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Rotana gears up for busy year

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“We have had so many tour operators knocking on our doors because they heard that Saadiyat Island is coming up and they want a piece of the action,” Omer Kaddouri, president & CEO, Rotana, tells TTN.

The charming The Cove Rotana Resort, a spectacular property located on an idyllic water inlet on the Ras Al Khaimah beachfront in the UAE, is currently undergoing large-scale refurbishment, with a 147-key extension. “The extension of the Cove Rotana is due to open any time. Four companies – German, Polish and Czech - have already taken over the 147 keys for the rest of the year since its opening.”

 

2016 PERFORMANCE

Rotana wrapped up a successful 2016 during which the company cemented its leadership position in the region with seven new openings to expand its operating portfolio to 58 properties. With no less than 50 properties currently under development, the company remains on track to achieve its goal of operating 100 properties by 2020.

The company lost some iconic contracts in Dubai. The management contracts of Al Murooj, which Rotana managed for 10 years, and Al Bustan, which they managed for 20 years, went to the up-and-coming Roda Hotels. Speaking on the loss, the CEO says, “Losing properties is a part of the growing process of a hotel chain. Any hotel we lose from the inventory is really sad news. Rotana has been seeing successes since it started, we need to remember that every company will have a blip some time. It is because we are not used to such blips, it hurts us all the more. 

“Are we going to suffer financial losses because of this? No. We’re opening lots of other hotels and our properties that have opened over the last two years are doing quite well, compensating for the loss of these two properties. The owner of Al Murooj and Al Bustan went with someone he believes will develop a hotel chain for him. He feels they can do better if they have their own brand. At the end of the day, it is the owner’s decision and we wish him best of luck. We have parted ways quite amicably.”

 

SWEET 17

Rotana is gearing up to open 17 new properties within the next two years. Properties opening in the second quarter this year include Centro Waha, Riyadh, KSA (290 keys); The Cove Rotana Resort – Extension, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE (147 keys); Erbil Arjaan by Rotana, Kurdistan, Iraq (168 keys); Sundus Rotana, Muscat, Oman (215 keys) and Centro Salama, Jeddah, KSA (189 keys).

Those launching in the third quarter include: Centro Olaya, Riyadh, KSA (156 keys); Centro Corniche, Al Khobar, KSA (253 keys); Capital Centre Rotana, Abu Dhabi, UAE (315 keys) and Al Bandar Rotana and Al Bandar Arjaan by Rotana, Dubai, UAE (280 keys).

By year-end, the brand will be opening Centro Istanbul and Arjaan Istanbul by Rotana, Istanbul, Turkey (305 keys); Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villas, Abu Dhabi, UAE (340 keys); Sulaymaniyah Rotana, Kurdistan, Iraq (240 keys); Rayhaan Imam Reza by Rotana, Mashhad, Iran (272 keys) and Beach Arjaan by Rotana, Abu Dhabi, UAE (326 keys).

Going further ahead, the second quarter of 2018 will see the launch of Al Jaddaf Rotana in Dubai, UAE (338 keys) and in the fourth quarter, Wafi Rotana, Dubai, UAE (598 keys) and Sundus Arjaan by Rotana, Muscat, Oman (102 keys) will open its doors.  

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