Dubai Hotel Travel

One of Dubai’s oldest hotels, the Metropolitan Hotel Dubai will be demolished starting mid-next year (2012). Owner Khalaf Al Habtoor, chairman of Al Habtoor told local radio station Dubai Eye the group could not expand the 200-room hotel which has stood for more than 33 years.

“Therefore we have no choice but to demolish it and rebuild a new project. The flexibility in that hotel is not there.”

Options for what could take its place included another hotel or even an attraction. (more…)

Air Arabia and Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority, or SCTDA, officially inaugurated Air Arabia’s service to Russia on Wednesday at a high-profile event held in the country’s capital city, Moscow.

The delegation was led by the Chairman of Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority Shaikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qassimi and the Chairman of Air Arabia Shaikh ?Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Thani. They shed light on the business and tourism ties between the two countries and the role Sharjah plays in developing the strong relationship between the two nations.

Air Arabia and SCTDA delegation hosted a special event to mark the occasion and was attended by a range of Russian decision-makers, UAE Consul and diplomats in Moscow, travel and trade leaders and members of the press. During the course of the event, Air Arabia announced that, beginning December 28, 2011, it will increase the frequency of service to Moscow to five times per week. (more…)

Emirates has opened its second dedicated First Class Lounge at Terminal 3 – Dubai International Airport, making it the fourth dedicated premium Emirates Lounge in Dubai.

The new Emirates Lounge, located at Concourse 1 in front of the Business Class Lounge, will facilitate easy and seamless travel for First Class passengers who may be departing from any of the 14 gates located in Concourse 1. Passengers now have an additional choice and can access a lounge more conveniently located to their departure gates. (more…)

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, on Thursday took its sponsorship of Manchester City Football Club to new heights with the unveiling of a specially liveried A330-200 aircraft.

The new “Blue Moon Rising” livery also marks the commencement of double daily flights between Manchester and Abu Dhabi, effective from August 1, 2011. Etihad currently flies to the UAE’s capital city seven times a week.

A team of 40 painters worked around the clock for 18 days in Abu Dhabi to paint the A330-200 in the colours of Manchester City. 450 litres of paint were required to complete the job.

The aircraft, which will operate on the Abu Dhabi-Manchester route, will also serve Milan, Frankfurt, Brussels, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Singapore, Istanbul and destinations throughout the Middle East and India. (more…)

Dubai Duty Free, the world’s No.1 airport retailer has signed a management agreement with Jumeirah Group, the Dubai-based luxury hotel company and member of Dubai Holding, to operate a five star luxury hotel at The Aviation Club which is situated close to the Airport on the north side of Al Garhoud Bridge overlooking Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club.

The hotel has been carefully designed in a contemporary style that projects understated luxury. It will have 293 guestrooms, 2 restaurants, 2 bars and 2 lounges, as well as a spa and health club, and conference and banqueting facilities. The hotel sits within the grounds of The Aviation Club, the internationally acclaimed sports and leisure complex, home to the Dubai Tennis Championships and the award-winning Irish Village. (more…)

Dubai, with its glittering array giant malls packed full of luxury brands, is seen as the world’s best city for shopping among people in the Arab world, according to a new survey.

The survey by Yahoo! Maktoob Research found 32 percent of respondents ranked Dubai as the number one shopping destination, beating out more established global cities such as London, Paris and New York.

Dubai’s retail sector has grown rapidly over the last decade on the back of the city’s economic boom, establishing it as a popular global shopping tourism destination.

The city’s stable of shopping centres includes Mall of the Emirates, which features an indoor ski slope, and Dubai Mall, one of the largest in the world that is located next to the 828-metre Burj Khalifa.

Paris was ranked the second best shopping destination with 13 percent of the vote, followed by Beijing, Istanbul and London in joint third with 5 percent, the survey found. (more…)

After much anticipation and years of preparation, The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) officially opens its doors today. The 341-room hotel, with 124 executive residences, is the second Ritz-Carlton in Dubai and the sixth property in the region for the luxury hotel company.

Lothar Quarz, general manager of The Ritz-Carlton, DIFC was joined by hotel owners and senior leaders from The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. for a private official ribbon cutting ceremony. “This day marks the beginning of an exciting new journey,” states Quarz. “I am truly proud of our ladies and gentlemen who have worked hard to put the final details into place. It is their work ethic, commitment to providing the best service, and relentless determination that will elevate our guests’ experiences and set us apart from our competition.” (more…)

A recent report released by the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) shows that Dubai has achieved significant growth in terms of hotel occupancy and tourism arrivals in the first half of 2010 (January through June).

Khaled Ahmed bin Sulayem, Director General of DTCM, said that despite the challenging conditions faced by the global tourism industry last year, Dubai was still able to achieve impressive results in terms of tourist arrivals, hotel revenues and tourism related events.

Statistics from DTCM show that the number of hotels operating in Dubai has reached 566, representing a 7 per cent increase from 530 last year, while hotel rooms reached 67,369, indicating a 16 per cent increase from 58,188 rooms last year.

Hotel revenues by the end of the first half of 2010 reached AED 6,888,477, representing a 6 per cent increase over the first half of 2010, during which revenues reached AED 6,519,691. (more…)

Jumeirah, the Dubai-based luxury hospitality company and member of Dubai Holding, is delighted to announce its award scoop for Jumeirah Emirates Towers, recognised as Business Traveller’s Best Business Hotel in the Middle East for 2010. At the same ceremony Jumeirah Group was also presented with the ‘Best Business Hotel Chain in the Middle East’ award for the sixth consecutive year.

The accolade, announced at the formal Business Traveller awards ceremony held yesterday at London’s Royal Garden Hotel, has been won by Jumeirah Emirates Towers for the eighth consecutive year, underscoring its outstanding service and dedication to the business and corporate travel sectors.

The award coincides with Jumeirah Emirates Towers’ landmark 10 year anniversary and a series of new developments on the property.

Jumeirah’s global spa brand, Talise, has just announced its opening at Jumeirah Emirates Towers, to join the brand’s flagship Talise wellness centre at Madinat Jumeirah. Following a brief refurbishment, Talise at Jumeirah Emirates Towers represents an urban expression of Talise, and will welcome both male and female guests, replacing the hotel’s former spa facility, H2O, which previously operated exclusively for male guests. A number of Talise signature treatments will be added to the existing H2O treatment menu, which includes unique services such as a floatation pool and a dedicated oxygen bar, creating a comprehensive menu of over 35 treatments.

Jumeirah Emirates Towers’ famous Al Nafoorah restaurant will re-open in November 2010, following an extensive refurbishment. The celebrated Lebanese restaurant will offer perennial favourites including hot and cold mezzeh, with an outdoor terrace perfect for al fresco dining. In addition, the hotel has just announced a new Friday brunch menu at Vu’s, along with new pool deck parties, and special anniversary offers in the restaurants.

The hotel is also offering an exclusive Business First Package, ideal for the discerning business traveller, including complimentary buffet breakfast, in-room internet, use of Business Centre facilities, a suit/shirt pressing and complimentary upgrade, subject to availability from AED 1475 per night. (more…)

The first Pullman hotel to arrive in the Middle East has opened its doors in Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates (MoE).

With its strategic location on Sheikh Zayed Road and with easy access to the Dubai Metro and Mall of the Emirates, management company Accor Middle East hopes the hotel will soon become a favourite with both business and leisure travellers coming to Dubai. (more…)