ROTANA ANNOUNCES 10 NEW HOTELS BY 2020
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Rotana has announced the signing of 10 new hotels in the UAE, Iran, Tanzania and Sudan. The new hotels are expected to open their doors before 2020. All set to answer EXPO 2020-fuelled demand, Rotana has cemented its position as the largest hotel operator in the UAE, Rotana has signed five new hotels in Dubai, which will increase the company’s total number of properties in the Emirate to 20. The new properties will bring Rotana’s total number of rooms in the UAE to 13,269.
The company is looking ahead to a 2017 opening in the busy Creek district of a 280 room combined in two hotels, a 2018 opening in Al Barsha of a 163 room property under the “Arjaan Hotel Apartments by Rotana” brand, and a 528 room Hotel under the “Rotana Hotels & Resort” brand, combined with a 100 room property under the “Arjaan Hotel Apartments by Rotana” in the Wafi area, also set to open by 2018. The new properties will bring Rotana’s total number of rooms in the UAE to 13,269.
“Dubai continues to be a focus market for us and with EXPO 2020 expected to further boost an already strong hospitality market, we plan on widening our footprint in the emirate. The new hotels will enable us to strengthen our market share in high demand areas,” said Omer Kaddouri, President & CEO, Rotana.
Aman Aditya Sachdev, Senior Vice President- South Asia and South-East Asia, Rotana, added, “We are pleased to share with the Indian market, Rotana’s latest announcement for expansion in the UAE, Iran, Tanzania and Sudan. India continues to be a significant source market for Rotana. We are positive that the new hotels shall further enhance outbound numbers from India and reinforce relationships with our patrons through a wider portfolio of our hotel offerings across varied regions.”
Rotana also announced its plans to enter the Iranian market with four properties, all of which will be opened under the company’s alcohol-free brand “Rayhaan Hotels & Resorts” by Rotana. The first two hotels are set to open in the city of Mashhad – a 362 room hotel in 2017 followed by a 275 room hotel in 2018. In Tehran, Rotana will launch two further Rayhaan properties by 2018 – a 5-star hotel will house 194 rooms and a 4-star hotel will include 210 rooms.
The new hotel signed in Sudan will mark the arrival of the second Rotana property in the Sudanese capital, following the Al Salam Rotana property in Khartoum. The hotel is set to open its doors by 2019 with 221 rooms. Rotana has also signed on a 249-room project in the Tanzanian capital Dar es Salaam.
“The opening of these new hotels in these four markets falls in line with our strategic goal to operate 100 hotels by 2020. These are in addition to the properties announced earlier which will open in Turkey, Erbil, Jordan and Qatar. As the Middle East’s most successful hospitality brand, we believe we are well positioned to execute these expansion plans and to venture into new territories. Iran’s tourism industry is bouncing back, highlighting the tremendous potential it has within the hospitality sector. Considering the increasing international interest in Iran, we are anticipating an excellent response for our four debut projects in the country,” added Kaddouri.