02.50pm: We caught up with Raki Phillips from FRHI today and he told us that the company is having talks with strategic owners in Oman and that Muscat will be a very important market for the group. Raki also suggetsed that Salalah would be of interest to the company. Raki invited any interested investors to drop by the stand today. He also said that the company is eyeing Qatar for its three brands that we should watch this space for an exciting announcement soon!

02.35pm: Interesting green initiative by Time Hotels, which has launched what it claims to be the Middle East’s first carbon offset accommodation at two of its hotels in Dubai. Guided by UAE- based facilities management company Farnek, the initiative involves Time Oak Hotel & Suites and Time Grand Plaza Hotel, where guests are offered a chance to contribute towards climate protection. You should be able to find out more about it on the Time Hotels stand (HC5300).

01.45pm: Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa in Kuwait has appointed Hakan Petek as its general manager. The Turkish-British national has been serving as acting GM since December and was a key player in the pre-opening period of the hotel as well as a member of the Executive Committee. Jumeirah Group has also made two other GM appointments: Christophe Mousset joins Jumeirah Bilgah Beach Hotel in Baku, while Mete Atakuman will lead the pre-opening at Jumeirah Guangzhou in China. Congratulations to them all!

Story continues below
Advertisement

01.15pm: JA Resorts & Hotels is to develop a third property at the JA Jebel Ali Golf Resort. Set to officially open in 2017, the new property will overlook the championship-standard nine-hole golf course and the marina. It comes not long after the company launched its second international property, JA Manafaru, in the Maldives. We got a sneak peek of the 84-key property earlier this year.

12.45pm: Rixos Bab Al Bahr general manager Haytham Omar has been speaking to us about how the performance of the first all-inclusive property in Ras Al Khaimah has exceeded expectations. Over the next few months they'll be hiring more than 250 more staff and opening all its rooms. And Omar reveals they'll also be adding two more pools and another all-day dining restaurant. If you've ready our interview with him from earlier this year, you'll know about just how ambitious he is.

11.55am: We had a chat with Richard Power, director of communications at Rocco Forte hotel in Jeddah. The two tower hotel with 19 floors each will mark the company’s 12th hotel worldwide and first in the region (not forgetting the previous venture in Abu Dhabi which is no longer operated by the company). With Rocco Forte having seen a 29% increase in Middle Eastern visitors to its European properties last year, Richard is confident there is plenty of brand awareness to guarantee success in KSA. Good luck Rocco Forte!