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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2013

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Marriott signs letter of intent to acquire Protea hotel groups hotel operations and brands

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Protea Hotels - pool Paasha Pune Marriott footprint should allow us to become the first choice of Africas rapidly growing population of young, sophisticated travelers, and drive loyalty to our Marriott Rewards program both within Africa and globally. Protea Hotels enjoys unparalleled brand recognition in Africa, and our combined portfolio of Protea Hotels and current Marriott International brands would create a platform for accelerated growth and new job growth in South Africa and across the continent. Alex Kyriakidis, president of Marriott International for the Middle East and Africa, said, The development cycle for opening new hotels in Africa is typically long due to the challenges posed by emerging infrastructure, so joining forces with Protea Hotels and their highly respected management team is the strongest way to jumpstart Marriotts footprint in Africa. The Marriott Middle East and Africa management team can deliver value and greater growth for Proteas hotel owners by leveraging these terrific brands, represented by 116 hotels and more than 10,000 rooms in seven countries, with Marriotts global sales, marketing and development infrastructure. We believe this would also result in more job creation in South Africa and across the continent. Arthur Gillis, chief executive officer of Protea Hospitality Group, said Protea Hotels has grown organically to become the largest and leading hotel group in Sub-Saharan Africa. Aligning with a global giant such as Marriott ensures we can realise the Groups full potential for all of our stakeholders. In Marriott we have found a perfect fit across culture, values and commitment to industry leadership which will ensure that we remain at the forefront of African hospitality. The otherwise non-binding letter of intent includes provisions that the parties will negotiate exclusively with each other. The transaction is subject to completion of due diligence, negotiation and execution of definitive documents, receipt of customary third party and governmental consents and approvals and satisfaction of other customary conditions for transactions of this kind that the parties expect will be included in the definitive transaction documents. The proposed terms of the transaction are not being disclosed at this time. The parties stated that they plan to sign definitive agreements by year-end 2013 and the transaction could close in the first three months of 2014. In any event, Marriott does not expect the transaction would have a material impact on its 2014 results.

ccountant Makram Awadhain celebrated his wedding with the daughter of Abdulnabi family at the Marshal El Gezirah Hotel on the Nile River in Mansourah, Egypt.

arriott International, Inc. yesterday said it has signed a letter of intent with Protea Hospitality Holdings of Cape Town, South Africa to acquire Protea Hotelss brands and its management business that operates or franchises 116 hotels across three brands with 10,184 rooms in South Africa and six other Sub-Saharan African countries. The transaction would nearly double Marriotts distribution in Africa to more than 23,000 rooms, and would also provide Marriott with a proven operational platform and leadership team to accelerate Marriotts expansion plans and solidify its leadership position in the dynamic and growing African hotel market. Protea Hotels, founded in 1984, manages, franchises and leases hotels across the Protea Hotels brand (104 hotels), comprising a full and diverse range of outstanding hotels and resorts; the award-winning lifestyle boutique Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! brand (2 hotels); and the superior deluxe African Pride Hotels collection (10 hotels). In addition to its industry-leading 80 hotels in South Africa, Protea Hotels has a significant presence in Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria,Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. As part of the transaction, Protea Hospitality Holdings would create a property ownership company to retain ownership of the hotels it currently owns (and enter into long-term management and lease agreements with Marriott for these hotels). It would also retain a number of minority interests in other Protea managed hotels. At closing Marriott would manage approximately 46 percent of the rooms, franchise approximately 40 percent of the rooms, and lease approximately 14 percent of the rooms. Arne Sorenson, president and chief executive officer of Marriott International, said, Africa has significant untapped potential for travel and tourism, both as a destination and source of new global travelers. The continents GDP is anticipated to grow at over five percent annually over the next several years which we expect will raise more people into the emerging middle class. With the Protea Hotels acquisition, our expanded

JW Marriott Bengaluru

KDNA to hold Malabar Maholsavam no Nov 15

elated birthday wishes to our loving daughter Pearl Angel DSouza, who celebrated her fourth birthday on 11th Nov. May Almighty God bless you and keep you always in good health. Best wishes from your dad Greg, mom Bhumika, grandma Nicky TiPeisy & Vico, cousin Vernon, Marshal & family, Francis and family, best wishes from baby Florangel who is in Goa, Steven & family Skyra and Slayoon.

Alaa Selim in Al Jahra Copthorne Hotel & Resort

l Jahra Copthorne Hotel & Resort welcomes Alaa Selim, the new Hotel manager. Alaa holds a Master Degree in Business Administration in Marketing and has over 15 years of experience in Hospitality Industry. Alaa has held various positions in top class hotels in Kuwait such as JW Marriott, Courtyard Marriott, and Palms Beach Hotel & Spa, Kuwait. He says: As the largest and only international chain hotel in northern Kuwait, this will present a wonderful new challenge. Im very much looking forward to working with the excellent team here to continue to provide our guests with the highest standards of service. We wish Alaa Selim all the best of luck with his new team in Al Jahra Copthorne Hotel & Resort.

ozhikode District NRI Association will hold a mega carnival Malabar Maholsavam 2013 on Friday, November 15 at Mananchira Square, the Indian Central School open auditorium, Abbassiya. Addressing a press conference, the KDNA office-bearers informed that the day-long carnival will showcase the rich cultural heritage of Kozhikode and display some of Malabars diverse and distinct cuisines before the expatriate community in Kuwait. The purpose of conducting Malabar Mahotsavam 2013 is to strengthen the relief and to continue charity activities of the association for the poor and needy who are striving very hard for their

livelihood. Popular Malayalam Writer, Actor and Director Joy Mathew will attend the event as the chief guest. Mazhavil Manorama Comedy Festival Team Calicut V4U and Karirali TV Patturumal Winner Dilna Hassan also attend to entertain the audience. Other cultural program by Nandhananm School of Dance, Heat Beats Kuwait, Jungle Boys Kuwait, Abhinaya Kuwait, KKMA and by KDNA Members will make the show an unforgettable event. Cooking competition and Henna Designing contest for exclusively for ladies will be other attractions of the event, Mananchira Square the carnival venue will be bubbly from 9.30 am on wards with people moving

around food courts that display the rich diversity of Malabars delicacies and dishes, exhibition halls that showcase paintings and photographs of Malabar. As a finale to the entire show, the KDNA office-bearers will lead a colorful procession with the accompaniment of a dazzling pageant and chenda melam at 4 pm. Association President Zubair MM, General Secretary Suresh Mathur, Treasurer Sathian Varoonda, Advisory Board Member Krishnan Kadalundi, Program Gen Convenor Nasar Thikkodi, Convener Ilyas Thottathil and Organizing Secretary K Alikoya were present at the press meet.

Soorya India Fest on Nov 15

Gokulolsavam 2013 successful

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eva Darshans childrens wing Bala Darshan Kuwait successfully held its annual competition, Gokulolsavam 2013, on November 5 at the Indian Community School, Khaitan. Over 350 children from the four units of Bala Darshan Kuwait competed in 13 different variety competitions. The day-long competitions, held on seven stages simultaneously, showcased the knowledge the children have gained from the weekly classes. The inaugural function was anchored by Anitha Jayan. The convener of the event, Prabhakaran M welcomed the children and their par-

ents. Gangadhar Shirsath, Principal of Indian Community School Khaitan, inaugurated the event. The Founder member and Advisory board member of PART (Progressive Art Realization Troop Kuwait), Shri. Sasi Krishna gave the felicitation speech on behalf of his organization. Event joint convener Roopesh gave the vote of thanks. As part of the ongoing yearlong celebration of Swami Vivekanandas 150 birth anniversary, Seva Darshan has been holding various programs in Kuwait. At the venue of Gokulolsavam, its professional forum Vichar Bharati in association with PART held an open canvas exhi-

bition on Swami Vivekananda. The exhibition was inaugurated by Sr Tresa, the state president of Kerala Handicapped Welfare Association and prominent social worker. Prominent artists from Kuwait like Sunil Pookode, Sasi Krishnan, Basheer Kavasheri, Prince, Jacob, Arunkumar were joined by the budding artist from Bala Darshan Kuwait and their parents to create a 45 meter log canvas. The event was highly appreciated by the attendees. The organizers have announced that the awards will be presented to the winners and the participants at a function which will be shortly announced.

n association with UAE Exchange, Soorya Kuwait Chapter shall be staging Soorya India Festival 2013, on the evening of Friday, November 15, 2013, at the Indian Community School (Sr.) Auditorium, Salmiya at 7 pm. This time, Soorya shall be presenting two dancing couples with two oldest dance forms of India - a Bharatanatyam by Anuradha and Sridhar and an Odissi by Arupa Lahri and Bijan Kumar Palai. Recipients of several accolades for their performances, the dancing duets have individuated themselves by a passion for perfection, vibrant nritta and sophisticated senses of Abhinayam. The recitals by Anuradha and Sridhar, one of Indias top duet exponents of Bharatanatyam and Arupa Lahri and Bijan Kumar Palai, one of the leading duet Odissi dancers of the country, will enthrall the art lovers of Kuwait, according to officials. As usual, the entry for the show will be restricted with invitations. For more details, please contact at sooryachpater@gmail.com Soorya India, led by versatile mastermind Soorya Krishnamurthy, is present in 19 countries. It has been propagating the art of Indias outside the country for the last 14 years with active support of its chief patron Dr BR Shetty, Managing Director, NMC group of companies.