Tourism and Hospitality

Emirates Palace wins award
Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi was named the world’s leading conference hotel at the 14th annual world travel awards ceremony this week. It was also honored as having the world's leading suites. With over 7,000 square metres of space available, Emirates Palace is the largest meeting and conference venue in the Middle East and North Africa.
United Arab Emirates: Wednesday, April 23 - 2008 at 09:34

Gulf hotel rates to remain high
Gerald Lawless, executive chairman of Jumeirah Group, said he does not expect hotel rates in the Gulf to fall despite a rise in the number of rooms across the region, reported Gulf News. Dubai currently leads global hotel statistics with an average room rate of $283 in 2007. Meanwhile, other Gulf cities also topped the $200 mark. Lawless said the current rates may level off, but he does not expect them to decrease.
Wednesday, April 23 - 2008 at 07:43

Marriott expansion plans focus on UAE
Marriott International aims to open a further 15 hotels in the UAE, in addition to the five currently operating, by 2010 confirmed company chairman J.W. Marriott at the Global Travel & Tourism Summit in Dubai. The move is part of the company's global expansion strategy, which includes 40,000 rooms and 150 properties currently in development. The projects also include a flagship development in Egypt and five new properties in Saudi Arabia.
United Arab Emirates: Tuesday, April 22 - 2008 at 11:46

Kingdom Holding sells Monte Carlo hotel
Kingdom Holding, owned by Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, said it posted fourth-quarter net profits of 303.8 million riyals ($81.01m) and sold the Monte Carlo Grand Hotel for 150 million riyals ($40m), reported Reuters. Net income in the three months to March 31 rose 5.04% from 289.2 million riyals in the year-earlier period, the company said. Kingdom did not say who bought the hotel, which it had purchased in 2005 with Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and Bank of Scotland Corporate.
United Arab Emirates: Tuesday, April 22 - 2008 at 11:05

'Green' plan for Dubai tourism in works
The Dubai Government is developing a 'green tourism' initiative which is aimed at making its tourism industry more sustainable, said Khalid A. Bin Sulayem, director-general of the emirate's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing. He said said his office is working closely with other government departments to issue the comprehensive regulations, reported Gulf News.
United Arab Emirates: Tuesday, April 22 - 2008 at 07:40

Travel industry growth moves east
The Middle East, Africa & Asia will continue to experience higher growth rates than the world average over the coming years with regard to travel and tourism, according to Geoffrey Kent, chairman of the World Travel & Tourism Council. Speaking at the 2008 Global Travel & Tourism Summit. Kent said North American and Europe, the world’s two single largest travel and tourism economies, are falling below the world average with growth of just over 2% per annum over the coming decade. Overall, the travel and tourism industry accounts for about 10% of global GDP and 8% of total employment, he noted. Furthermore, one in every 12 jobs in the world today is generated by travel and tourism activity.
Monday, April 21 - 2008 at 14:57

Dubai hotel rooms to triple by 2015
Despite the downturn in the global economy, the 'signs are positive' for continued growth in Dubai's tourism market, said Khalid Bin Sulayem, Director General of Tourism and Commerce Marketing for the Dubai Gorvernment. Speaking at the Global Travel & Tourism Summit inDubai, Bin Sulayem said tourism is 'Dubai's future' and represents 30% of the emirate's GDP. Dubai hosted seven milion tourists in 2007, he noted, and that number is projected to rise to 10 million by 2010 and 14 million by 2015. At present, there are 47,000 hotel rooms in Dubai, and that figure is expected to triple by 2015.
United Arab Emirates: Monday, April 21 - 2008 at 11:56

Marriott plans 65 properties in Middle East
Marriott International plans to expand its current portfolio of properties in the Middle East from 26 to 65 through 2011, the company announced at the Global Travel & Tourism Summit. The chain announced four new development agreements in the region, which will be located in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. With the signings, which involve nine properties and 2,000 rooms, Marriott's Middle East hotel pipeline now stands at 39.
Monday, April 21 - 2008 at 11:50