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Fairmont
opens new hotel in the UAE
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts recently opened their new property Fairmont Bab Al
Bahr in Abu Dhabi. Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, meaning ‘Gateway to the Sea’, is
the hotel group’s first property to open in the capital of the UAE, on the
Abu Dhabi Creek. Positioned at the mainland gateway of the city, the hotel
sits directly on the beachfront. Located in ‘new’ Abu Dhabi, an area
destined to become a leading office, retail and residential development in
the city, the hotel benefits from spectacular views of the Sheikh Zayed
Grand Mosque, with easy access to Abu Dhabi City Centre and Corniche, and is
in close proximity to Abu Dhabi International Airport. Fairmont Bab Al Bahr
boasts 369 rooms, a variety of restaurants, 27,000ft² of function space, a
private sandy beachfront, a Willow Stream Spa and two outdoor pools.
Sri Lanka
announces major influx from Middle East
Sri Lanka has reported a major influx of Arab travellers, as Middle East
Tourist arrivals to the country surged by 41 per cent in the first nine
months of 2009 over the same period last year. Announcing the results, Sri
Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau’s (SLTPB) Middle East Office confirmed that
the strongest growth was registered from the UAE, Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait. Sri Lanka is proving to be a magnet for regional
travellers and the Eid break saw a surge in travel to the island nation,
which is located just three and a half hours flying time away. Cultural
attractions, entertainment, shopping, and dining are some of the factors
that draw Arab travellers to their preferred destinations, and Sri Lanka is
said to offer a product that scores on all counts.
Hilton
Garden Inn Riyadh Olaya opens its doors
The first Hilton Garden Inn property in the Middle East and Africa, Hilton
Garden Inn Riyadh Olaya, located in Saudi Arabia, has opened its doors to
the public. Located on Olaya Street, in the heart of Riyadh’s business
district, the 180-room and -suite Hilton Garden Inn Riyadh Olaya features a
business centre, three meeting rooms, state-of-the-art workout facilities,
dining options, and a 24-hour convenience mart that provides on-the-go
snacks and sundries.
Al Ain
Rotana receives five-star title
Al Ain Rotana has officially been classified as a five-star hotel, and is
now said to be the only five-star hotel in Al Ain. The hotel, which was
built in 1999, has undergone numerous renovations such as the new extension,
the Bodyline health and leisure club, squash courts, massage rooms, Moodz
lounge bar, and Min Zaman restaurant. Apart from all the implemented
projects, there are two new developments in the pipeline to be completed
before the end of 2009. These include the new all-day dining restaurant
which will replace the famous Gardinia, as well as a tennis court.
First
Holiday Inn Resort to open in the Maldives
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed an agreement with Leisure
Holidays Private Limited, a Hotel Properties Limited (HPL) Group company, to
takeover and re-brand Kandooma Maldives to Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma on
November 1. Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma is the first Holiday Inn Resort in
the Republic of Maldives, and will mark the second Holiday Inn property in
the republic to carry the look-and-feel service standards of the refreshed
Holiday Inn brand.
Gold
Swiss-Belhotel Dubai opens to public
Located close to Dubai International Airport and Dubai Conference &
Exhibition Centre, the four-star Gold Swiss-Belhotel Dubai recently opened
its doors to the public. The hotel is poised to become one of the city’s
leading four-star properties offering five star quality with an affordable
price tag. The opening of Gold Swiss-Belhotel Dubai marks the introduction
of the Swiss-Belhotel brand to the UAE and the fifth hotel in the Middle
East region for the group. Boasting 184 rooms, 80 of which can be
interconnected making it ideal for larger families, the hotel proclaims to
be ideally situated for business and leisure guests. |
