Leading Omani firms Taameer Investment and Golden Group of Companies (GGC) have signed an agreement to build one of the largest hotel chains in the sultanate that will be managed by hospitality major Rotana group.

The agreement is the largest of its kind for a hotel chain in Oman, targeting the major cities like Muscat, Sohar and Salalah. It coincides with the celebrations of the Sultanate's 45th National Day.

This comes a part of an ambitious strategy of GGC and Taameer Investment for expansion and formulating partnership in hospitality sector with global operators in line with the steady growth witnessed in the sultanate over the past years, said the company officials at the signing ceremony held at Muscat Intercontinental Hotel under the patronage of Ahmed bin Nasser Al Mahrazi, Minister of Tourism and other senior officials.

The new hotels comprise approximately 1,500 hotel rooms over the next five years in these major cities in various categories of five, four and three-star.

This will strongly push the pace of tourism development in Oman, thus supporting and promoting the sector, inbound and internal tourism and business services.

This is also a strong sign of confidence in Omani hospitality sector by international hotel management companies such as the renowned Rotana hotel group and confidence of the Omani private sector represented by GGC and Taameer in the hospitality and hotel sector in the sultanate.

Commenting on the deal, Sheikh Salim bin Ahmad Al Ghazali, the chairman of GGC & Taameer, said: "We are happy with this strategic alliance and signing of the agreement with Rotana Hotel Management Company, which reflects a roadmap for our hotel investments in hospitality, tourism and travel industries in the coming stage."

Among the leading national companies, GGC and Taameer have investments in various sectors including real estate, industrial, financial and service sectors.

Since their inception, both the companies enjoy stable and rapid growth and are now among the major joint and effective companies in the sultanate.

Taameer CEO Suleiman bin Masood Al Harthi said the construction of hotels like the Wave Muscat Hotel and Shaza Salalah Hotel & Spa is part of investment from GGC & Taameer into the tourism industry due to the steady growth and rapid increase in demand for thre-, four- and five-star hotels & hotel apartments.

The deal with Rotana coincides with the operation of Salalah International Airport and completing the main stages in the expansion of Muscat International Airport, which shall create a qualitative leap in the number of flights coming into the Sultanate.

This requires doubling of residence and hotel service, stated Al Harthi.

"We made an alliance with one of the most renowned companies in hotel management in the region and this will ensure the highest and finest levels of quality hotel services under the world brand "Rotana", and we also contracted the best engineering consultants in the world to implement these projects," he added.

Rotana chairman Nasser Al Nowais said it was proud to have been chosen to manage these five properties in Oman.

"One of the most diverse and scenic countries in the Arabian Peninsula, Oman is blessed with abundant natural beauty and breath-taking landscapes that makes it a top attraction for tourists," remarked Al Nowais.

"Rotana sees Oman as an important growth market, and with our decades of experience and global expertise in hotel management, we are confident we can add value to the hospitality industry in the region and bring a new level of sophistication to the guest experience," he added.

According to him, these openings will make a major contribution to the community by providing additional employment opportunities for Omani nationals and strengthening the local supply chain in support of the country’s developing tourism industry.

"As we continue to execute on our vision of operating 100 hotels by 2020, Rotana looks forward to assuming a central role in elevating the hospitality scene in Oman while meeting the demands of the market," he added.

Rotana currently manages a portfolio of over 100 properties throughout the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and Eastern Europe with an aggressive expansion plan in place.-TradeArabia News Service