Kempinski has agreed to manage IFA Hotels & Resorts' latest resort the Alabadiyah Hills, in Dhour Abadiyah, Lebanon. The entire development of 12 private villas, 33 townhouses and 220 luxury apartments, as well as a spa and other facilities, is due to open in 2008.

Ideally situated between Bhamdoun and Aley, overlooking the seaport city of Beirut and the Mediterranean ocean, Alabadiyah Hills will be one of the first resorts in Lebanon to offer investors the unique possibility of acquiring branded residences in an excellent location, enjoying the five-star luxury services that Kempinski is renowned for.

Alabadiyah Hills will feature two distinctive design styles creating the Village Residence and the Tower Residence. Most of the villas and townhouses will have their own private gardens and swimming pools, with spacious layouts serving the needs of the highest individual requirements. The Tower Residence is designed around an inner courtyard on the pinnacle of the resort and the Village Residence is nestled around the gardens and water features.

The resort will offer state-of-the-art facilities including a members-only health club, gymnasium, swimming pool, tennis court and other facilities. One of the features of the resort will be a stunning spa and beauty clinic where visitors will be able to experience the latest treatments in one of the most picturesque settings in the world.

"This project with IFA creates an ideal platform for us to enter the Lebanese market, and will set the standard for future projects in the region. Kempinski is known for exceptionally high standards of quality and service, which is one of the main advantages for investors in this luxury residence, who can be guaranteed five-star services all year round," said Ulrich Eckhardt, Senior Vice President Middle East and Africa, Kempinski.

"Lebanon is emerging as one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in the world, and this development comes as a timely business move to explore this market. The newly created alliance between IFA and Kempinski consolidates IFA's strategy to partner with some of the most respected names in the hospitality business, to ensure that we bring the highest levels of hospitality standards to the freehold property sector," said Jassim M. Al-Bahar, Chairman and Managing Director of IFA.

"In addition to all the services and facilities, the branded residence comes with a unique rental administration system managed by Kempinski where investors can rent out their properties on short and long term. This gives the owner the ideal opportunity to make his property available when it is not used, to receive a return on his investment, all under Kempinski's management," explained Werner Burger, Vice President, Sales & Marketing IFA Hotels & Resorts.

The exclusive townhouses will start from USD 650,000, residences from USD 200,000 for a one bedroom unit up to over USD 500,000 for a deluxe five bedroom unit. Villas are priced on their specific layout and location and will start at just over USD 1 million. These prices reflect the highest quality building materials used in building the apartments, the services and facilities provided by Kempinski and the unique location of Alabadiyah Hills.