AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST
AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST TRENDING DESTINATIONS HOTELS THE KEY PRIORITIES FOR THE YEAR INCLUDE ENSURING THE SUCCESSFUL OPENING OF SEVERAL HOTEL PROJECTS IN THE PIPELINE Sami Nasser COO Middle East, AccorHotels luxury portfolio ACCORHOTELS’ AMBITIOUS PLAN FOR MEA Exclusive interview: Sami Nasser Chief Operations Officer - overseeing the luxury portfolio for AccorHotels Middle East Sami Nasser is Chief Operations Officer (COO), overseeing the luxury portfolio for AccorHotels within the Middle East as well as existing Fairmont, Raffles and Swissôtel properties in Africa and Indian Ocean (Seychelles). The Luxury Brands comprise of Raffles, Fairmont, Sofitel, Sofitel Legend, SO/, Pullman, Swissôtel, MGallery, 25hours Hotels and Grand Mercure. We asked Mr Nasser “what’s new”. There are a number of exciting firsts for the region with the signing of So/, MGallery and 25hours Hotel Dubai One Central, set to open by 2020. In addition to this, the first Swissôtel in the UAE opened in February and joins two other operational Swissôtel properties in the Middle East. The recent openings this year include Fairmont Amman, Jordan a flagship property and our first luxury property in the country, the opening of Swissôtel Al Ghurair & Swissôtel Living consisting of 428 rooms and 192 apartments. Looking forward, Fairmont Riyadh Business Gate, a 304 key property, Fairmont Abu Dhabi Marina Resort & Residences with 563 keys and 249 branded residences situated in the prime precinct of Abu Dhabi Breakwater, are all scheduled to open within the course of this year. A total of 2,287 rooms and 441 branded residences will join our luxe portfolio, adding to our current portfolio of over 18,000 rooms in operation across our luxury and upscale brands. Are there any interesting promotions you can tell us about? AccorHotels luxury portfolio has an array of exciting offers which will appeal to couples, families as well as the individual traveller. Pullman Deira City Centre offers a stay with adventure, adding indoor skydiving or a trip to Ski Dubai as part of the experience; Fairmont The Palm’s summer offer is focused on wellness adding access to fitness classes, meditation workshops appealing to those looking for an active and health conscious stay. What is the roadmap for AccorHotels luxury brands for coming years? AccorHotels established an operational framework with dedicated resources and specific brand strategies to ensure differentiation amongst its brands and the competition. This business within a business model includes experienced brand leaders, accomplished Talent & Culture professionals and luxury focused regional teams. AccorHotels established an operational framework with dedicated resources and specific brand strategies to ensure differentiation amongst its brands and the competition. This business within a business model includes experienced brand leaders, accomplished Talent & Culture professionals and luxury focused regional teams. The key priorities for the year include ensuring the successful opening of several hotel projects in the pipeline. But not only that… our Talent & Culture team is preparing for an exciting rollout of a dedicated strategic leadership programme for women, aiming to facilitate the mindset and capability of our female leaders to drive for and achieve senior leadership roles. It allows for positive exchange and networking while supporting the development of self-leadership, the leadership of others and leading the business. It’s an excellent opportunity for us as a company to show our proactive support of gender equality in the workplace SMARTreport Commercial Content
AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST TRENDING DESTINATIONS HOTELS Hotel & Tourism SMARTreport #38 2018 Spring Edition 37 DUBAI ATTRACTS NUMEROUS NEW PROPERTIES © Vangelis Paterakis SOFITEL DUBAI WAFI TO BECOME LARGEST FOR THE BRAND IN THE MIDDLE EAST Sofitel has announced the largest Sofitel property in the Middle East with development partner MKM Commercial Holdings LLC. Expected to open in early 2019, Sofitel Dubai Wafi will join the luxury brand’s growing portfolio of 14 hotels and 4,400 rooms in operation and under development in the Middle East. Sofitel Dubai Wafi will feature 501 luxury guestrooms, inclusive of 86 suites, ranging in size from 55 sq m to 625 sq m, in addition to 97 studios, one-, two- and threebedroom serviced residences to be operated on an extended-stay basis. The property will offer a number of dining concepts including an Asian specialty restaurant, gastro pub, a unique destination restaurant, bar and lounge on 43rd and 44th Floors, a French lobby café, an all-day restaurant and a pool bar SWISSÔTEL OPENS ITS DOORS IN DUBAI Al Ghurair Properties, the property development arm of Al Ghurair, has partnered with the world renowned Swissôtel to announce the inauguration of Swissôtel Al Ghurair and Swissôtel Living, embedded within Al Ghurair Centre, Deira. Consisting of 428 rooms and 192 apartments, the luxury property is located within the Al Ghurair Centre Complex, one of the region’s first and most prominent shopping destinations. Geared towards both business and leisure travellers, Swissôtel Al Ghurair & Swissôtel Living is situated in the heart of old Dubai. Guests to Swissôtel Al Ghurair and Swissôtel Living will be able to enjoy easy access to famous landmarks and culturallysignificant locations alongside Dubai Creek, Al Fahidi and other historical districts DUBAI WORLD TRADE CENTRE AND ACCORHOTELS DEBUT 25HOURS HOTELS, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE MIDDLE EAST AccorHotels, the world’s leading travel & lifestyle group and Dubai World Trade Centre LLC (DWTC) have announced the first 25hours Hotels property outside of Europe. The “disruptive” hospitality brand, which was conceived in Germany, is set to make its debut for the first time ever in the Middle East with the 25hours Dubai Hotel. The 434-room property, which will become the largest 25hours Hotel worldwide, is expected to open by 2020. 25hours Dubai Hotel will be located in DWTC’s One Central development, which is a premium mixed-use lifestyle destination. 25hours Dubai will become the first upscale addition to an existing 1210- room cluster of AccorHotels’ awardwinning economy and midscale brands at the DWTC complex
