Rotana to foray into Arab markets

The Abu Dhabi-based hotel chain aims to eventually increase the number of properties it owns in Arab countries to more than 70, said Nasir Al Nuwais, Chairman of the Rotana Hotels Management Corporation. It plans to have 60 by 2012.

Al Nuwais was speaking at the launch of a new corporate identity project intended to consolidate the Rotana brand. Trademarks for two new hotel products – Arjan and Rihan – were unveiled. “Rotana is today a high-value brand,” he said. “We are in an ideal position to determine our brand more clearly than at any time before.”

He said demand for rooms in the capital was high and the occupation rate at the company’s hotels in Syria stood at 90 per cent while in Egypt it was 75 per cent.

Investment last year totalled Dh12.5 billion and investment returns did not fall below 12 per cent. He said Rotana will participate in the International Tourism Bourse in Berlin, Germany.