The Ritz-Carlton opened its fourth hotel in The Middle East and 50th in the world when it assumed management of Le Royal Meridien Bahrain. Set within a 20-acre seafront development with expansive views of the Gulf waters, the flagship hotel is the only five-star caliber resort property in the area and is home to the largest spa in the region.

The award-winning hotel company, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, also manages luxury properties in Doha, Dubai and Sharm el Sheikh. The addition of Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel & Spa takes the company`s portfolio up to fifty.

Among the hotel`s many notable features is the elaborate spa facility, which has an extensive menu of treatments and services, a sporting club with indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and a 22-berth private marina as part of the complex. The seven-story, 264-room hotel, open since 1994, also includes several restaurants and more than 24,000 sq-ft of meeting space.

A 24-month restoration project has already begun and during the enhancement to guest rooms and public space, The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa will remain fully operational. Construction will soon be completed on 23 three-bedroom villas, each with their own private swimming pool. These ultra-luxurious villas are set open in the spring of 2003.

Also being completed is the 15-story Sail Tower, offering a condominium lifestyle, which includes an array of personal guest services from the staff of The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa. When these projects are complete, the hotel`s room count will reach 307.

The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa is owned by the International Hotel Establishment. “We are pleased to have reached an agreement with Ritz-Carlton to manage the hotel. They understand the expectations of the international guest and are experienced with the culture and traditions of the Middle East,” said an owner`s representative.

Simon Cooper, president and chief operating officer of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company called the new hotel “An impressive and important addition to the collection of five-star hotels and resorts managed by Ritz-Carlton around the world”.

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