UAE seeks to be No.1 in family tourism: Mohammed

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, received New York-based Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide’s delegation headed by President and CEO Frits Van Paasschen.

During the meeting, which took place at Za’abeel Palace on Wednesday, Sheikh Mohammed and his guests reviewed the activities and operations of the company in Dubai, the region and the world.

Van Paasschen said Dubai would be the first world city in terms of the number of hotels the company is to manage in 2015 after the completion of six new hotels to make up a total number of 20 hotels in Dubai, outnumbering New York which now leads.

Sheikh Mohammed affirmed that the UAE in general and Dubai in particular are among tourist destinations favoured by tourists regionally and globally, adding that the country seeks to be number one in the field of family tourism, as attractive tourist plans and projects are currently being implemented.

Sheikh Mohammed noted the positive role played by Starwood in managing the 14 hotels it runs in Dubai, expressing his confidence that Dubai will very soon be number one in terms of the number of hotels in the world.

Van Paasschen thanked and expressed appreciation to Sheikh Mohammed for the facilities provided to the company by the Dubai government. Starwood’s MENA HQ is in Dubai because of its excellent infrastructure.

The meeting was also attended by Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chief Executive of Emirates Group Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Director of Dubai Ruler's Court Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shebani, Commander General of Dubai Police Lt. General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Dubai Director of Protocol and Hospitality Khalifa Saeed Suleiman, Dubai Real Estate Corporation CEO Hesham Abdullah Al Qasim and President of Starwood Hotels and Resorts for Europe, Africa and the Middle East Roeland Vos.

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