DUBAI — Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas, a leading developer and operator of luxury hotels, resorts and spas, is continuing the expansion of its portfolio in Asia, the Indian Ocean and the Middle East, to encompass 50 properties by 2015.



Currently with significant expansion in the Middle East, by early 2014 Anantara will have a portfolio of seven open properties in the region — ive in Abu Dhabi, plus the first property in Dubai and the first property in Qatar, which represents a new country of operation.



The month of February saw the opening of the 21st Anantara and the second in China – Anantara Xishuangbanna Resort & Spa – and a total of six additional properties are scheduled to join the Anantara portfolio in 2013 in Thailand, Vietnam, China and the UAE.



Looking further ahead, the first property in Qatar will open in early 2014 in Doha and Anantara will soon be debuting in additional new countries including in the Indian Ocean on the islands of Sri Lanka and Mauritius, taking the total number of open properties by the end of 2014 to well over 30.



Dillip Rajakarier, CEO Minor Hotel Group, said: "Anantara has seen a very busy start to the year with the opening of a flagship resort in China and announcements of our first properties in Dubai and Qatar. We are especially excited about our continued expansion in the Middle East region, which is a key area of focus both for Anantara and other brands within Minor Hotel Group."



Anantara Openings – Middle East



United Arab Emirates



Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Yamm Villas, Abu Dhabi will offer tranquil sea facing villas on the beautiful eastern shores of Sir Bani Yas Island, surrounded by natural sandy beaches and crystal clear waters. The thirty spacious villas will also edge a peaceful lagoon rich with high mangroves, treating guests to stunning views of the elegant flamingos that favour this verdant sanctuary. The new villas will welcome guests in June 2013.



Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Sahel Villas, Abu Dhabi will be a unique addition to the destination of Abu Dhabi. Thirty luxury villas, each with a private plunge pool, will be set in the heart of the Arabian Wildlife Park.

Overlooking the rugged landscape and salt-dome hilltops, the villas will be surrounded by a lush grass savannah, affording guests’ uninterrupted views of the resident wildlife, including grazing sand gazelles, Arabia’s elusive mountain gazelle and Oryx. Al Sahel Villas will open in Q3 2013.



Also in Abu Dhabi on Sir Bani Yas Island, Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara recently opened a state-of-the-art Conference Centre and a WaterSports Centre.



Anantara Dubai Palm Jumeirah Resort & Spa will be Anantara’s first property in Dubai when it opens later this year.



Designed to reflect the brand’s Asian heritage, the luxurious new five star resort is located on the crescent of Dubai’s iconic Palm and will offer a total of 293 guest rooms and suites clustered in units of four to eight to maximise privacy; 130 guest rooms will feature direct access to 11,000 square meters of lagoon pools, whilst the 12 beach villas, 18 over water villas and three highly exclusive royal beach villas will give the resort an indulgent and exotic feel. 



Impressive facilities will include six restaurants and bars, a private beach, three natural lagoons, water sports, a shoreline infinity pool, an Anantara Spa with 12 treatment rooms, a fitness studio and two tennis courts.  



A ballroom accommodating 300 people and the private beach will provide inspirational venues for events and weddings. Anantara Dubai Palm Jumeirah will welcome guests for the first time in September.



Qatar



Anantara Doha Island Resort & Spa is a new five star resort under development on a 13 hectare island just off the coast of Qatar’s capital city of Doha. The resort will be accessible by speedboat from the city’s downtown area and from The Pearl, both journeys taking between 20-30 minutes.



The 141 guest rooms include pool villas and two-and three-bedroom over water pool villas.



There will be an extensive range of facilities available to guests, including four restaurants and bars, four swimming pools, a surf pool with wave machine and hydro exercise pools, plus the island will have a marina accommodating up to 50 boats.



For spa lovers, the resort will offer both an Anantara Spa and an extensive Wellness & Holistic Center. Family activities will include a ten-pin bowling alley, a cinema and water sports.



An off-shore reef is also being developed and the resort will be home to a reef conservation center, giving guests the opportunity to plant their own coral and learn more about the underwater environment.



In addition there will be a fully equipped dive center. For business guests, the resort will offer a ballroom accommodating up to 250 people for a banquet. Anantara Doha Island will open its doors in early 2014.



Anantara Openings – Asia



China



Anantara Xishuangbanna Resort & Spa is located in the south of Yunnan Province, close to the borders of Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.



Easily accessed by frequent flights from Kunming and other Chinese cities, Xishuangbanna is home to the world’s largest botanical gardens and the indigenous Dai people who are renowned for their folklore and colorful festivals such as the water splashing celebration.



Set within lush tropical gardens on the banks of the Luosuo River, the new resort features 80 deluxe rooms and 23 pool villas. The resort offers a selection of Dai and Thai cuisine, including the opportunity to learn to prepare Dai dishes in a cooking class, plus an Anantara Spa, the perfect indulgence after touring Wild Elephant Valley or Manfeilong, a famous local Buddhist temple also known as the White Pagoda.



The spectacular new resort welcomed its first guests on February 4th 2013.

Anantara Emei Resort & Spa is under development at the base of Mount E-Mei around Honggzhu Lake, 150 km from Chengdu in Sichuan Province.



Formerly a Taoist retreat and sacred to Buddhists, Mt E-Mei is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the holiest places in China.



Approximately 1.5 hours drive from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, the new resort will offer 150 guest rooms and suites and will be a great base for exploring the surrounding natural wonders and breathtaking scenery, including mountain hiking, trekking and wildlife spotting.



Facilities at the new resort will include an Anantara Spa with five treatment rooms and three restaurants and bars. Anantara Emei will welcome guests from late 2013.



Vietnam



Anantara Hoi An Resort will be the second Anantara in Vietnam when it joins the portfolio next month. Hoi An is a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the country’s central coast, located  30 km from Da Nang which is an easy 30-minute drive away.



The resort is French colonial in style and is situated along the Thu Bon River, a short walk from the historic town center. The 94 guest rooms are housed in two-and three-storey townhouses with garden and river views.



Facilities at the resort include two restaurants and two bars, a spa and a meeting room able to accommodate up to 160 for a conference or 120 for a dinner. The resort is uniquely positioned to benefit from Vietnam’s staggering growth in tourist arrivals, catering to both domestic as well as international tourists. The resort will be rebranded to Anantara in June.



Thailand



Anantara Phuket Layan Resort & Spa is currently under development on Layan Beach on Phuket’s north west coast, just 20 minutes from Phuket International Airport.



The new resort will feature 77 pool villas and suites across nine room types, with the lead in Premier Junior Suites starting at 56 square meters and the spectacular Anantara Villa an impressive 485 square meters.



The resort is located on 400 meters of beautiful secluded beach in one of the few remaining untouched areas on the island.



In addition to the hotel, luxurious Anantara Residences are also under development on the adjacent hillside with stunning panoramic views of the Andaman Sea. Facilities at the resort will include several bars and restaurants and an Anantara Spa.



The resort will also be home to a Wedding Chapel, making it the perfect wedding venue. Anantara’s second resort in Phuket is scheduled to open in December. — SG