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Abu Dhabi’s new 203 room Holiday Inn Abu Dhabi will be able to charge Dh1,750 (US$476) per room during the Formula 1 Grand Prix event. The hotel’s General Manager, Sid Sattanathan, said this will make the room one of the chain’s most expensive in the world. The Dh1,750 rate is much higher than the rate charged by other luxury hotels in Dubai, and the maximum allowed for a four star hotel under Abu Dhabi…
STR Global’s September Construction Pipeline Reports says that more than 120,000 rooms are in the construction pipeline for the Middle East and Africa region. The report said that 442 hotels comprising 120,589 rooms are in the development stage. UAE reported 57,126 rooms in the total active pipeline stage, more than any other country in the MENA region. Saudi Arabia accounts for 10,986 rooms in the active…
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts will open its doors in Beirut in December, 2009. Four Seasons has been appreciated for its warm, caring, and personalized services for more than 50 years. The Four Seasons hotel in Beirut will have 230 rooms and suites, and boast panoramic views of the Mediterranean, city of Beirut, and surrounding mountains. A glass enclosed, sun drenched pool awaits travel weary guests on…
The Hilton Garden Inn opened its first Hilton Garden Inn in the Middle East, in Riyadh, Olaya. The hotel has 180 rooms. President and CEO of Hilton Worldwide, Christopher J. Nassetta, said “The opening marks the entry of our first mid-market, mid priced brand into the Middle East and Africa, and is expected to be the first of many Hilton Garden Inn Hotels in Saudi Arabia that we are developing with the owners,…
Chief executive of Hilton Worldwide said Dubai can handle more hotels even though demand has declined and more hotels will open soon. The hotel operator is moving forward with aggressive expansion plans in the Middle East, and will open at least 3,264 more rooms over the next three years. Yesterday Hilton Worldwide opened its third hotel in Ras al Khaimah, and its third Garden Inn hotel in the region in…
Ishraq Gulf Real Estate Holding has begun construction work on the 22 story Holiday Inn Express in Manama. The company is the exclusive developer of the Holiday Inn Express brand in the GCC. CEO of Ishraq Gulf Real Estate Holding, Sami Al Ansari, said “We are vey excited about our entry into Bahrain and the opportunities its hospitality sector holds. Holiday Inn Express Manama is located in Bahrain’s…
Revenue per available room (RevPar) in Dubai is expected to fall by up to 28 per cent in Dubai by the end of 2009, compared to 2008. The latest Hotel Market Forecast from STR Global hospitality analysts show the worst case scenario forecast for RevPar falling 29 per cent. However, PKF Consulting House said in their latest report that average daily rates and RevPar are expected to increase in December and…
The number of Sharjah hotels and hotel apartment increased by 13 to 4,248, according to the tourism development authority. Sharjah’s hotel classification system, which came into force in 2008, has been important in increasing occupancy levels. The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority implemented the system in order to help the tourism sector compete globally. SCTDA Licensing and…
The Intercontinental Hotels Group will expand in the MENA region over the next three years, adding 49 hotels. This will add nearly another 14,000 new hotel rooms. IHG is looking to hire 33,000 new staff to work in its new hotels, in all roles, including general managers, sales and marketing, and food and beverage. The new hotels include the Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Intercontinental…
The new President for Oberoi Hotels and Resorts says funding is on track for their planned new Middle East properties – a city hotel and beach resort in Abu Dhabi, a beach resort in Oman, city hotel in Dubai, and a property in Marrakech, Morrocco. Liam Lambert said “All the funding is in place. I think there was a slowdown for the property in Oman but so far our partners have not run out of cash.” Mr.…
The hotels.com website published its global price index and it shows that average room rates in Dubai are the highest in the world in October 2009. According to the Hotels.com-Relaxnews Hotel Price Barometer, the average room rate for one night in Dubai was $226. Only New York had average prices this high. Thirty holiday destinations were included in the survey, and Dubai was one of two that saw a month to…
The Address Hotels & Resorts strengthened its UAE portfolio with the addition of The Montgomery Dubai Gulf Club, which opened on October 8, 2009. The Address is Emaar Hospitality Group’s five star premium hotel brand, and they will now manage and operate the boutique styled clubhouse. Chief Executive Officer of Emaar Hospitality Group and Emaar Hotels and Resorts said “Address Montgomerie Dubai becomes the…
Many international hotel chains are rebranding during the slack slowdown in business, according to senior hotel executives. Renaissance Hotels and Resorts, a Marriott’s business, is now promoting itself as a “global lifestyle brand, giving their business guests the added option of experiencing the neighborhood and culture. Senior vice president for Renaissance operations lifestyle brands said guests are…
The Rezidor Hotel Group is looking to expand its three star Park Inn brand. The company said it has found opportunities in the budget segment despite the difficult economic times. Rezidor operates three Radisson Hotels and has already signed two deals for the Park Inn brand this summer. Chief Executive of Rezidor said mid market hotels are less expensive to build and operate, so are often more profitable. Kurt…
The Trump hotel project on Palm Jumeirah, which was launched in 2008, will move forward despite recent rumors it was canceled completely. Vice President of the Trump Organization, Donald Trump Jr. said he would love to see the Trump International Hotel and Tower on Palm Jumeirah go ahead within the next two years. Mr. Trump talked about the project during his address to visitors on the first day of Cityscape…
Renaissance Hotels and Resorts will open five hotels in the Middle East by 2012, according to a senior executive with Marriot group’s lifestyle brand. Rene Mooren, Marriot’s Regional vice president for sales and marketing said they have 24 pipeline hotels in development around the world and these will open between now and 2012. Renaissance Doha will have 257 rooms and open later this year, followed by two…
Rotana Hotels has appointed Hussein Hachem as Cluster General Manager for two five star properties in Dubai – the Al Bustan Rotana and Al Murooj Rotana. Mr. Hachem is a veteran in the hospitality industry and has worked in with Rotana since the opened the Al Murooj Rotana Dubai. He is a specialist in award winning innovative hotels, who previously started and operated many hotel properties throughout the…
The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) put up the first new hotel classification sign outside the main entrance of Emirates Palace. The new hotel classification system is being implemented following two years collaboration between the ADTA and the emirates hospitality sector. ADTA will unveil a total of 110 signs classifying 63 hotels and 47 hotel apartments, ahead of the much anticipated Formula 1 Grand Prix…
