Rotana, a leading hotel management company in the region, has opened its second property in Iraq.

The Karbala Rayhaan by Rotana is a five-star property in the tourist city of Karbala, which attracts more than 12 million visitors a year.

The first Rotana property in Iraq is in Erbil-Kurdistan.

“In 2012 Iraq posted a GDP growth rate of approximate 10.2 per cent, making it one of the most promising emerging markets in the region and one that is attracting a great deal of investment. The market holds immense potential for Rotana across a number of entry points as there is a huge unmet demand for quality accommodation and hospitality offerings,” said Omer Kaddouri, executive vice president and chief operating officer.

“The opening of the Karbala Rayhaan by Rotana – our second property in Iraq – paves the way for building a wider footprint in the country. Our Baghdad property in the Iraqi capital is due to be completed in 2014,” he said.
 
“Karbala is one of the busiest tourist sites in the region, but the city currently lacks any hotels that offer international standards of accommodation and service. This is a gap that our new hotel will immediately address,” he added.

The hotel is the first of Rotana’s Rayhaan brand to open in Iraq, bringing the Rayhaan by Rotana regional hotel portfolio to five – in addition to three hotels in the UAE and one in Makkah.

The 14-storey hotel features 185 rooms and suites, designed in a contemporary style, each offering a stylish and tranquil abode complete with all the facilities and amenities including high speed wireless internet, in-room entertainment with multi-channel satellite television, complimentary coffee and tea facilities and IDD telephone and voicemail.

Guests can enjoy three food and beverage venues – an all-day dining restaurant ‘Al Fardous’, the ‘Al Noor Café’ at the lobby level and a specialty rooftop restaurant called ‘Al Nakheel.’

The hotel also includes a wellness centre, featuring Turkish bath, steam and sauna, Jacuzzi and massage rooms. It also provides a meeting room, fully equipped with the latest business facilities. - TradeArabia News Service