Rixos group enters Middle East
The Rixos Hotels Group has announced its first venture in the Middle East, a luxurious resort on the Palm Jumeirah Dubai designed and built by ZSML Construction and owned by Zabeel Investments.
The Rixos luxury hotel concept was first launched in 2000 in Turkey by Turkish businessman Fettah Tamince, whose vision has always been to expand the brand globally and become an international industry leader without losing the personal touch. Their Hammam concept bridges old Turkish traditions with modern luxury. All Rixos hotels are designed, built and operated by the group itself. The chain presently owns and operates nineluxury hotels in Turkey, Ukraine and Kazakhstan, with further hotels set to open in Dubai, Croatia and Austria later this year.
Gefinor Rotana encouraging visitors
Gefinor Rotana in Lebanon has introduced a series of special functions to counteract the many operational challenges it faces in Lebanon today. There are happy hours from 5pm to 8pm daily, live piano music Monday to Saturday and each week a different Lebanese winery holds a tasting session in the lobby for four nights. This is followed by themed buffet evenings with entertainment and drinks for an all inclusive price. The hotel has also recently opened its outdoor Spring Garden Café for ‘al fresco’ lunch, offering a light lunch menu of salads and sandwiches in a secluded garden. In mid May, there are plans to open a roof top open air bar serving light snacks around the pool with spectacular views over the city and sea.
Millennium offers Dubai package
The Grand Millennium Dubai with its 352 rooms and suites, six restaurants and bars, conference facilities, spa and gym has a Destination Dubai Package for a minimum of two nights stay. It includes a room with breakfast at the Atrium Restaurant, one desert safari ticket per person inclusive of Arabic BBQ, or one ticket per person for the Big Bus sightseeing tour. Rates are quoted per room per night, and start from Dh1420 ($ 389) per night for single occupancy, and Dh1635 ($ 448) per night for double occupancy. This offer is valid until December 31, 2008, but is not valid with groups or conventions and may not be combined with other promotional offers.
Magazine praises Four Seasons spa
The recently opened Spa and Wellness Centre at Four Seasons Hotel Alexandria, was named in Business Traveller magazine as the Best Hotel Spa for Classic Massages in the Middle East. The 30,000 square foot centre offers separate male and female spa areas, a sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi, cool plunge, relaxation lounge, ladies-only gym, mixed gym, kinesis studio, one squash court and two spa suites for couple’s treatments. A Cleopatra treatment, which includes a milk and honey bath, plus a Pharaonic massage with a chamomile and mint poultice once used by the pharaohs, feature in the spa.