Category Archives: Hotels

Radisson Hotel Group announced the launch of a new brand, Radisson Individuals. Radisson Individuals is a conversion brand that offers independent hotels and local, regional chains the opportunity to be part of the global Radisson Hotel Group platform, benefit from the Group’s international awareness and experience, with the freedom to maintain their own uniqueness and identity. Radisson Individuals hotels are selected for their own characteristics and personalities, offering guests an opportunity to discover new locations around the world, while always delivering Radisson Hotel Group’s high standards of quality and “Yes I Can!” service hospitality, combined with the local flavors and personality of the member hotels. Radisson Individuals represents an exceptional opportunity for hotels to enhance their visibility, nurture customer confidence, and access a wider audience through multiple distribution channels and a global sales structure. These hotels will benefit from the contracting power and economies of scale that come from a brand that is trusted by millions of guests across the globe as well integrated IT and revenue platforms, and comprehensive operational systems to deliver high GOP margins. In addition, Radisson Hotel Group has signed ten new hotels across EMEA in Q3 2020 in the UK, Italy, Ukraine, Germany, Egypt, and Nigeria. The new signings build on the 15 hotel signings which were announced in Q2 2020 and re-affirm the Group’s commitment to its owners, employees, guests and partners, and its ambitious five-year development plan. Radisson Hotel Group continues to expand its new brand architecture and further strengthen its presence across EMEA. Elie Milky, Vice President Business Development Middle East, Pakistan, Greece and Cyprus, Radisson Hotel Group, said: “The launch of this exclusive affiliation brand is a bold and innovative conversion …

Marriott International’s commitment to Clean and Global Cleanliness Council, Marriott has introduced digital content about redefined processes and reimagined spaces guided by cleanliness experts and best practices to help hosts, organisers and attendees plan and execute meetings and connect with confidence. Recognised as an industry leader for quality and exacting standards for over 93 years, Marriott is introducing changes which include enhanced sanitation guidelines, new operational training for associates, and increased use of conference technologies to ensure that customers are able to come together when they are ready. Meeting planners may now reference a series of new materials including customer stories and resources that provide additional context and information for designing successful events in the current environment. Available on MarriottBonvoyEvents.com, these tools illustrate Marriott’s approach to delivering high-quality meeting experiences across its full portfolio of hotels and resorts. “Our Commitment to Clean is guiding everything from how we keep our guests and associates safe to how we begin to welcome back event and meetings business across Europe, Middle East & Africa,” said Neal Jones, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, Marriott International, EMEA. “Our Global Cleanliness Council is working with us to tackle the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic and what that means for an event or meeting at a hotel. Having experts in the area of hygiene, food safety, infectious disease, and infection prevention has been enormously beneficial in helping us think through everything we can do to support organisations as they begin to envision, plan and execute future meetings and events of all sizes.”

Accor announced its continued action to lead the hospitality industry with the most stringent cleaning standards and operational procedures concentrated on guest safety. Following operational disruptions stemming from COVID-19, Accor has successfully reopened most of its hotels with 95% of them having already adopted the Group’s trusted ALLSAFE cleanliness and hygiene protocols jointly developed with Bureau Veritas. To date, Accor has successfully certified 65% of these hotels with the ALLSAFE label through a third-party review and accreditation process with professional auditors like Bureau Veritas, SGS, Clifton and Ecolab, and is working to have additional hotels independently verified as ALLSAFE compliant over the coming months. “At Accor, we are grateful for the trust our guests have placed in us to protect their health, safety and wellbeing and this is a responsibility we prioritise above all else,” said Chris Cahill, Deputy CEO Hotel Operations. “Throughout this difficult year, our hotel teams have risen to the challenge of enhancing their already stringent protocols and following increased public safety regulations while continuing to welcome, safeguard and take care of others; this remains at the very heart of what we do and who we are as hoteliers.” “Rolling out the ALLSAFE Program in our region has been a priority for us since its launch”, said Mark Willis, CEO Middle East & Africa. As we continue to welcome our guests with all the joy and expectation that travel brings, we want to ensure we keep them, and our team members, as safe and protected as we can along their journey.”

Ascott has launched its new ‘Discover ASR’ mobile app for members of its loyalty programme, Ascott Star Rewards (ASR). The new mobile app will unlock a world of conveniences for ASR members, providing greater value and flexibility to enhance their experience with Ascott. The ‘Discover ASR’ mobile app acts as a one-stop 24/7 digital concierge for ASR members, who can search for special deals and book their stay at about 200 participating properties in over 25 countries and more than 85 cities through the mobile app. This includes Ascott’s properties within the Middle East and Turkey: Ascott Park Place Dubai, Citadines Metro Central Dubai, AscottTahlia Jeddah, Ascott Sari Jeddah, Citadines Al Salamah Jeddah, Spectrums Residence Jeddah, AscottRafalOlaya Riyadh, AscottCorniche Al Khobar, Somerset Panorama Muscat, Somerset Al Fateh Bahrain, Somerset West Bay Doha, and Somerset Maslak Istanbul. Kevin Goh, CapitaLand’s Chief Executive Officer for Lodging and Ascott’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “Across our multiple lodging brands, Ascott provides a home away from home for a wide demographic of guests with varying lengths of stay. With the mobile app, ASR members are empowered to shape their own stay experiences through a unified platform in a convenient and effective way.” From a global perspective, Goh further added, “Ascott’s adoption of technology has boosted our operational efficiencies and allowed us to deliver greater value to our business partners and customers. The use of unmanned service robots and self check-in kiosk with facial recognition have enabled us to minimise physical contact while continuing to provide seamless services to guests amid COVID-19.” Discussing further on the launch of the ASR app, Tan Bee Leng, Ascott’s Managing Director, Brand & Marketing, said, “Our members will get to …

Ultimate sunset destination to launch this week with beachside dining and nightlife options, entertainment and water-sport activities for all visitors. Get set to ‘bring on the beach’ with an iconic new addition to the shores of Palm Jumeirah – Palm West Beach by Nakheel Malls, the retail arm of master developer Nakheel. Offering a range of premium licensed hotels and restaurants and sea view vistas, the destination promises to be the ultimate sunset spot in Dubai. Opening to the public later this week, Palm West Beach will be home to the ultimate UAE staycation the entire family can enjoy with all-day beachfront entertainment, water sports, and the best Dubai skyline views. The walkable waterfront destination comprises 1.6km of promenade and beachfront. Palm West Beach is pet friendly, and home to a stunning tree lined promenade, with 300 palm trees which will illuminate the walking and running trail in the evening. Bring on the beach at a true play and stay concept destination, where visitors can enjoy round the clock fun on morning runs, lazy beachfront breakfasts, cosying up with a favourite book, building sandcastles, and picture-perfect sunsets, at Palm West Beach. Visitors can choose from an array of water view restaurants including: the recently opened – Koko Bay, and the upcoming Jones The Grocer, Aprons and Hammers, Lucky Fish, Señor Pico, Orange Chameleon, among others. Palm West Beach will also include eight 5-star Hotels: Fairmont The Palm, Five Palm Jumeirah, SOHO Palm Jumeirah, Adagio Aparthotels, Byblos, Hilton Palm Jumeirah, and One Palm. Visitors to Palm West Beach can enjoy an action-packed selection of water sports including kayaking, VR diving, stand-up paddle boarding, electric hydrofoil surfing, sea bikes, Catamarans and more. …

Grand Heights Hotel Apartments is open and ready to welcome guests seeking the convenience of modern hotel-apartment living. Grand Heights Hotel Apartments has officially opened in Dubai’s dynamic Barsha Heights district, making an exciting new addition to hotel-apartment living in the heart of the city. Ideally located close to Dubai’s Sheikh Zayed Road and major transport services, including the Dubai Metro, Grand Heights Hotel Apartments features 184 fully equipped studios and one-bedroom apartments. Each generously sized apartment boasts modern furnishings and amenities. A refrigerator, electric hotplate, microwave and washing machine can be found in the kitchen, while the living space offers flat screen TVs and a comfortable seating area, making the apartments ideal for guests who appreciate home conveniences. Managed by property developer, The First Group, Grand Heights Hotel Apartments is ideal for guests seeking affordable high-quality accommodation in a prime location. Guests will enjoy convenient access to Dubai’s major attractions and key business districts such as Media City and Internet City which are just minutes away. “Grand Heights Hotel Apartments is perfect for individuals that want to have all of the comforts of home in a prime, central location. Whether guests are planning a short trip to Dubai or are looking for a place to call home for the long term, they will enjoy unrivalled convenience and value with us. Recently, we have seen an increase in demand for fully serviced apartments, with individuals moving away from traditional yearly apartment leases and opting for the convenience of hotel apartment rentals that include all utilities as well as flexible payment options,” commented David Thomson, Vice President of TFG Hotel Management Company.

Atlantis, The Palm announced that it will be offering all its global guests who stay five nights or more the opportunity to claim back the cost of their respective countries’ departure PCR test from now until 30th April, 2021.With many travellers still required to conduct a PCR test before arriving into the UAE, Atlantis, The Palm is giving back the full cost of the tests for two guests per room staying five nights or more to spend as in-resort credit. This means that for a PCR test that costs up to US$190 (AED 700) each, two guests will receive the full amount of the test back to spend on anything in-resort including food and beverage, spa or marine and waterpark experiences. Speaking about this latest development, Timothy Kelly, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, Atlantis Dubai, said, “We are continuously evolving to meet the needs of our customers during this challenging time. We would like to continue to make the travels of our international guests easier by giving back the cost of their home country’s departure PCR test to spend on a range of amazing in-resort activities and experiences. We hope this will continue to reduce any travel inconveniences and encourage more guests from across the globe to visit Dubai’s premier entertainment destination.” Kelly added, “We look forward to our guests relishing every moment of their time spent at Atlantis, The Palm as we strive to implement innovative ways to welcome them in a socially responsible way. To further ensure this, Atlantis, The Palm has been granted the internationally certified safeguard label by Bureau Veritas as well as issued the safety seal of approval by the Dubai government – the …

Marriott Bonvoy is kicking off a Week of Wonders from October 8 – 15, 2020. The celebration is aimed at bringing members joy and happiness by encouraging travel and providing an opportunity to experience the pleasures of travel in their own homes. Each day this week will feature a different Wonder with themes such as inspiration, comfort, discovery, rejuvenation and delight. These Wonders will include great travel offers globally at renowned brands that are part of the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio including The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, W Hotels and Autograph Collection.  “We are all yearning for the time when we can freely travel again and explore the world,” said David Flueck, Senior Vice President, Global Loyalty, Marriott International. “With Week of Wonders, we are bringing our best offers, content and experiences across the entire Marriott Bonvoy portfolio to inspire travellers to dream of travel or recreate their favourite travel experiences at home.”

Aleph Hospitality announced its entry in to the Middle East market with the signing of its first hotel in Dubai.The 386-room five-star hotel, located on Sheikh Zayed Road adjacent to the museum of the future and minutes away from the Dubai World Trade Centre, is set to open in the second quarter of 2021 and will be internationally branded. The property has a full floor of meeting rooms as well as two restaurants, a pool and spa facilities. Commenting on the news, Bani Haddad, Founder and Managing Director of Aleph Hospitality, said, “We are very excited about the signing of the management agreement for our first hotel in the UAE and look forward to announcing the brand soon. After considerable success growing rapidly in Africa, we are now adding the Middle East to our focus. The strong demand we’re witnessing – even during the Covid-19 global pandemic – has proven that our model and the services we provide are the right solution for hotel owners and international brands alike.” “Given the current growth and our healthy pipeline, we are confident of achieving and very likely exceeding our target of 35 hotels by 2025,” added Haddad.

Speaking with TTME at a recent interview, Ravi Santiago, Cluster General Manager for the three properties in Ajman; Ramada Hotel & Suites by Wyndham Ajman, Ramada by Wyndham Beach Hotel Ajman, and Wyndham Garden Ajman Corniche and Group Financial Controller for R Hotels stated, “We are blessed to enjoy 70% occupancy during the month of September, once the lockdown was lifted, we started implementing simple promotions that included some very attractive packages for the guests. This soon grew in number and we kept on ensuring that the guests had something more every time they would book with us. One of the key drivers of success was the staff that contributed every step of the way. We believed that a motivated staff is the way forward in the hospitality industry as it is service oriented, hence today we are very lucky to enjoy this success mainly due to the proactive initiatives by the owners and management. In fact, now we are hiring new staff for the properties in Ajman.” Once the lockdown was lifted, slowly the domestic tourists started their staycations, at first they started off with simple promotions to lure more domestic tourists in to the properties, soon, the hotels located in Ajman started receiving more guests which made them enjoy a really steady occupancy rate. When the first wave of the pandemic hit the industry, everyone was caught off guard, however, some were proactive in their approach to dealing with the hitherto known issue at hand hence, re-strategised a plan that would have a long term benefit overall that would ensure sustainability and smooth operations for a period yet to be known. The owners and the management team at …