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Dubai master developer Nakheel and Thailand’s Minor Hotels have signed a management agreement for a new 372-room hotel to be constructed at Ibn Battuta Mall.

Under the agreement, signed in Bangkok by Nakheel Chairman Ali Rashid Lootah and William E. Heinecke, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Minor International PCL, the hotel will be managed under the vibrant AVANI Hotels & Resorts brand, which offers guests relaxed comfort and contemporary style in city and resort destinations.

The 18-storey hotel for which a construction contract will be awarded in February this year is the second Nakheel hotel at Ibn Battuta and one of 16 in the developer’s hospitality project portfolio. Adjacent to the recently-opened Ibn Battuta Metro Link, which is directly connected to the mall, the hotel will feature a pool, spa, gym, all day dining restaurant, coffee shop and parking.

Minor Hotels’ portfolio currently comprises more than 20,000 rooms across 156 hotels, resorts and serviced suites in 24 countries under the Anantara, AVANI, PER AQUUM, Oaks, Tivoli, Elewana, Four Seasons, Marriott, St Regis, Radisson Blu and Minor International brands.

Nakheel Chairman Ali Rashid Lootah said: “Today marks yet another key milestone in our commitment to enhancing and diversifying Dubai’s hotel offering by bringing new, reputable international hospitality brands to the emirate in line with the Government’s vision. We are delighted to welcome Minor and the AVANI brand to Ibn Battuta Mall, which, with over 20 million visitors a year, is one of Dubai’s leading tourist destinations.”

William E. Heinecke commented: “We are very pleased to be partnering with Nakheel for the new AVANI hotel at Ibn Battuta Mall in Dubai. Having launched our upscale AVANI brand in the region last year, we are delighted to continue the brand’s expansion in the UAE with this new hotel and we are confident that the brand will prove successful in this key market.”

AVANI Ibn Battuta is the second Nakheel hotel at the mall. The first, a 372-room Premier Inn, opened last year. The hotels are part of Nakheel’s ongoing expansion at Ibn Battuta Mall, the first phase of which was completed last year with the opening of a 300,000 sq ft extension and 210 metre link to the Dubai Metro. The mall currently has 400 shops, restaurants and entertainment outlets across 1.5 million sq ft of retail space, with phase two of the expansion under way.

Nakheel has more than 5,300 rooms across a diverse range of hospitality projects.  Two are already complete and operational, with the rest at various stages of construction and development.

Nakheel’s hotel portfolio includes:

Ibn Battuta Mall:  AVANI-branded hotel with 372 rooms adjacent to the new Ibn Battuta Mall/Metro link. Management agreement signed.
Ibn Battuta Mall:  Premier Inn-operated hotel with 372 rooms directly linked to the mall. Opened October 2016.
Dragon Mart 2:  ibis Styles hotel with 251 rooms, directly linked to Dragon Mart.  Opened February 2016.
Dragon City:  Premier Inn-operated hotel with around 320 rooms, forming part of the Nakheel’s Dragon City expansion. Management agreement signed.
Palm Jumeirah: The Palm Tower, a 289-room luxury hotel, to be managed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts under the St Regis brand, occupying the first 18 floors of Nakheel’s 52-storey hotel and residential tower. Under construction.
Palm Jumeirah: PALM 360, luxury twin-tower hotel and residential complex with 12,000 sq ft, branded penthouses and apartments. Upcoming.
Jumeirah Village Triangle:  251-room hotel to be managed by Hilton under its DoubleTree by Hilton brand. Letter of Intent signed.
Deira Islands: joint venture with Spain’s RIU Hotels & Resorts for a 750-room, all-inclusive beachfront resort.  Agreement signed.
Deira Islands: joint venture with Centara Hotels & Resorts, also from Thailand, for a 550-room, AED500 million resort and waterpark.  Agreement signed.

Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai is delighted to announce the completion of phase one in its extensive renovation programme which has been undertaken across its public areas including the Lobby Lounge and Dunes Café. The renovation programme has revealed a beautiful and modern, yet classical design and marks a new chapter in the evolution of Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai.

With the aim to create a contemporary haven of elegance that blends modern Arabia with Shangri-La’s legendary hospitality in the heart of Dubai, the hotel’s Lobby Lounge has been extended, whilst Dunes Café has been designed as a more private dining space set aside from the lobby by pods which shield the area discreetly from the hustle and bustle. Steel and gold chandeliers are suspended from the lobby ceilings, whilst a welcoming and open guest arrival lounge provides a warm and uplifting first impression for guests. A stunning ‘wave’ chandelier designed by bespoke chandelier designers, Lasvit, hangs in the entrance of the hotel weighing the equivalent of over 700 bags of sugar. Another spectaular chandelier hangs in the two-storey staircase connecting the lobby and dining outlets. In the lobby itself, plentiful flashes of gold and ruby red detailing reflect the jewels of traditional Arabian souks. In addition, 4,212 hand-cut, blue, tiger’s eye stone tiles have been pieced together to form the entry walls to the six lobby elevators. The stone is also featured on the tables in the Lobby Lounge. Tiger’s Eye is a semi-precious stone believed to hold soothing qualities and has been introduced to bring a further sense of calm to the surroundings.

The hotel’s impressive, atrium-style lobby area has been designed by Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA) the world’s leading hospitality interior design firm. The new layout  across the renovated areas of the hotel has been planned in a manner which enables guests to effortlessly mix work with pleasure. Host a business meeting in the new stylish Lobby Lounge, meet friends for drinks, enjoy Asian High Tea or watch the world go by while having a specialist tea or coffee.

Located on the ground floor, Dunes Café is convenient and perfectly placed for casual dining with friends or business associates. The live open kitchen, featuring numerous culinary styles, is a showcase for the best of international cuisine.

The renovation project, which began in June 2016, has taken over 5.5 million minutes of man-time from the start to the end of phase one.  Phase two includes the renovation of 302 rooms and suites to be completed in 2018, which will place Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai firmly as one of the most desirable destination hotels in Dubai for both international business travellers and tourists as well as discerning locals alike.

The soon to be renovated guest rooms are being designed with style and comfort front of mind. A touch of classic glamour is conveyed through the warmth of Asian-influenced, wooden fixtures and fittings combined with white, blush and pastel blue soft furnishings. With every guest room situated on the highest floors of the hotel, each visitor will enjoy inspiring and far-reaching views either across the Arabian Sea, or of the architecturally inspiring Dubai city skyline.

Mr Gerhard Hecker, general manager of Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai, said: ‘It is our mission to ensure we create truly memorable and elevated experiences for our guests. I am delighted to finally reveal our newly renovated public spaces and am confident this will further enhance our guests’ experience. I very much look forward to welcoming both existing and new guests as we enter the next stage of our hotel’s history in this vibrant and growing Emirate’.

Rotana, one of the leading hotel management companies in the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and Eastern Europe, today announced plans to open seven new hotels in Dubai, four hotels in the capital Abu Dhabi and one in Ras Al Khaimah by the end of 2020. Six of the upcoming properties will be five-star hotels, with the remaining properties comprising of a mix of four and three star hotels and hotel apartments.

Upon completion, the new hotels will add 4,360 keys to Rotana’s existing inventory, taking its fast expanding portfolio in the UAE to 44  properties, including 21 in Dubai and 17 in Abu Dhabi, with a room inventory of 11,782  (6,682 in Dubai alone and 5,100 in Abu Dhabi).

The total value of the 12 upcoming properties managed by Rotana in the UAE is estimated at USD 1.7 billion.

Omer Kaddouri, President & CEO of Rotana, comments: “The UAE is our home market and even as we pursue our global ambitions and expand our footprint into new geographic regions, the country continues to remain the fulcrum around which Rotana’s business strategy is developed and implemented. With us bringing to the local market 12 new properties within the next four years, we further express our commitment to supporting the UAE’s tourism ambitions and reaffirming our belief in the long-term prospects of the country’s hospitality industry. Next year, we will be introducing a number of five-star properties to the market, including the all-new Saadiyat Rotana Resort and villas in Abu Dhabi, scheduled to open in Q4 2017. Ideal for both, business and leisure travellers, the resort will feature 354 upscale rooms and suites, 13 beach villas, a beach club and extensive conference facilities.”

“Rotana already has a significant presence in the capital, and strengthening our portfolio with an additional four properties will allow us to further contribute to and capitalize on Abu Dhabi’s expanding tourism and hospitality sector. While in Dubai, our seven upcoming properties will go a long way towards meeting the demand increase anticipated in the run-up to Expo 2020, and will help ramp up overall room capacity which is crucial to achieving the city’s ambitious tourism vision,” concluded Kaddouri.

Despite the challenging economic environment, the outlook for the hospitality sector in Dubai and Abu Dhabi remains positive. In previous UAE Real Estate 2016 mid-year market reviews, global consultancy firms listed the medium-to-long term outlook for the hospitality sector in Dubai and Abu Dhabi as positive, citing the opening of theme parks and new tourist attractions as the main factors driving demand.

Tourists in Dubai spend almost twice as much money while visiting the emirate as those holidaying on other major cities such as London or New York, according to the results of a new study released on Monday.

“The research shows the highest spending visitors, by far, are Dubai’s, who spend nearly twice the average of our 12 cities,” said David Godchaux, CEO of Core Savills, the Dubai subsidiary of international real estate agency Savills.

“Overseas visitors, who had an overnight stay in the emirate, spent an estimated $4.7 billion in restaurants and cafes in Dubai. In terms of spending on retail, this figure reaches $9.7 billion. This dwarfs the total amounts spent in the 11 other global cities measured, with Dubai featuring ahead of London, New York, Tokyo and Paris,” he added.

Dubai ranked eighth on Savills’ list of the most attractive cities for tourists in 2015. It ranked after Paris and before Mumbai and was only Arab city on the list.

New York and London topped the list scoring 573,699 and 416,193 overnight visitors per night. The average accommodation costs per stay ranged from $173 per person in Shanghai to $553 per person in Dubai.

“The research shows the highest spending visitors, by far, are Dubai’s, who spend nearly twice the average of our 12 cities,” said David Godchaux, CEO of Core Savills.

Visitors add on average 3 percent to a city’s population every night, according to the research’s results, but the figure rises to 10 percent in Dubai.

Dubai is aiming to attract 20 million tourists by 2020. According to the eighth annual Mastercard Global Destinations Cities Index, which was released last month, Dubai is expected to receive 15.27 million international visitors this year, an increase of 7.5 percent over 2015.

DAMAC Hotels & Resorts, the hospitality arm of luxury real estate developer, DAMAC Properties, has announced that it has signed an exclusive contract with InnSpire, a global provider of guest engagement solutions for leading hotels around the world. Under the new agreement, 4,000 units across 15 properties within the portfolio of DAMAC Hotels & Resorts will be upgraded to the InnSpire Guest Engagement solution in 2016 and 2017.

Tim Fallon, Vice President for Corporate Communications, DAMAC Properties, said: “At DAMAC Hotels & Resorts, we have several key values that drive us including thoroughly understanding our guests’ needs, whilst innovating in order to enhance the guest experience and maintaining our competitive edge in the luxury hospitality industry. With a clear emphasis on these values, InnSpire was the obvious choice for us to partner with to provide both an elegant and superior experience for the guest while simultaneously providing us, as the operators, with the data and information we need to meet and surpass our guest’s high standards.”

DAMAC Properties’ hospitality portfolio will extend to reach around 15,000 units of hotel rooms, serviced hotel apartments and serviced villas by 2021. The company’s pipeline of hospitality projects are operated under the AYKON Hotels & Resorts, DAMAC Maison Royale, DAMAC Maison and DAMAC Maison De Ville brands. DAMAC Properties also has partnerships with global luxury brands such as Paramount Hotels & Resorts, Bugatti, Versace, and others, which will introduce unique concept serviced hospitality units and residences to the market.

Currently, around 1,450 hotel units in five properties are in operation, with the first hotel to receive the upgrade being DAMAC Maison The Vogue, a 177-room 4.5-star hotel in the heart of Dubai’s Burj district.

Majid Al Futtaim and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced they have signed an agreement to open an Aloft hotel directly connected to City Centre Deira, the Middle East’s first integrated shopping, leisure and entertainment destination. Scheduled to open in 2018, Aloft Dubai City Centre Deira will bring a vibrant social scene and tech-forward mindset to hospitality in Dubai.

Aloft Dubai City Centre Deira will feature 304 spacious guest rooms, including 29 suites, with plush platform beds, large walk-in showers and complimentary Bliss® amenities. The hotel will also feature an outdoor rooftop VOX Cinema and a cinematic themed floor of rooms and suites. Designed with the needs of the savvy next-generation traveller in mind, the hotel includes SPG Keyless, Starwood’s industry-first keyless entry system that enables guests to use their smartphone or Apple watch as a room key, as well as fast and free Wi-Fi throughout the property.

Simon Barlow, Chief Executive Officer of Hotels at Majid Al Futtaim – Properties, said: “We look forward to welcoming Aloft Dubai City Centre Deira to our world-class hotel portfolio. The hotel will offer guests an exceptional experience not only because it will combine Majid Al Futtaim’s development expertise with the operational excellence of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, but because it will be directly linked to the iconic City Centre Deira and feature an outdoor VOX Cinema. It is this integration, which sits at the heart of our business model, that sets our hotels apart from the competition and ensures we always fulfil our vision of creating great moments for everyone, every day.”

Aloft Dubai City Centre Deira will increase the number of hotels operated by Majid Al Futtaim in the United Arab Emirates to 11. This deal also strengthens Starwood’s position across the country where the company currently operates 26 hotels with 17 more properties in its pipeline.

Neil George, Senior Vice President, Acquisitions & Developments, Africa and Middle East, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, also commented: “The United Arab Emirates is our strongest growth market in the Middle East with Dubai being an integral part of our expansion strategy in the region. Aloft hotels continue to spearhead Starwood’s growth in the mid-market segment and is expected to quadruple its portfolio in the Middle East by 2020.”

The property will be home to the brand’s signature W XYZ^SM Bar, a social public space where guests can mix and mingle over good music; a speciality dining restaurant; Re:Fuel^SM by Aloft, the ‘grab and go’ eatery open 24 hours a day; and Re:Mix Lounge, where light bites will be served. Additional amenities include Re:Charge^SM, the fully equipped fitness centre that will allow guests to maintain their workout routine while travelling; spa with Bliss Spa products; and a refreshing outdoor Splash pool. For events and conferences, Aloft Dubai City Centre Deira will offer a 200 sqm space featuring four meeting rooms equipped with the latest audio-visual technology.

The construction contract at Aloft Dubai City Centre Deira has been awarded to Laing O’Rourke and work commenced at the start of June 2016. The project is expected to be completed in Q1 2018 and will become the fourth hotel partnership between Majid Al Futtaim and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, which already includes Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates, Le Meridien Bahrain City Centre, and Westin Bahrain City Centre.

Aloft made its debut in the Middle East in 2009 with Aloft Abu Dhabi. The signing of Aloft Dubai City Centre Deira reinforces the momentum behind the brand’s rapid expansion in the Middle East, where there will be 14 Aloft hotels by 2020 in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman and the UAE.