LIVE FROM ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET 2013: DAY THREE

06:10pm: US-headquartered integrative health and wellness specialists, DNA Health Corp, is set to open its first overseas flagship centre on Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island in June, targeting both the region’s residents and visitors looking for a different approach to personalised health and wellness.

05:11pm: Swiss-Belhotel International has signed a management agreement with Miami Property Co. to operate its first Bahrain hotel property. Gavin Faull, president and chairman, Swiss-Belhotel International spoke to hotelier and announced that the four-star 130 room business hotel will "hopefully be the first of 4-5 hotels in Riyadh over the next 3 years. I believe that in KSA that mid-scale is the future."

04:28pm: Qatar’s Katara Hospitality is close to claiming its first hotel in London in what would be a major coup for the investor, which already has luxury properties in cities including Paris and Singapore.

03.00pm: Exclusive! Anantara Dubai Palm Resort to open on 15 September

02:17: Abu Dhabi is looking to create its most successful ATM ever by promoting 52 destination partners and close to 90 product lines at this year’s show.

01:08pm: Passengers travelling on flydubai are enjoying an improved departure at Dubai International Airport following the opening of the new extension at Terminal 2. The bigger, brighter terminal boasts more check-in desks and self-service kiosks as well as a Marhaba Lounge and a range of services at the new business centre.

12:56: Rixos Hotels has announced multiple properties for Egypt as the Turkish hotelier looks to expand its reach in the country. The company will open in Cairo as well as in Sharm El Sheikh with a property consisting of three resorts, one boutique hotel and 80 villas - a total of 2,576 rooms.

12:50: Mohamed Fekry, general manager of the Concorde by Morouj, says the number of rooms in Fujairah isexpected to double by the end of the year - there are currently 800 rooms in Fujairah and with 800 more expected to go online this year, the emirate should have 1,600 rooms by the end of 2013.

12:35: Grand Belle Vue Hotels is launching its latest project,  Belle Vue Marina Hotel.

11:48am: Travelport Rooms and More has boosted its global content through a new deal with travel wholesaler Destinations of the World (DOTW). The new agreement will add more than 80,000 properties to the online accommodation portal.

11:30am: Hertz Rent-a-Car has launched an Arabic language function across its Middle East regional websites, offering users the option to book car rentals in their preferred language.

10:46am: Hospitality Management Holdings (HMH) is launching six new properties in the next two years.
The Group is also aiming to expand its business into newer markets which will also see the additional 1300 rooms to its current portfolio of 3400 by 2015.

10:22am: Bin Majid Hotels & Resorts has announced an AED 150 million expansion plan covering the new corporate identity, a newly-opened hotel in Abu Dhabi and two upcoming hotels – a hotel apartment in Abu Dhabi and one in Ras Al Khaimah.

08:17am: Following Miracle Garden’s successful opening this year in DUBAILAND, Akar Landscaping & Agriculture Company has announced plans to commence work on phase two. In addition to the current variety of plant and flower species, the second phase of the unique 721,000 sq. ft Miracle Garden will include the largest vertical garden in the world, an Edible Plants Garden from which visitors can pick their own fruits and vegetables and a Butterfly Garden, made up of an impressive 10,000 live butterflies bred in the UAE for the first time.

08:03am: UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, announced yesterday that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has rejoined the organisation 26 years after having left it. The announcement was made during the UNWTO & Arabian Travel Market Ministerial Forum on Tourism and Aviation.

Good morning everyone, we hope you had a wonderful party last night and are ready for another day of news and interviews with the great and the good at Arabian Travel Market 2013.