Fujairah catches eye of Egypt hotelier

Berlin: Egyptian hotelier Hamid Al Chiaty, who owns Travco and Egyptotel, is setting up two new resorts - Iberotel Miramar Al Aqah Beach Resort and Iberotel Royal Miramar Resorts - with a total investment of nearly Dh735 million ($200 million) in Fujairah.

The complex, once completed, will add nearly 700 rooms to the growing tourism industry in Fujairah.

Among these, the $44 million 321-room Iberotel Miramar Al Aqah Beach Resort will open in September this year, while phase II involving the $154 million Iberotel Royal Miramar Resorts will be opened in 2009.

The overall project is being developed in three phases, with the third component, a retail facility with boutique-style outlets surrounded by a lagoon, will be operational by 2010.

"This is Travco's first hotel project in the UAE," said Samer Mashour, director of sales and marketing at Iberotel Miramar Al Aqah Beach Resort, told Gulf News here.

Publicity

The company is showcasing the project at the International Tourism Bourse (ITB) as part of pre-opening marketing drive.

"It is a wonderful beachfront project with mountains at the backdrop and makes an attractive property for leisure travellers. We have just started our marketing drive to attract international tourists," said Mashour.

These are part of the company's ambitious plans to set up six hotels in the UAE with an investment outlay to the tune of Dh1.2 billion.

Iberotel Miramar Al Aqah Beach Resort, the luxurious five-star hotel features Moroccan-inspired architecture. The main building is surrounded by clusters of rooms on three floors with private beach. There are 313 tastefully-appointed rooms, all of which offer a sea view. It is located on the east coast of the Al Aqah Beach, at a distance of approximately 15 kilometres from Dibba Village and 49 kilometres from Fujairah town. The hotel is about 90 minutes away from cosmopolitan Dubai and its international airport.

Travco Group owns 34 resort hotels and employs 13,000 employees. It also has a fleet of 800 vehicles with 15,000 seats and 30 companies under management.