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Mama Shelter, the global collection of authentic hotels, has announced plans to open a new location in Dubai. The property will be located in Dubai’s downtown Business Bay and is expected to open in 2020.

“We knew Dubai was the perfect destination for our eighth Mama Shelter property because the city embodies the MAMA spirit with its bustling excitement and international appeal,” said Mama Shelter Founder, Serge Trigano.  “Mama Shelter Dubai will not just be a place for business meetings and flythroughs, but a place to live, work, laugh, debate, celebrate, and at the end of the night, come home to MAMA.”

Designed by Franklin Azzi Architecture, Mama Shelter Dubai will have 201 rooms and 80 residences. The architect explains, “Mama will offer a unique tower to Dubai. A pure glass coat covering a wooden skin made by each rooms’ shutters.” The rooms are sanctuaries with the comforts of home coupled with all the needs of digital modernity, with spacious king size beds and high speed Wi-Fi. With 300 square meters of space set aside for collaboration, travelers will have room to gather, create or simply hang out.

Mama Shelter will also benefit from its proximity to landmarks such as the Downtown Dubai area, the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall. Alongside the concentration of lifestyle hospitality projects across Business Bay, Mama Shelter will be positioned as an iconic destination with the presence of an additional five-star hotel within the same tower.

Pawan Kachroo, Managing Director of Khamas Hospitality said, “This project is reflective of a shared vision to bring desired diversity and delight in the regional hospitality industry with fresh innovation. Through the Mama Shelter Dubai Business Bay, we intend to energize the industry with competitive experience driven offerings.”

The Trigano Family, co-founders of Club Med, created Mama Shelter eight years ago with an inaugural location in Paris. Since then the family has expanded Mama Shelter all over the world in Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Los Angeles and Rio de Janeiro. In February, the company announced plans to open Mama Shelter Prague in early 2018.

RSG International, UAE-based business group, signed a management agreement with Rotana for its second Dubai hotel project announced this year.

The agreement for the new hotel was signed between Nasser Al Nowais, Chairman of Rotana and Raj Sahni, Chairman of RSG International, at a ceremony held at Amwaj Rotana in Dubai. Also present were Jasjit Singh Jaaj, Group CEO of RSG International, and Omer Kaddouri, President and CEO of Rotana.

The four-star Dh600 million hotel, located on Sheikh Zayed Road, next to UAE Exchange Metro Station, is scheduled for opening before Dubai 2020.

Sahni said the project marks the group’s second collaboration with Rotana this year, following the launch of the Sabah Rotana hotel in Dubai in March 2017. “The new hotel gives a further boost to the company’s plans to augment its hospitality portfolio in the emirate ahead of Expo 2020,” said Sahni.

“This is just one of the many potential projects that we have lined up keeping the Expo 2020 in mind. With the accommodation and hotel room demand on the rise already, property development definitely has our focus at the moment. RSG is known for delivering its projects on or before schedule, and we will live up to our reputation.”

Sahni, also known as Abu Sabah, made news when he bought the most coveted number plate ‘D5’ for around US$9 million from Dubai’s Regional Transport Authority in October 2016.

Addressing a press conference, Al Nowais said Rotana has a robust development pipeline in Dubai, with a clutch of new hotels scheduled to open in the city before the end of 2020.

“Hospitality demand in Dubai is expected to peak around Expo 2020, and Rotana is moving fast to fill the city’s need for additional hotel room supply and meet the anticipated surge in demand. Rotana will open eight new hotels in Dubai by 2020, which will have a combined a managed investment of more than $850 million. The new properties will add 2,668 keys to Rotana’s existing inventory in Dubai, taking the total room count to 6,151, while expanding its portfolio in the emirate to 21 hotels,” said Al Nowais.

Jaaj said Dubai’s hospitality industry has experienced a huge surge in the past decade with travellers from all over the globe flocking the emirate, and it is only expected to grow exponentially.

“It is our endeavour to align our vision with that of the Ruler of Dubai. This agreement with Rotana is a great opportunity for us to expand our hospitality portfolio and it has definitely come at a great time for RSG,” said Jaaj.

He said the new hotel, rising up 40 floors, would also have a well-balanced mix of hotel rooms and hotel apartments. “In total, the new property will feature 180 spacious rooms and 10 luxuriously appointed executive suites in addition to 300 hotel apartments, including 40 studio apartments, 240 one bedroom apartments and 20 two bedroom apartments,” said Jaaj.

The new Rotana hotel on Sheikh Zayed road, rising up 40 floors, will also have a well-balanced mix of hotel rooms and hotel apartments. In total, the new property will feature 180 spacious rooms and 10 luxuriously appointed executive suites in addition to 300 hotel apartments, including 40 studio apartments, 240 one bedroom apartments and 20 two bedroom apartments.

Kaddouri said Dubai, which is preparing to host 25 million visitors for Expo 2020, is estimated to require an additional 45,000 hotel rooms to meet anticipated demand during the six-month-long exhibition.  .

In addition to eight upcoming hotels in Dubai, Rotana will be opening five new hotels in Abu Dhabi in the next 3-4 years, bringing to 16 the total number of our properties in the capital, said Kaddouri.

RSG Group’s first hotel, Sabah Rotana, is also located on Sheikh Zayed Road. The 54-storey property has 533 rooms.

wasl Asset Management Group, one of the largest real estate development and management companies in Dubai has announced the launch of the city’s second luxury Mandarin Oriental hotel, which is due to open in November 2020. The new location in Dubai’s Commercial District of Sheikh Zayed Road will complement wasl’s Mandarin Oriental hotel on the waterfront at Jumeira Beach, which will open in the fourth quarter of 2018.

The new hotel will be the centerpiece of the 63-storey mixed-use wasl Tower which is being developed as a commanding addition to the city’s skyline. Located on Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai’s main thoroughfare, the property will have direct access to the area’s key business districts and tourist attractions, including Dubai Opera House, City Walk and Dubai Mall, as well as the city’s two airports, being 20 minutes from Dubai International Airport and 40 minutes from Dubai South – Al Maktoum International Airport. The hotel will also include a full suite of on-site luxury entertainment and leisure facilities that redefine Dubai’s premium hospitality offering.

His Excellency Hesham Al Qassim, CEO of wasl Asset Management Group, commented: “We are pleased to be partnering once again with Mandarin Oriental to bring another elegant and sophisticated hotel to Dubai, which furthers wasl’s mandate to supply the Emirate’s hospitality sector with quality hotels. Combined with the premium property offering at wasl Tower, we are offering the height of luxury in both the hospitality and residential sectors, which wasl works to support in alignment with the vision of the UAE’s wise leadership.”

Both hotels are being developed in collaboration with Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, the international hotel investment and management group with luxury hotels across the world, while Amsterdam-based UN Studio is the appointed architect of the 300-meter-high building, wasl Tower, which has been designed as an integrated urban environment that promotes connectivity and sustainability.

One of the hotel’s key attractions will be a beautiful double level sky lobby, offering stunning views of the beach and Sheikh Zayed Road from either end. Guests will access the sky lobby via a plush reception area on floor 35, with a club lounge, a lifestyle lounge and a tea lounge on the same level, while floor 36 features an all-day dining area.

The hotel includes 257 spacious and contemporary guestrooms, suites and serviced apartments, which will be located on floors 16 to 38 of the tower, providing outstanding views over Downtown Dubai and the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. All accommodation will reflect the local culture, with features inspired by both Emirati and oriental heritage.

Adding to wasl Tower’s residential offering, the hotel will also be home to 144 residences located on the tower’s upper floors, which will provide some of the most luxurious private homes in the city. The Mandarin Oriental Residences will have their own private access, with dedicated facilities including a Resident’s Lounge, while also benefiting from direct access to the hotel’s facilities and Mandarin Oriental’s legendary service.

The food and beverage offering at the Mandarin Oriental will feature award-winning restaurants headed by some of the world’s most celebrated chefs, with a variety of restaurants including a lively rooftop sky lounge with citywide views, a signature dining experience, an all-day dining venue, a poolside restaurant, a Club Lounge, and a signature Mandarin Oriental Cake Shop.

There will also be extensive banqueting and meeting spaces designed to accommodate social and business events, while the Spa at Mandarin Oriental will introduce Dubai’s most comprehensive spa, beauty and wellness services. The two-storey facility will feature 12 private treatment rooms, a wide-ranging fitness centre, vitality pools, heat and water therapies, and an outdoor swimming pool set within a landscaped garden terrace.

James Riley, Group Chief Executive of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group said, “Dubai continues to develop in stature as one of the world’s leading destinations, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to operate two luxury hotels in this important city. We look forward to collaborating again with wasl Hospitality and Leisure to create a second iconic property and to be extending our brand’s presence in the Middle East.”

His Excellency Hesham Al Qassim, CEO of wasl Asset Management Group, concluded: “We look forward to introducing new visitors and residents to the exceptional service for which Mandarin Oriental is renowned. The new project sets new standards for architecture, redefines the premium life style offered in Dubai, and is another milestone in establishing this city as the home of luxury hospitality and the world’s favourite destination.”

The hotel industry in Dubai, UAE, recorded strong occupancy levels during the first quarter of 2017 despite continued and significant supply growth, according to data from STR.

Based on preliminary data, Dubai recorded an occupancy level of 86.3 per cent, which was a 2.7 per cent uplift compared with Q1 2016. Average daily rate (ADR) was down 6.4 per cent over the same time period to an actual level of Dh795 ($216.4). As a result, revenue per available room (RevPAR) decreased 3.9 per cent to Dh686 ($186.7). Because Dubai has seen two years with consistent RevPAR declines, STR analysts see the Q1 occupancy growth as an indicator of performance recovery.

“A factor that likely played a big role in Dubai’s occupancy growth was the UAE government’s recent decisions to grant visas on arrival for Chinese and Russian nationals,” said Philip Wooller, STR’s area director for the Middle East and Africa. “While Dubai continues to add new supply, it also continues to add new leisure attractions, and expanding the market’s range of potential visitors can only help drive hotel demand and profitability.”

Occupancy increases were mainly pushed by the middle and lower tier hotel classes. Dubai’s midscale and economy classes experienced a combined 7.2 per cent year-over-year increase in occupancy, while Luxury hotels posted more moderate growth of 0.7 per cent. Upper upscale hotels reported a 1.1 per cent decline. STR analysts note that the midscale and economy classes experienced less substantial supply growth compared with other classes during Q1, although the Upper Midscale class, which recorded the highest rate of supply growth (over 13.9 per cent), also posted a substantial increase in occupancy (up 6.7 per cent).

Ahead of his presentation at the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC) on April 26, Robin Rossmann, STR’s managing director, notes that Dubai’s strong demand is impressive considering the significance of supply growth in the market.

“With more than 42,000 rooms currently under contract, Dubai has the largest pipeline of any city in the world,” Rossmann said. “The market faces several challenges over the next few years in maintaining a demand level that can offset some of this supply growth. On the positive side, Dubai continues to attract substantial leisure business, so this is definitely one of the top markets in the industry to keep an eye on from both a supply development and performance perspective.”

Dubai has been furnished with a quintessentially British offering with the opening of the new five star DUKES Dubai hotel on the west trunk of Palm Jumeirah.

This is the first international property for DUKES, which has proven a hugely popular destination with GCC visitors in London.

DUKES Dubai, which soft-opened for training in December, consists of 279 guestrooms including 64 suites, with a ladies-only Liberty Duchess floor featuring 20 rooms, as well as 227 fully furnished hotel apartments and six distinctive dining experiences.

“DUKES Dubai brings the very best of British hospitality to the emirate. The soft opening of the hotel in December was a great success and we have already received rave reviews. We look forward to welcoming visitors and treating them to this unique experience,” said Abdulla Bin Sulayem, CEO, Seven Tides.

Serving modern British brasserie-style cuisine, the hotel’s signature outlet Great British Restaurant (GBR) will operate under the culinary direction of executive chef Martin Cahill, serving quality British produce in a dramatic setting overlooking the Gulf. The meticulously planned menu of much loved dishes includes cod and chips, Lancashire hot pot, Colchester Oysters and Dover sole, with calorific sweets taken straight from the kitchens of the Home Counties.

For lighter bites and drinks, guests can head to DUKES Bar, which is famed for its signature selection of martinis.

Of course, guests can also opt to dine at the award-winning Manhattan style grill and bar, West 14th, already located within the same development, whose executive chef, Clive Pereira, was named Gastronomic Superstar at the Leaders in Hospitality Awards 2016.

“I currently divide my time between London and Dubai and it has given me great insight into the pent-up demand, expectations and trends of British travellers, essentially it helps me to take the pulse of the British outbound market. I am confident that our offering will not only match, it will exceed their expectations – brand loyalty is the key to success for DUKES Dubai,” said Debrah Dhugga, Managing Director of DUKES Dubai and DUKES London.

The remainder of the property’s food and beverage outlets will come online within the next six to eight weeks. This will include traditional Northern Indian restaurant Khyber, marking the first international outpost for the Mumbai-based family restaurant group. Visitors can also look forward to the Tea Lounge for afternoon tea and the Cigar Lounge, offering a sophisticated selection of fine cigars and malts.

Dubai’s tourism sector kicked off 2017 in high gear as the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Dubai Tourism, reported a 12 percent year-on-year growth over the first two months of 2017, which saw Dubai welcoming just over three million visitors, nearly four times the rate of the previous year.

Supported by growth in all key markets, China and Russia in particular drove the volumes and set the stage for a strong first quarter result. This period witnessed a 60 percent growth in overnight tourists from China with January alone peaking at 102 percent, while attracting a total of 157,000 Chinese visitors across just the first two months. Reflecting an even more significant percentage increase, Russian visitors jumped by 84 percent over the same period last year with February delivering a massive 140 percent volume increase to bring a total of 65,000 travellers in the first two months.

Helal Saeed Almarri, Director-General of Dubai Tourism, said, “As we continue to invest in raising consideration for Dubai as the destination of choice for global travellers, our focus at Dubai Tourism is equally on increasing Dubai’s accessibility and removing barriers to travel by working closely with partners and stakeholders in the public and private sectors on both a federal and emirate level. Ultimately our collective aim is to make it as easy and seamless as possible for any prospective tourist from our diversified base of source markets to visit and revisit Dubai.”

“We are delighted to see visitor numbers make a strong start in 2017. We work closely with the government on initiatives to drive increased visitation, and the decision by the leadership of the UAE to offer visas-on-arrival to our Chinese and Russian guests has already proven an astute one, as we have seen an almost instant positive effect from both countries. Dubai Tourism has invested significant efforts in marketing Dubai as an appealing destination for visitors from China and Russia, and we are encouraged to see such promising results,” the Director-General added.

Following the visit of a high-level Dubai Government delegation and private stakeholders to China in October 2016, Dubai has progressively improved its ‘China Readiness’ at an overall city level across all aspects of the tourist journey, particularly across infrastructure components and key pillars of the destination proposition.

The Russian market has retained its trajectory of recovery that commenced last year, following a prolonged period of economic instability that resulted in a marked drop in Russian outbound travel. Having posted a year-on-year increase of 14 per cent in overnight visitation in 2016, the dramatic spike in 2017 so far is a strong indicator of the positive sentiment for outbound travel from the market, and more specifically the strong consideration for Dubai among couples and families.

“While the strong performance in January and February is encouraging and to be applauded, it is important to stress that we still have much to do as we face a dynamic global environment influenced by various macro-economic and geopolitical challenges. Nonetheless, we remain confident in the strength of Dubai’s appeal as a tier 1 travel destination and will continue to mitigate risks by pursuing a diversified source market strategy as we work towards our target of welcoming 20 million visitors per year by 2020,” Almarri concluded.