Hotels

 Ave participated in the 17th Iran International Electricity Exhibition (“IEE”) – sponsored by the Iranian Ministry of Energy –
which took place in Tehran, Iran on November 4-7, 2017. (IEE Website, “The 17th Iran International Electricity Exhibition”).

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"The collaboration between AVE and Simone Micheli still continue to the best, not only in Italy but also abroad. On July 26th, it was held in Tehran the conference "ITALIAN STYLE: Quality, Innovation, Trends in Architecture and Interior Design" organized by the internationally renowned architect, who has again chosen AVE as partner company and symbol of Italian style." (Ave Website, "Simone Micheli and AVE's Italian style conquers Iran," August 2017).

"The US embassy in Berlin announced that a slated pro-Iranian regime business conference on Thursday in Berlin will fund terrorism. The event includes members of the German government and Klaus Ernst, a MP from the largely anti-Israel Left Party in the Bundestag. "Thursday’s conference by the Maleki Corporate Group to promote trade with the Iranian regime is a dangerous move that will fund terrorism and undermine US sanctions, " the embassy tweeted on Tuesday...The Maleki Corporate Group GmbH is holding their 8th Banking and Business Forum Iran Europe on September 19 and 20 at the Maritim Hotel in Berlin.The Frankfurt-based Volksbank is listed as the financial institution that receives registration fees for the conference. The conference costs 1,400 Euro for two days. It is unclear if the city of Frankfurt will ban business with the bank because of its ties to a pro-Iranian regime event. The City of Frankfurt outlaws business with banks that conduct transactions with the Boycott, Divestement and Sanctions (BDS) campaign targeting Israel. Iran's mullah regime supports BDS. When asked about the criticism of the Hotel hosting Iranian regime representatives, Harriet Eversmeyer, Director of Public Relations for the Maritim Hotel, told the Post that: 'As a leading provider of conference and congress capacities in Germany, there are more than 30 Maritim hotels throughout Germany, in which large events of companies, associations, lobbyists, parties take place. As an owner-managed private enterprise, however, it is not our task to evaluate the content of these events or exclude customers from our hotel offer.'" (Jerusalem Post, "US Embassy Says Pro-Iran Business Event Funds Terrorism In Berlin," 9/17/2019).

Easyhotel says it is set to grow its portfolio by almost 20 properties over the coming years, as the budget brand announced raised revenues but a fall in profit.... Franchise hotels are also due in Malaga, Zurich, Basel, Amsterdam Schipol Airport, Dubai and – in firsts for the brand – Iran, Turkey (Istanbul) and Sri Lanka, marking its first Asian property. (5/30/2019)

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On July 17, 2017, Reuters reported, “Britain’s easyHotel has reached an agreement with developers to open more than 500 rooms in Iran.”  According to the same report, “easyHotel in Iran would be managed by a franchisee, meaning much of the running of the hotels would be subcontracted to local staff, allowing the firm to expand without risking direct capital investment.”  (Reuters, “Britain’s easyHotel to expand into Iran,” 7/17/2017). 

 "In late October, a top spokesman at Viceroy Hotel Group, told Gulf News the company was eyeing Iran, but would prefer to see other hotels’ experience in that market first before launching a property there...." (Gulf News, "Marriott 'very keen' to pursue opportunities in Iran," 12/7/2016).

"Spanish hotel group Grupo Martinon has officially declared its readiness to invest in the construction of three hotels in Iran. In a letter to the Tourism Holding of Social Security Organization (known locally by its Persian acronym HEGTA), the Madrid-based group formally declared its intention to invest in three hotels being built by Homa Hotel Group, one each in Tehran, Mashhad and Isfahan, Donyaye Safer reported." (Financial Tribune, "Spanish Group Interested in Hotel Investment," 10/24/2016).

Kempinski Hotel Frankfurt hosted the CWC Iran LNG & Gas Partnerships Summit (the “Summit”) in Frankfurt, Germany on February 14-16, 2017. According to its official website, the Summit is “the must attend event to form partnerships and explore opportunities along the dynamic gas value chain that create value in Iran and ensures that LNG and gas projects will be a real catalyst for economic development and capacity building for Iran’s population.” (Summit Website, “Home”).

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"Global hotel companies are establishing new beachheads in Iran, betting that lifted sanctions against the Middle East nation will spark a jump in tourism and business travel after decades of economic isolation. Spanish operator Melia Hotels International is planning to open a 319-room hotel next year on the Caspian Sea. French group Accor Hotels, which opened two hotels near the Tehran airport last autumn, is establishing a joint-stock company in Iran through which it will partner with local groups to manage hotels. Abu Dhabi-based Rotana Hotel Management Corp. PJSC has started developing properties in the country as well... 'We just have to wait. That's the frustrating bit,' said Peter Norman, senior vice president for acquisitions and development at Hyatt in Europe, the Mideast and Africa. 'We're really keen to go in there,' he said. Hyatt and Germany-based Kempinski Hotels have been exploring opportunities but said for the moment barriers remain too high." (The Wall Street Journal, “Next Big Travel Destination: Iran?,” 5/17/2016)

"This great hotel project was already in danger last year, following the withdrawal of the United States from  the Joint Action Plan  (JCPOA) in May and the sanctions imposed by US President Donald Trump on the Persian country in November. However, then the hotel company assured that it maintained its project normally . 

Now  Meliá confirms to Vozpópuli  that although "previously it had already suffered delays ", since its opening was scheduled for 2017, the project is currently " stopped for reasons beyond Meliá Hotels International"." (Vozpopuli, "Meliá's flagship project in Iran, paralyzed in the midst of tension with the US," 12/19/2019).

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"Meliá Hotels International has announced its entry into the Iranian market with the first five-star branded hotel to be managed by an international hotel company, the Gran Melia Ghoo Hotel, located in the largest mixed residential, commercial and hotel complex to be developed in Iran, currently being built in Salman Shahr, a popular holiday destination on the Caspian Sea. The Spanish hotel chain thus takes an important step to becoming one of the leading international hotel groups in Iran, a country which expects to see significant tourism development after the lifting of sanctions that have restricted foreign investment since 2006." (November 5, 2017)

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"A handful of mostly European hotel groups are looking to steal a march on their U.S. competitors by moving into the Iranian hospitality market while U.S. companies still face regulatory uncertainty...Abu Dhabi-based-Rotana Hotel Management Corp. PJSC, France’s Accor, Spain’s Meliá Hotels International  and Germany’s Steigenberger Hotel Group are all moving quickly in anticipation of a tourism and business boom...Meliá has a five-star property in the works on the shores of the Caspian Sea." (Reuters, "Iran Prepares for an Uptick in Tourism," 10/4/2016).

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"Global hotel companies are establishing new beachheads in Iran, betting that lifted sanctions against the Middle East nation will spark a jump in tourism and business travel after decades of economic isolation. Spanish operator Melia Hotels International is planning to open a 319-room hotel next year on the Caspian Sea. French group Accor Hotels, which opened two hotels near the Tehran airport last autumn, is establishing a joint-stock company in Iran through which it will partner with local groups to manage hotels. Abu Dhabi-based Rotana Hotel Management Corp. PJSC has started developing properties in the country as well... 'We just have to wait. That's the frustrating bit,' said Peter Norman, senior vice president for acquisitions and development at Hyatt in Europe, the Mideast and Africa. 'We're really keen to go in there,' he said. Hyatt and Germany-based Kempinski Hotels have been exploring opportunities but said for the moment barriers remain too high." (The Wall Street Journal, “Next Big Travel Destination: Iran?,” 5/17/2016)

"Tourism officials announced last year that a group of Turkish business leaders and German luxury hotel firm Steigenberger Hotels have agreed to build 20 hotels in Iran in the next decade. However, based on Shirkavand's statements, it seems unlikely that any deal has been signed yet." (May 26, 2017)
 

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"A handful of mostly European hotel groups are looking to steal a march on their U.S. competitors by moving into the Iranian hospitality market while U.S. companies still face regulatory uncertainty... Abu Dhabi-based-Rotana Hotel Management Corp. PJSC, France’s Accor, Spain’s Meliá Hotels International  and Germany’s Steigenberger Hotel Group are all moving quickly in anticipation of a tourism and business boom... ... Frankfurt-based Steigenberger recently signed a letter of intent to open 10 hotels in Iran." (Reuters, "Iran Prepares for an Uptick in Tourism," 10/4/2016).

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Steigenberger Wiltcher’s has agreed to serve as the venue for the Iran Forum: Banking & Finance 2016 (the “Forum”) in Brussels on October 20-21, 2016.  According to its official website, the Forum is being organized by the Ravand Institute and the Flanders Investment & Trade Agency in conjunction with supporters, including Iranian government enterprises. (Iran Forum Website, “Homepage”).  

"Despite the existing geopolitical and economic issues in the region, Kaddouri remains focussed on the Middle East, with Iraq and Iran on his radar.The company has been working on entering Iran for the past few years and is scheduled to open its first hotel there in less than a year." (April 30, 2017)

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"A handful of mostly European hotel groups are looking to steal a march on their U.S. competitors by moving into the Iranian hospitality market while U.S. companies still face regulatory uncertainty... Abu Dhabi-based-Rotana Hotel Management Corp. PJSC, France’s Accor, Spain’s Meliá Hotels International  and Germany’s Steigenberger Hotel Group are all moving quickly in anticipation of a tourism and business boom... Rotana, which operates out of more than two dozen cities in emerging and often complicated markets such as Iraq and Sudan, has four properties under construction in Iran, the first one of which, a five-star hotel with 362 rooms, will open next year in the holy city of Mashhad..." (Wall Street Journal, "Iran Prepares for an Uptick in Tourism," 10/4/2016).

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"Global hotel companies are establishing new beachheads in Iran, betting that lifted sanctions against the Middle East nation will spark a jump in tourism and business travel after decades of economic isolation. Spanish operator Melia Hotels International is planning to open a 319-room hotel next year on the Caspian Sea. French group Accor Hotels, which opened two hotels near the Tehran airport last autumn, is establishing a joint-stock company in Iran through which it will partner with local groups to manage hotels. Abu Dhabi-based Rotana Hotel Management Corp. PJSC has started developing properties in the country as well." (The Wall Street Journal, “Next Big Travel Destination: Iran?,” 5/17/2016)

"All economic activities related to... tourism will enjoy 100 percent tax holidays between five to 13 years depending on the region," deputy economy minister Mohammad Khazaei told hoteliers from 18 countries who had gathered in Tehran, many from Europe... ... "We've been invited by many, many investors, many developers" to join in partnerships there, Imad Elias, chief of the Dubai-based Roda Hotels and Resorts, told AFP." (AFP, "Iran offers hotel tax breaks in bid to boost tourism," 10/3/2016).