Fairmont to open seven new hotels this year

Hospitality chain Fairmont Hotels and Resorts has revealed its development pipeline for 2010, with seven new hotels being added to its global portfolio of 59 properties.

The Middle East will see the newly-developed Makkah Clock Royal Tower hotel in Saudi Arabia, which the hospitality chain believe will become a key destination for visitors from the UAE and the rest of the region.

The property will be part of the iconic Abraj Al Bait Complex, which includes seven towers, adjacent to the Masjid Al Haram. The 858-room hotel will offer Fairmont Gold, the brand's lifestyle product offering, with numerous dining outlets and conference facilities. The 76-storey hotel tower, at 577 metres, will be among the world's tallest and feature a 40-metre clock, more than five times larger than Big Ben in London. The property is to open in Q3 2010.

"Outbound travel to Asia, Africa, and Europe from the Middle East markets remains strong. The new hotels will cater to the needs of guests from the Middle East with facilities tailored to their needs, such as large family rooms and suites, and many hotels providing halal food," said Thomas W Storey, President, Fairmont Hotels and Resorts.

Other properties planned for this year by The Fairmont also include The Savoy, London, which will reopen after a two-year, £100 million (Dh596m) restoration programme. The opening is set for Q2 2010. In Shanghai, The Fairmont Peace Hotel is the new name for the newly restored Peace Hotel.

China will see the opening of a Fairmont Beijing, while two other properties will opening North America, and one in South Africa.

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