LMRC Market Watch
Hotel Recent News
Jeddah hotels profits grow
DUBAI -- Four and five star hotels in Dubai reported weakening performance levels in August, with revenue per available room (RevPAR) declining 10.1% to $147.45 for the month compared to the same period last year.
Due to a marginal rise in occupancy levels by 0.6 percentage points, the contraction in room revenues was led largely by average room rates (ARR) falling 10.8% to $196.49.
DOP: Oct 7,2015 Source: Zawya N.1132
Coral Al Madina Hotel in final stages of construction
LAURENT A. Voivenel, CEO, Hospitality Management Holdings (HMH), was recently in Saudi Arabia to assess the progress at Coral Al Madina Hotel that is in advanced stages of construction and is due for completion by the third quarter of 2016.
DOP: Oct 7,2015 Source: Zawya N.1131
More hotels targeting Muslim travellers
Dubai: Hotels around the world are looking to cash in on the growing number of Muslim travellers by becoming fully halal (Sharia-compliant), or offering some halal products and services, according to an industry expert.
“Hotels everywhere in the world [are becoming halal]. They see the potential of the Muslim market,,,,,,
DOP: Oct 6,2015 Source: Zawya N.1130
Rotana's 6 new hotels in Kingdom to open by 2017
With the summer vacation season and Eid Al Adha now over, the Saudi hospitality market is once again preparing all facilities for tourists, business visitors and the year-round influx of pilgrims coming to visit Makkah and Madinah, while at the same time, Saudis are preparing for business travel to various countries around the world, especially the Gulf region, Turkey and Egypt.
DOP: Oct 5,2015 Source: Zawya N.1129
Grand Millennium Dubai eyes UK tourist market
Grand Millennium Dubai...banking on the UK tourist market
The Grand Millennium Dubai, a luxurious property in the UAE emirate, will be targeting both business and leisure traffic from the UK market at the upcoming World Travel Market in London this November.
Shadi Karameh, director of sales and marketing, will be focusing on the hotel’s convenient position adjacent to retail.
DOP: Sep 30,2015 Source: TradeArabia N.1071
RAK hotel occupancy levels hit 93pc during Eid
Ras Al Khaimah sees holidays bring influx of tourists
Average hotel occupancy levels rose to 93 per cent in Ras Al Khaimah during the Eid Al Adha period as the UAE emirate recorded 12,709 tourists visit the city for the holidays,showed figures released by the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (Ras Al Khaimah TDA).
DOP: Sep 29,2015 Source: TradeArabia N.1072
DOP: Sep 28,2015 Source: Kaleej Times N.1042
UAE hotel revenues may hit $10.9 billion by 2019
UAE leads Middle East and Africa in new hotel construction
The annual revenues of hotels in the UAE are predicted to record a two-fold increase to $10.9 billion in 2019 from $5.9 billion in 2013.
Visitor attraction revenues are also forecast to double from $521 million recorded in 2013 to over $1.2 billion by 2019, a report published by Euromonitor International ahead of The Hotel Show and The Leisure Show Dubai 2015 opening today.
AccorHotels to manage Manazil resort in RAK
AccorHotels, a leading global hotel operator, has signed an agreement with Manazil Group for the Marjan Island Resort & Spa in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE to take over the operations of the existing property from the owner and current operator.
The iconic five-star resort, which is already operational, has been renamed ‘Marjan Island Resort & Spa – Managed by AccorHotels’.
DOP: Sep 27,2015 Source: Trade Arabia N.1034
City Seasons Muscat named 'Best Family-Oriented Hotel'
City Seasons hotel in Muscat, a leading four-star property in the Omani capital, was awarded “Best Family-Oriented Hotel” by the Arab Centre for Tourism Media.
The annual event, in its fifth edition, was held in Muscat under the patronage of Ahmed Bin Nasser Al Mehrzi, Omani Minister of Tourism.
DOP: Sep 22,2015 Source: Trade Arabia N.1020
New executive chef at Sheraton Grand Dubai
Sheraton Grand Hotel, a leading five-star property in Dubai, UAE, has appointed Hugh Styles as the new executive chef.
In his new role, Styles will lead a hand-picked team of over 50 chefs and 25 stewards from more than 20 nationalities.
DOP: Sep 22,2015 Source: Trade Arabia N.1019
DOP: Sep 21,2015 Source: Weetas N.1041
Hotel rooms construction in MENA rise by 38.5% in August
The number of hotel rooms under construction in the Middle Easst and North Africa rose by 38.5% year on year in August according to a report issued by the research firm STR Global.
The month witnessed the construction of 97,533 rooms. Saudi Arabia has the biggest share with 28,745 rooms under construction scattered around 68 hotels.
Make the most of Eid Al-Adha in the UAE
With the holidays soon approaching, hotels around the UAE are offering numerous promotions in celebration of the joyous Eid Al-Adha.
UAE residents looking to make the most of their Eid this year can check out a few of the offers from hotels across the country.
DOP: Sep 21,2015 Source: Trade Arabia N.1013
Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah welcomes new GM
Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah, a luxury property in Dubai, UAE, has appointed David Wilson as its new general manager.
Wilson, an accomplished hospitality executive, with over 30 years of international experience, will direct and oversee the day-to-day operations of the landmark resort.
DOP: Sep 21,2015 Source: Trade Arabia N.1012
DOP: Sep 20,2015 Source: Zawya N.1040
Four Seasons Hotel Alexandria at San Stefano Welcomes Ali Mohammed as New Hotel Manager
A Four Seasons success story landing on the Mediterranean shores”
Alexandria, Egypt, Four Seasons Hotel Alexandria at San Stefanoannounces the appointment of Ali Mohammed to the position of Hotel Manager.
Club InterContinental launches new website
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts has launched a dedicated website making Club InterContinental more accessible for guests looking to book its services online.
Club InterContinental offering focuses on providing a personalised end to end experience for guests, from the moment they make a reservation to stay at an InterContinental hotel or resort until the end of their stay.”
DOP: Sep 20,2015 Source: HotelierMiddleEast.com N.980
Hotels focus on higher non-room revenue this Eid Al-Adha
Dubai: A survey across Dubai’s five-star properties conducted by SweetBeam, a leading marketing specialist focused exclusively on in-house guests, revealed that hotels could capitalise on the influx of visitors this Eid Al-Adha through proper marketing tactics.
According to the survey, hotel guests spending on non-room items such as restaurants and spas during this holiday is already on an upward trend.
DOP: Sep 20,2015 Source: TradeArabia N.954
Hotel rooms under construction up 38.5 per cent in MEA
Dubai: The number of hotel rooms under construction in the Middle East and Africa region grew by 38.5 per cent year-on-year in August, according to the latest report from research firm STR Global.
The actual number of rooms being built last month reached 97,553. Saudi Arabia had the most rooms under construction, which touched 28,745 rooms (in 68 hotels).
DOP: Sep 19,2015 Source: Zawya N.1039
Juma Al Majid Group launches hospitality arm
Dubai: Juma Al Majid Group, a Dubai-based conglomerate, has launched Jood Hospitality, its new hospitality arm, according to a statement from the group on Wednesday.
The new division will manage Jood Palace Hotel — Dubai, formerly known as Taj Palace Hotel.
DOP: Sep 16,2015 Source: GulfNews N.956
After 32 years, Ritz-Carlton changes logo
Ritz-Carlton unveiled their newly designed logo and brand voice that will be implemented across all guest touch points over the next year.
The reason behind the transformation is to clarify, simplify and amplify the brand’s identity. The change comes after a decade’s efforts of brand evolution, and has been created to purposefully maintain its existing stance amongst a new generation of guests globally.
DOP: Sep 15,2015 Source: HotelierMiddleEast.com N.978
Accor first international hotel company to open in Iran
Dubai: Accor Hotels, a French hotel operator, has signed a management agreement for two hotels in Iran, making it the first international hotel company to open in the country, it said in a statement on Tuesday.
The hotels — Novotel IKIA and ibis IKIA — are connected to the main terminal of Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran. They are scheduled to open next month.
DOP: Sep 15,2015 Source: GulfNews N.955
'Extend your relaxation' at the Grand Millennium Dubai
Dubai: The Grand Millennium Dubai, a leading hotel in the UAE emirate, has launched a new spa promotion for its guests, combining both spa treatments and massage therapy for the ultimate relaxation experience.
Book a 60-minute hot stone massage session and get a free facial treatment.
DOP: Sep 9,2015 Source: Trade Arabia N.928
Marriott International to open second Edition hotel in the Middle East
Dubai: A second hotel under Marriott International’s Edition brand is coming to the Middle East, according to a company statement on Tuesday.
The 258-room luxury boutique hotel is expected to open in Dubai’s Jumeirah Beach Residence in the first quarter of 2018.
DOP: Sep 8,2015 Source: Gulf News N.889
Carlson Rezidor to open hotel in Iraq
Abu Dhabi: Carlson Rezidor, a Belgian hotel group, announced on Monday its first hotel in Iraq; the Radisson Blu Hotel, which is currently under construction and is scheduled to open in 2017.
The property in Iraq brings Rezidor Hotel Group’s presence to 81 countries across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
DOP: Sep 7,2015 Source: Gulf News N.888
DOP: Sep 3,2015 Source: Gulf News N.887
Abu Dhabi, Dubai hotel profitability climbs in July
Hotel profitability and revenue increases in July 2015 compared to July 2014
Dubai: Hotel rooms in Abu Dhabi and Dubai were substantially more profitable in July 2015 than in the same month a year ago, according to hospitality intelligence company HotStats.
Best and worst hotel chains in Middle East by online review
Dubai: Consumers are increasingly turning to the internet to inquire more about a brand before parting with their cash. For those planning a trip or looking to book a hotel for a weekend getaway, it pays to know what previous clients have to say about their experience.
Data analytics company Tagmemics has recently ranked the brands in the hotel industry based on thousands of consumer reviews.
DOP: Sep 3,2015 Source: Gulf News N.887
Jumeirah enters Business Bay mixed-use development
Project includes a luxury hotel, serviced apartments and residences
Dubai: Jumeirah Group, the Dubai-based luxury hotelier, announced on Wednesday it is entering the Business Bay area with a mixed-use development.
DOP: Sep 2,2015 Source: Gulf News N.1037
ibis Styles Jumeirah opens its doors
Dubai: The ibis Styles Jumeirah had its soft opening, according to a statement on Tuesday from R Hotels, a company that owns and operates hotels.
Located in Al Mina Road in Jumeirah, the three-star property features 191 rooms and suites. It aims to attract both leisure and corporate travellers. The hotel is R Hotels’ fifth property in the UAE.
DOP: August 25,2015 Source: Gulf News N.865
Dubai holiday homes to nearly double by year-end
Dubai: Dubai is expected to see a boom in holiday homes in the coming months, with the number of registered homes expected to jump from around 800 as of last month to 1,500 by the end of this year, according to an official from the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism).
The emirate is broadening its range of accommodations through holiday homes.
DOP: August 24,2015 Source: Gulf News N.864
Revealed: Inside Dubai’s first floating hotel
There have some been some pretty interesting places to sleep in Dubai, but this little-known accommodation is one perhaps more affordable for the average person.
Stars such as Khloe Kardashian have stayed in Atlantis The Palm’s underwater suite, and of course there is the Burj Al Arab’s over-the-top Royal Suite.
DOP: August 24,2015 Source: Arabian Business.com N.820
UAE's largest hotel event space opens in October
Madinat Jumeirah's Fort Island will have a capacity of up to 1,400 people
Dubai: Madinat Jumeirah, a luxury resort in Dubai, expects expansion of its Fort Island to be completed in October this year, according to a statement on Monday from Jumeirah Group, which owns and operates the resort.
DOP: August 24,2015 Source: Gulf News N.807
Global hotel transactions up 55 per cent in H1 2015
Transactions amounted to $42b
Dubai: Global hotel transactions reached $42 billion (Dh154 billion) in the first half of this year, up 55 per cent year-on-year, driven by foreign investment, according to a statement on Monday from real estate consultancy JLL.
DOP: August 24,2015 Source: Gulf News N.806
Dubai hotel room rates likely to continue dropping
One analyst expects the drop to be 5-7% between September and December
Dubai: Falling room rates seen this year across Dubai’s four- and five-star hotels are likely to continue in the next four months due to currency fluctuations and an increasing room supply, tourism analysts say.
DOP: August 23,2015 Source: Gulf News N.799
Airbnb gives Paris luxury hoteliers a fright
Top end hoteliers denounce US website as a menace ; Airbnb transformed budget accommodation in Paris
PARIS: Nowhere in the world has more accommodation available on Airbnb than Paris. Now the home-sharing website that has transformed budget travel to the French capital is giving its super-deluxe hotels a fright too.
“The Paris market is going to get very difficult,” said Didier le Calvez, managing director of the Bristol Hotel. Along with bosses of the city’s other “palaces”
DOP: August 23,2015 Source: Gulf News N.798
Sheraton Grand officially launched
Starwood plans 100 Sheraton Grand hotels by early 2017
Dubai: US-based Starwood Hotels and Resorts has officially introduced Sheraton Grand, according to a company statement on Thursday.
The hotel chain already operates 10 Sheraton Grand properties in Dubai, Bengaluru, Beijing, Edinburgh, Miyazaki, Seoul, Taipei, Bangkok, Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro.
It plans to have 50 Sheraton Grand-branded hotels worldwide by the end of this year, and 100 by early 2017.
DOP: August 20,2015 Source: Gulf News N.797
Analysis: How to market a hotel in 2015 (tip: ignore star ratings)
It’s a fact that can no longer be ignored: leisure travellers under the age of 30 simply don’t care about star ratings. And it’s not just Millennial travellers either – anyone who’s tech-focused automatically rates user-generated content (e.g., reviews) higher than star ratings.
Recently, while booking a holiday in Cyprus, I looked at many brand.com sites to find a hotel, but was quickly frustrated.
DOP: August 06,2015 Source: Arabian Business.com N.863
Abu Dhabi witnesses 20% increase in hotel stays
Of these, 2,300 rooms are set to enter the market by end of 2015 alone. The Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (ADTCA) also report a 20% increase in hotel guests in Q1 of 2015 compared to Q1 figures from 2014.
JLL revealed that 45% of current supply are five-star properties. Openings in the final months of 2015 include the Bab Al Qasr Hotel near Presidential Palace.
DOP: August 04,2015 Source: World News Report N.810
Former waiter puts expansion at top of the menu for UAE hotel group
To get to the top, Omer Kaddouri started at the bottom. The Iraqi-British national, now President and CEO of Abu Dhabi-based Rotana Hotels, remembers beginning his career as a banqueting headwaiter at the Kensington Hilton in London in the late 1980s.
Kaddouri describes the role as “the toughest job” he has ever had. “It included 18-hour shifts and sleeping under banquet tables”, he says.
DOP: July 30,2015 Source: 7Days N.809
Landmark Zenath to open hundreds of mid-market rooms in Dubai this year
Mid-market hotels in Dubai are set to face further pressure on room rates as hundreds of new rooms are added.
Landmark Zenath Group plans to open five four-star properties under the Landmark brand by the end of 2017.
DOP: July 30,2015 Source: The National Business N.693
DOP: July 26,2015 Source: The National Business N.692
Abu Dhabi hotel occupancy rate goes down during Ramadan
Hotels in the capital reported a muted performance last month because of Ramadan and an increase in room supply.
The average occupancy rate dropped by 10.2 per cent to 60.9 per cent compared to the same period last year, according to the research company STR Global. The average daily room rate also dropped by 3.7 per cent to Dh389.42.
Modern robot hotel where staff are dinosaurs
The English-speaking receptionist is a vicious-looking dinosaur, and the one speaking Japanese is a female humanoid with blinking lashes. “If you want to check in, push one,” the dinosaur says. The visitor still has to punch a button on the desk, and type in information on a touch panel screen.
From the front desk to the porter that’s an automated trolley taking luggage up to the room,,,,,,,,
DOP: July 26,2015 Source: The National Business N.691
Wasl plans to open 14 hotels in Dubai by 2020
Wasl Hospitality and Leisure plans to open 14 hotels between now and 2020, and more than double its room capacity to 10,000.
The company will focus on the three and four-star hospitality sector, according to Hesham Al Qassim, the chief executive of its parent, the Wasl Asset Management Group, which manages the Dubai government’s property assets.
DOP: July 25,2015 Source: The National Business N.690
LuLu to open five-star hotel in Dubai’s Business Bay
The hospitality unit of Abu Dhabi’s LuLu Group plans to open a five-star hotel in Dubai’s Business Bay area in October.
The 365-room property will be operated by Germany’s Steigenberger Hotels.
Twenty14 Holdings will own the property. This will also be its first foray into the hotels sector.
DOP: July 23,2015 Source: The National Business N.689
Jannah Hotels and Resorts to open 2 new hotels in Abu Dhabi
Jannah Hotels and Resorts Group intends to open two new hotels in Abu Dhabi during the third quarter of this year.
The executive manager of Jannah Hotels and Resorts Group said that the group will open “Jannah Sarab Tower” Hotel in Al Minaa Street in Abu Dhabi next September and “Jannah Place Abu Dhabi” next month to own 10 different hotels in the coming 2 years.
DOP: July 22,2015 Source: Weetas N.621
Saudi Eastern Province witness establishing 40 new hotels in the coming period
The general manager of Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, and secretary of Tourism Development Council in the Eastern Povince, Abdul-Latif Bin Mohammed Al Benyan, said that the hospitality sector occupancy in the Eastern Region reached 115 hotels in addition to 800 furnished units all set to occupy the rising demand on hotel facilities.
DOP: July 22,2015 Source: Weetas N.622
R Hotels opens a new branch in Ajman
A new 182-key branch of R Hotels, which is a hospitality management division, was announced to be established in Ajman at an investment value worth 150 million Dh, equivalent to 40.9 million dollars.
The hotel is expected to open during the first quarter of 2017 while construction works is expected to start within the third quarter of 2015.
DOP: July 21,2015 Source: Weetas N.620
Dubai hotels look to cash in on Eid bonanza
Dubai hotels are expected to cash in on the planeloads of tourists from the GCC during the Eid Al Fitr holidays.
Saudis and Kuwaitis are likely to account for the majority of hotel guests during the period, according to Rashid Aboobacker, a senior consultant at TRI Consulting.
DOP: July 15,2015 Source: The National Business N.688
New budget Dubai hotel rooms expected to add to downwards pressure on rates
Thousands of new budget and mid-market hotel rooms opening in Dubai this year are expected to put additional pressure on declining room rates.
Of the 3,600 hotel rooms expected to come on stream in the nine months through December, 44 per cent would be rated three-star or lower.
DOP: July 13,2015 Source: The National Business N.687
Demand grows for all-inclusive hotel deals in the UAE
Demand for all-inclusive hotel deals is growing in the UAE, particularly from European tourists as the euro weakens.
The UAE properties have seen an increase in demand for all-inclusive holidays from source markets such as the UK, Russia and Germany, said Mrad El Khoury, the general manager of Fujairah Rotana Resort and Spa, which started offering all-inclusive packages this year due to demand from tour operators. The property opened in 2007.
DOP: July 9,2015 Source: The National Business N.685
Movenpick Hotels & Resorts to open fourth hotel in Jeddah
The new hotel is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2019 and will be located on Prince Sultan road in Jeddah
Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has announced that it is opening a fourth property in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah.
The 300-key Mövenpick Hotel Heraa Jeddah is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2019 and will be located on Prince Sultan road, the company said in a statement.
DOP: July 7,2015 Source: Gulf Business N.601
Five-star hotel room rates in Abu Dhabi decline 20% in March
Staying at luxury hotels in Abu Dhabi became more affordable in March.
The hotel room rates index fell 20.2 per cent that month from February, while that for hotel apartments declined 7.4 per cent, according to Statistics Centre Abu Dhabi (Scad).
Room rates at five-star hotels dropped the most at 21.2 per cent, compared with a decline of 8.6 per cent for one-star properties.
DOP: July 6,2015 Source: The National Business N.685
Dubai mid-market hotels gain ground as visitor profiles change
Dubai mid-market hotels are coping better with falling room rates than their upmarket rivals, new research shows.
The emirate is shifting towards the development of more mid-market hotels as the profile of visitors changes, according to the property consultancy Knight Frank.
DOP: July 6,2015 Source: The National Business N.684
Hotel apartments and golf communities sectors are DAMAC winning cards
In an interview with Ziad Al Shaar, Managing Director of DAMAC Properties with “Al Zawya”, he said that the company now puts all its focus on investing in two sectors and they are the hotel apartments sector and golf communities sector.
The company launched in mid-2013 the first golf course community called Akoya, and it also launched the second golf community in 2014 known as Akoya oxygen.
DOP: July 6,2015 Source: Weetas News N.600
Expanding the empire: Mövenpick's Jean Gabriel Peres
There’s a cool confidence about Jean Gabriel Peres. The kind of confidence you can only acquire over time, through experience, having seen more or less everything there is to see in a certain industry.
It should come as no surprise. The president and CEO of Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts has been in the driving seat since 1999,leading the Swiss hospitality group and its 16,000 employees into a number of markets,,,,
DOP: July 4,2015 Source: Business.com N.599
Dubai hotel room rates dropped more than 10 per cent in May
Room rates in Dubai continued to fall in May as more hotels came online during the first half of the year.
In May, the average room rate across four and five-star hotels fell 10.8 per cent compared to the same period last year to US$271.64, according to Hotstats data released on Monday. The fall was attributed to a stronger US dollar compared with other currencies. In April, the drop was 12.8 per cent from a year earlier.
DOP: July 1,2015 Source: The National Business N.683
Dubai hotels now more affordable, but rank fourth priciest in world
As per the 2014 index, Dubai ranked as the second most expensive city in the world for hotel guests when the average room rate stood higher at $273.
Dubai - Hotels in Dubai have become more affordable with the city now ranks as the world's fourth-most expensive place compared to its position in 2014 as the second costliest for visitors to spend the night, an index of priciest global cities revealed on Tuesday.
DOP: July 1,2015 Source: Kaleej times N.598