Resort Owned by IFA Hotels & Resorts & Kingdom Hotel Investments
IFA Hotels & Resorts (IFA HR) and strategic partner Kingdom Hotel Investments (KHI) recently opened their resort in Zanzibar in the presence of His Excellency Amani A. Karume the President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, The First Lady of Zanzibar Mrs. Shadia Karume, Deputy Chief Minister of Zanzibar, Honourable Ali Juma Shamuhuna and the Minister of Tourism, Trade & Investment for Zanzibar, Honourable Sameer Suluhu Hassan.
Global luxury hotel leader Fairmont Hotels & Resorts (Fairmont) have been appointed to manage the resort. The property has been branded Fairmont Zanzibar and travellers will now enjoy a unique and enriching experience in the newly renovated resort.
Talal Jassim Al-Bahar, Chairman and Managing Director of IFA HR, stated: "We already have a successful relationship with Fairmont across many of our African developments, so the decision to appoint them as the operator of our Zanzibar property was a natural one. Guests may now enjoy a full African experience, from the continent's famed snorkelling and diving to its safaris and beaches, within our East Africa collection: Fairmont Mara Safari Club, Fairmont The Norfolk and Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club, and now Fairmont Zanzibar."
IFA HR is currently developing a number of properties that Fairmont will also manage, including several on the iconic Palm Jumeirah island in Dubai as well as Fairmont Zimbali on the north coast of Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa.
John Williams, Fairmont's Executive Vice President, Europe, Africa & the Middle East said: "It is a pleasure to continue strengthening our relationship with IFA Hotels & Resorts and Kingdom Hotel Investments in Africa given the success we've experienced in the past with this joint venture partnership. We look forward to delivering finest luxury experiences in Zanzibar that people have come to expect from Fairmont Hotels & Resorts around the world."
The choice for IFA HR and KHI to invest in the original Zanzibar Beach Hotel & Resort was a natural one given the region's unspoilt beauty and its increasing popularity as a tourist destination. The number of visitors to the archipelago has been rising annually at a rate of over 25% a year since 2003.
KHI's CEO, Sarmad Zok, said "We have a strong presence in Africa and KHI is keen to continue to participate in the region's growth, especially through projects like this one. We believe in the strength of the Fairmont brand and see it as an asset, particularly in a region poised to be one of the most exceptional emerging market destinations in the world."
The resort is located on the North East coast of Zanzibar's main Island (Ungunja), 55 minutes from Zanzibar Kisauni International Airport. Fringed by the east coast's 45 kilometres of powder white sandy beach, the hotel occupies a 350-metre stretch of pristine open beachfront. The 109 newly renovated and comfortably appointed rooms and suites are spread throughout the property's vast and lush tropical gardens. Future expansion of the resort will continue, offering a selection of different asset classes for potential investors, such as private residence and vacation clubs.
One of the resort's main attractions is its unsurpassed water sports facilities, providing windsurfing, boating, fishing charters, as well as a fully equipped dive centre with a decompression chamber, one of only three in Africa and the Indian Ocean. Other amenities include two swimming pools, fitness and spa facilities and several restaurants and cafes overlooking the Indian Ocean. Guests can also enjoy additional activities such as volleyball, mini golf, table tennis, darts and pool. In addition to leisure offerings, Fairmont Zanzibar offers a full range of business amenities including wireless Internet, business centre, and meeting and banquet facilities.
Al-Bahar concluded "We are keen to add this resort to our luxury portfolio of integrated mixed-use developments by expanding the property's offering in the future to include a variety of other asset classes, such as a private residence and vacation clubs."
IFA Hotels & Resorts - www.ifahotelsresorts.com
IFA Hotels & Resorts is a leader in the development of premier integrated and mixed-use hotel and tourism resort projects throughout Europe, the Middle East, the Far East, the Indian Ocean region and Africa.
IFA Hotels & Resorts' activity in resort development began in the mid 80s with the acquisition and development of Pine Cliffs Resort in the Algarve, Portugal, through United Investments Portugal, which is part of the IFA Consortium.
The grandeur of Pine Cliffs provided the ideal environment for investment in the real estate sector as well as residential homes and resort living, and thus the consortium's link with the hospitality sector developed. Today, IFA Hotels & Resorts sets the international benchmark for the development of world class integrated real estate development.
IFA Hotels & Resorts' main operating office is located in Dubai, while it's head office is in Kuwait. The company is run by Chairman and Managing Director Talal Jassim Al-Bahar along with President & COO Werner Burger and VPs in key markets across the globe including Portugal, the United Kingdom, Dubai, Lebanon, Kenya, Zanzibar and South Africa. IFA Hotels & Resorts is a specialist in resort development, and the company enjoys close links to premier hospitality operators such as Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, appointed to manage some of its developments both in South Africa and in Dubai.
IFA Hotels & Resorts listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange in January 2006, with a market capitalisation of over US$ 1 billion. The company also listed on the South African JSE Limited (Johannesburg Stock Exchange) during 2006 with plans to list on other major exchanges in the future. In January 2007, the company invested in listed Thai developer Raimon Land.
Globally, IFA Hotels & Resorts has entered into strategic alliances and joint venture partnerships with leading companies such as Kingdom Hotel Investment Group (Saudi Arabia), Nakheel (UAE), Istithmar (UAE), United Investments (Portugal), a strategic alliance with RCI (part of the Cendant's Group), Moreland Developments (Pty) Ltd (South Africa), Boschendal Ltd. (South Africa), Raimon Land (Thailand) and most recently Ohlthaver & List (Namibia).
IFA Hotels & Resorts aims to link its resorts to new parts of the globe, such as the US, the UK, the Indian Ocean and Eastern Europe. This will offer investors and tourists access to world class facilities through a network of hotels, residential resorts, vacation and residence club destinations.
IFA Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Projects:
DUBAI
IFA Hotels & Resorts is the largest investor on The Palm Jumeirah.
The Fairmont Palm Hotel & Resort - A 400 room 5 star hotel on the trunk of The Palm Jumeirah.
The Fairmont Palm Residence - 558 luxury apartments. (www.fairmontpalmresidence.com)
The Palm Residence - Al Nabat and Al Haseer - two shoreline residential buildings on the trunk of The Palm Jumeirah, with 246 apartments.
The Palm Golden Mile development - A joint venture project with Istithmar. A project featuring 860 luxury apartments, 19,500 sq. metres of office space and 22,000 sq. metres of retail space comprising boutique shops and restaurants, all stretching along 7.8 hectors of park land. (www.thepalmgoldenmile.com)
Kingdom of Sheba - A 1,000 key destination on the Crescent of The Palm Jumeirah (adjacent to Atlantis) comprising residences (Balqis Residence), a Hotel (Fairmont Kingdom of Sheba), Vacation Club (Fairmont Vacation Club, Kingdom of Sheba), Private Residence Club (Fairmont Heritage Place, Kingdom of Sheba) and a souq (retail plaza) - all to be managed by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. (www.kingdomofsheba.com)
Laguna Tower - A 40 storey mixed-use tower located in the Jumeirah Lake Towers, next to the Dubai Marina, comprising residential apartments and a hotel-residence managed by Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, the Movenpick Hotel & Residence Laguna Tower Dubai, in addition to retail and restaurants along the waterfront. (www.lagunatower.com)
LEBANON
Alabadiyah Hills - A luxurious mountainside retreat in Bhamdoun, overlooking Beirut. This 7.5 hectare project will consist of high-end residential villas, townhouses and apartments, in addition to a world renowned spa and beauty clinic, which will be managed by Kempinski Hotels. (www.abadiyahhills.com)
Four Seasons Hotel Beirut - IFA Hotels & Resorts is also a shareholder in this upcoming development.
PORTUGAL
IFA Hotels & Resorts is the force behind the super-premium Sheraton Algarve Hotel (www.luxurycollection.com) and Pine Cliffs Resort (www.pinecliffs.com), part of Starwood's Luxury Collection.
SOUTH AFRICA
Zimbali Coastal Resort & Zimbali Lakes Resort - IFA Hotels & Resorts owns a 50% share in the luxurious resort, a 700 hectare prime residential and resort estate located on the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal. (www.zimbali.co.za)
Zimbali Lodge - IFA Hotels & Resorts owns the exclusive Zimbali Lodge, managed by Sun International Limited. (www.zimbalilodge.co.za)
The Fairmont Zimbali - A new 154 hotel key resort, with a unique portfolio of freehold properties including 57 apartments, 17 ultra luxury villas, 20 golf chalets and 10 villas incorporated into a Fairmont Heritage Place Private Residence Club, all to be managed by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. (www.fairmontzimbali.com)
Boschendal Limited - A mixed- use resort development at an historic Cape Estate. (www.boschendal.com)
KENYA
Lonrho Hotels - IFA Hotels & Resorts is a shareholder in five Lonrho Hotels in Kenya (www.lonrhohotels.com)
ZANZIBAR
Mövenpick Resort & Spa - Zanzibar- Located on the historic Tanzanian spice island, with joint venture partner Kingdom Hotel Investments, the new resort will be re-opened in the last quarter of 2006 and will be managed by Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts. (www.zanzibarbeachresort.com)
NAMIBIA
IFA Hotels & Resorts formed a joint venture with Ohlthaver & List and introduced Kempinski Hotels to operate all four of the joint venture hotel properties within the Namib Sun Portfolio: The Strand Hotel, King's Den Lodge, Mokuti Lodge and a fourth hotel to be developed in Windhoek. (www.ohlthaverlist.com)
UNITED KINGDOM
YOTEL - IFA Hotels & Resorts is the majority investor in the two YOTEL hotels in Heathrow and Gatwick. (www.yotel.com)
THAILAND
IFA Hotels & Resorts owns approximately 24.9% of listed Thai real estate developer, Raimon Land. The Raimon Land portfolio includes: The Lofts Sathorn, The Lakes, The Legend Saladaeng, Northshore (Pattaya), Kata Gardens (Phuket), The Heights (Phuket), Northpoint (Pattaya), The Lofts Yannakart (Bangkok) and The River (Bangkok). (www.raimonland.com)
Investment and Hospitality products:
IFA Hotels & Resorts' programme of brand acquisition and developer partnerships will continue into the future, illustrated by the ever growing strength of its product range:
• IFA - Hotels & Resorts
• IFA - Lifestyle Membership Clubs
• IFA - Vacation Ownership
• IFA - Fractional Ownership
• IFA - Hotel Ownership
• IFA Residences
• IFA Properties
• IFA Yacht Ownership
• IFA Jet Ownership
• IFA - Travel & Tourism
This unique product range enables IFA Hotels & Resorts to continuously anticipate and deliver to the varying property investment and leisure requirements across the globe.
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© Press Release 2007
