Middle East hotel operator Rotana has announced plans to open ten new properties a year for the next four years, taking its portfolio to 66 hotels by 2012.
The comprehensive expansion plans follow the signing of management agreements for properties in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Oman, Iraq and Qatar.
Says Rotana’s ceo and president, Selim El Zyr, “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 continued, “The new properties will not only expand our portfolio in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Qatar, but will also introduce Rotana into new markets such as Cairo, Oman, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.”
Properties on schedule to open in 2009 include the Hili Arjaan in Al Ain, the Boulevard Rotana in Amman, the Bahrain Rotana, the Raouche Rotana in Beirut, the City Centre Rotana in Doha, the Fujairah Arjaan Rotana, the Centro Sharjah Airport Rotana and six new hotels in Abu Dhabi.
Said a Rotana statement: “The plan is right, the strategy is there. The execution and the know-how are there. Rotana is positive that as long as the company is able to manage growth in an efficient way, then there is the scope to take up further properties.”
