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A Nakheel spokesman confirmed the development of at least five hotel projects on the Palm Jumeirah, expected to be complete by 2011. While many hotel chains around the world have been forced to delay their projects, none of the 30 hotels planned for Palm Jumeirah have been cancelled. The spokesman said “Palm Jumeirah will become one of the world’s premier resorts, offering more than 30 beachfront hotels,…
A top executive for budget hotel chain Premier Inn said revenues from the Middle East will account for up to 15 percent of its total earnings by 2015. Managing Director for Premier Inn, Middle East, said Middle East earnings account for less than one percent of the groups total of £1.33 billion (Dh7.67bn) in turnover or pretax profit of £228.2 million. Darroch Crawford, Managing Director, Premier Inn, Middle…
recorded a record-breaking net profit of Dh432.92 million for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2009, 47.0 percent higher than the Dh292.74 million net profit recorded in 2008. Earnings per share increased to Dh 0.43 in 2009, up from Dh 0.29 in 2008. ADNH which owns the Hilton, Le Meridian, and Sheraton-managed properties in the UAE, added three hotels to its portfolio in 2009 and will open the 438 room…
Aldar Properties sold a major part of its signature Yas Island project, including the Grand Prix Circuit, to the Abu Dhabi Government. Chief Financial Officer for Aldar said “We sold a number of things, including the internal roads, vacuum systems, the marina, yacht club…and the race track.” Shafqat Malik said the sale was made in order to raise cash during one of Aldar’s most challenging periods, and also as…
Luxury hotels in the United Arab Emirates are offering Valentines Day specials for mega rich romantics. The Emirates Palace, which bills itself as a seven star hotel, offers the most expensive Valentines Day package in the UAE- a seven day stay for one million dollars. Customers will have a private butler and a chauffeur-driven Maybach luxury car during their stay. Options include helicopter flights, a…
The Oman government expects there will be a substantial increase in tourism activities in 2010, consistent with the widely anticipated recovery in global financial markets. Minister of National Economy, Ahmed bin Abdulnabi Macki expects there will be an increase in the number of tourists, and this will help speed up the implementation of several mega tourism projects. Macki, who is also Vice-President of…
and Resorts is taking legal action against race course developer Meydan, due to alleged various breaches of management contract at The Meydan and Banyan Tree hotels. The Singapore based luxury hotels group announced that it secured a contract to manage the two hotels in 2007, although neither hotel is currently operating. Banyan Tree however, announced in a recent statement that it has launched arbitration…
Premier Inn, the UK’s biggest and most successful hotel brand in the UAE, opened a new hotel at the Dubai International Airport. Managing Director of Premier Inn Middle East, Darroch Crawford noted that there has generally been a slowdown in expansion throughout the hotel industry, and an atmosphere of caution. However, Crawford said Premier is more optimistic because “There continues to be an increasing…
Jumeirah Group, the luxury hotel operator that manages Burj Al Arab, will manage a new five star hotel located in the Maldives. Dubai based Jumeirah Group signed an agreement with Xanadu Holdings Private Limited to manage Jumeirah Meradhoo, which is located south of the Maleé Atoll, in Gaafu Alifu Atoll. Jumeirah said in a statement “This is the second phase of the group’s expansion strategy in an area which is…
Boutique European Hotel operator, The Oetker Hotel Collection (OHC) will operate its first hotel outside of Europe when it launches Le Bristol, Abu Dhabi. Hospitality veteran Sammir Daqqaq has been appointed to manage OHC’s expansion strategy as senior vice –president (Development) for the Middle Eat and Africa (Mena) region. CEO of OHC, Frank Marrenbach, said “As part of our development plan, we are happy to…
Falling hotel room rates in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region, have led to higher occupancy rates, but industry experts are optimistic that there will be a slow and steady recovery in the sector by the end of 2010. Samir Daqqaq with Oetker Hotel Collection said “Hospitality is a volatile sector worldwide. During a slowdown it is the first one to be affected. But I think this is just a temporary phase…
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group announced Tuesday it will manage a new luxury resort and branded residences on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi. Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi will be the company’s first foray into the Middle East market. The property is being developed by Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) and scheduled to open in 2013. The resort will have 160 guest rooms and suites, 35 serviced…
UK based Conde Nast Traveler magazine 108 strong short list of the world’s greatest hotels included three in the UAE; The Desert Island Resort & Spa on Abu Dhabi’s Sir Bani Yas Island, Dubai’s Ritz-Carlton, and Madinat Jumeirah. Editors and travel experts at the Conde Nast publication compile a Gold List of the world’s best hotels every year using six criteria – service, location, food, rooms, leisure…
Dubai’s Coral Hotels and Resorts opened its first hotel in Cape Town, South Africa. This is the first time the UAE home grown chain has opened a property in South Africa, and comes well before the FIFA World Cup to be held this summer. The Coral International Cape Town has been under construction since the first quarter of 2007, and cost about $40 million to build. The hotel is owned by Cii Hotel & Resorts…
The increase in number of hotels in Qatar is making it more difficult for the hotel industry to maintain profitability in the wake of fierce competition. Figures released by the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) show the number of hotels has increased from 51 in 2008 to 58 in 2009. The number of five star hotels increased from 12 in 2008 to 15 in 2009, and four star hotels increased from 13 to 17, Hotel profits…
The latest data from the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) shows that 41 new hotels will open in Qatar in 2010, adding 4,689 hotel rooms to the hospitality market this year. Last year the number of hotel rooms in Qatar increased 25 percent compared to 2008, and officials expect growth this year to be even stronger because of prior project delays resulting from the global financial crisis. QTA chairman Ahmed…
Tourism experts say the increase in budget hotel chains is a good development for the leisure and hospitality industry in the UAE. Adrian Jonklaas, senior consultant at PFK The Consulting House said International budget chains like Aloft and the UK’s Premier Inn are trying to enter the UAE hotel market. Jonklass said “Guests at budget hotels in the UAE still have to buy air tickets, and business or leisure…
Latest figures show that the number of visitors to Singapore increased 4.3 percent during last year Chinese New Year celebrations. In 2008, the number of tourists from Saudi Arabia increased 21.1 percent and from the UAE by 9.8 percent. The Singapore Tourism Board said it expects even more visitors from the region for this year’s New Year celebrations, from now until March 7th. Jason Ong, Area Director,…
