After announcing the Biltmore Collection as part of its portfolio in 2011, Millennium & Copthorne, Middle East and Africa is set to debut its properties in Georgia and the UAE this year.
Ali Hamad Lakhraim Alzaabi, president and CEO, Millennium & Copthorne Hotels MEA told Hotelier Middle East at Arabian Travel Market: “We are redefining the brand with a new look and feel.”
The first property under the new brand, the Biltmore Tbilisi in Georgia, is located on the Rustaveli Avenue and will offer 216 keys.
This will be followed by the launch of Bab Al Qasr in Abu Dhabi, UAE, scheduled for a Q3 2016 opening. This 677-room hotel comprising 298 rooms, 114 suites and 265 residences, is located near the Presidential Palace.
Additional future hotels will include Biltmore Bateen Marina Abu Dhabi, UAE and Biltmore Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, due to launch in 2018 and 2019 respectively.
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The luxury hotels will pay homage to the original Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles.
Alzaabi said the company is interested in other locations for Biltmore. “We think that we will have around seven to 10 Biltmore’s in our region. It targets people who are looking for luxury.”
He revealed the company is under negotiation for Jeddah and Dubai, while he believes the brand will eventually find a way to markets such as Doha, Muscat, Makkah & Madinah, and Istanbul.
When asked whether the luxury market is saturated, at a time when mid-market is the watchword, Alzaabi said: “There is always clientele for luxury products. Don’t forget that when the market changes direction and goes down, the luxury product maintains its value, room rate and occupancy.”
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