After 10 weeks of lockdown and a travel ban that prevented tourists from visiting, Italy is slowly beginning to emerge from hibernation.
Across the country, Italians are venturing into the world again and hotels are preparing to reopen their doors after prolonged closures. While Italy’s hotels were never officially ordered to close, the majority of them had little choice but to shut down as strict nationwide travel restrictions kept customers away.
The Italian government has said that the country will reopen to international tourism from early June, when it will also stop a mandatory 14-day quarantine period for incoming holidaymakers. The country is bracing for the return of tourists and hoteliers are getting set to reopen their doors, with detailed safety precautions in place.
One of Italy's grandest hotels is the St. Regis Rome. Built in 1894, the gilded palace underwent a multi-million dollar refurbishment in 2018. The luxury resort has been closed for weeks due to travel restrictions in place across Italy, but is reopening to guests from today, Monday, May 18.
Ahead of its reopening, the hotel implemented several protocols put in place by parent company Marriott International. These include electrostatic sprayers with hospital-grade disinfectant to sanitise surfaces and social distancing signage in public spaces throughout the hotel. Travellers staying at the hotel can use their phones to check in, access rooms and order contactless room service in a bid to cut down on cross-contamination.
Elsewhere in the Eternal City, other hotels are optimistic about reopening.
At Hotel Nord Nuova Roma, a strong sense of Italian national pride and optimism awaits. “Proud to be Romans, Proud to be Italians, we’ll be back soon,” declares the hotel’s social media pages. All room and common areas in the hotel are being sanitised and sterilised, with portable controlled-emission ozone generators in preparation for the day it will welcome guests again.
At the Atlante Star Hotel, the owners are looking forward to receiving visitors again. The hotel remained open during the country’s lockdown measures, but has had no guests for many weeks.
Museums and restaurants to reopen
Beyond hotels, it’s hoped that the rest of Italy’s badly battered tourism industry can embrace a change of fortune as travel restrictions across the country ease. Museums are also reopening from today, with safety guidelines in place from the Italian ministry for cultural heritage and activities and tourism.
These include all tickets being purchased online, a reduced number of visitors and social distancing in the galleries. With the reopening of such attractions, tourists have an incentive to return. Restaurants and churches are also reopening today as part of a fresh wave of lockdown easing in Europe.
This follows an announcement by the European Union last week that it plans to help citizens from its 27 member countries salvage summer vacation plans after months of coronavirus lockdown.
Italian seaside towns hope for a swift recovery
It's likely that the first signs of Italy's tourism recovery will come from the country's domestic market. On Italy's Adriatic coast, Hotel Lungomare Riccione is gearing up to reopen to guests on Friday, May 22.
This four-star seafront hotel in Rimini is popular with Italians who have long seen the region as a traditional summer destination. The hotel has enhanced its safety and security policies ahead of the reopening.
“We reopen the doors of our hotel with lots of emotion in our heart, little news and all the security needed. We have the best months of the year ahead, let's not waste a moment,” reads the hotel’s social media pages.
At the Rimini Grand Hotel, maintenance work that took place during the hotel’s closure is ending as it gets set to welcome guests from Friday, May 29.
Rimini has long been the first summer destination for domestic tourism in Italy and the region is hoping the pattern prevails. The Rimini Tourism Board has released a video detailing how it has been preparing to welcome guests back to its famed beaches.
“Today we are not afraid, today we create a new world. A new dolce vita, a film with the most beautiful scenes yet to be filmed" says the voice-over.
Venice waits for visitors
In Venice, a city that has battled overtourism for years, the deserted streets and landmarks are looking forward to welcoming visitors once again. In the canal-filled city, the Saturnia hotel, which dates back to 1908, remains temporarily closed.
However, there has been some progress as the hotel’s private lounge will reopen today, Monday, May 18. Everyone is welcome; so long as face masks are worn and social distancing prevails.
“We have worked hard to sanitise all areas and comply with new regulations so that we can welcome you back for coffee, your favourite drink or a cold dish – in both the Il Caravellino & La Caravella rooms – where tables will be suitably spaced,” detailed the hotel’s Instagram.
In South Tyrol, Hyatt's Villa Eden – a health and wellness retreat – has been busy preparing for life after coronavirus. The hotel will reopen to guests on Monday, May 25, with detailed new protocols related to well-being. This includes rapid serological tests for all guests and employees to diagnose active or previous infections, and a range of new treatments, such as oxygen ozone therapy or IV Energy Therapy designed to boost guests' overall well-being.
The fate of Milan
There seems to be less optimism in Italy’s worst-hit region of Lombardy. In Milan, the country’s financial and business capital and global fashion hub, there are slow signs of a return to pre-Covid days as some businesses begin to reopen.
The Grand Hotel Et De Milan, Milan’s first five-star hotel and the former home of 19th-century composer Giuseppe Verdi, will welcome guests again from Thursday, June 4. Sadly, not all of Milan’s hotels will do the same as some smaller, family-run establishments say it is simply too late for them to recover. Elsewhere in Lombardy, the country’s alpine lakes are emerging from hibernation in a bid to salvage what is left of their summer season.
The Mandarin Oriental Lake Como was due to open in March, but pushed its seasonal return due to Covid-19 travel restrictions. The luxury resort, which is set inside a botanical garden, will now welcome guests for stays from Thursday, June 18. The Mandarin Oriental hotel group has put several policies in place to protect guests checking in at its properties. These include mandatory health declaration forms, temperature scanners, personal protective equipment packages and increased antiviral disinfection measures.
Elsewhere on Lake Como, the historical Grand Hotel Tremezzo will open for guests next month. The seasonal hotel, which dates back to 1901, has postponed its reopening until Monday, June 22. It is ready to welcome guests to the shores of its famed lake which is, according to the Grand Hotel Tremezzo website, “flaunting its brightest colours with the mountains framing the sparkling waters and the flowers blossoming on its shoreline.”
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Six pitfalls to avoid when trading company stocks
Following fashion
Investing is cyclical, buying last year's winners often means holding this year's losers.
Losing your balance
You end up with too much exposure to an individual company or sector that has taken your fancy.
Being over active
If you chop and change your portfolio too often, dealing charges will eat up your gains.
Running your losers
Investors hate admitting mistakes and hold onto bad stocks hoping they will come good.
Selling in a panic
If you sell up when the market drops, you have locked yourself out of the recovery.
Timing the market
Even the best investor in the world cannot consistently call market movements.
Sonchiriya
Director: Abhishek Chaubey
Producer: RSVP Movies, Azure Entertainment
Cast: Sushant Singh Rajput, Manoj Bajpayee, Ashutosh Rana, Bhumi Pednekar, Ranvir Shorey
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Four%20scenarios%20for%20Ukraine%20war
%3Cp%3E1.%20Protracted%20but%20less%20intense%20war%20(60%25%20likelihood)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E2.%20Negotiated%20end%20to%20the%20conflict%20(30%25)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E3.%20Russia%20seizes%20more%20territory%20(20%25)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E4.%20Ukraine%20pushes%20Russia%20back%20(10%25)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3EForecast%20by%20Economist%20Intelligence%20Unit%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
More on Coronavirus in France
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
MATCH INFO
Everton 2 (Tosun 9', Doucoure 93')
Rotherham United 1 (Olosunde 56')
Man of the Match Olosunde (Rotherham)
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
SQUADS
UAE
Mohammed Naveed (captain), Mohamed Usman (vice-captain), Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Imran Haider, Tahir Mughal, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed, Fahad Nawaz, Abdul Shakoor, Sultan Ahmed, CP Rizwan
Nepal
Paras Khadka (captain), Gyanendra Malla, Dipendra Singh Airee, Pradeep Airee, Binod Bhandari, Avinash Bohara, Sundeep Jora, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Rohit Paudel, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi, Basant Regmi, Pawan Sarraf, Bhim Sharki, Aarif Sheikh
MAIN CARD
Bantamweight 56.4kg
Abrorbek Madiminbekov v Mehdi El Jamari
Super heavyweight 94 kg
Adnan Mohammad v Mohammed Ajaraam
Lightweight 60kg
Zakaria Eljamari v Faridoon Alik Zai
Light heavyweight 81.4kg
Mahmood Amin v Taha Marrouni
Light welterweight 64.5kg
Siyovush Gulmamadov v Nouredine Samir
Light heavyweight 81.4kg
Ilyass Habibali v Haroun Baka
What is Genes in Space?
Genes in Space is an annual competition first launched by the UAE Space Agency, The National and Boeing in 2015.
It challenges school pupils to design experiments to be conducted in space and it aims to encourage future talent for the UAE’s fledgling space industry. It is the first of its kind in the UAE and, as well as encouraging talent, it also aims to raise interest and awareness among the general population about space exploration.
The studios taking part (so far)
- Punch
- Vogue Fitness
- Sweat
- Bodytree Studio
- The Hot House
- The Room
- Inspire Sports (Ladies Only)
- Cryo
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
MATCH INFO
Osasuna 1 Real Madrid 4
Osasuna: García (14')
Real Madrid: Isco (33'), Ramos (38'), Vázquez (84'), Jovic (90' 2)
Bugatti Chiron Super Sport - the specs:
Engine: 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16
Transmission: 7-speed DSG auto
Power: 1,600hp
Torque: 1,600Nm
0-100kph in 2.4seconds
0-200kph in 5.8 seconds
0-300kph in 12.1 seconds
Top speed: 440kph
Price: Dh13,200,000
Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport - the specs:
Engine: 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16
Transmission: 7-speed DSG auto
Power: 1,500hp
Torque: 1,600Nm
0-100kph in 2.3 seconds
0-200kph in 5.5 seconds
0-300kph in 11.8 seconds
Top speed: 350kph
Price: Dh13,600,000
Off-roading in the UAE: How to checklist
THE SPECS
Engine: 4.4-litre V8
Transmission: Automatic
Power: 530bhp
Torque: 750Nm
Price: Dh535,000
On sale: Now
