Venu, the lifestyle hotel brand recently reintroduced by Jumeirah Group, could make its debut on Bluewaters Island in Dubai, with the operator expected to sign a management agreement by the end of the year, it has been reported.
According to Gulf News, the company is in talks with developer Meraas Holding to operate the hotel within the mixed-use development off the coast of Jumeirah Beach Residence.
"With Meraas, all is going well and we should finish before the end of the year," Jumeirah Group president and CEO Gerald Lawless told the newspaper.
"We do foresee Venu being a popular brand worldwide and certainly in the UAE. It looks like the first Venu will be in the UAE.”
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He added that he expected to sign a management agreement for a second hotel under the Venu brand within the next six months, with discussion ongoing with a number of unnamed UAE investors.
However, he said the brand is likely to open properties in Tecom Investments’ Dubai Design District, as well as Mall of the World, which is being developed by Dubai Holding, of which Jumeirah itself is a member.
Further afield, Gulf News says Jumeirah is keen on introducing the brand to Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates, as well as key cities across Europe. It also quotes Lawless as saying there is interest in the brand in Asia, and good opportunities in Africa.
Jumeirah Group revived the lifestyle brand Venu in September, three years after initial plans for its rollout were abandoned.