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المنصة الرائدة لأخبار السفر في الشرق الاوسط

12/12/2025

First Look: Mandarin Oriental Vienna, Austria

Set within Vienna’s Unesco-listed Ringstrasse in a landmark former courthouse, Mandarin Oriental, Vienna artfully unites art nouveau heritage with modern elegance, retaining original features such as grand staircases and ornate ceilings. Spacious and light-filled, the hotel’s 138 rooms and suites have a residential grand-apartment feel with high ceilings, marble bathrooms and soft neutral palettes, many overlooking a glass-covered courtyard that forms the social heart of the property. Guests will find four distinct culinary experiences led by Chef Thomas Seifried, including seafood-led fine dining at Le Sept and the Atelier 7 concept spanning a brasserie, café and izakaya-style bar. Facilities include a spa inspired by Vienna’s musical legacy, offering holistic treatments, an indoor pool and a fitness centre, while the First District’s storied boulevards, St Stephen’s Cathedral and the Golden Quarter are all within walking distance.

09/12/2025

First Look: Hilton Bahrain City Centre, Manama

Opened in November 2025, Hilton Bahrain City Centre Hotel & Residences is located in the dynamic Seef District, offering direct access to the Bahrain City Centre Mall and proximity to key business, leisure and cultural landmarks. The 594-unit property includes studios, one- and two-bedroom suites, and penthouses, many featuring fully equipped kitchens and balconies or terraces with city and sea views, catering to both short and extended stays. Guests can choose from four diverse dining venues, including an all-American burger eatery, a Mediterranean restaurant serving seasonal dishes and a poolside lounge. Amenities include both indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a spa with traditional Moroccan hammams and two fitness studios, one mixed-use and one exclusively for women. Families are supported by dedicated children’s and teens’ clubs and a kids’ pool, while business travellers benefit from flexible meeting spaces and convenient access to the financial district.

05/12/2025

First Look: Madrid Marriott Hotel Princesa Plaza, Spain

Following a US$59 million transformation, the 30‑year‑old Princesa Plaza has reopened as Madrid Marriott Hotel Princesa in the Argüelles district, steps from Plaza de España and the Royal Palace. The property offers 400 rooms and 14 suites, including upper-floor categories styled in soft beige and blue tones with sweeping city views, with some pet-friendly accommodations available. Dining highlights include La Chata, serving Spanish classics, and cocktail bar La Mimosa with a terrace for al fresco drinks. Among facilities are a fitness centre, an executive lounge for Marriott Bonvoy members and flexible event space hosting up to 500 guests.

03/12/2025

First Look: The Carlton Milan, Italy

Following a €60-million transformation, The Carlton Milan reopens in November 2025 as Rocco Forte Hotels’ latest Italian address in the heart of the city’s fashion district, with entrances on Via Senato and Via della Spiga placing guests mere steps from Milan’s flagship boutiques and cultural landmarks. Seventy-one rooms and suites are styled as refined private residences, pairing bold palettes and tactile, Art Deco-inflected details. Superior Rooms look onto tranquil courtyards, while deluxe rooms and suites feature private terraces with views of the historic Duomo. Three culinary experiences include an Italian restaurant, showcasing local ingredients, plus The Carlton Bar, serving signature cocktails. Facilities include the Irene Forte Spa, offering treatments alongside a sauna, steam, sensory showers and sound beds, an all-day fitness centre, salon and in-house flower shop. A sky-lit winter garden and lush terrace will open in spring 2026.

28/11/2025

Inside Connections Saudi 2025 in Riyadh

More than 600 travel trade professionals gathered in Riyadh from 10-14 November 2025 for the inaugural Connections Saudi, presented in partnership with the Saudi Tourism Authority. The four-day event, staged alongside the first Tourise Summit, convened 250 international buyers and 250 Saudi suppliers for curated networking and cultural immersion, spotlighting the kingdom’s dynamic tourism landscape. Delivered through The Connections Way format, delegates participated in more than 5,900 one-to-one meetings, alongside immersive experiences, educational sessions and destination showcases including Aseer, Al Baha, AlUla and Six Senses Southern Dunes. Event highlights featured a heritage tour of Diriyah’s Unesco-listed At-Turaif District and an exclusive preview of Qiddiya City’s Six Flags entertainment hub, with the four days concluding at a private Red Sea Global-hosted dinner at InterContinental Riyadh.

27/11/2025

First Look: Parvara, Fujairah, UAE

Opened in November 2025, Parvara, located high in the Jabal al-Hamri mountains in UAE emirate Fujairah, is an all-inclusive, off-grid luxury retreat designed for those seeking respite from urban life. Spacious private pavilions blend seamlessly with the rugged landscape, each offering thoughtful interiors, privacy and sweeping mountain views. Guests are supported by attentive butler service for a tranquil, uninterrupted stay. Dining takes centre stage, with fire-cooked feasts, Arabic-inspired breakfasts and themed dinners served in the open wilderness, from deep within a wadi to beneath the stars. Curated experiences range from sunrise yoga to Emirati heritage activities, family-friendly mountain treks to stargazing sessions, immersing guests in the region’s scenery and culture.

26/11/2025

First Look: Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, Vietnam

This luxury beachfront property on Vietnam’s central coast has reopened with 43 redesigned villas. Each offers more space, natural light, private terraces and views of tropical gardens or the sea, some enjoyed directly from the bed. Interiors pair local craftsmanship with a lighter palette and introduce two new daybeds, while family villas feature a partitioned lounge that doubles as a children’s room. Bathrooms include white marble finishes, freestanding bathtubs, indoor and outdoor rain showers and garden outlooks, alongside luxury touches such as Dyson hairdryers and yoga mats. Facilities encompass three infinity pools, racquet courts, kids’ clubs, a cooking academy and water sports. Seventeen more villas will open in December.

21/11/2025

First Look: METT Singapore

Making METT’s Asia Pacific debut in October 2025, METT Singapore – in the leafy grounds of Fort Canning Park – is an 84-room retreat, reimagined by designer Jeffrey Wilkes. Culinary highlights span outposts of Dubai’s L’Amo Bistrò del Mare, serving coastal Italian cuisine, and refined Korean grill Hanu. Guests can unwind at two outdoor pools, play padel or pickleball, and train in the gym, which is also equipped for Reformer Pilates, HIIT and aerial yoga classes. It features a cold plunge pool, sauna and steam room, while the private members’ club houses The Longevity Suite, offering cryotherapy and other science-led wellness treatments. An 800-guest ballroom will host events.

19/11/2025

First Look: Radisson Collection Hotel Basilica, Budapest, Hungary

Located just 50 metres from St Stephen’s Basilica in Budapest’s vibrant heart, this boutique hotel blends historic grandeur with contemporary luxury. Housed in a meticulously restored neoclassical building, it offers 71 individually styled rooms and suites, many providing direct Basilica views. Interiors feature custom furnishings, curated artwork and high-end amenities such as flat-screen TVs and plush bathrobes. Guests can enjoy three distinct dining venues including a street-facing, vintage-inspired café, an all-day bistro serving comfort food and local wines and a rooftop restaurant serving Japanese-Peruvian Nikkei cuisine alongside crafted cocktails and sweeping city views. Additional facilities include a boutique fitness area and two private boardrooms.

12/11/2025

First Look: Mandarin Oriental Downtown, Dubai, UAE

Rising high above Sheikh Zayed Road within Wasl Tower, this Mandarin Oriental property marks the Group’s second hotel in the UAE. Its 259 rooms and suites feature warm neutral palettes, desert-inspired artworks and sweeping views over the Arabian Gulf or city skyline, with highlights including the Royal Penthouse, complete with a private theatre and Japanese marble bathtub. Ten dining venues span international cuisines, from modern Chinese at Yù & Mì to Italian Chitarra and Mediterranean rooftop dining at Noia, with upcoming openings including Pavyllon Dubai by Yannick Alléno, the world’s most Michelin‑lauded chef. A two‑storey wellness space offers a hammam, saunas, vitality pools and fitness facilities, alongside a landscaped terrace with three pools, a tea lounge and movement studio. A helipad crowns the tower for discreet VIP arrivals.

10/11/2025

First Look: Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Çeşme, Türkiye

After a nine-month, multi-million-dollar renovation, this flagship beachfront resort on Türkiye’s Aegean coast has reopened, offering refreshed rooms, new dining venues and landscaped gardens. The 312 elegantly designed rooms offer pool or sea views, some with private balconies. Dining options include a buffet restaurant, lobby lounge serving pastries and two bars, one poolside and the other beachside offering seasonal dishes and cocktails. The expansive spa includes indoor and outdoor pools, thermal areas, three Turkish hammams, Finnish and dry saunas, 12 treatment rooms and a fitness centre. Nearby attractions include Çeşme Castle, Aqua Toy City water park and the charming town of Alaçatı.

&Spa

07/11/2025

First Look: NH Collection Palermo Palazzo Sitano, Italy

Located on Via Vittorio Emanuele, Palermo’s oldest street lined with historic palaces, this boutique hotel stands just steps from the vibrant Vucciria market and the iconic Quattro Canti square. Housed in a refined Baroque palazzo restored from aristocratic residences, it features 86 rooms and suites, many with frescoed ceilings and original cast-iron balconies offering views of the old town. Its restaurant, set in a bright glass structure overlooking an interior patio, serves innovative Sicilian dishes blending local ingredients with international influences, while a terrace bar spills onto the pavement. Guests can unwind with amenities including a ground-floor sauna, steam bath and fitness club.

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Office G‑04, Loft Offices 3
Dubai Media City

Website

http://www.connectingtravel.com/

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