WITH two new properties set to open in the Arabian Gulf region this year, Millennium Hotels will be out in force at ITB this year in line with a bullish marketing policy, says a group official.

“Millennium Hotels in the Middle East are preparing for a very strong presence at all the major trade shows this year,” said Tarek El Sherif, regional director of sales and marketing for the Middle East.
“We have signed four new hotels to open in 2007, in Kuwait, Sharm El Sheikh, Dubai and Abu Dhabi,” he said in an email to TTN.
El Sherif is part of the group’s delegation to ITB.
“Berlin is going to be our start and we will be represented by five hotels from the UAE, Qatar and Egypt. We expect to sign some major contracts for all destinations.”
Other trade shows the hotel chain will be present at are the new Gulf Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings (GIBTM) in Abu Dhabi, the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai and World Travel Market in London.
Millennium Hotels and Resorts are currently running five hotels in the region, in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Doha and Marsa Alam in Egypt.
The group hopes to be operating 40 hotels in the Middle East and North Africa within the next four years.
The Millennium Hotel Doha had a soft opening last month, and is the group’s first in Qatar. The new hotel aims to set an unparalleled standard of new services in the Middle East, Manfred Simons, vice-president, operations and development for the Middle East and North Africa, told a news conference at the opening.
The hotel, owned by Al Sraiya Holding Group is located in Al Sadd area adjacent to a new shopping mall. It offers 226 guest rooms over seven floors including 24 suites. Facilities include brand new food and beverages venues, advanced high tech business centre, rooftop swimming pool, spa and state-of-the-art gym.