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17 hotels, apartment hotels under construction in Qom

A total of 17 hotels and apartment hotels are being constructed across the central province of Qom, adding 2894 beds to the province’s hospitality sector. Over 16 trillion rials (about $381 million at the official exchange rate of 42,000 rials per dollar) has been invested in the hotel projects, the provincial tourism chief has said. Upon their completion in the near future, these hotels are expected to generate 936 job opportunities, Alireza Arjmandi announced on Saturday. In parallel with the growth of tourism, related industries, such as transportation, souvenir, and handicraft supply centers, will also expand, which could lead to economic prosperity, the official added. The second-holiest city of the country after Mashhad, Qom is home to both the magnificent shrine of Hazrat-e Masumeh (SA) and the major religious madrasas (schools). Apart from sightseers and pilgrims who visit Qom to pay homage at the holy shrine, the city is also a top destination for Shiite scholars and students who come from across the world to learn Islamic studies at its madrasas and browse through eminent religious bookshops. The antiquity of Qom goes back to the Sassanid era (224 CE–651) and several historical mosques, mansions, and natural sceneries have been scattered across the city as well as towns and villages nearby.

Create: Aug 1, 2021 Edit: Aug 1, 2021 Regional News

Noble Acquires the Hampton Inn and Home2Suites by Hilton Tampa Downtown | Channel District

Noble Investment Group today announced the acquisition of Hampton Inn and Home2Suites by Hilton Tampa Downtown | Channel District and Starbucks Coffee Channel District. Opened in July 2019, these newly built dual-brand hotels and retail Starbucks Coffee store are located in Tampa, Florida’s rapidly growing Downtown Channel District.Tampa is a vibrant metropolitan city that enjoys a depth and breadth of leisure, corporate, healthcare, and government demand. The market is anchored by 6.5 million square feet of office space, the 1,000-bed Tampa General Hospital, and the 600,000 square foot Tampa Convention Center. Tampa’s Channel District is connected to Water Street, a $3 billion, 9 million square foot development that has delivered a 350,000 square foot campus for the University of South Florida School of Medicine and will ultimately deliver more than 2.3 million square feet of new office space and 3,500 residential units. The hotels are central to the Tampa Cruise Port, Sparkman Wharf, Florida Aquarium, and Amalie Arena.

Create: Jul 28, 2021 Edit: Jul 28, 2021 International News

South Florida’s iconic Boca Raton Resort & Club to Undergo $175 Million Renovation

South Florida’s iconic Boca Raton Resort & Club announces the most significant evolution in its history, and its new-again name —The Boca Raton. For over four decades, from 1944 to 1988, The Boca Raton name signified a luxurious lifestyle unmatched worldwide. Over the coming months, The Boca Raton will usher in an entirely new perspective on travel, A New Golden Era. A New Golden Era at The Boca Raton and The Boca Raton Club promises an unrivaled destination beginning with a $175 million Phase One physical transformation to be unveiled during Winter 2021/2022. There will be bespoke enhancements to every guest experience, from exceptional accommodations to dynamic culinary concepts and innovative programming. The Boca Raton has a remarkable history as an internationally recognized landmark and a private escape for in-the-know travelers,” said Daniel A. Hostettler, President & CEO of The Boca Raton. “A New Golden Era will pay homage to the resort’s storied past while introducing innovative new amenities and experiences that will inspire both members and guests, and define The Boca Raton as one of the world’s most preeminent luxury resorts and private clubs.” Five Distinct Hotel Experiences, One Iconic Resort. The Boca Raton will feature a collection of five hotels located Beachside and Harborside, each with its own personality and style. Beach Club: The oceanfront luxury escape features three pools set on a private stretch of golden beach. The hotel’s new Mediterranean dining concepts, Marisol and the lobby lounge, are curated by notable lifestyle guru Colin Cowie. Bungalows: Ideal for extended stays, this three-story residential hideaway features two-bedroom suites with full kitchens and furnished terraces and balconies. Tucked in a serene corner of the property surrounded by a lush landscape, the Bungalows offer a private pool and dedicated amenities. Yacht Club: The adult-only, all-suite luxury hotel embodies refined lakefront leisure. Elegant suites feature private balconies, and views of Lake Boca Raton and its yacht-lined promenade. Personal concierges and floor valets prepare every detail for the perfect escape. Reopening Winter 2021. Cloister: Stay where it all started amidst grand architecture, lush grounds and hidden gardens as an unforgettable backdrop. Located in the heart of the action, the resort’s original structure is just steps from the 18-hole golf course, Racquet Club and spa. The Cloister is being revitalized and will reopen with immersive experiences and rotating art collections. Reopening Winter 2021. Tower: Providing elevated perspectives for sophisticated travelers, the 27-story tower is undergoing a $45 million complete transformation by Rockwell Group. With extraordinary vistas of sparkling waterways, the all new luxury hotel will introduce flexible suite configurations—two to three bedrooms—artful touches, bespoke amenities and butler service. Opening first quarter 2022. A World of Flavor. From fine dining to waterfront bites, The Boca Raton is creating one of the most exciting culinary destinations in the country, including four signature experiences with Major Food Group (MFG). The Flamingo Grill, opening this month, offers a glamorous take on the mid-century American chophouse. Forthcoming restaurants include Sadelle’s, the inventive, perennially packed brunch institution with locations in New York and Las Vegas, and all new concepts exploring Japanese and Italian cuisine. Only at The Boca Raton. This winter, the resort will unveil Harborside Pool Club, a four-acre lakefront oasis featuring luxury cabanas, four pools, 450-foot lazy river, two three-story high slides, double standing wave, retail boutique, 7,100 square foot event lawn, 5,000 square foot kids club, and a teens lounge, as well as new waterfront dining options. The Boca Raton’s 40,000 square foot wellness oasis has unveiled a new name, Spa Palmera, and new treatments. This winter, Spa Palmera will showcase a refreshed design and additional programming. New one-of-a-kind experiences include a supercar racing adventure, perfect for thrill seekers. Fashionistas may opt for a curated shopping day with a personal stylist, while couples can spend the afternoon on a private boat, complete with snorkeling and live entertainment. Resort owners MSD Partners and Northview Hotel Group are stewarding the property into its new phase with an award-winning team of builders and creators. Visionaries include architecture and design firm Rockwell Group, landscape architecture firm EDSA, branding and marketing agency King & Partners, and GarciaStromberg—a firm of architects, designers and artists.

Create: Jul 17, 2021 Edit: Jul 17, 2021 International News

Approved Vaccine Inconsistency Could Delay the Restart of International Travel

The restart of international travel could be seriously delayed without worldwide reciprocal recognition of all approved COVID-19 vaccines, says the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).The global tourism body, which represents the global private Travel & Tourism sector, has issued its warning following concerns tourists face being turned away at the borders because countries don’t have a common list internationally recognised and approved COVID-19 vaccines.This comes just days after a number of British holidaymakers, who had been administered the Indian Covishield batch of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, were rejected entry into Malta despite the drug being chemically identical to the UK-made vaccine.Over the past few weeks reports of holidaymakers facing obstacles to entry have been on the rise, with some even being prevented from boarding their flights to destinations.WTTC believes that once again, the lack of international coordination to agree on a list of approved vaccines, is creating yet another major stumbling block for the restart of international travel.This comes despite most vaccines have secured the approval of the World Health Organisation (WHO) or Stringent Regulatory Authorities (SRAs), such as the UK’s the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Food and Drug Administration in the US, and the European Medicines Agency (EMA).Reports of travellers being turned away because they have the ‘wrong’ vaccine batches or ‘unrecognised’ vaccines have fueled concern from consumers, deterring them from booking and thereby damaging the already struggling Travel & Tourism sector.The plea for reciprocal recognition for all vaccines and vaccine batches forms part of WTTC’s four new guidelines which are aimed at safely resuming international mobility and save the millions of jobs and livelihoods which depend on this sector, while kick-starting the global economic recovery.Virginia Messina, Senior Vice President WTTC, said: “Reciprocal recognition of all vaccine types and batches is essential if we are to avoid any further unnecessary and damaging delay to restarting international travel.“The failure of countries to agree on a common list of all approved and recognised vaccines is of huge concern to WTTC, as we know every day travel is curbed, more cash-strapped Travel & Tourism businesses face even greater strain, pushing ever more to the brink of bankruptcy.“We can avoid this by having a fully recognised list of all the approved vaccines – and vaccine batches – which should be the key to unlocking international travel, not the door to preventing it.“It will also give holidaymakers and travellers the confidence they need to book trips, flights and cruises, confident in the knowledge that their fully-vaccinated status will be internationally recognised.”WTTC says the restoration of safe international travel can be achieved by following its four guidelines.Through a combination of COVID-19 testing, vaccination, digital health travel passes and the use of health and safety protocols, such as wearing face masks, safe international mobility can resume while at the same time saving millions of jobs and livelihoods which depend on the sector and kick-starting the global economic recovery. WTTC’s fundamental guidelines to restore international mobility while safeguarding public health include: Appropriately reduced protocols for vaccinated travellers, including no need for testing or quarantine for those fully vaccinated. Global recognition for international travel of all vaccines authorised for use and deemed safe and effective by the WHO or by the WHO recognised SRAs.A data driven, risk-based and internationally harmonised approach to re-establishing freedom of movement, that is consistent across countries, easy to communicate and clearly understood by travellers.Global adoption of ‘digital health passes’ which enable travellers to easily obtain and verify their vaccination status, negative COVID test result or natural immunity from a previous infection. These must work with existing border control and travel operator systems accepted by all countries. Digital verification of a traveller’s COVID status prior to travel will avoid lengthy and unsafe queues in transport hubs and terminals.Continued implementation of high-quality health and safety standards throughout all areas of the Travel & Tourism sector, including continued adoption of the WTTC’s Safe Travel Protocols and Safe Travel Stamp, with the continued wearing of face masks in crowded and enclosed areas as well as on all forms of public transport. WTTC advocates the full implementation of these proportionate and responsible guidelines for travel during over the next few months, as many travel restrictions begin being eased as major travel markets begin to reopen.This is against the backdrop of a successful vaccination roll out, with a subsequent decrease in deaths, cases, and hospitalisations in many countries. However, variants will continue to be cause of concern as the world struggles to emerge from the effects of the pandemic.

Create: Jul 17, 2021 Edit: Jul 17, 2021 International News

Tehran hosting Islamic countries on health tourism

The 5th edition of the International Health Congress of Islamic Countries started in Tehran on Tuesday, aiming to find new opportunities for cooperation and development of health tourism among Muslim nations. Being held at IRIB International Conference Center, the congress is organized by the Health Tourism Development Center of Islamic Countries (HTDC) and supported by ministries, federations, institutions, and organizations in health tourism as well as private and governmental health service providers, the official website of the event announced. The three-day event has brought together seniors and experts from governmental and private sectors in the health tourism industry. The congress is being held in five specialized panel discussions of medical tourism, sports tourism, natural, wellness, and food tourism, medical and laboratory equipment, and nutrition and healthy food. The event started its official operations in 2015 with the aim of playing an effective role in developing economic relations and facilitating the networks between stakeholders in the health and health tourism industry. The developing health tourism industry is one of the most important fields of Iran’s travel sector, which is trying to prove its capabilities and capacities in attracting medical and health tourists to the country. Many domestic experts believe that medical tourism in Iran is a win-win opportunity both for the country and foreign patients, as they are offered affordable yet quality treatment services and the country gains considerable foreign currency. Iran’s two most popular medical tourist cities are Tehran and Mashhad, but the coronavirus outbreak has significantly reduced the number of travelers. Iran is one of the major destinations for health tourism in the region, and patients with 55 different nationalities, mostly from neighboring countries including Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan are seeking to use Iran’s services and facilities in this field. Iranian hospitals admitted nearly 70,000 foreign patients over the Iranian calendar year 1397 (March 2018 – March 2019) and it made an economic contribution of around $1.2 billion to the country, according to the medical tourism department at the Ministry of Health. In April 2018, the rotating presidency of the International Health Tourism Conference of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) was handed to the Islamic Republic for a three-year term. Mohammad Jahangiri who presides over a national center for developing health tourism said in May 2018 that Iran can annually earn $7 billion in medical and health tourism, though the sector now brings in only one-seventh or even lesser of the sum. The Islamic Republic has set its goals to exceed its yearly medical travelers to around 2 million in the Iranian calendar year 1404.

Create: Jul 17, 2021 Edit: Jul 17, 2021 Regional News

Alpental Capital Acquires Courtyard Atlanta Airport West

Alpental Capital (“Alpental”), a Denver-based hotel investment group, announced the acquisition of the Courtyard Atlanta Airport West and has selected Providence Hospitality Partners to manage the hotel. The 128-room hotel is located in East Pointe, Georgia, three miles from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and just a 10-minute drive from downtown Atlanta. The hotel recently completed an extensive $1.6m guestrooms renovation in 2018-2019, and Alpental has continued capital improvements planned for the property to further enhance the guest experience. In addition to the recently renovated guestrooms, the four-story hotel features an airport shuttle, outdoor pool, Bistro & Bar, 24-hour fitness center, 24-hour business center, and complimentary WiFi and parking. The property also provides over 3,000 square feet of meeting space that can accommodate up to 130 people, along with an executive boardroom. “We are proud to add the Courtyard to our growing hotel portfolio. The acquisition is well aligned with our strategy of acquiring high-quality hotels in submarkets with dynamic demand drivers,” said Greg Wilson of Alpental Capital. “The hotel’s new management team has done an excellent job reopening all amenities at the hotel that were temporarily closed during COVID and ensuring top quality service to our guests.” Located just off I-285 and Camp Creek Parkway, the Courtyard Atlanta Airport West is across the street from more than 1.2 million square feet of premium retail space at the Camp Creek Marketplace. The hotel is also located at the entrance of Camp Creek Business Center, an industrial development with 4 million square feet of developed space. Nearby is Atlanta’s downtown area, the Georgia International Convention Center, Turner Field, and the Georgia Aquarium, among other attractions. Guests have convenient access to and from the nearby Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport via the hotel’s complimentary airport shuttle. The Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport has historically been the busiest airport in the world and even through the pandemic, the airport has remained the busiest in the US.

Create: Jul 7, 2021 Edit: Jul 7, 2021 International News

Japanese envoy content to see Urmia Lake restored

Japan’s Ambassador to Tehran Kazutoshi Aikawa whose country closely cooperates with Iran on Urmia Lake expressed content on Tuesday to see the lake being restored. In a meeting with Deputy Governor-General of East Azarbaijan Province, Aikawa said that he had travelled to the province in coordination with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to see the process of implementing Urmia Lake restoration programs. Referring to the cooperation of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) with the restoration program, the ambassador said that good efforts have been done and he was pleased to see the lake is being restored. He said that East Azarbaijan Province has good capacities of tourism and Japan is very interested in expanding tourism ties with the northeastern Iranian province. UNDP representative in Iran Claudio Providas said that the UN agency has had many cooperation programs with Japan to revive Urmia Lake and all programs are in progress in the best possible way. He stated that Iran was affected by climate change and this cannot be changed, but there can be programs to elevate local people’s awareness of the situation. He also said that the UNDP has implemented several programs in local communities around Urmia Lake and then it would be going to digitalize the marketing process for local agricultural products. East Azarbaijan Province Deputy Governor-General Javad Rahmati said that the province is one of the greatest provinces of Iran with over 4 million people living in the province. He also underlined that the province has close economic ties with neighboring countries Azerbaijan Republic, Armenia and Turkey. Alternative livelihood and changing agricultural pattern in the lands around Urmia Lake was among plans the current administration implemented, Rahmati said.

Create: Jul 7, 2021 Edit: Jul 7, 2021 Regional News

Hakim Mosque: a hidden gem to visit in Isfahan

The lesser-known Hakim Mosque is a visually stunning monument in Isfahan, which travelers can pay a visit to near the centuries-old bazaar of the central Iranian city. The elegant mosque is not only a house of worship but also a public building serving a multiplicity of uses. It is a gathering place for prayers five times a day, an Islamic college, and an emergency shelter for travelers. Built-in the mid-17th century during the reign of Shah Abbas II, the mosque is named after its constructer who was a physician (“Hakim” in Persian). The mosque has no monumental entry, but five different minor entries. Frequently, a mosque is also used as a shortcut for another destination beyond the place of worship. Although the penetration of the mosque walls may take many forms, the primary destination is always the same. It is a courtyard that can be called a monumental space. The mosque also contains amenities, such as washrooms and toilets, for public use. Isfahan has long been nicknamed as Nesf-e-Jahan which is translated into “half the world”; meaning seeing it is relevant to see the whole world. In its heyday, it was also one of the largest cities in the region with a population of nearly one million. The cool blue tiles of Isfahan's Islamic buildings, and the city's majestic bridges, contrast perfectly with the encircling hot, dry Iranian countryside. The huge Imam Square, best known as Naghsh-e Jahan Sq. (literary meaning “Image of the World”), is one of the largest in the world (500m by 160m), and a majestic example of town planning. Built in the early 17th century, the UNESCO-registered square is punctuated with the most interesting sights in Isfahan. Modern Isfahan is now home to some heavy industry, including steel factories and a nuclear facility on its outskirts, however, its inner core wants to be preserved as a priceless gem.

Create: Jul 7, 2021 Edit: Jul 7, 2021 Regional News

Another recreational pier to be constructed in northern Iran

A new recreational pier will be constructed near the city of Noshahr, which is bounded by the Caspian Sea in northern Mazandaran province. Some 100 billion rials ($2.4 million at the official exchange rate of 42,000 rials per dollar) have been allocated to the project, which is to be carried out by the private sector, Noshahr’s tourism chief has announced. “Through the project, maritime tourism in the region will be reinforced and more tourists will be attracted,” IRNA quoted Mohammad Valipur as saying on Tuesday. There are also plans to construct twelve more recreational piers on the coastline of the city, but they have not yet found investors, the official added. Back in January, the head of Noshahr’s Fisheries Department Mostafa Rezvani said that constructing such piers could boost the infrastructure needed for developing fisheries investments. This capacity could also facilitate the activities of the fish farms in the coastal waters of the region, he noted. Last August, the construction of the first recreational pier in Mazandaran began in the city of Ramsar. Some 150 billion rials ($3.5 million) were allocated to the project, which aimed to enhance coastal and maritime tourism in the region. With a width of three meters and a length of 100 meters, the pier is being constructed by private investors in close collaboration with the provincial cultural heritage department. This pier is one of the 134 piers, which are decided to be built in the future across the province’s coastal strip, provincial tourism chief Mehran Hassani said. The project, which is planned to come on stream in one year, also includes restaurants, water sports space, and boat mooring. Stretched along the Caspian Sea and Alborz mountain range, Mazandaran is a popular destination for domestic holidaymakers and it is home to more than 3500 villages and rural areas.

Create: Jun 23, 2021 Edit: Jun 23, 2021 Regional News

5-star hotels being constructed in Qom

Upon their completion in the near future, these hotels will bring a significant change to the tourism industry in the central Iranian province, the provincial tourism chief has said. The official briefed on one of the accommodation projects, as an example, saying: “An investment of 2.6 trillion rials (about $62 million at the official exchange rate of 42,000 rials per dollar) has been made in the Zaferanieh Hotel, one of the under-construction projects,” the official added. “Covering an area of 1,500 square meters, the project is expected to generate 80 job opportunities directly,” he stated. “The hotel will have 90 rooms and will add 200 beds to the hospitality sector of the province,” he noted. The second-holiest city of the country after Mashhad, Qom is home to both the magnificent shrine of Hazrat-e Masumeh (SA) and the major religious madrasas (schools). Apart from sightseers and pilgrims who visit Qom to pay homage at the holy shrine, the city is also a top destination for Shiite scholars and students who come from across the world to learn Islamic studies at its madrasas and browse through eminent religious bookshops. The antiquity of Qom goes back to the Sassanid era (224 CE–651) and several historical mosques, mansions, and natural sceneries have been scattered across the city as well as towns and villages nearby.

Create: Jun 23, 2021 Edit: Jun 23, 2021 Regional News

Iranian president urges efforts to boost medical tourism

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has urged sustainable efforts towards developing medical tourism across the country. “Health tourism is of great importance to us, and hospitals located in the border provinces of the country can serve a pivotal role in developing medical tourism by providing medical services to foreign guests and tourists,” Rouhani said on Thursday. He made the remarks on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony of some health projects, urging the need for reinforcing medical and health services in some provinces, including Khorasan (Razavi), Isfahan, Fars, and East Azarbaijan, is an absolute duty. “For the time being, many Iranians living in foreign countries prefer to choose homeland for their treatment or certain surgeries,” he said, adding such a trend indicates great efforts made by “dear doctors and nurses and all the dear ones who work in the health sector”. Medical tourism is booming worldwide as about 20 to 24 million people are traveling for medical treatments annually. Factors such as increased care needs over longer lifespans, rising healthcare costs, and constant pressures on some insurance industries are reasons behind why some opt to travel abroad. Regarding price competitiveness, Iran currently ranks first in the world but the country has not been very successful in attracting potential travelers as other competitors like Singapore and Turkey. People from the Persian Gulf littoral states, Iraq and Syria as well as Iranian expatriates residing in Canada and Germany constituted the majority of medical travelers to the Islamic Republic, who received plastic, cosmetics, open-heart, and orthopedic surgeries amongst other treatments over the past couple of years. The Islamic Republic has set goals to exceed its yearly medical travelers to around two million in [calendar year] 1404 (March 2025-March 2026). Amongst Iran’s trump cards are the presence of credible surgeons and physicians, cutting-edge medical technologies, high-tech medicine and diverse specializations, super affordable procedures, and finally its hospitable people.

Create: Jun 19, 2021 Edit: Jun 19, 2021 Regional News

Tourist Numbers Down 83% but Confidence Slowly Rising

International tourist arrivals were down 83% in the first quarter of 2021 as widespread travel restrictions remained in place. However, the UNWTO Confidence Index shows signs of a slow uptick in confidence. Between January and March 2021 destinations around the world welcomed 180 million fewer international arrivals compared to the first quarter of last year. Asia and the Pacific continued to suffer the lowest levels of activity with a 94% drop in international arrivals over the three-month period. Europe recorded the second largest decline with -83%, followed by Africa (-81%), the Middle East (-78%) and the Americas (-71%). This all follows on from the 73% fall in worldwide international tourist arrivals recorded in 2020, making it the worst year on record for the sector. Lack of coordination harms RestartTourism UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili comments: “There is significant pent-up demand and we see confidence slowly returning. Vaccinations will be key for recovery, but we must improve coordination and communication while making testing easier and more affordable if we want to see a rebound for the summer season in the northern hemisphere.” Vaccinations will be key for recovery, but we must improve coordination and communication while making testing easier and more affordable if we want to see a rebound for the summer season in the northern hemisphere. The latest survey of the UNWTO Panel of Tourism Experts shows prospects for the May-August period improving slightly. Alongside this, the pace of the vaccination rollout in some key source markets as well as policies to restart tourism safely, most notably the EU Digital Green Certificate, have boosted hopes for a rebound in some of these markets. Overall, 60% expect a rebound in international tourism only in 2022, up from 50% in the January 2021 survey. The remaining 40% see a potential rebound in 2021, though this is down slightly from the percentage in January. Nearly half of the experts do not see a return to 2019 international tourism levels before 2024 or later, while the percentage of respondents indicating a return to pre-pandemic levels in 2023 has somewhat decreased (37%), when compared to the January survey.

Create: Jun 16, 2021 Edit: Jun 16, 2021 International News