Category: News

  • Oman plans major new tourism development openings

    Oman expects to open several new hotels and complexes with greater than 2,000 resort and hotel rooms to be added in 2013.

    Oman’s capital city Muscat will see nearly all of growth with over 720 new rooms, with anything else spread evenly around the country.

    New hotel openings in 2013 include the Fraser Place Sohar that is currently on the right track to open afterward in 2013 and the Azaiba Hotel, Muscat, an $80 million five star project which is expected to be operational by mid-2013.

    The Sultanate’s expanding hotel portfolio will soon include Four Seasons, Banyan Tree Hotels and Hotel Missoni in Muscat’s Jebel Sifah project.

    Omran (the Sultanate’s leading tourism-related development, hospitality management and investment company) has recently announced that it has passed the 60 per cent construction mark of its 2,000 metre hilltop luxury project, the Alila Jabal Akhdar Resort, set to open its doors in December 2013 and the 110-room Khasab Hotel in Musandam is additionally set to open towards the top of 2013.

    These developments are along with boutique hotels that opened in 2012 including the five star Juweira Boutique Hotel, Salalah Beach, The View and Sahab Hotel inside the Jebel Akhdar mountain range and the Jebel Sifah boutique hotel near Muscat.

    Following the Sultanate’s sustainable tourism model, Omran recently completed the installation and furnishing of ten eco-friendly luxury tents at Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve.

    The increase in accommodation availability also included the completion of an 800 metre walkway that permits visitors to head from the reserve’s Scientific and Visitor Centre to the tents’ picturesque location.

    The Duqm City Hotel a 117 room business hotel equipped with comfortable rooms and business amenities opened its doors on the end of 2012 catering for business travellers seeking affordable and contemporary Omani hospitality including the four star, 200 room Duqm Crowne Plaza both ideally located from which to go to the Duqm Rock Gardens.

    Developments round the Sultanate include a 20-room and 12-villa Cheval Blanc Resort on Sodah Island with private beaches for every unit and a brand new Crowne Plaza within the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre precinct both because of be completed by the top of 2015.

    The Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre, due for completion on the end of 2015, is ready to become an iconic landmark for Muscat and the Sultanate of Oman.

    Surrounded by nature it overlooks a wadi that could be a haven for Oman’s exotic bird life.

    The world-class facility is ideally fitted to host international, regional and national conventions, exhibitions and business events.

    Among its features could be a tiered auditorium seating 3,200 people and greater than 22,000 square metres of exhibition space.

  • News: Ryanair launches new Shannon path to Alicante

    Ryanair, Europe’s only ultra-in your price range carrier (ULCC), is to launcha new Shannon path to/from Alicante, beginning in June, with 2 weekly return flights.

  • News: Jumeirah to showcase its meetings & incentives offerings at GIBTM

    Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts within the UAE will showcase its diverse and growing meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) portfolio during this year’s edition of the Gulf Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM), which occurs from 25-27March 2013 on the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC).

  • World Travel Awards issues final demand Indian Ocean votes

    World Travel Awards – known globally because the Oscars of the travel industry – has issued a last demand voters to cast their ballots earlier than the Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony next month.

    Established in 1993, WTA is recognised globally because the highest accolade in travel and tourism, and serves to recognise, acknowledge and reward excellence of purchaser service, product development and business performance inside the tourism industry.

    A stylish, exclusive and spectacular World Travel Awards Gala Ceremony is scheduled to come about on May 12th on the Paradise Island Resort & Spa inside the glorious Maldives.

    Awards in over 50 categories will see premium travel, tourism and hospitality companies compete for coveted awards.

    The 2013 nominees are published here, while votes can also be cast here.

    Voting closes April 11th 2013.

  • News: New free roaming allows travellers to make and receive calls at no extra charge

    With i-Mobb, a brand new app for world travelers, customers can now access free roaming in foreign countries using their smartphones, tablets, and iPod Touch devices. Available at http://www.i-Mobb.com, the app allows users to make and receive calls when in foreign countries as if they were at home, preventing roaming charges and making an allowance for streamlined communication the world over.