TDIC and joint venture partners to deliver six unique new hotels to Abu Dhabi in 2011

Abu Dhabi takes shape into a world class hospitality hotspot with delivery of over 1,600 hotel rooms and branded residences next year

Abu Dhabi, 8^th November 2010 - Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), the master developer of tourism, cultural and residential destinations in Abu Dhabi is to deliver six iconic hotels adding more than 1,600 hotel rooms and residences to the emirate in conjunction with its joint venture partners in 2011. The announcement comes as TDIC showcases the variety of its forthcoming hospitality projects at the World Travel Market in London this week.

TDIC will introduce many "firsts" in 2011 with the delivery of six of the world's best hospitality brands to Abu Dhabi city and the Western Region, building the emirate as an international destination of distinction. The St. Regis brand will debut in the UAE with the opening of the St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi, while the Rocco Forte Hotel Abu Dhabi, a joint venture partnership between TDIC and Al Farida Investments Company LLC, will mark the Middle East premier of the Rocco Forte Collection brand. The Westin Hotel & Spa Abu Dhabi and Eastern Mangroves Angsana Resort & Spa are also to be delivered in Abu Dhabi city. In the Western Region, TDIC will introduce two lodges on Sir Bani Yas Island - Al Sahel Lodge and Al Yamm Lodge.

The six new hotels, each offering a unique visitor experience and a range of more than 1,100 hotel rooms and 500 branded residences will add to the variety of TDIC's growing portfolio of hotels and support Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority's goal of attracting over 2.3 million hotel visitors, with around 24,000 hotel rooms on offer in the emirate by 2012.

His Excellency Mubarak Al Muhairi, Managing Director of TDIC and Director General of Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), said: "Abu Dhabi has strategically attracted a first-class portfolio of unique hospitality brands that will cater to a variety of international and domestic travellers. The first eight months of this year witnessed a 15 per cent increase in the number of hotel guests compared to the same period in 2009, and with the staging of key events and the opening of new museums, arts and sports venues, along with the attraction of desert culture and beach lifestyle, Abu Dhabi is an increasingly appealing destination."

Each of TDIC's new hotels will offer a different experience and have been carefully selected to appeal to the unique tastes of each visitor, whether they are in Abu Dhabi to relax in an eco-friendly lodge, take in the culture, enjoy a family holiday on the beach or meet for business. By attracting so many premium international hotel brands to one city, TDIC and its joint venture partners, together with the ADTA, are creating a landmark on the global tourism map.

TDIC and partners have already delivered six hotels to the emirate in the past three years, including Qasr Al Sarab and Desert Islands Resort & Spa in the Western Region, and, in Abu Dhabi city, Shangri-La Hotel, Traders Hotel, Park Rotana and Fairmont Bab Al Bahr.

2011 will be a landmark year for Saadiyat Island in particular, which will see the opening of its first hotels and exclusive Beach Club. In addition to TDIC's St. Regis Resort, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi National Hotels (ADNH) will be opening the five star Park Hyatt, Saadiyat Island, adjoined to the award-winning Saadiyat Beach Golf Course, which was opened by TDIC in early 2010 and is home to the Saadiyat Beach Classic.

Lee Tabler, CEO of TDIC, concluded, "By continuing to deliver a series of unique hotels, TDIC, along with its partners, is building on the success of the past four years, delivering a solid hospitality infrastructure that will support our flagship museum projects on Saadiyat Island as they move ahead on schedule over the coming years. Together with ADTA, TDIC will leverage the positive momentum we have already generated, and we look forward to building Abu Dhabi into an international tourism and business destination through 2011 and beyond."

St. Regis Hotel & Residences

The first St. Regis Hotel in the UAE is part of a larger development of nine five-star hotels that will line the beautiful Saadiyat Beach. Part of Starwood Hotels, guests staying in any of the 380 hotel rooms, or 292 St Regis branded residences will receive the personalised services and amenities that the historic St. Regis brand has become renowned for throughout the world since it was founded by John Jacob Astor IV in New York in 1904. The whole design of the hotel will reflect its Arabian setting while it is set to become Abu Dhabi's prime location for golf enthusiasts with its close links to the nearby Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, designed by golfing legend Gary Player.

Eastern Mangroves

One of the unique hotels to occupy a prime location alongside Abu Dhabi's protected mangroves habitat, Eastern Mangroves will be an integrated hotel resort, marina, retail and residential destination that is set to be one of Abu Dhabi's tourism and leisure hotspots. Guests, residents and daily visitors at Eastern Mangroves will be able to choose to promenade along the waterfront retail facilities or hop off their boats to enjoy lunch at one of the resort's many restaurants safe in the knowledge that the project has been carefully designed to protect and enhance the unique mangrove setting in which it sits. With 223 hotel rooms and 220 branded residences, the luxury five-star hotel resort and spa will be operated by Angsana Hotels and Resorts, part of the Banyan Tree Group of luxury hotels.

Rocco Forte Hotel Abu Dhabi

Rocco Forte Hotel Abu Dhabi, a joint venture between TDIC and Al Farida Investments Company, is almost complete and will bring the prestigious brand to the Middle East for the first time. Every detail of the shimmering emerald glazed Rocco Forte Hotel Abu Dhabi has been meticulously designed to give guests a boutique hotel experience with all the benefits of an urban destination, including a unique European shopping boulevard, perfectly located on the main artery into the city's commercial district - ideal for discerning business and leisure visitors alike. The hotel will have 281 rooms.

Westin Hotel & Spa Abu Dhabi

Overlooking the beautiful scenery of the golf course, Westin Hotel & Spa Abu Dhabi will represent the hospitality heart of the Abu Dhabi Golf Resort experience, appealing to international travellers interested in golf and a business environment. The building concept is a modern allusion to the existing falcon shaped clubhouse, and the hotel will feature a range of 172 premium rooms, luxury suites and a presidential suite organised into two wings branching off the grand central atrium of the hotel, offering its visitors a relaxing and peaceful base from which to unwind after an active day of golf or simply enjoy the spectacular golf course views that every room affords.

Al Yamm Lodge and Al Sahel Lodge

Situated on the stunning Sir Bani Yas Island in the Western Region, the 30 villa Al Yamm Lodge will offer an intimate, feet-in-the-sand experience, inspired by the barasti of the early fishermen who lived seasonally on the island. Al Yamm Lodge comprises 30 units, 15 of which are located on the beach, and another 15 among green mangrove forests and overlooking a beautiful salt water lagoon frequented by wild flamingos. Each lodge features one or two bedrooms, a private pool and is fully equipped with air conditioning, luxury beds and linen, and all other comforts you would expect from a 5-star resort.

Al Sahel Lodge is situated in a grassy oasis in the Arabian Wildlife Park on Sir Bani Yas Island, an area favoured by many of the island's Sand Gazelles. The exterior of the lodge fits seamlessly with its environment while the interior is carefully selected to offer 5-star comfort in a natural setting. Comprising 30 units, the lodge is designed to be one of the few places in the region where guests can view free-roaming wildlife from their lodge right in the middle of the Arabian Wildlife Park. The one and two bedroom chalets feature traditional thatch roofs designed to offer high levels of elegance and comfort and each has a private pool.

Park Hyatt, Saadiyat Island

Park Hyatt, Saadiyat Island, on Saadiyat Beach is a deluxe five-star hotel developed by Abu Dhabi National Hotels (ADNH), which will be adjoined to Saadiyat Beach Golf Course and will be in close proximity to the island's Cultural District. The property portfolio comprises the Hyatt Residence as well as deluxe chalets and private villas.

In total the resort will have more than 300 guestrooms and suites, and 13 villas overlooking pristine, environmentally protected beaches. From contemporary restaurants, Zen-inspired spa facilities, and abundant gardens, waterfalls and various recreational facilities, to state-of-the-art conference and banqueting facilities, the resort will offer business and leisure guests an indulgent experience.

-Ends- 

About Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC)
Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) is a master developer of major tourism destinations in Abu Dhabi, the largest of the seven emirates, which make up the United Arab Emirates, and a key contributor to its economic and cultural progress.

TDIC is behind some of Abu Dhabi's most prestigious projects including two major destinations - Saadiyat Island, which will house the world's largest single concentration of premier cultural institutions including the Zayed National Museum, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Museum, Louvre Abu Dhabi, a performing arts centre and maritime museum, and Desert Islands which will be one of the world's largest environmentally sustainable tourism destinations.

By creating investment partnerships and joint ventures, TDIC's developments are helping to support Abu Dhabi's evolution as a world class destination for tourists, businesses and residents and helping to realise the emirate's considerable tourism potential and strategic goal of delivering 2.3 million hotel guests by 2012 year end.

TDIC has been awarded high investment grade ratings of A1, AA, and AA by three top credit rating agencies, Moody's, Standard & Poor's and Fitch.  These ratings reflect TDIC's strong financial position and support the company's credit worthiness to investors, lenders and other market participants. In July 2009, TDIC also launched a US$ 1 billion bond, which represented the inaugural issuance under the US$ 3 billion Global Medium Term Note (GMTN) programme. The same year, TDIC issued its inaugural US$1 billion five-year sukuk which is the largest sukuk in the GCC for this year. 

Established in April 2006, TDIC has built a strong reputation among international industry players for its compelling value proposition, transparency of business approach and ability to deliver. Locally, TDIC offers significant employment and vocational training opportunities for Emiratis keen to enhance their careers and professional qualifications.

For further information visit www.tdic.ae

© Press Release 2010