After Iran suffered decades of economic isolation, Global hotel companies are establishing new beachheads in the Islamic republic on the Persian Gulf. The idea of the hotel companies will be betting the lifted sanctions against the Middle East nation and it will somehow ignite tourism and business travel.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the detailed proposal of the Spanish operator Melia Hotels International, is to put up a 319-room hotel next year on the Caspian Sea. Where Accor Hotels, which exposed to the public the two hotels near the Tehran airport last autumn, will collaborate in a joint-stock company in Iran through which it will partner with local groups to be in charge of the hotels.
While the Rotana Hotel Management Corporation, a company based in Abu Dhabi, has started developing properties in Iran as well.
The head of research at real-estate broker Cluttons LLP - Faisal Durrani, stated, "This is essentially the start of a new era." "What you have is effectively the largest country in the Middle East open for business."
Iran that seems to look like Cuba, that made warm relations with the United States have also encouraged Western hotel operators to indulge business. Starwood Hotels and Resorts and Marriott were up for a task to take advantage of the growing commercial opportunities in the country.
However, Peter Norman, the senior vice president of acquisitions and development at Hyatt in Europe, the Mideast and Africa, stated, "We just have to wait. That's the frustrating bit. We're really keen to go in there."
On the other hand, as stated by the Nation Multimedia, Thai AirAsia X airline company is offering broader travel opportunities in Iran and Oman.
Starting on June 22, Thai AirAsia X planes will fly three times a week direct from Bangkok to Tehran and from June 28, also three times a week, a direct flight from Bangkok to Muscat.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
