GET TO THE HEART OF WELLBEING: VALENTINE’S EXPERIENCE AT THE RETREAT PALM DUBAI MGALLERY BY SOFITEL

Couples looking for a unique Valentines experience with wellness right at the heart can look no further than the first wellbeing resort in the UAE.

New to the Palm Jumeirah’s impressive roster of luxury hotels, The Retreat Palm Dubai MGallery by Softiel is a boutique offering focused on holistic wellbeing, which will help couples embark on a serene, relaxing journey on the most romantic day of the year.

The journey starts as soon as guests enter the property, where (after check-in) they will be treated to a decadent 45-minute spa treatment at Rayya Wellness Centre.

Following this, a romantic dinner awaits with delicious starters on offer at Vibe, followed by a main course at signature restaurant Social Kitchen and a dessert at Ripples Bar for couples to enjoy whilst taking in spectacular views of the Arabian Gulf.

Pictured: Social Kitchen

The chic property promises to customise its decor for the occasion with ambient lighting, stunning floral arrangements and other, romantic amenities. The experience will conclude with an intimate in-room breakfast the next morning.

The first three lucky couples to book will enjoy a complimentary pick up to travel in style to the property for a magical evening.

Another option for Valentines on offer includes a lavish buffet for those interested in a relaxed evening with the finest range of food and beverages at Vibe restaurant.

More information…

Where: The Retreat Palm Dubai MGallery by Sofitel, East Crescent, The Palm Jumeirah, Dubai

Offer: ‘Valentine’s Day Romantic Experience’ or ‘Valentine’s Offer at Vibe Restaurant’

Price: AED 1500 per couple including an overnight stay, a romantic dinner for two, a 45-minute couple treatment and an in-room breakfast

AED 165 per person for a sumptuous feast with a range of food and beverages from 7-11:30pm at Vibe

Find out more about The Retreat Palm Dubai MGallery by Sofitel – the first wellness resort in the UAE.

CARLSON REZIDOR TO ENTER MALDIVES WITH WELLNESS RESORT IN 2019

Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group is set to enter the Maldives for the first time, after signing a management contract for a spa resort on the southern part of the Alifu Dhaalu Atoll.

The resort is situated 105 kilometers from Male International Airport, accessible within a 30-minute seaplane journey or by a domestic flight from the Maamigili Airport, followed by a 15-minute speedboat ride to the resort.

Rezidor will operate the property on behalf of owner Chang Hua Holdings under the Radisson Blu brand.

The 128-villa Radisson Blu Resort Maldives will be designed as a family-friendly resort with a focus on wellness.

While exact details are yet to be confirmed, the resort will be set amidst some of the most amazing coral reefs, house a large spa and a yoga pavilion, as well as a sea sports and dive centre.

“We continue our growth trajectory in Asia Pacific,” said Thomas Hagemann, Carlson’s vice president of future openings in Asia Pacific. “We’re pleased to expand our footprint into the Maldives, with an iconic Radisson Blu resort.”

Carlson Rezidor’s Asia Pacific portfolio consists of 117 hotels, including 51 Radisson Blu hotels.

The company has 78 more hotels in the pipeline for Asia Pacific. For more information visit: www.carlsonrezidor.com.

WORLD’S FIRST GUITAR-SHAPED HOTEL TO OPEN IN FLORIDA IN 2019

This one is really cool…

Upon its completion in 2019, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood (not as in LA, but a city on Florida’s east coast, between Fort Lauderdale and Miami) will be the world’s first building shaped like a guitar.

Over 35-stories-tall, the hotel and resort – currently under construction – will boast more than 1,200 rooms and Bora Bora-style villas surrounded by water.

“Not only do you have all these individual lagoons that you can swim through, but literally rooms submerged in water, where you can stay in overnight with butler service…waterways and canals and lazy rivers – just a lot of fun stuff,” James F. Allen, Chairman at Hard Rock International, commented to reporters at a guitar-smashing (literally – a tradition for Hard Rock venues) launch event with famous musicians in attendance, recently held at the resort.

The iconic new project is an expansion of the popular existing Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino which will nearly double its current size. The US $1.5 billion renovation includes doubling the size of the casino and in time, demolishing its current nightlife venue – Hard Rock Live – to make way for a brand-new, state-of-the-art, 7,000 seat venue.

The visionary guitar hotel structure is the vision of Allen, who is also longtime CEO of Seminole Gaming.

“It will be the first building in the world that’s truly to scale designed as an authentic guitar,” he added.

“So it’s not just an exterior facade, the curving of the building will be identical to an authentic guitar. We think the building itself will be must-see attraction.”

As well as getting to marvel at the hotel’s avant-garde shape, guests will have the opportunity to experience its 41,000-square foot spa as well as several restaurants and lounges. A 10-acre complex at its base will offer beach club dining, watersports, private cabanas with plunge pools, multiple waterfalls, and more.

Find out more: www.seminolehardrockhollywood.com

MAIA LUXURY RESORT & SPA NAMED A LEADING HOTEL IN THE SEYCHELLES

MAIA Luxury Resort & Spa has been named as a top hotel within the Seychelles at the 24th annual World Travel Awards.

This year’s prestigious World Travel Awards Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony was held in the Maldives, where MAIA Luxury Resort & Spa was crowned not only as Seychelles’ Leading Boutique Hotel 2017, but also Seychelles’ Leading Luxury Hotel Villa 2017.

MAIA Luxury Resort & Spa is an Indian Ocean jewel located amongst the lush foliage and azure waters of Mahé island in the Seychelles. A private peninsula, with sweeping views over the Indian Ocean, MAIA is a BEYOND all-inclusive resort, providing what resort owners Tsogo Sun – the leading hotels, gaming and entertainment company in South Africa – describe as “a signature experience unlike any other you will find in the world.”

“This exclusive premium hospitality means a truly relaxing getaway, assisted by the gentle service from dedicated butlers in private villas. Luxurious spa facilities, lavish fine dining options and beautiful facilities are all an intrinsic part of the experience for guests. For these reasons and many more, we are proud to be recognised as one of the top hotels in Seychelles,” explains Lionel Ferrari, General Manager of MAIA Luxury Resort & Spa.

World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry. Attended by senior executives from major travel companies, operators, destinations, World Travel Awards events are universally respected as providing established, top level networking opportunities, regionally and globally. The brand aims to celebrate those organisations who push the boundaries of industry excellence.

Find out more about MAIA Luxury Resort & Spa: www.tsogosun.com/maia