Minor to enter north African wellness market with Avani brand
by Tom Walker | 09 Oct 2017
From left to right: Yasin Munshi, development director of Minor Hotels; Maher Chaabane, chair, Groupe Chaabane; William Heinecke, chair, Minor International; Borhane Snoussi, head of hospitality, Groupe Chaabane
We believe the Avani brand will bring something new to the hospitality market in Tunis
– Maher Chaabane, chair, Groupe Chaabane
– Maher Chaabane, chair, Groupe Chaabane
Thai firm Minor Hotels has confirmed its entry to the north African spa and wellness market after signing a partnership deal with Groupe Chaabane to operate two new properties in Tunisia.
The properties will be owned by Groupe Chaabane and operated under Minor’s Avani brand. Groupe Chaabane is a Tunisian conglomerate of companies with activities in the construction and real estate development. It has developed, and owns, a number of landmark projects such as the mixed-use Tunisia Mall in capital city Tunis.
The first property to open will be the 41-suite Avani Les Berges Du Lac Tunis Suites, located in Les Berges du Lac II, a prime commercial, residential and diplomatic area in the Tunisian Capital.
Catering to corporate and extended-stay demand, the property will feature a mini spa with two treatment rooms, sauna, steam room and indoor swimming pool.
The second location, currently in its design phase, is the Avani Gammarth Tunis Resort and Spa.
Expected to open in 2021, the 250-bedroom, beach-front resort will be marketed as a luxury spa resort, catering to a mix of leisure, government, corporate and MICE demand. The resort’s unique selling point will be a large Avani Spa.
“We're pleased to partner with Minor Hotels and believe the Avani brand will bring something new and exciting to the hospitality market in Tunis,” said Maher Chaabane, chair of Groupe Chaabane.
“We are confident that Group Chaabane’s extensive real estate and hotel development experience, combined with Minor Hotels’ hotel and resort management expertise, will ensure a successful partnership.”
The resort will form part of a larger development that will include retail and entertainment zones.
Launched by Minor Hotels in 2011, Avani Hotels & Resorts is an upscale, contemporary brand targeting “millennial-minded travelers who appreciate quality and value”.
Avani operates 18 properties across Asia, the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa. The brand recently launched in Europe, in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon.
Minor Hotels Avani Avani spa Groupe Chaabane Tunisia Tunis Avani Les Berges Du Lac Tunis Suites Avani Gammarth Tunis Resort & Spa20 Apr 2015
Minor partners with Qatari government development arm for two African Anantara resorts
30 Jan 2015
Minor expands into Europe and South America
Thai firm Minor Hotels has confirmed its entry to the north African spa and wellness market after signing a partnership deal with Groupe Chaabane to operate two new properties in Tunisia. The properties will be owned by Groupe Chaabane and operated under Minor’s Avani brand. Groupe Chaabane is a Tunisian conglomerate of companies with activities in the construction and real estate development. It has developed, and owns, a number of
SAB
More news
Seventh International Museum Construction Congress to be held in Norway this year
by Tom Walker | 11 Aug 2022
The International Museum Construction Congress (IMCC) will take place in the Norwegian capital city, Oslo, from 6 to 8 November 2022. Now in its seventh edition, the three-day IMCC is designed for international museum leaders, architects, project managers, museum leaders and any other professionals involved in the construction, renovation and expansion of museums. The planning committee for this year's event is chaired by Göran Joryd, project manager for the new
The 'world's most anticipated museum' to finally open this year
by Tom Walker | 11 Aug 2022
The Grand Egyptian Museum is set to finally open its doors after a design and construction project which has taken more than 20 years to complete. Touted as the world's most anticipated museum – thanks to both its unique design and the treasures it will house – the attraction was first announced to the world in 2001. A design competition in 2002 received more than 1,500 entries, from which Heneghan
Nike's Serena Williams Building, designed by Skylab, follows the concept of flow
by Tom Walker | 08 Aug 2022
The new Serena Williams Building at Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, US, has been declared open. The 1m sq ft building, designed by architects Skylab, is the largest structure on the Nike campus and establishes new links to the existing campus through restored wetlands, public plazas, and view corridors. The building consists of four parts a 12-story tower with shared amenities for all of the Nike Campus – including
Saudi Arabia's Neom mega-development to include 100-mile long 'horizontal skyscraper city'
by Tom Walker | 03 Aug 2022
Plans have been revealed for a 100-mile-long structure that is set to become the centrepiece of the ambitious Neom mega-development in Saudi Arabia. Called The Line, the "horizontal city" will be 200m wide and built on a footprint of just 34sq km. Designed to run on 100 per cent renewable energy The Line will eventually accommodate nine million people, with housing, parks and public spaces, retail and leisure facilities and
David Adjaye and Ralph Appelbaum selected for £57m International Slavery Museum and Maritime Museum project
by Tom Walker | 07 Jul 2022
Adjaye Associates and Ralph Appelbaum Associates (RAA) have been named as the preferred bidders to lead the design of a £57m redevelopment of the International Slavery Museum and Maritime Museum in Liverpool, UK. National Museums Liverpool (NML) picked the two design firms for the project which will see the Dr Martin Luther King Jr Building become a prominent new entrance to the International Slavery Museum. According to NML, the work
Virgin Active opens at Milan’s sleek new Bocconi University by SANAA
by Frances Marcellin | 06 Jul 2022
Virgin Active and Myrtha Wellness have joined forces to open a health club and wellness centre at Milan’s new Bocconi University. The entire campus was designed by Pritzker-prize winning architects, SANAA, whose work includes the New Contemporary Art Museum in Manhattan, the Christian Dior building in Tokyo and La Samaritaine department store in Paris for LVMH. The fitness and wellness facilities are located on the first floor of the Bocconi
Swedish architects Wingårdhs create year-round resort with waterpark and hotel for Liseberg
by Tom Walker | 30 Jun 2022
Liseberg theme park in Sweden has confirmed the opening date for its new Grand Curiosa hotel. A highly themed family hotel, the Grand Curiosa will have 457 family rooms, a restaurant with a fully functional merry-go-round from 1923, and a rooftop bistro with a view of the park and several bars. The theming has been inspired by the history of its home city, Gothenburg, and the West Swedish East India
Juneteenth Museum by Bjarke Ingels Group has been designed to inspire spiritual uplift
by Tom Walker | 22 Jun 2022
Detailed plans have been revealed for the National Juneteenth Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, US. Designed by architects Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), the 50,000sq ft visitor attraction will anchor a larger mixed-use development on the Historic Southside of Fort Worth. It will explore the events of June 19, 1865, when Union General Gordon Granger issued Order No. 3, in essence declaring that “all slaves are free” in the state of
BIG and HOK's timber concept wins Zurich Airport competition
by Tom Walker | 20 Jun 2022
A team of architects led by BIG and HOK have won an international competition to design the largest dock of Zurich Airport in Switzerland. Composed predominantly of regional wood, The new Dock A and adjacent buildings seek to strengthen the airport’s continued status as the gateway of Switzerland. Bjarke Ingels, BIG founder and creative director, said: “As airports grow and evolve and as international guidelines and safety requirements change, airports
Christoph Ingenhoven reveals Lanserhof Sylt, featuring the largest thatched roof in Europe
by Megan Whitby | 09 Jun 2022
Medical spa brand, Lanserhof Group, has welcomed the first guests to its all-new coastal health resort on the German island of Sylt. With plans for the 55-key property first revealed in 2017, Lanserhof has invested more than €120m (US$128.6m, £102.6m) to bring the property to fruition. Currently in a soft opening phase, Lanserhof Sylt joins the group’s four other properties: the original, Lans, in the Tyrol region of Austria; Lanserhof
BIG's designs Prague concert hall to be vibrant centre of life
by Tom Walker | 18 May 2022
Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) have been selected as the architect for the Vltava Philharmonic Hall in Prague, Czech Republic. The first national concert hall to be built in the country in 100 years, the venue will be the home of the famous Prague Symphony Orchestra and will have an audience capacity of more than 1,800. BIG – which won an international competition between 19 other architectural practices to secure the
Mather & Co-designed Gretna Green Experience opens to the public
by Tom Walker | 10 May 2022
A visitor attraction celebrating the history of the Scottish parish of Gretna Green – and its heritage as a destination for 'runaway marriages – has opened to the public. Gretna Green, located just inside Scotland on the border with England, first became famous for its weddings nearly 260 years ago, following the Clandestine Marriages Act 1753. The act prevented couples under the age of 21 from marrying in England or
Project to save last major bellfoundry which cast bells for St Paul's and Washington National Cathedral
by Tom Walker | 28 Apr 2022
A project to save the UK's last major bellfoundry has moved to the next stage, with the launch of a tender to find contractors for the redevelopment work. The Loughborough Bellfoundry was built in 1859 and has since cast and sent 25,000 bells to more than 100 countries. Bells made at the foundry can be found at some of the world's most iconic buildings, including London’s St Paul’s Cathedral, the
Perkins & Will reveals designs for net-zero sports and cultural centre in Toronto
by Tom Walker | 28 Apr 2022
Global design practice Perkins & Will has unveiled plans for a net-zero operational carbon community sports centre, health club and cultural hub in Toronto, Canada. A first-of-its-kind for Ontario, the multi-purpose centre is set to achieve net-zero status through energy-efficient design and renewable energy systems, while adding much-needed facilities for the local community. Called North East Scarborough Community and Child Care Centre, the building has three levels. The lower level
World’s first living waterslides announced for Therme Manchester
by Tom Walker | 25 Apr 2022
Therme Manchester – the £250m indoor ‘next generation’ waterpark, thermal bathing and a wellbeing spa, opening in 2025 – will include the world's first "living waterslides". The waterslides are part of the resort's focus on biophilic design and will feature 3D-printed structures housing thousands of biodiverse plants. Thanks to their design, the slides will be made to look like tree trunks, with plants growing out of them. Due to its
Heatherwick reveals Volcano-inspired opera house designs for Hainan
by Tom Walker | 13 Apr 2022
Heatherwick Studio has revealed its designs for an opera house and performing arts centre for the island province of Hainan in China. The architects were chosen for the project by Haikou Tourism & Culture Investment Holding Group, which wants to develop the building as the anchor for a new cultural quarter in the island’s capital, Haikou. The as-yet-unnamed cultural complex will house three performance spaces – an opera house, a
Natural history museum planned for Abu Dhabi
by Tom Walker | 06 Apr 2022
A new natural history museum in Abu Dhabi will take visitors on a 13.8-billion-year journey through time and space. Called the Abu Dhabi Natural History Museum and set to open in 2025, the museum will be located on Saadiyat Island, in the Saadiyat Cultural District. The project was officially unveiled by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and chairman of the
Controversial London music venue, MSG Sphere, gets full planning permission
by Liz Terry | 06 Apr 2022
The MSG Sphere, a controversial auditorium and music globe designed by Populous, has been given full planning permission by the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC). If built, the Sphere would tower 90m above Stratford, London, and in addition to the auditorium, would include a nightclub, bars, restaurants, cafés, shops and parking. The sphere would boast the “largest and highest resolution LED screen in the world” – in the form of
Clifford's Tower opens to the public after £5m redevelopment
by Tom Walker | 06 Apr 2022
Clifford’s Tower in York, considered one of England’s most important buildings, has opened to the public following a £5m redevelopment. The structure is all that remains of York Castle, which was built on the orders of William I and once dominated the former Viking city of Jórvík. While the landmark has played a crucial role in English history during its 800-year-old history, it had been pretty much an empty shell
Clifford's Tower opens to the public after £5m redevelopment
by Tom Walker | 06 Apr 2022
Clifford’s Tower in York, considered one of England’s most important buildings, has opened to the public following a £5m redevelopment. The structure is all that remains of York Castle, which was built on the orders of William I and once dominated the former Viking city of Jórvík. While the landmark has played a crucial role in English history during its 800-year-old history, it had been pretty much an empty shell
Glasgow's iconic Burrell Collection reopens after five-year, £68.5m revamp
by Tom Walker | 05 Apr 2022
The Burrell Collection in Glasgow, UK has reopened following a £68.25m refurbishment which took five years to complete. Exhibiting objects from Europe and Asia, the vast collection was donated to the city and people of Glasgow by art collector Sir William Burrell in 1944. A museum housing the collection, which includes more than 9,000 objects, was then built and opened in Pollok Park in 1983. The collection holds items from
SB Architects delivers Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Costa Rica with tree-house spa and private residences
by Megan Whitby | 21 Mar 2022
The first Ritz-Carlton location in Costa Rica will launch in 2024, situated within the 1,400-acre private club and resort community Peninsula Papagayo. Hospitality specialists SB Architects are behind the design, with spa and wellness consultancy Blu Spas helping create programming, project design and concept for the wellness areas. Located in Guanacaste, Peninsula Papagayo sits on the north Pacific coast of Costa Rica, deemed to be one of the most biodiverse
Ole Scheeren designs vertical jungle resort complex in China
by Megan Whitby | 16 Mar 2022
German architect Ole Scheeren has won a design competition for his vision for a tropical resort complex in the beachfront city of Sanya, on the Chinese island of Hainan. Scheduled to open in 2026, Sanya Horizons has been designed for developer CDF Investment & Development and will be sited on 83,500sq m of lush beachfront property. The property will consist of two hotels under IHG luxury brands – The Regent
Designer Brian d’Souza launches Swell to create evocative soundscapes for physical environments
by Megan Whitby | 16 Mar 2022
Music psychology specialist, Brian d’Souza, has launched a sound wellness business to offer transformative sound experiences to the hospitality, wellness and spa industries. Called Swell, the company delivers bespoke solutions combining field recording, music composition, nature and sound therapy to improve relaxation while promoting positive listening habits for deep relaxation. d'Souza says the traditional linear listening experience can result in 'listener fatigue' if guests and staff hear the same music
Basalt Architects create geothermal Forest Lagoon in the wilds of Iceland
by Megan Whitby | 23 Feb 2022
A new geothermal forest spa called Forest Lagoon will launch in April near Akureyri, in Northern Iceland, with design by Basalt Architects – the creative driving force behind Iceland’s iconic Blue Lagoon. The story behind Forest Lagoon began in 2014 when workers digging inside the Vaðlaheiðargöng heath – for an unrelated project – discovered a geothermal hot water spring. This water source will serve as the beating heart of the
Hot Pickle design £73m Guinness visitor attraction for Diageo in London
by Tom Walker | 14 Feb 2022
Brewing giant Diageo has revealed plans to create a Guinness-themed cultural hub and microbrewery in London, UK, with design by London-based agency, Hot Pickle. Called Guinness at Old Brewer’s Yard, the visitor attraction is set to open in London’s Covent Garden in Autumn 2023. Located on a historic brewing site – the Old Brewer's Yard was the site of beer brewing as far back as 1722 – the £73m development
Amsterdam's new digital art centre Fabrique des Lumières will use tech to bring art alive
by Tom Walker | 06 Feb 2022
Culturespaces has announced that its new digital art centre, Fabrique des Lumières, will open in Amsterdam on 22 April 2022. Located in the historic former gas plant of Westergasfabriek – built in 1885 by the Imperial Continental Gas Association – the cultural attraction will use "cutting-edge technology" to create immersive exhibitions devoted to some of the most celebrated figures in art history. The venue has a total surface area of
Pharrell Williams to launch tropical Bahamian beach resort
by Megan Whitby | 26 Jan 2022
Multi-Grammy award-winning musician and entrepreneur Pharrell Williams is creating a beachfront resort in The Bahamas in partnership with Miami Beach-based hospitality entrepreneur David Grutman. Named Somewhere Else, the project marks the duo’s third hospitality project. Their portfolio already includes an indoor-outdoor dining concept, called Swan, as well as the Goodtime Hotel, both of which are based in Miami. The upcoming beachfront resort will open in January 2024 on the Bahamas’
Banyan Tree curating solar-powered wellness retreat on private Mozambican island
by Megan Whitby | 25 Jan 2022
Two Asian-inspired wellness sanctuaries crafted by Banyan Tree will open on luxury private islands off the coast of Mozambique in Q4 2022. The first, a signature Banyan Tree spa, will open at Banyan Tree Ilha Caldeira – a new private island getaway. The resort will be joined by a sister island named Banyan Tree Veya Ilha Nejovo, dedicated to wellness and wellbeing. This adults-only 20-villa wellness destination will be located
Dubai Expo hits 10 million visits
by Tom Walker | 25 Jan 2022
The number of registered visitors to Dubai's Expo 2020 has passed 10 million. Expo 2020, which was, as the name suggests, originally scheduled for 2020 but had to be moved due to the pandemic, is the largest major global event to be held since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak. In addition to physical visits, the Expo's digital platform had seen 37 million visits by 27 December 2021. The Expo
company profile
Try cladmag for free!
Sign up with CLAD to receive our regular ezine, instant news alerts, free digital subscriptions to CLADweek, CLADmag and CLADbook and to request a free sample of the next issue of CLADmag.
sign up
features
Catalogue Gallery
Click on a catalogue to view it online
To advertise in our catalogue gallery: call +44(0)1462 431385
features
"Funding woes and murky timelines are common problems. It can be easier to make a difference one small project at a time"
From parks designed to mitigate the effects of flooding to warming huts for one of the world’s coldest cities, these projects have been designed for increasingly extreme climates
From parks designed to mitigate the effects of flooding to warming huts for one of the world’s coldest cities, these projects have been designed for increasingly extreme climates
cladkit product news
The dome aims to integrate technology with arts and culture
Christie® GS Series 1DLP® laser projectors are delivering vivid and lifelike visuals in a new dome theatre located in Xiong’an
...
The design of the columns was inspired by the sea
After a two-year renovation, Oakland-based metal experts Móz Designs have unveiled their inclusion in Georgia Aquarium’s new shark gallery. Located
...
cladkit product news
LianTronics’ giant curved LED wall with stunning glasses-less 3D spaceship display effect has attracted many on the street of Chengdu,
...
Alemanno believes the stones are well-placed in the spa environment thanks to their capacity to positively support physical and mental health
Fabio Alemanno Design has expanded its collection with semi-precious stones to enhance spas, wellness facilities, hotels and private residences. The
...
cladkit product news
Jaffe Holden provided architectural acoustics for the Academy Museum
Acoustical consulting firm Jaffe Holden provided architectural acoustics and audio/video design services for the recently opened Academy Museum of Motion
...
Almost 300 drones were used to signal an environmental message above the Eden Project’s biomes, during the UN Climate Change
...
