AED 1 million spent on technology paves way for higher investment to upgrade

Fujairah, January 15, 2011 - The overall momentum in the worldwide tourism sector in the last quarter of 2010 has shown positive results and is an indication of business potential for this year. Driven by sure signs of growth in the hospitality sector, Le Méridien Al Aqah Beach Resort  is bullish about 2011 and has geared up to meet the business expansion and development with strategic plans that are underway as well as in the pipeline to meet the growing demand of tourism in the UAE.  

As one of the key players in the hospitality market on the east coast of the UAE, Le Méridien Al Aqah has become one of the most sought after resorts based on the wholesome amenities for family holidays and getaways as well as corporate events, B2B exhibitions, and wedding functions. 2010 saw major investments into key areas on the service as well as technology front that have already shown great results.

2011 will see the resort make marked changes in raising the standards in all the 218 rooms. These include complete redesigning of the rooms with all new range of linen, carpets and furniture. The resort's main restaurant - Views - will also have changes made on the interior design and is guaranteed to make dining a much more pleasurable experience. 

Patrick Antaki, General Manager, Le Méridien Al Aqah Beach Resort, said, "The resurgence of the hospitality industry in the UAE and the overall world statistics makes us extremely optimistic towards our outlook for 2011. The management has already put into place firm plans to ensure that we hold our position as being one of the most popular destinations and ensure that guests are provided with state-of-the-art amenities to enjoy their stay at the resort."

The highlight for 2010 was the AED 1 million invested in installing high speed wireless around the entire indoor and outdoor parts of the property. The resort also felt the positive repercussions of the investments made into launching the Teen Club Al Aqah as well as the reopening of Astros Bar that underwent renovation. While the Teens Club add greater emphasis on entertainment for tweens and teenagers and broadens the entertainment facilities, the re-opening of Astros Bar brings with it hi-tech additions and an attractive new ambience.

Given the proximity and the modern facilities provided by the resort, Le Méridien Al Aqah has also remained the preferred choice for a number of well known local and regional corporate houses and individuals that have booked in for conferences, incentive tours, gala dinners, weddings, product launches, team buildings and meetings.

Special packages are created to ensure that the team can facilitate for groups of 10 up to 1000 guests.  The spectacular Hajar Ballroom, nine smaller meeting areas and the outdoor area, along with multi-lingual professionals adds on to the impeccable service.

Le Méridien Al Aqah Beach Resort looks forward to a year of tremendous potential. The investments being made indicates the continued effort to ensure high levels of service for guests and strives to remain a one of the leading resorts in the UAE.

For more information, please call: +971 9 244 9000
Email reservation.lmaa@lemeridien.com
Visit  http://www.facebook.com/LeMeridienAlAqah or Watch us on YouTube

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About Le Méridien
Le Méridien, the French-born hotel brand currently represented by 107 properties in 50 countries, was acquired by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) in November 2005. Since then, Le Méridien has gone through a brand re-launch, which included appointing a full-time Cultural Curator - French arts-provocateur Jérôme Sans - and transforming numerous guest touch points, thus bringing unique and interactive experiences to its guests.  With close to 80 of its properties located in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Le Méridien brand provides a strong international complement to Starwood's primarily North American holdings. Plans call for dynamic expansion of Le Méridien hotels and resorts within the next five years, concentrating in the U.S., Latin America, and Asia-Pacific, including destinations such as India, Thailand and China.  Le Méridien Hotels recently opened new hotels in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Shimei Bay (China), Dallas and will open in Philadelphia in the coming months, and has recently signed new hotel deals in Taipei, Xiamen, Chongqing Nan'an, and Qingdao (China).  For more information, please visit www.lemeridien.com.

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1000 properties in nearly 100 countries and territories with 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft®, and Element SM.  Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

For any further media enquiries please contact:
Kiran Kumar, Director Marketing and PR  
Tel +971 4 203 3037   
Mobile +971 50 484 0261   
Fax +971 4 295 1206        
Email: kiran.kumar@lemeridien.com  lemeridien.com/fujairah

© Press Release 2011