The Nile Hotel, Cairo shuts its doors in January 2010 for commencement of extensive renovations

Owned by Misr Hotels, a subsidiary of The Holding Company for Tourism, Hotels and Cinema, plans are in place to convert the property, strategically located along the famous river in the heart of bustling downtown Cairo, to reflect its former glory as an iconic landmark in this ancient city.

"We are set to raise the bar of excellence and define the service standards with the values inherent in The Ritz-Carlton culture. Our goal is to transform this property to be the destination of choice for luxury travelers and establish the hotel as one of the best in the world,"

said Simon F. Cooper, president and chief operating officer of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C.

When it re-opens, the new hotel will feature a contemporary design by WZMH Architects/Frank Nicholson Inc. The Nile Ritz-Carlton will comprise 327 luxurious guestrooms, including 52 suites that offer magnificent views of the city. There will be two 432-square meter (4,650 square feet) Royal Suites, each featuring a magnificent grand entrance with floor-to-ceiling windows, offering an unparalleled 270-degree panoramic view of the Nile, two bedrooms, a living room and dining area.

Guests of The Ritz-Carlton Club Level, the signature section of the hotel accessible only by key card access, will enjoy 24-hour refreshments in the hotel's Club Lounge; the services of dedicated, multi-lingual concierge staff and a spectacular view of Cairo, with the pyramids of Giza at a distance.

All guest rooms are equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including wireless and wired internet access, iPod docking stations, flat screen televisions and DVD players as standard to enable guests to both work and relax in their rooms. Most of the guest rooms will also offer luxurious free-standing bath tubs.

Four specialty restaurants, two lounges and a bar will offer a multitude of dining options from classic Italian cuisine to a contemporary steakhouse. The hotel's all-day dining restaurant will offer international favorites with five live cooking stations, while a modern steakhouse and sushi bar feature the best of both dining concepts. For those who have a taste for the Mediterranean, there is a fine dining Italian restaurant with a wine bar and a walk-in humidor. Surrounded by a 360 degree view of the Cairo skyline and the Nile River, the roof top lounge and bar is an excellent place to savour a drink with friends while the Egyptian-themed cafe is a comfortable setting for drinks, snacks and shisha.

As a key destination for business in the city due to its facilities and its central location within Cairo, The Nile Ritz-Carlton will offer a variety of fully-featured meetings and function space. The Grand Ballroom will offer flexible meeting space for conferences and special events of up to 4000 guests, while seven smaller function rooms may be used for meetings from 1345 to 2880 guests. In addition to a world-class audio and visual set-up, the hotel's Conference Butler and a team of experienced catering and conference ladies and gentlemen ensure a seamless experience for all meetings and events.

"We are delighted to announce that we are progressing on schedule with this major project and that we are totally committed to our plans," said Aly Abdel Aziz, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of The Holding Company for Tourism, Hotels and Cinema. "This project will retain the historic sentiments of this iconic hotel and is essentially an evolution of adding to what it once represented. Although it is a considerable investment on our part, we strongly believe that it is one which will yield great economical and emotional rewards."

"The year 2010 will herald a new phase in the history of the hotel that started in 1958," added Fathy Nour, chairman of Misr Hotels. "We have finalized all the preliminary work and are now fully prepared to start the renovations and refurbishment of the hotel. We are certain that the final results will reposition this property among the leading hotels in Egypt."

The hotel was re-branded as The Nile Hotel, Cairo on January 1, 2009 and since then, had continued to welcome guests to enjoy its services and facilities. Opened originally in 1958 under the Hilton management and as the preferred hotel for visiting dignitaries, heads of state and celebrities, the hotel has endeared itself to Cairenes and tourists alike by bearing witness to many political, social and corporate events and milestones throughout the last half century.

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company is present in key gateway cities and exclusive destinations. Its reputation for exceptional customer quality has been recognized throughout the world with coveted awards marking their leadership in the luxury hospitality field. It enjoys a significant presence in the region with five outstanding hotels and resorts in Bahrain, Egypt, United Arab Emirates and Qatar. The Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo will be the first for the company in the capital city.

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., of Chevy Chase, Md., currently operates 73 hotels in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the Caribbean. More than 30 hotel and residential projects are under development around the globe with future openings including Dubai International Financial Centre, United Arab Emirates; Shanghai, Pudong, China; and Kowloon, Hong Kong. The Ritz-Carlton is the only service company to have twice earned the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, which recognizes outstanding customer service.