CHI Hotels and Resorts adds second Ramada Hotel in Abu Dhabi

Malta-based CHI Hotels & Resorts (CHI) has announced that within months of entering Abu Dhabi with the scheduled operation of its first Ramada Hotel in the Mafraq region, it has now concluded negotiations for the operation of a second Ramada Hotel in the centre of the Emirates' capital.

The 15-year technical services and operations agreement for the new 313-room Ramada Abu Dhabi Beach Hotel was signed by CHI's vice-president for business development Paul Pisani and Major General Khalil Dawood Badran on behalf of the Social Security Fund of the Ministry of the Interior of the United Arab Emirates, owners of the upscale project.

The new hotel, targeted for a 2011 opening, is being developed on a 31,000 square-metre site with a 300 metre beach front, and is within a short drive from Maqta Bridge, at the entrance to Abu Dhabi city centre.

The Ramada Abu Dhabi Beach will feature 313 guest rooms and suites on seven floors, several meeting rooms, a two-storey ballroom, three restaurants, indoor and outdoor pools and a Health Club with gymnasium, squash courts, massage rooms, a sauna and solarium.

Announcing the Abu Dhabi agreement, CHI's chief executive officer and managing director Tony Potter said: "This new deal in Abu Dhabi, struck so closely after our first incursion in this phenomenal city, reaffirms CHI's current and future commitment to actively grow our management operations not only in Europe, where we already have a strong presence, but most importantly in the vast African and Middle East regions.

"These territories are not only a natural breeding ground for our Mediterranean born 'Corinthia' luxury brand, but also offer extensive growth opportunities for the well established Wyndham and Ramada brands, which CHI operates on an exclusive basis through its joint venture with the US-based Wyndham Hotel Group. Over the last year alone, besides the two Abu Dhabi hotels, CHI has increased its portfolio in this part of the world by developing other upscale hotels in Dubai, Egypt (2), and Libya."

Based in Malta, CHI Hotels & Resorts (CHI) is a leading hands-on hotel management company that provides the full range of technical assistance and management services to hotel owners worldwide.

CHI is the exclusive operator and developer for the luxury Corinthia Hotels brand as well as the Wyndham and Ramada Plaza brands in Europe, Africa and The Middle East.

CHI Hotels & Resorts is a joint venture between International Hotel Investments plc (IHI) - 70 per cent and The Wyndham Hotel Group (WHG) - 30 per cent.

Wyndham Hotel Group, one of three principal components of Wyndham Worldwide, encompasses more than 6,550 hotels and 551,000 rooms in 59 countries on six continents under the Wyndham®, Ramada®, Days Inn®, Super 8®, Wingate® by Wyndham, Baymont Inn®, Howard Johnson®, Travelodge®, Knights Inn® and AmeriHost Inn® brands. All hotels are owned individually and operated independently by Wyndham Hotel Management. The Wyndham Hotel Group is based in Parsippany, New Jersey.