06. Ali Hamad Lakhraim Alzaabi, Founder, President & CEO, Millennium & Copthorne, Middle East & Africa
Alzaabi has set an ambitious 100-hotel target for Millennium & Copthorne, Middle East & Africa.
Millennium & Copthorne has had a busy year, with five new hotel openings by June, and another 11 newly signed.
“In the past 12 months we have seen a strong pipeline of new openings, with five hotels launched since March and six more due to open by the end of the year,” Alzaabi says. “This will result in a 50%-plus increase to the portfolio and signals the start of rapid region-wide expansion, ensuring that we are on track to meet the target of operating 50 properties within the next three years,” he reveals.
Millennium & Copthorne signed its first Middle East-inspired Agarwood-branded hotel during the Arabian Travel Market in 2015. The 286-key resort will open in Salalah in Oman in 2017. And last year, the group reintroduced its Studio M brand, which was set to roll out in Q2 of 2015, but has faced delays. There are currently three properties in the pipeline in Dubai, and another property planned in Muscat.
“We are excited to extend our footprint with a strong pipeline of new openings in place, including several new brands that will reinforce our position as one of the fastest growing hotel companies in the GCC. We believe there is immense scope for development in the region,” Alzaabi explains.
In addition to his role at Millennium & Copthorne, Alzaabi is also chairman and founder of Lakhraim Business Group, and founder and executive vice chairman of Pearl Azure Hotel Management.
By the numbers
Number of years in role: 14
Number of years with company: 14
Number of Middle East operating hotels: 22
Number of Middle East pipeline hotels: 40
Number of Qatar hotels: 3
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