Le Meridien Luxor opens for winter season

Le Meridien has expanded its portfolio of properties in Egypt with the opening last month of a new 302-room hotel in the popular tourist destination of Luxor.

The group already operates hotels in Cairo, as well as a resort at Makadi Bay on the Red Sea, and this latest addition will give tourists and incentive and meeting organisers a new gateway to the splendours of ancient Egypt, according to Sami Zoghbi, regional managing director, Middle East & West Asia for Le Meridien.

"Our new hotel has an ideal location overlooking the Nile in the centre of Luxor, and it offers the right mix of modern comforts and facilities designed to meet every requirement of both leisure and business travellers," he said.

"With hotels at strategic locations in Cairo, from the airport to the Pyramids, Le Meridien is in a unique position to cater to the itineraries of visitors who wish to combine a few days in the Egyptian capital with a tour of the ancient sites in Upper Egypt."

Tourism to Egypt, hit hard by the events of September 11, has now begun to revive, he added, and the timing of the opening was designed to capitalise on the enduring appeal of the Nile tourism product.

In addition, conference facilities at Le Meridien Luxor, catering for up to 1,000 delegates, aim to kick-start demand from the MICE sector (meeting, incentives, conferences and exhibitions), where the hotel group sees great potential in the medium-term.

Sited 10km from the international airport, Le Meridien Luxor has 283 rooms and 19 suites, all with balcony or terrace and equipped with air-conditioning, satellite television, safe, hair dryer, mini-bar, IDD telephone with voice mail and radio, and PC sockets.

As well as the all-day Nubia restaurant, Café Chic brasserie, the hotel also has Italian, Arabic and French brasserie outlets, plus an al fresco grill on the riverbank, Nile cocktail terrace and afternoon tea lounge, while recreation facilities include an outdoor heated pool and a health club and gym.

Nile cruises, by traditional felucca or cruise boat, can also be arranged as well as golf at the nearby Luxor golf course, while the hotel also boasts a convenient shopping arcade for souvenirs and personal items.

For business guests, there is an all-purpose conference centre equipped with the latest audio and video technology that can be adapted to cater to conventions, seminars, workshops, gala dinners or product launches - with a capacity up to 1,000 - as well as two smaller meeting rooms and a comprehensive business centre.