Coral Muscat Hotel & Apartments on Track to Open by 3rd Quarter of 2014 Signals Strategic Expansion for HMH - Hospitality Management Holdings in Oman

(TRAVPR.COM) UAE -DUBAI - April 8th, 2014 - April 8, 2014: The countdown to the opening of Coral Muscat Hotel & Apartments has begun with the hotel entering the final phase of development. Making the announcement in Muscat, Laurent A. Voivenel, CEO, HMH - Hospitality Management Holdings, said, "Coral Muscat Hotel & Apartments is a flagship property for HMH and is on track to welcome its first guests by the third quarter of 2014.We are thrilled to see the progress on site and expect the Coral sign to go up shortly".

Owned by Mustafa Sultan Enterprises LLC, Coral Muscat Hotel & Apartments has been designed to meet the critical needs of the growing tourism industry. Offering an alcohol-free, safe environment, it holds unique competitive advantage in a prime location. Mr Abdulredha M. Sultan, Managing Director, Mustafa Sultan, said, "Despite being the diplomatic and commercial centre, Qurum continues to be underserved by hospitality options and Coral Muscat Hotel & Apartments is poised to fill this need for first rate accommodation. We are glad to have HMH as our operator. Over the years Coral Hotels & Resorts has established an excellent reputation in the region offering the highest standards in hospitality with the right local know-how and expertise and we are confident Coral Muscat Hotel & Apartments will not only live up to but surpass market expectations."

The impressive hotel has been conceived to be a convenient and comfortable address for discerning business and leisure travelers offering an array of special amenities and privileges in a mixed-use complex. Located in Qurum merely 20 minutes-drive from Muscat International Airport, the deluxe property features 88 beautifully furnished rooms and apartments. On site is an international all-day-dining restaurant, pool deck, terrace lounge, superb meeting venues as well as excellent leisure facilities.

Coral Muscat Hotel & Apartments is a very significant project for HMH and signals strategic expansion for the group in Oman. Laurent said, "Oman is certainly a very promising market and it is very exciting to be here. We believe Coral Muscat Hotel & Apartments will serve as the perfect ambassador for our brand demonstrating its strength and unique appeal for travellers seeking our signature hospitality. Visitations are likely to increase exponentially from 2015 once new Muscat airport is operational and we are definitely keen to take advantage of this massive opportunity by expanding our footprint here".

The Omani government’s Vision 2020 plan aims to increase its room count to 20,000 rooms by 2015 and welcome 12 million visitors annually by 2020, an increase well above 2,184,000 visitors in 2013. To achieve its goal the government has been investing in tourism under its 2011-2015 plan to bring infrastructure and services up to par with upgrades of road infrastructure and airports as well as the development of Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre with a 3,200-seat auditorium set to open in 2016. Large sums are being spent to boost visitors to the Sultanate, such as $6.1 billion into the expansion of its international airports. Muscat International Airport’s new terminal will be able to handle 12 million passengers when it opens next year, with plans to expand annual capacity to 48 million passengers. To meet the growing demand the number of hotel rooms in the Muscat governorate could reach between 5,000 and 6,000 by 2015, ranging from three- to five-stars. The ministry of tourism forecasts 3,000 rooms to open by end of 2014. The World Travel & Tourism Council expects the tourism sector to contribute 9.9 per cent by 2019 to the Sultanate’s gross domestic product, up from 6.7 per cent in 2009.

-ENDS-

About HMH

Founded in 2003 in Dubai, HMH – Hospitality Management Holdings is a fully-integrated hotel management company that prides itself on being the first hotel chain in the Middle East to offer alcohol-free safe environment. It provides hotel owners and developers a broad spectrum of comprehensive management solutions with five distinct, yet complementary, hotel brands catering to varied market segments from budget to luxury. These include The Ajman Palace, Coral Hotels & Resorts, Corp Hotels, ECOS Hotels and EWA Hotel Apartments. Through its dynamic operation and strategic expansion in the Middle East and North Africa, HMH has been successful in unlocking a world of opportunities while creating value for its stakeholders, associates, staff members and customers. Its existing portfolio features 20 properties located in some of the most desirable destinations across the MENA region, as well as a healthy pipeline of hotels under development.

For more information about HMH please visit http://www.hmh-dubai.com

For media contact:

Hina Bakht
Vice President
MPJ (Marketing Pro-Junction)
Mob: +971 50 6975146
Email: h.bakht@mpj-pr.com

http://www.mpj-pr.com

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