Category Archives: Hotels

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has recently announced that it will open two new properties in Dubai: Crowne Plaza Dubai Business Bay and InterContinental Residence Suites Dubai Business Bay. Both properties are in partnership with API Hotels & Resorts, and have prime locations, in Dubai’s Business Bay area, the planned business capital of the region. Expected to open in 2019, Crowne Plaza Dubai Business Bay will be situated on the Business Bay Canal, near Burj Khalifa, The Dubai Mall and other developing commercial and residential communities. With 290 rooms and suites, the hotel will offer its guests all-day dining options, as well as a gym and an outdoor infinity pool. It will also include a ballroom as well as several meeting rooms to host conferences and events. The InterContinental Residence Suites Dubai Business Bay will be situated on the Business Bay canal extension of the Dubai Creek, across from the Crowne Plaza Dubai Business Bay. This waterfront property will serve as an ideal residence for those seeking a home in the heart of Dubai’s luxury lifestyle hub, in close proximity to business areas such as Dubai International Financial Centre and Business Bay’s commercial centres. It will offer 30 studios and 60 one-bedroom, 60 two-bedroom and 10 three-bedroom suites. Jassim Al Ali, CEO of API Hotels & Resorts, added, “In order to maximize further growth opportunities in the Middle East, we believe that we need to add a global operator with an internationally recognized brand to our portfolio and IHG, as a market leader with over 5,000 hotels worldwide fits this profile perfectly.

Alibaba Group and Marriott International announced the launch of a joint venture to redefine the travel experience of Chinese consumers traveling both abroad and domestic. This venture entails drawing on both Marriott’s and Alibaba’s resources in a way that Marriott’s storefront will be managed and marketed to Alibaba’s customer base on Fliggy, Alibaba’s travel service platform. It will also provide a link between Marriott’s and Alibaba’s loyalty programmes and support Marriott hotels with content, programmes and promotions customised for Chinese travellers. China’s travellers are expected to take an estimated 700 million trips over the next five years. Marriott’s owners and franchisees globally will benefit from the joint venture by capturing a greater share of this growing Chinese travel market and having lower distribution costs.

Address Marassi Beach Resort, the second hotel project by Emaar Hospitality Group in Egypt, is redefining standards of world-class hospitality with its idyllic waterfront location by the Mediterranean Sea, overlooking the turquoise waters of the Sidi Abdel Rahman Bay. An integral part of Marassi, the master-planned touristic and residential development by Emaar Misr, Address Marassi Beach Resort was unveiled earlier this year at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai. Featuring 140 luxury rooms and suites, along the North Coast of El Alamein, the hotel is one of the 14 upcoming projects under Address Hotels + Resorts, the premium luxury hotel and serviced residences brand of Emaar Hospitality Group. Olivier Harnisch, Chief Executive Officer, Emaar Hospitality Group, said, “Address Marassi Beach Resort is one of our prestigious international developments set along the Mediterranean coast and is integrating the assorted lifestyle amenities of a central marina. The hotel is developed as per high standards of design and quality and focuses on providing memorable holiday and leisure experiences to our guests. Bringing the brand values of gracious hospitality, exceptional service and unique value for guests, Address Marassi Beach Resort will further energise tourism in Egypt and contribute to its national economy, supporting the development vision of the government.”

Swiss-Belhotel International recently opened its second property in Aqaba, Jordan, named Marina Plaza Hotel. Located along the coast of Tala Bay, Marina Plaza Hotel is an exotic 4-star resort, offering breathtaking views of the golden mountains and the Red Sea. It has 260 well-appointed rooms and each room boasts a private balcony with relaxing views of the mountains or the Marina. Included in the hotel’s superb facilities are an international all-day-dining restaurant, a pool bar, an outdoor swimming pool, a separate kids’ pool and a full-service spa offering an array of health and beauty treatments. Guests can also enjoy daily recreation activities such as aqua aerobics and yoga or take advantage of a free shuttle service to the centre of Aqaba. Petra just a one-day trip from the resort while Wadi Rum is only an hour away from it. Swiss-Belhotel International currently has more than 3500 rooms under development in key destinations across the Middle East. Gavin M. Faull, Chairman and President of Swiss-Belhotel International, said, “Middle East is a strategic growth market for us where we have a robust development pipeline corresponding to 17% of our global portfolio. We are eager to expand in the region with the right partners such as Jordan Projects for Tourism Development and are pleased to flag Marina Plaza Hotel by Swiss-Belhotel as our latest property.”

As the ME region prepares itself for another set of long holidays, for Eid Al Adha, Niyama Private Islands, Maldives, has slashed its rates by as much as 40%, encouraging agents as well as individuals from the region to look nowhere else but Niyama for zeroing in on the destination for these holidays. Their brand new Stay Longer offer, introduced especially for these holidays, entails a scheme wherein the longer guests stay at this idyllic Indian Ocean resort, the more they save. Tourists can enjoy an incredible 40% off on the room rate, a free upgrade to half board and complimentary 60-minute treatment for two at the award-winning Niyama Spa. All they need to do is simply book a stay of at least two nights, online, before September 30, 2017. Agents need to get in touch directly to get the best possible rates for their clientele. Designed especially for the elite travellers of the Middle East and jet-set couples, Niyama Private Islands, Maldives, has 134 beautifully appointed studios, suites and pavilions dotted across two pristine islands, Chill and Play. This resort is known for its nine exquisite dining destinations, including a tree house restaurant Nest, and the world’s first underwater playground Subsix.

Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) is continuing its commitment to world-class hospitality in some of the region’s most striking areas of outstanding natural beauty with the launch of the Mleiha Fossil Rock Lodge. The project is 60 percent complete and will officially welcome its first guests by the end of this year. This modern luxury facility, adjacent to its namesake, the Fossil Rock, nestles within the Mleiha Archaeological and Eco-tourism Project, offering a unique experience for desert adventurers and nature lovers. The Fossil Rock Lodge can accommodate up to 10 guests, guaranteeing complete serenity and privacy. Also, it will entail an upscale café, with 42 indoor and outdoor seats, allowing visitors to take in the breath-taking natural scenery and magnificent desert landscapes while enjoying their sumptuous food and beverages. HE Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO of Shurooq, says, “Eco-tourism is becoming increasingly popular with visitors from around the world. We are committed to catering to this demand, not only as a highly desirable investment, but also as part of our own social responsibility and our philosophy of retaining our natural surroundings.”

Emaar Hospitality Group, the hospitality and leisure subsidiary of Emaar Properties PJSC, announced the launch of their new hotel project named Vida Dubai Mall, which would be directly linked to The Dubai Mall, with direct views of Burj Khalifa. This marks the tenth upcoming hotel project of Vida Hotels and Resorts in the UAE and international markets. Vida Dubai Mall would be a two-tower development, with the 195-room Vida Dubai Mall hotel and 614 serviced residences under Vida Residences Dubai Mall. One of these towers will be 55-storey high, including the hotel and 380 serviced residences, while the other one will be 38-storey high, with rest of the serviced residences.

Emaar Hospitality Group has partnered with Global Hospitality Services (GHS) to expand its brand reach and customer base in the key strategic markets such as the Americas, the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe, India and China. Global Hospitality Services will showcase Emaar Hospitality Group to the leisure and corporate segments in these key markets, underlining its service standards and innovative lifestyle products. Emaar Hospitality Group has been the leading provider of innovative lifestyle travel products, through its three hotel brands – Address Hotels + Resorts; Vida Hotels and Resorts; and Rove Hotels. Linda Bekoe, VP of Global Sales at GHS supported this as she commented, “At GHS, we utilise the power of collaboration and collective capability to open doors and give a global voice to our hoteliers. We are proud to work alongside Emaar Hospitality Group and assist its brands to further penetrate the market on a global level.”

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announced the opening of its new Holiday Inn in Mutare, Zimbabwe. The franchised property, owned by African Sun Limited and located in the heart of the city, features 96 rooms, an outdoor pool and a meeting room capable of seating 250 people. Commenting on the opening of the new hotel, Pascal Gauvin, Chief Operating Officer, India, Middle East and Africa, IHG, said, “We’re thrilled to announce the opening of a new property in Mutare as we believe that it will further support business travel between the Middle East and Africa. We are especially proud to continue working with established partners such as African Sun Limited that also owns several other properties with us. We are excited to begin welcoming guests to Holiday Inn Mutare.”

Investment conglomerate Dubai Holding and Saudi Arabia based Jabal Omar Development signed an agreement to develop a five-star hotel in the holy city of Mecca, named Jabal Omar Jumeirah Makkah Hotel, which is scheduled to be operational by early 2019. Managed by Dubai Holding’s subsidiary, Jumeirah Group, a brand in the luxury hospitality sector, the hotel will be walking distance from the Holy Mosque and comprise four towers with stunning views of Masjid-al-Haram. It will include 1033 guest rooms, along with 93 villas, and offer a variety of foods and beverages, meeting facilities, executive lounge, gymnasium, and over 90 retail units throughout the complex. Edris Al Rafi, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Holding, said, “Dubai Holding takes great honour in announcing the addition of this unique property to the Jumeirah Group portfolio. As the company embarks on its next phase of growth, adding such a strategic and large hotel to the portfolio is a key milestone in our ambitious international expansion strategy. Jabal Omar Jumeirah Makkah Hotel will significantly boost its growth in the coming years. It will also mark the Group’s first presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Makkah, one of the holiest sites in the world and the highest in real estate value.”