Dubai: Al Habtoor Group, a Dubai-based family-owned conglomerate, said, it had acquired Le Méridien Budapest - a 218-room luxury hotel in Hungarian capital city.
Close to all the attractions that the city has to offer, it's just minutes away from the River Danube.
"Housed in a magnificently restored building which dates back to the turn of the century and is of historical importance, it has a unique old-world charm combined with contemporary chic design. Le Méridien Budapest is already a well-known landmark in Budapest," the company said in a statement.
This will be the 10th hotel in the Al Habtoor Group hotel portfolio. The company already owns three in Dubai and four which are currently being built, as well as two in Beirut.
"Budapest is a beautiful, historic city with a unique atmosphere. I find its people both warm and welcoming and its culture delightful. I am pleased to be able to contribute in some small part to its tourist industry as I believe the country has a lot to offer and a bright economic future ahead of it," Khalaf Al Habtoor, the Group's chairman, said in a statement following the acquisition.
This hotel, which is managed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts under the Le Méridien brand, has a ballroom which can accommodate up to 210 guests; and seven boardrooms for conferences. The hotel offers a spa with an indoor swimming pool, a Jacuzzi, a sauna and a steam bath.
"We are delighted to partner with the Al Habtoor Group again and to continue the successful management of the landmark Le Méridien Budapest Hotel under this new ownership", said Thomas Willms, VP and Regional Director for Starwood Hotels & Resorts in East & Central Europe.
Budapest has a population of 1.74 million and is divided in two by the River Danube with Buda on one side and Pest on the other. It's known for its rich history and its elegant turn-of-the-century architecture and coffee houses.
