Abu Dhabi is poised to open more lucrative business opportunities for the hospitality sector after the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) disclosed that some 1.9 million hotel guests are expected to visit the emirate in 2011, representing a 15 per cent increase from 2010. The robust growth forecast has driven major hotel developments in Abu Dhabi, while encouraging collaboration between key industry players such as hotel chains, travel agencies, tour operators and airlines in a bid to capture a bigger share of the steadily expanding tourism market.
Cristal Hotels and Resorts, one of the most dynamic hotel chains, has revealed that it will be opening the Cristal Salam Hotel in Abu Dhabi during the first quarter of 2011, as part of a long-term strategy to capitalize on the strong growth potential of Abu Dhabi. In line with its growth plans in the UAE capital, Cristal Hotels had also revealed recently that it has signed a contract to be the new partner of Etihad Guest, the award-winning loyalty program from Etihad Airways, providing a wide range of exclusive privileges to Etihad Guest’s 850,000-plus members.
"The launch of the Cristal Salam Hotel and the aggressive expansion program that we have implemented in Abu Dhabi is part of a broader regional expansion plan that aims to increase the company’s portfolio to 25 properties all over the Middle East and Africa. Abu Dhabi has enormous growth potential because of the emirate’s expanding economic activity and increasing influx of tourists and investors, as manifested by the positive growth forecast of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority. We believe that our success in Abu Dhabi will provide the momentum to strengthen our expansion programs in other high-growth markets across the region," said Peter Blackburn, CEO, Cristal Hotels and Resorts. Source