Pascal Duchauffour

'This region is a key to the group's expansion strategy,' explains Area Vice President and General Manager in Bahrain, Pascal Duchauffour, who has replaced Marc Dardenne now with Emaar Properties.

'We are growing strongly in the Middle East and Asia as a group strategy. But we are focusing on the most exclusive properties and this is not something that can be done in a hurry.'

Mr. Duchauffour is delighted to be able to introduce the latest addition to The Ritz-Carlton family of properties in the Gulf, the Sharq Village & Spa in Doha.

'Sharq is very different from our first property in Doha and has the feel of visiting an Arabic house with 15 interlinked villas and just 174 rooms, each with a dedicated butler service. There are also private beaches and the Six Senses Spa, which at 6,000 square metres is the largest spa in the Middle East.

'It has been wonderful to get the feedback from Qatari nationals visiting the hotel. They are genuinely proud to have a hotel of such quality that represents a showcase for their local culture, and this has become the leading hotel in Doha.'

Now in its soft opening phase by the mid-summer Sharq will open its signature seafood restaurant with a seafood market and unique ambiance. The much larger, 330-room and serviced apartments of The Ritz-Carlton at the Dubai International Financial Centre will open at the end of 2009, combining both a hotel and a residency.

'Over the next four years The Ritz-Carlton will be launching 34 combined hotel and residency properties around the world,' says Mr. Duchauffour. 'This is a combination that works well in certain markets.'

Meantime, The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain has emerged from its six-month closure as a completely renovated hotel, and its Club Level has the highest level of occupancy in the world.

'We are finalizing a second property in Bahrain with the owners of the first,' Mr. Duchauffour told AME Info at the Arabian Travel Market. 'This will be a new-build, very luxurious property and build on our four years of experience operating in Bahrain.'

But the group will not be content with doubling up its portfolio in Doha, Dubai and Bahrain. A major expansion of The Ritz-Carlton is in progress in the region.

'The trouble is always to find either an existing property to transform into a Ritz-Carlton or a new-build opportunity in the right location. In Cairo, for example, it is essential to be on The Nile and we have several options under consideration.

'We also hope to have an announcement in Kuwait soon and Oman. In addition, were are already in talks in Abu Dhabi and are considering Riyadh and Jeddah.'