Marriott opened its first luxury Residence Inn hotel in the Middle East, in Bahrain. The Residence Inn Marriott Manama Juffair was formally opened by Culture Minister Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, during a ceremony.
Residence Inn is the Marriott International group's largest extended stay brand and has come to Bahrain under a long-term management agreement with International Trading and Investment Company.
"We are proud to open the first Residence Inn by Marriott in the Middle East, which demonstrates the continued growth of Bahrain's tourism sector. Significantly, the opening coincides with the city of Manama being unveiled as the Capital of Arab Tourism for 2013," said International Trading and Investment Company chairman Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa.
"With this, we continue to build-on and contribute to Bahrain's tourism. This reflects our full confidence in the economic growth of the country under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad, the government headed by His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, and the support of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander."
He said Bahrain's hotel market has increased supply by 900 rooms in 2011 with the opening of various hotels, and an additional 1,300 rooms in 2012.
"The tourism sector has always been a substantial contributor to the economy, specifically for the six per cent GDP and 6pc employment in 2011."
Gulf Daily News
3 October
