Wednesday, May 09, 2012
Gulf News
Dubai The Al Habtoor Group said it had acquired the Le Méridien Budapest — a 218-room luxury hotel in Hungary’s capital city, for an undisclosed amount.
Close to the main attractions, it’s just minutes 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. It is currently demolishing its flagship Metropolitan Hotel on Shaikh Zayed Road where three new hotels will emerge as part of a larger complex.
Unique atmosphere
“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, managed by Starwood Hotels and Resorts, has a ballroom which can accommodate up to 210 guests, and seven boardrooms for conferences.
“Hungary’s tourism industry has lots to offer. However, it needs investment,” Timea Czunyi, International Market Development Manager at Hungarian Tourism, told Gulf News.
“The acquisition is the first major investment in our tourism industry from the UAE and we welcome this.
“We are seeking more investment in our tourism industry — including in the development of new hotels and resorts.
She said her organisation is in talks with Emirates, Etihad Airways and flydubai to connect Hungary to the UAE.
Right now there is no direct air connection between the two countries. Hungary, a former Soviet-bloc socialist country, has become part of the Schengen visa regime and is trying to market its attractions worldwide to woo tourists.
“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, vice-president and regional director for Starwood Hotels and Resorts in East and 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.
Gulf News Report
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