Golden Tulip Hotels, Inns and Resorts plans major regional development drive

This includes the regional launch of a luxury hotel brand, details of which will be unveiled at Arabian Travel Market 2007 being held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 1-4 May.

After recently opening its fifth hotel in Oman, the four-star Golden Tulip Resort Dibba - bringing its total in the Middle East and North Africa to 31 - the company is now aiming to expand its portfolio to include 50 hotels, inns and resorts in the region by 2010.

"The Middle East is Golden Tulip's second largest market and we felt the time was right to expand our portfolio throughout the region,"

said Amine Moukarzel, Senior Vice-President and Managing Director, MENA, Golden Tulip Hotels, Inns and Resorts.

"With so many large-scale real estate developments planned and investment in the tourism sector continuing to increase regionwide, the Middle East presents excellent opportunities for Golden Tulip.

"Growing our current brands - Tulip Inn and Golden Tulip - will continue to bring international quality to the underserved three- and four-star categories and the introduction of our new premium-sector five-star brand will offer travellers in the Middle East a different luxury experience to those currently available throughout the region."

Worldwide, Golden Tulip Hospitality Group comprises 500 properties with 47,000 rooms across 45 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific and the Americas. Its head offices are in Amersfoort, The Netherlands and Lausanne, Switzerland.

Golden Tulip Hotels, Inns and Resorts will be exhibiting at stand GV 266 in Hall 2 of the Dubai World Trade Centre.