Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts continues Middle East expansion

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts (MH&R) is continuing its ambitious expansion strategy within the Middle East. With contracts already signed and the completion of individual properties in various stages of construction, 13 new hotels or resorts are scheduled to open by the end of 2008.

Jean Gabriel Pérès, President & CEO of MH&R, said, "With the support of like minded investors and owners with similar goals, it is our strategy to undertake flagship and first-class new projects to strengthen MH&R's position in the Middle East, with a particular focus on the Gulf States. Furthermore we expanded our brand into the Indian subcontinent having recently signed a management contract for a five-star business hotel in Bangalore that is scheduled to open in 2008."

November 2005 witnessed the opening of the deluxe 338 room Mövenpick Hotel Sana'a with spectacular views of the Old City in the Yemeni capital.

In January 2006, the 434 room Mövenpick Resort Taba celebrated its official opening. Located directly on Taba Bay at the crossroads of Africa and Asia, the resort is an idyllic oasis on what is being heralded as the undiscovered paradise of Egypt's Riviera.

An indication of the confidence in MH&R shown by owners is reflected in the contract signed last autumn with Seven Tides, through Asteco, the UAE’s largest property management company. The agreement is for the management of four new properties in Dubai: Mövenpick Hotel Deira is scheduled to open in March 2007 and the Mövenpick Resort Oceana Palm Jumeirah is scheduled for April 2007. The Mövenpick Resort & Spa Palm Jumeirah located on the outer crescent of Palm Island will open in May 2007 and Ibn Battuta Hotel Dubai operated by MH&R at the Ibn Battuta Mall will welcome its first guests in September 2007.

The first management contract for a property in the UAE came in November 2002 as plans for the flagship Mövenpick Dubai Pearl Hotel were announced. The 720 room hotel boasts an ideal location for the business traveller within the Media City Free Trade Zone and is opposite Palm Island.

The Mövenpick Resort in the northerly Emirate of Ajman is under construction with the opening date planned for 2008. Strategically located on a long stretch of white sandy beach in Ajman, a mere 25 kilometres from the centre of Dubai, the 262 room resort is designed principally for the leisure market.

In November 2004, a contract was signed for a new Mövenpick Hotel as part of the spectacular Jumeirah Beach Residence Development and is due for completion by April 2007.

 MH&R has also signed an agreement with IFA Hotels & Resorts to introduce a 5-star branded hotel residence in Dubai. It is the first independent hotel investment project in the Middle East. The Mövenpick Hotel & Residence Laguna Tower Dubai is scheduled to open in April 2008 and offers a total of 120 rooms together with 296 suites and apartments.

By 2008, MH&R's portfolio in the United Arab Emirates alone will offer a choice of nine properties.

In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, MH&R already manages four properties in Jeddah and Madinah with the fifth, the Mövenpick Hotel Al Khobar, designed to become a landmark in the Eastern Province due to open in March 2007.

In March 2006, the management contract was signed for a new hotel in the Holy City of Makkah. The Mövenpick Hotel & Residence Hajar Tower Makkah will offer 410 rooms and suites and 882 fully furnished one-, two-, and three-bedroom residences for individual investment. The 5-star property is part of the new Abraj Al-Bait complex located directly in front of the Grand Mosque affording magnificent views of Al Kaabah al Musharafah.

In Qatar, the 344 room Mövenpick Residence & Suites, Doha is scheduled to open in December of this year. While in Manama, the exclusive Mövenpick Hotel Bahrain is to open the Grand Ballroom accommodating up to 800 guests.

The Mövenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea Jordan, one of four superior hotels managed in the Hashemite Kingdom by MH&R, embarked on an ambitious project to enhance its leisure facilities last summer. The first phase comprised of the upgraded beach and a theatrical infinity pool overlooking the Dead Sea are already operating with the further amenities scheduled for completion this summer.

MH&R is to also open the 220 room Mövenpick Hotel Gaza in December 2006 with the 187 room Mövenpick Hotel Ramallah scheduled for the following summer.

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