BANGKOK—Minor Hotel Group (MHG)—a hotel owner, operator and investor with a portfolio of 126 hotels and resorts in 22 countries across Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Europe, South America, Africa and the Indian Ocean—has partnered with Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company to develop two new Anantara resorts in North Africa, which will open in 2017.
Anantara Tozeur Resort is being developed by Qatari Diar in southwest Tunisia, in the city of Tozeur. This new-build Anantara will offer 93 guestrooms and villas, including pool villas; a selection of restaurants and bars; meeting and business facilities; kids’ and teen clubs; a health club; and an Anantara Spa. A hub of Tunisia’s Saharan tourism and accessible from the international airport, or by road or rail, the city is known for its architecture and vast palm tree fields, as well being the home of the original Star Wars film set, according to the company.
Also under development is Anantara Al Houara Tangier Resort in northern Morocco. The hotel will be part of the Al Houara project which Qatari Diar is developing in Tangier along 1.6 miles of beachfront overlooking the Atlantic Ocean which will also include an 18-hole golf course with golf club and residential homes for sale. The new Anantara will offer 230 keys; a selection of restaurants and bars; an Anantara Spa; a wellness center; a fitness center; and kids’ and teen clubs.
“We are excited to announce these two new Anantara resorts in North Africa in partnership with Qatari Diar,” said Dillip Rajakarier, CEO of Minor Hotel Group. “Our Anantara brand is now well-established in the Middle East, with six properties in the UAE and our first resort in Qatar opened earlier this year. We are keen to add North Africa to our footprint, where these two new resorts will help further develop luxury tourism within these destinations. We are looking forward to a strong alliance with Qatari Diar going forward, with scope to explore additional opportunities to expand our portfolio in the wider MENA region.”
Speaking about the agreement Khaled Mohammed Al Sayed, group CEO of Qatari Diar, said: “Qatari Diar is building signature projects and facilitating vibrant new communities on an unprecedented scale. Our projects are significant, landmark projects that are often unrivalled in size, scope and vision. We aim at creating distinguished developments not only in Qatar but around the world and our partnership today with MHG, one of the largest hospitality and leisure companies in the Asia-Pacific region, goes in the same direction.”