Accor Hospitality Middle East and Action Hotels, a subsidiary of Action Group Holdings, announced today a management agreement during an official signature ceremony for the development of an Ibis Hotel in Ras Al Khaimah, the first-ever internationally branded economy hotel to open in the emirate. The contract was signed by Sheikh Mubarak A.M. Al-Sabah, -Vice Chairman of Action Group Holdings, the parent company of Action Hotels Company and Mr. Christophe Landais, Managing Director, Accor Hospitality Middle East.

Set to open in 2011, the new Ibis Hotel will offer 180 fully-equipped well-appointed rooms, all-day dining restaurant, 24-hour café and other facilities to service the needs of guests. The hotel will be centrally located in the commercial area of Ras Al Khaimah, close to the Exhibition Centre and the Free Zone which targets business transients and leisure travelers. Construction of the property is set to commence by the end of 2008 with an opening date anticipated for the first quarter of 2011.

Sheikh Mubarak A.M. Al-Sabah added : "Action Hotels is proud to be extending our strong partnership with Accor Hospitality through the development of this new Ibis Hotel at Ras Al Khaimah. This is the latest in our growing portfolio of Ibis hotels we are developing in the Middle East as we focus on developing affordable, quality properties in the best locations managed by international operators of global repute.” Ibis has a strong presence in the GCC and Jordan with properties in Kuwait, UAE, Jordan, Oman and Bahrain. Ibis Salmiya in Kuwait was the most recent to open on March 14 2008.

Ibis Ras Al Khaimah is the 17th Ibis hotel confirmed in the Middle East and Pakistan. In the UAE, there will be five additional Ibis hotels already confirmed in Dubai on top of the existing hotel at the Dubai World Trade Centre, two Ibis hotels under development in Abu Dhabi and one each in Sharjah and Fujairah. Dubai Trade Centre District is developing a new Ibis hotel which will provide about 600 rooms by 2011 to further meet the business needs of the area.

Ibis is Europe’s leading budget hotel network and is designed to meet the needs and expectations of a broad spectrum of customers who travel regularly on business or leisure. With round-the-clock service and budget prices, Ibis has over 800 hotels worldwide and are always conveniently located in business districts, tourist spots and near airports. 

© 2008 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)