Sales &amp; Marketing

November 24, 2009

Growth of budget hotels in the Middle East forecast | arabnews.com

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.

arabnews.com

United Arab Emirates

November 10, 2009

HSMAI Global Launches Official Chapter in United Arab Emirates

A new chapter of the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) chartered in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on November 2, 2009, during an official ceremony hosted by Jeff Senior, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Fairmont Raffles and global chair of HSMAI.

HSMAI (USA)

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

October 16, 2009

Pilgrims to Mecca to be tempted by luxury hotel | telegraph.co.uk

Raffles is opening a luxury hotel in Mecca that will offer weary pilgrims a taste of the high life, including a coffee sommelier, a chocolate room and 24-hour butler service. The new hotel will provide accommodation that varies wildly from the basic fare normally experienced by Muslims executing the fifth pillar of Islam. The pilgrimage to Mecca typically involves great hardship, including months spent travelling on foot and sleeping in the open air while en route.

telegraph.co.uk

Saudi Arabia

Supplier News

October 8, 2009

Five-star Abu Dhabi Hotel Increases Middle East Market Share Through Partnership with TIG Global

Vision Hotel Apartments Deluxe, a five-star residence-style living hotel located in the heart of Abu Dhabi, recently launched a new website (www.visionhotel.net) and strategic online marketing plan to combat the decline in international travel and capture new customers interested in long-term accommodations. TIG Global , the leading online marketing company for hospitality and travel, built the new website and runs the multi-pronged marketing program that has so far increased website traffic by 47% in the first month and visits to the reservations page by 22%.

August 27, 2009

Dubai hotels incentives pay off as visitors return

Dubai hotels experienced a substantial improvement in performance last month following sharp declines in revenues in the first half of the year, as promotional efforts start to have an effect. Occupancy levels for Dubai hotels increased last month compared with June, but were down from last year. Occupancy was 65.1 per cent last month compared with 71.7 per cent in July of last year.

thenational.ae

August 19, 2009

The Address Hotels + Resorts Strengthens its Presence With Two More Hotels Opening

The Address Hotels + Resorts is further increasing its portfolio with two new hospitality destinations. The Address Dubai Mall and The Address Dubai Marina, on schedule to open later this year, will be part of vibrant and chic lifestyle communities and will offer guests ideal locations in which to socialise, dine or do business.

Address Hotels + Resorts

Why Hospitality Net Leads B2B in Hospitality

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Hospitality Net

August 2, 2009

Sonesta International Hotels Corp. Announces New Hotel in Egypt | Opening Planned for 2012

Sonesta International Hotels Corporation has announced the Sonesta Kiroseiz Beach Resort Dahab, in Egypt. The 450-room resort, now under development, will open in 2012 under a new management agreement between Sonesta International Hotels and Kiroseiz Hotels Establishment. The Resort will be located on the Sinai Peninsula on the Red Sea, just 50 miles north of Sharm El Sheikh.

Sonesta

Dahab, Egypt

June 22, 2009

Saudi Hotel sector gets major boost as religious tourism in Saudi grows by 30 per cent in first quarter 2009 | albawaba.com

The Elaf Group of Companies, a business organisation serving the Saudi Arabian travel, tourism and hotel industries, has announced that it has recently launched a major expansion initiative in the Saudi hotel sector, driven by a significant surge in religious tourism, which according to recent reports has achieved a remarkable 30 per cent growth in the first quarter of 2009. Elaf has particularly prepared for the new Umrah season that started in February 2009, noting a considerable growth trend as around 3.5 million pilgrims are expected to visit the Kingdom in the current Umrah season

albawaba.com

Saudi Arabia

June 18, 2009

All about the Hydropolis Underwater Hotel, Dubai | designbuild-network.com

Currently under construction in Dubai, Hydropolis will be the world's first luxury underwater hotel. It will include three elements: the land station, where guests will be welcomed, the connecting tunnel, which will transport people by train to the main area of the hotel, and the 220 suites within the submarine leisure complex. It is one of the largest contemporary construction projects in the world, covering an area of 260 hectares, about the size of London's Hyde Park.

designbuild-network.com

June 15, 2009

Rezidor announces the Al Muna Karim Radisson Blu Hotel in Al Madinah, Saudi Arabia

The Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the fastest growing hotel companies worldwide, announces the Al Muna Karim Radisson Blu Hotel in Al Madinah, Saudi Arabia. The 322 rooms-property is scheduled to open in Q3 2009 to welcome its first guests during the holy month of Ramadan and is Rezidor’s second hotel in town – the group also develops the Al Madinah Paradise Radisson Blu Resort which will welcome the first guests in Q4 2010.

Radisson Hotel Group

Al Madinah, Saudi Arabia

June 15, 2009

Park Hyatt Jeddah – Marina, Club and Spa Now Open

Hyatt Hotels & Resorts announced today the opening of Park Hyatt Jeddah – Marina Club and Spa, marking its entry into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Set among beautifully landscaped gardens on the Corniche of Jeddah, Park Hyatt Jeddah – Marina, Club and Spa is an innovative five-star sanctuary where contemporary luxury and exceptional service meets unrivalled views of the Red Sea and King Fahd fountain. The hotel enjoys a prime location in the very heart of the city, within the esteemed Al Hamra District at the Equestrian Club of Jeddah, and just minutes away from the central business district.

Hyatt

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

June 9, 2009

Bomb rips through Pakistan hotel | cnn.com

ee suicide attackers shot their way onto the grounds of a five-star hotel in the northwest Pakistani city of Peshawar and set off a car bomb, killing at least seven people and wounding dozens, officials said. Peshawar Police Chief Safwat Ghyour said about 40 people were wounded in the attack on the Pearl Continental Hotel, which is often frequented by foreigners and diplomats.

cnn.com

Peshawar, Pakistan

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

May 27, 2009

Abu Dhabi cuts hotel guest target | maktoob.com

Abu Dhabi has cut its target to more than double the number of hotel guests staying in the emirates by 2012 due to the impact of the global economic downturn, the chairman of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) said on Monday. Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon al-Nahyan said the authority has reduced its forecast by 15 percent to 2.3 million guests annually by 2012, down from 2.7 million guests, in a sign of how the downturn is hitting the emirate's economy.

maktoob.com

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Hospitality Net

May 19, 2009

A luxurious new arrival at Burj Al Arab | Burj Al Arab welcomes four new bespoke Rolls-Royce Phantoms

Burj Al Arab, the World's Most Luxurious Hotel and recognised as the symbol of Dubai, has today received four new bespoke model Phantom Rolls-Royce's into its already extensive luxury vehicle range.

Jumeirah

May 19, 2009

Dubai tourism takes hit in Q1 as hotel nights fall | guardian.co.uk

Dubai's tourism industry slowed in the first quarter with hotel guest nights falling 16 percent and revenues dropping 15 percent as a global recession hit the sector, official data showed. Gulf commerce and trade hub Dubai, which attracts more visitors each year than any Arab country outside of Egypt, hosts a major shopping festival in the first quarter that typically attracts streams of regional visitors.

guardian.co.uk

May 12, 2009

Raffles Hotels & Resorts Grows Middle East Presence with Hotel in Makkah

Raffles Hotels & Resorts has announced that it will be managing a new hotel in the Holy city of Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The all-suite hotel is set to be the jewel of the prominent Abraj Al Bait Complex developed by Saudi Binladin Corporation in the Development of King Abdal Aziz Endowment Project, and will enjoy an outstanding location, with suites as well as a spacious outdoor dining terrace overlooking Al Masjid al Haram.

Raffles

Makkah, Saudi Arabia

May 12, 2009

The Ritz-Carlton Cairo, Palm Hills to Open in 2012

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. has signed an agreement with Palm Hills Developments to manage The Ritz-Carlton Cairo, Palm Hills and a Jack Nicklaus-designed 27-hole golf course and clubhouse, set to open in 2012.

Ritz-Carlton

Palm Hills, Egypt

Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates

May 6, 2009

Hilton Signs Management Agreement with Mohamed Ahmed Ali Hassan Ruqait for a Doubletree Branded Hotel in Ras Al Khaimah U.A.E.

Hilton Hotels Corporation today announced the entry of the Doubletree by Hilton brand into the Middle East with the signing of a Management Agreement with Mohamed Ahmed Ali Hassan Ruqait for the Doubletree Suites by Hilton Ras Al Khaimah in the U.A.E set to open Q1 2010.

Hilton