Hospitality
The Ritz-Carlton: Inspiring Life’s Most Meaningful Journeys
Exclusive interview with Christian Hoehn, GM, The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal
How does Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal align with the overall brand values of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company?
The Ritz-Carlton is synonymous with luxury, elegance, and unparalleled service. The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal, embodies these brand values through its commitment to creating exceptional experiences that resonate with the rich legacy of the brand, making every moment ‘legendary’, ‘gracious’ and ‘inspiring’ to our guests. Situated in the heart of Abu Dhabi, the hotel mirrors the global reputation of The Ritz-Carlton while embracing the local culture and heritage, ensuring that every guest leaves with an indelible mark.
What unique aspects of The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal contribute to creating an unforgettable guest experience?
One of the unique aspects of The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal, is its breathtaking architecture and design inspired by the Renaissance era, set against the stunning backdrop of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Both the tangible elements, such as the meticulously landscaped gardens and luxurious interiors, and the intangible aspects, like the hotel’s dedication to personalized service, work together to create an unforgettable guest experience. This dedication is evident in every interaction, from the signature Emirati warm welcome at check-in ‘Hayyakum’ to the attentive assistance provided throughout the stay.
The hotel offers a variety of dining experiences, from Afternoon Tea at Alba to The Tomahawk Experience at The Forge. How do you ensure that each dining event meets the highest standards of culinary excellence?
The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal, offers an array of dining experiences that cater to diverse palates. At Alba, guests can indulge in refined Afternoon Tea, enjoying an assortment of delicate pastries and fine teas in an elegant setting. For a more robust culinary adventure, The Forge presents The Tomahawk Experience, where diners can savor expertly prepared prime cuts of meat. Ensuring that each dining event meets the highest standards of culinary excellence involves meticulous attention to detail, from sourcing the finest ingredients to employing skilled chefs who bring creativity and passion to their craft. Each dish and the overall dining experience is crafted to perfection, reflecting the commitment to quality that defines The Ritz-Carlton brand.
How do you integrate the local culture and heritage of Abu Dhabi into the guest experience at the hotel?
Integrating the rich culture and heritage of Abu Dhabi into the guest experience is a cornerstone of The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal’s philosophy. Our team takes pride in embodying Emirati traditions to provide an authentic and enriching experience for our guests. From the moment guests arrive, they are greeted with a warm “Hayyakum” and offered traditional Emirati refreshments, including aromatic coffee and sweet dates. As a mark of respect and cultural appreciation, we always say farewell with “Fi-amaan-allah” and express our gratitude with “Shukran”.
Our commitment to showcasing Emirati culture extends to Mijana, our signature Middle Eastern restaurant, where guests can savor traditional Emirati dishes prepared with the finest local ingredients. This dining experience is a culinary journey through the region’s rich flavors and culinary heritage.
Additionally, our concierge team is always at hand to arrange local tours to significant landmarks. Guests can explore the majestic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, a masterpiece of Islamic architecture, and visit Wahat Al Karama, a timeless tribute honoring Emirati martyrs, located directly opposite the hotel. These tours provide guests with a deeper understanding of Abu Dhabi’s history and cultural significance.
By weaving these cultural elements into the fabric of our guest experiences, The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal, ensures that every stay is a journey of discovery and appreciation for the local heritage.
Happiness: a journey or a destination?
Happiness is certainly a journey – at The Ritz-Carlton, we inspire life’s most meaningful journeys in line with our brand vision. By creating memorable experiences and nurturing a sense of well-being, we aim to enhance every guest’s happiness. From our personalized service to luxurious amenities and cultural immersions, every aspect of our hotel is designed to foster joy from the beginning to the end. Ultimately, we strive to ensure that each guest leaves with cherished memories that last a lifetime.
Hospitality
Giza Palace Hotel & Spa Partners with IDeaS to Implement Advanced Revenue Management Capabilities
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
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

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
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