The hospitality industry is exploding in Dubai, with dozens upon dozens of hotels coming to what is debatably the hottest city for tourism on the face of the planet. Not all of these hotels, are as glitzy and glamorous as one might believe.
Hospitality veterans Reto Wittwer and Ulrich Eckhardt have announced the management takeover of the Ajman Hotel, formerly known as Kempinski Hotel Ajman. The hotel now carries the Blazon Hotels brand and premium service philosophy, as part of their newly established hotel management company Smart Hospitality Solutions. Wittwer and Eckhardt share more than ten decades of combined hotel experience between them. The duo successfully opened and operated more than 200 hotels across the world with several major hotel brands.
As tourism continues to boom in the city of Dubai, with high-end guests from throughout the world flocking to the shining city in the desert, most major hotel groups on the planet are interested in expanding their footprint and presence in the city by establishing increasingly luxurious and glitzy projects there.
DUBAI, UAE -- Emaar Hospitality Group, a subsidiary of Emaar Properties PJSC, has achieved a milestone of 10,000 hotel rooms across its 11 operational hotels and 30 upcoming projects. Of these, over 2,500 are operational at the Group's 11 hotels in Dubaiwhile over 7,500 rooms are under development in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Turkey and the Maldives.
Well on course to meet its target of operating 100 hotels by 2020, Rotana, one of the leading hotel management companies in the region with hotels across the Middle East, Africa and Turkey, showcased its 14 properties set to open by the end of 2018 during its participation at the World Travel Market London 2017.
Citymax Hotels has announced the launch of its new brand identity that is being rolled out in phases across the group's portfolio of hotels. As part of the project, in addition to a new brand image, all operating hotels will be renovated to provide guests a more contemporary experience while leveraging the brand value of Citymax Hotels.
There is, perhaps, no hotter and more vibrant market for global hospitality than the United Arab Emirates' Dubai. It's a gleaming oasis in the desert, where all manner of architecture is possible and luxury and high-living experiences are available in what seems like infinite supply.
Kleindienst Group today launches The Floating Venice, the world's first underwater luxury vessel resort at Cityscape Global. Valued at 2.5Bn AED (680m USD), The Floating Venice will be located in The World islands, 4km offshore from Dubai and will bring an authentic Venetian experience to the Middle East.
Amenities, design, and who will be the head chef in the restaurant are all important decisions for a new hotel to make, but before any of that groundwork can be done, hotel operators must choose the single most important characteristic of any hotel — where will it be located.
Sprawled across a superlative slice of the Persian Gulf, Dubai’s three beachfront Jumeirah resorts comprise a veritable empire. A diverse one, at that, with an overwhelming array of lavish eateries—from Japanese and Italian to Mexican and Arabian—chic bars and lounges, extravagant swimming pools and iconic architecture, including the Burj Al Arab’s sailboat design, a Dubai skyline gem. The opening of Jumeirah Al Naseem last December was a kind of declaration that the empire-building continues: Behold the final chapter of the lavish story that is Madinat Jumeirah, Arabic for, aptly enough, “the country of Jumeirah.”
The role of the appointed asset manager is undeniably valuable for owners' whose properties are under the operation of a management company. The asset manager acts on behalf of the owners' interests with a core objective to optimize value and. Therefore, it is important for hotel asset management companies to remain aware of new skill sets and to be equipped with innovative practices to protect the objectives of owners. For this reason, we have been motivated to identify practices for hotel asset managers to leverage their owners' returns.
Officials of the Hospitality Asset Managers Association ("HAMA") today announced the successful conclusion of its third-annual 2017 Global Summit hosted in Dubai at the Jumeirah Emirates Tower. The presidents of the U.S., MEA, European and Asia Pacific chapters all were in attendance and met with Mauricio Ventura, the Costa Rican minister of tourism.
Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait at Burj Alshaya has revealed the general manager and executive team who will be responsible for bringing the first Four Seasons address to the country.
The flagship brand of Smartotels Hospitality LLC, FORM Hotel is integrating an advanced proprietary enterprise application system - HotOIL™ (Hotel Operational Intelligence Layer) designed and developed by Smartotels with MKG Group.
RSG International, UAE-based business group with interests in the property development, automotive and industrial equipment sectors, signed a management agreement with Rotana, one of the leading hotel management companies in the region with the hotels across the Middle East, Africa and Turkey, for a new 4-star hotel in Dubai, at a prime location on Sheikh Zayed Road, Jebel Ali Central, next to UAE Exchange Metro Station.
At a meeting in Dubai attended by Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta (www.Hilton.com) and Mohammed Alshaya, Chairman of KFCD and Mabanee Company S.A.K, the two parties confirmed an agreement to open Bahrain's first Hilton Hotels & Resorts property. The 210 room Hilton Bahrain Bay Hotel & Residences will be located at The Avenues in Manama – a major retail and leisure destination scheduled to open later this year.The announcement strengthens a growing partnership between Hilton and Mabanee that promises to boost tourism to the GCC by delivering exceptional guest experiences to visitors in the region. The partnership sees the debut of the Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand in Bahrain and the opening of Waldorf Astoria and a Hilton Garden Inn as part of the expansion of The Avenues, Kuwait, also owned by Mabanee.Rudi Jagersbacher, President, Middle East, Africa & Turkey for Hilton Worldwide, said: "It is very exciting for us to be bringing our core Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand to Bahrain for the first time. This represents a significant commitment to the market for us and we are doing so with a trusted partner in KFCD, and at a location which is set to become one of the country's premier attractions for both visitors and local residents."Hilton Bahrain Bay Hotel & Residences will be directly attached to The Avenues, Bahrain. Phase 1 of the development will offer a wide choice of leading retail and restaurant brands covering 40,000 sqm of GLA which is due to open in the last quarter of 2017. A second Phase will add a further 30,000sqm of GLA. The site is located on the waterfront of Bahrain Bay. Mohammed Alshaya, Chairman of KFCD and Mabanee, said: "As we continue to evolve The Avenues brand, we are delighted to strengthen our partnership with one of the world's best-known hospitality companies and build on a relationship forged in Kuwait. Our partnership with Hilton Worldwide will enhance the overall experience at The Avenues, Bahrain creating a destination that appeals to local visitors, tourists and business travellers alike at this prime location.Hotel guests at Hilton Bahrain Bay Hotel & Residences will have direct access to the world class retail and entertainment offered at The Avenues, as well as the new 1.5km stretch of the Corniche, created to provide recreational and family-friendly facilities on the waterfront. The property will also benefit from direct links to both King Faisal Highway and Sheikh Isa Bin Salman Causeway, enabling ease of access to international visitors arriving at Bahrain International Airport or on the Causeway system linking Bahrain to Saudi Arabia.Carlos Khneisser, Vice President, Development, Middle East, North Africa & Turkey, Hilton said: "We are continuing to sustain rapid growth across the GCC under a range of brands and all these hotels represent quality locations and valuable additions to our portfolio. Working in strong partnership with owners such as KFCD and Mabanee, on a continued basis allows us to expand more quickly and more strategically. We look forward to working together on identifying further opportunities, as well as progressing the projects we are already developing together."Construction of the 210 guest room property is already underway and once completed it will consist of 150 apartments and 60 studio suites. Guests will be able to enjoy four distinct stand-alone dining outlets, a swimming pool, spa and fitness facilities. It is expected that the hotel will be completed and to welcome its first guests in early 2020.Hilton Bahrain Bay Hotel & Residences joins a pipeline of 120 properties for Hilton in the Middle East, North Africa & Turkey. The company boasts the largest active pipeline in the GCC of any hotel company, with over 16,000 rooms under construction.
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has announced today that it will manage a second luxury hotel and branded residences in Dubai which is targeted to open in late 2020. The hotel, located in downtown Dubai, will complement Mandarin Oriental Jumeira Beach, Dubai, the Group's previously announced urban resort which is currently under construction on the beachfront and due to open in the fourth quarter of 2018. Both hotels are owned and developed by wasl Asset Management Group.
How is the concept of "luxury" perceived and what hotel brands come to mind when you hear the word "luxury"? The word carries a sense of prestige and exclusivity that only selected brands can fulfill. In today's era, this term is often overused, causing the meaning to be diluted. At the same time, as luxury becomes democratic, qualities (such as exclusivity) which had once been associated with it, have become less important to modern day customers.
Global hotel management company, Swiss-Belhotel International (SBI), has announced its further expansion in Egypt with the signing of Swiss-Belresort Marseilia Beach 4 on the country's stunning north coast. The agreement was formalised today at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai in the presence H.E. Mohamed Yehia Rashed, Minister of Tourism for Egypt.
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced plans to expand Hyatt's brand footprint in the Middle East and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) with the signing of management agreements by a Hyatt affiliate for 14 Hyatt-branded hotels across the Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt Centric, Hyatt Place, and Hyatt House brands. There are currently 14 Hyatt-branded hotels open in the Middle East and GCC, and the expected openings of these 14 Hyatt-branded hotels would double Hyatt's brand presence in the region within the next few years.