Category: News

  • News: The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal now open

    After much anticipation, The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal has opened its doors today. The 532-room luxury resort is the 1st Ritz-Carlton hotel in Abu Dhabi and the ninth property within the Middle East for the luxurious hotel operator.

    Inspired by 15th to early 17th century Renaissance architecture and the urban planning of the town of Venice, The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal is found on the waterfront and contains ten stately buildings arranged in a crescent formation. Overlooking the 1,600 square meter pool, the backdrop of the luxurious hotel is the majestic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. The valuables features 447 luxurious guestrooms and suites, besides 85 private one- and two-bedroom villas.

    “We are delighted to open our first hotel within the United Arab Emirates capital of Abu Dhabi, a city we have now waited to be in until finding the absolute right location,” stated Herve Humler President and Chief Operations Officer of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. “Warm Arabian hospitality combined with legendary Ritz-Carlton service will create many unique, once-in-a-lifetime experiences for visitors from world wide.”

    Abu Dhabi, the most important of UAE’s seven emirates, was a fishing village known regionally for its pearl trade just 50 years ago. Today, luxury and elegance are infused with traditional values of hospitality and culture, and make this dynamic city a draw for over 2 million visitors annually. Made from 200 small islands, Abu Dhabi’s stunning beaches, expansive desert and plush oases provide a venue for exhilarating adventure or tranquil retreat while the old souks and majestic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – recently named one of the vital world’s top visitor attractions – offer an intimate look at Arabian culture.

    Beautifully manicured lawns, unique water features, and personal beaches over an expansive 57-acres give an instantaneous sense of well-being to guests upon arrivel on the Venetian-designed luxury hotel and resort. Leisure and business travellers alike will benefit from the refined elegance of the 85 one- and two-bedroom villas complete with spacious outdoor terraces, separate arrival palazzo and personal butler service. The Ritz-Carlton Club Level provides a dedicated concierge, private check-in, plus five food and beverage offerings in the course of the day within an exclusive lounge boasting panoramic views of the valuables, canal and town skyline,

    The 1,550 square meter Roma Ballroom is the epitome of elegance on a grand scale. Capable of accommodate as much as 900 guests and divisable by three, the ballroom also provides an exclusive elevator directly from the non-public Bridal Suite into the venue. Two expansive marble foyers with natural daylight, 14 additional meeting rooms, and a normal majlis (literally meaning “a place of sitting” in Arabic) make sure the Ritz-Carlton is an appropriate venue for all special celebrations and events.

    Renowned Ritz-Carlton chefs will please every palate in any of the 10 hotel restaurants and bars including three signature restaurants created by award-winning Japanese designer Super Potato. Li Jiang, meaning “beautiful river” in Chinese, is a fashionable Southeast Asian restaurant with an open kitchen focusing on noodles and dimsum; Mijana, a latest Arabic restaurant, showcases the superior in traditional Lebanese and regional cooking; while The Forge, a signature steak house, serves specialty cuisine in a classy setting paired with the world’s finest wines. The all-day dining restaurant, Giornotte (blending the Italian words for “day” and “night”), has an indoor seating capacity of 358 and serves light Mediterranean fare. Dolce, an Italian gelato and low café; Alba, the lobby lounge serving Afternoon Tea; Sorso, a conventional Ritz-Carlton lobby bar; Al Fresco, the pool restaurant; plus two pool bars round out the remainder food and beverage offerings on the Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal.

    A 1,600 square meter outdoor pool, among the largest in UAE; a completely-equipped gymnasium; and the Ritz Kids Club are only many of the other leisure facilities available for guests to enjoy.

  • Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel now officially open

    Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Majid Al Futtaim Properties have celebrated the outlet of Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel.

    With this opening, Starwood now operates 14 hotels in Dubai, representing the top concentration of Starwood hotels in anybody city outside of recent York.

    Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel is directly connected to Dubai’s leading shopping destination, Mall of the Emirates, which features greater than 560 international retail brands and is additionally home to the enduring Ski Dubai snow dome.

    “Sheraton has a protracted history within the Middle East, spanning over 50 years and it remains to be one of the sought-after hotel brands within the region,” said Hoyt Harper, global brand leader for Sheraton Hotels & Resorts.

    “With the outlet of Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel, our brand portfolio within the region is stronger than ever and globally, we’re anticipating record-breaking growth with plans to open our 500th Sheraton hotel by 2015.”

    Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel comprises of 481 guest rooms, including 94 suites, in addition to near to 9,000 square-feet of ultra-modern meeting and event space.

    The hotel offers four restaurants and lounges, including: Sanabel, a Mediterranean restaurant; Sodabox, an American retro 1950s café; Vantage, a modern urban lounge; and Sanctuary Pool Lounge, boasting panoramic views.

    Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel is conveniently located half-hour from the Dubai International Airport and 20 minutes from Dubai World Trade Centre.

    This opening marks Starwood’s 16th Sheraton hotel inside the Middle East because the debut of the corporate within the region with the Sheraton Kuwait in 1966.

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  • News: Rotana opens its first hotel in Bahrain, Majestic Arjaan by Rotana

    Rotana, the leading hotel management company within the Middle East and Africa, has now opened its first property in Bahrain, Majestic Arjaan by Rotana.

    The new property is conveniently located inside the Busaiteen district at the island of Muharraq, just a few minutes from the town of Manama. With the outlet of this hotel, Rotana now operates 11 properties under the ‘Arjaan Hotel Apartments by Rotana’ brand.

    Majestic Arjaan by Rotana is a primary-class property, which was developed with both short and long-term guests in mind. The hotel offers 128 suites, that are designed in a contemporary style,  together with spacious studios, one, two and 3 bedrooms apartments.

    The hotel features the newest high-tech facilities including fully-equipped meeting rooms with the foremost up-to-date audio-visual equipment. It also gives guests of venture to wind down and relax at any of the significant leisure facilities including an outside temperature controlled swimming pool and an absolutely-fledged fitness centre, with steam and sauna rooms.

    Majestic Arjaan by Rotana also boasts three specialised food and beverage venues to fit every guest’s palate and dining needs, such as: Ginger All Day Dining – offering international buffets for breakfast, lunch and dinner in addition to á la carte; Ginger Lounge – a lobby café offering a tempting array of mouth-watering delicacies, light snacks and fresh fruit cocktails as well as a good choice of freshly-baked pastry takeaways; and Aquarius – an off-the-cuff dining experience by the pool complemented by hearty refreshments consisting of light snacks and fresh salads.

    Commenting in this announcement, Omer Kaddouri, Executive Vp & Chief Operating Officer of Rotana, said “This opening of Majestic Arjaan by Rotana represents an incredible achievement for Rotana, and a massive milestone in our technique to expand further within the Middle East and African region. It truly is our first property in Bahrain, an engaging city with a ravishing liberal lifestyle, a rich history and culture, with a robust demand for luxury hotels that provide world-class hospitality”.

    A key appointment to the valuables includes Raiz Saban, a well-respected veteran of the hospitality industry with greater than 22 years of expertise within the business, as General Manager. He’ll lead a team of seasoned hotel professionals who’re expected to play strategic roles in leading Majestic Arjaan by Rotana’s bid to capture a wide share of commercial inside the Kingdom of Bahrain.

    “The suites are designed to supply the final experience in modern serviced living,” says Raiz Saban. “The diverse features on this property offer numerous benefits and advantages for brief or long run stays, whether for business, leisure or home relocation. i’m privileged to be a part of the outlet team for this magnificent property and my team and that i might be working hand in hand to verify all areas of the outlet are perfected.”

  • New Istanbul hotel for Fairmont

    Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has announced a brand new development in Istanbul, Turkey, scheduled to open in 2016. 

    The 210-room hotel would be joined by branded residences and is a part of the Quasar Istanbul complex, a brand new mixed-use development within the Sisli district, a colourful neighbourhood blending commercial, residential and retail yet situated as regards to major attractions within the city.

    The project is being developed through a three way partnership between Viatrans – Meydanbey. 

    Viatrans is a Geneva-based company specialising in shipping logistics and insurance in addition commercial real estate.

    The Quasar Istanbul complex is within the central business district whose showpiece is the previous Mecidiyeköy Liqueur and Cognac Factory. 

    Built within the 1930’s on then undeveloped land, the factory was designed by Robert Mallet-Stevens, who with Le Corbusier was among the many most influential modern French architects of that era.

    Two 41-story towers will sit above a 4-story office podium with fitness facilities and comfort retail stores. 

    The towers will house a Fairmont Hotel and Fairmont Residences in addition to Quasar Residences and offices in an effort to be managed by Fairmont.

    The hotel will feature Fairmont Gold, the brand’s hotel within a hotel lifestyle offering, a large number of lounges and a number of other restaurants, 2,000 square meters of function space, and a Willow Stream Spa.

    The two residences are whole-ownership, private homes and should offer studios, 1 and a couple of-bedroom apartments and three-bedroom duplexes. 

    While in residence, owners may have access to a personal lounge and quite a lot of services and amenities along with 24-hour concierge, wine cellar, preferred pricing for different hotel offerings including dining, spa and fitness, meeting facilities, hotel guestrooms and more. 

    Owners may also be awarded VIP status and privileges after they travel to any Fairmont hotels or resorts worldwide.

    “Istanbul is an exhilarating, dynamic city with a purpose to attract our business and leisure guests,” said Jennifer Fox, president, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. 

    “As well as complementing our other developments within the region, it’s very exciting to be partnering with Viatrans in this amazing project blending hotel, residential and community space.”

  • News: ILTM Japan 2013: first country specific ILTM event proves cultural importance for luxury travel

    Taking place with the support of the town of Kyoto and the Japan Tourism Agency, the launch edition of International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) Japan – the primary country specific event inside the ILTM global portfolio – facilitated over 2,500 business meetings when it occurred over the past three days in Kyoto.

    ILTM Japan 2013 welcomed over 100 buyers and exhibitors in an agenda of 1-to-one appointments – pre‐selected by both exhibitor and buyer to maximise business – in this dedicated Japan event. Following the standard ILTM format, both buyers and exhibitors were required to follow a strict accreditation process so that it will participate.

    Alison Gilmore, Exhibition Director, ILTM Portfolio commented: “ILTM Japan is the primary of our market specific events and was launched with two clear objectives: to introduce the international luxury travel agent to the trendy Japan of today – still considered an untapped luxury tourism destination – and to nurture an understanding of the culture of Japanese high-end travelers.”

    According to a up to date study by the advance Bank of Japan, the choice of tourists visiting Japan from other Asian countries by 2017 is forecast to be 41 percent higher than last year’s total. The Japanese government is targeting an annual total of 25 millions foreign visitors by 2020.

    “ILTM Japan has given us a beautiful opportunity to grow our network: we’ve got met with a major variety of decision makers representing our audience – high-end VIP visitors to Japan,” commented Hideharu Ohta, President of the Daishichi Sake Brewery in Japan.

    Head of latest Product Development of the China International Travel Service at American Express, Benny Wang commented: “Being in Japan is an important experience and being here with ILTM is an additional bonus. I hadn’t realized the fervour Japanese suppliers have for his or her product – it’s a superb opportunity to be here.” 


    Roger Kershaw of Custom Travel Design, Canada added: “No matter how much i assumed I knew the rustic, it’s only at this primary edition of ILTM Japan that i’ve truly understood learn how to sell Japan to my clients. i’ve got learnt concerning the culture, the finesse, and the nuance of the culture, and that i will keep coming to the development in years to come as everybody I meet has something different to share.”

    Veronica Rodriguez, Director of promoting at Turisme Barcelona, observed: “Japan is a gentle and significant market in Barcelona’s luxury sector. ILTM is a really committed and dependable partner in promoting Barcelona as a luxury destination and we were very keen for the exclusive opportunity to be a part of the primary edition of ILTM Japan. Now we have had a very good event, choked with quality meetings with active and attractive buyers.”

    And Japanese buyer Tatsuya Masubuchi of Roots & Partners concluded: “ILTM Japan is astounding for both buyers and exhibitors because it matches us in step with our needs – it fits my business and our high-end clients who’re traveling globally. It’s great to have an ILTM event exclusively desirous about Japan.”