Eye on Middle East 20/6/12
Contributors are not employed, compensated or governed by TD, opinions and statements are from the contributor directly
Top stories from Travel Daily Middle East this week.
Hard Rock Hotel to open in Abu Dhabi
Hard Rock International recently announced an agreement with Aabar Properties for the development and management of Hard Rock Hotel Abu Dhabi, a five-star international hotel located in Abu Dhabi. The 378-room luxury hotel will be situated within the Corniche and marks Hard Rock Hotels’ debut into the Middle East.
The Hotel will feature an assortment of signature restaurants, entertainment and meeting facilities, including renowned Hard Rock Cafe. Other key attractions include a Sky Lobby on the fifth floor podium, Lobby Bar with outdoor entertainment deck and hookah lounge, as well as a 37th floor Sky Bar with swimming pool. There will also be available 12,000 square feet of wellness and spa facilities with the Body Rock fitness centre and signature Rock Spa.
Oman Air witnesses continued growth
Oman Air has recorded continuous growth in the first five months of 2012. Between 1 January and 31 May 2012, the airline recorded net passenger revenue which grew by 28%, compared to a full-year increase of 28% in 2011 and passenger numbers saw an increase by 19%, compared to 16% in 2011. The airline building on this growth has announced a new service, from 1 September 2012, between Muscat and Tehran and the anticipated delivery of two new Embraer E175 regional jets in Q3 and Q4 of this year. In addition, six new Boeing 737s are on order, with two being delivered in 2014 and four in 2015. Six new Boeing 787 Dreamliners will also be delivered from 2015.
Emirates opens Sri Lanka airport lounge
Emirates opened its airport lounge at Sri Lanka’s Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayaka earlier this week. The £953,000 lounge was opened by Emirates’ president Tim Clark and divisional SVP airport services Mohammed Mattar, alongside dignitaries from Sri Lanka. It can accommodate up to 118 passengers exclusive to its first and business class passengers, as well as gold members of its FFP.