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Travco completes Steigenberger deal
Egypt-based Travco Group International Holding S.A.E has completed the strategic acquisition of Steigenberger Hotels AG, the company has said. The acquisition is viewed by the company as stepping-stone to worldwide presence, and entry into the city hotel business, particularly in the German, Austrian and Swiss markets. The group is also set to launch Travco Travel - a joint venture with TUI AG to cater to guests needs, offering over 1000 buses and 200 luxury limousines.
Dubai beach hotels 'hit 97% occupancy'
Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) has said that five-star beach hotels had recorded 97% occupancy rates, while five-star city hotels have posted 76% occupancy rates during the second week of August. Four-star hotels had recorded 81% occupancy, DTCM has said. Dubai presently has 58,147 hotel rooms (40,943 hotel rooms and 17,204 hotel apartment rooms), a 17% increase compared with the last year's figure of 49,656 hotel rooms, it said.
Address Hotels to open properties
The Address Hotels & Resorts, the five star hotel brand of Emaar Hospitality Group, has said that its two new hotels, The Address Dubai Mall and The Address Dubai Marina, are on schedule to open later this year. The Address Dubai Mall will feature 244 rooms and 449 serviced apartments, while The Address Dubai Marina will have 200 guestrooms including 28 immaculate suites, and 442 serviced residences.
Jordan tourist numbers up
According to Jordan's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the number of tourists visiting the kingdom during the first seven months of this year rose by 4% to 2,075,190, compared to 1,998,482 during the same period last year, The Jordan Times has reported. The number of overnight visitors also rose by about the same percentage, reaching 1,830,010 compared to 1,758,998. Income generated from tourism rose by 2.3% for the same comparative period, the ministry's data showed.
Air Arabia hotel open by April 2010
Sharjah-based Air Arabia has said that construction of its 300-room three-star Centro Hotel at Sharjah Airport will be complete by April 2010. The concrete structure for all four floors of the hotel has been completed, and the hotel is anticipated to be completed below budget, the carrier has said. The property includes standard rooms and suites, a full casual-style dining area, in-room wireless internet connectivity and entertainment, gymnasiums and swimming pools, private meeting rooms and business centres. The hotel will be managed by Rotana Hotels under their Centro by Rotana brand.
Kingdom Hotel Investments issues trading update
UAE-based Kingdom Hotel Investments (KHI) has said its system RevPAR had declined 18% for the first six months of the year, 13% on a currency neutral basis, reflecting global economic conditions and strong first half 2008 comparables. The Middle East saw a 14% RevPAR decline on a reported and currency neutral basis. The Mövenpick Beirut continued to perform well with RevPAR expansion as the city continued to benefit from increased political stability, KHI has said.
IFA reports H1 sales of $100m
Kuwait-based IFA Hotels and Resorts has said that the company has recorded over $100m in sales for the first six months of 2009 through its global network across the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Asia. 'These positive results are driven by successful businesses across all our markets, led by strategies that have promptly responded to fast changing market climates,' said President & COO Werner Burger. The group is expected to hand over projects in Dubai, Lebanon, Thailand and South Africa this year.
Dream Tours opened in RAK
Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah has officially opened the emirate's RAK Dream Tours, a new tourism project on the Al Qawasim Corniche in Ras Al Khaimah. The new 41,000 sq ft project features two restaurants housed in historic fort tower-like buildings, outdoor dining, yacht trips through the creek, water sports, rides on horse-drawn carriages and sight-seeing tours onboard double-decker buses.
Rotana denies image use
Rotana has issued a statement in response to media coverage of an image from a UK natural landmark being used to promote its Cove Rotana resort in Ras Al Khaimah, saying that the image was not used by the group or published on its website. The image of Durdle Door was used on another website aimed at promoting the area around the resort, according to the statement. 'Rotana does not use stock pictures to illustrate or promote any of the hotels in its portfolio,' the group said.
Lebanon tourist numbers up
Lebanon's tourism ministry has reported a record 1,007,352 visitors for the month of July, the majority of which included some 325,000 Lebanese expatriates and roughly as many Syrians, according to Breaking Travel News website. The figure also included a small but rapidly growing number of Europeans, with close to 79,000 arrivals in July from Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Saudi Arabians and tourists from other Arab states are also on the rise. Reservations for the holy month of Ramadan, which starts around August 22, are 'very strong,' the ministry has said.
IHG brands set to open in Yas Island
InterContinental Hotels Group brands Staybridge Suites and Crown Plaza hotel are set to open doors later this year on Abu Dhabi's Yas Island, the company has announced. Staybridge has 165 suites, located along the Links Championship Golf Course, while Crown Plaza has 428 rooms, a 24-hour Business Centre, 10 meeting rooms equipped with audio-visual equipment complete with natural lighting and outdoor terraces.
British Museum to advise on Zayed museum
The British Museum has agreed with Abu Dhabi's Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) to act as a consulting partner on the development of the new Zayed National Museum in the emirate. Services will range from advice on the design and construction of the new museum to educational and curatorial programming and training. The museum's designs by UK-based architects Foster + Partners will be unveiled later this year. The institution is scheduled to open in 2012/2013.
Media One hotel to open in October
Media One Hotel, located in Dubai Media City, has announced it is to open its doors in October of this year. The new property will target professionals based in and around Media City. The hotel occupies the first 23 floors of the 43 story Media One tower, a mixed use development comprising a hotel and offices, and will offer 260 guest rooms, a collection of cafes, bars and restaurants, a gym, outdoor pool and terrace. The hotel also features a fully equipped business centre, seven meeting rooms, retail outlets, a spacious lobby and ample parking.
Egypt hotels deny pricing rumour
Members of the Egyptian Hotel Association and the Ministry of Tourism have denied a news report in Al-Mal newspaper and notes in investment bank Beltone Financial's daily market report that they had set regulations allowing hotels to reduce their prices by 20% to 25% from October 2009 to October 2010, the Daily News Egypt has reported. 'We have an annual pricing strategy. ...There was nothing like this issued,' Hala El-Khatib, secretary general of the Egyptian Hotel Association has said.
InterCon posts 38% profit drop
InterContinental Hotels Group, which includes the Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn brands, fell 38% to $179m in H1 2009 from $291m in the same period last year, The National has reported. The group's Middle East operations saw an 8.5% fall in revenue per available room (REVPAR) in the first half.'Trading was very challenging throughout the first half of the year and we expect the remainder of 2009 to be tough,' said CEO Andrew Cosslett. The group has 72 hotels in the Middle East.
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