Aqaba will soon add the Ayla development to its tourist attraction. Aqaba will soon add the Ayla development to its tourist attraction.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation's affiliate has entered into an agreement with Ayla Oasis Development Company (AODC) for a 286-room Hyatt Regency hotel in Aqaba, Jordan.

Hyatt Regency Aqaba Ayla will be the first hotel to open within the Ayla development, a master-planned, multiphase development on the northern shores of Aqaba.

Expected to be operational in 2018, the hotel will mark the second Hyatt hotel in Jordan, joining Grand Hyatt Amman, and will join more than 150 Hyatt Regency hotels worldwide.

“Ayla is an incredibly exciting development, and we are delighted that Hyatt Regency Aqaba Ayla will be the first hotel to open within the complex,” said Peter Norman, senior vice president, acquisitions and development for Hyatt – Europe, Africa, and Middle East.

“We look forward to welcoming guests to Hyatt Regency Aqaba Ayla, where they will find the Hyatt Regency brand’s authentic service, culinary experiences worth sharing and amenities to help them relax or stay productive. We are very pleased to work with the Ayla Oasis Development Company in support of its ambitious vision for the future of Aqaba.”

The property will feature standard rooms of 43m² (141ft2) and five food and beverage outlets. Guests will also be able to use a pool, fitness and spa facilities and a kids club.

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Conference and event facilities will be available, with approximately 970m² (3,182ft2) of meeting space, including a 570m² (1,870ft2) ballroom.

Hyatt Regency Aqaba Ayla has retained Arcadia Design as the hotel’s architects and the firm of Yabu Pushelberg for interior design.

The hotel’s location in the Ayla development’s Marina Village, situated between the city centre and the international borders. This development will include retail, dining and entertainment venues as well as 17km of newly created waterfront.

Guests will also enjoy Jordan’s first 18-hole golf course, designed by Greg Norman, and a 9-hole golf academy, that has been built as one of the most eco-friendly Greg Norman courses in the world. Additionally, the hotel will be situated in close proximity to major tourist attractions such as Petra and Wadi Rum.

Ayla Oasis Development Company, AODC, was established in 2003 to develop the Ayla project.

“We are honoured to work with Hyatt on the second Hyatt hotel in Jordan,” said Sahl Dudin, managing director of AODC.

“Hyatt Regency Aqaba Ayla, our first project with Hyatt, will be a crucial step in bringing Aqaba to the forefront of the region’s tourism industry. With the combination of the strong Hyatt Regency brand experience and the excellent facilities offered at Ayla, we believe Hyatt Regency Aqaba Ayla will be a huge attraction to both business and leisure travellers.”