IHG signs exclusive agreement to develop first resort in Oman's coastal town of Duqum

Present at the signing were the Minister of Tourism and Chairperson of Omran, HE Dr Rajha Abdul Ameer Ali, and John Bamsey, Chief Operating Officer, IHG, Middle East and Africa. Also present from Omran were Eng. Wael Al Lawati, CEO and Mr. Prakash Gabra, CFO. While from IHG Mr. Rani Gharbié, Director of Development Middle East & Africa and Mr. David Todd, GM Crowne Plaza Muscat were also present.
Crowne Plaza Duqum Resort, which is scheduled to open in 2011, and will consist of 228 well-appointed rooms - which will include 11 spacious executive suites and six family/junior suites. The property is in close proximity to Duqum town on the Arabian Sea, which is reinventing itself as Oman's next major industrial and commercial hub.

Commenting on the signing, John Bamsey, said:

"We are extremely honoured to be partnering with OMRAN once again for the development of Crowne Plaza Duqum Resort. We already operate other government owned properties in Oman, Al Bustan Palace InterContinental Muscat, InterContinental Muscat and Crowne Plaza Resort Salalah and our collaboration on the Duqum project further demonstrates our long-standing relationship with OMRAN and our commitment to cooperate on future development opportunities within Oman."

"Crowne Plaza Duqum Resort is the first hotel to be built in the initial construction phase of Duqum's expansion and will mainly cater to the increasing business travellers into the area - consultants, contractors, investors and project managers - looking for high levels of service in close proximity to their place of business." he added

The new Crowne Plaza hotel will feature several diverse dining options including a speciality dining restaurant, an all day dining restaurant, a seafood grill/pool bar and a lobby lounge. In addition, the property will offer a complete fitness centre with the latest in high-tech equipment, a spa, and tennis courts - all of which will give business guests the opportunity to mix business with pleasure.

More significantly, Crowne Plaza Duqum Resort will provide business guests with state-of-the-art meeting and conference facilities that will cater to their specific needs.

"Duqum is a rapidly growing costal town with a prime geographic location, and we are pleased to be partnering with IHG to introduce world-class hospitality facilities into the area. Within the next five years, Duqum will be transformed into a major commercial port, dry dock, and a shipbuilding yard, together with other major services and industries. We are looking forward to the completion of Duqum's construction phase and for it to become a key destination for both business and leisure travellers on a global scale,"

commented Eng. Wael Al Lawati.

The master plan for Duqum's scale-up also includes designated areas for an airport, an oil refinery, free trade zones and oil storage facilities as well as a fishing harbour complete with fishery related industries. In addition, a complete residential town with a Town Centre is planned together with leisure tourism-related facilities - hotels, resorts and a public beach.

"The plan by the Omani government to include a wider range of tourism facilities is also expected to establish Duqum as an attractive leisure destination in the region, and Crowne Plaza Duqum Resort will be developed to cater to the leisure segment within five to seven years from opening. Situated on the pristine waters of the Arabian Sea, the property and will equally offer fantastic services and facilities to both business and leisure travellers," added Bamsey.

The Crowne Plaza Duqum Resort will be IHG's sixth property within Oman which, as of 30th September 2008, comprises of InterContinental Muscat, InterContinental Al Bustan Palace Muscat, Crown Plaza Muscat, Crowne Plaza Salalah Resort and Holiday Inn Muscat Al Madinah.