Accor hotel group, a European leader and one of the world's largest groups in travel, tourism and services, has announced plans to boost its Middle East portfolio to eight percent of its hotel interests by 2003.
In Dubai, Accor plans to open two hotels at the Convention Center at the Dubai World Trade Centre Complex. One hotel will trade as a Novotel, comprising 400 bedrooms, and the other will trade as an Ibis, comprising 200 bedrooms, said a statement by Hotel News Resource (HNR).
Both hotels will open in time for the 2003 World Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings.
The statement said that the Dubai government is forecasting 10 million tourist arrivals by 2010, with major hotel investment planned. Accor, however, intends to differentiate itself from other proposed hotels such as the 674-bedroom Grand Hyatt Hotel, the 156-bedroom Hilton and the 172-unit Dubai Marriott Executive Apartments, by targeting the mid-market and budget market.
Accor's other proposed hotels for the region include a 130-bedroom Sofitel Al Ain, UAE, due to open in September 2001; a 180-bedroom Novotel in Bahrain; a 130-bedroom Sofitel in Yemen and a 330-bedroom Sofitel in Makkah.
Accor runs 3500 hotels in 90 countries worldwide – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
