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SOFITEL Luxury Hotels celebrated the inauguration of Sofitel The Palm Dubai as its flagship Dubai property in a lavish opening ceremony. More than 1,500 guests attended the event at the property which is located on the east crescent of Palm Jumeirah.
A list of local and international dignitaries and celebrities were in attendance along with Gregory Maliassas, senior vice president Sofitel Middle East, Africa and Indian Ocean and renowned French botanist, Patrick Blanc, the inspirational creator behind the vertical gardens prevalent throughout the property.
Guests also enjoyed entertainment including Polynesian dancers and musical act Anggun, who hails from the islands of Indonesia.
The hotel offers 361 guest rooms and suites, as well as 182 serviced residences and boasts a multitude of food and beverage outlets, namely Studio du Chef, Porterhouse, Manava, Hong Loong, Moana and Maui Beach Bar and Restaurant. It also features the So Spa with 28 treatment rooms.
Record year for The Hotel Show 2013
THE Hotel Show this year achieved record growth with 16,749 visitors and exhibitors attending the three day exhibition held at Dubai World Trade Centre from September 28 to 30.
Delegates were also privy to the exclusive announcement on the 10 per cent municipality tax waiver for three star and sour star hotels, to propel the development of more mid-range hotels in the city of Dubai. The event was attended by more than 560 exhibitors covering five different sectors.
This year, four new event features were introduced to The Hotel Show: a three day Vision Conference programme that brought 70 regional and international industry leaders and experts to host 30+ sessions and presentations on the growth of the regional hospitality industry and a career zone in partnership with some of Dubai’s top hotels brands.
Additionally, the show was co-located with The Leisure Show, a new forum created to highlight regional investment and business opportunities in the leisure industry. The 15th anniversary edition of The Hotel Show will run from September 28 to 30, 2014.
Aviareps to represent Melts
SEREN Event Management Company (SerenEMC), organiser of the Middle East Luxury Travel Show (Melts) 2014, has appointed Aviareps for a public relations and marketing initiative designed to hoist the profile of the event internationally and create an unparalleled media experience for its participants.
In line with the Melts 2014 Vision, Aviareps will work with SerenEMC to position the event as the foremost sustainable B2B event focusing on and positively promoting the luxury travel and tourism industry within the Middle East.
Melts, taking place in February 2014 in Doha, will also feature a pre-show destination familiarisation trip, an opening enrichment conference, three days of pre-arranged meetings and three evenings of networking in some of Qatar’s most inspirational venues.
Support for the Philippines
THE Rezidor Hotel Group has donated EUR 10,000 to the Red Cross to support the victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. This donation marks the beginning of a fundraising effort that will continue until January 2014 and include all 350 Radisson Blu and Park Inn by Radisson hotels across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
Thrifty Car Rental expands
THRIFTY Car Rental, a franchisee of the Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, is announcing the opening of retail locations in the Fujairah City Centre and Mercato Mall, its 44th and 45th locations nationwide. Thrifty car rental increased its business in the first half of the year by 14 per cent year on year.