EXCLUSIVE: Taj Hotels eyes up more Dubai hotels

As it prepares to open its second property in Dubai, Indian operator Taj Hotels is already targeting a number of high profile locations to accelerate its growth in the emirate.

The company is expecting to soft open Taj Dubai in Downtown Dubai this month, having taken over the operations of Taj Palace Hotel, in Deira, in 2001.

While it did pursue plans for further hotels in the ensuing years, these efforts were ultimately stymied by the global financial crisis, and the dramatic impact it had on Dubai.

Jason Harding, area director and general manager of Taj Dubai, spoke to Hotelier Middle East ahead of the opening of Taj Dubai and indicated that the company was already looking towards its next project in the emirate.

“At the moment we are talking to investors in the Palm [Jumeirah],” he said. “We’ve got an investor in Jumeirah Lakes that we’re talking. We’ve [also] got one on Sheikh Zayed Road we are talking to.”

Beyond Dubai, he identified Abu Dhabi, Oman, Ras Al Khaimah and Qatar as other potential locations for further properties for the company, which is part of Tata Group.

Harding, who joined Taj Hotels last year, having previously been general manager of Armani Hotel Dubai, also explained how the company would look to develop its portfolio of brands in the Middle East.

“We’ve got Taj Exotica, a resort brand; we should have one on the beach. We’ve got Vivanta, which is a brand I’m very excited about. A four-star plus brand and we’ve already seen similar brands enter into the market successfully.

“The five star space one could argue is very crowded but there’s space at the lower level and I think something like Vivanta could enter the market with huge success.”