Sharjah debut for Sheraton
STARWOOD is to make its Sharjah debut after signing an agreement to open the Sheraton Sharjah at the beginning of 2013.
Located on Al Muntazah Beach in the north of the emirate, the property will offer 343 ocean-front rooms, including 48 suites, as well as an all-day dining restaurant, a seafood restaurant, a Persian speciality restaurant and a pool/beach grill on a private beach. The hotel’s business facilities will include a suite of six meeting rooms and two ballrooms, one of which, at 850 sq m, will be one of the largest hotel ballrooms in the emirate. The hotel will also feature a Link@Sheraton connectivity hub.
Just 10 km from Sharjah International Airport and 15 km from Dubai International Airport, the resort will play a key role in increasing business travel in the emirate in addition to attracting regional and international tourists tempted by the beachfront location, spacious rooms with Sheraton’s renowned Sweet Sleeper Bed, a 950-sq-m spa and the brand’s signature fitness offering - Sheraton Fitness by Core Performance.
Sheraton Sharjah Hotel & Resort is Starwood’s sixth Sheraton hotel in the UAE
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New suites property from Ramada
Multi-brand hotel operator, CHI Hotels & Resorts (CHI), has announced the opening of the Ramada Sharjah, the first Ramada branded hotel and suites property in the emirate. Conveniently located on Al Nahda street, opposite the ever-popular Sahara Centre, the 250-suite hotel (50 one-bedroom and 200 two-bedroom) has state-of-the-art facilities such as high-speed internet access, a fully-equipped business centre, two meeting rooms, a pool and health club, the Jasmine coffee shop and Zaafaran restaurant serving international cuisine.
“In order to compete effectively in the UAE’s booming hospitality sector, we knew we would have to introduce a brand that wasn’t just different or affordable, but one that truly understands the discerning corporate and leisure traveller’s needs, namely proximity to business hubs, in-room conveniences and connectivity,” said the new hotel’s general manager Tamas Fazekas.
Old favourite gets a rebrand
THAILAND’S much loved Royal Cliff Beach Resort has announced the repositioning of its four hotels under one umbrella as the Royal Cliff Hotels Group.
The properties have also undergone extensive upgrading and an infinity pool and al-fresco dining beach venue have been added.
Managing director Panga Vathanakul said: “We want the world to know that the Royal Cliff is one of those special hotels with ‘soul and charisma’ and that we have more than one hotel at the Royal Cliff.
“Each of our four hotels has its own character, style and ambience to cater for the different lifestyles of our guests: Royal Cliffe Beach Hotel – casual; Royal Cliff Beach Terrace – exotic; Royal Cliff Grand Hotel – formal and Royal Wing Suites and Spa – ultimate luxury.”
All suites at the Royal Cliff Beach Terrace and the Royal Cliff Beach Hotel have been refurbished with all family and mini suites at Beach Terrace now featuring new contemporary marble-floored bathrooms with separate shower and modern tub or Jacuzzi.
In addition to the existing 11 food and beverage outlets, the group has added Breezeo, a beach venue which offers stunning views over the surrounding seas.
And the group’s Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall – Peach – remains the most popular Mice facility outside Bangkok.
Radisson Kuwait closes for renovation
The Radisson Blu Hotel Kuwait, Rezidor’s first property outside of Scandinavia, has closed its doors to undertake a major redevelopment project with completion scheduled for 2012.
The hotel, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in December, will feature 194 rooms once completed with three new distinctive styles of decor. The business-class rooms, on the third floor will offer guests additional features, such as exclusive access to the new glass-walled Sky Lounge, which will provide sweeping views over the Arabian Gulf.
The hotel will have 50 business-class rooms, six Junior suites, 23 executive suites and one Presidential suite. There will also be a 360-sq-m ballroom, with three adjacent chill-out rooms.
Throughout the renovation, the hotel’s current food and beverage and events facilities, including the Al Hashemi Grand Ballroom, will all remain fully operational.
Ibis makes Riyadh debut
Accor, the European hospitality leader, and Al Mohammadia Almotahda for Real Estate Investment Company, have announced the signing of a management contract to develop an ibis hotel in Riyadh.
ibis is the worldwide economy hotel brand of the Accor group and is designed to meet the needs and expectations of a broad spectrum of customers who travel regularly on business or leisure.
Featuring 176 well-equipped rooms, the ibis Riyadh will offer an all-day-dining restaurant, a coffee lounge and a meeting room. The hotel will be strategically located on Olaya Street, the main hub for shopping and business in Riyadh, with easy access to key drivers such as Riyadh’s International Exhibition Centre and King Abdullah Financial City.
Marking its entry into the Saudi market, the new ibis property, currently under construction and due to open in 2012, will bridge the gap for travellers who want quality accommodation and service at competitive prices.
Green Key at Radisson Blu
The Radisson Blu Martinez Hotel has become the first hotel in Lebanon to achieve Green Key certification which is part of a Foundation of Environmental Education Programme.
The property has taken part in various green initiatives such as installing recycling bins for paper, glasses and cans, using energy-saving bulbs in all offices, participating in the ‘Earth Hour’, recycling batteries, placing sensors in the corridors and joining in the global environmental programme ‘Conserving Tomorrow’ which includes the re-use system for guest linens.
General manager Nizam Bou Antoun said: “The Green Key Programme is the measurement tool for improving our sense of responsibility and delivering values to our guests and staff, we are doing our best in order to contribute in protecting the environmental and natural resources.”
Oman dive centre launched
LUXURY resort Six Senses Zighy Bay recently opened the doors of a new dive centre and welcomed the arrival of Oman Sail at the launch of its 50-berth marina.
The Zighy Bay Dive Centre is managed by an experienced team from the renowned Extra Divers Worldwide offering instruction in SSI / CMAS and PADI and equipped to take out up to eight guests at a time to witness some of the incredible marine life at Zighy Bay including whale sharks, boxfish and sea turtles.
The new state-of-the-art, environmentally-friendly marina will be operated by Art Marine.
Nestled on the coastline of the Musandam peninsula’s rugged mountain fjords, which rise up to 2,100 m above sea level, Zighy Bay is a sustainable boutique marina which will offer top-of-the-line services. Encompassing the 50 berths is the marina area built to capture the spirit of indigenous Omani heritage, which respects both the environment and the traditional architecture of Oman.
Oman Sail’s innovative training programmes for thousands of young Omanis are inspiring a new generation to discover and enjoy sailing. It offers a tour which traverses the Arabian Peninsula and takes in Bahrain, Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah before coming back to Oman.