Millennium & Copthorne Middle East and Africa (MEA) has unveiled its newly renamed and repositioned 305-room hotel property in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The Millennium Corniche Hotel Abu Dhabi occupies a prime location in the city’s prestigious Corniche area, with close proximity to major downtown retail and entertainment options, as well as being within easy reach of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Ferrari World, Yas Waterworld and the beautiful beaches of Saadiyat Island.

This was the first Millennium & Copthorne branded property to debut in the region, opening its doors in 2002. Its prime location supports its positioning as an upscale leisure destination, ideally located for tourists eager to experience all that the city has to offer, said a senior official.

“Our Abu Dhabi hotel was the group’s first foothold into the Middle East hospitality market, and over the last 12 years has been a brand ambassador for our internationally-acclaimed hospitality and service,” remarked Ali Hamad Lakhraim Alzaabi, the president and CEO of Millennium & Copthorne Hotels (Middle East and Africa).

"The decision to rename the property is twofold: to assert its position in a highly sought-after location in the heart of Abu Dhabi city and, as we grow our brand presence in the capital, to ensure that our guests can identify with the specific offering and get the most out of their stay with us,” he added.

The hotel’s prime location makes it a popular choice for business travellers and meeting and event planners, particularly with the active calendar of corporate and conference business held throughout the year in the UAE’s capital.

The demand from China and India reflects Abu Dhabi government’s strategic focus on cementing its reputation as a world-leading  meeting, incentive, conference and event (MICE) destination, stated James Wilson, who has been newly appointed to lead the team in its new phase of development.

An experienced international hotelier with a track record of successful openings and strategic brand relaunches, Wilson has worked in senior executive roles for leading hotel groups in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

“It’s part of my mandate to take the hotel through to the next decade, we have introduced a raft of new offerings for our guests including wireless iPad check-in, our newly revamped Italian restaurant - now called Biscotti - which is a casual Italian dining concept with an authentic ‘neighbourhood’ feel, and we are also in the process of relaunching our coffee lounge concept,” he said.

Millennium & Copthorne has three upcoming properties in UAE, totalling over 1,000 rooms due to be open by 2016.

“Next for Abu Dhabi will be the 667-room Bab Al Qasr Hotel, which will be located at the opposite end of the Corniche with views of the Gulf and Emirates Palace. With its distinctive Arabesque design, this will add a further luxury element to our portfolio, and open up new market opportunities for the brand,” stated Alzaabi.

Currently, Millennium and Copthorne Hotels & Resorts operates 17 hotels with approximately 5,000 rooms across the UAE, Kuwait, Jordan, Qatar, Oman and Iraq. It is targeting 50 properties by 2017, including 20 hotels in Saudi Arabia.-TradeArabia News Service