Category Archives: Hotels

Amsaan Accessible Tours (AAT) has joined forces with The First Group to enhance the accessibility of its offerings in its international chain of hotels for Deaf tourists in the region. The agreement supports both organisations’ commitments to responsible tourism on a global scale. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that nearly 1.5 billion people globally grapple with hearing loss. Of these, 430 million face disabling hearing challenges, a figure projected to rise to over 700 million by 2050. Addressing core issues faced by the Deaf community, such as communication barriers and accessibility in bookings and online reservations, the partnership is determined to bring about change. With the support of AAT’s innovative solutions, including an accessible booking platform and comprehensive sign-language support, Deaf guests can anticipate a more inclusive, accessible, and bespoke experience throughout their stay. As part of this collaboration, The First Group, renowned for its upscale properties like The First Collection Business Bay, The First Collection at Jumeirah Village Circle, Wyndham Dubai Marina, and TRYP by Wyndham Dubai, will integrate AAT’s cutting-edge accessibility solutions with all its existing hospitality brands in Dubai. The need for accessibility is evidenced by Expedia’s survey, where 92% of respondents emphasised the importance of travel providers catering to travellers’ accessibility requirements. Recognising this, AAT offers a unique platform where Deaf tourists using British Sign Language (BSL) can easily navigate, make reservations, and communicate their needs seamlessly. A Deaf traveller can smoothly go through and book rooms, check-in, and even request room service or emergency assistance all through AAT’s mobile application in BSL.   Established in 2005, The First Group hotels have welcomed guests from diverse countries, including the KSA, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, the …

In an exclusive interview with TravelTV Middle East, Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, Group CEO, Miral revealed that this summer, there has been 90% occupancy at the newly opened Warner Bros hotel with a daily rate of AED 1200/-. Al Zaabi reiterated, “We are very proud of the success of those hotels, especially Warner Bros hotel for example in summer only this year we achieved 90% occupancy and the average daily rate of 1200AED and that is unheard of before. We think that this is the vision of Yas island.  In 2021, Miral we opened 3 hotels: Hilton Abu Dhabi, Double Tree as well as in collaboration with Warner Bros Discovery Warner Bros Abu Dhabi hotel.” On the sidelines at the Future Hospitality Summit Abu Dhabi, Al Zaabi further shared, “over the last 15 years Miral has been creating an unique and unforgettable destination and experiences in Abu Dhabi which helped to vision Abu Dhabi as a global hub for tourism, leisure and entertainment, we are the trusted partner here in the sector and we are very happy that the role that we are playing to transform the sector to attracting the sector in Abu Dhabi as well as the role we are playing to diversify the economy of the emirate and increase the revenue of the tourism sector. Miral looks after a number of attractions in Yas island and we oversee the strategy of Saadiyat destination management through our portfolios and we are very proud of the contribution that we are bringing here to the tourism industry from economic impact as well as revenue of tourism and very importantly the number of jobs that we have created over the past …

Minor Hotels announces the upcoming opening of a new ultra-private luxury resort in the United Arab Emirates. The 22-key Anantara Santorini Abu Dhabi Retreat is set to launch in Q4 2023 and will provide a unique boutique escape from the city, including the option for exclusive use buy-outs. This sophisticated new addition to Anantara’s growing Middle East portfolio is located in Ghantoot, an unspoilt enclave of coast approximately halfway between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Offering uninterrupted views of the Arabian Gulf, away from the towering skylines of the cities in either direction, Anantara Santorini is a 25-minute drive from Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport and 35-minute drive from Abu Dhabi International Airport. Created to reflect the iconic buildings of its namesake island, the low-lying white buildings of Anantara Santorini blend gently with the surrounding landscape and house a collection of ultra-private accommodation offering spacious interiors with ample sun-drenched terraces and unspoiled sea views. The luxurious spaces have a refined décor with soft, neutral furnishings, which continue throughout the resort. Guests will find relaxing moments on the resort’s private beach, an expansive outdoor pool that overlooks the Gulf, while the indoor cinema provides private screenings on demand with the option of late-night movies with custom gourmet cuisine. Bespoke spa treatments will be able to be enjoyed in private beachside cabanas and 24-hour butler service will ensure guests’ needs are fulfilled around the clock. The culinary experiences on offer at Anantara Santorini will include an elegant restaurant dedicated to the heritage of the region, where local ingredients and spices are brought to the fore, plus in-keeping with the property, an ocean-side restaurant will serve delicacies from Greece. Evenings can be enjoyed at …

Boutique Group signed MoU with Sommet Education. Sommet Education will support Boutique Group through customized and bespoke training pathways, enabling Boutique Group employees to benefit from Sommet Education’s vast experience in crafting hospitality programs, tailored to the talent development of the company’s employees. As Boutique Group continues to recruit talent, locally and internationally, Sommet Education has the opportunity to play a significant role through its established network to ensure that the unique talents from its Hospitality schools join the Boutique Group’s team. A leading international network of hospitality management and culinary arts schools, Sommet Education encompasses prestigious institutions such as Swiss originated hospitality business schools Glion Institute of Higher Education and Les Roches, together with culinary and pastry arts school École Ducasse. Boutique Group is a one-of-a-kind hospitality company developed to deliver a unique ultra-luxury Saudi experience that contributes to the local economy and enhances the Kingdom’s position as a leading cultural tourism destination in line with the Vision 2030. The collaboration between Boutique Group and Sommet Education will focus on three main areas: training programs, recruitment, and internships. Boutique Group will offer internship programs for students, providing them with invaluable hands-on training and experience. In turn this will help to establish a talent network, ensuring a flow of passionate individuals who are familiar with the company’s ethos and standards.

Radisson Hotel Group revealed at the Future Hospitality Summit 2023 its latest target to reach 100 operational hotels in the Middle East by 2026. Radisson Hotel Group cements its position as one of the leading international hotel groups in the Middle East with the signing of 11 hotels, resorts, and serviced apartments to date across the region in 2023. With a strong belief in the future of the travel industry in the region, the Group has set its sights on grander goals, planning 150 properties in operation and under development by 2030 across the Middle East. After an impressive track record of new signings and significant partnerships, Radisson Hotel Group’s strategic focus remains on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Simultaneously, the Group is making significant strides in the wider Middle East region, including Iraq, Oman, and Jordan, underlining its ambitious plan to develop more than 90 hotels across its ten distinct brands.  

IHG Hotels & Resorts announced the addition of InterContinental Durrat Al Riyadh Resort & Spa to its portfolio of resorts in KSA, and debuting its first urban luxury resort and spa in Riyadh. After a 45 million SAR refurbishment, the stunning property is now the first InterContinental Resort in Riyadh, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ luxury & lifestyle collection. Located at the northern gate of Riyadh, the resort resides on 154,000 sqm of a lush green oasis with a lagoon and exclusive cascades for guests to unwind and relax. The resort offers 162 extensive guestrooms, suites and stately private villas each with a private outdoor swimming pool, six dining outlets and exclusive Club InterContinental privileges and lounge access. “Durrat al Riyadh’s heritage as a place to escape to has been reimagined with an array of ways to unwind, celebrate and retreat. We can’t wait to welcome our guests from both near and far to experience the resort and our service,” says General Manager Marc Reissinger. “InterContinental Durrat Al Riyadh Resort & Spa will set the tone for unbounded adventure in the area, marrying deep knowledge of the destination with an understanding of what luxury means to the discerning modern-day traveller.”

Rotana announced at the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS), its growing pipeline as it looks to expand its operations with 30 planned openings in the next three years. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia remains a key focus for the hospitality brand as it signed four “Edge by Rotana” and one “Rayhaan by Rotana” properties in Riyadh earlier this year. The new hotels will add an impressive 618 keys to Rotana’s expansive portfolio in the Kingdom. In line with Rotana’s ambitious goal to triple the number of rooms it currently runs in the Kingdom to 6,000 over the next four years, the group added an “Edge by Rotana” property in Al Baha to its portfolio in 2023. Across the region, Rotana is gearing up to open several new properties during the last quarter of 2023, leveraging the buoyant hospitality trade. For the remainder of 2023, Rotana will see the opening of Riviera Rayhaan by Rotana in Doha, Qatar and Bomonti Arjaan by Rotana in Istanbul Türkiye. Commenting on the announcement, Makram El Zyr, Corporate Vice President of Development at Rotana, said: “We are excited to be participating in the Future Hospitality Summit again this year, offering a fantastic opportunity for Rotana to showcase its latest developments and connect with industry peers. Leveraging our keen understanding of the market, we look forward to further developing our brand presence across the region as well as entering new markets globally, always delivering on our brand promise of ‘Treasured Time’ to guests across the world.”

RAK Properties announced its partnership with Nikki Beach Global luxury lifestyle resort, branded residences and beach club operator, to develop Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Ras Al Khaimah, a new branded resort at Mina Al Arab in Ras al Khaimah. The resort, developed in partnership with RAK Properties, will bring Nikki Beach’s Celebration of Life atmosphere to Mina Al Arab, a luxury lifestyle destination that offers the tranquillity of island life with beach access and panoramic views of the Gulf. Guests will have a vast array of rooms and villas to choose from in the 155-hotel key resort, as well as access to the brand’s signature Nikki Spa, Tone Gym, and restaurant concepts. While Nikki Beach is renowned for its lively luxury beach club and resorts destinations around the world, the brand has recently announced several new resorts worldwide where visitors can experience a more relaxed barefoot luxury environment. Further details of the hotel development and opening date will be announced in due course. Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Ras Al Khaimah will be designed by Gensler, a unique global architecture, design, and planning firm that creates authentic and memorable experiences by integrating community, health, and lifestyle into their creations. Gensler, as industry leaders in driving sustainable change and net-zero buildings, align with RAK Properties’ own vision to integrate the resort with the beautiful natural environment of Mina Al Arab, while ensuring the new concept fits seamlessly into the Nikki Beach worldwide portfolio of barefoot luxury properties. Gensler will follow the Barjeel guidelines set by the RAK Municipality, integrating local products and natural materials in all aspects of the building and its interiors, connecting with local artists to highlight the …

As Future Hospitality Summit 2023 kicks off, Hilton has announced plans to increase its presence in the Middle East by more than 125% in the years ahead. Openings across the region continue, bringing Hilton’s ambitious expansion plans to life. In Qatar, LXR Hotels & Resorts welcomed The Plaza Doha to its portfolio earlier this year, further strengthening Hilton’s luxury presence in the country. In addition, Hilton celebrated the debut of Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts on the African continent with the opening of Waldorf Astoria Cairo Heliopolis in September. More openings are expected in the months ahead across a range of brands and countries, including: Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay Conrad Bahrain Financial Harbour Hilton Riyadh Olaya Hilton Cairo Nile Maadi Embassy Suites by Hilton Dubai Business Bay Hampton by Hilton Kuwait Salmiya   In Saudi Arabia, a key development market, multiple new properties were signed in August, including a Conrad Hotels & Resorts property in Riyadh’s Laysen Valley, two hotels in Abha, and a Canopy by Hilton at the Porta Jeddah Development. With these signings, Saudi Arabia has become Hilton’s largest pipeline market in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and fourth largest globally. Carlos Khneisser, Vice President, Development, Middle East and Africa, Hilton, said, “Our multi-brand growth strategy continues to show results, with close to 100 hotels – totalling almost 25,000 rooms – set to open in the Middle East in the near future. We are also proud to be managing an active pipeline, with approximately 70 percent of our Middle East projects currently under construction. We look forward to seeing these hotels come to fruition in the years ahead, while continuing to agree new properties.” Hilton will …

Rove Hotels is poised to make its way across the GCC and beyond with its ambitious expansion plan as it targets the milestone of 10,000 rooms in operation or under development  over the next five years. Homegrown in the UAE, Rove Hotels currently boasts over 3,400 operational hotel rooms across its various properties. It has garnered a reputation for seamlessly blending sustainability, innovation, and local art to curate spaces that resonate with modern explorers. From co-working areas to eco-friendly operations, world-class service scores and many innovative offerings, such as the region’s only hotel rooms designed for gamers, Rove Hotels constantly pushes the boundaries of what a lifestyle hospitality brand can offer. Rove has already proven its ability to manage a varied portfolio of properties with distinctive propositions, such as city hotels, event-led hotels, beach properties and even a theme-park hotel located at the Middle East’s largest amusement park destination, Dubai Parks and Resorts. With this expansion strategy, the Rove brand is prepared to weave its narrative of community-centred travel and off-the-beaten-track exploration into the fabric of even more regional urban destinations. This strategic decision to establish a strong Middle East presence comes after Rove’s record commercial performance numbers in 2022, the brand’s best-ever year. Paul Bridger, Chief Operating Officer of Rove Hotels, said recently of the expansion plans, “In this exciting new phase of Rove’s journey, we’re looking forward to taking our unique lifestyle hospitality concept to new destinations. As a homegrown brand, we are thrilled to see the tremendous growth in tourism that the region is experiencing, and we believe that Rove Hotels can play an important role in providing accessible quality accommodation options for travellers.”