Malia, the prominent Lebanese holding group and Rotana the leading Hotel Management Company in the Middle East, inaugurated their first property in Kurdistan, Iraq, the landmark 5-star hotel, Erbil Rotana. The official gala event was held under the patronage of His Excellency Prime Minister Dr. Barham Salih and was attended by ministers, dignitaries, local and regional media executives and prominent personalities. The US$55 million plus hotel is among a series of projects to be launched by Malia Holding through its tourism investment affiliated company,” Hotel Line”.

Commenting on the opening, Mr. Jacques Jean Sarraf, President of Malia Holding sal expressed confidence and excitement in the opening “Erbil Rotana will benefit the people of Iraq through the creation of hundreds of jobs. Malia is enthusiastic about developments in the Kurdistan and keen on taking an active role in shaping the outlook of tourism and helping rebuild a strong and solid economy in Iraq”.

Malia’s plans to invest in Erbil stem from the city’s economic, social and political climate which makes it an ideal destination for investments, particularly in tourism.

The Kurdistan area of Iraq has in fact gained a worldwide reputation of being a gateway to Iraq, a stable and thriving area with an increasingly prosperous population of 5 million. The region has 2 airports, a liberal foreign investment law that offers foreign investors.

As for Mr. Nasser Al Nowais, Chairman of Rotana, he in turn said “Year after year, Rotana is gaining strength and is imposing its position as the leader in the industry within the region. This is part of our strategic aim to have a property located in every key city in the Middle East and this goal is being steadily achieved through careful long-term planning and timely action. We are proud to have been chosen to manage this new spectacular 5 star property and our team is very excited about the opportunity to be in Iraq. We are confident that we will introduce a new dimension of hospitality in the country”. Erbil Rotana’s strategic location in close proximity to the Ministries district and the Erbil International Exhibition Fair Ground, along with its luxurious accommodation, wide variety of restaurants and meeting facilities makes the hotel the ideal choice for the business traveler.

This new property by Rotana offers all the comfort and refinement of a genuine, business-oriented five-star establishment, complemented by elegant dining and leisure facilities. Modern and refined interiors are reflected in each of the 201 well-appointed rooms and suites while the conference and banquet facilities represent a new milestone for the city of Erbil.

Occupying a total area of 1200 m², facilities include a ballroom that can accommodate up to 800 people and three fully-equipped and flexible conference and banquet venues designed to host all types of events including conferences, small meetings, gala dinners and weddings.

Mr. Thomas Touma, General Manager of Erbil Rotana, said, “Erbil Rotana is built on a premium 20,000 m² plot of land strategically located next to the prestigious English Village and less than a ten minutes drive from Erbil International Airport. My team and I are extremely proud to introduce Rotana’s 5-star hospitality to Erbil and have been working hard to ensure all areas involved in the opening of this property are perfectly operational in time for its launch.” He added, “With Erbil Rotana now open, the brand marks another successful step forward in its expansion in the region.”

Erbil Rotana provides business travelers with efficient business support services while giving them ample opportunity to wind down and relax, with the hotel offering state-of-the-art leisure facilities including a Bodylines Fitness Centre, Jacuzzi, steam rooms, sauna, outdoor temperature-controlled swimming pool and massage treatment rooms.

With six restaurants and lounges, guests are also able to experience a choice of dining options including Italian, Lebanese and International cuisines. “Our aim is to provide our local guests and visitors from abroad with some exceptional dining experiences. Our chefs are keen on starting this new journey and introducing Rotana’s culinary experience to Erbil,” said Touma.

Touma concluded, “Whether travelling for business, hosting a wedding, gala celebration or enjoying authentic culinary delights, Erbil Rotana is set to be the destination of choice for a quality experience in Erbil.”