Rotana will showcase its key upcoming properties at Arabian Travel Market, the region’s premier travel and tourism event which starts today.

Rotana is preparing to open 17 new properties before the end of 2018, adding more than 4,500 keys to the company’s existing room count.

Key Rotana properties that will be on display at the high-profile exhibition includes Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villas - a luxurious five-star hotel in Abu Dhabi set to open in the fourth quarter of 2017 on Saadiyat Beach.

Featuring 354 upscale rooms and suites in addition to 13 private beach villas, the luxury resort will be the 15th Rotana property to open in the capital of the UAE.

Visitors to the Rotana stand at ATM 2017 will also receive a glimpse into the traditional charm of The Cove Rotana Resort, a spectacular property located on an idyllic water inlet on the Ras Al Khaimah beachfront.

Currently undergoing large-scale refurbishment, the extension is due to open its doors in quarter two of this year.

Rotana is looking to use the ATM platform as an opportunity to build on its strong start to the year, with its hotels in the region showing a 4.8 per cent increase in average occupancy rates during the first quarter of 2017, as compared to the corresponding period in the previous year.

Rotana hotels in the UAE witnessed a 3.1 per cent growth in occupancy year-on-year, with Dubai up by 3.7 per cent, Abu Dhabi recording a marginal increase of 0.9 per cent while the Northern Emirates region grew the fastest at 9.3 per cent.

Omer Kaddouri, president, Rotana, said: “This year is an important year for Rotana as it marks the 25th anniversary of the company’s founding.

“The year also holds immense strategic significance as far as Rotana’s future direction and growth is concerned, as it heralds our entry into new geographic markets as well as our continued expansion in our stronghold markets, with a number of openings lined up for the last three quarters of 2017.

“We are hoping to keep our momentum going with a strong participation in ATM 2017, where we will be showcasing our upcoming hotels.”

Rotana recently made its long-awaited debut in Africa with the opening of the five-star Kin Plaza Arjaan by Rotana in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Africa is a key focus market for Rotana and the company currently has a number of projects under various stages of development across the continent including Marrakesh, Luanda, Nouakchott, Dar es Salaam and Lagos.

Kaddouri added: “Rotana is today firmly positioned as the leading hotel management company in the region, with an operating portfolio of 56 properties and more than 15,000 rooms across all markets.

“We are currently one of the largest hotel operators in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq and Bahrain, and our ongoing expansion means we are on track to becoming the dominant player in several more markets in the region.”

Rotana is also looking to strengthen its presence in Turkey by adding two more hotels in Istanbul.

With the scheduled opening of the inter-connected properties under “Centro by Rotana” and “Arjaan hotel apartments by Rotana” brands in quarter for of 2017, the company will add a combined 305 rooms to its inventory while taking its total number of operating properties in Turkey to four hotels.