Seen on hotelexecutive.com, Oct 10, 2006
Regent Hotels, the luxury brand
of the fast-growing Brussels-based Rezidor SAS Hospitality, will more
than double its global portfolio over the next two years with the
addition of eight new properties across the Middle East, Asia, Europe
and the U.S.
In the Middle East, Regent will open its first resort property in
Dubai. The Regent Dubai, Canal Point will be a landmark hotel in the
emirate with its unique architecture inspired by the Asian lotus
flower. The property will be between The Palm, Jumeirah and Jebel Ali
Free Zone and will be part of a new residential development.
The first 17 floors will have up to 250 luxurious guestrooms, with the
largest being the Presidential Suite. There will be a total of 250
serviced apartments, also managed by Rezidor SAS Hospitality. 'Regent
is a name synonymous with superior quality and luxury. It's a brand
that the Middle East will easily identify with and it's the right time
to enter this fast growing market,' said Kurt Ritter, CEO and President
Rezidor SAS Hospitality.
Regent Hotels currently has a total of six properties worldwide in
Berlin, Shanghai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Taipei and Zagreb. 'Although
a major proportion of our business comes from the United States and
Great Britain, we are seeing an increase in guests from the Middle East
particularly from Qatar and the UAE. This clearly shows that the Gulf
region is recognising the Regent brand,' said Wolfgang Nitschke,
General Manager, The Regent Berlin.
Nitschke has almost two decades of luxury hotel industry experience
having worked in over 15 countries including Dubai's Burj-Al-Arab and
London's Dorchester. 'We are now targeting the leisure sector from
Bahrain and will continue to tap into business travellers from other
parts of the region,' added Nitschke.
The Regent Berlin houses 156 luxurious rooms, which are among the
largest in the historical city, and 39 suites as well as a top floor
presidential suite. The property also recently expanded its meeting and
conference facilities. It currently has 10 rooms for meetings and
events for up to 250 people.
Other future Regent developments include properties in Bangkok, Beijing
and Ningbo in China, Dubrovink, Croatia and South Beach and Boston in
the U.S.