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Rotana in Line to Double Mideast Hotel Chain by 2012

DUBAI — UAE’s home-grown hotel brand Rotana is on track with an expansion drive that will see the chain more than doubling its properties by 2012 in the Middle East notwithstanding the current slump in the travel and tourism sector, a senior executive of the hospitality chain said on Tuesday.

Rotana Group, an Abu Dhabi-based joint stock company, which at present manages 30 properties across the Middle East, will have a portfolio of 67 properties by 2012 following new management agreements signed for new properties across the region, said Imad W. Elias, Executive vice president and COO of Rotana. Rotana’s new destination in the region will include Cairo, Jordan, Oman, Iraq, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. Driving the exceptional growth will be Rotana’s newly launched brand of Centro business hotels, he said. In Abu Dhabi, the group will open six Centro hotels in 2009 including two properties on Yas Island, which is home to the Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi – a world-class motor-racing circuit that will be home to the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. With the new properties coming on stream, Rotana will be boosting its room in Abu Dhabi to over 3,000 from 1,3000 at present, Elias said. The chain is also boosting its portfolio in Dubai and will be adding 1,000 rooms to its existing 3,000 in the emirate by 2010, he said.

Elias maintained that the current global economic meltdown had not hindered Rotana’s development plans. “We believe in the future of hospitality industry in the UAE. Of the 40 new projects currently being developed by us, only one unit got delayed. Every other project is on track and will be completed as scheduled,” he said. Elias said except in Dubai, all Rotana properties have been recording 90 per cent occupancy despite the global crisis. In Dubai, the chain recorded a 25 per cent drop in business, but hopes to start recovery by the end of 2009. “By 2010, we hope to see full recovery in Dubai’s hospitality sector,” Elias said.

He said Rotana supports Abu Dhabi’s development and has already signed additional properties in Abu Dhabi with a few more under negotiations. “We have been active in representing Abu Dhabi at the many travel fairs and positioning the emirate as a preferred destination through our online reservation systems and global distribution partnerships.”

Elias, speaking to Khaleej Times at the Arab Travel Market in Dubai on Tuesday, said Rotana was steadily gaining strength and positioning itself as a leader in the industry within the region. “This is part of our strategic aim to have a property located in every key city in the Middle East and North Africa and this goal is being steadily achieved through careful long-term planning and timely action.” He said Rotana manages more hotels in Dubai and the Northern Emirates than any other single operator and the scheduled openings will increase the company’s stronghold further. “The new Rotana properties that will open in 2009 will complement its existing operations and will give it a representation on some of the most exciting developments in the region.”:

“The Abu Dhabi government has made it clear that it is keen to see economic diversification for the future prosperity of the emirate and Tourism represents a significant opportunity to meet these goals. We are very encouraged by the recent increase in tourism that we have witnessed here in Abu Dhabi and, together with the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, hope to play a major role in nurturing further growth in this sector,” Elias said.

· —issacjohn@khaleejtimes.com