Growth Further Afield
Landmark is also looking for a hotel in Jeddah, where it already operates Landmark Suites Hotel Jeddah, and at opportunities in Libya and Angola.
“Africa is another market which is on our radar, it is tremendously under supplied by decent hotels,” says Sadiq. “We’re not even talking about five-star hotels, just decent three- or four-star hotels. And because of the lack of supply the prices are sky high — like Dubai in 2006/07.
“[We are looking] at Angola and Libya because some of our other companies had interests there. We are following that up more closely,” reveals Sadiq, acknowledging he has been advised to wait to return to negotiations in Libya.
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“The Angola plan is still on, we made a few visits last year, we are talking to a few people, taking some hotels on lease,” he adds.
Landmark Hotels also operates a hotel in India, under the Always brand, created to offer a three-star value for money product to the Indian market.
“Instead of creating a good budget brand under Landmark we thought we should go in with completely new branding under Always,” says Sadiq.
“Right now we’re in talks with a few other owners in India and are also looking as developers at properties to develop under the Always brand,” he reveals.
“We’re certainly looking at expanding the Always brand — we created it specifically for India but as we are expanding, as we are looking at properties in the Middle East and in Dubai, if there’s a property which would fit into the brand profile of Always we will be using it,” he reveals.
Fast facts
Company name: Landmark Hotels & Suites
Launched: 1996
Owned by: Landmark Zenath Group
No. of operating hotels: Eight
No. of hotels in pipeline: Two signed, one in Dubai and one in Fujairah, with hotels under negotiation in Dubai and Jeddah.
Latest opening: Ramada Deira in January 2013, operated under franchise.
Brand vision: To appeal to the three- to four-star family market, seeking a safe, alcohol free environment.
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