Banyan Tree CEO eyes further hotels in UAE

The chief executive officer of Singapore-based Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts, which operates two resorts in Ras Al Khaimah, has revealed the group would like to expand further in the Middle East, particularly in the UAE.
Abid Butt told Hotelier Middle East: “We certainly would like to have other hotels in the emirates, between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, there are several places that one of our brands could fit perfectly. Places like Qatar or even Lebanon and Egypt when things stabilize; we would love to have our hotels there because culturally all this area is very strong and it will help us deliver a fabulous experience”.
Talks are underway in Abu Dhabi, as well as Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, added Butt.
A complex comprising the luxury Banyan Tree brand and upper upscale Angsana is already under construction in Sifah, Oman.
The region appeals, said Butt, because of its strong culture.
“Our brand fits into the cultural elements and the location that we look after and really delivers an experience because truly we are not about luxury positioning, we are about experiential positioning,” explained Butt.
“That’s who we are; every location we go in to operate we have to bring in the sense of place. That’s the filters that we put on new projects — we make sure we can actually deliver…a true holistic experience,” he added.