Dubai, UAE 9 April 2014: The Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC 2014) will be presenting the Leadership Award this year to HRH Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, President and Chairman of the Board of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), in recognition of his vibrant role in developing the hospitality sector in Saudi Arabia.
Hilton, Waldorf Astoria and Shangri-La are all making major investments in previously sleepy outposts such as Ras al Khamiah as well as hot new locations like Saadiyat Island, both in the UAE. But one local company has a head start on the big global players coming late to the game. Rotana Hotels is an Abu Dhabi-based chain that has been growing at an aggressive rate since it was founded by business partners Nasser Al Nowais and Selim El Zyr in 1993.
Investment Corp of Dubai (ICD), the emirate's sovereign wealth fund, has bought a stake in global hotel management firm Kerzner International KZL.UL from investors including the family of South African casino tycoon Sol Kerzner. The deal gives Dubai, which depends heavily on its booming tourism industry, control of a second major luxury hotel firm. The first firm, Jumeirah Group, is owned by Dubai's ruler. Kerzner International, originally founded by Sol Kerzner, manages the Atlantis and One & Only resort chains. Locations of it resorts range from South Africa to Mexico, but the firm has increasingly focused on Dubai in recent years. Istithmar World, a unit of state-owned conglomerate Dubai World DBWLD.UL, already owns 25 percent of Kerzner International. Shaibani will now take over as chairman of the company from Sol Kerzner.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel, part of the Jumeirah Group, the Dubai-based luxury hospitality company and a member of Dubai Holding, is pleased to announce Yui Tung Cheung has been appointed as the new Director of Revenue.
Action Hotels plc and Whitbread plc announced today a partnership to develop Premier Inn Hotels across the Middle East. Premier Inn will undertake long-term management contracts on four new Premier Inn hotels owned by Action Hotels, to open between now and 2016. The hotels include a 166 bedroom Premier Inn Sharjah King Faisal Road (opening late 2014), a 100 bedroom Premier Inn Jeddah in the Modon Industrial area (opening 2015), a 119 bedroom Premier Inn in Bahrain's Diplomatic area (opening 2015)and a 245 bedroom Premier Inn Dubai Healthcare City (opening 2016).
Hotels in Dubai enjoy some of the highest occupancy rates in the world. Tourists flock from around the region and afar to bask in the emirate’s winter sun, lie on its beaches and attend its glitzy events.
Valerie joined Jumeirah last year as Director of Sales for Jumeirah Beach Hotel, and brought with her wealth of experience from working in various international hotel chains around the world such as JW Marriott Dubai and Hyatt Regency Queensland. Valerie has proven to be an integral part of the team since she joined Jumeirah Beach Hotel in 2013.
Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC) 2014, held at Madinat Jumeirah from 4 - 5 May in Dubai will be looking at solutions to fill in the gaps in the hotel F&B market in the region.
Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, the world’s leading luxury hospitality company, continues to create leadership opportunities for key talent with the promotion of Christian Clerc, Regional Vice President and General Manager of Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris to the role of Senior Vice President, Hotel Operations, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Born and educated in Switzerland and a graduate of the prestigious Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne in Switzerland, Clerc worked at a variety of hotels in destinations across Europe, including Rome and Paris, before joining Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC in 2000. In 2003 he became General Manager of Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, Mexico and was promoted to Regional Vice President in 2006, a role that included regional responsibility for Latin America. Clerc continued his Four Seasons journey with senior operational roles in Chicago and Washington, DC before assuming the role of General Manager of the iconic Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris in 2013, while also overseeing properties in Geneva, Milan, Florence, Lisbon and Marrakech in his capacity as Regional Vice President. Clerc’s promotion builds on Four Seasons reputation for creating growth opportunities for key talent within the organization. As he moves into his new role, Four Seasons veteran José Silva is promoted to Regional Vice President and General Manager of Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris, an appointment that reflects the deep operational bench strength and tenure within the organisation.
The Palm Jumeirah's largest foreign investor, publicly-listed IFA Hotels & Resorts (IFA HR) is adding yet another stunning residential resort to its island portfolio. Talal Al- Bahar, Chairman & Group CEO, IFA Hotels & Resorts, stated: "The Palm Jumeirah continues to be a market leader in property value retention and rental yield. Although 45,000 new residential units are scheduled for completion in Dubai by the end of 2015, only 4% of these are on the island. IFA Hotels & Resorts made a commitment long ago to be a significant contributor to the development of the Palm, and we are certain that The 8 will be a beautiful and modern addition. "
Kayali joins Kempinski Palm Jumeirah from Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels by Al Rayyan Hospitality in Doha, where he held the position of Group Director of Sales & Marketing. In this position he oversaw eight boutique hotels owned by the Government of Qatar and an additional two under development. With over two decades in the hospitality industry, Kayali’s regional experience includes successful stints as Director of Sales and Marketing in Saudi at the Hilton Jeddah, in Algeria at Sheraton Club Des Pins Resort and Towers, and in Kuwait at Le Meridien, as well as local UAE experience at Al Manzil Hotel. No stranger to Kempinski Hotels, Kayalialso worked at Emirates Palacefrom 2004 to 2006 as Director of Business Development. “With his comprehensive knowledge of the Kempinski brandand his wealth of experience, we are pleased to have Abdo Kayali join our team” said Alessandro Redaelli, General Manager of Kempinski Palm Jumeirah. A Syrian national, Kayali speaks fluent English, Arabic and French. Kayali lives in Dubai with his wife and two children, and when he’s not working, Kayali loves to travel and dive head-on into different cultures.
Mr. Taher joins the RSO team from Traders Hotel, Dubai, where he held a similar position. Prior to moving to Traders Hotel, Mr. Taher held the position of Director of Sales at Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai. Mr. Taher, of Egyptian origin, has worked with Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts for 10 years, following a six-year career with Accor Business & Leisure Hotels. He has extensive hospitality experience in the Middle East, with specific expertise in the corporate and leisure markets. Mr. Taher will be responsible for sales and marketing strategies of all Shangri-La and Traders properties in the Middle East, including the United Arab Emirates, Oman and the upcoming Shangri-La and Traders hotels in Doha, Qatar.
A Croatian national, Jovalekic attended university in Serbia, graduating with a degree in finance and accounting.
Jumeirah Group has appointed Andrea Greybanks as Director of Sales and Marketing at Jumeirah Emirates Towers. With a proven track record in luxury sales, Andrea is tasked with driving the Commercial Team which comprises Sales, Marketing, PR and Communications, Revenue Management and Events.
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), the largest international hotel group in the Middle East, announced today that celebrity chef Jason Atherton will debut his first restaurant in the Middle East in the upcoming InterContinental Dubai Marina.
Based in FRHI's regional office in Dubai, Andrew Gibson will be responsible for the development and execution of the company's spa strategy, including defining and implementing spa standards globally across all of FRHI’s leading hotel and spa brands. Gibson, who is British, brings over 25 years of international hospitality experience in the fields of spa, wellness and leisure to his new role. He joins FRHI from his most recent position as Group Director of Spa, Mandarin Oriental Hotels Group. Andrew began his career in England, where an early role was leisure centre manager at an airport hotel close to London Gatwick Airport, one of the first hotels in the UK to build significant leisure facilities. He then held progressive positions in the Middle East, with Abu Dhabi Intercontinental Hotel and the Al Bustan Palace Hotel in Oman. He also contributed to leisure services in Oman through tennis, squash, sailing and diving and helped design, build and project manage the first ladies only spa in Muscat.
One to One Hotels & Resorts has revealed its new One to One Spa brand, located at the One to One Hotel and Resort Ain Al Faida, in the city of Al Ain, UAE. Taking up the top floor of the property, the spa will offer a range of therapies in each of its eight treatment rooms, including two cold and hot Jacuzzis, two private Moroccan baths and two separate salons for male and female guests.
Steigenberger subsidiary InterCityHotel is setting its sights on the United Arab Emirates by opening its first hotel in the glittering metropolis of Dubai on the Persian Gulf. The plan is for the "InterCityHotel Culture Village" to be up and running by November 2016. Construction works are scheduled to begin in June 2014.The project is being realised at the heart of the new "Culture Village" quarter, in which a cultural centre is to be created. The "InterCityHotel Culture Village" will be located at the very pulse of Dubai directly on the "Dubai Creek" coast within the immediate vicinity of the plethora of leisure and entertainment facilities available within the "Festival City".150 double rooms 22.5 m2 in size and 65 serviced apartments will provide a high degree of comfort. As far as gastronomic facilities are concerned, the hotel will feature a conventional restaurant and Bistro Lounge. There are further plans for a coffee or juice bar. Business customers will find the 250 m2 conference centre to their liking, and guests will also be able to relax in a spa area."The Middle East represents the next stage in our expansion strategy. The hotel we are planning in Dubai will establish us in a new market and enable us to pursue ongoing global growth", said Puneet Chhatwal, CEO of Steigenberger Hotel Group.The contractual partner for the construction project is Warsan Dubai LLC and Zaina Investments LLC, Dubai, represented by Mr. Hashim Al Dabal.
Hotels in Abu Dhabi posted double digit growth in Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) in January on the back of strong growth in occupancy levels and Average Room Rates (ARR), according to the latest HotStats survey of full-service hotels in five MENA cities by TRI Hospitality Consulting.
Gharib joined Raffles Dubai in 2009 as executive assistant manager F&B and was promoted to hotel manager in 2011, before taking on his current role as GM.