Travel news: Luxury landmark reopens in Yangon and more

Rotana to open 16 hotels in 2017

The UAE hotel company Rotana has announced that it will open 16 hotels next year, including five in the UAE and four in Saudi Arabia. There will also be two hotels each for Turkey and Iraq and the company’s first property in Muscat, Oman. The UAE properties are the Capital Centre Rotana in Abu Dhabi, complementing the existing Capital Centre Arjaan and Centro Capital Centre, a significantly expanded Cove Rotana Resort in Ras Al Khaimah, the Saadiyat Rotana Resort and Villas and the Beach Arjaan by Rotana, both on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi, and the Creek Rotana and Creek Arjaan by Rotana in Dubai. In Saudi Arabia, two hotels will open in Riyadh, and one each in Al Khobar and Jeddah. Rotana will open its second hotel in Erbil, the Erbil Arjaan, and another in Sulimaniyah (www.rotana.com).

Yotel for Paris CDG airport

Travellers passing through Paris’ Charles De Gaulle airport can now check into a new caspule-style hotel operated by the Kuwait-owned Yotel brand. Yotel has several other properties, including London’s Gatwick and Heathrow airports, Amsterdam Schipol and midtown Manhattan. The Paris hotel has 80 airside rooms which are compact and cabin-style, without windows. The hotels are convenient for those with long layovers or awkward arrival and departure times. Rooms at the Paris property cost from €59 (Dh233) for four hours (www.yotel.com).

Luxury landmark reopens in Yangon

One of Asia’s most historic colonial hotels, The Strand Hotel in Yangon, Myanmar, reopened this week after a multi-million dollar renovation. The hotel sits on the Yangon Waterfront and dates from 1901. It was developed by the Sarkies brothers, Iranians of Armenian descent who were also behind Raffles in Singapore and the Eastern & Oriental Hotel in Penang, Malaysia. Earlier this year, the company launched a 28-cabin ship, The Strand Cruise, on the Irrawaddy River. The hotel has just 31 rooms and suites and features teak panelling, marble flooring, Myanmar lacquerware and antique furniture, complimented by state-of-the-art technology and modern air conditioning. Prices start from US$334 (Dh1,200) per room per night including breakfast and taxes. To celebrate its reopening, The Strand Yangon is offering a special “New Era” package, offering guests booking a superior suite for two nights or more for stays until April 30, 2017 (blackout dates apply) a complimentary upgrade to a deluxe suite (subject to availability) along with return airport transfers, high tea for two and a Myanmar degustation menu for two at The Strand Café (www.hotelthestrand.com).

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