The Middle East’s first Delano Hotel to debut in Dubai

Morgans Hotel Group Co, a global leader and innovator in ‘Creative Class’ boutique hotels, today announced its partnership with IFA Hotels & Resorts (IFA HR) to bring the Delano brand to the Middle East with Delano Dubai. Scheduled to open in 2017 as the third hotel in the Delano portfolio, Delano Dubai’s 110-key deluxe hotel apartment property will be situated on Palm Jumeirah and will form part of a contemporary mixed-used resort development known as The8.

“Dubai is an ideal destination for us to debut our first Delano property in the Middle East,” said Jason Kalisman, Interim CEO of Morgans Hotel Group. “The location and resort concept speaks to the Delano guest experience of providing an oasis of sensuality and soul, and where sophistication and ease seamlessly blend with timeless design. Delano Dubai’s prime beachfront island location on Palm Jumeirah will have a sleek contemporary design and upscale resort facilities which will attract an international clientele who embrace style, elegance and luxury.”
The 110 distinctive apartments will include one, two, and three bedroom units with furnishings and fittings curated to the highest standards as well as a unique Presidential Suite. Guests of the Delano Dubai property will feel a sense of familiarity and affinity with the original Delano properties in South Beach, Miami and Las Vegas – all of which have a clean, elegant contemporary aesthetic and an evocative nature.
“Managing this hotel with their specialist asset management, IFA Hotel Investments, will enable us to benefit from their extensive experience in development and operations in this market, and allow us to work together to redefine Dubai’s resort scene,” continued Kalisman.

The8 is currently under construction and will feature both the Delano-branded hotel apartments, as well as other stand-alone residential properties offering diverse facilities and entertainment. IFA Hotel Investments (IFA HI) will oversee the asset management and operational aspect of the development. Launched in 2014, The8 has been architecturally designed as ultra-sleek and modern, drawing inspiration from the fashion, design, and lifestyle elements of Miami’s South Beach. The8 will contain resort-style facilities including extensive water-sports, a gym, tennis courts, a signature beachfront restaurant, beach cabanas, barbecue and event areas, as well as dedicated amenities for young families.

“The selection process saw many international brands interested in the project and I am delighted with the final choice of the Delano brand, backed by Morgans Hotel Groups’ expertise,” said Joe Sita, IFA HI CEO, who led the extensive operator search with the asset advisory team. “The entrance of the Delano brand into this region, working alongside our residential services teams, will augment a growing brand implementation strategy within the city.”

“This new management agreement with Morgans Hotel Group, one of the world’s most celebrated boutique hotel brands, brings a new design aesthetic and style of service to the region,” said Khaled Esbaitah, CEO IFA HR Middle East. “We sought to ensure that whichever operator was brought in to manage the hotel apartments facilities located within The8 complex would add significantly to the development’s offer. We feel that with the Delano as part of The8 complex, we have achieved the perfect match.”
Morgans Hotel Group Co. is widely credited as the creator of the first “boutique” hotel and a continuing leader of the hotel industry’s boutique sector. Dedicated to building a differentiated brand portfolio and establishing properties in 24 hour urban and select resort markets, Morgans Hotel Group creates lifestyle hotels with a vibe that encourages guests to live every moment more intensely. Morgans Hotel Group is immersive, transformative and deeply engaging; embracing irony and style, elegance and luxury, with strong and daring vision. The group’s international hotel portfolio brings together the creative power of many – designers, artists, musicians – to bend the rules, stretch the realm of possibility and constantly push the boundaries of what a hotel can be.

Source : http://bit.ly/1DcAeZk

Dubai tops travel bucket list for 2015

It is that season again when travel agencies and online booking portals number crunch their 2015 predictions for those who plan on getting a head start into their holiday plans for next year. 

Online travel portal, Destinia.com, has issued the 2015 essential destination guide to add to your bucket list for next year’s vacation planning and topping this list is none other than Dubai.

The list cites Dubai as an ‘emerging destination that is in fashion’.

The blurb continues: “This city is making tourism one of its motors for growth. Dubai is a city that has seen a massive transformation in very little time, converting itself in one of the most dynamic and modern metropolises of the moment, as a door between the west and the east.”

Interestingly, the other destinations making the cut to feature on this bucket list include four countries, rather than cities, including the African republic of  Namibia, followed by Myanmar, Vietnam and Papua New Guinea.

Namibia, which is best known for the Kalahari Desert, is being described as a nation that is making a “concerted effort to protect and maintain its rich biodiversity and offers an extensive, and internationally recognised, number of protected areas that cover approximately 17 per cent of the country”.

 Myanmar’s strength has been described as a richness of its Buddhist temples that serve as a powerful tourist attraction.

 Destinia further states: “Now in addition, areas that have been difficult to access, such as the states of Northern Shan, Mon and Kayin, are opening to exploration.

 “However, be aware that in very few cities will you find adequate facilities as a tourist.”

 Southeast Asian country, Vietnam, will celebrate its National Tourism Year in 2015, under the theme ‘Connecting world heritage’, to celebrate the cultural legacy of the country.

 “Therefore, all the provinces and cities with Unesco recognised world heritage sites will host various artistic and cultural performances and events,” the travel company further states, adding: “During the next year, for example, the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, Hanoi will celebrate its 5th anniversary being recognised as a world heritage site and the 50th anniversary of the Ham Rong victory will also be celebrated.”

 One of the most active provinces will be that of Thanh Hoa.

 Rounding up this 2015 bucket list, Papua New Guinea is being called “an unexplored paradise with more than 600 islands and over 800 indigenous languages.”

 The country will host the Pacific Games in July 2015, a sporting event which is expected to boost tourism numbers.

 A special mention is also being credited to Mons, Belgium, the capital of the province of Hainaut, which has been nominated as the 2015 European Capital of Culture


source : http://bit.ly/1Ejv0h4

YOTEL TO OPEN ITS FIRST HOTEL IN DUBAI, UAE

March 10, 2015 – YOTEL,an affiliate company of Kuwait-listed IFA Hotels & Resorts KSCC,has signed a long-term agreement with Dubai Investment Properties LLC (‘DIP’) to operate a new hotel in Dubai, UAE. This marks the hospitality brand’s first property in the Middle East.The hotel is part of a major new development located on Sheikh Zayed Road, directly adjacent to the upcoming Dubai Water Canal Project and at the gateway of Business Bay, the city’s fastest growing business district. Perfectly located, the hotel will be a short walk from the Business Bay Metro station and just minutes from Downtown Dubai, the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Mall.When complete in early 2018, the 42-storey property designed by ArkiteknikInternational will boast 438 ‘cabins’, furnished with the brand’s signature Techno Wallsand Smart Beds, as well YOTEL’s exclusive Club Lounge, a multi-function co-working and recreational space. The property will also feature 127 serviced apartments, also managed by YOTEL, marking the brand’s debut in the fast-expanding serviced residence space.

YOTEL is a strategic company for our group’ said Talal Al Bahar, Chairman and Group CEO of IFA HR. ‘The brand has increasingly global potential in its ability to deliver attractive returns to investors and an exceptional guest experience at an affordable price. The concept and product are ideal for Dubai, a market where IFA HR has been active for over a decade.’‘We are delighted to announce our first project in the UAE with DIP’ said Hubert Viriot,CEO of YOTEL. ‘Dubai has a thriving hospitality market but lacks good quality, affordable luxury hotels. YOTEL Business Bay will put an end to this oddity and be a true flagship for our brand in the Middle East, a region with huge untapped potential. This project is also our debut into the serviced apartment segment, a natural extension to our brand DNA – smart spaces delivering outstanding value.’

Francois Faure, Executive Director of DIP added ‘Ever since its creation in 1994, DIP has been focused on developing selective, forward-looking projects. YOTEL brings something new and entirely unique to the local hotel market, and is in line with Dubai‘s Tourism Vision 2020 as well as its Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing objective to develop more mid-range hotels. YOTEL Business Bay will also perfectly complement the SINGLE Business Tower, our existing office tower located directly adjacent.’

‘We are proud to add YOTEL to our list of landmark projects in Dubai’ explains Abdallah Moneimneh, General Manager and Chief Architect at Arkiteknik International. ‘Inspired by the YOTEL brand, we have created a contemporary ‘chic’ design. The building reflects simplicity and geometric elegance, offering a minimalist design with a twist and showcasing the YOTEL concept.’

Dubai’s prominence as a capital renowned for attracting a mix of sophisticated business and leisure visitors continues to strengthen. With over 10 million visitors in 2014, Dubai was the fifth most visited city in the world by international visitors, with Saudi Arabia, India, the United Kingdom and the United States topping the list of source markets.

The Dubai Tourism Vision 2020, approved by His Highness Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, aims to attract 20 million visitors by 2020 when Dubai will host the World Expo. New infrastructures are under construction, including the new Al Maktoum Airport which will handle more than 120 million passengers per annum; several world class attractions such as Dubai Parks, which will comprise three theme parks: motiongate™ Dubai, Bollywood Parks™ Dubai, and LEGOLAND® Dubai; the Dubai Opera, a 2,000-seat cultural icon in Downtown Dubai; and the Dubai Design District, a district dedicated to local designers and global brands alike, located steps away from the Business Bay District and the new YOTEL.

This agreement represents the first phase of YOTEL’s aggressive expansion into the Middle East. The company is currently in advanced negotiations on potential hotel projects in other key destinations in the region, including Riyadh, Jeddah, Istanbul and Abu Dhabi.

About YOTEL

Inspired by first class travel, YOTEL translates the language of luxury airline travel into a small but luxurious ‘cabins’. Uncompromisingly designed around guests, YOTEL City hotels are taking the essential elements of luxury hotels in smaller, smart spaces and deliver a sense of community with areas for co-working, social gatherings and exercise. Premium cabins include luxury bedding, rejuvenating monsoon rain showers, relaxing

mood lighting and YOTEL’s signature ‘techno wall’ with smart TVs, multi power points and easy connectivity.

Conceived for busy international travellers, YOTEL Airport hotels provide everything for a guest to relax, refresh, sleep and connect within global transportation hubs. Guests may choose exactly what time they would they like to check in and out, giving total flexibility to travellers in transit, staying the night before an early departure or to freshen up on arrival before a meeting in the city.

YOTEL currently operates three airport hotels in London Gatwick, London Heathrow and Amsterdam Schiphol airports; and one city hotel in the heart of Manhattan, New York. YOTEL is expanding rapidly with seven new hotels under development globally, including two new airport hotels set to open at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (2016) and Singapore Changi Airport (2018); and five new city hotels currently under construction in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (2017) Singapore Orchard Road (2017), Miami (2017), San Francisco (2017) and Dubai (2018).

Founded by YO! Founder Simon Woodroffe OBE, YOTEL’s HQ is in London and has offices in Boston and Dubai. Its major partner and shareholder is IFA Hotels and Resorts KSCC based in Dubai.