a&o Hotels & Hostels | New Entry in the Belgian Market in Antwerp

a&o Hotels & Hostels GmbH, German hospitality group headquartered in Berlin founded in 2000 that targets young travellers and backpackers offering an innovative combination of comfortable, functional and affordable hotels and hostels under one roof with a large variety of different room options suitable within everyone' price range well known for its slogan "Everyone can travel" enters the Belgian market with the opening of the a&o Antwerpen Centraal leading to 41 Group units opened in 11 countries.

a&o Antwerpen Centraal which is scheduled to open on 1^st November 2024 is situated in Antwerp, well known port city of Belgium on the River Scheldt, famed city with a thriving history dating to the Middle Ages, for its stunning Flemish Renaissance architecture and the iconic centuries - old Diamond District houses thousands of cutters,  polishers and traders.

The nine story a&o Antwerpen is located on Pelikanstraat, right next to Antwerp Central Station in the city centre and will feature 133 rooms and 516 beds, offering a varied range of accommodation options with modern single rooms, double rooms, twin rooms and family rooms with four beds all with bath/shower and WC.

Formerly known as the "Century Antwep" and for its affordable rates, the a&o Antwerpen Centraal will undergo a major renovation and restyling for an investment of €4.0 million by early 2025.

This opening in Flemish land will be followed by further new openings, with the group focusing on major cities such as Brussels, Lisbon, London, Madrid, Manchester and Paris.

Link - https://www.ttgitalia.com/hotel/ao-hostels-approda-in-belgio-con-una-new-entry-ad-anversa-IF21608514

Emaar Properties | Transaction for the Purchase of the Luxury Grand Hotel Forte dei Marmi in Versilia

Emaar Properties, real estate development company along with Nakheel Properties, one of the two major real estate companies in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates founded in 1997 which has developed numerous projects, including the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest skypcraper, as well as the Dubai Mall, the world's largest shopping mall, group led by Mohamed Alabbar founder of the enterprise is negotiating the purchase of the Hotel Imperiale Forte dei Marmi, iconic Italian five-star luxury hotel.

The Hotel is located in Forte dei Marmi, one of Italy's top seaside towns on the northern coast of the province of Lucca in a territorial area that is part of the historical and geographical region of Versilia in Tuscany.

The hotel, a prestigious retreat set on the wonderful promenade of Forte dei Marmi, a 2 - minute walk from the beach embraced by the stunning Apuan Alps and overlooking a splendid stretch of the Tyrrhenian Sea features 46 rooms equipped with all services, at guests' disposal there are Spa, a seasonal outdoor pool, restaurant,  a bar serving snacks, and after the transfer of ownership it will undergo an intense restyling operation.

According to information provided by SkyTg24, Italy's second all – news channel owned by Sky Italia, the entrepreneur of Emaar Properties has committed a total of €40 million for the purchase of this emblematic 5-star luxury hotel.

Link - https://www.ttgitalia.com/hotel/il-grand-hotel-imperiale-di-forte-dei-marmi-nelle-mani-degli-emiri-per-40-milioni-di-euro-NF21600904

The Algarve, Portugal | Hotels and Tourism Enterprises Association Creates a General Council

 AHETA the Hotels and Tourism Enterprises Association, a non-profit association created in 1995 with the aim of respresenting companies in the hotel, tourist real estate and entertainment sector, including accommodation based recognized for its credibility in defending the business interests of the Algarve has created a General Council.

In a statement, the largest Association of Hotels and Tourism Enterprises of the Algarve based in Albufeira explained that this advisory management body was already provided in its statutes but had never been established.

Thirty members of the various economic activities that make up the Association and with regional representation have been invited to the new AHETA body.

The new, formed General Council in a statement informed that the aim of this body is to advise, suggest, comment and give its critical sense to the activity of the Association and the sector.  

The first meeting of the new General Council took place on 16^th October 2024 with the coordination of José Carlos Leandro assisted by José Queiroga Valentim invited by the management for this mission.

Link - https://www.theportugalnews.com/news/2024-10-23/algarve-hotel-association-creates-general-council/93021

AlUla – Saudi Arabia | Awarded with the Prestigious DarkSky Park Certification

 

AlUla, iconic oasis in the the province of Medina, in northwestern Saudi Arabia bult on a site that corresponds to the Dadan of the Bible which was in ancient times the capital of the Kingdom of Lihyan on the Incense Route with the governorate contains containing the first UNESCO World Heritage site in the Arab country called Hegra also known as Al Mada’in Saleh, ancient walled city built more than 2,000 years ago by the Nabateans has obtained the prestigious DarkSky Park certification from the renowned organization DarkSky International.

DarkSky International non - profit organization founded in based in Tucson - Arizona - U.S. founded in 1988 with the mission to preserve and protect the nighttime environment and our dark sky heritage through quality outdoor lighting.

The prestigious International DarkSky Park Certification, which recognizes its pristine night skies among the top 5% of dark sky quality locations worldwide for stargazing and astrotourism affirms AlUla's remarkable commitment to minimizing light pollution and preserving the nocturnal environment.

The certification of the renowned DarkSky International affirms AlUla's commitment to minimizing light pollution by protecting and preserving the nocturnal environment and in this way ensuring that its beautiful and vast desert skies remain crystal and clear benefiting from in-depth studies, initiatives and activities of astronomers, space explorers and astrotourists and creating a memorable and unique experience.

In a wonderful scenery with the desert sands of the Hejaz region providing a beautiful setting in favorable weather conditions,visitors admiring an infinite number of twinkling stars in a very dark sky, immersing themselves sensorially in the cosmos, delighted by a horizon that inspires tranquility and breathtaking views connecting with the ancient astronomical navigation that once guided travellers to this land since the Islamic Golden Age from the 9^th to 13th centuries when the stars Altair and Aldebaran were studied among others manuscripts were created that have made history.

Looking up in the sky of AlUla, the stars seem to be involved in a sort of dance and the human sight with the naked eye cannot completely grasp the whole but through telescopes it is possible to admire the immensity of entire galaxies offering breathtaking views in a scenario of absolute timeless beauty.

There are several highly recommended places to enjoy this magnificent experience starting from the Al Ragassat Valley, near Madain Saleh, in this location it is possible to admire a magnificent landscape formed by sandstone rocks eroded by the wind, the Jebel Hejaz.

It is an extraordinary landscape, a rock formations called "dancing rocks" or "dancers' mountains" a spectacular composition of three rocky massifs erected together sculpted by the force of nature that at first glance seem to sway as if they were dancing together under the stars.

In this remote location thanks to the absence of light pollution, the spectacle is absolutely dazzling and the evironment increases further more the experience.

 Gharameel is another stunning place, a tranquil and remote site in desert located a 90 minutes drive from Husaak Adventures AlUla close to Winter Park, in this place there are two imposing rock columns that extend vertically towards the sky forming a totally unique scenery that offers wonderful opportunities for stargazing.

Another highlight is the Ashar Valley, an idyllic place highlighted by its dramatic wind - carved rock formations and its canyons just 50 minutes from AlUla offering an unforgettable experience for stargazing.

In this site travellers can stay in the Ashar Tented Resort, an accommodation offering maximum comfort surrounded by dramatic landscapes of the valley allowing guests to live a unique and authentic experience observing the stars in a magnificent environment.

Another place highly suggested is Rainbow Rock, a spectacular natural arch in the desert 90 minutes away from AlUla, a stunning arch - shaped rock which resembles a rainbow rising from the sand of the desert, a masterpiece of nature sculpted with the passage of time and the erosion of the wind, a wonderful place for stargazing that has become one of the favorite destinations for astronomers but also for photographers.

Hegra is one of the most emblematic and historical sites in AlUla area, an archaeological site located within Medina province in the Hejaz region, the largest conserved site civilization of the Nabataeans south of Petra in Jordan famous for its more 110 well - preserved burial tombs carved from desert rock, a gateway to a historic past that is combined with a large open window for stargazing at night.

An ideal place for observation is the hill overlooking the Tomb of Lihyan, it dates back to Nabatean Kingdom and is known for being the burial place of Kuza's son and the most iconic tomb of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, a place that by day offers a historical and cultural visit and by night becomes an authentic sanctuary for stargazing with unforgettable night views.

AlUla is located 1,100 kilometers from the capital of Saudi Arabia Riyadh in the north-west of the country, a unique location from a historical point of view for its heritage and natural for the beauties it offers in every corner of its territory in a vast area that covers 22,561 square kilometers with lush valleys with suggestive, scattered oasis and imposing sandstone mountains that dominate ancient sites dating back thousands of years ago in the era of The Kingdoms of Lihyan and Nabataeans.

Link - https://www.expreso.info/index.php/noticias/internacional/102978_alula_obtiene_la_prestigiosa_certificacion_darksky

Gijón – Spain | Announcement of a New Strategic Development Plan for Tourism

 

Gijón, large coastal city in northern Spain, capital of the region of the same name in the autonomous community of Asturias located on the coast of the Cantabrian Sea in the Bay of Biscay, well known for its relevant cultural and maritime heritage with the old fishermen' quarter of Cimadevilla, its lively port of Musel and the splendid San Lorenzo, Poniente and Arbeyal beaches launches a new strategic development plan for tourism.

The Deputy Mayor of Gijón and Head of Tourism Ángela Pumariega highlighted the preparation in 2025 of a tourism plan strategically studied that will be valid for ten years, pointing out that the budget planned for her department amounts to just over €33.0 million.

With this initiative is intended to consolidate the commitment to sustainable tourism with the development of Naval Azul which consists in the transformation of the lands of the extinct Naval Gijón company into an activity polo linked to the "blue economy"..

This special plan will include in its regulations the possibility for the City Council of Gijon to develop one or public buildings that will act as a nursery for small buisenesses and will aso give the option for large corporations to buy land and set up there always of course with an aesthetic marked by the city council.

The idea conveyed by the Department of Urban Planning is that a space will be built in which coastal attractiveness will prevail, the integration into the El Nathoroyo neighbourhood, a key urban area of the city where about 15.000 people live and where there are several important structures such as the Aquarium, the Ponente beach, the Railway Museum and the Santa Olaya Swimming Club and the accessibility of the facilities.

Part of the project is also the expansion of PCTG, the Science and Technology Park located in the area of Cabueñes which is part of the "Milla del Conocimiento Margarita Salas", a space of approximately one mile where various cultural, educational, scientific and business facilities in the city with the aim to provide a training offer to the needs of the labor market and the commitment to quality employment and innovation as a tool for the future.

The 2025 budget will be the driving force behind rhe development of Gijón in the coming years, to turn it into a centre of opportunities, where young people can stay, live and progress, where creativity is encouraged and wealth is generated.

Link - https://www.expreso.info/noticias/espana/102917_gijon_anuncia_un_nuevo_plan_estrategico_de_turismo

Aysén Patagonia – Chile | Promotion of the Destination in International Tourism Fairs

 

Aysén region, located south of Puerto Montt and the Lakes District, north of Punta Arenas and Torres del Paine National Park, Chile' least populated region that holds of South America' s most spectacular landscapes, a top destination for all those seeking the best of Patagonia, a land untamed and untouched highlighted by stunning snow – capped mountains, majestic Glaciers running off to inland lakes and rivers, rainforests, fjords is gaining considerable visibility and has actively participated in two important international tourism promotion events such as FIT International Tourism Fair of Latin America in Buenos Aires in Argentina and Chile Week in the Brazilian capital Brasilia.

Claudio Montecinos, the Regional Director of Sernatur Aysén, the Tourist Information Office of Aysén – Patagonia which provides information to all visitors to this destination boasting bilingual staff and offering digital guides and everything a traveller needs underlined the importance of participation in FIT Buenos Aires which has allowed Sernatur Aysén, six businessmen and tour operators from the Aysén region to establish contacts with important tour operators not only in the Argentine market but also around the world.

Sernatur Aysén also participated in Chile Week Brazil in Brasilia, organized and coordinated by ProChile, Institution of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that promotes the supply of Chilean services and good in the world.

Chile Week, is a key event to promote exports, investment and tourism with the aim of strengthening trade ties between Chile and Brazil, with business meetings, technical seminars and strategic events to promote Chile in the business, tourism, investment and culture sectors where Sernatur Aysén with Tepaluma and Free Adventure promoted itself as a destination in the Brazilian market.

Now the objectives are to continue to strengthen Aysén Patagonia's destination in national and other international markets in line with Sernatur Aysén's tourism promotion strategy supported by the regional government.

Link - https://www.expreso.info/index.php/noticias/internacional/103006_el_destino_chileno_de_aysen_patagonia_se_promociona_en_ferias