UAE’s Jinan signs first international deal to manage hotel for Egypt’s Minerva Travel
Jinan Hotels and Resorts, the first company to specialize in the running of sustainable hotels in the Middle East, has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Minerva Travel to manage the Ein Shanda Hotel in the Arab Republic of Egypt.
The management agreement will take effect after all development work on the hotel, which is located in Dakhla Oasis in Egypt’s New Valley, is completed during the first quarter of 2010. This is Jinan’s first venture outside of the local arena and the GCC region.
H.E. Saeed Ahmed Mohammed bin Butti, Al Dhiafa Holding Chairman, and Mr. Walid Ezzat, Minerva Travel Chairman, signed the agreement during a ceremony, which was attended by numerous officials as well as GCC and African tourism experts.
Said H.E. Saeed Ahmed Mohammed Bin Butti: “Companies working in the hospitality industry are always aiming to achieve environmentally friendly and sustainable growth standards so as to reach remarkable results. These standards are on par with the latest requirements in the tourism industry, and are set to put countries in the lead when it comes to global tourism.”
Commenting on the agreement, Jinan CEO, Mr. Noel Massoud said: “This new agreement with Minerva Travel proves that Jinan’s policy in running sustainable hotels is the right one and that it has the potential to achieve our future goals – which we have set until 2012 – inside and outside of the UAE. We intend to make a breakthrough in the most attractive area among Arab countries, and are committed to our principles, which were set at Jinan’s inception.”
Added Ezzat: “The development of the Ein Shanda Hotel is of great importance as the hotel is on par with the global direction towards sustainable establishments, and the growing European demand for sustainable desert tourism. The agreement with Jinan will greatly support the project and will put it among the leading hospitality projects in the Middle East, especially seeing as the New Valley area is rich in tourist and cultural attractions, desert environments and wells. We expect the project to achieve great success.”
The Ein Shanda Hotel covers an area of approximately 32,892 square meters at the Al Dakhla Oasis in Egypt’s New Valley area, and consists of 25 suites, 40 rooms, 10 tents, shopping centers, a spa, swimming pool, food outlets and a bar. The hotel also includes a cultural center, set in a separate building, which boasts a museum, conference hall and a library.
The Governorate of New Valley is in close proximity to Luxor, and is ideal for sustainable tourism and adventures as sand, hills, valleys and mountains form 90% of the area. In addition, New Valley contains 120 historic areas belonging to the Pharaonic, Roman, Coptic and Islamic periods, and overlooks numerous natural spots fit for entertainment purposes, such as Bilat Islamic Village, Bilat Pharaonic Village, Dair Al Hajar Temple, Al Bashandi Village, Al Qasr Islamic Village and Mazooqa Historic Village.
