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Kharafi group launches Syria project
Kuwait's Mohammed Abdulmohsin Al-Kharafi and Sons Co. (Al-Kharafi Group) has said that it has started construction works at the $217m Kiwan tourist project, downtown Damascus. The project consists of a hotel complex on a total area of 60 thousand square meters, which will include a five-star hotel with 500 rooms and suites, international business facilities, entertainment, medical, sporting and shopping centres, and a park, director of Damascus tourism department Faisal Najati has said.
Dubai Hiltons launch summer offers
Hilton Dubai Jumeirah and Hilton Dubai Creek, have announced the launch of their first summer campaign, promoting their value packages and offers, focusing on GCC leisure travellers. The summer campaign is a combination of competitive rates for the Hilton Creek and Hilton Jumeirah, with additional benefits of a flat 20% discount across all restaurants, spas and leisure activities. The campaign also includes the 'Kids Holiday for Free' programme, where children up to the age of 16 can stay for free in their parents' room and enjoy free breakfast, lunch and dinner when eating with their parents at a dedicated restaurant in both properties. The offers are applicable as of July 1, running through September 30, 2009 to include the Eid holidays.
Emirates Palace to build football pitch
The Local Organising Committee of the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2009 has announced that work has begun on a new, full-size football pitch at the Emirates Palace hotel in Abu Dhabi. The pitch will serve as one of eight official training grounds during the tournament this December.
Egypt tourism revenue fell 9.5% in first half
Egypt's Tourism Minister Zoheir Garranah said the country's tourism revenue fell 9.5% in the first six months of 2009, an improvement from the 17% decline recorded in the first quarter. Tourist arrivals in the first week of July were higher than the same period a year earlier, he added.
Hyatt's hotels in Germany seek ME travelers
In a bid to attract more visitors from the Middle East, Hyatt has issued a statement saying its four properties in Germany offer special services including Arabic-speaking staff, authentic culinary specialties and prayer carpets to provide a more comfortable stay for guests traveling from the region. 'As part of Hyatt's authentic hospitality, we seek to provide our guests with the comfort of being in a home away from home. Because the Middle East is an important market for us, we have tailored a wide range of services to attract business and leisure travelers visiting Germany from the region,' said Thierry Bertin, Vice President Sales and Marketing for South West Asia. Hyatt's Germany properties include Grand Hyatt Berlin, Park Hyatt Hamburg, Hyatt Regency Mainz, and Hyatt Regency Cologne.
Nakheel re-opens two prestigous hotels
Dubai-based Nakheel Hotels announced today that it has re-opened the W Washington DC hotel and the historic Turnberry golf resort in the west of Scotland following extensive renovations to both properties. W Washington DC opened July 8 and is the first W Hotel to open in America's capital city. Originally built in 1888, the 317-room hotel recently completed an 18-month, $100m renovation. Turnberry, a Luxury Collection Resort, opened on July 9 and will host The Open Championship for the fourth time on its renowned Ailsa golf course from July 16 - 19, 2009. In October of last year, Leisurecorp, a division of Nakheel Leisure, took possession of the resort and launched a $65m refurbishment of the property which focused on the resort's public spaces and 40 of its 211 guest rooms. Both properties are managed by Starwood Hotels and Resorts.
Hotels in Makkah, Madina excluded from SCTA rules
Prince Sultan Bin Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, President of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), has approved the exclusion of hotels and furnished apartments in Makkah and Madina from some of the new specifications and standards by the tourism body, which were endorsed recently, the Saudi Gazette has reported. However, the exclusion does not mean relinquishing the standards of safety and service expected at Makkah and Madina hotels, he said.
Dubai World to open QE2 as 'South African hotel'
South Africa's Tourism Ministry has said that Dubai World plans to berth the Queen Elizabeth II ocean liner at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town and convert it into a luxury hotel, South African daily Business Day has reported. The company is applying for berthing rights from the National Port Authority, and the Department of Tourism is weighing up the desirability of the plans, the newspaper has said. A local hotel group, which has declined to be named 'as talks are at a sensitive stage', is engaged in talks with DW to manage the new hotel.
Dubai Terminal 3 to have visitor bureau
Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) has announced the opening of its Visitors' Information Bureau (VIB) at the Terminal 3 of Dubai International Airport to provide assistance to visitors in exploring the emirate during their business tours and leisure holidays. The VIBs offer complete information about the emirate and its tourist attractions and facilities to visitors, as well as providing information about hotels and hotel apartments.
Rotana opens Syrian resort
Middle East based hotel management company Rotana has announced the soft opening of its five-star property in Latakia, Syria. The Afamia Rotana Resort offers 246 guestrooms including one, two and three suites, and 14 beach cabins. The beachfront property is located on a peninsula, 2km from Latakia city centre, with an easy distance of Syria's historical sites including Ugarit Canaaite, seaport, Crusaders forts and castles and ancient Roman vestiges.
Iberotel to run Sharm El Sheikh property
Egypt's Travco Group Holding has signed an agreement with Iberotel for the management of Iberotel Il Mercato Sharm El Sheikh Hotel, which is due to start operations by January 2010. The 276-room property features multiple dining options, a spa with a sauna, massage room, Jacuzzi, and a fitness centre; and four swimming pools located around the hotel.
Hilton Garden Inn opens in Saudi
Hilton Hotels Corporation has opened its first Hilton Garden Inn property in the Middle East with the Hilton Garden Inn Riyadh Olaya in Saudi Arabia. 'The opening marks the entry of our first mid-market mid-priced brand into the region. This is expected to be the first of many Hilton Garden Inn hotels in Saudi Arabia that we are developing with the owners, the Al Hokair Group,' said Essam Abouda, Vice President Operations, Hilton Hotels, Arabian Peninsula & Indian Ocean. The newly opened Hilton Garden Inn Riyadh Olaya features 180 guest rooms and suites.
IHG to launch luxury residences in Dubai Festival City
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), in conjunction with Al-Futtaim Group, is set to open the InterContinental Residence Suites this July at Dubai Festival City. The 212-apartments property encompasses studios as well as one, two and three bedroom suites, as well as a Royal Suite penthouse with panoramic creek views and its own spa treatment room. Other in-house facilities include Level 17, a lounge boasting a 180-degree view over the creek.
DTCM offers hospitality course for UAE nationals
The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), in association with Educational Institute of American Hotel and Lodging Association, and the Training Solutions of DTCM, has announced a new summer training course offering UAE national students a hands-on learning about the different aspects of hotel operations. The 'Introduction to Hospitality Today' training course will be launched during the second week of July, and will be held twice a week over a period of three weeks. Students will meet weekly at the Training Solutions to listen to lectures and take tours of the various hotel departments such as sales and marketing, front desk, housekeeping and the hotel restaurants.
Dubai metro to boost tourism
Dubai officials hope that the new Metro that will open in September will provide a tourism boost for the emirate. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, said the metro 'would be one of the major flagship civilisational and tourist landmarks in the country' and forecast that it would give a shot in the arm to the local tourism industry by attracting more tourists.
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