Salalah, March 18th 2015

Opening its doors to its first guests in March 2014, Salalah Rotana Resort has since welcomed over 200,000 visitors to its recreation facilities including its beach, swimming pools, tennis courts, 'Zen the spa at Rotana' and 'Bodylines Fitness and Wellness Club'. Of this total, 130,000 travellers representing more than 100 nationalities checked into the resort, from as far as Australia, United States of America, South Africa, Brazil and Japan. Oman's largest free-standing, five-star hotel, the 400-room waterfront resort represents the half-way mark for the group's expansion plan for 100 hotels by 2020.

"Rotana prides itself on identifying desirable travel destinations and Salalah was the perfect choice to open our first property in Oman," said Greg Allan, Area Vice President. "The Governorate of Dhofar has everything to offer, from warm beaches and cold mountain tops to dessert terrain and natural green wonders. It is a year-round destination of choice for travellers to the Middle East and we aim to provide guests with five-star opulence synonymous with the Rotana brand, infused with traditional Omani hospitality that is unique to the country."

With a vision to offer guests an all-encompassing experience, Salalah Rotana Resort expanded its already vast business and leisure facilities to include a new restaurant, 250-seat private outdoor amphitheatre, a third temperature controlled swimming pool, Jacuzzi and beach cafe, the development of which was completed in four months.

Allan added, "The first year is always the most important for a hotel as it sets the stage for what is yet to come. It is rare that a resort of this size extends its hospitality offering within its opening year but it was a necessary step towards better catering to a rise in the number of tourists and tailoring services to their requirements."

Committed to contributing to the development of the tourism industry in Oman, the resort has implemented the Rotana Duroob program to train a new generation of Omani professionals who will further drive the industry's growth. The program broadens the horizons of young Omanis with practical, on-the-job training and professional development in order for them to gain valuable insight and familiarize themselves with the industry.

In addition, the resort's team of 350 people from 33 countries have completed more than 600 hours of training. Currently, the resort employs 24 certified First Aid and CPR responders and 24 German-speaking staff, with a dedicated team learning Italian to assist groups of tourists visiting the resort via chartered flights from Milan. 

Through its sustainability program, Rotana Earth, Salalah Rotana Resort has saved over OMR 50,000 by placing informative material in rooms that raise awareness among guests on the importance of saving water by reducing the number of bed linen and bath towel washes. The resort also supports local supply chains and has served over 5 million kilograms of fruits and vegetables including bananas, coconuts and papayas sourced from the local market.

Salalah Rotana Resort boasts the country's most spacious accommodation with rooms ranging from 43 to 143 square metres. Each of the resort's luxury rooms and suites are positioned directly on unique lagoons and along an elaborate network of manmade waterways which connect the property to the Indian Ocean. With a 400 metre private beach, three swimming pools, tennis courts, four restaurants, four fully equipped meeting rooms, a state-of-the-art business centre, grand ballroom, 'Zen the spa at Rotana', 'Bodylines Fitness and Wellness Club' and the 'Flipper's Kids Club', Salalah Rotana Resort is the ideal destination for every type of traveller.

-Ends- 

About Salalah Rotana:
Only 20km from Salalah Airport and along the Arabian coast, Salalah Rotana Resort is ideally located in the Salalah Beach destination. Spread over an area of 15.6 million square metres with an 8.2km beachfront, Salalah Beach is located in one of the most breath-taking natural settings in the Sultanate, between spectacular mountains, fresh water springs and tropical scenery where wildlife and frankincense trees can be marveled.

The waterfront resort's 400 rooms and suites are built around waterways, whisking guests away to a coastal utopia. The resort prides itself on providing five-star opulence synonymous with the Rotana brand, infused with traditional Omani hospitality. With four restaurants, the resort offers the perfect mélange of East-meets-West hospitality while its four fully equipped meeting rooms, Grand Ballroom and Business Centre makes it the perfect destination for both leisure and business travellers.

Salalah Rotana Resort is the 50th hotel to be operated by Rotana, representing the half-way mark for the group's plans for 100 hotels by 2020.

About Rotana
Rotana currently manages a portfolio of over 100 properties throughout the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and Eastern Europe with an aggressive expansion plan in place. Rotana has chosen to acknowledge how precious time is by making all time spent in their range of hotels 'Treasured Time'. This means Rotana has pledged to understand and meet the individual needs of all guests. In so doing, Rotana has evolved its product brands to include, Rotana Hotels & Resorts, Centro Hotels by Rotana, Rayhaan Hotels & Resorts by Rotana and Arjaan Hotel Apartments by Rotana. Treasured Time. The Rotana promise to you.

Further information on any Rotana property, its brands or reservations can be obtained by visiting rotana.com or by contacting one of the regional sales offices.

For press inquiries and images, please contact:
Shaza Taher
Associate Media Relations Director
TRACCS Oman
Tel:  +968 24 649-099
Email: shaza.taher@traccs.net

© Press Release 2015