ALDAR Properties, the Abu Dhabi based property developer’s hotels and hospitality division signed an exclusive agreement with one of Asia’s largest international hospitality providers Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces.
Paul Bell, managing director, Aldar Hotels and Hospitality, and Raymond Bickson, managing director and CEO of The Indian Hotels Company, signed the agreement following the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference’s Summit on India, which highlighted prime Indian investment deals and projects being undertaken in the subcontinent as well as Indian brands making an entrance into the Middle East.
“Aligning with leading internationally recognised hospitality brands is part of Aldar’s strategy to bring high quality investment opportunities to our developments. This agreement signifies Aladar’s commitment to bring world class players to our market, and to Abu Dhabi,” commented Ronald Stephen Barrott, CEO of Aldar Properties.
The agreement will cover a number of hotel projects. The first hotel to be developed by Aldar under the agreement is a five star, 500 room luxury resort hotel on YAS Island. The hotel will be branded as a ‘Taj Palace’ Hotel on the lines of the elegant, original palace hotels of the Taj and will have facilities and services to match.
Bell said, “Signing this agreement after the Summit on India during the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference is significant as it brings together Abu Dhabi’s leading development company with one of India’s foremost luxury international hospitality brands. This Summit on India is a testament to the growing popularity of Indian brands in this region and ALDAR Hotels and Hospitality is delighted to be able to partner with Taj Hotels and Resorts to further our objective of combining world class brands with world class locations “
Bickson said that Taj Hotels was looking forward to becoming a part of the YAS Island destination, and that international brands from India were becoming widely sought after.
“Today, the UAE forms part of a strategic group of countries in the Gulf region. Leisure and hospitality in this region is growing exponentially and it is important for the Taj Hotels to be present in this region, which is rapidly morphing into a tourism hub of the future.”