20. Chris Newman, Chief Operating Officer, Emaar Hospitality Group
Dubai-born company sets its sights on a MENA-wide empire, with an impressive pipeline ahead
While Newman is relatively new to the Middle East, with just four years in the region under his belt, Emaar’s new COO packs an impressive total of 17 years’ hospitality industry experience.
Newman, who took on his current role in the midst of the Address Downtown Dubai fire incident, tells Hotelier that management of this situation was a “significant challenge”. “During the days that followed, I had to work closely with the chairman and senior management, as well as with government authorities on various aspects of the incident. The dedicated efforts of the team was instrumental in managing the situation efficiently, ensuring that we extended all assistance to our guests and residents,” Newman added.
According to Newman, who is responsible for a total of 4,000 employees across the group, Emaar’s Dubai hotels have achieved an average occupancy of 86% in the last year (even despite the Address Downtown Dubai being out of action). Newman also adds that Emaar’s hospitality and leisure business recorded a revenue of US $353 million (AED 1.298 billion) in the first half of 2016.
Emaar’s total pipeline includes 34 upcoming properties, representing 18 hotels and 16 serviced residences across three brands. While the three brands, Rove, Vida, and The Address Hotels & Resorts, continue to grow within Dubai (with plans to add 2,660 rooms by 2020), the pipeline also sees expansion within the Emirates (The Address Fujairah Resort + Spa), and a number of international debuts for the Emaar Hospitality Group.
Commenting on this international growth for Emaar, Newman tells Hotelier: “This marks the evolution of a Dubai-based home-grown brand into an international hospitality provider.” Upcoming hotel properties outside of the UAE will include The Address Marassi Golf Resort & Spa in Egypt, The Address Istanbul, The Address Marassi Al Bahrain, Vida Jeddah Gate and Vida Marassi Al Bahrain.
By the numbers
1 Number of years in role
2 Number of years with company
10 Number of Middle East operating hotels as of July 2016
34 Number of hotels in pipeline in the Middle East as of July 2016
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