LE MÉRIDIEN CONTINUES MIDDLE EAST EXPANSION

Luxury global hotel group Le Méridien will open another five hotels in the Middle East within the next two years, further underlining its commitment to the region as a key growth area for tourism.

Le Méridien, which with the March opening of Le Meridien Cochin, India, operates 20 hotels across the Middle East. It is already the largest international operator in India, with additional hotels in Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Pune and New Delhi. While another claim to largest numbers in the region is made in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where Le Meridien manages the largest portfolio of beach rooms. The group manages two hotels on Dubai’s Jumeirah beach strip, with more than 700 rooms, or 20 per cent of the beachfront total.

While, in Egypt, the recent opening of the 410-room Le Méridien Sharm El Sheikh, brings the number of properties to five – three in the capital, Cairo and another Red Sea resort property, the 814-room , Le Meridien Makadi Bay which opened last year. Later this year, Le Meridien will open the 870-room Le Royal Meridien Nile Tower, adjacent to the existing 308-room Le Meridien Cairo. Just announced is the brand’s first boutique hotel. It is scheduled for a 2002 opening in the capital’s City Stars Complex.

Also in 2002, Le Meridien will open two hotels in Saudi Arabia, one each in Makkah and Madinah, and one beach property in the niche resort of Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.

With the opening of the recently named, Le Meridien Aqqa Beach Resort Fujairah, Le Meridien will be the first international operator to open in the emirate in more than twenty years.

The 219-room resort hotel - the group’s fifth deluxe property in the UAE - is a joint venture between Emirates airline and the Government of Fujairah. The property will feature an executive floor (Le Royal Club) and dedicated executive lounge, extensive conference facilities and breakout suites, two large swimming pools, landscaped gardens, watersports and fitness centre (including a special Scuba Diving centre), tennis courts, four speciality restaurants and a dedicated children’s club.

Le Méridien is also considering other niche areas in the region such as Ras Al Khaimah, Khor Fakkan, Musandam and Salalah in Oman, although no formal negotiations have begun.

Commenting on the group’s expansion plans, managing director, Middle East and West Asia, Michel Noblet said : "Our over-riding goal is to seek flagship niche entry in both leisure and city arenas. The Middle East will play a key role in this growth as there are many untapped destinations with great potential.

"We would like to see Le Méridien have around 50 properties in the region in five or six years."

Le Meridien – the luxury brand of Forte Hotel Group - currently has a global portfolio of more than 150 hotels (32,000 rooms) in 55 countries worldwide and an annual turnover of more than US$2 billion. Le Méridien currently operates 20 hotels in the Middle East and West Asia.