Middle Eastern hotel operator Rotana Hotels has announced its first three-star budget hotel will open in the third quarter of 2008.

The Centro by Rotana brand is a departure from the group’s four- and five-star format and is designed to appeal to budget travellers who are under serviced in the region, Rotana says.

Rotana will open seven Centro properties throught the Middle East over the next 24 months, with plans to open 25 properties over the next four years.

Rotana has also announced plans for four properties in Abu Dhabi, which will take the group’s expansion plans to 60 properties by 2012.

By staff writer