(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) The hotel will have 45 suites extensive meeting health and leisure facilities and six F&B outlets.
Ras al khaimah announced on Monday that it will be adding the 300-key Ras Al Khaimah Marriott Resort to its growing portfolio of global branded properties operating within its tourism sector.
In addition to the new Marriott property the recently appointed chief executive of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (TDA) Haitham Mattar provided a number of updates on the emirate’s ambitious growth plans.
In a joint venture between ASQ the private investment vehicle of Shaikh Ahmed bin Saqr Al Qasimi and Marriott International a 300-key luxury beachfront hotel is to be built. The Ras Al Khaimah Marriott Resort which is the hotelier’s first property in the emirate is expected to open in 2019.
The hotel will have 45 suites extensive meeting health and leisure facilities and six F&B outlets. It will be located in the northern part of the emirate with direct access to a private beach and with the Hajjar Mountains in the backdrop.
The deal was inked by Marriott International’s Global CEO Arne Sorenson and Shaikh Ahmed bin Saqr Al Qasimi at the Arabian Travel Market. This is the first of two new hotel properties set to be built within the RAK Free Trade Zone in a compelling sign that Ras Al Khaimah’s ongoing growth plans are thriving in 2015.
“Ras Al Khaimah is an ambitious market and is poised for transformational growth with the development of the Al Marjan Island a 2.7 million sqm man-made archipelago which will ultimately become home to 30 hotels entertainment restaurants shopping and theme parks” Mattar said.
“From tourism investment and trade we are building a hugely compelling offering and it is time that the world’s aviation industry took notice. We are in talks with global airlines about using RAK International Airport as an operational base which will ultimately support over 400000 visitors flying in and out of the airport directly on an annual basis. We expect to be able to make an announcement within the coming weeks.” he added.
Destination RAK
In support of its new strategy that will see all of the emirates major government and government related entities that are focused on tourism investment and trade coordinate activity Ras Al Khaimah will be embarking on a unified “Destination RAK” approach.
“Ras Al Khaimah is more than simply tourism inward investment or trade on their own. We are embarking on an ambitious strategy that will see us market Destination RAK to ensure that Ras Al Khaimah can become a globally ranked centre for all three combined” Mattar said.
Sharing latest data he said 2014 proved to be a historic year for Ras Al Khaimah tourism with a number of important landmarks achieved. He said the emirate achieved 2.14 million guest nights in 2014 a massive 72 per cent increase on 2013 performance with a recorded total revenue growth of 44 per cent positioning Ras Al Khaimah as one of the fastest growing tourist destinations in the world.
“The first quarter of 2015 is continuing to be an extension of the robust growth with a recorded total revenue growth of 26 per cent. Added to this the average number of visitors increased by 17 per cent with an increase of room revenue by 12 per cent.”
With 5000 hotel rooms in RAK at present and over 730000 visitors in 2014 RAK is looking to add 1000 rooms by 2017.
Ras Al Khaimah’s top three markets based on number of visitors are performing strongly with visitors from within the GCC growing at 51 per cent India at 81 per cent China at 63 per cent followed by Eastern Europe at 40 per cent.
“The stage is set for more. I look forward to next year’s ATM where I will be able to tell an even stronger growth story as our plans for our destination story solidify into a unified programme targeting regional and international commerce as well as the increasingly dominant millennial market” Mattar said.
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