STR: Jeddah hotels report highest occupancy since 2016
Helped by the Arab League Summit, Jeddah’s hotel industry posted its highest monthly occupancy since August 2016, according to preliminary May 2023 data from STR.
Press Releases
Leveraging the Abraham Accords to Stimulate Tourism Growth
In this report, HVS explores ways in which the Abraham Accords can be leveraged to stimulate tourism growth in Israel. It outlines tourism goals for 2025 and gives country overviews for each of the member states.
Youth employability programme launched for Egypt’s hospitality sector to support young people and promote equality.
An innovative Employability Programme aimed at supporting youth employment in Egypt is underway in Cairo and Hurghada, with scope to scale it at country level.
Hilton and Saudi Tourism Authority Sign MoU for Collaboration on Attracting Visitors to the Kingdom
Global hospitality leader Hilton (NYSE: HLT), announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) towards exploring cooperation opportunities between the two entities and developing creative content, with the aim of attracting visitors from key markets across the Middle East and Africa to the Kingdom.
Design: The imaginative fusion of an ancient “resting hotels” with a “Space Oddity,” concept draws a symbiotic connection to the majestic Dead Sea and the Judean Desert
Bar Orian Architects in collaboration with Lambs & Lions Studio today officially announces a new luxury resort planned for Israel’s Judean Desert overlooking the Dead Sea, scheduled to open in 2025. The 109 room-and-suite property will be built on a plot of land with an area of about 20 dunams (nearly five acres) in the Judean Desert overlooking the serene landscape of the Dead Sea. The imaginative fusion of an ancient “resting hotels” with a “Space Oddity,” concept draws a symbiotic connection to the majestic Dead Sea and Judean Desert.
UAE Travel & Tourism sector set to recover this year, says WTTC
The World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) 2023 Economic Impact Research (EIR) today reveals the UAE Travel & Tourism sector is projected to meet the 2019 peak this year.
Accor accelerates growth in Saudi Arabia while boldly redefining hospitality with multi-faceted projects
Accor, a world-leading hospitality group, is pleased to provide an update on its ambitious expansion plans throughout Saudi Arabia, in keeping with the company’s commitment to support Saudi Arabia Vision 2030. Pivotal to these plans, are three recently announced signings with key strategic owning partners for exciting new hospitality projects: The Rua Al Madinah project, in Madinah; a master-planned development project in Riyadh; and, a multi-city, master development agreement with Amsa Hospitality.
IHG to open 12 ‘ Next Generation’ Holiday Inn Express hotels across Saudi Arabia under MDA with Tashyid for Hotel Operations
IHG® Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies with more than 6,000 hotels, across 18 distinct brands, has signed a Master Development Agreement (MDA) with Tashyid for Hotel Operations, which will see the development of 12 hotels and 2,500 keys under the Holiday Inn Express brand across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. With Ministry of Tourism encouraging such investments in the Kingdom, the signing took place in the presence Mr. Mahmoud Abdulhadi, Deputy Minister for Destination Enablement.
Minor Hotels Announces Partnership with Tourism Development Fund of Saudi Arabia to Develop Unique Hospitality and Lifestyle Projects
Minor Hotels, a hotel owner, operator and investor, currently with a portfolio of 530 hotels and resorts in 56 countries across Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, Africa and the Indian Ocean, announces the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Development Fund to jointly develop and operate high-quality hospitality and lifestyle projects focused on mountain resorts, wellness resorts and urban hotels within the Kingdom. The first project under this partnership is expected to be announced in H2 this year.
Accor and Erth Real Estate Partner for Three New Hotels in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Accor, a world-leading hospitality group, in partnership with Erth Real Estate Company, today announced that it will open three new hotels in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as part of a new master planned development project. The forthcoming luxury hospitality community will include a 230-key Raffles hotel, a 250-key Sofitel Serviced Residence, and a 60-villa MGallery resort, all set to open by 2027. The multi-faceted community will also include office towers, residential towers, and retail space, all built around a centrally located garden area.
IHG continues to strengthen Egypt portfolio with two new signings in Cairo
IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has strengthened its partnership with one of the leading developers in Egypt, Arkan Palm for Real Estate Investment, to build two more hotels in the capital city — InterContinental West Cairo 205 scheduled for a January 2028 opening and the voco West Cairo 205 Suites, set to open by June 2026.
STR: Dubai April hotel occupancy peaked during Eid al-Fitr
Dubai’s hotel industry saw its saw highest April 2023 occupancy levels during the Eid-al Fitr holiday period, according to preliminary data from STR.
IHG® signs MOU with the Saudi Tourism Authority
IHG® Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies with more than 6,000 hotels, across 18 distinct brands, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) at the Arabian Travel Market 2023.
IMARAT Hospitality and Marriott International: A Partnership to Redefine Hospitality in Pakistan
Pakistan's hospitality industry is on the rise, and IMARAT Hospitality is at the forefront of this exciting transformation.
Dubai welcomes 4.67 million overnight visitors in the first quarter of 2023; on track to becoming the most visited international destination
Dubai welcomed 4.67 million international overnight visitors in the first quarter of 2023, compared to 3.97 million tourists during the same period in 2022. This marks a 17 % YoY growth and the city’s best Q1 performance since the pandemic, placing it firmly on track to becoming the most visited international destination, according to the latest data published by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET).
IHG Hotels & Resorts announces the launch of Holiday Inn Express brand in Saudi Arabia
IHG® Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies with more than 6,000 hotels, across 18 distinct brands, has signed a management agreement with Riyadh-based Al Woroud Real Estate to bring one of the world’s largest and most loved hotel brands, Holiday Inn Express, to the Kingdom. The latest signing will strengthen the company’s mainstream offering in Riyadh and provide an elevated, smart offering to cater to new international and Saudi guest segments, as part of Saudi Vision 2030 strategy for tourism.
Saudi Arabia currently represents the single biggest opportunity for hospitality and tourism
The PKF hospitality group recently held one of its 196+ spotlight events in Riyadh in recognition of the significant amount of projects that have been announced for Saudi Arabia, the largest sovereign state by landmass in the Middle East with a total of 2,150,000 km2 and 35 million inhabitants.
IHG to bring another voco hotel to Saudi Arabia as the brand gains momentum across the region
IHG® Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has announced the signing of a management agreement with Jurmaz Hotels Company to bring a new voco hotel to the centre of Riyadh. The voco Hotel and Suites Riyadh North is set to open its doors in 2026 as the next stride forward in IHG’s ambitious regional growth strategy for the premium brand.
IHG expands luxury and premium hospitality offering in Egypt with triple hotel signing, in partnership with Arabella Group
IHG® Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has signed a management agreement with Arabella Group to develop three new hotels in Egypt between 2023 and 2026.
Radisson Hotel Group is further expanding in Pakistan with the signing of two new hotels in the capital
Radisson Hotel Group announces the signing of two new hotels in Islamabad and the debut of a third brand in the country, with the signing of Park Inn by Radisson Serviced Apartments Islamabad as well as Radisson Hotel Bahria Town Islamabad. The two newly built hotels are scheduled to open at the end of 2028 and are both being developed by Al Jamal Group, a long-standing player in the real estate sector.