04.15pm: Did someone say there was going to be a new Banyan Tree in Bahrain in the next couple of years? That’s a rumour we heard but nothing can be confirmed yet – and we never reveal our sources either..!

03.45pm: Accor managing director middle east Christophe Landais has hinted at bringing the Sofitel So brand to Dubai by 2017 or 2018. "The brand is more trendy and lifestyle-oriented, and Dubai is well-suited for that," explained Landais, who also said the group is currently in talks talks with investors but could not reveal more details. Sofitel CEO Robert Gaymer-Jones previously spoke about the group's plans to introduce the brand in Dubai during an exclusive chat with Hotelier Middle East last year.

Landais also told Hotelier that Dubai's first Ibis Styles Hotel, which will be located in Dragon Mart, will open in Q1 of 2015. Work on the 250-key hotel is scheduled for completion by the end of 2014.

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03.25pm: Yas Island VP, Destination Management Karim El Guanaini tells us we can expect some announcements soon about new hotel and residential projects on the island. There will also be a raft of new rides at Ferrari world. All this on top of the opening of a new shopping mall - the biggest in Abu Dhabi - to coincide with the emirate's Grand Prix in November. Talk about running at full rev!

03:00pm: City Season Group director marketing & communications Elise Sarkis-Talj tells Hotelier the group is developing a budget brand for the UAE. She also revealed the group is eyeing locations near the Expo 2020 site for its first location.

02.55pm: HMH's CEO Laurent A. Voivenel has revealed that the company is just on the cusp of signing two Dubai deals for its new Ecos brand. The hotels will be around the 1-star mark and he says they'll be "way cheaper than Ibis"! One of the hotels is to be located around Dubailand and the others location hasn't been confirmed yet. We'll keep you posted!