansion, Basics is strengthening the sector’s alignment on sustainability through new strategic partnerships. A key collaboration with BeCause is set to enhance relationships and visibility with Online Travel Agents (OTAs), providing an invaluable platform for hotels committed to sustainable operations. This initiative reflects WTTC’s dedication to facilitating meaningful connections within the industry, promoting a unified approach to sustainability. Basics has achieved full alignment with Green Key, a leading international eco-label for tourism facilities, meaning all Green Key certified hotels are now in full compliance with Basics and can obtain Basics verification with no extra effort. Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said; “WTTC’s Hotel Sustainability Basics is …

Sabre Hospitality announced a multi-year renewal with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, following the hotel franchisor’s highly successful adoption of SynXis Property Hub, Sabre Hospitality’s property management system (PMS). With seamless integration to SynXis Central Reservation System as a single source of truth, SynXis Property Hub increases operational efficiency by reducing the time to execute routine tasks and allows hoteliers to access their property from anywhere through cloud-native technology. In a landmark achievement that showcases the decade-long partnership between the two companies, Sabre and Wyndham teams successfully migrated more than 5,000 Wyndham hotels to SynXis Property Hub, including the transition of 550 in a single record-breaking month, nearly one year ahead of schedule. This early completion is complemented by the migration’s efficiency, which reduced the expected transition downtime for the Wyndham properties by 34%, ensuring successful management of day-to-day operations. This milestone not only highlights an innovative leap, but also sets a new industry standard for large-scale technology migrations. “Completing this migration nearly a year ahead of schedule is a testament to the power of innovation and collaboration,” said Scott Strickland, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. “Through our work with Sabre, thousands of Wyndham hotels now benefit from groundbreaking efficiencies, further enhancing their ability to serve guests and deliver great experiences day-in and day-out.” Strickland highlighted some of the immediate benefits of this migration for Wyndham properties and their daily operations. “For instance, service desk interactions have decreased by 50% compared to the legacy system after just 30 days of adoption. Additionally, by equipping our housekeeping with mobile solutions, we’ve increased clean room availability for guests by up to 15%. We’ve also streamlined the reservation delivery and …

IHG Hotels & Resorts signed a management agreement with Refad Real estate investment & development company part of Abdulhadi AlQahtani, sons group Company to bring Hotel Indigo & Residences Al Khobar to Saudi Arabia by September 2027. In line with its commitment to fostering collaboration between its partners, TDF has facilitated the recent signing that will contribute to the sustainability of the Kingdom’s hospitality and tourism industries. Developed as part of the Refad project, which is set to become the most iconic mixed-use lifestyle destination in Eastern Province, Hotel Indigo & Residences Al Khobar will feature more than 200 keys of hotel rooms and serviced apartments in the vibrant corniche district of Al Khobar. As one of IHG’s lifestyle brands, Hotel Indigo properties offer a gateway to some of the world’s most inspiring locations. Just as no two neighborhoods are alike, no two Hotel Indigo properties are the same, taking inspiration from the area around each hotel to inform all aspects of the guest experience, from the hotel’s boutique design approach to locally inspired restaurants. Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, India, Middle East and Africa (IMEA) at IHG Hotels & Resorts, commented: “Al Khobar boasts a vibrant tapestry of economic vitality, cultural richness and scenic beauty, and offers a serene retreat for leisure seekers. With the upcoming Refad mixed-use development that will shape Al Khobar’s leisure, entertainment and hospitality offering, we are confident that Hotel Indigo & Residences Al Khobar will meet the varied preferences of guests. He added: “This strategic addition not only fuels our growth in KSA but also reaffirms our commitment to providing exceptional hospitality experiences in key markets. With the Kingdom having increased its 2030 visitor target …