DUBAI — UAE's emirate of Sharjah will have its first Royal Tulip four-star hotel by the end of this year, according to Tulip Hotels, Inns and Resorts. Another major Tulip property will be operational in Kuwait at about the same time.
"The introduction of the Royal Tulip brand to the Middle East is spearheading a larger growth drive which will see us expand our portfolio to 50 hotels in the region by 2010," said Amine Moukarzel, senior vice-president and managing director for MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region of Golden Tulip Hotels.
For its part, Oman will have its first Royal Tulip five-star hotel early next year, a property that would be replicated by various other hotels in the Middle East for the next three years, according to Tulip Hotels, Inns and Resorts.
In a conference at the ongoing Arabian Travel Market (ATM), Moukarzel said the first property in Oman would have 238 rooms, suites and chalets, banquet and conference facilities, state-of-the-art spa and health club, and high-end restaurants.
"In the near future, we envisage a Royal Tulip Hotel in every major capital throughout the Middle East, offering unique conferencing locations, innovative food and beverage outlets and world-class service," Mourkarzel said.
"We are deeply committed to the Middle East and Africa region," said Hans Kennedie, president and chief executive officer of Golden Tulip.
In a statement, Golden Tulip, whose head offices are in The Netherlands and Switzerland, said it is an international company operating in three-, four- and five-star categories throughout Middle East and North Africa.