Metropolitan Hotels International took shape when Al Habtoor Group ventured into the lucrative area of hospitality business in 1978.

The Metropolitan Hotel Dubai on Sheikh Zayed Road, marked the beginning of a chain expansion.

Today the Metropolitan Hotels International owns and manages the Metropolitan Palace Hotel, Metropolitan Deira Hotel, Metropolitan Resort & Beach Club in Dubai. Metropolitan also owns the prestigious 200-year old Monkey Island Hotel, a luxury country house property in UK.

In 2001, Metropolitan Hotels opened its first upscale hotel in the heart of Beirut, the Metropolitan Palace Hotel-Beirut and recently the group acquired its first management property, a five star hotel in Saudi Arabia, Makkah Metropolitan Palace Hotel. There are additional hotels and resorts are under development mainly in the Gulf region, not to mention the Metropolitan Hotels International Sales offices in Jeddah, Riyadh, Doha, Kuwait and in Abu Dhabi to meet the growing demand in the Gulf region.

"What makes Metropolitan Hotels International different is its luxurious design and its reputation as an international business centre as well an ideal destination for leisure travellers.

"The groups' hotels are established as hotels of international standards," says a hotel spokesman.

"For instance the Metropolitan Palace Hotel-Dubai is themed in three unique styles: Arabic, Far Eastern and European with each theme aesthetically reflected on separate floors offering the distinguished guests a pleasantly different experience.

"The luxurious Metropolitan Palace Hotel-Beirut which is considered one of the best hotels in the Middle East, aims to exceed the expectations of guests.

"The rooms are equipped with the latest technology to provide access to the world 24 hours via the Internet, a Biz-Comm system that is used as a voice mail, direct dial access, printer, scanner, in-room safe deposit, a fax machine etc.

"Ideal for business, the conference rooms are all supplied with the latest audio-visual facilities.

"Amenities in Dubai are definitely world-class, in fact they are among the best with the standard of service being very high indeed.