Sofitel is expanding its hotel empire in the Middle East and China.

(PARIS, FRENCH REPUBLICAN REPUBLICAN REPUBLICAN REPUBL Softel, a 45-year-old Paris-based company, wants to open five luxury resorts totaling 2,000 rooms in the Middle East and China by the end of 2012, as part of a multibillion-dollar development blitz. qatar west bay

The business expects to open the 438-room Sofitel Dubai Jumeirah Beach and the Sofitel Dubai Palm Jumeirah Resort & Spa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in September of this year.

The brand is also building the Sofitel Dubai Sheikh Zayed Road and the Sofitel Abu Dhabi Capital Plaza in the UAE.

In China, three new contracts were inked in the eastern and southeastern parts of the country. All five of the new Sofitel hotels are currently under construction.

"The signing of these five contracts marks a watershed moment in Sofitel's development in these two regions," says Robert Gaymer-Jones, COO of Sofitel Worldwide. "It demonstrates our strong growth despite the current economic climate, as well as the brand's new positioning's attraction to investors."

United Arab Emirates (UAE):

The Sofitel Dubai Sheikh Zayed Road hotel sits on the city's main highway, with a view of the Burj Dubai Tower, and is just a short walk from the Dubai Mall shopping complex. The hotel has 435 guestrooms and suites, 147 serviced apartments, and a variety of amenities such as restaurants, bars, a health center with a huge sauna, two pools, a ballroom, and several meeting rooms.

According to Gaymer-Jones, the hotel's sophisticated meeting facilities and proximity to the Dubai International Financial Center and the Dubai World Trade Center will position it as a top MICE alternative (meetings, incentives, conferences, events). By 2012, the hotel should be operational.

The Sofitel Abu Dhabi Capital Plaza is currently undergoing renovations and will open its doors to visitors in 2010. It will have 233 rooms and 47 suites, as well as a fitness center and sauna, a pool, restaurants, bars, many conference rooms, and the "Millesime Club" executive lounge on the top two floors with views of the sea.

The hotel is located on the Corniche, one of Abu Dhabi's oldest areas and a prominent tourist attraction, at the point of the main island. Leisure guests will like the hotel's coastal vistas and unique charm, while business leaders will appreciate the proximity to the major business center.

Five more Sofitel hotels are now under construction in the region: the Sofitel Karachi Clifton in Pakistan, the Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Beach Resort in Bahrain, and the Sofitel Al Khobar in Saudi Arabia.

Three new hotels will join the 22 current hotels in China:

Qingdao Sofitel (Eastern China)

The Sofitel Qingdao will have 231 guestrooms and suites decorated by Leo Design Bangkok, a health center (So Fit), a spa (So Spa), an indoor pool, an outdoor pool on the beach, and shops. It will be located near Jinan, next to the city's economic sector. The hotel will provide adjustable space for business, as well as a ballroom, several meeting rooms, a business center, and a convention center near the beach.

Dongguan Sofitel (Southern China)

The Sofitel Dongguan West is a luxury hotel in Huanghe's business zone, close to Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong. The Lobby Lounge, a tea room, a Chinese restaurant, a Japanese restaurant, and a Western restaurant will be among the hotel's eating options. The hotel will have 443 rooms, including 85 suites, as well as a ballroom, various meeting rooms, a business center, a fitness facility (So Fit), a spa, an indoor pool, and shops.

Guangzhou Sofitel (Southern China)

The Sofitel Guangzhou Sunrich will be conveniently positioned in the center of Tianhe, Guangzhou's busiest central business district, halfway between Macau and Hong Kong. The hotel will offer a range of customizable space, including a ballroom, multiple meeting rooms, and a business center, with 496 rooms including 46 suites. A health club (So Fit), spa (So Spa), indoor pool, beauty parlor, game area, and pool room will treat leisure guests.

Sofitel, World Class Hotels & French Elegance, says Gaymer-Jones | Sofitel is "the sole name in French luxury hotels operating on five continents with 150 addresses in over 50 countries," according to Gaymer-Jones.