YOTEL's revolutionary hotel concept set for Middle East debut
Abu Dhabi, 11th November 2008: Abu Dhabi National Hotels (ADNH), the leading UAE-based hospitality group with interests in hotels, tourism, transport and catering has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with YOTEL Investments FZE (YIF), to develop this revolutionary new hotel concept in the UAE capital.
The MoU was signed by ADNH Chairman, HE Saif Mohamed Al Hajeri and YOTEL CEO, Gerard Greene during the World Travel Market (WTM) at ExCel in London that is being held from November 10 - 13, 2008.
According to the agreement, ADNH will be the exclusive developer of two or more YOTELs in Abu Dhabi while YIF will handle all operational and management aspects of the new hotels.
"As one of the UAE's leading players in the hospitality sector, we are proud to partner with YOTEL in bringing the YOTEL brand to Abu Dhabi. This unique concept of creating cabins that provide a flexible and convenient first class hotel experience at an affordable price pioneered by YOTEL is catching on rapidly and will ideally suit the needs of those who are in transit at the Abu Dhabi International Airport or those on short business trips to Abu Dhabi," said Al Hajeri.
"We are very pleased to partner with ADNH, the region's leading hotel company, for our first venture to the Middle East. Abu Dhabi's commitment to push the boundaries and provide a city for the future is a perfect match for YOTEL, 'the iPod of the hotel industry'. This partnership enforces our strategy of working with the world class companies such as IFA Hotels & Resorts, BAA and Schiphol Group. During these unprecedented economic times, our recipe to provide luxury at affordable rates is the future of hospitality across the globe - customers do not have to pay high prices for mediocre quality." said Gerard Greene, YOTEL CEO.
Noting that the YOTEL brand is being introduced at an appropriate time, Richard Riley, CEO of ADNH said: "Abu Dhabi is fast emerging as the MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) and business hub in the region. We expect that this new concept will meet the needs for more accommodation during big events in the Abu Dhabi emirate and will provide a practical solution at affordable rates."
"Besides the YOTEL at the Airport, the YOTEL at the Abu Dhabi City Centre will cater to the hotel requirements of participants, delegates and visitors to exhibitions and conferences being held at the nearby Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre," Riley added.
YOTEL designers built upon the technology and advanced use of space seen in business class airline cabins and luxury yachts to realise the two tier cabin system. Premium cabins (with a full size double bed) and Standards (with a large single bed). All cabins are equipped with ensuite bathrooms with monsoon rain showers, hand made organic beds, flat screen TV's and free wired and WiFi internet access
Ibrahim Saleh Al-Therban, Chairman of IFA Hotels & Resorts, the majority shareholder of YOTEL, said: "We are delighted to be bringing the YOTEL brand to the Middle East in partnership with ADNH. Our goal is to see a YOTEL in the majority of international cities and airports around the world. The YOTEL concept is ideal for Abu Dhabi as business tourism is growing at such a rapid pace in the emirate."
YOTEL is currently located at London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports and very recently opened at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. The 32-cabin YOTEL at London Heathrow is landside in Terminal 4, while the 46-cabin YOTEL in London Gatwick is landside in the South Terminal building. Early this year, YOTEL opened its first air-side hotel at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol with 57 cabins.
The YOTELs will be a welcome addition to ADNH's portfolio of prestigious and unique projects in Abu Dhabi which include the JW Marriott Resort & Spa and Park Hyatt in Saadiyat Island that are expected to open by 2010. ADNH will also develop a business hotel that is slated for completion by late 2011 at Abu Dhabi's Capital Centre.
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About Abu Dhabi National Hotels:
Abu Dhabi National Hotels (ADNH) was established in 1978. After more than three decades, the company has grown both in size and diversity into a quality, broad-based hotel, tourism, transport and catering group. ADNH owns and/or manages several 5-star and 4-star hotels in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai and Fujairah. In addition the company has four subsidiaries focused on the hospitality industry - Al Diar Hotels, ADNH Travco, Al Ghazal Transport and ADNH Compass. For further information about ADNH, please visit: www.adnh.com
About YOTEL
YOTEL was created by YO! Founder Simon Woodroffe and YOTEL CEO Gerard Greene. The idea was conceived by Simon after he was upgraded into first-class on a flight. He decided to translate the language of luxury airline travel and Japanese capsule hotels into a small but luxurious cabin. Simon and Gerard evolved that idea into reality with YOTEL. Following a major investment by Kuwait-based IFA Hotels & Resorts, YOTEL opened its first two hotels inside the terminal buildings of London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports in 2007 followed by their third location at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in September 2008. For further information, please visit www.yotel.com
About IFA Hotels & Resorts
IFA Hotels & Resorts (IFA HR) is the majority shareholder in YOTEL but also a leader in the development of premier integrated and mixed-use hotel and tourism resort projects throughout Europe, the Middle East, the Indian Ocean region, Africa, Asia and North America. IFA Hotels & Resorts' current portfolio consists of 40 projects in total, of which 23 are hotels, with a total of 17,000 keys. Assets under management are valued at US$ 10 billion. For more information, please visit www.ifahotelsresorts.com
For more information, please contact:
ADNH
Ammar Al Thuwaini/ Olivia Olarte
Asda'a Burson-Marsteller
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Tel: +971(2) 6334133
Fax: +971 (2) 6334137
E-mail: a.thuwaini@asdaa.com, o.olarte@asdaa.com
YOTEL
Jo Berrington
YOTEL
E-mail: jo@yotel.com
Tel: +44 (0) 7894 640093
Georgina Coates
Threepipe
E-mail: yotel@threepipe.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 207 632 4800
IFA Hotels & Resorts:
Annika Vaughan
PR Manager
Tel: +971 (4) 3912022
E-mail: annika.vaughan@ifahotelsresorts.com
© Press Release 2008
