Accor, one of the leading hotel operators in the Middle East, said it has opened its first 4-star Mercure brand hotel in Dubai under a franchise agreement.

The 184-room Mercure Gold Hotel on the Al Mina Road is situated close to Sheikh Zayed Road and Jumeirah Beach road.

Christophe Landais, managing director, Accor Middle East said: “We are delighted to add the franchised Mercure Gold Hotel Al Mina Road Dubai to our network of 19 Mercure properties in the Middle East which is also our first Accor hotel to open in 2012.”

Right in the heart of Al Mina road’s bustling district, the new hotel provides easy access to business centers and is ideal for both business and leisure travelers.

'A daily free shuttle service takes guests from the hotel to the beach and shopping malls such as Burjuman Shopping mall, Mercato mall, Deira City Centre and the Dubai mall; with Dubai International Airport a 20-minute drive away,' said Landais.

'It is also in close proximity to the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre and Port Rashid,' he added.

Mercure Gold Hotel, which opened its doors on January 1, offers a warm atmosphere featuring contemporary rooms and a classic style that embraces the local culture and reflects the brand’s personality, said Landais.

'It has a meeting room and a business center as well as some food and beverage outlets which include the all-day dining outlet Senses and The Kebab Connection, serving kebabs Indian and Middle Eastern style.'

The Mercure network is the third largest midscale hotel chain worldwide, outside North America, with a network of 700 hotels in 49 countries, said Landais.

'Mercure is forging a strong presence in emerging countries both under management and franchise agreements,' he added.-TradeArabia News Service