Abu Dhabi based Rotana Hotels plans to double the number of hotels it operates from 27 to 67 within three years. Chief Executive Selem el Zyr said he ultimately dreams of running 100 hotels. The Rotana brand was inaugurated in 1993 with Beach Rotana Hotels and Towers.
Mr. el Zyr was first introduced to the hospitality industry as a 16 year old boy and decided then he would go into the business. He subsequently attended one of the most prestigious hospitality schools in Switzerland then worked his way up the ranks at Hilton International Hotel. He became co-founder of National Hotels in 1987, then left to create Rotana with Nasser al Nowais in 1993. He had planned to retire last year but after the global financial crisis hit Rotana Management asked him to stay on for two more years to take advantage of his expertise.
