News & Stories

HI+

Jostling for position on the market begins

The hotel industry in Dubai - News from the Arabian Travel Market 2008

16.5.2008

Dubai. Promptly to mark the start of the Arabian Travel Market last week, newspapers were full to the brim with news from the tourism industry. Yet among the many announcements of new hotel projects, other news is also beginning to creep through: Dubai will now receive a hotel classification system, the first "green" residences and Dubai's first super budget hotel will be built. Three announcements which bear testimony to Dubai's increasing professionalism and its willingness to face international competition. The speed in which plans and initiatives are implemented remains staggering and for this reason alone Dubai still exerts a certain magnetic pull - and hotel operators from across the globe turn their attention to the Arabian Gulf.

HI+

The entertainment stronghold

Mega resort The Atlantis Dubai to be opened four weeks ahead of schedule

16.5.2008

Dubai. The Atlantis, with 1,539 rooms the biggest hotel in Dubai and the Middle East, will open its doors on September 24 - as the first resort on Palm Jumeirah and on top of that, four weeks ahead of schedule. Such superlative news indicates one thing: Dubai makes everything possible. The mighty, 22-storey stronghold, which is located at the end of the main trunk of Palm Jumeirah in the middle of the exterior palm leaf, has been accepting reservations since February. The project`s occupancy is considered an indicator for future projects of the same kind. Secluded from the public, the first "inhabitants" have arrived: 28 dolphins that will later on play together with kids in the pools of the Aquaventure theme park. Entire shoals of fish are already swimming behind thick panes of glass, in front of which, young and old will enjoy their meals or shop in future. Exactly one year ago, the Atlantis was an unfinished building shell. Last week, hospitalityInside.com was able to gain a first impression of the interior design, the rooms and the restaurant. A walk around The Atlantis, 75% finished.

HI+

Saudi tourism to target domestic, religious and overseas tourists

16.5.2008

Dubai. Speaking on the final day of the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference last week, Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Chairman of the Board and Secretary General of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities outlined the strategic plan for tourism development in the kingdom.

HI+

Disillusionment in the land of superlatives

Dubai and the ATM 2008: The boom continues, but the cracks are showing

9.5.2008

Dubai. The end of the boom in Dubai is still not visible on the horizon. Nevertheless, the euphoria that once lay like a blanket over the whole of Dubai has now palpably diminished. Over the course of the past twelve months, the problems of the fast growing Arabian super-city have become ever more apparent and have hardly been helped by the weak Dollar. For the first time, mistakes and weaknesses are being discussed more audibly. Construction costs are increasing, the acquisition of materials is becoming ever more difficult and hotel projects are beginning to run into ever more substantial delays. All the same, the mood at the 15th Arabian Travel Market remained positive. The trade fair itself continued to grow and has meanwhile developed into a must for almost everyone doing or looking to do business in the Middle East. hospitalityInside.com was on location: a first report of the current situation in Dubai.

HI+

Islamic travel fastest growing - Fairmont at the Holy Mosque

9.5.2008

Dubai. The Islamic hospitality market or Sharia-compliant hotels is pegged to be one of the fastest growing hospitality segments. Projects like the 1,005 room Fairmont Hotel in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, announced at the Arabian Travel Market this week underline the new trend.

HI+

Abu Dhabi raises hotel guest projections

25.4.2008

Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority has raised its hotel guest projections for the coming five years from the original targets set in 2004. The upgrade, revealed in the authority's five-year plan 2008-2012 unveiled this week, puts projected annual hotel guests at 2.7 million by the end of 2012 - 12.5% more than initially envisaged.

HI+

Attract guests before the match

Rapid infrastructure drive: South Africa prepares for Football World Cup

25.4.2008

Frankfurt/M. "Business Unusual" is a motto of South Africa's conference and event organisers. Tourist specialists from Africa's southernmost tip also used the IMEX in Frankfurt to beat the nation's marketing drum. Germany and England are the two most important source markets, and South Africa would like to see as many visitors from both of these countries as possible, preferably before the Football World Cup in 2010. Two representatives from South African Tourism shined with reports of the sweeping improvements to infrastructure and the variety of offers for tourists.

HI+

Pojer: There's potential for all, everywhere

Insider: TUI Hotels plans two new brands for business and leisure

25.4.2008

Hanover. As TUI plc announced the division of its container shipping business from tourism, its hotel department TUI Hotels & Resorts also moved into the spotlight. TUI plc board chairman, Dr Michael Frenzel, several times stressed the significance of this highly profitable field of business for the future of the company. According to a recent ranking undertaken the US magazine ”Hotels”, with 288 hotels in 29 countries, TUI Hotels is the eleventh biggest hotel group in the world. And as the company claims, the portfolio will soon grow further - incorporating new brands. Karl J. Pojer, Head of TUI Hotels & Resorts with TUI plc, refused to either confirm or deny current information received by hospitalityInside.com with regard to the alledged planning of two new brands. Insiders know, however, that a concrete announcement of new brands is imminent.

HI+

All's well

Second "Meeting & EventBarometer 2008" introduced at the IMEX

25.4.2008

Frankfurt/M. MICE business in Germany is becoming measurable with ever increasing accuracy. For the second time, four institutions active on the tourism and conference markets presented a joint study at the IMEX in Frankfurt last week: the German "Meeting & Event Barometer 2008". The second edition already allows a comparison of trends. The central finding this year: All's well! The conference and congress market continues to grow, the interest in event is increasing and above all providers see the hotel business as a winning industry.

HI+

Clear selection criteria

MICE survey for Germany: budgets for conferences on the rise again

25.4.2008

Cologne. The budget of the people responsible for German MICE is increasing. Small events with up to 30 participants rule the market and are growing fastest. The requirements concerning professionalism and speed of providers of event locations are becoming higher. This was the result of the first survey on Germany presented at the IMEX in Frankfurt on Tuesday.

News & Stories

Newsletter