InterCon offers great value weekends
THE InterContinental Hotels Group is seeking to maximise room occupancies in a new weekends-only promotion that offers special deals at Intercontinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn hotels and resorts across the GCC, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan and Yemen.
Packages begin $32 per night including breakfast, free accommodation for two children under the age of 18 in their parents’ rooms and breakfast included free of charge for children under 12.
Amex-Starwood in suite offer
STARWOOD Hotels now offer guests 50 per cent off on suites when settling their bill with an American Express Card.
The offer is available until March 31 in over 39 Starwood properties in Africa and Middle East and is developed in response to consumer demand for superior, competitively-priced accommodation.
Inroom indulgences from Hilton
HILTON International has announced a partnership with bath and body care brand Crabtree & Evelyn for the supply of new, indulgent in-room amenities unique to the group, including La Source moisturising soap, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, body lotion and bath salts. Now available in the UK and Ireland, the range will be offered across the world from April.
Spring room deals in Ajman
THE Kempinski Hotel Ajman is offering a special room rate from March 10 to April 10 starting from Dh1260 for a single room with breakfast. The package includes accommodation in a deluxe room with sea view, breakfast buffet, free shuttle service to Sharjah and Dubai several times a day and free use of pool, beach, gym and health spa. Prices for double rooms are Dh1360; and are inclusive of taxes and charges. To book please call +971-6-7541555, rates are valid upon request.
Pay to cook your meal
THE InterContinental Dubai now asks diners to cook their own meals at Sumibiya, the city’s first Japanese-Korean yakiniku-style restaurant. Each table is built around a central grill tailormade for the restaurant, where guests grill a variety of meat, seafood and vegetables, with accompaniments such as Korean fermented cabbage or Khimchi. The interiors were designed by Singaporea-based David Tokiwa.
Danat hooks diners
THE Danat Resort Jebel Dhanna has caught seafood lovers hook, line and sinker over its new al fresco restaurant, Al Bahar, located at the resort on Abu Dhabi's west coast. Al Bahar’s menu is fresh from the sea and cooked to perfection. The Danat fishermen sail daily for their catch and guests are more than welcome to accompany the crew out to sea for an afternoon.
Beau-Rivage offers expo deal
LAUSANNE’S Beau-Rivage Palace is beckoning sports lovers to Switzerland with exclusive packages until the end of March. During this period, Lausanne’s famed Olympic Museum is hosting a special display which aims to delve into the roots of sport. The landmark hotel is just a short sprint from the Olympic museum.
The hotel’s Olympic packages offer two nights’ accommodation overlooking Lake Geneva and the Alps, a hearty breakfast and organised visits to the museum, as well as a Michelin-star lunch experience at La Rotonde for CHF435 (approx $339) per single room per night. Reservations at info@brp.ch
HSMAI gold for Le Meridien
THE Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) has recognised Le Meridien Dubai with a Gold Award for advertising series excellence for its winning entry in the Adrian Awards Competition. The presentation was made during the 16th Annual HSMAI Adrian Awards Gala at the end of January for their Miles for Meals promotion with Skywards, Emirates’ frequent flyer programme. Until March 31, Skywards Members can earn Miles on Dh100 spent at any of the 14 participating F&B outlets at the hotel.
New Marriott guest relations scheme
MARRIOTT International has launched its Spirit To Serve Our Guests" programme, taking its personalised service to a new level. From first contact to check-in, the programme engages the customer in five key service experiences. Guest reservation calls now pre-identify preferences; pre-arrival e-mails help with trip planning; Marriott’s rewarding welcome allows hotels globally to recognise guest preferences at check-in; a virtual concierge lets guests select special amenities online; and a new system helps Marriott Rewards members track points toward their dream vacations.
Traders Hotel wins key certification
TRADERS Hotel Dubai has been awarded the prestigious Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Certificate in recognition of the hotel’s quality system which complies with the international standards of HACCP. The four-star deluxe property is the first hotel in Dubai to receive this accolade, according to a statement.
Chedi does the iPod
NEW iPod minis and the Bose Wave music systems are now available in the guest rooms of The Chedi, Muscat. The hotel says it uses Bose equipment across its facilities, including in its 52 deluxe rooms. The iPods come with the Bose docking station complete with speakers for a full-room sound experience and are preloaded with as many as 1,500 songs of the jazz, lounge, chillout, rock, and pop genres. Each of the 36 Chedi Club Suites features two iPods.
Mina A’Salam gets TripAdvisor gong
THE Mina A’ Salam at the Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai was named 2005 winner of TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Award for Best Luxury – World. TripAdvisor is the largest global travel information and advice destination on the web and their awards are voted for by millions of travellers worldwide.
Four Seasons bags top spot
THE Four Seasons Hotel Nile Plaza has been ranked number one in Egypt and the Middle East by Travel & Leisure readers in the Travel & Leisure Top 500, an annual guide to the worlds finest travel experiences. Properties were judged by the magazine’s affluent readership according to a number of criteria.
Park Hyatt offers wedding deals
THE Park Hyatt Dubai is offering soon-to-be newlyweds a special deal: celebrate the wedding at Park Hyatt Dubai, and two nights on the first anniversary (or a romantic weekend getaway) free at any of of 24 Park Hyatts or 38 Hyatt Resorts worldwide. The offer is valid for weddings booked and held prior to June 31, 2007. The hotel also offers a summer wedding package from June 15 to September 15, 2006, that includes a complimentary wedding cake, Dh500 gift certificate for its day spa, Amara, and a one night’s free stay in a Park King Room on the wedding night.