Ifa hotels & resorts achieves 130% increase on q1 profits
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Ifa hotels & resorts achieves 130% increase on q1 profits
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Category: Worldwide - Industry economy
- Figures / Studies
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2008-11-06
IFA Hotels & Resorts (IFA HR) today announced the company�s quarter one profits of KD 15.01 million (US$ 56.41 million), an increase of 130% compared to the same period last year. Earnings per share increased by 134%, from 16.09 fils (6 cents) last year to 38 fils (14 cents) this quarter. Shareholders' equity also increased to KD 90.53 million (US$ 340.21 million) compared to KD 56.07 million (US$ 201.45 million) during quarter one 2007. The company�s total assets increased by 27% to total KD 301.84 million (US$ 1.134 billion).
Talal Jassim Al-Bahar, Vice Chairman and CEO of IFA HR, stated: "We are very happy with our first quarter results. We can confidently say that our profits and revenues have grown healthily despite the recent unsteadiness in the global market. Following a positive start to the year, we anticipate a continued growth moving into the second quarter."
Werner Burger, President and COO of IFA HR, said "We believe that our positive growth resulted from strength in our core business. The majority of our existing developments have already been sold with fixed building contracts in place. We have a very strong customer base which has been re-purchasing and investing in properties across our international portfolio."
The company currently has three major projects in Dubai that are scheduled for hand over during 2009: The Palm Golden Mile, the Laguna Tower and the Fairmont Palm Residence. "We are concentrating heavily on our delivery dates and on schedule to deliver these projects. We look forward to welcoming more of our customers into their properties next year," added Burger.
In September, IFA HR opened a YOTEL at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport, the company's first project in The Netherlands. The 57 cabin YOTEL is located inside Schiphol's terminal and is the third YOTEL property to be opened.
IFA HR's current assets under management are valued at approximately KD 3 billion (approximately US$ 10 billion). The company has a staff of 522 global employees, with 40 projects completed or being developed, spanning 14 countries on four continents. At present, the Middle East makes up the majority of the company's assets and investments with 56%, followed by Africa and the Indian Ocean with 19%, Asia with 18% and finally Europe and the Americas with 7%.
Al-Bahar concluded: "We will continue focusing on our existing projects while also looking at new opportunities to further expand internationally. We hope to maintain our growth and profitability in order to maximise our shareholders' returns in the coming years."
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