EHG signs master agreement with Southern Sun

Southern Sun Hotels Middle East and Emaar Hospitality Group have signed a master agreement for Southern Sun to manage future Emaar four-star deluxe properties.

The intention is to build on the success of Southern Sun’s Emaar-owned two Dubai hotels — Al Manzil and Qamardeen — located in The Old Town, said Southern Sun Offshore managing director Richard Weilers.

“The signing of the Master Agreement with Emaar Hospitality Group reveals the quality of the relationship built with the owners of Al Manzil and Qamardeen Hotels and their confidence in our operational capabilities — which have been ably demonstrated through the success of these two flagship properties,” said Weilers.

“When we opened at the start of 2007, we were the first commercial enterprises operating in the Downtown Dubai district. Four years on, and we have carved a distinctive place for ourselves within this vibrant business and leisure district, and in Dubai’s highly competitive hospitality scene. We intend to leverage this success to grow Southern Sun’s portfolio in the Middle East region,” he added.

Separately from the Emaar agreement, the African company has already announced a four-star deluxe, 350-room property for Abu Dhabi, due to open in 2012, and a hotel in Jeddah — the group’s first in Saudi Arabia.

The company is also expanding on home turf, with two new properties in Johannesburg opening in time for the World Cup, a second hotel planned for Lagos in Nigeria and a 130-room budget hotel signed in Lusaka, Zambia.