Tourism and Hospitality

Feng Shui hotel planned for Palm Jumeirah
National Bank of Abu Dhabi and UAE-based Das Real Estate today signed a Dhs708m long term loan agreement to finance the Sea View Club Hotel & Apartments Complex development, which will be built on the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. The Feng Shui-designed development will have 246 hotel suites and 92 residences, all with a sea view and direct access to a private beach.
United Arab Emirates: Sunday, June 08 - 2008 at 16:18

Hotel Show opens its doors
One of the region's largest hospitality exhibitions, the Hotel Show, has opened in Dubai. Over 1,000 exhibitors are expected to attend the expo, which this year, is themed on sustainability in the hospitality industry.
United Arab Emirates: Sunday, June 08 - 2008 at 10:25

Contractors aim for $1.7bn Dubai hotel contract
Dubai-based developer Zabeel Properties has begun talks with three contractors to build a $1.7bn hotel in the emirate, reported our sister company MEED. The companies that have been approached are the local/UK Al-Naboodah Laing O'Rourke, Arabtec Construction, and Khansaheb Civil Engineering, both local. Zabeel has appointed Los Angeles-based Graft as the design consultant for the resort and is bringing in the actor Brad Pitt to be one of the design consultants.
United Arab Emirates: Saturday, June 07 - 2008 at 08:57

InterContinental to develop UAE resort
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts has signed an agreement with RAK properties to develop InterContinental Mina Al Arab Resort in the UAE emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. The 300-room property will be located on the Coast Road, which connects all UAE emirates. The resort is set to open in 2010 as part of the Mina Al Arab development - a Dhs10bn ($2.7bn) mixed-use leisure and holiday complex situated along a 13 kilometre beach.
United Arab Emirates: Thursday, June 05 - 2008 at 06:59

Oneworld to launch online booking
Oneworld, the airline alliance with members based in the Middle East, South America, and Australia, plans to launch its online booking facility by the end of this year, reported Gulf News. The facility will initially be offered on Oneworld Explorer, the multi-airline ticket booking facility. This will enable passengers to use the flights of any of Oneworld's ten member airlines and 20 affiliates, who serve 700 destinations in 150 countries.
Wednesday, June 04 - 2008 at 10:00 |

Beirut's tourism is back on track
Hotel and restaurant bookings have soared in Beirut just one week after Lebanese leaders signed a political deal to end 18 months of conflict, reported Reuters. Tourism accounted for about 20% of Lebanon's gross domestic product before the industry was destroyed by the 1975-90 civil war. Industry experts say the sector could grow to form up to 12% of the economy were Lebanon to enjoy a protracted period of peace.
Lebanon: Wednesday, June 04 - 2008 at 07:32 |

Brad Pitt to design Dubai resort
Zabeel Properties yesterday unveiled details of a new 800-room hotel and leisure development for Dubai and confirmed the appointment of Los Angeles-based architecture firm Graft, whose team of design consultants will include Hollywood actor Brad Pitt. Christina Lawson of Zabeel Properties said Pitt's involvement will be hands on, and will bring him to the UAE. The actor said the new hotel and resort designed by him will be an 'incredible attraction', and will 'underpin not only my values for environmentally-friendly architecture, but also embrace my career in entertainment', reported Gulf News.
United Arab Emirates: Tuesday, June 03 - 2008 at 10:24

IHG to open first property in Morocco
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts signed an agreement with Moroccan developer, Groupe Cadex, to open its first property in Morocco in the resort destination of Marrakech. Not only is this the first venture into Morocco for the InterContinental Hotels & Resorts brand, but also for parent company InterContinental Hotels Group. The new-build resort development - the InterContinental Marrakech Resort & Spa - is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2011.
Tuesday, June 03 - 2008 at 08:01