Dubai Aims To Treble Tourism Income To $82bn By 2020

The emirate is likely to have more than 160,000 hotel rooms by the end of the decade.

Fairmont Palm Boss: Be My Guest

Martin van Kan tells Alicia Buller about his rise from used plate collector to general manager of Dubai’s glitzy Fairmont Palm hotel.

JW Marriott Jeddah Opening 2016

The 370-room hotel marks the company’s eighth signed property in Saudi Arabia and follows recent agreements for JW Marriott hotels in Doha and Casablanca

Falconcity Of Wonders Appoints Taj Arabia Management

The Taj project, which will be constructed by the Link Global Group, will be one of the focal points in the huge FCW development.

Boutique 7 Hotel & Suites Opening In TECOM

New small-scale property targets travellers seeking privacy and personalised services.

IMG Group Announce Dinosaur Concept In Dubai Theme Park

The upcoming theme park has already signed partnerships with Cartoon Network and Marvel.

Abu Dhabi Hotels Gain 15% In Total Revenues in Q1 2013

Q1 2013 outshines the Q1 2012 figures in hospitality sector

Al Habtoor Unveils Water-based Theatre Plans

But Group CEO confirms there will be no new Metropolitan Hotel on the three-hotel site

Emirates Holidays To Be Franchised, Targets Digital Growth

In regulated markets the division will team up with partners that have licensing expertise and knowledge, while in the unregulated markets it will seek exclusive GSA partners

Wale To Succeed Vos As Starwood President EMEA

New regional president is a 35-year Starwood veteran who most recently served as senior vice president and director of operations for Western Europe.

Four Seasons Committed To Pearl-Qatar

Despite an oversupply of hotel rooms in Doha, Four Seasons will open its second hotel in the city, says senior official.

Le Méridien Hotels Middle East In $200m Upgrade

Hotel group Starwood announces huge renovation plans as well as 10 new hotels to open this year.

Intercontinental’s Crowne Plaza Chosen For Oman Convention Centre

Three more hotels are due to open on site, a five-star property, another four-star hotel and a three-star hotel and apartments.

Sheraton Dubai Creek To Close For Upgrade

The renovation will start on July 8 and is expected to take up to 10 months.

UAE Leads MENA In Global Travel & Tourism Report

The country ranked 28th overall in the World Economic Forum’s Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2013.

Shoppers Fuel 10% Dubai RevPAR Rise

Hoteliers benefited from the month-long Dubai Shopping Festival and high in-flows of tourists, particularly from Europe

MAF Investing Dhs140m In City Centre Residence

Salman Haider, executive managing director of hotels at MAF, said work will start at the beginning of 2014.

Turkish City Bursa Woos GCC Investors For Mega Project

The city is hoping that its upcoming $2 billion tourism development will attract investors and visitors from the Gulf region.

Marriott To Open 49 New MENA Hotels By 2017

The hotel group is officially launching the world’s tallest hotel, the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai, tonight.

Egypt Hot Air Balloon Crash Kills 19 Tourists

Nationals from Britain, France, Japan and Hong Kong are among the dead after a gas explosion at 1,000 feet.

Rotana To Debut In Turkey

Twin projects near Istanbul target leisure travellers as operator seeks new revenue opportunities outside GCC

Dubai’s New Island Project Will Boost Property Market

The emirate has announced plans to build a Dhs6 billion island project that will include the world’ largest ferris wheel.

Abu Dhabi Sees Hotel Revenues Rise 6% In 2012

The emirate welcomed over 2.3 million hotel guests last year, up 13 per cent from 2011.

Kenya Sees 96.3% Rise In UAE Visitors

A total of 32,865 people arrived in Kenya from the UAE in the first ten months of 2012.

Accor Targets KSA Mid-Market Growth

Accor’s latest contract targets underserved sector

Abu Dhabi Awards $653m Louvre Contract To Arabtec

The Louvre museum in the emirate is due to be completed in 2015.

Emirates Gears Up for Double Daily A380s to New York and Paris

The expansion dovetails with the opening of Concourse A, the world’s first purpose-built A380 concourse, at Dubai International Airport in January

Abu Dhabi Eyes More Indian Tourists In 2013

The emirate’s tourism authority is holding a five-city road show in India in January.

Dubai-Based QE2 Liner Not To Be Scrapped

Former owner Cunard dismisses reports that the Queen Elizabeth II liner will be scrapped.

RAK To Open Two Key Hotels In 2013, Eyes More Tourists

The 632-room resort Rixos Bab Al Bahr will be joined by the 349-room Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah.