In brief

Four Seasons opens in Dubai

Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach opened in early December last year, blending Arabic design with cool, contemporary style. Its 237 spacious hotel accommodations – including 49 suites – offer views of the Arabian Gulf on one side and Burj Khalifa and the downtown skyline on the other. This five-star Dubai hotel is home to 10 restaurants and lounges, one of the city’s most lavish spas, three swimming pools and fun family activities.

Action and Accor ink management deal

Action Hotels, an owner, developer and asset manager of branded three- and four-star hotels in the Middle East and Australia has recently signed a hotel management agreement (HMA) giving Accor Group, the long-term management of Action’s third hotel in Kuwait.

The 160-room, four-star Novotel Sharq will open its doors in 2017, joining the 175-room ibis Salmiya (which opened in 2008), and the neighbouring 160-room ibis Sharq (now four years in operation). Construction will begin mid-2015.

According to Action Hotel’s CEO Alain Debare, the construction of the freehold hotel is currently expected to cost approximately $29million, an average of $181,000 per room, in addition to the $12.3 million already paid to secure the plot of land. 

Lotus Downtown wins

Lotus Downtown Metro Hotel Apartments has won in two categories at the World Luxury Hotel Awards 2014 in a ceremony held in early December last year at The Bay Hotel in Cape Town, South Africa. Best Luxury Serviced Apartments and Best Luxury Lodge are the two accolades that the property was honoured with.

Jannah signs club agreement

Jannah Hotels & Resorts has recently signed an agreement with Saadiyat Beach Club to offer attractive packages including full day passes to the club to its first class guests.

The Saadiyat Beach Club Package offers access to Abu Dhabi’s most stunning beach, where guests can enjoy white sands and turquoise waves complimented by a 650 sq m chilled pool, modern spa and a work-out room.

The package includes a night’s stay in the spacious one or two bedrooms suites at the Eastern Mangroves Suites by Jannah overlooking the stunning mangroves and full day access for two adults and two children below 12 years to Saadiyat Beach Club.

If guests do not wish to book the package, the Karim Services can arrange special rates for day passes as well.

Moukarzel wins at Social Economic Award

Organised by First Protocol, Social Economic Award 2014 was a first-of-its-kind award in the region that honoured both the private and public sectors. The president of Golden Tulip Middle East and North Africa, Amine E. Moukarzel won the prestigious “The National Image” award for his contribution to Lebanese tourism, and for creating job opportunities for the Lebanese in their own country and abroad. Receiving his award, he said, “It is not what your country does for you, it is what you do for your country.”