Following the rebranding of Le Meridien Kuwait this year, the luxury hotel group will introduce the second phase of its four-project expansion in the country with the opening of the 70-room Le Meridien Tower Kuwait at the end of June.

The hotel marks the debut of Le Meridien’s innovative Art+Tech design in the region, and forms part of an aggressive development strategy in the country – which will create almost 420 new rooms across four projects by 2006.
Le Meridien’s development in Kuwait is the result of a newly established owning relationship with A’Amal Holding Company.
Ahmed Al Abdaly, chairman of A’Amal Holding Company, said: “These four projects – which include the refurbishment and rebranding of the former Ritz Hotel – will change the face of Kuwait’s hospitality structure.
Sami Zoghbi, regional managing director of Le Meridien Middle East and West Asia, says that the pace of development in Kuwait has accelerated after the end of the conflict in Iraq.
“Kuwait has quietly been establishing itself as a regional tourism centre, pouring money in to landscaping the seafront, new family entertainment centres, shopping malls that are as competitive as any in the area, plus extensive resort facilities.”
Zoghbi pointed to the four malls expected to open in the next few months, as well as the massive redevelopment project at Kuwait International Airport as further concrete signs of the expected boom in visitor numbers to the state.
The upcoming, 70-room, city boutique hotel, Le Meridien Tower is located just minutes from key business, banking and shopping districts.  Facilities include a multi-dining outlet, café with outdoor terrace, a compact meeting and banqueting room, business centre, health club, sauna and swimming pool.
A second, 70-unit Art+Tech hotel will follow in 2005 in the Mubarakia district.
Art+Tech was designed to be different from the standard hotel room, while focusing on the three main elements of bed, bathroom and technology.
The concept is also extended in to public areas of Art+Tech properties, from restaurants to meeting rooms, to create a contemporary, clutter-free environment while emphasising all functions of service demanded by the frequent traveller.
“This is a revolution in hotel terms, and one that will give our customers in Kuwait a real choice in terms of their accommodation criteria,” said country general manager HannesYaghi. “Simply put, there is nothing similar in the market, but we are convinced that the design concept will be an instant success – as it has been in other markets worldwide.”