Tourism and Hospitality

Grand Corniche hotel breaks ground
Abu Dhabi's Bin Salem Holding Company broke ground on the Dhs650m ($177m) five-star hotel, Grand Corniche, in a ceremony on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi, reported Khaleej Times. The 35-storey hotel will offer 308 rooms, 125 suites, and 140 furnished serviced apartments.
United Arab Emirates: Thursday, March 13 - 2008 at 08:00

Rotana launches alcohol-free brand
Rotana Hotels & Resorts has announced a new brand structure with two additional offerings within its portfolio; alcohol-free and all-suites. Rayhaan Hotels & Resorts will be an alcohol-free option that has an inherent appeal to guests in the Middle East, according to Imad Elias, Rotana's Executive Vice President and CEO. Arjaan by Rotana has been developed with both long-term guests and families in mind. The rebranding of the company will now include four brands; Rotana Hotels & Resorts, Centro Hotels by Rotana, Arjaan by Rotana and Rayhaan Hotels & Resorts by Rotana.
United Arab Emirates: Wednesday, March 12 - 2008 at 08:40

Fairmont to open 6 hotels in UAE
Fairmont has announced that it plans to open six new hotels in the UAE within three years, reported Gulf News. Regional vice-president Philip Barnes said two large-scale developments are located on the Palm Jumeirah. Altogether, the new properties will offer some 2,000 guest rooms and 2,400 apartments, he said.
United Arab Emirates: Tuesday, March 11 - 2008 at 07:18

Nakheel, IGY plan more berths
Nakheel Marinas said it is working exclusively with Island Global Yachting (IGY), in its plans to create thousands of berths, and the formation of a coastal network of luxury marina destinations across Dubai linking all of Nakheel’s waterfront developments. Initial projects revealed include Anchor Marina and Mega Yacht Marina, both located at The Palm Jumeirah.
United Arab Emirates: Monday, March 10 - 2008 at 15:22

DFG in Dhs1.4bn deal with Thomas Cook
UK travel firm Thomas Cook is buying back the Middle East, Egypt and India businesses it sold to Dubai Financial Group two years ago for up to Dhs1.4bn ($383m). It sold the businesses to DFG for around $254m, but wants to take back global control of its brand. The deal is expected to be completed in May.
United Arab Emirates: Monday, March 10 - 2008 at 08:05

Abu Dhabi a top 10 destination
Abu Dhabi is expected to become a tourism hub over the coming years, because of developments such as Saadiyat Island and the world-renowned museums that are setting up in the UAE's capital. Delegates at an Arab-German tourism meeting in Berlin during the International Travel Bourse were told that the UAE is emerging not just as a regional hub, but a major world destination. Expedia.co.uk picked Abu Dhabi as one of the top 10 places to visit, citing the breadth of things on offer for tourists.
United Arab Emirates: Sunday, March 09 - 2008 at 08:11

Tamani ventures in Hotel Marina
KM Holding's Tamani Hotels and Resorts has started marketing its latest property, Tamani Hotel Marina. The hotel in Dubai stands tall at 55 storeys providing guests with choice of two, three and four bedroom suites with views of The Palm Jumeirah, Marina and the Dubai skylines.
United Arab Emirates: Saturday, March 08 - 2008 at 09:26

Dubai cruise tourism up in 2007
Dubai's cruise terminal received 120,205 tourists in 2007, well above its projections of 105,000, according to a statement from the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing. During this winter season, Dubai expects more than 200,000 cruise passengers to visit the emirate, giving a boost to the booming tourism industry. Dubai handled 32,000 cruise passenger movements in 2006, up from 23,000 cruise passengers in the previous year.
United Arab Emirates: Thursday, March 06 - 2008 at 07:04