Cristal Hotels plans major Mena expansion

 Abu Dhabi-based Cristal Hotels & Resorts plans major expansion over the next few years and aims 50 hotels under its management in the next five years across Mena region, it said in a press statement today.

The hotel group aims to triple its portfolio within two years, operating 13 hotels in the Middle East region by 2016 with a target of 50 properties within five years – thus doubling its previous goal of 25 hotels, the company said.

“In just five years since we opened our first hotel in Abu Dhabi, we now operate in four countries – the UAE, Iraq, Lebanon and the Comoros in the Indian Ocean – and will debut in Saudi Arabia next year with two hotels in Riyadh, followed by a third property opening in Dammam in 2015,” said Peter Blackburn, President & Chief Executive Officer of Cristal Hotels & Resorts.

“In addition to the two new hotels in Erbil, Iraq, a major addition to our portfolio is the 84-room Cristal Grand Kadri at Zahle, Lebanon, a historic landmark hotel located just 45 minutes from Beirut that offers 84 rooms and suites as well as an array of leisure and business facilities including a pool, spa, and conference rooms.”

In other developments, Cristal Hotels& Resorts has recently signed an agreement with Delta Leisure Resorts (DLR) for West Africa’s first premium theme and wildlife resort, recognised as The Best Future Urban Development Project at the ‘Luxury Living’ Nigerian Urban Development Awards in March.

The project includes a theme park, luxury retail village, wild life safari park and two hotels.

Kamal Fakhoury, Chief Operating Officer of Cristal, said: “We are delighted to be involved in a project of this magnitude which breaks new ground in Nigeria, and we will be operating two hotels to cater for differing budgets and tastes –one a five-star, 250-room Cristal Grand Delta and the other a three-star 400-room Sterling Delta hotel.”
 

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.