As part of its expansion plan into the African market and a vision to remain one of the world’s most valuable companies, Dubai’s Emaar Property’s hospitality division has been awarded a hotel management contract to operate its five star premium hotel brand, “The Address Hotels + Resorts brand” near the world famous national park, Masai Mara in Kenya. The first contract was The Address Marassi Golf Resort & Spa in Egypt.
The resort which is scheduled to be opened in 2013 is developed by The African Dream Collection. It will be christened Enkereri Mara by The Address Masai Mara.
Masai Mara is Africa’s greatest wildlife reserve. Its vast grassland plains are home to large populations of lions, leopards, and cheetahs, in addition to offering the magnificent visual feast of the annual migration of zebras, gazelles, and wildebeest from the Serengeti.
Kenya’s Tourism Minister, Hon Danson Mwazo, said, “Emaar group has thrived in Dubai and our country will benefit tremendously from the expertise, international standards and practices that they bring. Emaar Hospitality Group has responded favourably to our country’s call for more investment in tourism and the Masai Mara venture is a timely boost to the sector.”
Speaking on the new investment, Chairman, Emaar Properties, Mohamed Alabbar said, “The new management agreement of The Address Hotels + Resorts builds on the hub status of Dubai, connecting the fast-growing African markets with the rest of the world.
“With Emirates Airline linking Dubai to Nairobi and other African markets, Emaar’s newest expansion to Kenya will further strengthen business exchange as well as boost the tourism sector. Our expansion is a perfect fit to our strategy of exploring growth opportunities in key emerging markets globally,” Alabbar stated.
Chief Operating Officer of Emaar Hospitality Group, Josef Kufer added that , “The Address Masai Mara will stand apart as a unique resort in our portfolio. As part of the Greater Mara Ecosystem, the resort is designed to uphold the highest standards in environment-friendliness, and all operations will be aligned to provide our guests a lifestyle experience that builds on their expectations of enjoying nature at its pristine best at the Masai Mara National Reserve. The resort will also create direct and indirect job opportunities for the local population, thus highlighting our commitment to work with the local community.”
Over the years, the hotelier has established its presence in other African countries like Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, among other nations worldwide.
Emaar Properties is one of the world’s richest real estate firms with over 60 companies around the globe. Its activities include property investment and development, property management services, education, healthcare, retail and hospitality sectors, as well as investing in financial service providers.
