Category Archives: Hotels

The DAMAC Group is excited to announce the official launch of Paramount Hotel Midtown following the success of Paramount Hotel Dubai. Synonymous with entertainment, bold imagination, and, above all, creativity, Paramount Hotel Midtown is steeped in the rich 110-year history perfected by Paramount Pictures. Set in the heart of Business Bay, Dubai, Paramount Hotel Midtown held its soft opening in February offering timeless Hollywood elegance. Perfectly located at a stone’s throw from Sheikh Zayed Road, the Burj Khalifa, the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and The Dubai Mall, the hotel is poised to be a haven for the young at heart. Commenting on the second launch, Jean Faivre, Senior Vice President Hospitality, DAMAC Hotels & Resorts, said: “The Paramount proposition is special, with rich history to live up to. We’ve been immensely successful with our first property and we are now looking forward to our second opening, which will without doubt be a unique addition to Dubai’s vibrant hospitality scene.” Paramount Hotel Midtown brings to life contemporary Californian magic with its Hollywood-chic styles and impressive views. Exuding grandeur, the hotel’s gold-dipped lobby is splashed with retro artwork, a perfect grand entrance in true Hollywood star style. Designed for high-life lovers, the hotel offers 281 elegantly decorated contemporary rooms and suites including Scene Rooms, A-List Suites and a Paramount Suite, decked out with balconies overlooking the Dubai coastline or Burj Khalifa. The hotel offers unique gastronomic experiences at its restaurants designed to delight every palette, featuring Paparazzi Tuscan, CineScope and Melrose Bar & Lounge. Raising the bar with panoramic skyline views, Malibu Sky Lounge and Pool Bar are set to be the talk of the town. Pleasure meets business in the …

Millennium Hotels & Resorts MEA is expanding the Studio M brand with a new property now open in Al Barsha neighbourhood, in partnership with Jersey Properties LLC. Studio M is a standout lifestyle concept that embraces technology and allows people to socialise and interact, offering a unique place to rest and play. Studio M is one of Millennium’s newest brands providing an alternative lodging experience with a vibrant design and technology integrated into cool spaces to help guests unleash their sense of creativity. Hamid Sidine, Chief Operating Officer of Millennium Hotels and Resorts, Middle East and Africa, said: “We are delighted to introduce Studio M Al Barsha that comes as part of our continuous efforts to provide innovative lifestyle concepts that address the guests’ changing expectations and contemporary functionality.” “Studio M brand founded in Singapore and Studio Al Barsha is the second hotel in Dubai under this brand after Studio M Arabian Plaza Hotel & Hotel Apartments. Studio M Al Barsha will offer a chic urban concept featuring thoughtful and well-designed spaces with the “cool” factor combined with stylish rooms and fuss-free technology”, he added. Studio M Al Barsha offers 155 rooms and has been thoughtfully designed with vibrant colours, complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi and premium amenities that will suit the guests’ all needs. The hotel is within two minutes walking distance to the Mall of the Emirates and close to various attractions in Dubai. The nearest metro station is the Mall of the Emirates station. The hotel F&B offering includes Hello Grab N Go which provides an innovative and convenient way to dine in or out with a variety of freshly prepared and pre-packaged foods, Level ONE that offers tasty …

IHG Hotels & Resorts announced the signing of a Management Agreement with Al Rabea Hotels and Trading Co. for Holiday Inn Najran – a conversion property in Najran city in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The hotel is returning to the IHG family having operated as a Holiday Inn hotel from 1995 to 2015. With this signing, IHG is continues to diversify its portfolio in the country to cater to a new segment of travellers, while aligning with the government’s growth plan for secondary cities across the Kingdom. The new hotel is expected to be fully rebranded by end of 2023, with completion across two phases. Located in the heart of Najran city, Holiday Inn Najran boasts of a stunning setting, surrounded by a lush landscape of trees and overlooking the mountains. Located 20 kms from the city centre and 18 kms from the airport, the hotel will be easily accessible by the visitors. Following the renovation and rebranding, the hotel with 87-keys will offer 82 well-appointed rooms and five villas for business and leisure travelers, complemented by recreational facilities including an outdoor pool, a gym, a sauna and a steam and jacuzzi. In addition, the hotel will offer various dining options including an all-day dining, a coffee shop, a lobby lounge and a poolside lounge. Business guests will also have access to four spacious meeting rooms equipped for casual meetings to formal presentations. Speaking on the announcement, Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG said: “It is our great pleasure to welcome back Al Rabea Hotels and Trading Co to the IHG family, and once again establish our presence in the city of Najran. As IHG …

The highly anticipated JW Marriott Hotel Riyadh will make its debut in Riyadh’s new commercial and business district early Q2 of 2022, giving guests a new paradigm of five-star experiences to enjoy. Occupying the most coveted address in the capital, and a stone’s throw away from King Abdullah Financial District, the new property will stand tall amongst the skyscrapers of the city. Spanning 66 floors, with 349 rooms and suites, unrivaled world-class dining outlets- both for the meat lovers, the environmentally conscious and the night owls- as well as exceptional facilities, including business, and wellness, the flagship hotel will exude the brand philosophy of warmth, presence, and unity through every corner and detail, from design to service. Opening just in time for the summer, JW Marriott Hotel Riyadh is totted to be home to a lap of luxury, style, and comfort where guests can look forward to a transformative and elevated stay.

Dubai’s independent hotel management company, Aleph Hospitality, has signed a management agreement to operate Accor’s luxury five-star MGallery hotel, as well as all facilities at the new Century Park Hotel and Residences development in Rwanda’s capital Kigali. A signing ceremony took place in Kigali recently between Aleph Hospitality respectively, the international hospitality group Accor, and Century Park Hotel and Residences Ltd, the developers of the project. Located in the pristine and calm hills of Nyarutarama, Kigali’s most esteemed neighbourhood, Century Park Hotel and Residences is an all-in-one mixed-use residential and leisure park. The unique lifestyle destination offers luxury villas, two- and three-bedroom apartments, four- and five-bedroom duplexes and penthouses as well as three restaurants and bars. In addition, the development features the luxurious MGallery Hotel, the first for the brand in Rwanda, featuring beautifully appointed guest rooms and suites, leisure facilities including an outdoor pool as well as conferences and meeting rooms. Century Park Hotel and Residences is ideally situated just 5 minutes from Kigali Convention Centre, 15 minutes from Kigali International Airport and 20 minutes from the capital’s central business district. Billy Cheung, Chairman of Century Park Hotel and Residences Ltd said: “ We are delighted to formally launch our hotel and residences with agreements with two leading international organizations – Aleph Hospitality and Accor.” Bani Haddad, Founder and Managing Director of Aleph Hospitality said: “We are very excited to be part of this incredible new mixed-use development in Kigali, which marks our first entry into Rwanda. We are delighted to be entrusted with the operations of the first MGallery hotel in Rwanda, our first Accor branded property, alongside the management of the facilities and restaurants at Century Park …

IHG Hotels & Resorts announced the opening of InterContinental® Ras Al Khaimah Mina Al Arab Resort & Spa, the first property for the luxury brand in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. Located on the sparkling shoreline of Hayat Island, just a 45-minute drive from Dubai International Airport, the five-star haven brings the InterContinental life to the Arabian Peninsula, combining idyllic island style living with the warm hospitality of authentic Arabia. His Excellency Abdul Aziz Abdullah Al Zaabi, Chairman of RAK Properties, said: “We are pleased with this qualitative addition to our company, which owns great assets in the world of real estate and luxury. The InterContinental Ras Al Khaimah Resort & Spa from IHG, added a new value for lovers of nature, beauty and contemporary authenticity. He added: “We are always keen to improve our business and projects and achieve the highest levels of luxury and distinguished services, and it is no secret to everyone the position that the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah has reached in the world of tourism in general, and hotels and resorts in particular”. Haitham Mattar, Managing Director India, Middle East and Africa said: “InterContinental Hotels & Resorts have been pioneering luxury travel in new destinations for over 75 years and the undiscovered destination of Ras Al Khaimah couldn’t be more perfect for a new, best-in-class InterContinental resort. Ras Al Khaimah’s reputation has grown internationally and has put the Emirate on the world travel map. Its focus on heritage, cultural and adventure activities has a strong appeal to domestic and also international visitors. We look forward to welcoming guests to this exquisite property and offer a level of bespoke hospitality that is befitting of …

Marriott International signed an agreement with Venue International to debut Moxy Hotels in Turkey. Slated to open in 2024, the 168-room Moxy Istanbul Beyoglu will be located in the heart of the city within walking distance from Taksim Square – one of the most renowned tourist destinations in the area. “We are excited to work with Venue International to debut the Moxy brand in Turkey,” said Begüm Kaya Şanver, Director Development, Turkey, Marriott International. “Moxy Istanbul Beyoglu will serve as a playful lifestyle hotel bringing a bold, spirited experience to the vibrant area of Beyoglu.” Moxy Istanbul Beyoglu is expected to offer 168 stylish and cozy, yet smart bedrooms that have been designed to maximize every inch for today’s young-at-heart travellers. The hotel is set to feature playful Moxy spaces from the energetic lobby where guests are met by the welcoming crew, to its lively Living Room space ideal for day to night gatherings. In addition to its buzzing public spaces aimed to be the center of activity, Design plans for Moxy Istanbul Beyoglu include an industrial chic look, a fun grab-and-go concept, bold programming with local flavor, and communal tables offering plenty of opportunities to plug and play. Kaan Namlıcı, Chairman of the Board, Venue International said, “We are excited to work with Marriott International to bring the first Moxy Hotel to Turkey. We have always believed in the potential of Moxy Hotels in this market but were keen to wait to introduce it in the right location. Moxy Istanbul Beyoglu will infuse an energetic urban vibe to the bohemian and dynamic character of the Beyoğlu area. The hotel will feature a unique blend of Afrikahan’s historic relevance and …

Hotelbeds is pleased to announce that it is one of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ preferred partners for distribution of wholesale rates from IHG hotels in Europe and Greater China. As a result, travel buyers working with Hotelbeds will continue to enjoy access to wholesale rates from IHG hotels. Hotelbeds’ network reaches thousands of B2B travel buyers, such as offline tour operators, retail travel agents, airlines and company employee loyalty programs, across more than 140 source markets worldwide. Hotelbeds’ portfolio of B2B travel buyers offers IHG’s hotels incremental, high-value bookings from both domestic and international travelers. Carlos Muñoz, Chief Commercial Officer at Hotelbeds, commented: “This partnership demonstrates our shared confidence in the future growth of the B2B industry.  Thanks to this collaboration, our client partners worldwide will have access to a leading product portfolio which is fantastic news coming off the back of some very challenging years.” George Turner, Chief Commercial & Technology Officer at IHG Hotels & Resorts, commented: “Partnering with Hotelbeds in Europe and Greater China will enable us to more seamlessly manage our wholesale distribution.” IHG Hotels & Resorts has 17 brands including InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts and Holiday Inn Express and last year joined Hotelbeds’ Green Hotel Programme to further strengthen its commitment to sustainable tourism. The Green Hotels Programme is a turn-key solution to bring Hotelbeds and its partners into the green economy and accelerate the transition of the travel industry towards sustainability – a topic whose importance has increased dramatically in light of the COVID pandemic.

It was announced recently that the much awaited Ritz Carlton in Amman Jordan is slated to open by Q2. Two stunning towers unveil a refined, modern luxury experience the heart of Jordan’s buzzing capital city, Amman. The Ritz-Carlton, Amman will offer 228 guestrooms including 34 lavish suites, perfectly complemented by the brand’s legendary service. Guests can relax in the elegant Cigar Lounge or indulge in distinguished cuisine at the hotel’s Mediterranean restaurant. For a dinner with a view, the rooftop restaurant and bar offer dazzling views across the skyline. The enchanting towers offer both indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a fitness centre and spa, along with a 1,000 square metre ballroom.

Akhom Consulting and METT Hotels & Resorts, a 5-star lifestyle collection of Hotels & Resorts, announce their partnership starting from March 2022. Akhom Consulting will lead the Sales representation of METT Brand in the Middle East luxury hospitality market. With a particular focus on the GCC region, Akhom Consulting will expand METT’s brand presence in the luxury hospitality market. METT Hotels & Resorts is a luxury brand by Sunset Hospitality Group. METT lives up to its Bohemian-chic, minimalist style in unique locations. The concept of METT Social Living takes its routes from the way people live in the Mediterranean, with a focus on driving incredible dining experiences. The brand offers an enriching escape to all guests looking for easy living in a mesmerising setting. Since May 2021, METT Hotels & Resorts have welcomed guests in Bodrum, Turkey, by the turquoise Aegean Sea. With a strong pipeline including Dubai, Spain, Greece, and Italy, METT is getting ready to set the new hospitality norms for the elite travellers in multiple destinations. The next resort opening is scheduled for summer 2022 in Marbella. Mouhamed Abdulkhalek, Managing Director of Akhom Consulting said: We are delighted to partner with METT Hotels & Resorts and represent this top-notch luxury brand in the Middle East market. We believe that METT Hotels & Resorts will bring a different perspective in hospitality. METT’s Bohemian-chic Social Living concept will help the brand be the leading name this season. Our triumphant work will allow METT to access the Middle East market, one of the most efficient tourist-generating regions, and to ensure a strong market presence and the desired revenue for the brand.