Hoteliers are already eyeing up opportunities at Dubai’s new mega mall, with a strong focus on mid-market and budget options
In July, Dubai Holding announced the UAE’s latest mega-project in Dubai, Mall of the World; described by the company as a “temperature-controlled pedestrian city” and encompassing retail, entertainment and wellness facilities.
The announcement grabbed the attention of media around the world, putting it on a par with the likes of Burj Khalifa and Palm Jumeirah in terms of its ‘wow’ effect.
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For hoteliers, however, the real interest lies in the fact that the development is set to feature 80 hotels and 20 serviced apartment buildings, with a total of 20,000 rooms.
As Dubai Holding CEO Ahmad Bin Byat explained to Hotelier Middle East, the vision for the hotel element, which will be a focus of the first phase, is that it encompasses a broad range of options for visitors.
“We don’t yet have a breakdown of each category; however, we are keen that the facilities available at Mall of the World cater to a wide range of tourists, from travellers seeking exclusive luxury and boutique options, to mid-range and budget hospitality,” he said.
“This comes as part of the government’s vision to increase the range of mid-market hotels and to provide options suitable for all types of tourists. As a long-term investor aligned with the government’s vision, we are looking to build capacity for the future.”
That willingness to seek out a broad range of options will certainly be music to the ears of the likes of Premier Inn. Its managing director in the Middle East, Darroch Crawford, is making no secret about his enthusiasm for the project.
“This is exactly the kind of development we would wish to be involved in, and in a significant way,” he explained.
“This amazing development will attract visitors from all over the globe and a high proportion of these will be seeking accommodation that offers great service, but value for money.
“Visitors will want to spend their money on the shopping and attractions, not necessarily on high-end hotels.”
Meanwhile, for an operator like Wyndham, with a wide range of brands in its portfolio, Mall of the World is likely to provide multiple opportunities.
“We would love to add to our existing pipeline of upscale Wyndham Hotels and Resorts properties and cater to the demand for midscale hotels with our Ramada and TRYP by Wyndham brands and for long stay guests with our extended stay brand Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham,” said Wyndham Hotel Group regional vice president MEA Bani Haddad.
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