Abu Dhabi has chosen Kempinski Hotels & Resorts to run its 440-room luxury beachfront property, which will include what will be the largest conference facilities in the Middle East, the international chain said.
The agreement was signed recently by Shaikh Sultan bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, chairman, protocol and guest department, on behalf of the Conference Palace Hotel Executive Committee, and Reto Wittwer, president and CEO of the hotel group. The new facility, being positioned as a new landmark in the Middle East, is scheduled for completion by 2004 in time to host the GCC summit to be held in the UAE capital. The Conference Palace will combine a special auditorium exclusively for GCC summits, and additional meeting space for up to 1,200 delegates. It will also house a separate wing built specifically for heads of state and the leaders of GCC countries, comprising Royal Suites each measuring over 1,000 square metres on the top floor, suites for dignitaries, and rooms for staff and security personnel.