Dan Hotels Unveils Newly Renovated Hotels In Tel Aviv, Eilat and Haifa

New rooms at Dan Accadia draw inspiration from the Mediterranean Sea

Israel's leading luxury hotel collection,  Dan Hotels, has completed renovations to three of its properties, Dan Panorama Haifa, Dan Eilat and Dan Accadia - just in time to greet the soaring number of visitors to Israel. April 2017 was the biggest month ever for tourism to Israel.  The addition of internal windows adds natural light throughout the new guest rooms at Dan Accadia The most extensive work was carried out in the Dan Accadia, a resort located on Herzliya beach, just 15 minutes north of central Tel Aviv - yet a world away. The design and planning of the new rooms and public spaces was led by architect Roni Federmann, along with Esti Robinson and the architectural staff of the Dan Hotels chain. The US$11 million renovation included upgrades to 117 rooms and suites, dining areas, corridors and banquet halls. The design teams sought to create a bright and colorful atmosphere, paying homage to the hotel's privileged Mediterranean location. The motif of the sea is reflected throughout - with the construction of new westward-facing windows in the main dining room; the addition of furniture created from a combination of wood, metal and sand in the banquet halls; and the installation of LED-based smart lighting synchronized with the sunset in the corridors to create an optimal combination of natural and artificial light. All guest rooms saw a complete overhaul, including new bathrooms featuring a spacious interior window looking through the room and onto the sea. The halls in the catering area were equipped with the most advanced technology in the field, including sophisticated refrigerated buffets and an active cooking stand for preparing food in front of the guests.  New guest rooms at Dan Haifa At the Dan Eilat, on the Red Sea, designers worked with a muted color scheme and renovated 120 rooms in all categories (Eilat, Deluxe, Executive and all Family rooms) to showcase the property's exquisite views. Guests can view and book these rooms, marked "NEW," on the website. At the Dan Panorama Haifa, the top four floors have been renovated, totaling 56 rooms - including two suites and new corridors. The design includes new furnishings, carpets, fabrics, lighting, beds, TVs and bathrooms. The hotel will offer a more modern look and feel with colorful accents throughout. For more information about Dan Hotels, please visit: www.danhotels.com.  ABOUT DAN HOTELS: Dan Hotels Israel is the largest luxury hotel group in the country. The history of the chain dates back to June 1947, when two brothers Yekutiel and Shmuel Federmann, purchased a 21-room guest house called the "Kaete Dan" on the Tel Aviv sea shore. Today, the chain owns a collection of twelve deluxe and superior first-class hotels in prime locations around the country, an international convention center and a hotel training school.

The Latest Travel News From Isreal

THE LATEST TRAVEL NEWS FROM ISRAEL ISRAEL GOVERNMENT TOURIST OFFICE NORTH AMERICA israel.travel #VisitIsrael

THE ISRAELI OPERA TO HOST TWO FESTIVALS IN JERUSALEM AND ACRE THIS SUMMER  (Photo Credit: Yosi Sebkar-Selam) The Israeli Opera, Israel's principal opera company, will once again offer two exciting summer festivals, both staged in spectacular outdoor settings. The Jerusalem Opera Festival will take place from June 22-25, 2016 at venues throughout the city. The Sultan's Pool will serve as the stage for the main production of Opera Paradiso - Pretty Woman Meets The Fifth Elements, an opera combining clips from popular Hollywood films with vocal soloists. The Akko Opera Festival, from July 28-30, 2016, will be held in the northern Old City of Acre. Performances will include pieces from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart as well as an original music composition exploring the sounds of the Spanish, Jewish and South American musical traditions.  For more information about the Summer Opera Festivals, click here.

ISRAEL'S MIDBURN FESTIVAL WILL BRING 8,000 PARTICIPANTS TO THE DESERT More than 8,000 participants are expected to attend this year's Midburn Festival from June 8-12, 2016. The Israeli "Burning Man" community will build a temporary city near Sde Boker in the Negev Desert, comprised of themed campgrounds, bars, a beach and even a post office. Creating a platform for communal living, more than 700 international "Burners" are expected to travel from the US, UK, Europe, South Africa, Japan and other countries to join the sandstorm of creativity.  For updates and information, visit the festival's facebook page.

TEL AVIV PREPARES FOR MORE THAN 180,000 PARTICIPANTS IN THIS YEAR'S GAY PRIDE PARADE (Photo Credit: Nir Keidar) As the much-anticipated Tel Aviv Gay Pride event approaches, the city has begun preparations for the waves of visitors expected to attend. From May 25 to June 9, 2016, more than 180,000 participants, including 30,000 international tourists, will attend events throughout the city. Tel Aviv's main event on June 3rd, The Pride Parade, is expecting hundreds of thousands of participants alone as festival-goers march along the Mediterranean coast before arriving at Charles Clore Park for a massive outdoor beach party. Conchita Wurst, winner of the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest, will serve as the guest of honor for the parade.

NEW EXHIBITION AT THE TOWER OF DAVID MUSEUM OFFERS A GLIMPSE OF JERUSALEM BEFORE 1950 The Tower of David Museum will present the works of photographers living and working in Jerusalem during the first half of the 20th century with its new exhibition, The Camera Man - Women and Men Photograph Jerusalem 1900-1950. From May 26 through December 12, the exhibition will highlight the complex human and cultural heritage of the city and, for the first time, offer a complete look through the photographic eye of Christians, Jews and Muslims living in Jerusalem during this era.  For more information about the exhibit, click here.

URBAN ARCHITECTURE FESTIVAL INVITES THE PUBLIC INSIDE The public is invited to explore Tel Aviv's unique urban landscape in the 10th annual Open Tel Aviv urban festival from May 26-28, 2016. This year's event explores the influence of the city's coastline on the architectural identity of Tel Aviv. Free tours will explore design-driven private residences, municipal buildings and private offices. Highlights will include tours of the Herbert Samuel 48, a restored building transformed into a glass townhouse offering exquisite views of the Mediterranean Sea; the Royal Beach Hotel penthouse, a fusion of modern, Art Déco and classic architectural styles; and the hip Ecological Rooftop Apartment, featuring a rooftop that serves as a veritable urban farm.  For a full program of events click here.

FREE ENTRANCE TO ALL OF ISRAEL'S BEACHES THIS SUMMER Tourists and locals alike can benefit from free entrance to all Israeli beaches this summer. The vastly diverse Mediterranean, Dead and Red Seas are all included in this country-wide initiative to provide free access to the country's top bathing hot-spots. With Tel Aviv's designation as the #1 Best Beach Party Spot on the Planet by USA TODAY, the 13 beaches along the city's coastline alone will welcome more than eight million beach-goers this year. In addition to the country's see-and-be-seen beaches, Israel has received wide acclaim for its clean shores. Throughout the country, 21 beaches and two marinas have been awarded the Blue Flag of environmental excellence by the Foundation for Environmental Education.

FIFTH JERUSALEM WRITERS FESTIVAL WELCOMES WORLD- RENOWNED AUTHORS

The fifth Jerusalem Writers Festival, taking place from May 25-28, 2016, will feature lectures, conversations and workshops with dozens of acclaimed writers from Israel and around the world. The four-day event will also offer musical performances, children's activities and tours. Top featured authors will include: Irish novelist Colum McCann; Iranian-French writer Lila Azam Zanganeh; award-winning mother-daughter team from India, Anita and Kiran Desai; celebrated Colombian author Juan Gabriel Vásquez; and Mai Jia, a former Chinese intelligence officer and current bestselling author in China.   (Photo Credit: Xu Xiaolin) To buy tickets to the event, click here.

The Latest Travel News From Israel

THE LATEST TRAVEL NEWS FROM ISRAEL ISRAEL GOVERNMENT TOURIST OFFICE NORTH AMERICA israel.travel #VisitIsrael

OFFICIAL LINEUP FOR TEL AVIV PRIDE ANNOUNCED Tel Aviv Gay Pride is expected to attract more than 180,000 participants from May 25 to June 9. Last year, some 30,000 LGBTQ tourists traveled to Israel for the rainbow-adorned celebrations, with only higher numbers expected for this year's 'Women in the Community'-themed festival. In addition to the daily happy hours and non-stop beach parties, events range from conferences on women's health to vegan culinary tours of Tel Aviv. Festival highlights will include the LGBTQ film festival, a free Eurovision concert and the pinnacle of pride week, the Tel Aviv Pride parade on June 3rd.    Find the full lineup of events and more information here.

STAR-STUDDED LINEUP FOR THIS SUMMER IN ISRAEL There's a hot lineup of international artists for this summer's concert season in Israel. Fans can catch one of the many shows scheduled to hit the stage in Tel Aviv, Rishon Le Zion, and the Caesarea ancient amphitheater. Headlining artists include:  Chris Cornell: May 6-7 Elton John: May 26 Die Antwoord: June 8 Barry Manilow: June 30 Foreigner: June 14-15 Buddy Guy: July 13 Avicii: July 22 Santana: July 30 Sia: August 11 Dire Straits Experience: September 7-9 (Photo Credit: Andrew Potter) Tickets can be purchased online on the individual event websites, or ticket agencies such as Eventim.

12-YEAR-OLD GIRL UNCOVERS ANCIENT EGYPTIAN PENDANT  A 12-year-old Israeli girl discovered an Egyptian amulet dating back more than 3,200 years last week. Neshama Spielman unearthed the rare artifact while participating in the Temple Mount Sifting Project, a program to sort through Temple Period rubble in Jerusalem. The pendant-shaped amulet bears the name of Egyptian ruler Thutmose III, affirming the artifact originates from pharaoh-era Egypt.   (Photo Credit: Adina Graham/City of David via AP)  For the full article, please click here.

INAUGURAL 'MEET IN GALILEE' SUMMIT SET FOR SEPTEMBER  A new summit, Meet in Galilee, has been organized in order to develop international conventions and cultural events in Israel. The first-ever summit will be held from September 24-26, 2016 and will include an international baroque opera festival and economic forum. The conference will focus on technology and the Middle East. Sessions will cover topics such as venture capital in Israel, digital transformation and cyber security. Tours of the Technion and visits to the Haifa technology incubator will also be offered. The baroque opera festival will hold its four concerts in the ancient city of Akko, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Concerts are under the direction of Christophe Rousset, an internationally renowned harpsichordist, orchestral conductor and creator of Les Talens Lyriques.  Find the full lineup of events and more information here.

NEW AIRPORT SHUTTLE OFFERS EASY SOLUTION FOR TRAVELERS Transportation to Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport just got a lot easier with the creation of a new shuttle. Secret Tel Aviv, a popular website aimed at helping international visitors in Israel, has partnered with Flo Shuttle to create the only door-to-door, 24/7 service shuttle between Ben Gurion Airport and Tel Aviv. The new shuttle provides a cost-effective, quality alternative to taxis and trains. Perks of the shuttle include no booking fees, free reservation changes and the option to privatize service for groups and families. For reservations, visit the Flo Shuttle website.  (Photo Credit: Israel Ministry of Tourism)

TIMNA VALLEY VISITOR CENTER OPENS  The Timna Valley Visitor Center hopes to encourage tourism to the 15,000-acre park. A 30-minute drive from Israel's southernmost city, Eilat, the ancient copper mines, towering rock formations and breathtaking views make Timna Valley National Park an ideal spot for travelers. The new center offers interactive exhibits for visitors and will serve as an event hall for special occasions. In addition to the visitor's center, the Ramon Airport (set to open in 2017) will replace both the Eilat and Ovda Airports, the two primary airports servicing domestic and international flights to the south. Both projects fall under a greater initiative to increase tourism to the region and bring travelers to the park before heading straight to Eilat.   (Photo Credit: www.parktimna.co.il)

MARITIME SPORTS SET SAIL IN TEL AVIV FOR ANNUAL FESTIVAL Seafaring enthusiasts will flock to the city's beaches this year from April 18-28 for the annual Sail Tel Aviv Yafo event. The largest maritime sports event in Israel will dot the coastline with hundreds of surfers, kayaks, paddle boarders, and yachts participating in a host of water-sport competitions. Main events will take place on April 28 with the Tel Aviv yacht race, stand up paddle board competition and kayak competition. The highlight of the festival includes a large rally to the Jaffa Port and back. The event will also be open on April 27th for the public to join in a day of paddle boarding, kayaking, rowing and sailing.  (Photo Credit: Israel Ministry of Tourism)  Find more information here.

JERUSALEM BAR SERVES UP 'BIBLICAL BEER'

Award-winning Herzl Brewery in Jerusalem has created 'biblical beer,' an expert-crafted beer believed to taste like the fermented beverage served during ancient times. In addition to hops, yeast and water, the brewers used a replicated strain of 2,000-year-old wheat developed by geneticists at Tel Aviv University. "It's unlike anything I have ever tasted," stated brewery owner Itai Gutman. "It has a very dry taste, but it also has a strong aroma and suggestion of red fruit - almost like a syrup." This could be the beginning of a trend to recreate beer, wine, and other boozy delights from biblical times.  Itai Gutman at the Herzl Brewery in Jerusalem  (Photo Credit: Emil Salman)  Find more information here.