NEWS UPDATE

Walter Dias of Unique Choice from Doha named Hawaii Tourism Ambassador

HONOLULU, Hawaii - After appointing Hawaii Tourism Ambassadors in India, Singapore, and Colombia, the Hawaii Tourism Association (HiTA) is now expanding to the highest spending region on the globe with the appointment of Walter R. Dias partner of Unique Choice in Doha, Qatar. Mr. Dias is an Indian by origin and was born in Tanga, Tanzania. He holds a Portuguese nationality and has been living in the Middle East for the past 32 years. This unique combination of blended diversified cultures, along with traveling extensively throughout the world, has molded Mr. Dias into a dynamic personality. Mr. Dias is the IATA coordinator for Qatar long distant educational program, and he is a charter member of Toastmasters International, a worldwide leadership and communication organization and a member of the Indian Business & Professional Network (IBPN) under the aegis of The Indian Embassy, Qatar.  READ MORE>>

The Surin Phuket reopens after facelift 

THE SURIN Phuket, formerly known as The Chedi, will reopen its doors on December 21 after undergoing an extensive refurbishment. Located on Pansea Beach, the resort has been redesigned by Paris-based architect and interior designer Ed Tuttle, who was also the resort’s original designer.  The property’s 89 one-bedroom and 19 two-bedroom cottages, which come in Hillside Cottage, Superior Cottage, Deluxe Cottage, Beach Deluxe Suite and Beach Studio Suite categories, are now larger and brighter. Public areas have been expanded, and a new beach bar and 90m² gym added on to existing facilities such as a pool, a gym, and three meeting rooms which can accommodate up to 64 guests. The resort’s lounge and restaurant have also been renovated.

Sri Lanka to get a Sheraton 

THE Sri Lanka government has approved a proposal by India’s ITC Hotels, a franchise of US-based Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, to set up a Sheraton hotel and mixed-use development in Colombo. The US$300 million property will be built on two hectares of land in the heart of the capital, which has been offered to ITC on a 99-year lease.  Hilton Worldwide and Taj Hotels Resorts & Palaces are among a handful of international operators already in Sri Lanka. Other chains planning to establish a presence include Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts, Six Senses Resorts & Spas and Movenpick Hotels & Resorts.

Juweira Boutique Hotel to open on Oman beachfront 

The Salalah Beach development in Muriya, Oman is gearing up for the launch of the Juweira Boutique Hotel. Located 20 minutes from Salalah Airport, the hotel is designed with a classic oriental theme by Egyptian designer Adel Mokhtar. It will feature 65 guestrooms, including 21 suites that reflect an elegant yet understated style. The hotel is situated on the Salalah Beach Marina promenade and faces the waterfront, offering waterfront views from outdoor terraces that overlook the Indian Ocean. When complete, the destination will feature five five-star hotels, two marina boutique hotels, a 200-berth inland Marina and Marina Town, two 18-hole PGA golf courses, retail venues, restaurants and cafes.

Frasers Suites Dubai Participates in Blood Donation Campaign

Dubai, 8 December 2011:- The Dubai Blood Donation Center (DBDC) of the Dubai Health Authority, founded in 1986, is the major blood bank of the UAE. DBDC conducts approximately 35 blood drives every month in collaboration with different institutions and organizations in Dubai. Yesterday, Fraser Suites Dubai’s staff and resident guests proudly lent their support to the blood donation campaign to support DBDC’s ongoing efforts to maintain an adequate supply of blood for Dubai’s hospitals. General Manager of Fraser Suites Dubai, Mr. David Brown, initiated the blood donation campaign highlighting the importance of this worthwhile cause to the community. According to Mr. Brown, “As a global organization Frasers has accepts that it has a responsibility to make a positive contribution to the communities in which we have a presence. And as part of our corporate social responsibility (CSR) program we recognized the importance of the work being carried out by DBDC on behalf of the Dubai Health Authority and believed this to be an extremely worthwhile activity for us to support”.

The Westin Abu Dhabi officially makes its debut 

Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide has officially announced the debut of The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort and Spa. Owned by the Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC), the leading  developer of cultural, residential and tourism destinations in Abu Dhabi, The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort and Spa marks the launch of the Westin brand in the emirate. The hotel features 172 premium guestrooms, several restaurants and lounges, a Heavenly Spa by Westin and state-of-the-art meeting facilities.  The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort and Spa boasts a prime location along the fairways of the championship Abu Dhabi Golf Course, which underwent extensive upgrades in January 2011 and is managed by Troon Golf, the world-renowned luxury golf course management company.

Meliá Hotels International is preparing to open its latest property, namely, Meliá Dubai. 

The hotel is located in the heart of traditional Bur Dubai, close to the new Gold Souq, the Dubai Museum and the Dubai Creek. It is situated within reach of Dubai’s main shopping and commercial districts and only 15km away from Dubai International Airport. Designed for both business and leisure travellers, the new Meliá Dubai features an array of facilities and services aimed to meet and exceed guest expectations. The contemporary elegance of the hotel complete with business facilities, culinary experiences and ‘body and mind’ balance are indicative of Meliá Dubai’s new way of welcoming and treating their guests.

The Landmark Grand Hotel Rigga enters Dubai

The Landmark Hotels and Suites has opened its highly anticipated four-star The Landmark Grand Hotel located on Rigga Road, Dubai. Its unveiling coincides with a recent surge in the UAE’s hospitality space that has seen most hotels in Dubai achieve occupancy levels of as high as 85 per cent. The Landmark Grand Hotel – Rigga is located 10 minutes away from the Dubai International Airport and a two-minute walk from Union Metro Station. It features 174 rooms, which include 153 standard rooms, seven executive suites, and 14 junior suites supported by various amenities such as 24-hour room service, satellite TV and Wi-Fi access.

Rixos the Palm, Dubai is set to open in January 2012 signaling the first Middle East opening for Rixos Hotels

The highly anticipated entry of Rixos Hotels Group in the Middle Eastern territory has been announced, following the success of the chain’s fourteen hotels and overwhelming demand from worldwide guests and tourism industry professionals. Their first venture, Rixos The Palm, Dubai, is a luxurious resort situated in the most prestigious part of Palm Jumeirah and is scheduled to open in January 2012. The project signifies the firm entry of Rixos Hotels in the UAE and the region. The hotel section of Rixos The Palm, Dubai consists of 234 rooms and suites, 33 well appointed residential apartments and multi-dining Food & Beverage venues featuring innovative concepts for the Dubai market.

Jumeirah to manage Grand Hotel Via Veneto in Rome 

Jumeirah Group, the Dubai-based luxury hotel company and a member of Dubai Holding, has been appointed to manage the five-star luxury Grand Hotel Via Veneto in Rome. Jumeirah Group is set to take over the running of the privately-owned hotel and integrate it into its global portfolio of luxury hotels and resorts in early 2012, when the property is planned to be rebranded as Jumeirah Grand Hotel Via Veneto, Rome. Located in the heart of Rome, on the exclusive via Veneto, the hotel boasts 122 rooms and suites, a spacious lobby, two fine dining restaurants, an award-winning bar, a rooftop solarium and the state-of-the-art Aqva City spa. Guestrooms feature large marble bathrooms with Bulgari amenities, flat screen HD TVs, complimentary high speed Internet and photographic artwork of Rome’s most notable attractions. The centerpiece is the 500m² Royal Suite which boasts two bedrooms, a dining room, three Carrara marble bathrooms, a private marble hammam and more than 270m² of outdoor terrace with access to an open air hydromassage.