Hotel & Leisure

In anticipation of the globalisation effect due to the ever increasing ease of travel and in view of the removal or easing of the cross-border boundaries, GMH made an early strategic decision to enter the hospitality business.

Catering for the demands of the discerning business traveller and the recreational market, the group built its flagship hotel, Le Royal, in the heart of Luxembourg and acquired other city hotels in Europe and resort hotels in France's Côte d'Azur.

In addition to Luxembourg's premier hotel, Le Royal, the group owns The Miguel Angel, Madrid, El Minzah and Villa de France, Tangiers and the Occidental Hotel and villa complex in Hammamet, Tunisia, Le Royal Hotels in Beirut and Amman.

Following the growing trend in both leisure and business travel, the group continues to seek opportunities to expand its hotel operations. In 1998, His late Majesty King Hussein of Jordan laid the foundation stone for the group's US$ 200 million development project "Le Royal Hotel and Tower" in Amman. Later in the year, the cornerstone of Leisure Hill Complex, Beirut - a US$ 180 million hotel and water theme park - was laid under the auspices of Prime Minister Hariri. New hotel building and redevelopment projects are in progress in London and Luxor. In 2002 Le Royal Hotel Amman opened followed by Le Royal Hotel Beirut in 2003.

Through its rapidly expanding subsidiary, Compagnie Européenne d'Hôtellerie, the group owns and manages hotels under the Residéal brand, in the South of France.

The group's leisure interests include the Cosmo Sports Centre in Düsseldorf, one of the largest and best equipped sports complexes in Europe and Middle East, the Watergate aqua park in Beirut and The Dunes Club in Amman.