Marc Guenther, a German national, has been appointed general manager of Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea, Jordan. He is now at the helm of the renowned hotel at the lowest point on Earth.

Shaumari Wildlife Reserve is once again welcoming the public in this summer following a five-year maintenance and refurbishment programme. The first wildlife protection reserve in Jordan, Shaumari Wildlife Reserve has since its launch in 1975 created a thriving 22 kilometre environment for some of rarest species in the Middle East including, oryx, gazelles, hyena, Imperial Eagles and onagers, to name but a few.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into an agreement with Ayla Oasis Development Company for a 286-room Hyatt Regency hotel in Aqaba, Jordan. Hyatt Regency Aqaba Ayla will be the first hotel to open within the prestigious Ayla development, a master-planned, multiphase development on the northern shores of Aqaba.

A new state-of-the-art terminal at Queen Alia International Airport in Jordan is set to open this month and is expected to almost triple the current airport capacity. Beginning operations on March 21st 2013, the new terminal is worth an estimated US$750 million and will catapult the airport’s capacity to nine million annual passengers.

Funding has been secured for a $1.5 billion tourism and theme park development in Jordan, featuring a world-first Star-Trek inspired attraction. Construction work at the 74-hectare Red Sea Astrarium project in Aqaba is expected to start in early 2012.

In an effort to promote Jordan, especially through social media, and specifically to promote the Dead Sea’s nomination as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, the Jordan Tourism Board (JTB) is launching the 100 Days of Giveaways campaign.