Georges El Khoury has been appointed as Director of Business Development at Yas Island Rotana and Centro Yas Island
Georges El Khoury joined Yas Island Rotana and Centro Yas Island as Director of Business Development.
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Allana Thomas has been appointed as Hotel Manager at Crowne Plaza Yas Island
The Crowne Plaza in Yas Island Abu Dhabi has appointed Allana Thomas as the properties new hotel manager.
Madinat Jumeirah celebrates the opening of the new Fort Island
Madinat Jumeirah, the Arabian Resort of Dubai, held a launch party at Fort Island to mark the opening of the new outdoor events space. Around 200 guests attended including media representatives, long-term sales partners and VIP influencers.Margaret Paul, Resort General Manager, welcomed guests with a speech: "We are delighted to host our closest partners and clients at the new Fort Island at Madinat Jumeirah, one of the city's most innovative and exclusive outdoor venues. This redevelopment demonstrates our commitment to continually enhance the guest experience and we look forward to catering for a larger and wider range of prestigious events for the meetings, incentives, conference and events (MICE) industry."A 3D mapping wall displayed Arabic pattern projections, showcasing options for client events and Tai Chi and Kung Fu techniques were conducted by Master Can, a 34th- generation warrior monk of the Shaolin Temple. Guests were invited to try a special menu designed by Resort Executive Chef Dirk Haltenhof. The Palladium Electric Band performed and the evening was closed by a DJ.Madinat Jumeirah offers the largest hotel event space in the United Arab Emirates. The new expansion was completed in October 2015. Set over 1,750 square meters, the space has tripled in size and is set to host banquets, parties, exhibitions, product launches, music concerts, weddings, sports events and festivals for up to 1,400 people. In the past six months the space was converted to host several international events including Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF), the World Economic Forum, the Museum of the Future and Art Dubai.Fort Island is connected to the resort by four bridges and guests can also access the venue by the traditional wooden abra boats when staying in one of Madinat Jumeirah's three hotels. Its privileged location, steps away from the bustling Souk Madinat, the 600- seater outdoor amphitheatre, Madinat Theatre and the nearest hotel, Jumeirah Mina A'Salam makes Fort Island a one-of-a-kind venue for spectacular events.
Bright Outlook Expected for Dubai Spa Market | Colliers International Hospitality
Despite growing competition, a bright outlook is anticipated for the Dubai spa market according to a report issued today by Colliers International, a global leader in real estate advisory services. The report, which features the results from a survey completed by 25 leading spa operators between January – February 2016, lists the key challenges faced by operators in 2015, top 3 guest nationalities and expectations for 2016.
Essam Nabhan has been appointed as Executive Chef at Marriott Hotel Al Jaddaf, Dubai
Essam Nabhan has been appointed as executive chef at Marriott Hotel Al Jaddaf Dubai and Marriott Executive Apartments Al Jaddaf Dubai.
The All-New Four Seasons Hotel Dubai International Financial Centre has Opened
In a city of superlatives, where each day seems to bring something bigger, brighter and bolder (it's known as the city that holds the world record for the most world records with good reason), the leading global luxury hospitality brand presents something entirely different: the all-new, intimately scaled Four Seasons Hotel Dubai International Financial Centre. At eight stories and with just 106 guest accommodations, Four Seasons Hotel DIFC is redefining the very meaning of luxury.
Julia Sullivan has been named Regional Chair for the Middle East and Africa at Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE)
ACTE Names Julia Sullivan Regional Chair for the Middle East and Africa Greeley Koch, Executive Director for the worldwide Association of Corporate Travel Executives, today announced the appointment of Julia Sullivan as the group’s Regional Chair for the Middle East and Africa. Sullivan’s term will extend two years, through December 2017. “Julia Sullivan has extensive experience as a buyer and a supplier, and as a committed ACTE volunteer,” said Koch. “She understands the objectives of our membership and will energize this knowledge in a series of networking exchanges slated to begin this month. I’m confident her high-level engagement with travel managers and suppliers in the region will keep ACTE in the forefront of defining issues and solutions.” As the business travel manager for Shell Corporate Travel MENA, Sullivan works closely with internal and external stakeholders across hierarchies to provide secure, safe and cost efficient travel solutions. Following a dissertation project on demand management in travel management and procurement processes for EADS / Airbus, she joined American Express Business Travel in Europe in account management roles and moved to the Middle East in 2009 to build up and lead the account management function for Alshamel, then Carlson Wagonlit Travel’s partner in the Gulf. Sullivan holds a double degree from Victoria University Melbourne and the International University of Applied Sciences Bad Honnef / Bonn in International Tourism Management.
Wael El Behi has been appointed as General Manager at First Central Hotel And Suites
Wael El Behi has been named as First Central hotel apartment’s new general manager in Dubai.
Rankin County Welcomes Latest Hilton Garden Inn
Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Worldwide's (NYSE: HLT) upscale global brand of hotels, today announced the opening ofHilton Garden Inn Jackson/Flowood. The property, which will be owned by Laurel Park Hotel, LLC and managed by CDA Hospitality, LLC, brings 112 new rooms to the Hilton Garden Inn brand of more than 665 hotels worldwide.
Nishan Silva has been appointed as General Manager at Pullman Dubai Creek City Centre
Nishan Silva has been appointed as the new general manager for Pullman Dubai Creek City Centre. Silva joins the Dubai property directly from the Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu, Philippines.
Stéphane Blanc has been appointed as General Manager at Hyatt Regency Dubai
Hyatt Regency Dubai has appointed Stéphane Blanc as its general manager.
TFG Asset Management – The Hoteliers’ Guide to Going Green
The case for developing more sustainable hotel industry practices is complex and subject to ongoing debate. Many hotel owners are still reluctant to embrace green initiatives, deterred by the associated increase in capital costs and what they deem an ambiguous return on investment. In Dubai the sustainability concept was initially considered impractical given the lack of supporting facilities and the belief that the high investment cost of green practices would impact bottom-line profits.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts to Bring Aloft Brand to Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced it has signed an agreement with Mr. Rashid Al Abbar to open a 192-room Aloft on Dubai's iconic man-made island – Palm Jumeirah. Scheduled to open in 2017, Aloft Dubai, The Palm will be the brand's first resort in the Middle East, complete with beach access, when it opens its doors as the first mid-market hotel brand on the island.
Shamia Mouratsing has been appointed as Head of Marketing & Communications at DUKES Dubai on Palm Jumeirah
Dubai-based luxury property developer and holding company Seven Tides International has announced a new team member with the appointment of Shamia Mouratsing as Head of Marketing & Communications for its five-star hospitality venture, DUKES Dubai on Palm Jumeirah.Boasting more than 13 years’ solid marketing experience, Mouratsing has spearheaded campaigns that have generated millions of dollars in revenue for properties under her remit over the past five years. A graduate of Emirates Aviation College, Mouratsing will be responsible for communicating all marketing initiatives to its target markets across business, trade and consumer sectors.
Industry Veteran Bani Haddad Launches Aleph Hospitality in Bid to Accelerate Growth of Middle East and African Hotel Landscape
Aleph Hospitality (http://www.AlephHospitality.com), a pioneering third-party hotel management company founded by industry veteran Bani Haddad and headquartered in Dubai, today marked its official launch with the unveiling of the company's new website, alephhospitality.com.In addition to providing prospective hotel owners and business partners with an overview of the company's services, the site seeks to help demystify the concept of third-party management, which, despite being relatively little known in the region today, is widely tipped to fuel significant future expansion within the Middle East and African hotel industry.An established model in the U.S. where in 2014 the top ten third-party management companies alone accounted for more than 260,000 rooms(1), third-party or 'white label' hotel management allows a hotel owner to appoint a specialist hotel management company to operate their hotel, in addition to taking a franchise from a major hotel company in order to secure an international brand above the door. An alternative to the most prevalent asset management structures in the region today where hotels are typically operated by a hotel brand under management contract with an owner or are operated independently by the owners themselves, often without an international brand, third-party hotel management presents many benefits to both hotel companies and investors alike."By establishing a credible third-party hotel management solution for the Middle East and Africa, our aim is to open doors that were previously closed," explains Bani Haddad, Founder and Managing Director, Aleph Hospitality. "We want to create opportunities both for hotel companies, by providing a trusted intermediary with whom they can grow their franchise portfolios, and for owners of hotels of all shapes and sizes who wish to benefit from a combination of dedicated operational support and the advantages of an internationally-renowned brand."Having already signed its first management contract and with its first hotel opening, the 116-room Best Western Addis Ababa, just three months away, Aleph Hospitality is already experiencing strong demand for its services. "With some regional owners historically locked out of a market where management agreements were largely the preserve of upscale developments in established destinations, we truly see this as an exciting new beginning for the regional hotel landscape," said Haddad. "Hotel companies, consultants and owners that we've spoken to right across the region have all been extremely positive about the accelerated growth this model could bring."Founded by industry expert Bani Haddad, whose career history spans all aspects of hotel management and roles at major industry players including Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Wyndham Hotel Group and Disney, Aleph Hospitality's name was inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit of the ancient Phoenicians, widely credited with revolutionising the way the world communicates through the development of the 'Aleph-bet', or alphabet.(1) HotelManagement.net, 2015 Hotel Management Survey, March 2015
Carlson Rezidor announces the first Radisson RED in Dubai
Rezidor, one of the most dynamic hotel groups worldwide and a member of the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, introduces the lifestyle select brand Radisson RED to Dubai. Located in Dubai's Silicon Oasis, a community designed to facilitate and promote modern technology based industries, the 171-room Radisson RED Dubai Silicon Oasis is expected to open in Q3 2018.
Deira Islands first project to open in 2017 | hoteliermiddleeast.com
Two-kilometre night souq to be one of the first major projects opening on Deira Islands in Q1 2017. The first project slated for opening will consist of 5,300 stores and nearly 100 quayside cafes and restaurants, according to Nakheel in a Gulf News report. Considered to be the biggest development project undertaken in Deira, the islands include the construction of hotels, hotel apartments, multi-purpose buildings and marinas.
Craig Cook has been appointed as Resident Manager at Shangri-La Hotel Dubai
Shangri-La Hotel Dubai welcomes newly appointed resident manager Craig Cook to the executive committee.
Kim Gates has been appointed as Executive Chef at Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche
Gates’ has over 30 years experience with international hotel chains and restaurants. He worked previously on the pre-opening team for Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa resort, and in addition to the UAE and Bahrain, he has worked in properties in Australia, Republic of Vanuatu, Maldives and Russian (Sochi and Moscow).
Valerie Barrie has been appointed as Director of Sales and Marketing at The JW Marriott Marquis Dubai
Barrie, a Scottish national, joins the team from Jumeirah Beach Hotel and Wild Wadi Waterpark where she served for three years as DOSM across the 618-room property and waterpark.