The General Manager Power 100 2022 has been revealed, and in it, are 10 of the very best general managers in Saudi Arabia. KSA hospiality is the most exciting it has ever been, with religious tourism coming back, business tourism as resilient as ever, and of course, the immense boom in leisure.
Bulgari Resort Dubai has only been open for a matter of weeks, but it's already been crowned the best new luxury hotel of 2017. The lavish property, located on man-made island Jumeira Bay, came out on top in members-only travel ratings company Luxury Travel Intelligence's annual list, beating off stiff competition from the likes of The Ned in London and Paris' Hotel de Crillon. Described as an "urban oasis," the 158,000 square-meter complex, designed by renowned Italian architectural firm Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel, was credited for its structural design as well as its "understated" location. While the Bulgari Resort Dubai may have taken the top spot, it certainly wasn't the only new hotel that made a lasting impression. Here's the full list of LTI's top 14 "truly exceptional" new hotels.
Most of us get rid of old autos when their engines finally give up, but one man has turned his battered old VW Beetle into what he claims is the world's smallest hotel. And Mohammed Al Malaheem, 64, says guests sleeping in his converted jalopy in the Jordanian desert village of Al Jaya will enjoy a five-star experience. "This village is my homeland, I was born here, I grew up here, I lived here," says Al Malaheem -- who goes by the name Abu Ali. "I wanted to start a project that improves its situation and places it on the tourism map, because it truly overlooks some of the most beautiful scenery in the region." Largely deserted by residents who have left in search of a more modern lifestyle, Al Jaya is located near Al Shoubak, home to an imposing 12th century castle called Montreal.
Nigel Tisdall recently visited the JW Marriott Marquis in Dubai, the world's tallest hotel, which opened last month. It is 355 metres tall and has 1,608 rooms split between two identical towers. The jagged design is inspired by the trunk of a date palm. Surprisingly perhaps, given its size, the decor within is "quiet and understated". Views, of course, are superb. Here are some other lofty places to spend the night.
Emaar Hospitality Group, the hospitality & leisure subsidiary of global property developer Emaar Properties PJSC, has acquired the management of Al Manzil and Qamardeen hotels, two key hospitality assets of Emaar, located in Downtown Dubai. The two hotels were earlier managed by Southern Sun Hotel Group. With Emaar Hospitality Group assuming the day-to-day operations of the two hotels, the Emaar subsidiary now has seven hotels in Dubai under its management including five Address Hotels + Resorts.
Yesterday, Kipp was going to write about the eyebrow-raising news that Angsana Hotels and Resorts pulled out of managing a luxury hotel in Abu Dhabi. The reason for the separation? They grew apart, realised they wanted different things and decided to go their separate ways. Very Hollywood, wouldn’t you say? (If you want the quote Banyan Tree, which manages the Angsana Brand, gave The National here it is. But trust us, it’s not half as good as how we’ve said it and it means exactly the same thing.) Anyway, partnerships come and go in the business world as much as it does on the red carpet so this story doesn’t really stand out, except that the Singapore-based operator has been having a hard time finding the right partners in the region.