Category Archives: Hotels

Solidifying St. Regis Hotels & Resorts’ position as a leader in luxury, the iconic brand expects to expand its existing portfolio of 15 curated resorts with plans to debut eleven new enchanted escapes by 2025 in some of the world’s most coveted leisure destinations, including locales most desired by the next generation of luxury travelers within the Caribbean, North America, North Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific. St. Regis has 49 open hotels and resorts today, with 29 hotels and resorts in its pipeline, representing expected growth of nearly 60 percent over the next five years in both urban and leisure destination. “This is a pivotal moment for St. Regis as we expect to nearly double our existing resort portfolio by 2025. Our resorts offer a leisure experience inspired by the glamorous private retreats of St. Regis’ founding family, the Astors, and we cannot wait to bring the brand’s spirit of invention and cherished traditions to some of the world’s most beguiling destinations,” said George Fleck, Vice President and Global Brand Leader for St. Regis Hotels & Resorts. “From Los Cabos to Sanya, and Marrakech to the Riviera Maya, we are thoughtfully expanding the brand while marking a commitment to providing extraordinary resort experiences in the places where we know global luminaries want to travel.” These highly anticipated new resorts will introduce the brand’s visionary spirit, avant-garde style and bespoke service in some of the most dynamic and compelling markets across the globe. Expanding its footprint in Mexico, St. Regis is expected to debut The St. Regis Kanai Resort in 2022 and The St. Regis Los Cabos Resort in 2023. Located in the captivating Mayan Riviera, The St. Regis Kanai …

Continuing its success story in the GCC, Swiss-Belhotel International has announced the opening of Swiss-Belinn Sharq Kuwait. This modern and chic property, featuring 51 keys, is conveniently located in the heart of the Kuwait City overlooking the Kuwait Bay – merely 17 Km from Kuwait International Airport. Dr. Abdullah Abdulsamad Marafi, Owner and General Manager, Omniyat Real Estate, said, “We are pleased to partner once again with the Swiss-Belhotel International to bring our vision to life. Swiss-Belinn Sharq Kuwait enjoys a prime location in the city and will be the best in its category of accommodation choices. The renowned international brand like Swiss-Belinn, is a perfect fit and to offer a memorable experience to both short and extended stay guests.” Mr. Gavin M. Faull, Chairman and President of Swiss-Belhotel International, said, “We are delighted to boost our presence in the GCC with the opening of the stunning Swiss-Belinn Sharq Kuwait. This is our second property in Kuwait joining the Swiss-Belboutique Bneid Al Gar Kuwait and a beautiful addition to our portfolio of hotels in the region. Swiss-Belinn is a fast-growing mid-market brand we are truly grateful to Omniyat Real Estate for this wonderful opportunity. With its strategic location, Swiss-Belinn Sharq Kuwait provides a convenient address to both residents and travellers offering direct access to the city’s prime leisure and business attractions.” Mr. Laurent A. Voivenel, Senior Vice President – Operations & Development, EMEA & India; Senior Vice President – Group Human Resources & Talent Development, Swiss-Belhotel International, stated, “We are glad to start welcoming guests to the Swiss-Belinn Sharq Kuwait. Despite the ongoing market challenges in the wake of the pandemic, we have been steadily growing our presence in the …

Dubai Investments has signed an agreement with Marjan – the master-developer of freehold properties in Ras Al Khaimah, to acquire land to develop a dynamic mixed-use beachfront residential, beach resort and lifestyle destination on Al Marjan Island with stunning views of the Arabian Gulf, providing a new paradigm for Ras Al Khaimah and the region worth of AED 1 billion. The agreement was signed by Khalid Bin Kalban, Vice Chairman & CEO, Dubai Investments and Eng. Abdulla Al Abdooli, CEO of Marjan. Epitomizing a masterful orchestration of contemporary elegance with simple and subtle sophistication, the project is designed to provide a perfect amalgamation of hospitality, and residential elements inclusive of a beachfront resort, beachfront serviced apartments and beachfront villas plus, waterfront residential buildings, retail & F&B components along with other recreational facilities. “Dubai Investments is excited about this new venture as we believe Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) is fast gaining traction as a hub for tourism in the region with the emirate’s government channelizing resources and investing in a range of wellness initiatives to leverage its natural assets. Catering to the growing demand for such projects in Ras Al Khaimah and in line with strengthening Dubai Investment’s real estate portfolio with the addition of more high-end hospitality projects, the Company is optimistic this new project will further accentuate the well-being appeal, providing a comfortable lifestyle seamlessly integrated with nature”, said Khalid Bin Kalban, Vice Chairman and CEO, Dubai Investments PJSC. “Al Marjan Island has become a preferred hub for visitors and investors from around the globe and we are looking forward to expanding our offering through world-class projects such as the one being developed by Dubai Investments. This will further …

Radisson Hotel Group is proud to be the world’s first hotel group to make all meetings and events across 400+ hotels in its EMEA portfolio carbon negative. For every event taking place at its participating hotels, Radisson Hotel Group will offset double the carbon footprint, to ensure that every meeting has a positive impact on the environment. For meetings booked between 18 October 2021 and 31 January 2022 and taking place before 31st March 2022, Carbon Negative. Planet Positive will set a new sustainability standard in the global hospitality industry. The program allows clients to host meetings in a sustainable way by offsetting double the CO2 emissions from meetings and events free of charge to the client, making meetings that take place during this period at participating hotels carbon negative. Carbon Negative. Planet Positive reinforces the Group’s 100% Carbon Neutral meetings offering, in place across the Group’s 1,600 hotels worldwide since 2019. The initiative forms part of the Group’s wider Responsible Business program which targets reducing the Group’s carbon footprint by 30%, and which aims to set science-based targets. Since the launch of the 100% Carbon Neutral Meetings program, the Group has offset over 30,300 tons of CO2 at no cost to its clients, which is the equivalent to removing more than 6,500 fuel driven cars  off the road. Carbon Negative, Planet Positive meetings complement the Group’s Hybrid Meetings solutions which launched in 2020 and offer owners and guests the flexibility and space optimization they require to better meet the rapid lifestyle changes of today’s travelers. Hybrid Meetings are available across more than 100 hotels in EMEA and contribute to a lighter scope 3 footprint for the client. “The upcoming …

The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) announced that the Mysk Moon Retreat has begun welcoming guests and bookings to experience the emirate’s first-of-its-kind luxury glamping destination, and unveiled four new luxury hospitality projects in Sharjah’s Central and Eastern regions which are: Al Jabal  Resort in the city of Khorfakkan, a luxurious hotel in the city of Kalba, a hotel in the city of Khorfakkan which will feature UAE’s first waterpark in the east coast; and Al Bridi Resort at the Sharjah Safari project in the city of Al Dhaid. Exciting range of desert adventures The family-friendly Mysk Moon Retreat comprises 10 single-bed domes with private pools, 4 family tents with private pools, and 2 single-bed tents. Each unit is self-sufficient and fitted with all essential amenities that guests would require, including a private barbeque area, in addition to a lobby, and a common area. The Mysk Moon Retreat is part of Shurooq’s Sharjah Collection brand, managed by Mysk by Shaza, which includes the Mysk Kingfisher Retreat in Kalba, Mysk Al Faya Retreat in Mleiha, and Mysk Al Badayer Retreat in the heart of the Al Badayer desert. HE Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, Executive Chairman of Shurooq said: “With Mysk Moon Retreat now welcoming guests and bookings, this marks an exciting expansion of Shurooq’s portfolio of boutique hospitality offerings in the central region of Sharjah. It is the latest destination in a series of projects developed here, namely, the Mysk Al Faya Retreat, Mleiha Archaeological and Eco-tourism, and the Mleiha Archaeological Centre.”   Al Sarkal pointed out that the eco-luxury retreat provides visitors with the opportunity to enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities like trekking, dune bashing, and …

Miral in collaboration with Warner Bros. announced that The WB Abu Dhabi hotel on Yas Island, operated by Hilton under the Curio Collection brand, will open its doors to guests on 11 November 2021, inviting guests to see their favorite stories and characters brought to life through unique hospitality experiences that only the rich history and storied legacy of Warner Bros. could offer. Featuring one of the finest collections of Warner Bros. archives, guests at the world’s first Warner Bros. hotel will be treated to a journey of discovery through film and television, enjoying Warner Bros.’ rich history and library of timeless productions at every touchpoint from arrival to check-out. While dining in one of five restaurants on the property, you can listen as the piano from “Westworld” plays a familiar tune. Visitors can stroll through the lobby or admire 360-degree city and sea views alongside their favorite props and costumes from Warner Bros. films and TV shows.  And kids and families can ring up one of their favorite Looney Tunes characters for a room service treat brought to them by the Wascally Wabbit, Bugs Bunny himself.   HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Miral, said: “We are proud to be launching another first with the opening of the only Warner Bros. hotel in the world. This new story-driven hospitality experience is set to excite guests from all over the world, further reinforcing Yas Island’s position as a global entertainment, leisure and business destination and supporting Abu Dhabi’s ambition to attract greater numbers of local and international tourists. We are delighted to be strengthening our partnership with Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment and Hilton with this unique one-of-a kind experience.” …

Raffles plans to double its footprint of resorts over the next three to five years. The brand’s resort development pipeline includes sought-after destinations such as Macau (China), Sentosa (Singapore), Manama (Bahrain) and Jaipur (India). With many markets seeing a robust return to leisure travel following more than a year of disruptions and pent-up demand, Raffles Hotels & Resorts enters an exciting phase of growth which will see the revered brand add several new resort destinations to its worldwide portfolio of hotels, resorts and residences. A heritage luxury brand known for creating landmark properties in key destinations around the world. “Resort travel is rapidly increasing in demand and we are seeing an uptick in resort developments in several markets around the world,” said Agnès Roquefort, Chief Development Officer of Accor, the global hospitality group that owns the Raffles brand. “The pandemic has awakened people’s desire to travel further, visit dream destinations and experience the world together – in small groups or with the whole family.” Adds Stephen Alden, CEO Raffles & Orient Express, “At Raffles, we are fusing our illustrious heritage with modern hotelcraft to create places of comfortable wonderment and enrichment for our well-travelled guests. As we look forward to the next chapter in the brand’s storied history, diversifying our portfolio with a broader array of resorts and experiences will play an important role in enabling us to achieve this goal. Several of our extraordinary resort projects are making headlines with the opening of Raffles Udaipur and more recently with the opening of Raffles The Palm, Dubai – places filled with the legendary spirit of Raffles, with its peerless service, sense of calm in a hurried world, and the promise …

Hilton Garden Inn Bahrain Bay has enjoyed prime occupancy rates since opening its doors to guests back in July 2021. Nestled in the heart of Bahrain Bay and directly connected to the newest retail and leisure destination in the Kingdom, The Avenues – Bahrain, the 192-room hotel includes 35 suites, all with breath-taking bay and sea-facing views. The newly opened Hotel truly provides an ideal experience for business travellers and families alike, be it for a short weekend stay, for longer periods, or looking to enjoy staycations; wherein 70% of the guest rooms offer connecting rooms, most of the suites offer a convenient kitchenette complete with a microwave and sink. Throughout the hotel, the beautifully designed spaces and waterfront views result in a sanctuary of wellness, where carefully curated dessert earthbound tones and Kingdom’s sea-inspired and neutral colour palettes create an oasis of calmness and relaxation. “We truly deliver a unique and serene experience at the Hilton Garden Inn Bahrain Bay, providing our guests with the exceptional service the Hilton is known for. Besides the stunning views offered throughout the hotel, of either Bahrain Bay or the sea, the design of each and every room echoes a sense of relaxation and well-being. We have enjoyed unparalleled occupancy rates since opening, despite the ongoing situation which has affected the hotel industry across the world, and look forward to continuing to welcoming guests be it from neighbouring regions or from around the world” commented Manuela Brode, General Manager at Hilton Garden Inn Bahrain Bay. The upscale hotel also benefits from flexible meeting spaces with state-of-the-art facilities, a fully equipped fitness center, and an infinity pool overlooking the sparkling Bahrain Bay. In addition …

Millennium Hotels and Resorts MEA announced the opening of its second property in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Grand Millennium Gizan.  The hotel was inaugurated by His Royal highness Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Governor of Gizan Region, in the attendance of His Excellency Dr. Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sheikh, Minister of Education and Chairman of Higher Education Fund, and His Excellency Dr. Marie bin Hussein Al-Qahtani, president of Gizan University and the Secretary-General in charge of the Higher Education Fund Turki Al-Zamie and the Deputy Emirate of Jazan Region, Dr. Abdullah Al-Sager and a number of officials. Hamid Sidine, Chief Operating Officer of Millennium Hotels and Resorts, Middle East and Africa, said: “We are thrilled to open this new hotel in Gizan in line with Saudi vision 2030. We at Millennium Hotels and Resorts MEA are always keen on our expansion plans in the region and we trust that we are filling a market gap with Grand Millennium Gizan.” Jalal Nasser, General Manager of Grand Millennium Gizan, said, “We look forward to welcome our esteemed guests in our new hotel right in the heart of this new fascinating area. And with the offerings we have, we are confident that we will be the hotel of choice for family and business travellers alike.” The new hotel is conveniently located on the beach within the Gizan University Complex. Those traveling between the hotel and King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Airport can enjoy a 20 minute drive along a straight road. The hotel is also only 10 minutes away from the shopping centres in the city. Grand Millennium Gizan will be the biggest hotel in the vicinity …

Club Med announced its return to Spain after over 20 years, with its new resort, Club Med Magna Marbella. The property, which will be nestled at the foot of the Sierra Blanca Mountains, will open its doors to guests on May 14, 2022. Conveniently located near Spain’s south coast, in the region of Andalusia, which is often referred to as “the garden of Europe”, Magna Marbella is just a 20-minute walk from both sandy Mediterranean beaches and Marbella’s city centre. It is also just a one-hour drive from Gibraltar, Ronda, and Malaga or two hours from Granada, Seville, and Cadiz, making it the ideal base to explore the rich Arab-Andalusian history and natural wonders of the region, including the Doñana Natural Park and Caminito del Rey. Club Med Magna Marbella boasts 14 hectares of lush garden, five swimming pools including a family waterpark and adult-only Zen Zone, two restaurants, Suenos and the Tierra Gourmet Lounge, and three bars for guests to try local food and drinks. The resort will also offer Club Med’s world-class children’s clubs for all ages (from 4 months to 17 years of age), where kids will be able to enjoy Andalusian inspired art and culture activities. The Family Fun Zone will feature water games, a playground, mini-golf and a zipline with Magna Marbella offering a wide array of activities, including golf, archery, tennis, flying trapeze, and more. Six padel tennis courts will be available within the resort’s grounds. For those looking to relax and unwind, a wellness area with 14 treatment rooms, including a double indoor-outdoor relaxation room and steam room, will feature treatments at Spa by CINQ MONDES. Guests will also be able to enjoy fresh …