Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts to preview further regional expansion at Arabian Travel Market

The Canadian based luxury hotel group has, in less than three years, opened four properties in the region. Their commitment to a further quartet with more in planning stage, underlines the group's belief that the Middle East region offers huge potential for luxury brands.

"Our strategic move is intended to meet guests' needs. We studied the regional market and identified a gap for the type of personalised, high-end properties that Four Seasons operates," said Antoine Corinthios, President, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.

"Middle Eastern residents continue to travel extensively for business and leisure throughout the region and the more discerning traveller is demanding luxury coupled with locations which are just that little bit different," Corinthios added.

The company's first opening in the region was in May 2000 with the debut of Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at The First Residence. Since then, the Hotel has garnered extensive awards and accolades, including being named the number one hotel in the Middle East by Gallivanter's Guide and top Cairo hotel by Zagat Surveys.

Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh opened next, in May 2002. This luxurious new resort was quickly chosen by the Editor as Best New Resort/Discovery in Gallivanter's Guide.

With the December 2002 opening of Four Seasons Hotel Amman, the company made its first move into the Jordanian market. Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh, an integral component of the prestigious Kingdom Centre, opened at the end of February of this year, marking the company's first Gulf property.

"The coming two years will see further development in the region for Four Seasons," said David Crowl, the company's Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Europe, Middle East and Africa. "We are on schedule for the 2004 openings of a new Cairo property on the Nile and one in Doha on the West Bay development, while 2005 will see us further committing to the region with the opening of Four Seasons hotels in Beirut and Damascus."

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, exhibiting at Arabian Travel Market in the Global Village on stand no 342, will be represented by a team of top level management from throughout the Middle East region.

"For the past three years, the Arabian Travel Market has been an important venue for introducing the Four Seasons experience to a very receptive market. And this year's event marks an important milestone for us, as we can proudly showcase our existing portfolio and unveil our future plans," concluded Crowl.