Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts

Plummeting rates and expectations of a quiet summer for Gulf tourism have raised concerns about the knock-on effect for smaller emirates such as Fujairah. But with a new tourism authority, upcoming hotels taking shape and a ‘can-do' attitude from existing resorts, the destination is quietly wooing a range of markets.

The lawsuit filed by Starwood against Hilton has certainly got the industry talking, says Louise Oakley.

The growing consumer trend for learning to cook doesn't necessarily spell the end for regular restaurant visits - in fact the trend could help increase business and customer loyalty, say chefs.

Hotelier Middle East meets members of the engineering department to discover the nuts and bolts of the role, including advances in technology and a push to develop green operations.

It took years for Gary Rhodes to become a leading chef. Like many others, he started at the bottom.

Making the most of the region's natural assets and adding a few man-made ones, the Middle East is an adventure tourism destination in the making. Lucy Taylor considers if the region can hold its own in this lucrative globally-established market.

The UAE east coast’s beach stalwart Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort & Spa and its new neighbour, Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa, have been co-hosting big bashes — sharing the rooms while Le Meridien staged the actual conference — the former’s general manager, Patrick Antaki, told MIME.

Fujairah is quietly establishing itself as a tourism hotspot as a steady stream of hotel names plant their flags in the sand and the combination of mountains, beach and sea prove alluring.

This month, F&B insiders discuss the growth of the region's meetings market and the challenges and rewards of catering corporate events.

Breathing life into the UAE’s heritage, the Sir Bu Naair Dhow race is more than an event: it's an inspiration.

Dubai-based firm Save Energy General Trading has won a US $27.2 million (AED100 million) build-operate-transfer (BOT) contract to update the cooling system at Le Meridien Dubai hotel.

Mina Seyahi Complex e-commerce manager Jittendra Jain looks at methods hoteliers can employ to increase online revenue drivers such as F&B bookings, spa treatments and other services.

Le Méridien Al Aqah general manager Patrick Antaki talks to Hotelier Middle East about redeveloping the property, staying friendly with neighbours and Fujairah's status as a destination.

Le Meridien Mina Seyahi's outlet breaks all records for on trade business according to beverage supplier Sirocco.

New Westin Heavenly Spa to be shared by neighbouring properties to form a complex offering.

Suppliers to Dubai's food and beverage industry are being forced to deliver more efficiently due to increased competition in the market, according to chefs and F&B directors.

In major cities such as London, New York, LA and Sydney, the trend for designated vegetarian eateries and raw restaurants has exploded during the last decade.

Chef Priyanshu Malvi started his career at Jumeirah's Burj Al Arab hotel, arriving in Dubai from India in 1999 for its inauguration.

Food is increasingly expensive, so designing menus based on cheaper produce could become a reality.

Le Méridien Al Aqah's resident Chef De Partie, Dushantha Amaralal Wickramarathne, has been selected to have his signature dish featured in Nestlé's highly acclaimed cookbook, ‘Menus of the Masters'.

While in town for last month's Taste of Dubai festival, international celebrity chef Gary Rhodes paid a visit to his Rhodes Mezzanine restaurant at Grosvenor House Dubai to check on the progress of the outlet, which opened last September.

While in town for last month's Taste of Dubai festival, international celebrity chef Gary Rhodes paid a visit to his Rhodes Mezzanine restaurant at Grosvenor House Dubai to check on the progress of the outlet, which opened last September.

Patrick Lannes, chef director at the Grosvenor House and Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort & Spa, talks about his 40 years of giving culinary pleasure to guests.

Italian restaurant Bussola re-opens under The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort flag.

The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) will hold the first IAAPA Middle East Safety Conference this month.

With the local racing scene on a high across the region, the Maktoum Sailing Trophy should give sailing fans the perfect start to the year.

Le Méridien Al Aqah is to host a family fun day next month, with all proceeds going to a local charity.

Le Méridien Al Aqah has revealed plans for several developments at the resort, which will commence next year.

COD talks with Paul Cracknell, managing director of one of the region's longest established landscape firms, about the changing shape of the Middle East.

Having claimed the Class 1 European Championship, Victory 77 now has the World crown in their sights.

Softouch, the Ayurveda spa specialist, is set to embark on further hotel spa developments, including two new sites planned for the UAE.

Royal Meridien and Grosvenor House Dubai were recognized at the annual Starwood conference in Doha.

The MEP Middle East Awards have been launched to celebrate the outstanding efforts of those in the sector. How can you pick up one of the first awards and become the envy of your peers?

In the first of a multi-part series in which Caterer follows the development, construction and opening of the new Westin Dubai Beach Resort & Marine's food and beverage outlets, Westin complex GM Michael Scully discusses design, concepts and branding.

Gary Rhodes has exported some of the finest dishes from his London eatery to join Dubai's gastro scene.

We meet Gary Rhodes, and talk poison, spoons and why you should always trust a skinny cook.

When the 293-room Westin Mina Seyahi opens its doors in December this year, guests will get their first glimpse of the Westin brand in the Middle East.

Scientific mind behind Dubai's Tang restaurant reveals plans to take his gastronomic phenomena to new levels.

Fujairah's tourism board aims to achieve 300,000 visitors by the end of 2007.

Hoteliers in Saudi Arabia and Yemen are seeing a slow but sure increase in business, with occupancies up year-on-year and new international brands entering both markets, as Sarah Campbell discovers.

Dining standards need to be reinforced, comment industry professionals.

Le Meridien makes improvements as competition intensifies in Fujairah.

Dubai's Grosvenor House rejoices after 'phenomenal financial growth' in the hotel's first year.

This month, Leisure Manager takes a look at the popularity of racket sports and the development of the market sector within clubs and hotels.

Art is on the move as the valuable Swarovski Elements crystal is relocated to the Grosvenor House Hotel.

After launching the UAE's Accademia Italiana della Cucina to promote authentic Italian cuisine, the academy is now set to host the President of the academy, Professor Giuseppe Dell'osso, in the emirates this month.

LW Design Group has grown in tandem with the major luxury developments blossoming in the Emirate of Dubai. Two of the group’s three founding members take a break from being creative to explain why the key to success is getting in at ground level.

An academy promoting authentic Italian cuisine meets next month.

The extension to the Meridien Mina Seyahi hotel is now just six months away from completion. Christopher Sell talks to main contractor ACC to understand how the firm utilised its massive Dubai workforce to keep the project on time.

Fujairah is set to step out of the shadows and shine in its own right in 2007, with several hotels scheduled to open.

The Achieving Health and Safety Best Practice in Construction conference will be held on 25-28 February 2007 at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Dubai

Frontier developers in the UAE are pushing the boundaries, with a plethora of projects planned that were previously off the map in terms of leisure or corporate appeal, reports Kathi Everden

As a Dubai resident I know the marina and its constant development very well so my initial thoughts when driving to Le Royal Meridien were that there would be cranes, bulldozers and huge clouds of sand rising from the surrounding construction site.

The region’s tourism boards, airlines, hotels and operators were out in force at World Travel Market (WTM), demonstrating their increasing appeal to a global audience and their commitment to growth and quality standards

Fujairah is becoming a leading light in the UAE’s tourism industry, according to Patrick Antaki

Approach the Grosvenor House after sundown and you’ll be met with a 45-storey beacon of blue light stretching into the night sky.

What will the future’s hotels look like? As hotel designers continue to think out of the box, this could well be the end of the cookie-cutter design model, writes hotel industry consultant, Guy Wilkinson.

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Prashant Sharma, assistant director of sales & marketing, Le Gulf Meridien Alkhobar, talks to Hotelier Middle East about marking the hotel’s 25th anniversary and the imminent boom of tourism to the Eastern coast of Saudi Arabia

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The east coast of the United Arab Emirates can look forward to the unveiling of a major chain hotel resort in the summer of next year amidst blossoming tourism in the country.