Following the opening of Le Meridien Kuwait earlier this year, the hotel group will introduce the second phase of its five-project expansion in Kuwait with the opening of the 70-room Le Meridien Safat later this year.
This hotel marks the debut of Le Meridien’s Art+Tech design in the region and forms part of an aggressive development strategy in Kuwait, which will create almost 450 rooms across five projects by 2006.
Le Meridien’s development in Kuwait is the result of a newly established owning relationship with the A’Amal Hotels Company.
Ahmed Al Abdaly, chairman of the A’Amal Hotels Company, said: “These five projects, which include the refurbishment and rebranding of the former Ritz Hotel, will change the face of Kuwait’s hospitality structure.”
Sami Zoghbi, regional managing director of Le Meridien Middle East and West Asia pointed out that the pace of development in Kuwait has accelerated since the end of the Iraqi conflict. Zoghbi pointed to the four malls expected to open in the next few months as well as the massilve redevelopment project at Kuwait International Airport as further concrete signs of the expected boom in visitor numbers to Kuwait.
He added that the commitment by the Kuwaiti authorities to the conference market is another signal that Kuwait is determined to make its mark on the global events scene.
On new products, the upcoming 90-room city boutique hotel, Le Meridien Safat,Kuwait is located just minutes from key business, banking and shopping districts.
Facilities include a multi-dining outlet, cafe with outdoor terrace, a compact meeting and banqueting room, business centre, health club, sauna and swimming pool.
A second, 70-unit Art+Tech hotel will follow in 2005 in the Mubarakia district of Kuwait.
According to country general manager, Hannes Yaghi, the contemporary boutique style hotel will be the first for the Middle East, offering customers cutting-edge technology and innovative room design that brings a new dimension to the hospitality sector in Kuwait.
He said that in destinations such as Hong Kong and Frankfurt, the Art+Tech design by Le Meridien had been chosen as the concepiet of the future for prestigious hotel projects as such as the Asian Cyperport and the German Airrail Centre.
Art+Tech was designed to be different from the standard hotel room, while focusing on the three main elements of bed, bathroom and technology.
The concept is extended into public areas of Art+Tech properties from restaurants to meeting rooms, to create a contemporary, clutter-free environment, while emphasising all functions of service demanded by the frequent traveller.
Looking ahead, in 2005 Le Meridien expects the completion of a 120-unit hotel tower and convention centre annexe to Le Meridien Kuwait, the first of its kind in Kuwait. In 2006, a Le Meridien Residence is confirmed with 80 residential apartments, again another first in its category for Kuwait.