IFA Hotels & Resorts realised yet another 'first' with the launch of Fairmont Heritage Place, Kingdom of Sheba; the region's only Private Residence Club community to date.

At the project launch, held on the first day of the Arabian Travel Market 2007, Talal Jassim Al-Bahar, Chairman and Managing Director of IFA Hotels & Resorts said, "We're excited about bringing Fairmont Heritage Place to the Middle East and introducing such an innovative ownership product to our largest development. We have no doubt that Fairmont Heritage Place, Kingdom of Sheba will become the most exclusive Private Residence Club in Dubai and in the region."

Fairmont Heritage Place, Kingdom of Sheba will form part of the Kingdom of Sheba resort that covers 141,500 square metres of prime land on the Crescent of the Palm Jumeirah, adjacent to the renowned Atlantis development. Offering just 50 homes, each divided into saleable fractions of 1/10th, members in the development will be limited to 500 select purchasers.

Piaras Moriarty, Vice President Vacation Ownership IFA Hotels & Resorts (who joined Talal and Greg Doman, Senior Vice President Residential Development Fairmont Raffles Hotels International Inc at the conference), explained that a Private Residence Club like Fairmont Heritage Place allows vacation home owners to experience the benefits of owning an exquisite resort home without the constraints of traditional vacation home ownership. The equity held provides a secure, transferable and potentially rewarding investment in perpetuity, one that can be passed from generation to generation. In addition to the benefits of owning real estate in one of the world's most desirable locations, Fairmont Heritage Place, Kingdom of Sheba provides all of the services and amenities of a five star hotel.

The Fairmont Heritage Place business model was created by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts as an enhancement to its portfolio in 2003 with the launch of Fairmont Heritage Place Acapulco. It adheres in all respects to the standards set by the finest Private Residence Clubs in the world. Other Fairmont Heritage Place communities include Telluride, Colorado; San Francisco, California and now, Kingdom of Sheba, Dubai.

Owners are guaranteed 14 days use of their own home and a further 14 days either within their own home or in a similar one each year. These home reservations may also be exchanged for time at another Fairmont Heritage Place community or at another Fairmont Hotels & Resorts' property around the world. In totality, at least four weeks of usage is guaranteed in their home and/or at other international properties.

Additionally, owners have virtually unlimited use of any remaining availability at Fairmont Heritage Place, Kingdom of Sheba throughout the year, subject to booking no more than 60 days in advance.

Fairmont Heritage Place, Kingdom of Sheba offers valet parking; 24-hour concierge, butler and room service; a private beach, swimming pool and gardens; The Owner's Lounge; a state-of-the-art exercise room; an international delicatessen and coffee shop; daily housekeeping; a Junior Internet and PlayStation® lounge; access to all the onsite hotel facilities and more.

Wrapping up the launch, Talal reiterated that Fairmont Heritage Place, Kingdom of Sheba exemplifies IFA Hotels & Resorts' strategic plan to further diversify the company's portfolio of global investment opportunities to fit the needs of its growing customer base.

www.kingdomofsheba.com/fhp