Rotana reveals global ambitions

WORLD – A global hotel group has unveiled plans to beef up operations in six different markets. Rotana Hotels and Resorts, will open 11 properties in the next six months. The hotel group will expand its portfolio across the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Africa, and enter Turkey for the first time. The new properties – all of which are scheduled to open before the end of the year – will add 2,765 rooms to Rotana’s existing 13,359–strong room count across its global property portfolio. Rotana’s launch into Turkey will see the group open two hotels in Istanbul in July 2015 with a total  of 319 rooms. The group will also beef up isits presence in Qatar where the brand will open its second five-star hotel and its first Centro branded hotel in Doha in August 2015. Featuring a combined inventory of 600 rooms, the two openings will make the group the largest hotel operator in this Arabian Gulf State with a portfolio of four hotels. Omer Kaddouri, president and CEO of Rotana said: “Rotana has a very robust development pipeline for 2015. By extending the Rotana brand into new markets while also reinforcing our market leadership in the Middle East, we have come closer to realising our ambitious vision of operating 100 hotels by 2020. With a carefully considered international development strategy in place, we are constantly looking for growth opportunities and all of these markets presented opportunities for Rotana to extend our award-winning hospitality offering.” The 11 properties set to open under Rotana management in 2015 are: Burgu Arjaan by Rotana, Istanbul, Turkey; Tango Arjaan by Rotana, Istanbul, Turkey; Dalga Residences by Rotana, Istanbul, Turkey; City Centre Rotana, Doha, Qatar; Centro Doha, Doha, Qatar; Downtown Rotana, Manama, Bahrain; Capital Centre Arjaan by Rotana, Abu Dhabi, UAE; Centro Shaheen, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Centro Waha, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Rosh Rayhaan by Rotana, Saudi Arabia; Kinshasa Arjaan by Rotana, Democratic Republic of Congo