Go back to the enewsletterAccor has inked a management agreement that will see the ultra-luxury Raffles Hotels & Resorts brand debut in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Raffles Bahrain will takeover the Al Areen Palace & Spa, a private resort that features 78 pool villas as well as the region’s largest spa and hydrotherapy facility.Accor, the parent company of Raffles, will conduct an extensive refurbishment program of Al Areen Palace & Spa. Under the “milestone agreement” with GFH Financial Group (GFH), Accor aims to reposition Raffles Bahrain as “the ultimate luxury retreat”.Major enhancements will transform the property into an exclusive oasis for the well-travelled, promising guests hand-crafted personalised experiences, with a focus on health and wellbeing, thoughtful and discreet service, unparalleled culinary expertise and an ambience of timeless elegance for which the Raffles brand is globally renowned.Property enhancements attuned to Raffles brand standards will include the refurbishment of the 56 one-bedroom Desert Pool Villas and 22 two-bedroom Royal Pool Villas, which feature open air swimming and jet pools, and converting its four F&B outlets to six.Health facilities including separate male and female gymnasiums, the kids’ club and indoor and outdoor swimming pools will see uplift and refurbishment.Signing of the iconic Raffles Bahrain (left to right): Jean Baptiste Recher, Vice President Development ME, Accor; Francois Baudin, Senior Vice President Development, EMEA, Accor; Hisham Al Rayes, Chief Executive Officer, GFH Financial Group; and Laith Yousif Almemar, Chief Development Officer, GFH Financial Group.Bahrain-headquartered GFH is a renowned financial group in the GCC. Accor is currently discussing further opportunities to manage the entity’s multiple upcoming hospitality projects in the region and internationally.Raffles Bahrain joins a collection of 14 properties across 12 countries and a pipeline of eight other projects.Go back to the enewsletter