EAmidst the confusion raised by proponents and oppositors of the multi-billion reclamation in the area of Doljo facing the Mindanao Sea, an Arabian peninsula hotel chain is quietly buying a huge beachfront property the other side of Panglao's tip facing Tagbilaran Bay, to give rise to a four-star resort in the island. Part of a huge block of landholding owned by Cattleya Corp., the site of the new resort is adjacent to the property bought by the group of Johnny Chang of Bellevue Resorts fame. Bellevue Resort will have its soft opening in June this year.
The new Panglao investor was represented by King Abdullah Buhindi of Dubai's Towers Rotana Hotel who visited the island last week to find out for himself the 14-hectare future site of the resort. As a new player in Panglao's investment portfolio, the Dubai-based resort will join the like's of big ticket investors that now include Henry Chuesuey who bought recently the high-end Alona Palm Resort boutique resort now a property belonging to the Boracay Regency. The Rotana Hotel in Bohol will become part of a 10-hotel chain based in Dubai alone and the entire Middle East that includes Rotana resorts presence in Lebanon, Abu Dhabi, Syria, Kuwait, Egypt, Sudan & Saudi Arabia. In the drawing board are future developments in Amman, Bahrain, Beirut, Bagdad, Doha, to name a few.
During the king's visit in Panglao, Mayor Benedicto Alcala hosted a meeting with the foreigners right in the future site of the resort at Doljo Point. He was joined by Gov. Edgar Chatto, Provincial Administrator Ae Damalerio and Engr. Manuel Mendoza of Monorealty Corp., the company that bought the resort area. The Rotana Hotel Group is a competitive, innovative and fast emerging as one of the leading hotel management companies within the Middle East and North Africa. It's portfolio consists of 39 hotels, suites and resorts currently in operation and many more projects in pipeline, double the size of existing portfolio by the end of 2012 in strategic locations across the Middle East and North Africa.
In Dubai, the Rotana Group of Hotels are the
Towers Rotana Hotel Dubai , Villa Rotana Suites Dubai , Rimal Rotana Suites Hotel Dubai , Al Bustan Rotana Hotel Dubai , Al Murooj Rotana Hotel and Suites Dubai , Bur Juman Rotana Suites Dubai , Rihab Rotana Hotel Dubai , Amwaj Rotana Resort Dubai, Media Rotana Hotel Dubai , Jumeira Rotana Hotel Dubai .
Rotana is pushing ahead with its expansion plans in 2011, buoyed by improving conditions in the hospitality industry in the Middle East and Africa region. Revealed for the first was the total size of investment managed by Rotana to open in 2011, reaching a staggering number of over 800 million dollars. Rotana announced that it will open six new hotels in the UAE in 2011, bringing its total to 33 in the emirates, the largest by any single hotel brand, local or foreign. Rotana is also scheduled to open one new hotel in Qatar as part of an aggressive, yet tactical expansion strategy in the region that will see the hotel group managing a massive 12,515 rooms across its portfolio of hotels in the region by the end of 2011. “The last few months have seen the hospitality industry in the Middle East and Africa registering positive growth. We see that momentum being sustained as general business conditions improve across the board,” said Selim El Zyr, President and Chief Executive Officer, Rotana.
Latest figures from STR Global show that occupancy in the Middle East and Africa region was 69.8 percent in November 2010, an increase of 2.4 percent as compared to the previous year with Abu Dhabi experiencing the largest occupancy increase, rising 33.6 percent to 76 percent. Rotana recorded an average occupancy rate of 74 percent in 2010, a result obtained by its heavy investments on marketing initiatives last year and by pursuing new feeder markets in Eastern Europe, South America, and the Far East, such as China, Malaysia and Hong Kong. Rotana expects its average occupancy rate to increase by nine percent in 2011. “All our properties across all destinations performed well, with some meeting their targets and others surpassing theirs. However, Lebanon was the best performing country considering the tourism boom that the country has experienced, due to its current stability and commitment to renovation and progression,” continued El Zyr.
As a leader in the region's hospitality industry, El Zyr underscores Rotana's commitment to creating opportunities that will support its long-term growth. “We are constantly developing new ways to keep in step with changing travel trends and guest preferences, and one of the key areas for growth that we are currently addressing is the mid-tier market, for which we developed the Centro Hotels by Rotana brand.” Rotana's strategic aim is to have a property located in every key city of the Middle East and Africa. “Location is our main focus when it comes to deciding on managing a property. We see a lot of potential in Iraq, where the infrastructure build up is seeing a surge in the influx of international firms taking advantage of the construction boom. Lebanon is also in our radar, because of a booming tourism sector spawned be reforms. Plus, Qatar's triumphant World Cup 2022 bid offers plenty of opportunities that we are keen on taking advantage of,” El Zyr said. The proudly home-grown hospitality brand will require 3,500 new employees to support its growth targets, a welcome development for an industry hit by substantial lay-offs as a result of the global downturn. Among other exciting developments the hotel will introduce in 2011 include a mobile booking platform as well as other mobile applications; as well as the adoption of “green standards” and energy management technologies across all new properties. Further information on any Rotana property, its brands or reservations can be obtained by visiting rotana.com or by contacting one of its regional sales offices.
|
Rotana Hotel Management Corporation Ltd ( Arabic : ???????) is a hotel management company in the Middle East and North Africa region. It has a portfolio of 70 properties and operates four sub brands which include Rotana Hotels & Resorts, Centro Hotels by Rotana, Rayhaan Hotels & Resorts by Rotana and Arjaan Hotel Apartments by Rotana. Its headquarters is located in Abu Dhabi , United Arab Emirates . History Rotana Hotel Management Corporation [rotana.com] was founded in 1992 and is operating across the Middle East and North Africa. The company was founded by partners Nasser Al Nowais and Selim El Zyr, who were both already well established within the Middle East hospitality industry, with Nasser Al Nowais having previously been instrumental in the formation of the Abu Dhabi National Hotel Company. With its head office located in Abu Dhabi , the capital of the United Arab Emirates, Rotana employs over 10,000 people across its geographically dispersed locations. Today, Rotana has over 70 properties across 26 cities in the MENA Region. Rotana's strategic aim is to have a property located in every key city in the Middle-East and North Africa. Rotana has sales offices in the UAE, United Kingdom, Kuwait, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Germany.
Several properties within the group have received awards and accolades in the past few years reflecting the company's policy of maintaining international standards combined with traditional Arabic culture and hospitality. Accolades include the Sheikh Khalifa Award for Excellence awarded to the Beach Rotana Hotel & Towers in Abu Dhabi, as well as the Dubai Quality Appreciation Award presented to Al Bustan Rotana Hotel in Dubai. More significantly, the World Travel Market Global Award was conferred on Rotana, for ‘Best Operations in the Middle East' and for ‘Major Contribution to Tourism in the Region', by Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan, at an international ceremony held in London and in addition, ‘The Best Hotel Chain in the Middle East' was awarded by the readers of the leading Al Iktissad Wal Aamal magazine.
Rotana has packed a number of awards during the What's On, DEPA, MENA, Business Traveller ME and Selling Long Haul awards. Furthermore, the company has announced yet another significant milestone in its' history by winning the Middle East's Leading Hotel Brand at the 14th, 15th and 16th Annual World Travel Awards.
1993 Rotana comes to fruition With the opening of the first hotel, Beach Rotana in Abu Dhabi.
1995 Forces joined Three years after the idea of Rotana was first discussed, two key people join Rotana bringing factors critical to the future success the company. Nael Hashweh joins Rotana whilst Imad W. Elias joins.
1997 A leading hotel in Dubai Four years after the opening of the first hotel in Abu Dhabi, Al Bustan Rotana opened its doors in Dubai.
2000 Beyond the borders of the United Arab Emirates By 2000, Rotana was in a position of strength. The group had opened properties in Egypt and Lebanon and had a total of 13 operating properties. With the aim to open a Rotana property in each major city in the Middle East, the management team focused on extending Rotana's footprint in the region. 2002 Flying high on success Rotana is awarded ‘WTM Global Award' for ‘Best Operation in the Middle East and Contribution to Tourism in the Region' and the Superbrand award for ‘Excellence in Branding'. 2005 Rotana gains momentum With over 20 properties in operation, Rotana opens its first property in Syria, Queen Center Rotana Suites and continues to receive awards, such as the ‘Best Hotel Brand Award', for being the highest rated hotel brand within the GCC. Rotana launches its new budget hotel concept, Centro, and announces Rotana Rewards Exclusive Programme. 2006 Partnering for growth The management team sells 40% of the company through a Private Placement Transaction led by SHUAA Capital, fueling investment for the group's aggressive expansion plans on the horizon.
|
