IFA Hotels & Resorts, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kuwait’s International Financial Advisors (IFA) has launched its latest branded freehold resort, Alabadiyah Hills, in Dhour Abadiyah, Lebanon, situated between Bhamdoun and Aley, overlooking Beirut and the Mediterranean. Alabadiyah Hills will consist of 12 private villas, 33 townhouses and 220 luxury apartments, as well as a spa and other facilities.

Alabadiyah Hills resort is the latest addition to IFA’s substantial portfolio of international branded resorts, spanning Europe, Middle East and Africa. This is the second development for IFA Hotels & Resorts in the Middle East after the successful launch of its luxury resort in Dubai. IFA is known for its innovative and market leading developments that are set to change the face of resort development across the world.

The resort will be managed by Kempinski, Europe’s oldest luxury hotel group, which acquired its first property in 1897.

“Lebanon is emerging as one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in the world, and this development comes as a timely business move to explore this market. The newly created alliance between IFA and Kempinski consolidates IFA’s strategy to partner with some of the biggest and most respected names in the hospitality business, to ensure that we bring the highest levels of hospitality standards to the freehold property sector. It is in line with our mission to deliver an outstanding international network of tourism and real estate opportunities to global investors,” said Jassim M. Al-Bahar, Chairman and Managing Director of IFA.

“This project with IFA creates an ideal platform for us to enter the Lebanese market, and will set the standard for future projects in the region. Kempinski is known for exceptionally high standard of quality and service, which is one of the main advantages for investors in this luxury residence who can be guaranteed five-star services all year round,” said Ulrich Eckhardt, Senior Vice President Middle East and Africa, Kempinski.

Alabadiyah Hills will consist of private villas, townhouses, and apartments with two distinctive design styles creating the Village Residence and the Tower Residence. Most of the villas and townhouses will have their own private gardens and swimming pools with spacious layouts serving the needs of the highest individual requirements. The Tower Residence is designed around an inner courtyard on the pinnacle of the resort and the Village Residence is nestled around the gardens and water features.

The resort will offer state-of-the-art facilities including a members-only health club, gymnasium, swimming pool, tennis court and other facilities. One of the features of the resort will be its world-renowned spa and beauty clinic where visitors can experience the latest treatments in one of the most picturesque settings in the world.

The exclusive townhouses will start from US$ 750 000 and residences from US$ 280 000 for the one bedroom unit to over US$ 500 000 for the deluxe five bedroom unit and villas are priced on their specific layout and location. The above prices reflect the highest quality used in building the apartments as well as the service and facilities provided by Kempinski and the unique location of Alabadiyah Hills.

“We anticipate unprecedented demand for this development, since this is one of the first resorts in Lebanon to provide freehold residences with a luxury all-serviced product in an excellent location. The tourism industry and the Lebanese economy as a whole have maintained steady growth over the years,” added Al-Bahar.

“In addition to all the services and facilities, the branded residence comes with a unique rental administration system managed by Kempinski where investors can rent out their properties on short and long term. This gives the owner the ideal opportunity to make his property available when it is not used, to receive a return on his investment, all under the Kempinski management team,” explained Werner Burger, Vice President, Sales & Marketing IFA Hotels & Resorts.

Jassim Al-Bahar concluded by stating that, “Alabadiyah Hills is a further commitment to IFA’s already substantial resort development projects throughout the world with over US$1 billion investment in Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah Island. In addition IFA has major projects in Africa, including the Zimbali Lodge in Zimbali Coastal Resort, South Africa as well as the Zanzibar Beach Hotel and Resort on the historic Tanzanian island. Furthermore IFA is presently studying projects in Mauritius and other Indian Ocean locations, in order to provide its clients and investors with a network of luxury resorts and hotels with the highest of standards and flexibility as well as excellent returns for investors”.

About IFA Hotels & Resorts – www.ifahotelsresorts.com

IFA Hotels & Resorts is a subsidiary of the Kuwait-based International Financial Advisors Company (IFA), with expanding tourism interests spanning Europe, the Middle East, the Indian Ocean and Africa.
 
The depth and strength of IFA places it in the forefront of companies engaged in the development of tourism projects, hotels and resorts in Europe, the Middle East, the Indian Ocean and Africa.

In the Middle East, IFA Hotels & Resorts is the largest investor in The Palm, Jumeirah, a man-made island offshore Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Its portfolio includes: The Fairmont Palm Hotel & Beach Resort with 400 rooms;

Fairmont Palm Residence with 558 apartments, penthouses and townhouses; and the 1,000 room five-star Fairmont Jumeirah on the island’s crescent. IFA Hotels & Resorts is also behind The Palm Residence and Palm Golden Mile with more than 1,000 apartments.

The US$ 400 million Golden Mile development, a joint venture with Nakheel, developers of The Palm, includes a shopping and residential complex featuring more than 800 luxury apartments as well as 220 boutique shops and restaurants, the project will overlook a 1.5 kilometre canal side Corniche which will transform it into one of the world’s most sought-after waterfront shopping destinations.

In South Africa, IFA is involved in a joint venture in the existing Zimbali Coastal Resort (www.zimbali.co.za). Zimbali is a 370 hectare (925 acre) tropical coastal residential and resort estate located on the North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa), 25 km north of Umhlanga Rocks and bordering on the south of the popular holiday destination of Ballito. Zimbali consists of two distinct but uniquely complementary residential and resort estates - the Zimbali Coastal Forest Estate and the Zimbali Golf Course Estate.

IFA Hotels & Resorts recently purchased one of South Africa’s most exclusive hideaway resorts – the Zimbali Lodge which will be managed by Sun International Limited. The move is further evidence of IFA’s commitment to build and position Zimbali as an exclusive destination for the discerning international traveller.

IFA Hotels & Resorts is the force behind the management of the super-premium Sheraton Algarve Hotel and Pine Cliffs Resort in Portugal; part of Starwood’s Luxury Collection; and the Zanzibar Beach Hotel and Resort on the historic Tanzanian spice island.

IFA Hotels & Resorts aims to link its resorts in The Palm, Jumeirah – Dubai, Zimbali – South Africa, Alabadiyah Hills – Beirut, Zanzibar and Portugal with planned resorts in Mauritius. This will offer tourists in Europe, the Middle East and Africa a unique network across the company’s respective hotels, resorts, timeshare and residence club destinations.

Continuing its investment in the Middle East, IFA Hotels & Resorts launched its latest development Alabadiyah Hills, located in one of the most picturesque summer retreats in Lebanon, Dour Alabadiyah, situated between Bhamdoun and Aley, featuring a selection of freehold private villas, townhouses and deluxe apartments as well as a spa and other facilities.

About Kempinski - www.kempinski.com

Kempinski is the oldest luxury hotel collection in Europe, acquiring its first property in 1897.  While the Group was founded in Germany, its portfolio is now spread throughout Europe, Middle East, Africa, South America and Asia with properties in locations such as Beijing, Berlin, Budapest, Buenos Aires, Istanbul, London and St Moritz.  Rich in tradition, it comprises a fine collection of sumptuous hotels and resorts, from the truly historic to the breathtakingly avant-garde.

Kempinski is a collection of individuals.  Each hotel or resort is a distinctive property, with its own character and charm, celebrating the cultural traditions of its location.  With hotels overlooking the Bosphorus in Istanbul, the historic Liberty’s department store in London, Red Square in Moscow and the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, each Kempinski property reveals the character of the country in which its guests are staying, while they enjoy impeccable personal service and the superlative facilities for which Kempinski is renowned. 

The Group is proud of its historic landmarks such as the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski in Munich (built following an architectural competition between Bavarian King Maximilian and his father, King Ludwig) the Kempinski Grand Hotel Heiligendamm (Germany’s first seaside resort, founded in 1793) and the Hotel Adlon Kempinski in Berlin (where Greta Garbo whispered the immortal lines, ‘I want to be alone …’).

The portfolio also comprises a selection of former royal residences, including spectacular properties like the Çiragan Palace Kempinski in Istanbul (home to the last Ottoman sultan) and the Hotel Taschenbergpalais Kempinski in Dresden (built by August the Strong for his mistress, Countess Cosel) as well as an historic castle development project in Bruges.

While maintaining a leading position in the business travel market, Kempinski’s portfolio comprises 15 dedicated resorts, each of which offers an exceptional range of leisure facilities, world-class spa and a breathtaking location.  There are currently Kempinski Resorts in UAE, Spain, Germany (2), Sicily, Fuerteventura, Gozo, Switzerland (2), Bulgaria, Turkey (2), Kuwait, Argentina and Uruguay.Proudly proclaiming traditional European service values, Kempinski has been pioneering entry into emerging markets, such as the Middle East (Abu Dhabi, Amman, Dubai), China (e.g. Shenyang, Chengdu, Dalian and Wuxi) and Africa (Chad, Mali and Tanzania), seeking to develop its market leadership in interesting new destinations and establishing the benchmark against which other groups measure themselves.
Over the years, Kempinski has developed into an innovative and highly respected collection of luxury properties, renowned for meeting and exceeding the demands of discerning international travellers. Each offers superior standards of service combined with a style reflecting the individuality of the hotel and its location.

For further information:

Kuwait
IFA Hotels & Resorts PR
Tel: +965 2470743
Fax: +965 2407179
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Portugal

IFA Hotels & Resorts PR
Teresa Chatillon
Tel: +351-289-500106
Fax: +351 289-501795
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Dubai
Orient Planet PR & Marketing Communications
Tel: +971 4 398 8901
Fax:+971 4 398 8941
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South Africa
IFA Hotels & Resorts PR
Melanie Roberts
Tel: +27-82 378 7486
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