THE Rezidor Hotel Group has confirmed progress on its Park Inn located on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.
The mid market brand’s entry into the United Arab Emirates is on schedule and will open in time for the emirate’s inaugural 2009 Formula One Etihad Airways Grand Prix in November.
Opening first is the 204 room Park Inn which will have an all day dining restaurant, a South American themed restaurant, a lobby bar and an outdoor swimming pool with bar, while the planned Radisson Blu Hotel, also on the island, will further boost the group’s UAE capital proposition.
The two new properties join Rezidor’s Regent Pearl Abu Dhabi, another new-to-market brand, which is being built on the south west of the city’s signature Corniche. The resort, comprising a hotel and serviced apartments, will dominate the coastline with a 240 metre, 47 storey podium style tower.
“According to the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, the UAE capital is expecting to attract 2.7 million tourists a year by 2012, almost double its current rate. Increased tourism drives accommodation demand and with the majority of Abu Dhabi’s target segment representing business travellers, the Park Inn on Yas Island will meet all their requirements,” said Marko Hytonen, area vice president for the Middle East and Egypt, Rezidor Hotel Group.
“However, with Abu Dhabi’s ever expanding sports and events portfolio, which now includes a Grand Prix, the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, Gourmet Abu Dhabi and the Red Bull Air Race amongst others, we are anticipating an increase in the number of leisure travellers visiting the emirate.”
The Middle East saw the largest increase in RevPAR for Rezidor in 2008, having experienced a 13.4 per cent increase in the upper market and a 14.4 per cent increase in the mid market compared to the corresponding period in 2007. Globally, the Middle East was also the only region to see positive RevPAR growth in the last quarter of 2008. n