The world is changing fast, and moving into a new era of hospitality. NEOM will move at the same pace with its hotel developments. This will enable NEOM lead the way in business innovation, enhanced livability, and environmental sustainability.
Expo 2020 Dubai, slated to begin in October this year, is likely to be delayed by one year due to the coronavirus situation.
Speaking to Arabian Business, Sébastien Bazin said the kingdom will need to make certain exceptions for tourists in order to attract visitors to the country.
In line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah and Member of the Federal Supreme Council, to further develop and enhance Sharjah's infrastructure and facilities for the tourism sector, and under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, the 5th Sharjah Hospitality Forum (SHF), organized by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), opened today (Wednesday, November 14, 2018) at Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Center, under the theme 'Trends of Millennials and Budget Tourism,' highlighting the role of these demographics in shaping and driving the sector's key trends.
Emaar Hospitality Group, the hospitality subsidiary of global property developer Emaar Properties, is showcasing its luxury lifestyle brand The Address Hotels + Resorts, its boutique hotel brand Vida Hotels and Resorts while also preparing for the upcoming launch of its new mid-market brand Rove Hotels and what promises to be a new iconic building, Dubai Opera.
Saudi Arabia’s non-oil sector is forecasted to maintain robust growth in 2015. Thanks to the Kingdom’s diversification strategy, the non-oil sector benefits from government spending, corporate lending, and solid domestic consumption. These benefits are likely to continue due to an important contributor to the non-oil sector, which is the hospitality sector.
Hoteliers in Qatar have welcomed plans for a training institute for the hospitality industry, in order to facilitate the creation of 127,000 jobs by 2030. Oryx Rotana director of human resources Ghaith Dalati believes a lack of specialised training in the country is one of the biggest challenges recruiters face, and hopes the new institute will address the challenges.
Leading hoteliers from Jumeirah Group, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Atlantis The Palm and Hilton Worldwide have congratulated the leaders of the UAE and Dubai on the emirate’s successful bid to host Expo 2020.
The deadly protests and political turbulence that have swept Egypt in recent months are keeping Western tourists away from the resorts, beaches and famous scuba diving waters across the southern Sinai Peninsula. "This summer is by far the worst I have seen,” said Mohamed Ismail Abdullah, who has worked as a tour guide here for 14 years. “Hotel occupancy at this time of the year usually ranges between 70% to 80%. Now we have no more than 50%, and that's only because of the Eid holidays [this month] that brought many Egyptians and tourists from the Arab Gulf countries."
The head of one of the world’s largest hospitality groups has branded Dubai’s most grandiose hotels as “monstrous” and said he is not interested in building such properties. Eric Danziger said Wyndham Group, which has nearly 7400 hotels with 15 brands across the world, was planning to rapidly boost its presence in the Gulf, particularly in Dubai and Saudi Arabia, but he would not be lured by opulence, instead choosing to fill a gap in the middle and lower ends of the market.
After three years sitting idle in Dubai's Port Rashid, the Queen Elizabeth 2 cruise liner is to be converted into a 300-room luxury hotel. The 70,327-ton, 1,791-passenger vessel was bought from Cunard for $100m five years ago by Istithmar, an investment company owned by the government of Dubai. Istithmar initially planned to refurbish the QE2 and showcase it as the main attraction in a maritime-themed development on Palm Jumeirah, but the plan was shelved in the wake of the financial crisis.
The outlook for Dubai's hotel sector remains bright, especially in light of the large number of potential visitors that are located nearby in China and India, according to hotel executives who spoke at the Hotel Show in Dubai. However, they also warn that an influx of new supply will pose challenges for the hospitality sector in the emirate.
I have something to confess. Despite our industry’s invariable and commendable efforts to prevent travelers from lumping all countries of a particular region under the same umbrella, violence in parts of the Middle East had a small part of me nervous traveling to Dubai for the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference this week.
Qatar's extensive hotel development plans in preparation for the World Cup 2022 are raising questions about whether the country will be left struggling to fill empty rooms after the event. Qatar has about 100 properties that can serve as accommodation, totalling some 44,000 rooms, with plans to add 140 more properties, or an additional 55,000 rooms, according to FIFA's bid evaluation report. These include a cruise ship project in Al Wakrah, adding 6,000 rooms. Existing rooms include "villages and compounds". But information from the Qatar Tourism Authority shows there are only about 10,000 rooms in classified hotels. The consensus is that the event will generally be a boon for the country and its tourism industry. But there are concerns.
The hospitality and tourism sectors will fuel sustained growth and investment in Dubai over the next decade, said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Supreme Fiscal Committee and Chairman of Emirates Group. Speaking at the Menasa Forum in Dubai last night, Sheikh Ahmed said: "Dubai is leading a strong tourism rebound in the Middle East. Tourism growth will continue to generate a powerful multiplier effect on the economy due to its strong indirect effect on various other key sectors."
Over the past decade the UAE has gained a reputation as a luxury destination with the launch of numerous high-end hotels that have grabbed the attention of travellers across the world. Thanks to a steady rise in demand, room rates soared and remain among the most expensive in the world, but the onset of the global financial crisis has led to a sharp decline in revenues and occupancies across the country.
Hotels in Bahrain will be one of the main features on display at the second annual Food & Hospitality Expo 2010 to be held on 12 to 14 January 2010 at the Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre (BIECC). This will be Bahrain's largest gathering of food, beverage and hospitality industry professionals following last year's inaugural successful event.
As financial crisis roiled much of the world in October 2008, the head of Dubai's biggest state-owned developer unveiled his latest megaproject: a $38 billion development that would include a tower nearly two-thirds of a mile tall. "I'm sure most of you are asking why we're launching this, and you'd be mad not to question it," said the executive, Chris O'Donnell, at a news conference. Though there would be economic ups and downs in the years needed to build the tower, he told listeners, demand would continue to outstrip supply. "The fundamentals in the market are too strong," he said. "There won't be a crash."
Dubai was supposed to be a new model for economic development in the Persian Gulf, and in the world. And like so many recent "new models," Dubai is proving to be a lemon. The theory was that Dubai would be a competitive, free oasis in a region generally hostile to the open market. Lacking oil resources of its own, it set itself up as a sponge to sop up resources-generated cash. Dubai would be the playground, shopping mall, financial center, cultural zone, beach resort, and second-home mecca of the global oil patch—New York, Las Vegas, and Miami wrapped up in one.
Middle East tourism is expected to more than double by 2020. Furthermore, the Arab world is still considered a hot spot among investors in the hospitality sector — but growth opportunities are no longer conceivable without considering the budget sector. Experts believe that luxury requires budget and Dubai, renowned for luxurious hotels such as Burj Al Arab, is leading the way. The emirate is beginning to realize that in order to lure more tourists, it needs to diversify its offerings especially in light of the financial downturn.