Hospitality

Individually, we are a drop, but together, we are an ocean

Published

2 years ago

August 30, 2024

Integrator Web-Editor

Interview with Amit Arora, Chief Operating Officer, Arada

What’s your vision for the newly formed Hospitality and Entertainment division?

Connected Life is Arada’s ethos, and collectively we believe that when people and spaces connect, great things happen. We think that the spaces between the homes we build are just as important as the homes themselves, and our goal is to ensure that our communities help people to lead happier, healthier and more meaningful lives. That’s the guiding light behind Arada’s new Hospitality and Entertainment division, which closely complements our other activities by providing a holistic experience that encompasses Lodging, Fitness, Wellness, Food & Beverage, and Entertainment.

Assets include the 10-building Nest student housing complex in Aljada – Sharjah’s largest ever mixed-used megaproject located next to University City – which has over 3,000 keys, as well as exciting new F&B brands like Boost Juice and Hungry Wolves, both of which offer healthy and enriching menus.

We also have an incredible array of family-friendly attractions and other assets including the region’s biggest skate park in Aljada; the 6.6km professional woodland cycling track in our Masaar forested megaproject in Sharjah; our nursery in Aljada which incorporates educational tours around the 130,000 trees based there and Yalla, our e-bike and scooter rental solution in our communities.

Upcoming assets include the Il Teatro performing arts complex in Aljada, and a whole range of new F&B concepts that will enhance our portfolio. Despite launching just seven years ago, Arada has evolved rapidly from being a developer, into a master developer and now into a destination developer, and this new division fully complements that approach.

What motivated Arada to expand into the hospitality sector, and what unique strengths does the company bring to this new venture?

As Arada matures, there’s been a shift from building and selling to building and operating, driving recurring revenue and diversification. This has led to the creation of this new division and the consolidation of leisure assets under a single leadership. With Arada’s hotel projects progressing well and nearing completion, the timing is ideal to initiate in-house hotel operations capabilities.

How is Arada’s existing partnerships with hospitality brands like Armani, The Address, Vida, and Rove?

Arada partners with world-class hospitality brands with long-term agreements. Strategic partnerships add value to real estate launches while offering premium lifestyle experiences to guests and homeowners. Our hospitality and branded residences partnerships include brands as diverse as Anantara, Armani, Rove, The Address and Vida, with more new names in the pipeline. Given the impressive surge in interest in the hospitality industry in the UAE, thanks to the business-friendly regulatory environment and welcoming policies put in place by the local government, we are also considering the launch of our own hotel brand.

How do Arada’s wellness and F&B operations, such as Wellfit and Boost Juice, complement the overall hospitality strategy?

One of Arada’s overall goals is to provide all stakeholders – whether residents, visitors or even its own staff – with the opportunity to enjoy an active healthy lifestyle. Brands like Wellfit and Boost Juice integrate with our assets, such as promoting Boost to Wellfit’s 15,000 active members. Similarly, Manbat sources fresh, locally grown produce straight from Emirati farms for Hungry Wolves, which serves nutritious meals. This cross-promotion drives a sustainable and circular economy.

What innovative concepts and strategies do you plan to implement to differentiate Arada’s hospitality offerings in a competitive market?

Innovation is central to Arada’s culture, and this is immediately obvious from a visit to one of our communities, from the uniqueness of the landscaping to the smart technology that is incorporated at both a house and city level. That level of innovation is also already evident in many of the assets in this division; if we take Wellfit as an example, the brand is testing state-of-the-art technology that very few operators around the world are using. We’re now seeing industry insiders travelling from the UK and US to see how we run our operations at Wellfit, whereas previously it was the other way around.

Our goal is continue this track record of innovation and implement it across all our assets, including our hospitality offerings. We live in a world where technology is changing the way we live on an almost daily basis; our willingness to embrace these technologies, combined with a lack of legacy processes and equipment means that Arada is best placed to capitalise on these new trends.

How does Arada aim to create spaces and experiences that promote happiness and well-being for guests and residents?

Care is one of three core principle at Arada, reflecting our genuine concern for customers and employees. Providing a happy, rewarding experience is core to our vision, and all our communities are carefully planned to allow all residents and visitors the chance to enjoy a huge range of activities – dining, sports, entertainment, shopping and relaxation – just a few yards from their front door. At Aljada for example, you can access the biggest family entertainment complex in the northern Emirates, a bustling business park, a next-generation mall, a beautifully designed performing arts centre and plenty of sports, retail and dining options, as well as three international schools and our hotels – all set within impressive green landscaping. You can access all of this within walking distance from your home. Internally, we’ve launched the Arada Cycling Team (ACT) to promote health and happiness and cultivate a work-life balance. And in August, we’re organizing group cycling at Masaar Track to encourage activity and camaraderie, while Wellfit’s ‘Summer Of’ camp will offer a program of activities centered around happiness and well-being for its members, guests, and resident.

Hospitality

Giza Palace Hotel & Spa Partners with IDeaS to Implement Advanced Revenue Management Capabilities

Published

9 hours ago

September 24, 2026

Integrator Web-Editor

IDeaS, a SAS company and the world’s leading provider of hospitality revenue management software and services, has deployed the G3 Revenue Management System (RMS) at Giza Palace Hotel & Spa in Cairo, Egypt.

A member of The Leading Hotels of the World, Giza Palace Hotel & Spa is a brand-new luxury hotel in a prime location in West Cairo. The grandiose hotel features 560 rooms, eight distinctive dining venues, a spa, and extensive conference and meeting facilities. Blending architectural excellence with a curated art collection, the hotel is renowned for its exceptional service and guest experience.

The hotel is owned by Travco Group International, whose hospitality arm, the JAZ Hotel Group, is one of the region’s most prominent hotel operators, with a growing portfolio of over 68 hotels and resorts across Egypt and Zanzibar.

The deployment of IDeaS G3 RMS enables the hotel team to optimize revenue management decisions through precise forecasting, dynamic pricing, and inventory management, as well as streamlined group displacement evaluations and the automation of routine tasks.

A key factor in Giza Palace Hotel & Spa’s selection was IDeaS’ ability to effectively manage the complexity of its inventory. With more than 11 room and suite types across three room categories and eight suite configurations, the property requires advanced predictive analytics to position each room type competitively in one of the region’s most dynamic markets.

IDeaS’ Group Pricing capability addresses another critical segment of the business – the projected impact of displaced demand across their diverse inventory mix – by delivering real-time insights into the value of group business. Designed for speed and simplicity, the feature enables better-informed decisions that account for the full depth of the hotel’s offering, while preserving commercial flexibility.

Alaa Akel, CEO & Chairman JAZ Hotel Group commented:“Giza Palace was created with a clear ambition to set a new benchmark for luxury hospitality in Cairo. Our partnership with IDeaS supports that vision bringing advanced revenue management capabilities to our commercial strategy, allowing us to make smarter decisions, respond to market demand and drive sustainable growth.”

Ibrahim Saba, Principal Sales Director – Europe, Middle East & Africa at IDeaS commented: “Giza Palace Hotel & Spa is exactly the kind of landmark property where intelligent revenue management makes a measurable difference. With a large inventory and a significant conferencing operation, the team is managing considerable complexity across multiple revenue streams. G3 RMS gives them the forecasting precision and group pricing intelligence to ensure every booking reflects the true commercial value of each piece of business.”

Hospitality

VEGO Expands Beyond Its Café Roots with Launch of Full-Service Kitchen Concept

Published

9 hours ago

September 24, 2026

Integrator Web-Editor

VEGO Cafe and Confectionery is entering a new chapter with the launch of its full-service kitchen concept, transforming the homegrown brand from a neighbourhood café into a comprehensive vegetarian dining destination.

Built on years of customer feedback, catering experience and growing demand for more diverse vegetarian options, the expansion reflects VEGO’s commitment to offering greater variety without compromising on quality or flavour.

“While Dubai’s dining scene continues to evolve, we identified a gap for a concept that brings together premium ingredients, innovative cooking and accessible pricing within a fully vegetarian setting. This expansion has allowed us to move beyond café favourites and introduce a broader menu that spans everything from street-style chaats and handcrafted dim sums to pizzas, pastas and traditional Indian curries.” said Kashyap Sajnani, Co-founder and Managing Director of VEGO Cafe and Confectionery.

Inspired by Indian flavours, family traditions, global travel and Dubai’s diverse culinary landscape, the new menu reflects VEGO’s philosophy of combining comfort food with thoughtful innovation. Signature dishes include the Ghewar Chaat, Gochujang Tofu Bowl, Sindhi Curry, Indian Handrolls, Dim Sums and VEGO’s signature Mango Dessert. The expanded menu is also available for catering, extending VEGO’s new offering beyond the dining space for private gatherings, celebrations and events.

Nearly all components, including sauces, spice blends and key ingredients, are prepared in-house to ensure consistency, quality and value, while the breadth of the menu has been designed to appeal to diners of all ages.

Complementing the culinary expansion is a refreshed visual identity that reflects VEGO’s growth while retaining the warmth, vibrancy and approachable character that customers have come to know and love. As part of the expansion, the space has also been renovated and the brand logo refreshed, giving the café a renewed look to match its next chapter. The updated look reinforces the brand’s long-term vision of becoming a go-to destination for vegetarian dining in the UAE.

“We wanted to build a place where grandparents, parents and children can all sit around the same table and find something they genuinely love,” added Kashyap Sajnani, Co-founder and Managing Director of VEGO Cafe and Confectionery. “If people leave feeling like they’ve had an incredible meal at a fair price and can’t wait to come back, then we’ve achieved exactly what we set out to do.”

To mark the expansion, VEGO is offering guests 15% off all dine-in orders until 31 October. Pricing across the menu remains aligned with the brand’s long-standing commitment to value-driven dining.

Hospitality

SANA Celebrates Its First Anniversary An Evening of Uzbek Culture, Culinary Theatre and Live Entertainment

Published

9 hours ago

September 24, 2026

Integrator Web-Editor

SANA marks its first anniversary on 1 October with a celebration at its Madinat Jumeirah restaurant, followed by an afterparty at Moon Bar. From a traditional Uzbek welcome to a theatrical dining moment, the evening brings together the food, music and hospitality at the heart of SANA.

The celebration begins at 7:00 PM. For the first 40 minutes, a traditional Uzbek band will perform as two hostesses dressed in traditional Uzbek robes welcome guests with sparkling wine. A live illustrator will create personalised sketches for guests from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM.

Dinner begins at 7:30 PM, with guests invited to choose between SANA’s à la carte menu and a special anniversary set menu priced at AED 450 per person. At 8:30 PM, the slow-roasted leg of lamb will be unveiled in a theatrical presentation accompanied by a belly dance performance to Uzbek music.

The evening’s second live music performance begins at 9:00 PM, when Sculer Band takes the stage followed by the anniversary birthday cake.

From 11:00 PM, the celebration continues at Moon Bar, where headline DJ BKOFMAN and ARKOV will play sets for the afterparty.

Event details

Date: 1 October | Welcome reception: From 7:00 PM
Dinner: From 7:30 PM | Location: SANA, Mina Al Salam, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai
Dining options: À la carte or anniversary set menu at AED 450 per person | Afterparty: Moon Bar, from 11:00 PM | View the anniversary menu