UAE hotel operator Rotana plans to add 1,000 rooms in Dubai by 2020. Rotana is ramping up expansion plans for the Middle East, since announcing in February that it was planning nine new hotel projects for Dubai and Abu Dhabi over the next five years.
Rotana has opened the budget hotel Centro Capital Doha, offering 229 rooms and studios, according to company officials. "The demand for hotel rooms, especially in the four star hotels category, which deliver luxury at affordable prices has risen in the past five years. In line with this, we are witnessing the launch of the first Centro brand in town," said Al Malki group chairman Ali Ibrahim Abdullah Al Malki, addressing the official opening ceremony of the hotel.
Australia's largest privately owned hotel management company StayWell Hospitality Group (SWHG) announced the signing of a management agreement to open and operate the company's first Park Regis properties in Makkah Saudi Arabia. In Dubai were StayWell Hospitality Group CEO Simon Wan and Asas Capital Ltd CEO Riyad Alhoraibi for the official signing ceremony.
Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Worldwide's (NYSE: HLT) luxury hotel portfolio for the new smart luxury traveller, today announced the signing of a management agreement with Assets Real Estate Development Company for the 325 guestroom Conrad Doha, expected to open in early 2019.
Perched 2,000 metres above sea level on the curving rim of a great canyon, Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resortwill welcome the world's most discerning luxury travellers from July 2016. Guests will hover over an extreme landscape of rugged beauty while they discover a cultured treasury of authentic indulgences and immersions in the destination's rich heritage. Upon its launch, the resort will be the highest luxury hotel in the Middle East and amongst the highest in the world.
Marriott International, Inc. (NSDAQ:MAR) celebrated today the grand opening of the highly anticipated SpringHill Suites & Residence Inn San Diego Downtown Bayfront at BRIC. Adding to the expanding portfolio, the SpringHill Suites marked the 3,000th Select Service property for the Marriott Global Portfolio. Leadership from Marriott International, the City of San Diego, the Port of San Diego, Hensel Phelps, Lankford & Associates, and Portman Holdings gathered to welcome local patrons and visitors alike to this innovative and forward thinking hotel property.
Minor Hotel Group (MHG), a hotel owner, operator and investor, currently with a portfolio of 145 hotels and resorts in 22 countries across Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Europe, South America, Africa and the Indian Ocean, has announced the addition of two new properties to its pipeline in the United Arab Emirates. Anantara Jebel Dhanna and AVANI Jebel Dhanna in Abu Dhabi will soon begin development and both are scheduled to open in 2018.
Rezidor, one of the most dynamic hotel companies worldwide and a member of the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, announces the Nofa Resort and Club, a luxury private member's club located outside Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. The existing property with 57 luxury villas will join the group in Q3 2016 and will be operated as a members-only resort. It is the newest addition to Rezidor's expanding portfolio in Saudi Arabia that now features 27 hotels with over 5,200 rooms in operation or under development.
CapitaLand's wholly owned serviced residence business unit, The Ascott Limited (Ascott), has continued its strong growth in the Middle East by inking contracts to manage its first two serviced residences in Al Khobar, one of the main metropolitan cities in Saudi Arabia's oil-rich Eastern Province. The 172-unit Ascott Corniche Al Khobar and 133- unit Somerset Downtown Al Khobar are slated to open in 2018 and 2019 respectively. These latest contracts will increase Ascott's presence in the Middle East to more than 2,300 apartment units across 16 properties in nine cities in Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Starwood Hotels & Resorts (NYSE:HOT), just celebrated the grand opening of The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa, in partnership with Ghanem Al Thani Holdings, headed by Sheikh Ghanem al Thani. Located in the heart of Qatar's rapidly growing capital, the hotel is poised to introduce a new level of wellness to downtown Doha. This opening marks Westin's debut in the country and reinforce the brand's growth in the region, with hotels opening in the UAE, Jordan, Oman and Saudi Arabia within the next three years.
Hilton Hotels & Resorts today announces the official opening of Hilton Alexandria King's Ranch. The hotel marks Hilton Worldwide's (NYSE: HLT) 18thin Egypt, showcasing the company's commitment to expanding its operations and further strengthening its presence in the country.
Aiana Hotels & Resorts has announced plans to open a new hotel in the Saudi city of Makkah. Doha-based Aiana Makkah is scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2016, company officials said at an event in Doha that marked Aiana's first anniversary.
Jumeirah Al Naseem, Madinat Jumeirah's newest hotel will open during summer 2016, marking the completion of one of the world's leading luxury resorts.With construction of the 430-room 'resort within a resort' well underway, reservations are now open from 29 March 2016 for stays after 1 October 2016.Arabic for 'sea breeze', the name 'Al Naseem' reflects both the unrivalled location of the hotel and the unique inside-out design, which evokes a sense of calm and relaxation for those seeking an 'alternative' Dubai experience. Jumeirah Al Naseem is set in the midst of a two kilometre stretch of sand, reaching from Jumeirah Beach Hotel in the east to Jumeirah Al Qasr in the west, overlookingBurj Al Arab Jumeirah and the Arabian Gulf. As such, its opening will mark both the completion of Madinat Jumeirah - 'the Arabian Resort of Dubai' – and the final chapter in Jumeirah Group's transformation of a stretch of Dubai's coastline into a major touristic destination.Reflecting the advancement of the construction, a "Topping Out" ceremony was conducted last week to mark this momentous occasion. The ceremony was attended by Madinat Jumeirah's Resort General Manager Margaret Paul, Jumeirah Al Naseem's General Manager Richard Alexander and senior members of Mirage Leisure and Development, their consultants Woods Bagot and Aurecon, and Al Futtaim-Carillion, the Main Contractor.Bringing a fresh new feel of energy, exuberance and excitement to Madinat Jumeirah, Jumeirah Al Naseem aims to show a different side of Dubai, appealing to those discerning travellers who like to explore and may not have considered Dubai before. It joins the grand Jumeirah Al Qasr, the peaceful and recently renovated Jumeirah Mina A'Salam and the exquisite summerhouses of Jumeirah Dar Al Masyaf, to become the fourth hotel within the Arabian Resort of Dubai.Reservations are open from 29 March 2016 via Jumeirah's website www.jumeirah.com, through its reservation centre and partner agents for stays after 1October 2016.
Australia's largest privately owned hotel management company StayWell Hospitality Group (SWHG) today announced the signing of a management agreement to open and operate the company's first Park Regis properties in Makkah Saudi Arabia.
Madinat Jumeirah, the Arabian Resort of Dubai, held a launch party at Fort Island to mark the opening of the new outdoor events space. Around 200 guests attended including media representatives, long-term sales partners and VIP influencers.Margaret Paul, Resort General Manager, welcomed guests with a speech: "We are delighted to host our closest partners and clients at the new Fort Island at Madinat Jumeirah, one of the city's most innovative and exclusive outdoor venues. This redevelopment demonstrates our commitment to continually enhance the guest experience and we look forward to catering for a larger and wider range of prestigious events for the meetings, incentives, conference and events (MICE) industry."A 3D mapping wall displayed Arabic pattern projections, showcasing options for client events and Tai Chi and Kung Fu techniques were conducted by Master Can, a 34th- generation warrior monk of the Shaolin Temple. Guests were invited to try a special menu designed by Resort Executive Chef Dirk Haltenhof. The Palladium Electric Band performed and the evening was closed by a DJ.Madinat Jumeirah offers the largest hotel event space in the United Arab Emirates. The new expansion was completed in October 2015. Set over 1,750 square meters, the space has tripled in size and is set to host banquets, parties, exhibitions, product launches, music concerts, weddings, sports events and festivals for up to 1,400 people. In the past six months the space was converted to host several international events including Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF), the World Economic Forum, the Museum of the Future and Art Dubai.Fort Island is connected to the resort by four bridges and guests can also access the venue by the traditional wooden abra boats when staying in one of Madinat Jumeirah's three hotels. Its privileged location, steps away from the bustling Souk Madinat, the 600- seater outdoor amphitheatre, Madinat Theatre and the nearest hotel, Jumeirah Mina A'Salam makes Fort Island a one-of-a-kind venue for spectacular events.
Rotana, one of the leading hotel management companies in the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and Eastern Europe, today launched its newest property in Bahrain – the five-star hotel Downtown Rotana, which was inaugurated by H.E. Zayed R. Al Zayani, Bahrain's Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, in the presence of a number of esteemed guests.
In a city of superlatives, where each day seems to bring something bigger, brighter and bolder (it's known as the city that holds the world record for the most world records with good reason), the leading global luxury hospitality brand presents something entirely different: the all-new, intimately scaled Four Seasons Hotel Dubai International Financial Centre. At eight stories and with just 106 guest accommodations, Four Seasons Hotel DIFC is redefining the very meaning of luxury.
Hilton Worldwide (NYSE:HLT) today announced the signing of a management agreement with the Muscat National Development and Investment Company to open Hilton Garden Inn Muscat - Al Khuwair, the global hospitality company's first hotel in Muscat and second in the The Sultanate of Oman. Located on the country's northern coastline, Muscat is home to the seat of government, as well as a popular destination for business and leisure tourism.
Muzn Oman Commercial (S.A.O.C.) signed a management agreement today with HMH - Hospitality Management Holdings to operate Corp Muscat Al Muzn Hotel. The upscale 3-star hotel, with a built-up area of 12301m2 will be part of Al Muzn project that was promoted by MAJAN Development Company S.A.O.C. and being developed along with its strategic partners, as a mixed-use, one-stop destination offering multiple facilities. These include a shopping mall as well as a luxury wellness centre.
Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Worldwide's (NYSE: HLT) upscale global brand of hotels, today announced the opening ofHilton Garden Inn Jackson/Flowood. The property, which will be owned by Laurel Park Hotel, LLC and managed by CDA Hospitality, LLC, brings 112 new rooms to the Hilton Garden Inn brand of more than 665 hotels worldwide.