Guests travel in style in Riyadh
A LIMOUSINE service is now available to guests at Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh within the Kingdom Centre. The new fleet of chauffeur driven limousines is available 24 hours for all occasions. Guest can choose a BMW 740 IL or classic Cadillac Escalade, all of which come from the latest 2009 production line. Each luxury car is driven by a professional member of staff, and during their journeys, passengers can browse through the in-room dining menus and have their food prepared and ready for their arrival at the hotel. Guests can also use an in-car telephone, select favourite music from a comprehensive list as well as watch movies on the built in DVD player.
Al Bustan Palace in Oman reopens
The Al Bustan Palace InterContinental Muscat last month announced its official reopening, following extensive renovations to the entire property. A comprehensive upgrade of the property included the lobby, beach and garden area, sports facilities and most of its guest rooms and suites. In addition, the hotel will house an international concept restaurant VUE by Shannon Bennett, the first restaurant outside Australia for the famous chef. Over 97 percent of the original employees have returned to the hotel after fulfilling roles at other IHG properties throughout the Middle East, Asia and Europe during the renovation period.
Accor expands with ibis Al Barsha
A new ibis – set to be Dubai’s third - is scheduled to open on February 16 to fill the demand for budget accommodation for both leisure and business stays. The 480 room ibis Al Barsha is located within easy reach of Jumeirah, Media City and Internet City and the Mall of the Emirates. The new hotel will have 378 double rooms, 100 twin bed rooms and two special needs rooms (accessible rooms for disabled people) across six floors, with 48 interconnecting rooms suitable for families, while all will feature international direct dial telephones, satellite TV, high speed Internet and WIFI connections, as well as 24 hours a day hot and cold snack menu. Facilities include WIFI in lobby and public areas, indoor car parking, free safety deposit boxes at reception, an airport shuttle service, plus a variety of dining options including the Baharat restaurant featuring an international buffet, and 24 hour dining at the Café Bonjour.
Rebirth of a grand old dame
The Langham, London, which has been carrying out a restoration programme costing in the region of £80 million, will complete the work and open to the public next month. (March). Work on this listed London landmark building (opened by King Edward VII in 1865) includes 382 guestrooms, all 15 functions rooms (including the grand ballroom which will hold up to 375 guests), the lobby, public areas and the Palm Court. The flagship property of Langham Hotels International has remained fully operational throughout this period of restoration, with a reduced number of suites and rooms and a temporary entrance and lobby on Regent Street.
Smoke free Cristal
Cristal at the Millennium Hotel Abu Dhabi has gone smoke free. “Small changes in our day to day habits will reap big benefits in the future,” says Moine Kandil, general manager of the hotel. “Therefore, we think green, we act green and we go green. And because our guests are so valuable to us, and as a continuation of the green policies my team and I have adopted in the hotel, we have decided to stop smoking in the Cristal outlet,” he said. This becomes the third smoke free outlet in the hotel. The outlet was the first cigar and champagne bar in Abu Dhabi, and is open from 3 pm until 2am, with happy hours from 6 pm to 8 pm every night.