Rotana will showcase its wide-ranging collection of modern and sophisticated hotels at the World Travel Market London.

Marking its 12th consecutive year of successful participation at the leading global event for the travel industry, Rotana showcased its eight newly opened hotels in Saudi Arabia and the UAE for this year, as well as its incredible pipeline that comprises of six upcoming properties scheduled for opening by the end of this year and 2019 in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania, and the UAE.

The company also highlighted the figures reflecting steady growth in the UK room nights at its properties in the UAE market.

At Rotana hotels in Abu Dhabi, UK room nights grew by 13 per cent between 2017 and 2018.

During the same period, Rotana also increased its percentage share of UK visitor room nights compared to the city from 21.4 per cent to 29.4 per cent.

Similarly, in Dubai, UK room nights at Rotana properties witnessed a year-on-year increase of 4.6 per cent.

Omer Kaddouri, president, Rotana, said: “As a strategic gathering of experts, industry stakeholders and professionals in the travel, tourism and hospitality businesses, the World Travel Market London 2018 offered Rotana an excellent global platform to highlight its milestones, growing portfolio of world-class offerings, and robust expansion plans.

“Following a year of sustained performance across growth indicators and continued expansion, we are gearing up for a more promising 2019, which will be complemented by the opening of our six new hotels in key markets.

“We remain committed to continuing to deliver exceptional guest experiences, leveraging the insights gained from this event and building on the success of our strong portfolio of hotels.”

To cement its pre-eminent position in the UAE’s hospitality market, Rotana opened four properties in 2018.

The company reached a new milestone when it opened its flagship property Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villas, a luxurious five-star hotel that features 327 rooms and suites, in addition to 13 private beach villas, in Abu Dhabi.

The Pearl Rotana Capital Centre, which opened in March added another 315 keys to the company’s inventory in the capital city.

Further strengthening its foothold in Dubai’s thriving tourism and hospitality sector, Rotana continued its expansion in the emirate with the opening of the modern, architecturally-striking five-star hotel Al Bandar Rotana (190 keys), the hotel apartment complex Al Bandar Arjaan by Rotana (90 keys).

In addition, Rotana opened 189-room Centro Salama in Jeddah and 156-room Centro Olaya under the brand ‘Centro by Rotana’ in September and October.

Saudi Arabia continues to remain Rotana’s key focus market for expansion, with two properties are scheduled to open in different cities of the kingdom in the first and second quarters of 2019.

As part of its plans to tap new markets, the company will launch two new properties in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, in addition to opening hotels in Iraq and the UAE with the aim of further deepening its presence in these markets.

Find out more below as Guy Hutchinson, chief operating officer at Rotana Hotels, speaks to Breaking Travel News during World Travel Market in London