Tourism and Hospitality

Westin Dubai has strong opening
The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina has beat all forecast figures to record a 73% occupancy in its first month of operations, the company said in a statement. The 294 room property opened on May 11, marking the brand's entry into the Middle East market.
United Arab Emirates: Wednesday, June 11 - 2008 at 14:12

Swiss firm to buy stake in Desert Adventures
Swiss travel company Kuoni Reisen Holding has agreed to buy an 80% stake in Dubai-based Desert Adventures Tourism together with a local partner, reported Bloomberg. The remaining portion of the company will be held by Desert Adventures' current managing director. Desert Adventures Tourism has operations in the UAE, Oman, Qatar and Bahrain.
United Arab Emirates: Wednesday, June 11 - 2008 at 11:25

Elie Saab to design Dubai hotel
Famed Lebanese fashion designer Elie Saab has been tapped to design a boutique hotel bearing his name at the Tiger Woods Dubai complex in Dubailand, reported Gulf News. The Dhs600m ($163m) hotel will include 89 suites, 14 bungalows, and a 10,000 square feet swimming pool.
United Arab Emirates: Wednesday, June 11 - 2008 at 10:15

Kempinski to manage hotel in Jeddah
ahKempinski Hotels has signed an agreement with Mohammed Al Issa and Sons to manage a new five-star luxury hotel in Jeddah. Located on the Jeddah Corniche overlooking the Red Sea, the first property for the group in Saudi Arabia is expected to open in winter 2010. The new property is also slated to be the first green intelligent hotel building in the kingdom using the most advanced electro mechanical green technology, according to a statement.
Saudi Arabia: Wednesday, June 11 - 2008 at 08:54

Jumeirah to manage South American resort
Jumeirah Group, a member of Dubai Holding, has been appointed to manage a luxury resort in Argentina dedicated to polo and equestrian sports. The Jumeirah Culu Culu Polo Lifestyle Resort, which will be located in Lobos, one hour outside the capital of Buenos Aires, will feature eight polo fields. Jumeirah will manage the resort's five-star hotel of 252 rooms, including 90 suites in a central building and the remainder in one-four bedroom villas.
United Arab Emirates: Tuesday, June 10 - 2008 at 13:39

Jumeirah to manage Palm hotel
Jumeirah Group, the Dubai-based hospitality management group and member of Dubai Holding, has been appointed by Al Fattan Properties to manage the Jumeirah Al Fattan Palm Resort. Scheduled to open late 2009, the resort will feature 213 rooms and suites.
United Arab Emirates: Tuesday, June 10 - 2008 at 08:43

$20k fee for tour companies
Tour companies wishing to bring tourists into the UAE will have to pay a one-off fee of Dh75,000 ($20,424) for a licence to do so, according to a Gulf News report. The company will then need to pay an additional deposit of Dh1,000 ($272)per tourist, which will be refundable once the visitor leaves the country. This is part of a visa fee overhaul announced by the UAE authorities which will come into force on 1 August.
United Arab Emirates: Monday, June 09 - 2008 at 07:43

Dubai reclassifies hotel ratings
Dubai is reclassifying hotel ratings in the emirate, with details due to be announced soon. Speaking at the Hotel Show in Dubai, HE Khalid bin Sulayem, Director General Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, for the Government of Dubai said the current ratings system had been under review for some time and that it was now time for a change. 'We have been holding consultation meeting across all sectors…and with new projects coming on stream we feel there is time for a review.'
United Arab Emirates: Sunday, June 08 - 2008 at 16:24