Part of the City's Ground-Breaking Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium Mixed-Use Development, the Hotel will Open in 2016, Marking Starwood's Entry into Al Ain and the Second Aloft Hotel in Abu Dhabi

Al Ain- 05 February, 2014 - Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) has signed an agreement with Al Ain Club Investment Company to open a new 172-room Aloft hotel in Al Ain in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, UAE. Created to shake up the traditional mid-market hotel sector, Aloft is redefining the category by delivering an urban-influenced, modern and vibrant design and a social guest experience at an affordable price point. Scheduled to debut in 2016, Aloft Al Ain will be the second Aloft hotel in the UAE joining Aloft Abu Dhabi, which opened in 2009, and it will the first Starwood hotel to open in Al Ain.

Aloft Al Ain will be an integral part of the city's spectacular 500,000 square metre mixed-use development around the iconic 25,000-seater Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, which is considered to be the most advanced sporting arena in the Middle East after its inauguration last month. The development will include office space, residential units, sports and family entertainment areas, retail shops and food and beverage venues. Aloft Al Ain will be the ideal destination for locals, business and leisure travellers seeking a fresh, modern hotel experience. 

"I would like to thank Al Ain Club Investment Company for putting their trust in Starwood as we bring the Aloft brand to Al Ain, furthering the brand's footprint in the UAE," said Michael Wale, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East. "Starwood recently celebrated the opening of its 75th Aloft hotel and we see huge potential for this stylish, affordable mid-market brand to grow in the UAE and throughout the Middle East."

Kareem Nagy Hassan, Chief Executive Officer, Al Ain Club Investment Company, added: "Our aim is to create a pioneering entertainment and tourism destination, especially for sport enthusiasts and families, in Al Ain. With the stadium as the central hub, the new master plan will provide an exclusive combination of living, working and healthy lifestyle in one location and it is only fitting that we have Starwood's Aloft Al Ain as our flagship hotel. Aloft Al Ain will offer a unique experience and outstanding hospitality within this brand new development. We are excited to work with Starwood and look forward to a fruitful long-term partnership."

Aloft Al Ain

Set to be completed in 2016, Aloft Al Ain will offer 172 rooms, including two presidential suites, all featuring the brand's signature high ceilings, oversized windows, an ultra-comfortable platform bed and large walk-in showers with complimentary Bliss Spa® products.

Aloft Al Ain will also offer the brand's signature XYZ lounge, providing guests with a buzzing, atmospheric public space where they can mix and mingle, read the paper, work on laptops, play a game of pool or grab a drink with friends. The Re:charge fitness centre will offer an opportunity to re-energise and the unique Re:fuel by Aloft will introduce a convenient deli option for guests on the go, with an array of sweet, savoury and healthy food, snacks and drinks available 24 hours a day.The hotel will also feature an all-day dining restaurant and a cigar lounge, as well as two creative meeting spaces that are equipped with the latest generation of audio-visual hardware.

Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium Mixed-Use Development

The unprecedented investment into the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium mixed-use development will create one of the greatest sporting arenas in the region. Strategically located in the Tawya area of Al Ain, the development combines a serene setting for work, family, leisure, shopping, sports and dining, with more than 700 residential units, two office buildings covering 20,000 square metres and 50 commercial units available for restaurants and retail outlets.

Setting new benchmarks in the sporting world in the UAE, the Hazza Bin Zayed stadium was launched on the 24th of January 2014 and will be the new home for Al Ain Football Club's first team. Seating up to 25,000 people, the stadium covers an area of 45,000 square metres and is 50 metres high, making it one of the highest buildings in Al Ain City. The specially designed roof provides extended shade to cover the whole field during warmer months. The innovative design of the façade of the stadium is inspired by the trunk of a palm tree which is an integral part of the UAE's heritage and legacy.

Starwood in the Middle East

"We see great opportunities to grow our Aloft portfolio in established and emerging markets across the Middle East, where there is a strong demand for affordable yet stylish and cutting-edge hotel brands," said Bart Carnahan, Senior Vice President, Acquisitions & Development, Europe, Africa and Middle East Division, Starwood Hotels & Resorts. "Al Ain is the second largest city in the Emirate. With a population of over half a million, as well as increasing investment and growing business and leisure opportunities, Al Ain is an attractive destination for development.

Starwood currently operates nearly 50 hotels in the Middle East and continues to strengthen its long-established position as one of the leading luxury hotel operators in the region, with plans to open over 30 hotels in the next few years. The company currently operates an Aloft hotel in Abu Dhabi and is set to open another four new Aloft hotels in the region in the next three years in Al Ain and Sharjah in the UAE, Riyadh in Saudi Arabia and Erbil in Iraq.

About Aloft Hotels
With more than 75 hotels in 14 countries around the world, Starwood's Aloft brand delivers a fresh approach to the traditional staid hotel landscape. For the 'always on' business and millennial traveler, Aloft offers a tech-forward experience and a modern style that is different by design. For more information, please visit www.alofthotels.com. Aloft, like all brands within Starwood's portfolio, is proud to offer the Starwood Preferred Guest(R) program, the industry's richest loyalty program. To learn more, please visit www.spg.com

About Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium
The 25,000-seat, 45,000sqm, 50 meters high Hazza Bin Zayed stadium is hailed as one of the most modern sporting venues in the Middle East and aiming to become a central destination for citizens and residents in the United Arab Emirates, as well as tourists visiting from all over the world.  It is also home to Al Ain Football Club and was completed in a record time of just 17 months, measuring up to the very best international FIFA standards.

The inspired design of the outer façade is based on the trunk of the palm tree, while the outer shell is made up of 600 independently mounted fabric panels with independently controlled LED lights. The unique design embrace and harness shade featuring an exceptional parasol roof to fully shade all fans.

With ten private corporate suites and three luxury suites with a total capacity of up to 700 people, and a dedicated area for VIPs and senior visitors, the stadium is well equipped to host cultural and entertainment events as well as sports activities on international level.

The stadium is the cornerstone of substantial 500,000 square meters mixed-use development project, containing residential and commercial buildings, a sports centre, and food and retail outlets as well as family and entertainment zones.

Press Contact (Starwood):
Chandan Belani
Regional Public Relations Manager
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Middle East
t +97150 506 8465
Chandan.Belani@starwoodhotels.com

ASDA'A Burson-Marsteller
Maitha Ahmed or Emma Jones
Tel: 971-4-4507689
maitha.ahmed@bm.com/emma.jones@bm.com

Press Contact (Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium):
Kurt Parry
Ketchum Raad Middle East
Tel: +971 4 42588971
Email: kurt.parry@ketchum-raad.com

© Press Release 2014