Press Release

TRAVEL AND TOURISM LEADERS 2024

May 14th, 2024

"Fakhoury was appointed CEO in 2016, having joined the group as COO in 2007. With over 30 years of hospitality management experience, he is currently managing 12 projects. In March 2024, Cristal Group launched the “Cristal Collection,” its new property management arm. Al Bada Resort in Al Ain will be its first property. The Cristal Erbil underwent renovation in 2023, where its room count rose from 95 to 154, along with the addition of a ballroom. Fakhoury previously held senior management positions at the Luxor Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, as well as across Hyatt, Radisson Hotels, Sheraton, and Rotana Hotels.

Date: May 2024

Source: forbesmiddleeast.com

CRISTAL GROUP INTRODUCES THE CRISTAL COLLECTION TO EMPOWER INDEPENDENT HOTELS AND RESORTS

March 18th, 2024

"Cristal Group has launched the Cristal Collection, a property management arm designed to integrate independent hotels and resorts into a collective rooted in extensive industry expertise.

The initiative targets independent hotel proprietors, offering strategic partners expanded sales channels, decreased operational expenses, unparalleled hospitality proficiency, and competitive franchise fees. Backed by a management team and sales, marketing, and business operations, the collective aims to furnish its member hotels with enhanced purchasing power and revenue optimisation opportunities.

Kamal Fakhoury, chief executive officer of the Cristal Group said: “Competition in the hospitality sector has never been fiercer. As seasoned hoteliers, we can help properties grow and flourish in this challenging environment and that is what we are setting out to do with the Cristal Collection.

“The Cristal Group aims to become the premier business and leisure hotels operator and franchisor in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, and the launch of the Cristal Collection is a huge step in this journey. We are looking forward to working with investors and owners both in the GCC and abroad to deliver exceptional results and unrivalled hospitality experiences for guests.”

The participating hotels stand to benefit from streamlined processes, data-driven insights, and scalability. Cristal’s flagship property, Cristal Hotel Abu Dhabi, has achieved an impressive occupancy rate of 93 percent or higher since its inception in 2009, even during the pandemic’s peak. Hotels joining the Cristal Collection can anticipate similar successes through Cristal’s sophisticated hospitality website and booking system, boasting fees as low as 1.5 percent of generated revenue, a significant reduction compared to the 15 percent to 25 percent charged by traditional and major brand channels.

The inaugural member of the Cristal Collection is Al Bada Resort in Al Ain, poised for an extensive renovation over the next eighteen months. The property, featuring 60 private villas, will unveil exciting new facilities.

In 2023, Cristal Group launched its white-label hospitality franchising solution, too. Under this program, hotels benefit from substantial cost savings of up to 33 percent while leveraging partnerships with hotel management companies, including brands within Hilton, Accor, IHG, Marriott, and Wyndham portfolios."

TOP 100 TRAVEL & TOURISM LEADERS 2023

May 19th, 2023

"93. Kamal Fakhoury

• Company: Cristal Group
• Designation: CEO
• Nationality: Canadian Lebanese
• Sector: Hotels and Resorts

Fakhoury assumed his current role in September 2016. The Cristal Group manages four properties in the Middle East—two in Kurdistan, Iraq, one in Saudi Arabia, and its flagship property in Abu Dhabi. It has an additional five hotels in the pipeline. It was established in Abu Dhabi in 2007. In 2022, the group recorded an annual hotel turnover of more than $15 million. In 2023, Fakhoury spearheaded a move into white-label hospitality solutions, forming strategic alliances with Hilton, Accor Hotels, IHG, Marriott, and Wyndham Worldwide. He has been in hospitality for over 30 years and was previously COO of the Cristal Group from October 2007. Before joining Cristal Hotels, Fakhoury worked for Rotana Hotels, Starwood Hotels, Radisson Hotels, Hyatt Hotels and The Luxor Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

Source: Forbes ME 

HOTEL OWNERS CAN SAVE UP TO 33% ON HOTEL OPERATING COSTS

April 25th, 2023

"Cristal Group partners with the world’s most prestigious hotel brands to offer white-label hospitality solutions.
 Hotel owners can now make significant cost savings of up to 33% while capitalising on the world’s most respected hotel management companies, including brands within the Hilton, Accor Hotels, IHG, Marriott, and Wyndham Worldwide portfolios, as the Cristal Group launches white-label hospitality solutions in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
 The new direction promises unrivalled choice for local hotel owners and investors, allowing them to franchise world-renowned hotel brands for new and existing developments. All operations are then expertly managed by the Cristal Group – drastically cutting costs while leveraging the worldwide respect and recognition of these distinguished global brands.
 Building on its success in the hospitality industry in Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia and Kurdistan, the Cristal Group brings its ‘lean and mean’ business management to the day-to-day operations of these hotel partnerships, maintaining the highest design, construction, and operating standards at a fraction of the cost commanded by the larger chains in a traditional franchise model.
 Kamal Fakhoury, Chief Executive Officer of the Cristal Group said: “We are thrilled to be at the vanguard of this incredible opportunity, bringing together the world’s most respected hotel brands with our operational acumen and local expertise.”
 “White-label partnerships allow us to remain flexible and agile in terms of construction, procurement, and staffing, which translates to significant cost savings for investors. Our laser-sharp value engineering can reduce expenses across all facets of hotel management, from design and build to ongoing operational expenditures, which are often one-third less than the major hotel brands.”
 Continuing to build on the success of its existing hotel portfolio, the move into white-label franchising will cement the Cristal Group’s goal of being a premier business and leisure hotel operator in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. In 2022, the four operational hotels in Abu Dhabi, Riyadh and Erbil recorded an outstanding annual turnover of over US$15 million. The group’s flagship property, Cristal Hotel Abu Dhabi, has maintained an impressive occupancy rate of 93% or higher since opening in 2009, achieving this enviable benchmark even at the height of the pandemic.


A TAILORED APPROACH

In launching this revolutionary white-label consultancy in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, the Cristal Group has recognised a gap in the market for tailored hospitality solutions that offer real, measurable savings for investors, while allowing them to leverage the established brand recognition of the world’s most respected hotel chains.
 “With our years of experience in the region, we recognise that the local market is maturing,” noted Fakhoury. “In the US, over 90% of properties are franchised, and the majority are operated under third-party organisations. In the UAE, almost 90% are managed directly, but owners are starting to realize they can make substantial savings by working with third-party operators like the Cristal Group.”
 “What we bring to the table is an outstanding opportunity for investors to work directly under our established brands or align with an international brand at a fraction of the regular operating costs,” said Fakhoury. “We tailor our approach to each owner and project to ensure the highest returns, while maintaining our remarkable operational standards across the board.”

Sources: Hotel News ME, Mena FN, Mid East Information, Middle East Today, Nabd.com"

CRISTAL GROUP LAUNCHES WHITE-LABEL HOSPITALITY SOLUTIONS FOR HOTEL OWNERS

April 23rd, 2023

"Hotel operator and hospitality consultancy services provider Cristal Group has launched white-label hospitality solutions in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.

The company aims to tap the potential for tailored hospitality solutions that offer savings for hotel investors while allowing them to capitalise on the brand value of some of the prestigious hotel chains in the world.

The company’s white-label hospitality solutions will allow local hotel owners and investors to franchise renowned hotel brands for new and existing property developments.

Cristal Group will then manage all operations of the hotel to provide measurable cost savings to the hotel owners.

The company estimates that the solutions could provide cost savings of up to 33% to hotel owners while leveraging brands of reputed companies such as Accor Hotels, IHG, Hilton, Wyndham Worldwide and Marriott.

Cristal Group CEO Kamal Fakhoury said: “White-label partnerships allow us to remain flexible and agile in terms of construction, procurement and staffing, which translates to significant cost savings for investors.

“Our laser-sharp value engineering can reduce expenses across all facets of hotel management from design and build to ongoing operational expenditures, which are often one-third less than the major hotel brands.

“What we bring to the table is an outstanding opportunity for investors to work directly under our established brands or align with an international brand at a fraction of the regular operating costs. We tailor our approach to each owner and project to ensure the highest returns while maintaining our remarkable operational standards across the board.”

Cristal Group currently operates hotels in the UAE, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, with five more properties in the development pipeline.

The white-label hospitality offerings will strengthen the company’s position as a ​​premier operator in the business and leisure hotel category in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

مجموعة كريستال للضيافة تتعاون مع علامات تجارية فندقية عالمية

أطلقت مجموعة كريستال للضيافة حلولاً للضيافة عن طريق حق الامتياز (فرانشايز) في مناطق مختلفة من الشرق الأوسط وأفريقيا وآسيا، وذلك لتوفير فرصة لمالكي الفنادق لخفض تكاليف التشغيل بنسبة تصل إلى 33% عند الاستعانة بمجموعة كريستال للضيافة لإدارة الفنادق تحت اسم احدى العلامات التجارية العالمية المعروفة مثل هيلتون وفنادق أكور ومجموعة فنادق انتركونتيننتال “أي أتش جي” وماريوت وفنادق ويندهام العالمية.

سيقدم الاتجاه الجديد للمجموعة خيارات غير مسبوقة لأصحاب الفنادق المحلية والمستثمرين، يسمح لهم بمنح امتيازات للعلامات التجارية الفندقية المشهورة عالمياً في ظل التطورات الجديدة والحالية، حيث سيتم إدارة جميع العمليات بخبرة واسعة من قبل مجموعة كريستال والتي ستؤدي إلى خفض التكاليف بشكل كبير مع الاستفادة من المستوى العالمي لهذه العلامات التجارية العالمية المميزة.

تسعى مجموعة كريستال للضيافة بعد النجاح الواسع الذي حققتهُ في مجال الضيافة في أبوظبي والمملكة العربية السعودية وكردستان إلى تقديم خيار إدارة العمليات اليومية للشراكات الفندقية مع الحفاظ على أعلى مستوى من التصميم والبناء ومعايير للتشغيل بجزء صغير من التكلفة مُقارنةً مع التكاليف التي تفرضها السلاسل الفندقية الأكبر في نموذج الامتياز التقليدي، ويأتي ذلك في إطار الاتجاه الجديد للمجموعة الذي سيوفر خيارات لا مثيل لها لأصحاب الفنادق المحلية والمستثمرين.

بهذا الصدد، صرّح كمال فاخوري، الرئيس التنفيذي لمجموعة كريستال: “نحن فخورن بكوننا في طليعة الشركات المتخصصة في توفير هذه الخدمات والمشاركة في هذه الفرصة المذهلة، حيث ندمج العلامات التجارية الفندقية العالمية الأشهر مع خبراتنا الفريدة في التشغيل والمعرفة المحلية. كما تتيح لنا الشراكات عن طريق حق الامتياز (فرانشايز) البقاء مرنين في مجالات البناء والمشتريات والتوظيف، مما يؤدي إلى توفير كبير في التكاليف للمستثمرين. كذلك تعمل هندستنا التقنية على تقليل التكاليف في جميع جوانب إدارة الفنادق، بدءًا من التصميم والبناء وحتى النفقات التشغيلية المستمرة، والتي عادة ما تكون أقل بمقدار الثلث من العلامات التجارية الفندقية الكبرى”.

كما أضافَ فاخوري: “أدركَ مُلاك الفنادق أنهُ بإمكانهم خفض التكاليف بنسب كبيرة عن طريق الاستعانة بمشغليين خارجيين مثل مجموعة كريستال للضيافة. وهذا يأتي في ظل إمتلاكنا سنوات خبرة واسعة في المنطقة سمحت لنا بالتعرف على درجة نضج السوق المحلي، على سبيل المثال في الولايات المتحدة، أكثر من 90% من العقارات يتم تشغيلها عن طريق حق الامتياز (فرانشايز). بينما في دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة، يتم إدارة ما يقارب من 90% بشكل مباشر. إن ما تقدمهُ مجموعة كريستال في السوق اليوم يشكل فرصة رائعة للمستثمرين للعمل مباشرة تحت إشراف علاماتها التجارية الراسخة، أو بالعمل بتوافق مع علامة تجارية دولية مقابل جزء بسيط من التكاليف العادية للتشغيل. حيث تعتمد مجموعة كريستال نهجاً يتناسب مع كل مالك ومشروع لتحقيق أعلى العوائد، وذلك بالحفاظ على المعايير التشغيلية الرائعة في جميع المجالات”.

تهدف مجموعة كريستال للضيافة بعد نجاح محفظتها الفندقية الحالية في أن تصبح مشغل رائد للفنادق والترفيه في مناطق الشرق الأوسط وإفريقيا وآسيا، بالانتقال إلى حق الامتياز (فرانشايز). حيث تجاوزت المبيعات السنوية للفنادق الأربعة التي تشغلها المجموعة في أبو ظبي والرياض وأربيل في عام 2022، 15 مليون دولار أمريكي، كما حافظَ الفندق الرئيسي للمجموعة، فندق كريستال أبو ظبي، على معدل إشغال مُذهل منذ افتتاحه في عام 2009 وبنسبة تجاوزت 93%، حتى خلال ذروة جائحة كوفيد-19، وهو ما يعكس معايير التشغيل الممتازة التي تتبعها المجموعة.

الجدير بالذكر إلى أن مجموعة كريستال أدركت عند إطلاقها لهذه الاستشارات الثورية الجديدة في الشرق الأوسط وإفريقيا وآسيا، وجود فجوة في السوق لحلول الضيافة المصممة خصيصاً والتي توفر مدخرات حقيقية وقابلة للقياس للمستثمرين، مع السماح لهم بالاستفادة من حق الامتياز (فرانشايز) واعتراف الشركة الكامل بالعلامات التجارية الراسخة لسلاسل الفنادق الأكثر شهرةً في العالم.

Sources TTN, Gulf Daily News, Trade Arabia, GTN, Hotel Management, Journal Des Palaces"

CRISTAL GROUP INAUGURATES THE CRISTAL AMAKEN HOTEL, RIYADH

April 29th, 2019

"Cristal Group unveiled Cristal Amaken Hotel. A Four Star hotel with 268 contemporary rooms and suites, designed to offer Cristal’s signature hospitality. It is the first Cristal Hotel in Riyadh, located in the heart of Riyadh’s 2nd Industrial City and the third Cristal property in the Kingdom.

The hotel’s facilities include a state of the art business center, executive club lounge, valet parking, and outdoor pool. Relax and unwind at the Cristal Spa which includes a health club with Jacuzzi, steam & sauna, and a lavish Turkish bath.

The rooms and suites are enhanced with a variety of features including pillow top mattress, premium linen, IPTV, an executive desk, complimentary High speed WiFi access, tea & coffee facility, and a spacious bathroom with rain shower.

Cristal Amaken Hotel boasts three new dining outlets. Try a taste of Italy’s classic dishes at Alto Italian Restaurant, or indulge in a wide selection of International dishes at Viewz restaurant where a premium Buffet and a la carte meals are served. You can also relax and enjoy signature desserts, coffees and teas at Blendz lobby café.

The hotel also provides solutions to your event needs, be it a conference, business luncheon, workshops, weddings or receptions. With a capacity of 300 guests, the conference hall is designed for maximum flexibility with modern audio visual equipment providing a comfortable meeting environment. Outdoor catering services are also available.

To commemorate the hotel’s opening, an introductory offer of 25% discount on room rates is available until June 1, 2019. To learn more or book your stay, please call +966-118288188 or email reservation.amaken@cristalhospitality.com. Cristal Group together with its partners, Staywell Hospitality Group and Prince Hotels & Resorts currently operate across 16 countries with over 122 hotels and resorts.

About Cristal Group

Cristal Group was established in 2007 to deliver world class hospitality consultancy, technical services, asset management and brand management. Its vision is to be the premier hotel operator in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. The company boasts a superb portfolio of hotels and a strong development pipeline.

For more information visit www.cristalhospitality.com Contacts: Cristal Group Margieber Bumatay, Group Marketing Manager, +97126520000 marketing@cristalhospitality.com"

CRISTAL HOTEL ABU DHABI LAUNCHES SPECIAL STAY PACKAGES AT THE ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET

April 24th, 2019

Abu Dhabi, UAE – The team from Cristal Group’s flagship property, the Cristal Hotel Abu Dhabi, has confirmed its participation at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) taking place in Dubai from 28th April to 1st May. The Cristal team will be present at the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi stand (ME2115, ME2250) to promote the new offers and promotions.

Pradeep Perera, Cristal Hotel’s Resident Manager, stated, “We are delighted to launch the new stay packages that will truly create memorable and fun experiences for our guests specially this Summer Season.”

These exclusive packages offer a variety of experiences:

• Yas Theme Park Package
• Suite Summer Stay
• Stay Longer and Save
• Day Use Deal
• Ramadan Stay Package with Free Iftar meals

The Cristal Hotel is a 4 star property ideally located in the midst of the capital’s major tourist destinations. Right across the street is the Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre, a haven of local shops from textiles, souvenirs, a variety of Arabian perfumed oil, and gold. The hotel is also surrounded by major bus stops and taxi stands that will take you to the city’s key destinations, including YAS island, Saadiyat, and the local bus station that offers direct rides to Dubai and other emirates. Designed with sustainability and guest comfort in mind, the Cristal Hotel offers 192 contemporary guest rooms & suites with marble clad bathrooms. Guests are also pampered with complimentary unlimited wifi connection during their stay, and full access to the Figure 8 Health Club’s gym, indoor swimming pool, steam and sauna rooms.

To complement the stay, Cristal offers stylish dining options: a cozy cafe, an all-day dining restaurant featuring international cuisines, a korean restaurant, and a sports bar at level 17.

Cristal Hotel is absolutely the ideal venue in the city for business or leisure stays. To book your stay, call 02 6520000 or visit www.cristalhospitality.com