The Address Hotels + Resorts enters Europe with Domaine de Lavagnac management contract

The European expansion of The Address brand was announced today at a press conference held on the sidelines of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM).

Mr Charles Cox, Chairman of Residence De Lavagnac SARL and Mr Marc Dardenne, Chief Executive Officer, Emaar Hospitality Group and Emaar Hotels & Resorts, signed the management agreement in the presence of Mr Eric Perez, Project Manager, Residence De Lavagnac SARL and Mr Patrick Heuze, Senior Director - Hospitality Asset Management & Development, Emaar Properties PJSC.

Scheduled to open in 2011, Domaine de Lavagnac is the first five star tourism development in Languedoc and comprises a 17th century chateau that is being transformed into a 70 suite hotel located in close proximity to the Mediterranean coast. Dating back to the Gallo-Roman era, the chateau is one of the finest in South of France and a fitting centerpiece for the premier property development.

Featuring a spa and golf course, the property is billed to be an exclusive golf-spa retreat and poised to drive the tourism growth of Languedoc. The 1,000 sq m spa retreat will be one of the largest in the region and will feature spacious lounge areas bathed in natural light and indoor pools to provide the perfect place to unwind where a range of relaxing and rejuvenating treatments and exercise classes will be on offer to pamper visitors.

The project will also have 430 serviced residences to be managed by The Address Hotels + Resorts, all of them designed in chic contemporary style.

The Address Hotels + Resorts will manage the property's gourmet restaurants serving a delectable culinary spread including the much-acclaimed local delicacies of Languedoc prepared with Garrigue herbs, Bouziques oysters and wild mushrooms.

The hotel's terrace with its elegant carved-stone balustrade is an ideal place to relax in the evening. The property will have meeting venues including a conference center that can accommodate up to 500 people, leisure facilities and business lounge, as well as the luxury residential hamlets, which are planned to open in 2011.

Each of the 650 residential properties will offer unrivaled luxury accommodation, with 20 per cent being allocated for full-time occupation and the remainder for holiday accommodation. The homes, which will range from 80 to 316 sq m, are now available for purchase. Each property has been sensitively designed to maximize the natural beauty of its surroundings.

Mr Cox said:

"Domaine de Lavagnac is the first of its kind five star luxury resort in the South of France, and is set to further strengthen in-bound tourism to the region on the Mediterranean coast. The eco-friendly resort is designed as an integrated community with a retail village and world-class golf course and academy to maximize its tourism potential. To operate the hotel and residential units, we needed a partner who could bring in true value differentials. The Address Hotels + Resorts, with its track-record of creating distinctive hospitality experiences, offers a perfect fit to our growth objectives."

Mr Dardenne opined: "This new management contract is a significant milestone for us in the development and expansion of our hotel brand which we launched just one year ago. As part of our international expansion strategy, we are looking at other European destinations, and this contract in Languedoc-Roussillon acts as the perfect gateway to the rest of the region."

Mr Heuze stated: "At Domaine de Lavagnac, our operational philosophy will be to offer tangible benefits to guests through a one-size fits one strategy. The entry of the brand to Europe will help us achieve our global expansion plans, and also strengthen our core competencies in the hospitality sector."

The hotel operator has already opened The Address, Downtown Burj Dubai to international acclaim, and will soon open The Address, Dubai Mall and The Address, Dubai Marina later this year.

The Address Hotels + Resorts recently announced its first property outside the UAE which will be in Uptown Cairo and has signed a management contract with Jnan Amar Polo retreat in Morocco. Other destinations for The Address brand include Shanghai, Lombok in Indonesia, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, London, Los Angeles and New York.

Emaar Hospitality Group owns and manages a diversified portfolio of hospitality assets such as hotels, serviced residences, golf resorts, a polo and equestrian club, recreation clubs, and the Dubai Marina Yacht Club and Marinas.