In line with Rotana’s ambitious vision of operating 100 hotels by 2020, the group has announced that it will open 16 new properties by 2017.
The new line up of properties will include five new properties in the UAE, four in Saudi Arabia, two each in Turkey and Iraq, and the opening of Rotana’s first ever property in Muscat, Oman.
The extension work on one of the company’s iconic UAE properties, The Cove Rotana Resort in Ras Al Khaimah, will also take place next year. The developments will see more than 3,756 keys added to the group’s existing inventory by the end of 2017, helping Rotana grow its portfolio to 75 operating hotels with more than 19,450 keys in total.
Omer Kaddouri, President and CEO of Rotana, said: “Rotana has an ambitious global expansion strategy and the vast number of property openings due to take place in 2016 and 2017 will not only increase our presence in a range of destinations but also allow us to reinforce our position as one of the leaders in the hospitality market in the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and Eastern Europe.”
“We are dedicated to developing new opportunities and we are particularly excited about the opening of the iconic Saadiyat Rotana Resort in Abu Dhabi. Saadiyat Island is an exceptional destination, set to become an internationally renowned arts hub, and we believe our brand is ideally positioned to cater to the needs of global travellers seeking luxury facilities and world-class service.”
Identifying Africa as a key growth market, Rotana is set to make its debut in the continent with the opening of more than 100-key Kin Plaza Arjaan by Rotana in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo before the year is out. In addition to the property in Congo, the group currently has a number of projects under various stages of development across Africa including Marrakesh, Luanda, Nouakchott, Dar es Salaam and Lagos, illustrating the emphasis it is placing on building a continent-wide presence.