This week’s hotel scene in the Middle East is looking to transform corporate travel, enhance family experiences, recognise Emirati women and showcase architectural excellence. Here are the hottest hotel stories of the week. 

Emirati Women’s Day recognised with art from Four Seasons

Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi is celebrating Emirati Women’s Day with a series of special events and activities honouring the contributions of Emirati women. The celebration will include an exhibition 28 August – 28 September featuring works from Faezeh Mohammed Hassan. The standout piece includes the painting of inspiring Nabati poet Ousha Bint Khalifa Al Suwaidi, by Faezeh. Four Seasons at Al Maryah Island will also be hosting an afternoon tea ceremony in its lobby to showcase art and culture from Emirati women.

Accor’s corporate travel initiative

Accor has joined forces with 17 leading corporations worldwide to form the Accor Global Leadership Council (GLC). This advisory board is made up of Accor’s senior executives and executive travel buyers and managers from various sectors, from engineering and energy to financial services and technology. 

The GLC aims to focus on corporate travel and meetings of the future, shifting in line with developing corporate traveller expectations, B2B loyalty, sustainability, new trends, and personalisation. The board have a combined employee base of 2.7 million travellers have agreed the top three priorities for business travel right now are: 

• Cost management and optimisation – e.g. pricing, cost avoidance, compliance
• Experience and wellbeing – e.g. corporate traveller wellbeing, security, engagement
• Sustainability – e.g. DEI, sustainable travel, carbon footprints and budgets

Mövenpick’s family fun initiative

Off the back of its award for best UAE family hotel at the 2024 Haute Grandeur Awards, Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan Island has launched new family-friendly initiatives. Under General Manager, Fabien Chesnais the resort, featuring 418 rooms, 14 private villas, and six dining options, became profitable within three months of opening and now it’s turning its focus on guest experiences.

Chesnais emphasises creating memorable experiences for all ages, particularly children and teens, with activities like the Xscape Teen Zone, Mini-Golf, the new XPLORE Arcade Room, and Ras Al Khaimah’s largest floating water park. These offerings aim to contribute to the resort’s success and recognition, including the BBC Good Food Award for Best Staycation in the Northern Emirates.

Millennium Al Rawdah Hotel nominated for architecture award

The Millennium Al Rawdah Hotel in Abu Dhabi has been nominated for the International Travel Awards 2024 in the Best Architecture Design Hotel category. This nomination highlights the hotel’s distinctive architecture, which features curved glass and wavy structures that symbolise desert dunes and the Arabian Gulf.

The hotel combines European and Middle Eastern design elements and includes luxurious amenities such as Presidential and Royal Suites, a Grand Ballroom, a luxury spa, and unique dining options. The nomination reflects the hotel’s architectural brilliance and its position as a landmark in Abu Dhabi. This accolade highlights Millennium’s commitment to innovative architecture that not only enhances aesthetic appeal but also promotes sustainability and functionality.