The European chain Rocco Forte Hotels has exited Abu Dhabi, and with that its only hotel in Middle East.
The 12-storey property on Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum Street, marked by a wave-like green glass exterior, is now called Al Maqta Hotel Abu Dhabi.
The newly named hotel does not have a website but can be booked online through Bookings.com.
Reservations made before March 18 under the previous name – Rocco Forte Hotel Abu Dhabi – will be honoured, according to the Rocco hotel website.
Al Farida Investments, which handles the operations side of the hotel, said it did not have any information on the change.
"Whatever it is, it is good for the business," said Imran Abidi, a manager at the Abu Dhabi company, which has interests in hospitality, retail, commercial and residential property, engineering services, facilities management and general trading.
In 2008, the company entered into a management contract with Rocco Forte to operate the Dh600 million (US$163.3m) facility, which is a joint venture between TDIC, the Abu Dhabi tourism company, and Al Farida Investments.
Scheduled to be up and running in 2009, it finally opened its doors in 2011.
The 281-room hotel was also expected to have a 10,000 square metre shopping area featuring retail brands, restaurants and entertainment venues.
With the exit, Rocco Forte Hotels is confined to its 12 hotels in England, Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Czech Republic and Russia.
The parent company Rocco Forte & Family (Hotel Management) is registered in London.
"Rocco Forte Hotels and Al Farida have agreed to end the management contract for the hotel in Abu Dhabi," said a statement from Rocco Forte Hotels.
Calls to the London offices of the Rocco Forte Hotels went unanswered as yesterday was a bank holiday in the United Kingdom.
While some media reports suggested Starwood Hotels and Resorts is in talks to run the facility under the Sheraton brand name, the hotel operator declined to confirm this.
"At this time, we do not have official news to share regarding a deal signing in the UAE.
"However, this market remains key to our growth strategy across all nine Starwood brands," said Guido de Wilde, the senior vice president and regional director of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Middle East in Dubai.
ssahoo@thenational.ae
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The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
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if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
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Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
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