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Middle East hotel investment lagging
Hotel investment activity is gaining pace worldwide, but remains relatively sluggish in the Middle East due to market uncertainty and lack of strategic investors, according to Jones Lang Lasalle Hotels.
Iraq looks to revive tourism industry
After more than seven years of conflict, post-war Iraq is looking to boost its economy by attracting more visitors to its historic and religious sites. The country's tourism push has sparked interest from a growing number of hotels and airlines which are looking to capitalise on the opportunities offered by this emerging destination.
Middle East airports look to ease travel
Airports in the Middle East are investing in technology to reduce bottlenecks for travellers and speed the turnaround time for check-in and boarding aircraft, according to travel industry IT provider SITA. While airports in the region trail the rest of the world in terms of the roll out of this new technology, they are gaining ground fast.
Movenpick expects corporate segment to lead recovery
Over the next two years Movenpick Hotels & Resorts will open five hotels in Dubai, adding many more rooms to an already crowded market that has seen revenues fall sharply due to oversupply. However, the Swiss hotel chain says its properties in the emirate are still seeing 'very decent profit margins', led by a rebound in the business sector, and it remains upbeat about the emirate's long-term prospects.
Mena carriers to see dip in profit next year
The International Air Transport Association says Mena carriers will record higher profits this year, but warns that profits will be lower in 2011 as capacity outstrips demand.
New technology brings added luxury to hotel stays
Hotels are rapidly developing new technology in order to keep pace with the evolution of smart phones, home entertainment systems, and other high-tech gadgets. Following is a look at some of the exciting new technology that is becoming more commonplace in hotels across the world.
Abu Dhabi hotels face pressure from oversupply
Occupancies and revenues in Abu Dhabi hotels fell sharply in first half of 2010, largely due to oversupply in the market. With many new hotel projects in the pipeline, hotels in the emirate are likely to face continued challenges in the months to come as attractions slowly come online, according to a new report by Euromonitor International.
Emirates responds to European carriers' criticism
Amidst growing complaints issued by many European carriers that some Middle Eastern airlines are... Read full article »
Business jet market sees rebound in Middle East
After experiencing a sharp decline in the wake of the downturn the business jet market in the Middle East is seeing a recovery in recent months, led by rising demand in the corporate sector.
Budget hotel sector poised for growth in Dubai
The budget hotel sector in Dubai is better aligned with the more cost-conscious mindset in the wake of the downturn and is now perceived as the next investment opportunity in the emirate's hospitality market, according to a new report by Jones Lang Lasalle.
Palm Jumeirah to see influx of hotels
When the $1.5bn Atlantis hotel on Dubai's Palm Jumeirah held its lavish opening ceremony two years ago, the event made international headlines and boosted the profile of the artificial island. However, while a slew of other hotels have been in the pipeline for years, the 1,500-room property remains the only operating hotel on the Palm.
Middle East hotels see drop in occupancy, daily rate in H1
The Middle East was the only region globally to see declines in occupancy and average daily rate in the first six months of the year as the supply of new hotels entering the region remained high, a new study has found. However, despite these declines hotels in the region are still the highest performers in the world in several key categories.
Middle East carriers shine at Farnborough
Middle East carriers spent billions of dollars on new aircraft at the Farnborough International... Read full article »
Etihad sees record first-half performance
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways has said that it achieved its best first half performance in its history, with large increases in both passenger and cargo traffic. The carrier's success coincides with a big jump in aircraft movements at Abu Dhabi International Airport.
Dubai hotels take social media plunge
Hotels in Dubai increasingly are using social media networks such as Facebook and Twitter to communicate with customers and drive brand awareness. These online tools are gaining importance, experts say, because more travellers are using them to research and choose where to stay on their next vacation.
