Starwood Hotels & Resorts announced the expansion of its Aloft brand in the United Arab Emirates with plans to open a new 172-room Aloft hotel in Al Ain, the second largest city in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Slated to open in 2016, Aloft Al Ain will become the first Starwood property in Al Ain and the second Aloft hotel in the United Arab Emirates, joining Aloft Abu Dhabi, which debuted in 2009. The property will be part of the city’s new mixed-use development surrounding the iconic 25,000-seat Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, expected to become one of the most advanced sporting arenas in the Middle East. The development will feature office space, family entertainment areas, retail shops, dining venues and residential units. Aloft Al Ain will feature 172 loft-like rooms with loft-like ceilings, oversized windows, a platform bed and large walk-in showers. The property will also include a bar, a fitness center and two spaces for meetings and events. “We see great opportunities to grow our Aloft portfolio in established markets across the Middle East, where there is a strong demand for stylish and leading-edge hotel brands,” said Bart Carnahan, senior vice president of acquisitions & development for Europe, Africa and Middle East Division, Starwood Hotels & Resorts. Starwood currently operates approximately 50 properties in the Middle East and plans to open an additional 30 in the future.

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