EGYPT: Rixos Hotels To Open Rixos Hurghada Makadi Bay In 2020

Rixos Hotels has marked a major milestone in its Middle East expansion strategy after signing an agreement to manage its largest all-inclusive luxury resort on the Red Sea coast of Egypt.

Since Accor acquired a 50 per cent stake in the company, Rixos has identified opportunities including partnering with the Eastern Company for Investment and Touristic Development to takeover and renovate an existing beachfront property.

Scheduled for completion in 2020, it will be re-launched as the Rixos Hurghada Makadi Bay, a 1,636-key mega resort.

The stand-out property will boast a stunning location in a secluded bay on the Red Sea, just south of Hurghada, a hotspot for scuba diving, family getaways and golf breaks.

Resort highlights will include individual villas, an extensive indoor and outdoor spa, fitness facilities, kids clubs, a waterpark, beach lounge, large conference centre, wide-ranging food and beverage options and an expansive entertainment area with an amphitheatre.

It is expected to become the preferred destination for discerning travellers and corporate group business from key source markets such as Europe and the CIS.

This marks a pivotal moment in the growth story of our brand, bringing to market our largest resort globally and offering our most comprehensive range of facilities and unique and dynamic entertainment experiences yet, said Fettah Tamince, founder and chairman of Rixos Hotels.

We are delighted to partner with the Eastern Company for Investment and Touristic Development to launch this flagship project, which will set a new benchmark for luxury all-inclusive all-exclusive resorts in Egypt and the wider Middle East.

Rixos Hurghada Makadi Bay represents the first project of its kind since Accor joined forces with Rixos in 2017, strengthening the brand’s footprint to four resorts in Egypt where its already operates properties in Alamein and Sharm El Sheikh and eight across the Middle East.

Mahmoud El-Sayed Moussa El-Sharkawy, chief executive, Eastern Company for Investment and Touristic Development, said: Our vision is to transform Makadi Bay into the leading leisure and entertainment destination on the Red Sea.

In this respect, the Rixos brand, with its successful one-of-a-kind hospitality concept and proven expertise operating in Egypt’s resort market, makes strategic sense.It’s the perfect fit.

The renovation plan of the existing development in Makadi Bay will be phased in two stages, each spanning a year, with phase one already underway and including the addition of wings and facilities to uplift the hotel in line with Rixos brand standards.

This unique takeover opportunity strengthens the Rixos offering in Egypt’s Red Sea Riviera and highlights the strong collaboration Accor has established with Rixos team to develop the brand regionally and globally, said Mark Willis, chief executive, Accor Middle East & Africa.

We would like to thank all the parties involved in this landmark project, which offers the right mix of elements in terms of scale of inventory and facilities to embody the Rixos business model and to boost awareness of its exclusive luxury offering in key regional and global markets.

Phase two of the renovation plan will start as soon as the property opens its doors and will include a 23,000-sqm water park, as well as upgrades to the remaining hotel inventory.

Established in 2000, Rixos Hotels is a Turkey-based luxury brand with a global portfolio of 25 hotels in seven countries, 17 of which are operated as waterfront resorts and welcomes more than one million guest annually.

The chain embodies traditional Turkish hospitality and features unique health treatment clubs and entertainment experiences for guests of all ages.

Tourism Observer

AUSTRALIA: Dual Branded Accor Hotel Operating Under The Novotel And Ibis Styles’ Brands To Open 2021

Construction of a brand-new hotel at Melbourne Airport has commenced.

The 464-room hotel, created to serve Melbourne’s burgeoning conference and tourism markets, will be conveniently located steps from Terminal 4 within a new precinct known as The Hive.

The ten-storey hotel will be dual-branded operating under the Novotel and ibis Styles’ brands rated four and three stars respectively, offering guests gym and pool facilities, a café, bar and restaurant plus conference room facilities.

Melbourne Airport chief of property, Linc Horton, said the project represents the airport’s latest milestone in supporting the state as it moves toward becoming Australia’s biggest city.

It is really exciting to bring such a great new hotel concept to one of the great travel destinations in Australia – Melbourne, giving travellers more choice and amenity, said Horton.

We believe this new development will bring a much-needed social hub to our space bringing visitors and business colleagues together on the doorstep of the airport with access to more than 650 flights per day.

Importantly, it will also open up around 120 job opportunities for hospitality and tourism staff – a huge boost for the City of Hume.

The dual-branded hotel will open in 2021.

The hotel is the first major development to kick-start the airport’s Hive precinct, which will also feature a childcare facility to cater to the airport’s 20,000 strong workforce as well as office space ranging from 1,000 to 10,000 square metres.

Simon McGrath, Accor, chief operating officer Pacific, said, Worldwide, Accor is an airport hotel specialist and we continue to innovate and lead in this sector.

We are excited to be working with Melbourne Airport on this significant development and thrilled to be embarking on another dual-branded hotel complex with our internationally recognised Novotel and ibis Styles brands.

This newest member of the Accor Group is a vibrant airport precinct development, which captures the essence of Melbourne through its interiors and warm welcome to guests.

Tourism Observer

INDIA: Gorav Arora Appointed General Manager At Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach

Gorav Arora

Gorav Arora has joined Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach as the general manager of the property.

He brings 18 years of hospitality experience to the beach hotel. In his leadership role, he will be responsible for spearheading operations at Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach.

Over the course of his career, Arora has worked with leading international hotel brands like The Hyatt Hotels and The Oberoi Group.

Further, he has also been associated with Accor for the past 9 years.

He was heading the sales and marketing function for Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre and Hyderabad International Convention Centre for over 3 years.

Later he was appointed as the resident manager where he was assisting the general manager in ensuring smooth and profitable operations, enhanced guest experience and service excellence.


Tourism Observer

THAILAND: Hotel Tariffs Affected By Economy

Top-brand hotels along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok are already cutting rates as low season starts to cut occupancy rates below 80%.

The current economic downturn has pushed Thai people to tighten their belts, with a number of big hotel chains feeling the pinch and offering big discounts on rooms to stay afloat.

The hotels are competing to draw more guests during the low season, which starts next month.

Centara Hotels & Resorts is offering a 50% discount to attract clients who make a reservation at its hotels in Thailand by April 30. The condition is that guests can only stay during weekdays. The offer ends Sept 30.

Thirayuth Chirathivat, chief executive of Centara Hotels & Resorts, said the campaign is a means of efficiently managing inventory during the low season.

Centara set its hotel revenue growth at 10% or 10.03 billion baht this year.

"Aggressive marketing and promotional campaigns will be carried out throughout the year to meet our revenue target," Mr Thirayuth said.

The Thai hotel chain expects occupancy rates during the low season to be stable, but with lower room rates.

Centara's projection is in line with that of S Group, a local hotelier.

S Group has revised down its 2016 revenue growth to 8% from 15% earlier because the low season has come on more quickly than expected. Normally, the low season starts in May.

Managing director Sarun Limsawaddiwong said bookings have slowed down since the end of March. Its survey found that hotels in Bangkok's Sukhumvit area have seen their occupancy rates in April fall by 10% compared with March.

The economic slowdown has caused a decline in European and American tourists, he said.

The group hopes to keep the average occupancy rate at its five hotels in Bangkok at 80%, although the average room rate will drop.

Accor, the French hotel group, is offering customers, particularly members of its loyalty programmes special offers and promotions to generate business. Its membership is 25.7 million worldwide, including 380,000 people in Thailand.

Valerie Marina Barrios, director of loyalty and communications for AccorHotels Upper Southeast and Northeast Asia, said a private promotion is offering Accor Plus members a 50% discount. Le Club AccorHotels for its part is offering members and customers subscribing to the group's email a 40% discount.

The deal, available worldwide, is limited to bookings between April 19 to 29 for stays from May 13 to July 31 this year.

Onyx Hospitality Group, another local hotel chain, has launched a "buy 1 get 1 free" campaign for guests who book rooms at one of its 30 hotels in six countries, including Thailand, from April 22-24. The promotion covers stays between April 23 and Nov 30 this year.

Apart from hoteliers, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will organise the Weekday Tourism Mart 2016, which will be held from May 12-15 at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. It hopes that the event will stimulate travel demand during the low season.

During the four-day event, TAT said 400 tourism operators will offer special discounts ranging from 30 to 50% for those who buy vouchers to stay during weekdays.

The event is projected to attract 200,000 visitors and generate revenue of 220 million baht.

TAT governor Yuthasak Supason said the authority had set its domestic tourism revenue target at 900 billion baht for 2016, up from 790 billion baht last year.