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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…
The Dubai Air show, which runs from November 15-19, will feature about 900 exhibitors and is expected to attract 50,000 visitors from almost 50 countries. Twenty five percent of exhibitors at the bi-annual event will be Middle Eastern companies. Two hundred exhibitors from 200 countries will participate in the show for the first time. First-time participants include Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Abu…
The Shindagha Heritage Village has seen a big increase in the number of tourists visiting. Dubai officials say the village is oldest area in Dubai. An Australian national, Diane Blackman, recently stopped in the emirate for two days and chose to spend her time at Shindagha Heritage Village instead of Dubai’s hotels and malls. While browsing the traditional Souk with her family she said “We wanted to get a…
Abu Dhabi’s government owned Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC) announced the first tourist attractions will open on the Dh100 billion Saadiyat Island. TDIC director of Real Estate Services said “We are going to open Manarat Al Saadiyat, the 15,400 square meter visitor centre before the end of this year which will host a gallery and special events.” Kier Riemersma said the first stage of 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…
Tunisia’s Minister for Tourism said in a press conference on Wednesday that tourism revenues increased to 3,349 million dinars in 2009. Mr. Khelil Laajimi said a 2% decrease in the number of European tourists will be offset by the number of Libyan and Algerian tourists, expected to reach 3 million this year. The drop in number of European visitors is due mainly to the combined effect of the economic crisis and…
Aldar Hotels and Hospitality will open seven hotels on Yas Island before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix event begins on November 1. Managing Director Paul Bell said they have 2,500 hotels rooms open on Yas Island for the F1 race, and “We are also operating a long-stay product. We have hired 3,000 staff for the hotels.” Mr. Bell said the formula one track runs underneath the Yas Hotel, which is managed by Aldar.…
The Tourism Development Investment Corporation (TDIC) announced plans for worker accommodation project for employees in the hotel industry. TDIC, the master developer of cultural, residential, and tourism destinations in the UAE, began work on Deyar Al Mafraq, which will open in stages beginning in 2011. The project will provide accommodations for all levels of employees in the hospitality sector, from…
Emirates Airlines, is expanding its Indian operations with particular focus on Kerala routes. The Dubai based carriers weekly flights from Kozhikode will nearly double to 11 while weekly flights out of Thiruvananthapuram will increase from eight to twelve. Emirates Airlines sales manager for South Kerala, Asha Subramanian, said the number of weekly flights out of Kerala will increase 32 per cent to 37 by…
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 Tourism Development and Investment Corporation (TDIC) will appoint a contractor to construct the Louvre Musuem on Saadiyat Island by the end of the year. TDIC assistant development director said “By the end of the year an announcement will be made about the Louvre.” French architect Jean Nouvel designed the project which is expected to be complete in 2013. A short list of contractors bidding for the…
Prince Sultan bin Salman said the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) will develop a comprehensive three year plan to develop the tourism sector. Prince Sultan bin Salman is Chairman of the SCTA. The plan will involve decentralizing the Kingdom’s tourism sector and giving regional and local communities major roles. The Prince spoke about the plan while addressing media following participation…
Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Company completed work on its largest exhibition hall, and the UAE’s biggest indoor auditorium, at 7,920 square meters. Hall 12 was transformed into one of the most flexible event spaces in the world with installation of fully retractable automated tiered seating system. Hall 12 can seat up to 5,700 people. It will continue to be used as an exhibition and wedding hall but can…
A new report by Cushman & Wakefield Middle East Real Estate for the third quarter of 2009 forecasts that the number of tourist arrivals in the UAE will fall 1% this year but increase 5% in 2010. The total number of international tourists in 2008 was 9.4 million compared to 5.9 million visitors in 2003. This is a compound annual growth rate of ten per cent each year for the 2003-2008 period. The report…
The Ras Al Khaimah Economic Department began work on its first tourist guide of the emirate. Mohammad Lojab, head of the tourism promotion section, said the guide is an active and attractive means of promoting tourism. It will include complete information about hotels, tourism agencies, travel, shopping centers, parks, museums, and other commercial activities. Important sites like hospitals, museums, and…
The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) launched its ‘Partners In Progress’ first generation stakeholder program, in order to achieve its goal of attracting 2.3 million tourists by 2012. The program will coordinate between ADTA and representatives of the tourism sector, and promote Abu Dhabi as a unique worldwide tourism destination. A launching ceremony was held at the Abu Dhabi Raha Beach Hotel and was…
General Authority of Civil Aviation said Tuesday that Crown Prince Sultan signed an SR498 million agreement to modernize the firefighting equipment at the Kingdom’s 278 airports. Prince Sultan is deputy prime minister of defense and aviation. He said “It’s an important step toward achieving the objectives of the General Authority of Civil Aviation.” He said the upgrade will help improve the efficiency and…
