Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts (MH&R) recently signed a management agreement for what will be its first hotel in Sana'a Yemen. Following several agreements in the Middle East, a new hotel in Sana'a is now on the expansion list of the Swiss hotel chain.

A new Mövenpick hotel is set to be established as the most lavish hotel in Sana'a. Located in the newly developed and prestigious area of Dahr Hymyar, just 7 minutes from the city centre and 20 minutes from Sana'a International Airport the hotel project will include 330 luxury rooms of 42 m² size, among them 31 suites, and a presidential suite will be available to guests from September 2004. Mövenpick's excellence in gastronomy lends itself wonderfully to the hotel and provides an exquisite dining experience: Six international and themed restaurants and a Café will offer a variety of culinary experience and ambience.

The hotel will also feature the largest conference and banqueting facilities including a ballroom of 1,000 m² capable of hosting large events, weddings and seminars for up to 1500 guests and 9 meeting rooms with various sizes supported by a state of the art business centre.

Sports and leisure facilities will include both indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a fitness centre, an aerobics studio, sauna, steam rooms, Jacuzzis, squash and tennis courts as well as a children playground.

Mr. Hussein Ahmed Banafa'a, Managing Director of the International Company for Touristic Investments Ltd., the owning company of this exceptional hotel, is delighted that the new agreement has been concluded: "Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts enjoy an excellent reputation in the Middle East, and are known for Swiss quality of the highest standard. It was for this reason that we decided to award the management agreement to MH&R, and are convinced that we have found a strong international partner."

Andreas Mattmüller, Senior Vice President Middle East MH&R adds: "This new project enables us to expand our network across the Gulf countries and adds new and exciting destinations for our business and leisure clients from both the Middle East and Europe. We are delighted to be associated with Mr. Hussein Ahmed Banafa'a and look forward to a fruitful relationship in the future".