SSIF unveils project to upgrade Petra Crowne Plaza Hotel

AMMAN — Social Security Investment Fund (SSIF) Chairman Suleiman Hafez on Tuesday unveiled a project to develop the Petra Crowne Plaza Hotel owned by the Social Security Corporation (SSC).

The SSIF approved the project in light of the technical, financial and economic studies carried out and the field visits stakeholders paid to the location in coordination with officials at the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA), Hafez said in an SSIF statement.

The SSIF also had to receive a UNESCO approval on implementing the scheme, because it is located in an area classified as a world heritage.

The implementation of the project include increasing the total number of rooms to 235 and revamping current ones along with their facilities, Hafez said. 

He added that a comprehensive health club will be established in a separate building, to be the first of its kind in Petra.

The upgrading will also include the establishment of a main restaurant that can accommodate 300 people, a gym and a swimming pool, which will contribute to increasing economic and development revenues of the project in terms of creating new jobs to local residents, stimulating tourism and boosting SSC investments, the SSIF chief indicated.

Moreover, the project will include building a conference hall according to international standards that can accommodate 600 people, making it the first conference hall in Petra, which would contribute to attracting and providing a good environment for conference tourism.

Hafez commended PDTRA's efforts and continuous support to facilitate the implementation of the project, which accords with the authority's future plans aimed at improving tourist services in Petra, the statement concluded.