Top deals of the past 10 years
Aqeel Raees, Gulf Hotels Group: “Ocean Paradise Resort — we went to Zanzibar as a new destination and were able to complete and run it successfully. We had some ups and downs due to the market situation in the area but things are looking to improve.”
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David Thomson JA Resorts & Hotels: “Last year we opened JA Ocean View Hotel, which was our first acquisition in Dubai for a few years, then we opened the our first overseas property, Enchanted Island Resort in the Seychelles. Our latest acquisition is the one I am most proud of — that of the Manafaru island in the Maldives which we will launch in October this year as JA Manafaru”.
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Michael Glennie, FRHI: “In the Middle East, we can say that we are very proud of what we have achieved in our Makkah complex. It has probably been the biggest challenge of our company — opening 3500 keys, hiring 6000 employees and showcasing our three brands in these iconic buildings in the most visible area of Makkah.”
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Simon Coombs, Shaza Hotels: “I would have to say that the opening of our first hotel in Madina created as much pride in me as any other development I have been associated with in my career”.
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Alex Kyriakidis, Marriott International: “The acquisition of Protea in Africa, the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai opening in Dubai, and The Ritz-Carlton Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.”
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Martin Ostermann, Meliá: “The recent opening of Meliá’s ME London has provided successful leverage for the brand leading to further introduction and development of ME by Melia in the region.”
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Rudi Jagersbacher, Hilton Worldwide: “Of particular note would be the 2011 Jabal Omar signing project of six hotels in Makkah. For different reasons, I would also cite Hilton Capital Grand Abu Dhabi as a point of pride simply because of our promptness in securing the deal and the speed in which we moved to convert the property.”
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Christopher Knable, Katara Hospitality: “I am looking forward to the Katara Towers, Lusail Marina District to take shape. I believe that this hotel will become a landmark recognisable internationally.”
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Neil George, Starwood: “We recently announced a milestone in Bahrain with two hotel conversions which will mark the debut of the Westin and Le Méridien brands in the country.”
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Rutger Smits, Al Rayyan Tourism Investment Company: “The St Regis Bal Harbor in Miami, which we acquired in January 2014.”
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Nicholas Clayton, Jumeirah Group: “The most exciting project currently under way is the development Jumeirah is undertaking on the beach in front of Burj Al Arab. Madinat Jumeirah is being extended to include a new luxury 430-room beachfront hotel. Scheduled to open in early 2016, this new development represents the final phase of the resort and will increase the total number of hotels in Jumeirah’s UAE portfolio to 10.”
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Bani Haddad, Wyndham Hotel Group: “Our first extended stay property in Dubai opened in November 2013 under the Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham brand. This followed the introduction of our economy Days Inn brand in Saudi Arabia earlier in the year. Over the next few weeks, the first Super 8 is to open in Saudi Arabia, which will be the first of 20 anticipated to open in the country”.
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Gordon Drake, Kingdom Hotel Investments: “I am particularly pleased with our work on the development of the Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra where we brought together Standard Bank and IFC in a very successful partnership that employed 1500 local workers during the build phase.”
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Jean-Jacques Dessors, Accor: “For the past six months the most remarkable achievement has to be the opening of Novotel Al Barsha, on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, which has seen a tremendous response from its customer base in terms of occupancy at the right level of price together with delivering to the investor a positive GOP after being open for only three weeks.”
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Amine E. Moukarzel, Golden Tulip: “We are very proud of our acquisition of properties in Algeria with the Royal Tulip Skikkda, in Lebanon the Golden Tulip Jiyeh Marina Resort, and in UAE,the Golden Tulip Tecom.”