The Sultanate of Oman�s Ministry of Tourism and Rotana, the leading hotel management company in the Middle East and Africa have announced that a new 5-star Rotana Resort will soon join the growing list of premium hospitality destinations in Salalah. The development of the 444-key Salalah Rotana Resort is in line with the Ministry�s strategy to strengthen Oman�s reputation as a luxury hospitality haven and cater to a much broader global tourism market.

Salalah Rotana Resort & Spa, owned by Orascom Hotels and Developments, offers 399 rooms and suites, and 45 villas that are beautifully built around ponds, water features and manmade lakes. The upscale hotel�s Omani-inspired architecture features a series of clusters surrounding the main building, housing major public facilities and amenities.

H.E. Maitha Al Mahrouqi, Undersecretary of Oman�s Ministry of Tourism, said: �The Ministry has achieved significant progress and has even won international recognition for its efforts towards establishing Oman as one of the world�s most popular year-round tourist destinations. The new 5-star resort project in Salalah being managed by Rotana complements our strategy to further expand the country�s key tourism offerings, particularly within the luxury hospitality segment, which is one of our fastest-growing markets. Moreover, this partnership reflects the enthusiasm of international hospitality brands to invest in Oman and take advantage of the enormous potential of the country�s tourism industry.�

Selim El Zyr, President & CEO of Rotana, said: �Oman has always been a key growt market for us and this is clearly reflected by our aggressive expansion plans in the country. Moreover, the 5-star Salalah Rotana Resort plays an important role in our growth strategy for the Middle East market, where we will be launching several new properties throughout the year to increase the total number of rooms under our management to over 14,500 by the end of the year. Oman�s Ministry of Tourism has certainly done an excellent job in harnessing the tourism potential of Oman and promoting its key offerings in the global market. With our heavy presence in the region, Rotana is keen to work with the Ministry to help draw attention towards Oman�s world-class tourism offerings.�

Scheduled to be inaugurated in December 2013, Salalah Rotana Resort features a lobby caf�/ bar, all-day dining facility, a specialty restaurant, beach restaurant, pool bar, meeting rooms, a business center, fitness center, a huge outdoor pool, massage services, Zen the Spa at Rotana, a beach club, and a kids� club.

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