Tourism and Hospitality

Dubai group aims to boost Kashmir's tourism
Dubai-based Pride Group Holdings plans to invest more than $500m in Kashmir's tourism industry to help the region regain its lost glory as a tourist destination, reported Khaleej Times. Company Chairman Musadiq Shah said the firm plans to launch four mega projects in Kashmir, with standards similar to those of the best hotels and resorts around the world.
United Arab Emirates: Tuesday, May 20 - 2008 at 07:53

Dnata cuts holiday prices
Dnata Holidays is cutting up to 50% off some holidays as part of its programme of special offers over the summer months. Running now until the end of September, other offers include free nights, free transfers, free room upgrades and free meals. All the offers are around premium hotels.
United Arab Emirates: Monday, May 19 - 2008 at 13:06

Hyatt taps into global talent
Hotel group Hyatt says it has partnered with recruitment firms and consultancies from around the world to help find and recruit suitable hospitality professionals for jobs across the company. It is part of its expansion plans over the next five years, which will see it add 15 properties in the Middle East and South West Asia.
Middle East: Sunday, May 18 - 2008 at 12:12

Dubai World bids for New York hotel
Dubai World and US hospitality firm MGM Mirage, in which it owns a 9.6% stake, are in talks to buy a prime hotel spot in New York. The two are in discussions to buy the $580m Drake Hotel site from its developer, using defaulted debt and interest to pay for it.
United Arab Emirates: Saturday, May 17 - 2008 at 09:24

Kazakh developer unveils project on The World
City-D Investments Ltd, the international arm of a property developer in the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan, has launched the Pangkor Laut Luxury Resort, Residence & Spa Village at Dubai's The World. A five-star multi-module resort property, the project is set for completion by 2010. Pangkor Laut is a Malaysian brand name of luxury resort managed by YTL Hotels & Properties, the developer said in a statement yesterday.
United Arab Emirates: Thursday, May 15 - 2008 at 08:04

South America seeks more ME travellers
South American nations are seeking to lure more Middle Eastern tourists in their efforts to attract more visitors to their countries, reported Gulf News. Countries such as Argentina and Brazil are urging travellers from the Gulf to look beyond the traditional destinations of Asia and Europe, and are promoting their diverse attractions from the Amazon rainforests to the glaciers of Patagonia.
Wednesday, May 14 - 2008 at 08:16

IHG to build hotel in Damascus
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed an exclusive agreement with MAK Hotel Holdings, a member of the M.A. Kharafi Group of Kuwait, to develop an InterContinental Hotel in the Syrian capital. Located in the city centre, the 370-room InterContinental Damascus, due for completion in 2010, will form part of the capital's only integrated development which will include a shopping mall, cinema complex and office space.
Syria: Tuesday, May 13 - 2008 at 08:24

UAE tourism to hit $78bn in 2008
The UAE's hotel and tourism sector is expected to generate Dhs286.2bn ($78bn) in revenues and contribute 6.4% directly to the national GDP in 2008, Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of Foreign Trade, said on Monday. The UAE is now ranked as the leading Arab tourism destination and is among the top 20 in the world out of 124 countries surveyed by the World Economic Forum. The sector is expected to expand to Dhs498.8bn by 2018, reported Gulf News.
United Arab Emirates: Tuesday, May 13 - 2008 at 07:10