Kempinski set for growth

A top level delegation of Kempinski sales and marketing executives, headed by Christopher Hartley, Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing, as well as senior representatives from 15 properties worldwide, will attend ATM 2004 in Dubai from 4-7 May.

"Kempinski has long recognized the importance of ATM and the Group has been present at the exhibition since 1999. This year a record number of international properties from Berlin to Istanbul will attend, in addition to increased participation from the region," says Hartley.

Participating hotels include Kempinski flagship properties such as the Adlon in Berlin, Ciragan Palace in Istanbul, Corvinus in Budapest, Atlantic in Hamburg, Gravenbruch in Frankfurt, Resort Hotel in Estepona and recent additions to the Kempinski portfolio - Grand Hotel in Heiligendamm, Grand Hôtel des Bains in St. Moritz, Le Mirador at Lake Geneva and Nikopolis in Thessaloniki. The Middle East & Africa is represented by Ajman Kempinski, Kempinski Julai'a in Kuwait and the Mansour Eddahbi Hotel & Congress Centre in Marrakech. The Bani Yas Palace in Abu Dhabi and the Kempinski Hotel Amman, both currently under construction, will also be present at the Kempinski stand.

The company will use ATM as a platform to announce details on its projects and future expansion plans in the Middle East & Africa. "Kempinski's long standing commitment to the region is now bearing fruit with a number of outstanding hotels & resorts being added to the group's portfolio," says Ulrich Eckhardt, Senior Vice President Middle East & Africa.

Set to become a landmark in the Middle East and the world when it opens by the end of 2004, the Bani Yas Palace - Abu Dhabi, is a breathtaking Arabian palace redefining the concept of a luxury hotel. Located on a 1.3 km stretch of Abu Dhabi's sandy beach, it will house 390 rooms and suites and the region's most sophisticated meeting and conference facilities.

Kempinski's first move into the Jordanian market will be a spectacular new-build hotel, located in the centre of Amman, opening in 2004. The Kempinski Amman will be followed by Kempinski Ishtar Resort Hotel & Spa. The resort, now under construction, is situated 50 km west of Amman, with direct access to the shores of the Dead Sea.

Kempinski Hotels & Resorts has recently been awarded the management contract for its first hotel in Dubai. The unique hotel at Majid Al Futtaim Investments' 'Mall of the Emirates' on Sheikh Zayed Road is scheduled to open in fall 2005, at the same time as the Mall of the Emirates. The hotel features over 400 deluxe guest units, including ski chalets offering unprecedented views over the Middle East's first indoor ski resort.

Kempinski already manages two deluxe resorts in the Arabian Gulf. The pioneer Ajman Kempinski Hotel & Resort opened in October 1998, and the Kempinski Julai'a Hotel & Resort situated in Kuwait's up-market district of Al'Julai opened in February 2003.

Other Kempinski projects in the Middle East & Africa include hotels and resorts in Tanzania - Dar Es Salaam (2004) & Zanzibar (2005); and Egypt - Red Sea (2005) and Cairo (2006).

The Kempinski stand can be found in Hall 6, Dubai World Trade Centre, stand number 2650.