Marriott International has revealed plans to expand into Iraq with the launch of a 200-room Marriott Hotels and Resorts-branded property in Erbil, which is located in Kurdistan.

It is one of two new hotels set to be opened by Marriott in the Middle Eastern country, with a 75-unit Marriott Executive Apartments complex also confirmed for Erbil.

The two properties are scheduled to open simultaneously in 2014 as part of the new mixed-use Empire World development and follows an agreement with Empire Iraq.

Erbil Marriott will feature an on-site spa and an outdoor swimming pool, in addition to four restaurants and lounges and 11,400sq ft (1,059sq m) of meeting space.

The Marriott Executive Apartments property is set to include its own leisure facilities and a residents' lounge, while also enabling the use of the services at Erbil Marriott.

Marriott International president and managing director of international lodging Ed Fuller said: "We are confident that this significant development will help the people of Erbil and Kurdistan achieve their positive visions of the future."

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