Equinox Group, a high growth collective of the world’s most influential lifestyle brands, today announces its first move into the Middle East through a multi-market partnership with Alshaya Group, a leading international franchise operator, to bring three unparalleled fitness brands to the region: Equinox Fitness Clubs, SoulCycle and Blink Fitness. The partnership spans Alshaya’s many operating markets, with initial opening plans focused on Dubai in late 2020. Equinox is an innovative industry leader, masterfully connecting fitness, experiences and community across its portfolio of brands. Each brand will come to the market with a distinct proposition: Equinox Fitness Clubs offer bespoke results-focused programming and luxury amenities, SoulCycle, a unique studio-cycling experience and Blink Fitness, a premium yet affordable membership model. All three will answer the growing demand for world-class lifestyle brands in the Middle East. This is a seminal moment for Equinox, marking a period of extensive global expansion,” commented Harvey Spevak, Executive Chairman and Managing Partner of Equinox Group. “We are committed to answering demand for the Equinox lifestyle, anticipating the needs of our community and meeting them in key cities around the globe. Partnering with Alshaya is key to our success, they are talented and discerning executors, whose philosophy and approach to luxury aligns perfectly with ours. Together, we will create a never-before-seen category of lifestyle destinations across the Middle East.” “We are very excited about our new partnership with Equinox Group which marks an important new diversification of our business,” adds Mohammed Alshaya, Executive Chairman of Alshaya Group. “There is a growing demand in the region for innovative brands which reach beyond fitness and into health and well-being. We look forward to introducing Equinox Fitness Clubs, SoulCycle and Blink to new customers in the Middle East and beyond.” Equinox: Founded in 1991, Equinox was built on the notion that fitness can empower a life well-lived and foster a strong community of high performance individuals. Nearly 30 years later, Equinox continues to lead and disrupt the category it singularly defined, operating over 100 full-service Clubs globally across major US cities including New York, LA, Miami and San Francisco as well as London, Toronto and Vancouver, each featuring bespoke design in an unparalleled luxury environment. Grounded in the core tenets of Movement, Nutrition and Regeneration and backed by a Health Advisory Board of industry-leading experts across these disciplines, the company offers a holistic approach to fitness, inclusive of Equinox signature group fitness classes, personal training, Pilates, spa services, apparel, experiential travel and food & beverage. SoulCycle: SoulCycle transformed boutique fitness with the launch of its signature indoor cycling class in New York City in 2006, and has since continued to innovate and grow its community. There are currently more than 95 studios across North America, Canada and the United Kingdom. In addition to offering a one-of-a-kind experience, studios are popular retail destinations, and the brand recently launched its first proprietary apparel collection, Soul by SoulCycle. Website: www.soul-cycle.com Instagram: Instagram.com/soulcycle. Blink Fitness: Blink is a premium but affordable fitness brand that is challenging conventional fitness stereotypes. Through its revolutionary philosophy of Mood Above Muscle®, Blink celebrates how exercise makes you feel versus how it makes you look. Blink has 140 locations open or in development throughout the United States. Blink has been ranked on the Inc. 5000 list three times, was recognized as one of the top health clubs by Club Industry and was selected as the best budget gym chain by Men's Health. Website: Blink Fitness.

Alshaya Group this week announced plans to bring the Canopy by Hilton hotel brand to Kuwait, offering locals and visitors alike a fresh guest experience. Canopy by Hilton Kuwait will be located on Arabian Gulf Street in the popular Bneid Al-Gar area, and guests will enjoy stunning views of the Gulf and benefit from easy access to downtown Kuwait City. Development of the hotel will start shortly, with opening planned for late 2022. Located in some of the most desirable neighbourhoods across the globe, Canopy by Hilton is an upper-upscale lifestyle hotel brand. Each Canopy by Hilton property is designed as a natural extension of its neighbourhood and delivers a fresh approach to hospitality and the guest experience, providing a place to relax and recharge with comfortable spaces, an energizing atmosphere and thoughtfully local choices. Canopy by Hilton hotels are inspired by their surroundings and feature open flowing spaces, abundant natural light and design cues from the local neighbourhood. “Canopy by Hilton responds to a growing customer preference for upscale hotels that fit authentically into local neighbourhoods and cultures,” said Rudi Jagersbacher, Hilton President Middle East, Africa and Turkey. “We can tick all the boxes with our plans to bring the brand to Kuwait – with a great location in a great neighbourhood, and a trusted partner in Alshaya Group.” Commenting on the announcement, James Tynan, President of Hospitality at Alshaya Group said: “Canopy by Hilton is an exciting young hotel brand which is already attracting international attention for its unique guest offering. We think the brand is a perfect fit for the Kuwait market and look forward to welcoming guests when our doors open in 2022”. The announcement further strengthens the choice of Hilton brands that Alshaya Group will offer to customers through a growing partnership with Hilton. Alshaya recently announced a master development agreement to bring 70 Hampton by Hilton hotels to its operating markets in MENA, Turkey and Russia. Kuwait’s first Hampton by Hilton, located in Salmiya, is expected to open in late 2021.

Hilton and Alshaya Group, a leading international franchise operator, today announced a significant development of their ongoing relationship with the exclusive signing of a master development agreement to rapidly launch and develop 70 Hampton by Hilton hotels in nine countries, with the majority of these in the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey and Russia. With the first hotel expected to open in Kuwait in 2021, Alshaya Group will deliver 50 hotels in the next eight years, with another 20 in the development pipeline, significantly expanding Hampton by Hilton’s presence in the region. Hampton by Hilton is the leading global hospitality brand in the focused service hotel category, with nearly 2,500 hotels operating in 27 countries and territories around the world, making it the largest brand in Hilton’s portfolio. “We are delighted to reach this exclusive agreement with Alshaya Group, strengthening our partnership and further expanding our global Hampton by Hilton portfolio,” said Chris Nassetta, President and CEO of Hilton. “Alshaya has been an important partner, particularly as we celebrate 100 years of pioneering the hospitality industry this year, and we look forward to working together to introduce travellers to Hampton by Hilton in these high-growth destinations.” “There is strong and growing demand for high quality accommodation in the region and we are excited by the potential of the Hampton by Hilton brand”, said Mohammed Alshaya, Executive Chairman of Alshaya Group. “This is an important new partnership for Alshaya, further diversifying our offer to consumers, and allowing us to replicate the global success of Hampton by Hilton in our operating markets.” Hampton by Hilton continues to lead the category in guest satisfaction worldwide, with each hotel committed to the industry-leading 100 percent Hampton GuaranteeTM. Hampton guests enjoy the brand’s signature free, hot breakfast with healthy options and complimentary WiFi at every hotel. Hampton is part of Hilton Honors®, the award-winning guest-loyalty program for Hilton’s 17 distinct hotel brands, which offers members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels access to instant benefits, including a flexible payment slider that allows them to choose nearly any combination of Points and money to book a stay, an exclusive member discount that can’t be found anywhere else and free standard WiFi. Members also enjoy popular digital tools available exclusively through the industry-leading Hilton Honors mobile app, where Hilton Honors members can check-in, choose their room and access their room using a Digital Key.

أعلنت شركة محمد حمود الشايع، الشركة الرائدة في مجال التجزئة والوكيل لأشهر العلامات التجارية العالمية، أنها تستعد لافتتاح 32 علامة تجارية عالمية في يوم واحد في قطر مول، ثماني منها تفتتح لأول مرة في قطر. وسيفتح قطر مول، وجهة التسوق والترفيه الفريدة من نوعها، أبوابه لاستقبال الزبائن والزوار في الأسابيع القليلة المقبلة. هذا وسيشهد الافتتاح إطلاق ثماني علامات تجارية عالمية لأول مرة في قطر وهي «ذي تشيزكيك فاكتوري» و«فيكتوريا سيكريت» و«تكساس رودهاوس» و«لوبان كوتيديان» و«شوكولا بريدج واتر» و«فيز إيت» و«بوتري بارن» و«بوتري بارن للأطفال». هذا بالإضافة إلى العلامات التجارية العالمية الأخرى التي تديرها الشركة مثل «ستاربكس» و«اتش آند ام» و«مذركير» و«دبنهامز» و«ذي بودي شوب» و«بووتس». وبهذه المناسبة، أكّد جون هادين، نائب الرئيس الأول لإدارة العقار في شركة محمد حمود الشايع، أن حضور شركة الشايع في قطر مول يمثل جزءا من التزام الشركة بتقديم أفضل المنتجات والخدمات لزبائنها في قطر، ويأتي في سياق خطط الشركة للتوسع في المزيد من أسواق الشرق الأوسط، حيث قال: «نسعى دائما إلى تقديم علاماتنا التجارية العالمية للمزيد من الزبائن في أسواق جديدة، وسيسهم وجودنا في قطر مول كوجهة تسوق وترفيه فريدة من نوعها في تقديم منتجاتنا وخدماتنا لشريحة واسعة من الزبائن في قطر». وتدير الشايع في قطر ما يزيد على 100 محل للعديد من العلامات التجارية العالمية في مجالات الملابس والأحذية، والمطاعم، والصحة والجمال، والصيدلة، والبصريات، والأثاث المنزلي.

Babel is a unique Lebanese restaurant, renowned for its dynamic architecture, outstanding hospitality, and its signature twist on Mediterranean classics. The Babel dining experience provides Lebanese food lovers with a contemporary interpretation of traditional Lebanese cuisine using the finest possible ingredients. Established in Dbayeh, Lebanon in 2009, the Babel brand can also be found in two additional locations in Lebanon: Babel Bay in Zaituna Bay and Babel Bahr in Amchit. The vibrant ambiance and Middle Eastern hospitality at Babel fit flawlessly into the striking architecture that each restaurant has become known for. Sandstone walls and arches, paired with grand seating areas, combine to create a dramatic but welcoming atmosphere - perfect for experiencing Babel’s diverse dining options. Setting itself apart from other Lebanese restaurants, Babel puts an unconventional spin on the tastes and flavours of traditional Lebanese cuisine. Using the highest quality ingredients, guests are treated to exclusive dishes such as fish shawerma and ‘maajouaa’- cheese and nut stuffed kebbeh. A full mezzeh is available for guests to share with friends and family, which features reinvented classics such as hummus Istambouli and an artistic kebbeh selection, alongside famous Lebanese dishes. With all three restaurants having achieved a reputation and loyal following through word of mouth alone, M. H. Alshaya Co. and Afkar Holding Group look forward to Babel’s regional expansion into selected markets across the Middle East and North Africa.

M.H. Alshaya Co. signed a franchise deal with Union Square Hospitality Group in 2010 to launch the Shake Shack brand across the Middle East. Alshaya owns Shake Shack rights to all of the GCC countries, Lebanon, Egypt, Turkey, UK, and Russia.