Waldorf Astoria and Vignette Collection are bringing new luxury points hotels to Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi already has an incredible assortment of hotels, but a few hotel brands with major loyalty programs are making moves in this capital city.
Both Hilton and IHG have announced exciting new projects in Abu Dhabi that will see a handful of hotels reflag.
The first major change will see the Eastern Mangroves Abu Dhabi Hotel, formerly an Anantara property, join the Hilton family as the Waldorf Astoria Abu Dhabi. While Waldorf Astoria is represented in other emirates, including Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah, this will be the first one in Abu Dhabi. Located near Abu Dhabi's Mangrove National Park, the hotel will feature 167 rooms and suites, three swimming pools and restaurants ranging from a brasserie to a rooftop establishment, plus Waldorf's signature Peacock Alley.
Across Abu Dhabi, on Yas Island, IHG is teaming up with Aldar, a major United Arab Emirates-based real estate company, to transform six different hotels in the Yas Plaza Hotels complex into one single resort under the Vignette Collection flag.
Scheduled to open late next year, Straylight Yas, Vignette Collection (as the merged resort complex will be called) will see all the various properties renovated and converted. In total, Straylight Yas will have over 1,300 rooms; beach access (a first for the complex); retail, food and beverage outlets; and access to a golf course, golf and beach villas, a beach club, an open-air theater and more.
IHG will also take over a desert resort in Abu Dhabi's Al Dhafra region, the Tilal Liwa Hotel, and transition it into a Vignette Collection resort. With 110 rooms, that property — with its tented villas featuring private pools, three restaurants and a swimming pool — will enter a soft-opening phase later this year, with a full opening expected sometime in 2025.
In Abu Dhabi, Hilton is already represented by a few hotels, including a Hilton-branded hotel on Yas Island, a Warner Brothers-themed hotel, a Curio Collection hotel and a Conrad.
IHG owns several hotels, including its namesake InterContinental, Holiday Inn, Staybridge Suites and Crowne Plaza.
Opening dates and rates are currently unavailable for these forthcoming Abu Dhabi properties.
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