Rotana, the leading hotel management company in the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and Eastern Europe, widens its footprint in one of the region’s most promising emerging markets with the opening of its second property in Iraq in Karbala. The Karbala Rayhaan by Rotana is the first 5-star hotel to open in Karbala, one of the country’s largest tourist cities, which annually attracts more than 12 million visitors. “In 2012 Iraq posted a GDP growth rate of approximate 10.2%, making it one of the most promising emerging markets in the Middle East and one that is attracting a great deal of investment. The market holds immense potential for Rotana across a number of entry points as there is a huge unmet demand for quality accommodation and hospitality offerings. The opening of the Karbala Rayhaan by Rotana – our second property in Iraq – paves the way for building a wider footprint in the country, starting with our Baghdad property in the Iraqi capital which is due to be completed in 2014,” said Omer Kaddouri, Rotana’s Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer. “Karbala is one of the busiest tourist sites in the region, but the city currently lacks any hotels that offer international standards of accommodation and service. This is a gap that our new hotel will immediately address,” he added. The hotel is the first of Rotana’s alcohol-free Rayhaan brand to open in Iraq, bringing the Rayhaan by Rotana regional hotel portfolio to five – in addition to three hotels in the UAE and one in Saudi Arabia in Makkah. “The Rayhaan by Rotana is the perfect hotel brand for a city like Karbala, where guests are likely to favour an accommodation choice that reflects their inherent cultural values and beliefs,” said Kaddouri. “Since its launch in 2010, the Rayhaan brand has met with incredible success in its current operational markets and we expect this to be replicated in Iraq.”  The Karbala Rayhaan by Rotana brings Rayhaan by Rotana’s total regional room inventory to over 2,000. The 14-storey hotel features 185 rooms and suites, designed in a contemporary style, each offering a stylish and tranquil abode complete with all the facilities and amenities desired by today’s guest including high speed wireless internet, in-room entertainment with multi-channel satellite television, complimentary coffee and tea facilities and IDD telephone and voicemail. Guests can enjoy three food and beverage venues – an all-day dining restaurant ‘Al Fardous’, the ‘Al Noor Café’ at the lobby level and a specialty rooftop restaurant called “Al Nakheel”. To cater to convenience, guests will also be able to enjoy delicious dining in the comfort of their rooms all day long through the 24-hour in-room dining menu. Karbala Rayhaan by Rotana includes a state-of-the-art Wellness Centre featuring Turkish bath, steam & sauna, jacuzzi and massage rooms. The hotel also provides a meeting room, fully equipped with the latest business facilities. “The Karbala Rayhaan by Rotana raises the bar of accommodation offerings in the city and offers guests a world-class product that works with their cultural expectations,” says Mohamad Haj Hassan, Rotana’s Area Vice President in Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Sudan. “In addition, the hotel presents guests excellent connectivity options, being accessible from both Najaf Airport (80km) and Baghdad Airport (130km), offering a superbly comfortable end to their journey.”