Corinthia Hotels International (CHI) has signed a technical assistance agreement and a hotel management services agreement with Algerian hotel-owning company Lafider s.p.a. for the construction and operation of ‘Corinthia Hotel - Algiers’ - a five-star deluxe hotel complex to be built in the city of Algiers.

By virtue of this agreement, CHI will be giving its technical assistance and advice in the planning and design of the “Corinthia Hotel – Algiers” and will eventually take on the full management of the hotel once it is fully operational and capable of delivering its services to Corinthia’s five star deluxe standards.

The signing ceremony took place in Algiers between CHI chairman the Hon Karmenu Vella and Lafider president and general manager Mr Omar Abdelaziz El Aweni.

Welcoming the new collaboration agreement, the Hon Karmenu Vella stated “We are delighted to be taking on this new project, the first-ever hotel to be flying the Corinthia flag in the wonderful city of Algiers. This new deal is another step forward in CHI’s quest at becoming a leading international hotel operator with the Corinthia, Wyndham and Ramada Plaza brands in EMEA. Our pioneering spirit and more than 40 years of experience in the hotel industry give us the necessary drive and full confidence that we will successfully put this property on the international scenario.”

On his part, Lafider President and Managing Director Mr. Omar Abdelaziz El Aweni said “We are delighted to have provided CHI with its first hotel operation in Algiers and hope that this will be the catalyst for further growth of CHI in the region. We have experienced CHI’s ‘Spirit of Corinthia’ culture of Warmth, Colour and Vitality in its many hotels and have no doubt that our combined synergies will now help bring this culture to Algiers as well.”

Construction work on the Corinthia Hotel - Algiers is scheduled to commence during the first half of 2007, with the hotel set to open its doors in 2009.