Marriott International continues to build on its already strong presence in Egypt, with five existing properties and two more opening shortly.
Currently, Marriott has properties in Cairo, Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada, Alexandria and Taba. Two new hotels are due to open in Cairo and Sharm El Sheikh this autumn - the JW Marriott Mirage City Cairo and the Renaissance Sharm El Sheikh. In the capital, the 1,250-room Cairo Marriott Palace Hotel is an exquisite memorial to olden days. The hotel is built around a magnificent royal residence constructed by the Khedive Ismail in 1862. Elegantly detailed and lovingly restored, its antique-adorned interior forms the core of a grand hotel that married traditional grace with contemporary panache. Situated on an island of the river Nile, the hotel has 1,250 luxury rooms, including executive and corporate suites, in addition to seven presidential suites. For business travellers, the Cairo Marriott has 185 guest room specifically designed for them; the room that works combines the comfort of a Marriott guest room with the amenities of an office. The JW Marriott Hotel, Mirage City which opens in December is located less than 15 minutes from the Cairo airport and Heliopolis City. The five-star deluxe destination property will be the 10th international JW Marriott Hotel worldwide and the second JW Marriott Hotel in the Middle East. JW Marriott is the premium deluxe brand within Marriott International, providing elegant surroundings and exceptional business and leisure service amenities. The hotel will offer 428 oversized superior bedrooms, all featuring high hpeed ISDN Internet access and private balcony overlooking a golf course, in addition to 12 restaurants and bars, the second largest health spa in the world, an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Peter Harradine with exclusive self-contained club house, and a first for Egypt...a themed water park. The hotel will also offer the largest ballroom in Cairo, seating 1,580 people for gala dinners, in addition to a number of smaller meeting and private banquet rooms. "We are very excited about the upcoming opening," said Neal Jones, director of marketing. "This refined JW Marriott Hotel will offer serious business facilities expected by the business traveller, while combining a vast choice of sporting and relaxing facilities, creating a true corporate resort, a destination within a destination." In historic Alexandria, the elegant Renaissance Alexandria offers 171 rooms including 14 junior suites and 3 presidential suites. For business travellers, the hotel offers five meeting rooms, and express check-in and check-out facility, in addition to a number of work-friendly features in the guestrooms. Marriott also continues to have a very strong Red Sea presence, with the Sharm El Sheikh Marriott Beach Resort, the Hurghada Marriott Beach Resort, and the Taba Marriott Hotel. "The Red Sea is an ideal holiday destination because of the natural beauty, crystal clear water, sandy beaches and breathtaking array of marine life," said Saad Attia, director of marketing, Marriott Red Sea Resorts. "Marriott's resorts in Egypt are very special. Our slogan is 'we are thinking of you', and this is borne out in the combination of luxury accommodation, exciting leisure activities and that special Marriott touch that all add up to a very special vacation resort." Located on the promenade of Naama Bay on the shores of the Red Sea and only 20 minutes from the airport, the Sharm El Sheikh Marriott Beach Resort is a watersports paradise with its own private beach. Located around the gardens and pool with a private balcony or terrace, all 206 guest rooms and 10 suites are stylishly furnished and equipped to the highest standard. The Hurghada Marriott Beach Resort is a classic resort destination with its own marina and private island located on the shore of the sparkling Red Sea. The 268 guest rooms and 14 suites all overlook the Red Sea. Each guest room has individually controlled air-conditioning, electronic locks, mini-bar, direct-dial telephone with voice-mail and remote controlled TV with satellite channels. The 393-room Taba Heights Marriott Beach Resort, situated on the East Coast of the Sinai peninsula in over 44 acres of pristine, private sandy beach, is a newcomer to the Marriott Red Sea portfolio. The 172-room Renaissance Golden View, Sharm El Sheikh, set to open in October, will be a magnificent property located in lush landscape 6 miles south of Naama Bay, offering both a beautiful seascape and seclusion. Marriott also has a 223-room hotel in Tunisia - the Renaissance Tunis - offering extensive business and leisure facilities.