The Kempinski portfolio in the Middle East and Africa has followed an ambitious expansion strategy since the opening of its first property in the region, the Kempinski Hotel Ajman, which opened in 1997. At present Europe's oldest luxury hotel group operates 15 luxurious hotels in 8 countries. Four new properties are expected to open before the end of 2011 and five more properties will join before the end of 2012.

2011 openings

Kempinski Hotel & Residences Palm Jumeirah (July 2011)
The Kempinski Hotel & Residences Palm Jumeirah is opening on the world's biggest artificially constructed island, the Palm Jumeirah. It is graced with 193 suites, 39 penthouses with two to five bedrooms, and 12 villas, each of which has five bedrooms over a surface of between 760 and 894 square metres. The Brunello Restaurant, the Key West Bar & Lounge, the Beach Bar & Grill as well as a 24-hour room service ensure that the guests' gourmet well-being is catered for.

Kempinski Hotel Bahrain City Centre, Manama, Bahrain (September 2011)
The hotel is located close to the city centre, in the Al Seef business district, and will be Bahrain's biggest shopping, leisure and entertainment area. The unique city hotel with two towers has more than 460 luxurious rooms and suites for business and leisure travellers. A vast Day Spa of 1,000 square metres with a hammam, sauna, outside pool and sun terrace offers plenty of space for relaxation.

Kempinski Seychelles Resort, Mahé Island, Seychelles (October 2011)
The new Seychelles Kempinski Resort will be located at Baie Lazare, on the island of Mahé, home to the international airport and the capital of Seychelles. The Resort features 173 stylishly decorated rooms and suites, most of which boast stunning views of the Indian Ocean. Culinary treats will include an all-day dining restaurant, a specialty restaurant, and a beach bar. Further key features of the resort will include a long stretch of white sandy beach, a spa with six treatment rooms, a swimming pool, a kids' club, fully equipped gym, tennis courts, water sport centre and a casino.

Kempinski Midgard, Windhoek, Namibia (December 2011)
A take-over property known as the Midgard Country Estate, the Kempinski Midgard is situated in the Otjihavera Mountains, an hour's drive from Windhoek. The property boasts 46 air-conditioned rooms with en-suite bathrooms, 5 restaurants & bars, a gym, bowling alley, swimming pools and an amphitheatre.

2012 Openings

- Kempinski Hotel, Burj Rafal - Riyadh, KSA
- Kempinski Hotel, Jeddah - KSA
- Kempinski Al Othman Hotel - Khobar, KSA
- Summerland Kempinski Hotel - Beirut, Lebanon
- Kempinski Residences Alabadiyah Hills - Beirut, Lebanon

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts (Fairmont) today announced a new 380-room luxury hotel in the capital city of Jakarta, Indonesia, scheduled to open in 2014.

The property will be situated in Senayan Square at the South end of Jakarta's Central Business District. The site features Plaza Senayan, one of the most prestigious shopping centers in Jakarta with over 1 million visitors per month as well as prime residential and commercial facilities. The developer is Senayan Trikarya Sempana, a subsidiary of Kajima Overseas Asia.

Fairmont Jakarta will feature 380 spacious guestrooms and 108 Fairmont branded, long stay serviced suites. Additional features and amenities to the urban hotel include a number of lounges and several restaurants featuring a variety of culinary offerings. For corporate events and local galas, the hotel features 3,500 square meters of function space, including a 1,200 square meter ballroom. Over its 100-year history, Fairmont has been host to many legendary and historic meetings and the brand's colleagues are experts at customizing all aspects of meetings and events for planners.

Guests can relax in the 750 square meter Willow Stream Spa, the award-winning signature spa brand that draws on the destination's nature, essence and energy to offer Fairmont's unique brand of luxury and outstanding service. Fitness and pool facilities are available on site and located nearby is the 18-hole Senayan Golf Course.

"The addition of Jakarta will further strengthen our growing presence in Asia Pacific," said Chris Cahill, President, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. "Our developments in China, including the reopening of the landmark Peace Hotel in Shanghai, together with our existing hotels in destinations including Singapore allow us to extend our luxury brand to both guests and home owners."

Indonesia's capital is a dynamic melting pot, giving a rich, cultural flavor to the modern metropolis of Jakarta. The economic hub of the country, the city's economy is comprised of financial services, trading, and a well diversified manufacturing sector. Jakarta hosts a number of major domestic and multinational company offices and is also home to ASEAN Secretariat, making it a prominent city in the South East Asia region.

Visitors to the city will enjoy a range of activities from museums to nightlife and a plethora of dining options. Shopping is a popular pastime for both travelers and residents, and the city features impressive malls including Plaza Senayan, antique stores and local markets.

Fairmont Jakarta is the most recent project to be announced by the brand in the region and joins Fairmont Beijing, China; Fairmont Makati, Philippines (2012); Fairmont Nanjing, China (2012); Fairmont Peace Hotel, Shanghai, China; Fairmont Singapore and Fairmont Yangcheng Lake, China.

 Hong Kong-headquartered Galaxy Entertainment Group will open its newest luxury hotel, Galaxy Hotel, at its Galaxy Macau™ integrated destination resort in 2011, offering visitors to Macau’s most eagerly anticipated property an unsurpassed range of high-end comfort.

Galaxy Hotel represents an evolution in resort accommodation by offering luxurious five-star amenities throughout its 1,500 well-appointed, spacious rooms and suites; stunning views that stretch to the horizon; and a high, anticipatory level of service characteristic of Asian culture.

Guests will be able to select their accommodation from a wide range of choices tailored to the needs of modern leisure and business travelers. All rooms and suites are impeccably appointed and feature state-of-the-art technology that puts guests in complete control, enabling them to customize their surroundings with a simple touch of a finger.

The Galaxy Room—At 35 square meters, the spacious, luxurious Galaxy room has separate yet equally chic bedroom and living spaces plus a virtually unlimited collection of top-of-the-line amenities.
Royal Suite—71 square meters of fine decor and extravagant amenities help set a new standard for Macau accommodation. The Royal Suite’s graceful design and spacious formal dining area allow guests to entertain or relax comfortably.
Galaxy Suite—The height of luxury and splendor, the Galaxy Suite is designed to be the perfect accommodation for any occasion. At 77 square meters, the Galaxy Suite offers state-of-the-art amenities, a wet bar, outstanding views, and Galaxy Hotel’s pioneering room controls to create the ideal atmosphere for business or pleasure.
Studio Suite— 78 square meters of separate modern living and bedroom spaces combined with the latest in in-room technology ensure a high level of luxury and a complete sense of ease.
Premier Suite—Designed to exude magnificence and refinement, the 121-square-meter Premier suite combines impeccable luxury and exquisite service to offer guests a world of sophistication and intimacy.
Mr. Paul Town, Vice President, Galaxy Hotel, said, “People who are familiar with our sister property in the city of Macau, StarWorld, know that the GEG brand means impeccable service and luxury. Our vision is to showcase StarWorld’s Five Star Diamond-winning accommodation on an even larger scale with Galaxy Hotel, where the Group’s ‘World Class, Asian Heart’ approach to hospitality will permeate every aspect and help create the perfect environment for guests at Galaxy Macau to explore this magnificent property.”

The 550,000-square-meter Galaxy Macau is scheduled to open in early 2011 as the newest integrated destination resort in the Special Administrative Region’s Cotai entertainment area. With an investment of HK$14.9 billion, Galaxy Macau will feature a resort deck with a 4,000-square-meter man-made beach: 350 tons of white sand deposited along a 150-meter-long shoreline, framing the world’s largest rooftop wave pool with waves reaching as high as 1.5 meters. It will also host Macau’s finest selection of Pan-Asian cuisine, including a wide range of Chinese ethnic cuisines, as well as vibrant bars, nightclubs and a retail boulevard to offer a leisure experience unmatched in the city.

Owned and operated by GEG, Galaxy Macau is considered the world’s first “Asian” resort destination because of its focus on Asian hospitality, tastes, sensibilities and design influences, intended to attract visitors from around the region as well as international guests seeking an authentic Asian resort holiday experience.

Rezidor Announces the Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel, Freetown in Sierra Leone

Formerly known as 'Mammy Yoko Hotel', the property featuring 171 rooms will be re-branded in Q4 2011.
 

The Rezidor Hotel Group expands the network to 64 countries across Europe, Middle East and Africa and announces the Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel, Freetown in Sierra Leone. Formerly known as 'Mammy Yoko Hotel', the property featuring 171 rooms will be re-branded in Q4 2011.

“We are delighted to enter a further country in West Africa – the region is one of our focus markets for future business development, and this hotel perfectly complements other current and upcoming projects in Dakar, Bamako, Lagos, Accra, and Abuja”, said Kurt Ritter, President & CEO of Rezidor.

Sierra Leone continues to emerge from the aftermath of the civil war, democracy has been re-established in the country, and the IMF has completed a poverty reduction and growth facility program which has improved economic growth and reduced inflation levels. Stability has also led to a revival of key economic activities, such as mining.

The original Mammy Yoko Hotel was an operating hotel for around 30 years. Business was interrupted in 1997 as a result of the civil conflict and the building was heavily damaged. The property is undergoing a complete overhaul and it will re-emerge in late 2011 as the premier hotel for aid agencies, diplomats and business travellers. Besides 171 rooms, the hotel will comprise a restaurant with outdoor terrace, several bars, and meeting rooms. An outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts, duty free shopping and a gym will also be available.

The hotel’s name derivates from Mammy Yoko, the “Queen of Senehun” who brought the whole Kpaa Mende region (now comprising 14 separate chiefdoms) under her control through coalitions, warfare and her alliance with the British. She established a famous Sande bush in Senehun where she trained girls from throughout the area. Queen Victoria of England presented Mammy Yoko with a medal for her loyalty.

Sept. 29--More than 250 people packed a North Shore Neighborhood Board meeting last night, most of them opposed to a boutique hotel proposed to be built on city-owned preservation land in Haleiwa.

The meeting abruptly adjourned about 40 minutes after it began when one opponent, Peter Cole of the newly formed Save Haleiwa Beach Park Coalition, spoke in opposition. But residents continued discussion about the hotel even after the session ended, and residents stood outside the Haleiwa Surf Center, where the meeting was held because it was filled to capacity.

Developer D.G. "Andy" Anderson wants to build an 80-room hotel on land mauka of Kamehameha Highway, but residents oppose the city's selling of the land for the project.

Cole said the city should retain the parcels as preservation land. "I want it understood that a lot of people in this community are against selling public parks land," he said.

Board Chairman Mike Lyons said he had called on another community member to speak, but Cole spoke ahead of the resident. "It was a disservice to everyone," said Lyons of Cole's interruption. "We were going to follow protocol."

After the meeting, people continued to come up to Anderson expressing support or opposition. Anderson said the project would benefit the community by generating 110 jobs and more property taxes. But opponents say the parcels should remain zoned as preservation land and that development of a hotel would only increase congestion on Kamehameha Highway.

Lyons said he and other board members will decide whether they plan to reschedule the discussion on the plan in next month's meeting.

The coalition, made up of groups that include Hui o Hee Nalu, Sunset Beach Community Association and Surfrider Foundation Oahu Chapter, collected about 1,500 signatures to petition the city to keep the parcels as preservation land. The coalition also created a Facebook page to gather support against the proposed plan.

Robert Harris, director of the Sierra Club Hawaii Chapter, who was not at the meeting, said there is a concern about giving away public land for private development. One of the most valuable resources the city has is public land, he said.

"It's a tremendous resource we should be protective of. Once it's given away, we're not going to get it back," Harris said.

The city acquired the land in the late 1960s from Bishop Estate, Castle & Cooke and other private landowners to expand the Haleiwa Regional Park. The expansion, however, never occurred.

In presenting his plan to build a replica of the old Haleiwa Hotel, which was demolished in the 1950s, Anderson said, "I have a dream. I have a concept. I want to restore and bring back the hotel."

"I think it could be an icon for Haleiwa," he said. Anderson told the city in May of his interest in buying a single city-owned parcel next to Jameson's by the Sea restaurant, which he bought last month.  

He wants to replicate the hotel, but the land he owns is not large enough for the hotel.

The city was not interested in selling one parcel, but is considering selling six parcels as a group to abutting property owners. The city has no plan to develop or use the parcels, which have remained undeveloped for more than 40 years.

On the land, Anderson plans to build what he called a "private-public park" next to the hotel for activities such as luaus and weddings.

For the project, the city would require Anderson to install at least 25 to 30 parking stalls, a crosswalk, street lighting and a walkway totaling an estimated $800,000. Construction of a waste-water system and underground utility lines are estimated to cost $1.65 million

The Swiss-based company plans to open new properties in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Koh Samui and operate five hotels in the country by 2014.

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts announced today plans for three new properties in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Koh Samui during the next three years, signalling a solid period of strategic Asian expansion for the Swiss-based operator.

Building on the success of the Mövenpick Resort and Spa Karon Beach Phuket, its first Thai hotel which opened in 2006, the company has signed a management agreement to operate the Mövenpick Suriwongse Hotel Chiang Mai, the Mövenpick Resort & Spa Mae Nam Beach Koh Samui and the Mövenpick Hotel & Residences Bangkok.

“We are pleased to significantly expand our presence in such a magnificent and flourishing country,” said Andreas Mattmüller, Chief Operating Officer of Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, Middle East & Asia.

Jean Gabriel Pérès, President and CEO of Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, added “Our expansion in Thailand supports our development strategy by clusters, which has proven to be successful in many countries such as Jordan, Egypt, Germany and Switzerland.”

Jumroen Chittaratsaenee, developer of the forthcoming upscale properties, said: “I am delighted to have joined hands with Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, a highly regarded international hotel management company with recognized values for quality, reliability and care.”

Kicking off the expansion will be the renovation of an existing hotel in downtown Chiang Mai, which will be rebranded the Mövenpick Suriwongse Hotel Chiang Mai. The 286-room hotel is perfectly located on the corner of Loikoh and Changklan Road, right at the heart of Chiang Mai’s landmark the “Night Bazaar”. The hotel is a short distance from Chiang Mai International Airport, the railway and bus station. It is due to open by mid of 2011.

The hotel will feature innovative dining experiences, such as a Thai-Italian Restaurant, an all-day dining venue and wine bar. Shops and a wide range of wellness options, including a spa, pool and fitness centre will be available.

The Mövenpick Resort & Spa Mae Nam Beach Koh Samui coming up on the beautiful northern shore of the island will feature 81 exclusive villas with private pools offering stunning views across the Gulf of Thailand and to Koh Pha-Ngan. The resort will appeal to high-end leisure travellers.

Contemporary dining outlets, an extensive organic garden with a Thai restaurant and a signature spa will entice guests from around the world. The resort is slated to be operational by the end of 2011.

The Mövenpick Hotel & Residences Bangkok located in Phayathai near the Victory Monument area, will feature 266 modern, spaciously appointed rooms and suites, in addition to 100 residences. A convenient feature includes an unparalleled collection of loft-style guest rooms. Due to open by 2014, it will offer a privileged location for business and leisure travellers alike with easy access to the nearby sky train and the Airport Express link. The hotel will be located close to the major downtown shopping areas.

Existing projects in the country include the upcoming Mövenpick White Sand Beach Resort, located in Jomtien, close to Pattaya, an hour and a half drive from Bangkok.

Scheduled to open by 2013, the resort will offer a convenient get-away to enjoy the outdoors with a magnificent lagoon pool, entertainment for the family and a variety of tempting dining choices. The hotel will attract domestic, intra-regional and international leisure travellers. Extensive banqueting facilities and meeting rooms will be available to host incentive groups and world-class conferences.

Furthermore, the Mövenpick Residence Karon Beach Phuket has recently introduced a new resort style residential development. The project comprises of five low-rise buildings, each housing six contemporary 130-square metre two bedroom apartments. The butler-serviced apartments offer a rich lifestyle and hassle-free beach home ownership with attractive investment potential and management rent-out programmes.

The upscale hotel management company, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, opened today the iconic Ibn Battuta Gate Dubai, its third hotel in the United Arab Emirates, raising its portfolio to 67 properties globally.

The five-star Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel offers guests a privileged location in which to enjoy Dubai’s world-class entertainment and shopping. The property is situated next to the landmark Ibn Battuta Mall, in the heart of New Dubai, close to the Metro and not far from Palm Jumeirah and Jebel Ali Free Zone, while the city’s main financial hubs and Dubai International Airport are easily accessible via the adjacent Sheikh Zayed Road highway.

The hotel is cleverly inspired by the journeys of the 14th century celebrated Arabian explorer, Ibn Battuta and his travelog is elegantly reflected in every aspect of the property including its eclectic architecture, decor and cuisine.

All 396 guestrooms and suites enjoy contemporary furnishings, together with touches that hark back to the hotel’s Arabian heritage and culture. The landmark hotel features 29 individually decorated suites, which have been themed to reflect the travels of Ibn Battuta, and guests booking into these rooms have complimentary access to the executive lounge.
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Three floors are dedicated to business travellers, with a separate reception and lounge areas, but the hotel is just as ideal for families, with convenient three-way interconnecting rooms available.

The hotel has many iconic elements,” said the hotel’s general manager, Jan Kaiser. “It is adjacent to the statuesque Ibn Battuta Gate, which at 60 metres high, is larger than the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.”

The hotel lobby spans 90x30 metres in length and height, providing a sense of grandeur for departing and arriving guests. “We call the hotel lobby the Grand Hall,” added Kaiser. “It is majestic yet inviting and has numerous signature features, including 88 mammoth, eastern-style lanterns dangling elegantly into the wonderful space that is best described as ‘the hub on the house’.”
The Grand Hall is also the gateway to seven of eight equally iconic restaurants and lounges. Guests are taken on a culinary journey with cuisines representing the lands Ibn Battuta visited on his travels.

Centred around an open kitchen, Mistral is a Mediterranean restaurant offering breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets; Chor Bazaar features exotic flavours of northern India; Sicilia, the Italian speciality outlet, offers a rustic and unpretentious menu; and Shanghai Chic is a stylish restaurant offering authentic Shanghai and Szechuan cuisines.

Guests can unwind in a range of relaxed settings, which include Olive Tree, the rooftop pool bar, Majlis – the Middle Eastern Shisha Lounge – and Moroc Lounge, Bar, and Terrace. The gourmet shop, Pastane @ Ibn Battuta is the place to go for freshly baked pastries and breads.

The hotel’s Spa offers an extensive range of ancient cures and modern treatments in six treatment rooms and additional leisure facilities include a fitness centre and 30-metre rooftop pool. For children, the Camel Club offers a wide range of fun-filled activities, complemented by state-of-the-art technology.

Guests can also enjoy exclusive access to the private beach and pool at Oceana Beach Club on Palm Jumeirah, which is less than 20 minutes away by hotel shuttle.

For meetings and conferences, the hotel has 11 thoughtfully-designed meeting rooms for up to 250 people, plus numerous interesting terraces for ‘al fresco’ functions. The Grand Hall can host 1,000 people.

The Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel is one of four existing projects from Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts and the Dubai-based real estate developer, Seven Tides. Forthcoming launches include the 216-room Mövenpick Hotel Deira, as well as the 324-room Oceana Hotel & Spa at the Oceana Beach Club, and 293-room Royal Amwaj Resort & Spa - both on The Palm Jumeirah.