Marriott International Signs Agreement With Mario Julen to Bring The Ritz-Carlton Brand to the Swiss Alps

Marriott International today announced it has signed an agreement with Mario Julen to bring The Ritz-Carlton brand to Zermatt, debuting the first Ritz-Carlton ski resort in Europe. Expected to open in 2026, the 69-guest room property will bring the brand’s legendary service and elegant design to the world-famous Swiss resort destination. Once open, the property will serve as the second Ritz-Carlton hotel in Switzerland, joining The Ritz-Carlton Hotel de la Paix, Geneva.“We are thrilled to announce this milestone signing with Mario Julen who has a fantastic vision for the project,” said Satya Anand, President, Marriott International Europe, Middle East and Africa. “Zermatt is synonymous with outstanding skiing, mountaineering and jaw-dropping scenery. As the epitome of modern luxury, this landmark development and stunning destination will enhance our portfolio of iconic Ritz-Carlton properties across the globe, offering guests an exciting opportunity to experience Zermatt’s year-round snowy peaks, world-class ski slopes, and the iconic Matterhorn mountain. Today’s signing reflects the heightened demand for our luxury hospitality brands across Europe, Middle East and Africa.”The Ritz-Carlton, Zermatt will be designed by award-winning Paris-based firm AW² led by partner architects Reda Amalou and Stéphanie Ledoux, with the architectural and interior design expected to offer a refined take on the classic mountain chalet. The property will offer unobstructed views of Matterhorn from both guestrooms and dining establishments. Design plans are slated to feature two restaurants and two bars, an outdoor terrace for alfresco dining, and a private dining room for intimate gatherings. An array of recreational activities such as ‘ski-in ski-out’ access to the slopes, a tranquil spa with a gym and both indoor and outdoor swimming pools are part of the vision for guests to enjoy. The resort is also expected to offer meeting and event facilities.“This is an emotional project for me as I have worked passionately for many years to bring it to life. It is not only a declaration of love to my hometown of Zermatt, but also to the luxury hotel business and its ability to inspire travel. As the first major, international brand in Zermatt, my wish is that this project will bring a new level of hospitality to the Swiss Alps,” said Mario Julien.Zermatt affords unrivalled skiing for all levels, climbing across the Matterhorn peak as well as easy access to Cervinia in Italy for off-piste, heli-skiing and glacier skiing in the summer months. The town is well renowned for its après-ski activities offering outstanding restaurants and luxurious retail. Visitors can travel to Zermatt from Geneva and Zurich international airports in under four hours by train through enchanting Alpine scenery, or via private helicopter.

15 eco-lodge units to come on stream in eastern Iran

A total of 15 eco-lodges , which are currently being constructed across the eastern South Khorasan province, will come on stream by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (Mach 20). Establishing eco-lodge units could help boost tourism in the region, while it generates job opportunities in the rural areas, the provincial tourism chief has said. Some 80 eco-lodge units have been inaugurated across the province over the past four years, which has provided the ground for attracting more domestic and foreign tourists, Hassan Ramezani announced on Sunday. Last April, the official announced that the number of eco-lodge units has increased by fourfold in the province within a year. “Some 25 eco-lodge [units] existed across the province at the end of the [Iranian year] 1397 (March 2019) while the figure has reached 100, eighty of which are operational.” In December 2019, Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan inaugurated eleven eco-lodges during his visit to the province. Last November, the minister referred to the eco-lodges inaugurated across the country and noted that increasing the number of units could create job opportunities in rural areas and boost tourist arrivals in these regions. He also noted that promoting ecotourism can help reverse migration and attract more foreign tourists. Apart from eco-lodge units, there are also boutique hotels and traditional accommodation centers which could flourish the tourism sector and provide infrastructure in these regions, Mounesan mentioned. The tourism ministry has set a target to help build 2,000 eco-lodges by 2021, believing such guest houses could cater to sustainable development and job creation in the countryside and rural areas. Experts say each eco-lodge unit generates jobs for seven to eight people on average so that the scheme could create 160,000 jobs. The culturally-diverse country never disappoints visitors when it comes to eco-tourism, sightseeing, and even tribal tourism as it is home to many regional people including ones with Turk and Arab elements in addition to the Kurds, Baloch, Bakhtyari, Lurs, and other smaller minorities such as Armenians, Assyrians, Jews, and others.

3rd Years Anniversary

Publication of Iran Tourism Guide Book in English

This 330-page book introduces Iran's tourism potential. Iran's tourism guidebook in English has been published after three and a half years of efforts and will be unveiled soon. 

Khorramabad Rock Hotel project is 23 years old

🔹 The people of Lorestan mention this project as a historical monument.  🔹 The order of the governor of Lorestan to determine the task of this project is still undone. 

The new price of the plane ticket will be announced soon

✨ The Deputy Minister of Aviation of the National Aviation Organization proposed;  🔹 The airline has the authority to deal with all airlines that violate the overselling.  🔹 Airlines have complied with the airline's policies and will be dealt with if violations are observed. 🔹 At the moment, the prices are set to be as usual, and the airlines have submitted all their financial statements for the years 1997, 1998 and the first six months of this year to us for the necessary checks.

The bill on income tax and assets of economic actors in free trade-industrial zones was amended

✨ Resolution of the Special Commission on Production Leap and Production Prosperity of the Islamic Consultative Assembly; ⭕️ The bill on income tax and assets of economic actors in free trade-industrial zones was amended.  🔹 The tax on any economic activity that has been in operation for twenty years, with the exception of what is stated in paragraph two of this bill, is set at a rate of 20% of the mainland tax rate each year.

Disagreement will damage the tourism sector, investors and the people of the region

"Farzin Hagdal", the Deputy Minister of Economy and Investment of Chabahar Free Zone, said in an exclusive interview with Hotel News;  All necessary permits and standards have been obtained for the construction of Chabahar International Airport, and the Chabahar Free Zone is committed to completing this project.  The Chabahar Free Zone is the gateway for domestic and foreign tourists to the southeast of the country, especially the Makran coast.  Disputes over the past years have hampered the development of the Chabahar Free Zone in various areas, including tourism infrastructure, such as the construction of an international airport.

"Kenarak" airport was closed in protest of the construction of a new airport

In recent days, the airport "Kenarak" has been closed suddenly and without prior notice, and this has caused confusion and dissatisfaction among passengers.  The airport is in the possession of the army air force, and it is said that the air force authorities have announced the condition for reopening and reactivating the airport to stop the construction of Chabahar airport.  According to the governor of Sistan and Baluchestan, after 27 years, the Air Force has always prevented the construction of an airport in this area.

Pipeline of construction of a 5-star hotel in Chalous

Chalous Governor Mohammad Nasser Zandi explained; About 1,200 billion tomans of investment has been predicted for the construction of this five-star hotel.  Over the past two years, with the support of executive officials, the investor has obtained a construction permit and part of the initial operations have been carried out. This hotel will be built on a land with an area of   more than 26,000 square meters, infrastructure of more than 71,000 square meters on 12 floors with a capacity of 500 beds.

Religious tourists can see Yazd virtually this year

"Seyed Mostafa Fatemi" General Manager of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts of Yazd Province;  During the past years, in various ceremonies during Muharram, we have witnessed a significant increase in the number of tourists in Yazd.  It has been decided to make it possible to communicate with travelers who have traveled to Yazd in recent years.  In fact, this year we are looking to direct tourists to see the religious tourism of Yazd as virtual.

The goal of the tourism cooperative is to make travel cheaper and easier

"Nader Adelinia" Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cooperative Company for Supplying the Needs of Tourism Services Companies and Institutions;  We are looking to return the trip to the families, and those who are interested can travel from December.  In this plan, the interested parties pay one-fifth of the travel expenses in cash and the rest in four months without interest. We are ready to join all 5,000 travel agencies and travel services offices across the country to provide travel facilities for the people. In the first phase, for the next five years, the issue of domestic tourism and one million trips are planned.