The opening of Le Royal Hotels & Resorts in Boulevard Royal in September 1984, right in the heart of Luxembourg's financial centre, marked the beginning of a new era for the General Mediterranean Group, heralding its entry into the hospitality business. We applied the highest standards and made "excellence and comfort" our hallmark. We made it our goal to create the "Le Royal Hotels & Resorts" brand as not just another hotel chain but as one of status and distinction. Thus, Le Royal Hotels & Resorts quickly became a world-class hotel and was named one of the world's top 50. Early on in the development of the Group's Hotel division, we decided to incorporate resort hotels in the Le Royal Hotels & Resorts chain; we acquired the renowned El-Minzah hotel in Morocco and later opened the Hammamet hotel in Tunisia. Our Vision then extended to the Middle East, where within one year the Group celebrated the opening of Le Royal Hotels & Resorts-Amman by King Abdullah and Queen Rania of Jordan and of Le Royal Hotels & Resorts-Beirut by President of Lebanon General Emile Lahoud and the first Lady. Inaddition to being deluxe hotels of the five star standards, both complexes are celebrated for their superb recreational and entertainment facilities, luxury shopping and fine dining.