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Abu Dhabi to hit tourism target, says official
Lawrence Franklin, the director of strategy and policy at the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, said the emirate is on track to reach its tourism targets this year, despite a slowdown in its European and business travel markets, The National has reported. The ADTA is aiming for about 1.5 million hotel guests this year, which would be the same tally that it achieved in 2008.
Jordan tourism increases
According to figures released by the Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ), revenues generated by the kingdom's tourism sector increased by 2.3% to JD1.115bn to the end of July, compared to JD1.09bn for the same period of 2008, the Jordan Times has reported. The number of overnight stays between January and July were up 4%, with just over two million visitors spending at least one night in the country so far this year. The rise in tourists is due to the number of visitors from Arab countries and Jordanian expatriates, it said, who constituted 73% of all arrivals.
Abu Dhabi launches 24-hour hotel licensing system
The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) has introduced a 24-hour online application service for restaurants and nightclubs operating within hotels in the emirate that want to get an entertainment licence. The online system, which starts this week, can also process the necessary licence fee payments. Under the previous manual system it would take between two and six weeks to get a licence.
InterContinental Doha West Bay set for 2010
The InterContinental Doha West Bay will open in December 2010, an official from the Doha InterContinental Hotel has told The Peninsula. West Bay hotel will cater to businessmen and corporate events, offering 60-stories with 540 hotel rooms and serviced apartments. The business hotel will have a conference centre, a club lounge and business centre available to guests.
Ibis hotel to open in Jordan
The first Ibis hotel will be launch in Jordan in September 2009. Located in the capital city's Tila' Al Ali district, the three-star Ibis Amman will have 158 double and single rooms, 45 connecting rooms, two special needs rooms and three non-smoking floors.
Kindgom H1 profit slumps, but investment continues
Dubai-based Kingdom Hotel Investments, the hospitality firm controlled by Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, has reported a 61% drop in first-half profit, Bloomberg has reported. Net income fell to $8m from $20.6m a year earlier. Sales dropped 11% to $103.3m after revenue per available room fell 18%. Sarmad Zok, Kingdom's CEO, said the company will spend $367m between now and the second half of 2011 on building five new properties, the first of which will open in Beirut by the end of the year. After that, 'every six to eight months we are going to open a hotel," he said.
Egypt applies age restriction to Hajj and Umrah pilgrims
The Egytian government has stopped all nationals under the age of 25 years and over 65 travelling to Saudi Arabia for Hajj this year. The ban also applies to Egyptians who want to perform Umrah in Ramadan. The government said Hajj and Umrah travellers must abide by new health certificates to minimise the risk of spreading swine flu.
Gulf Oberoi hotels progressing
The Chairman of hotel company EIH, part of the Oberoi Group, has said construction of its 252-room Oberoi-branded hotel in Business Bay, Dubai was 'progressing' and that it would open in 2011. Planning for a hotel in Abu Dhabi and in Oman is underway, he said, although no opening dates were given. All three hotels will be managed by The Oberoi Group.
Egypt's Travco eyes world expansion
Family-owned Egyptian tourism firm, Travco plans to buy more hotels in the world's biggest capital cities in order to establish an internationally known brand, Reuters has reported. "We have always had the ambition of moving into the city hotels segment, meaning hotels in capitals or important cities like St Petersburg, Frankfurt, Paris, London, New York," Travco Chairman and CEO Hamed El Chiaty said. Egypt's largest tourism firm, last week it bought Germany's Steigenberger Hotels for an undisclosed sum
Rotana opens hotel in Makkah
Rotana Hotel Management has opened the Al Marwa Rayhaan in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. It is the first hotel to open under the brand 'Rayhaan Hotels & Resorts by Rotana'. The Al Marwa Rayhaan has 400 rooms and suites and three restaurants.
Kuwaiti firm to build hotel in Basra
Kuwait-based company Al-Nukhba has won a $35m contract to build a hotel at Basra International Airport in Iraq, Aswat al-Iraq news agency reports. "The hotel will be established according to the international Holiday Inn standards. It will include four restaurants, swimming pools, meeting halls, a movie theatre and a business centre," the commission's head, Haydar Ali said. The project, the first of its kind in Iraq, is scheduled for completion in eight months, he added.
H1N1 reduces Umrah trips
Travel agents believe the H1N1 virus is affecting the number of people booking Umrah trips this year, saying they are seeing a high number of cancellations. Even though agencies are offering a raft of special promotions, some say they have seen demand halve, according to Al-Watan Daily. Ramadan is usually the peak period for Umrah trips.
Movenpick opens Tala Bay in Jordan
The Movenpick Hotels and Resorts has announced the opening of its five-star resort in Tala Bay-Aqaba, Jordan. The resort offers 306 rooms, eight restaurants and bars, meeting and conference facilities and a shopping arcade. It also has three large swimming pools, a water slide, a lazy river, a diving centre, children's activity centre and an open-air amphitheatre.
Saudi Arabia stops travel from UAE using ID cards
Saudi Arabia has suspended the implementation of the agreement allowing travel between Saudi Arabia and the UAE using national ID cards instead of passports, the Arab News has reported. "The Kingdom has taken the step because the map appearing on the ID cards of UAE citizens is not in line with the border agreement between the two countries signed on August 21 1974," the Saudi government said.
Jebel Ali Hotel undergoes renovation
Jebel Ali Hotel has announced the hotel is currently at the centre of a major refurbishment programme to restore and renovate the rooms, restaurants and meeting facilities. The 260 revamped rooms, outlets and conference facilities of the hotel will open again in December 2009. The rest of the resort at Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa and Palm Tree Court & Spa hotel remain fully operational and open for guests.
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