UAE to construct 97 hotels

"In the same period, Qatar is expected to add 39 new hotels and 9,835 rooms; Kuwait, 19 hotels and 4,115 new rooms; Bahrain, 15 hotels and 3,615 rooms and Oman, 4 hotels and 766 rooms., said Frederic Theux, President of Reed Exhibitions, organisers of Equip Hotel Middle East, an exhibition which will showcase products and services relating to the hotel, restaurant, café and catering industries to be held in Abu Dhabi from December 14-16, 2008.

Currently the total hotel room capacity in the above countries stands at 33,925 Theux said Abu Dhabi was planning to increase hotel room capacity to 25,000 by 2015 and develop over 100 hotels in the next ten years.

"The emirate is investing over Dh367 billion in the next 5 years in a combination of projects that include upgrading the UAE capital's airport, building a new port, establishing new townships and tourism development, he said. Reed Exhibitions president said: "The ADTA is implementing an aggressive tourism development strategy including the establishment of world class tourist attractions such as the Louvre and Guggenheim museums on Saadiyat Island and the hosting of a Formula 1 Grand Prix on Yas Island in 2009.

According to the Dubai Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing (DTCM), the number of hotels and hotel apartments in Dubai is set to rise to 554 by 2016 from 439 currently, with the existing room capacity of hotels and hotel apartments expected to nearly triple with the new additions.

The show, he said it would take place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre and will support the rapidly expanding hospitality sector in the GCC region. Equip Hotel Paris is well-established and is considered the leading international hospitality show primarily targeting the European market. Exhibitors at the event will include companies displaying Building Layout & Fitting products, Tableware, Laundry, Cafeteria & Bar equipment, Hotel & Restaurant concepts, Vending, Kitchen Equipment, Linen & Professional wear, Furniture & Design, Guest Amenities, Spas, Bathroom & Wellness and Sound & Lighting Technologies.