Dubai and shortly thereafter, the world, was abuzz with rumors and speculations after a fire broke out at The Atlantis Hotel yesterday morning. The fire was contained in a few hours and was mainly isolated to the lobby and the impressive central dome over it, however the damage has been done. The hotel is set to open its doors to the public on 24th September 2008 but the incident has cast doubts over if this really will be possible. The official hotel stance is that the opening will not be delayed... the rest only time will tell.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts and ADNEC to Introduce the First Element(SM) Hotel in the Middle East. Striking Element extended-stay brand is to become a part of Abu Dhabi's AED 8 billion (US$2.3 billion) Capital Centre. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) & Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC), have jointly announced the launch of a new Element hotel in Abu Dhabi - the first to be introduced in the Europe, Africa and Middle East division.

The new Element hotel is scheduled to open in 2011 at the prestigious Capital Centre development in Abu Dhabi - a business and residential micro-city including a state-of-the art exhibition centre, a 2.4km marina development, and a gravity defying, iconic feature tower known as Capital Gate. Element will showcase 36 studios, 144 one-bedroom guest rooms, and 90 two-bedroom units, a restaurant, swimming pool and fitness center ideally suiting the business and leisure traveler. Adjacent to the exhibition centre and close to the marina, the hotel will be easily accessible from all points.

A recent video by Marriott Exec VP Global Communications, Kathleen Matthews about the phenomenal growth in the Middle East, particularly Dubai.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EymOF1UBdH0

St. Regis Continues Dynamic Growth Path as it Announces Plans to Expand in the Middle East

NEW YORK, Feb 25, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) announced plans to debut a St. Regis hotel in Bahrain, one of the most thriving travel destinations in the Middle East. The St. Regis Bahrain will be located on a reclaimed island facing Manama's city centre. Scheduled to open in 2011, the 300-room hotel will introduce an unrivaled dimension of luxury and bespoke service at one of the world's best addresses.

With the spectacular W Hotel in Doha set to open this year, there are plenty of opportunities for young talent to showcase their abilities at this landmark property. Check out the details below, including a full release on the hotel and some visuals!



W HOTELS. DOHA. QATAR. PRE-OPENING OPPORTUNITIES. TALENT. SHOW. Auditioning now for the following talent:

> Welcome Office - Welcome Agents
> Welcome Office - W Insiders
> Whatever/Whenever - Concierge
> Beverage & Food – Servers
> Beverage & Food – Hostesses
> Beverage & Food – Bartenders

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) anticipates another year of extraordinary growth in 2008, building on the company's record-setting success in 2007. Early this year Starwood will mark a milestone with the opening of its 900th hotel, and expects to increase its portfolio by 50% over the next five years, driven by aggressive global expansion across all its brands and the unprecedented growth of its two new brands, Aloft and Element, which both expect to open their first hotels this year.

Starwood's active pipeline includes 500 hotels and 120,000 rooms. Approximately half of Starwood's new hotels are expected to open outside of North America, reflecting the company's impressive growth in dynamic international markets. The global hotel giant expects to add 80 - 100 hotels to its portfolio this year, up more than 50% from the number it opened in 2007.

Research outlining key trends and drivers shaping industry through to 2020 to be unveiled at Dubai’s Hotel Show

A massive $3.63 trillion is being invested in hotels, leisure projects, aviation developments, cruise lines, tourism promotion and supporting infrastructure, across the Middle East, according to the preliminary results of a research programme unveiled today. The study covers 13 Middle Eastern countries for the period to 2020 and is to be published in full at the Hotel Show 2008, the Middle East's leading supplies exhibition to the region’s hospitality sector, taking place at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre from 8-10 June 2008.

The Middle East Industry Outlook 2020 is an update of a groundbreaking research study by Fast Future and Global Futures and Foresight (GFF) on the Future of Travel and Tourism in the Middle East. The study is sponsored by the Hotel Show, Siraj Capital, Nakheel and Silverjet. Strategic partners on the study are the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and IMEX Frankfurt.

15 new openings with Hilton hotel in every capital city; UK is number one international source market for Hilton Hotels in the Middle East Hilton Hotels Corporation anticipates doubling its portfolio in Middle East & Africa over the next five years in line with the company's strategic focus on development and growth. Currently with 43 properties and 15 new openings scheduled over the next three years in the Arabian Peninsula, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Morocco, Algeria, Africa and Indian Ocean, the Middle East's leading hotel brand (ref. Business Development Research Consultants 2007 survey) is targeting a Hilton hotel in every capital city.

ALOHA ABU DHABI! “The new tWist in Travel” will debut in 2009 in the sophisticated Capital Centre Development

aloha! Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.® (NYSE: HOT) and its much-anticipated new lifestyle brand aloftSM hotels today announced plans for the first aloft hotel in the Middle East - aloft Abu Dhabi. aloft is partnering with Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company PJSC (ADNEC) to open the new-build hotel in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Construction starts in 2008, and the hotel is expected to open in late 2009.

The Emirates News Agency reports a discussion with Director General of the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), Khalid bin Sulayem, who states that Dubai is set to grow from 319 hotels (36,564 rooms) and 120 (10,211 rooms) hotel apartment complexes this year to about 414 hotels (112,000 rooms) and 140 hotel apartment complexes (15,000 rooms) by 2016. The biggest addition to this will be the Bawadi project which will also feature the worlds biggest hotel, Asia Asia with 6,500 rooms.

Sulayem also said that revenues from the hospitality sector touched Dh 6.4 billion in the first half of 2007 and revenues rose from Dh 1.8 billion in 1996 to Dh 10.8 billion in 2006, a whopping growth of 500 per cent. The hospitality sector also hosted 3.4 million guests in the first 6 months of 2007 (10.2 million room nights). Dubai is also set to host the World Tourism and Travel Summit on 20-22 April 2008 under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai.


tags: dubai, uae, hotels, resorts, hospitality, tourism, travel, middle-east, 2016, world, summit, room-nights, development, growth

A recent Gulf News Article quotes delays in 30 hotel projects, initially slated for opening in 2007.

"According to projections earlier this year by Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, the number of hotels will increase from 303 to 325 in 2007, providing an additional 8,370 rooms, and seven new hotel apartments will add 1,936 rooms.
Colliers said six new four- and five-star hotels opened between 2006 and the third-quarter of 2007, adding 1,294 rooms. "Approximately 30 hotels that had a previously stated delivery date for 2007 remain under construction," it said.

The number of hotel rooms is expected to increase by 32.7 per cent annually until 2011."

Source: Gulfnews: Dubai delays opening of 30 hotels

tags: dubai, uae, hotels, resorts, hospitality, tourism, development, growth, 2007, 2008, 2011, hotel-rooms

The Four Points by Sheraton brand has expanded its footprint in the Middle East with two brand new properties in Dubai. The hotel that has just opened it's doors is the Four Points by Sheraton Downtown Dubai, which is situated in the residential area of Bur Dubai and is only 12 minutes away from Dubai International Airport and Jumeirah Beach (visit the official website for more details). The next property to open is set for early 2008 and will be the Four Points by Sheraton Sheikh Zayed Road (official site).

tags: four-points, sheraton, starwood, dubai, uae, downtown, sheikh-zayed, open, hotels, development, middle-east

More development news on the huge hospitality project called Bawadi, in Dubai.

"Bawadi, a member of Tatweer, and Emaar Properties PJSC, the property developer with a significant presence in 16 countries, have joined hands to develop 70 million sq ft of land in Bawadi, the largest hospitality and leisure development in the world, located in Dubailand."

The AED 60 billion project will be a signature development by the joint venture with equal equity participation by Bawadi and Emaar. Bawadi will contribute 70 million square feet of land valued at AED 3.85 billion in lieu of its ownership interest. Emaar will contribute AED 3.85 billion in cash to the joint venture over the project construction period to finance the project build.

After a decade of unstable ownership and a lack of brand clarity in the marketplace, Le Méridien is poised to not only recapture but to exceed the allure and infinite promise of its early days in 1970’s Paris with the support of new owner Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT). Since its acquisition by the hotel giant in November 2005, Le Méridien’s financial performance has exceeded all forecasts and the brand is set to substantially grow its footprint worldwide. In addition, Starwood, well known for its innovations and branding prowess, has developed a unique brand positioning that capitalises on Le Méridien’s heritage and distinguishes it from competitors in the upper upscale hotel arena. Over the next few months, Le Méridien will reveal a series of brand defining initiatives, partnerships and artistic events that signal a fresh approach aimed at attracting the world’s creative class.

Blackstone Group has just purchased the Hilton Group of Hotels for a record $26 Billion! This acquisition gives the Blackstone Group, whose 2,800 hotels include brands such as Hilton, Doubletree, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn, Homewood Suites and The Waldorf-Astoria Collection, approximately 500,000 hotel rooms, which is about 60,000 less than the current market leader in terms of number of rooms, InterContinental Hotels Group.