39. Rob Weeden, Vice President Sales & Marketing, EMEA, Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts
Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts is taking it slow and steady, eyeing profitable locations in the region for new openings
Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts has had a relatively quiet year — it opened the Shangri-La Doha earlier this year, with the one pipeline hotel being the Shangri-La in Jeddah, currently pencilled in for a 2018 opening. The group has, as yet, not added to its portfolio of signed hotels.
Weeden says: “Business originating from the GCC region staying at Shangri-La properties across Asia, Oceania, Europe and North America has been increasing exponentially year on year. Absolutely our presence here in the region and increased focus on both inbound and outbound travel has assisted that growth.”
In an interview with the operator’s global CEO Greg Dogan (see pages 32-37), it was confirmed that the Gulf is currently one of Shangri-La’s most important markets, with existing and prospective properties across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Oman, with the group scheduled to open its first hotel in Saudi Arabia in 2018. The group is also in discussions to open the region’s first four-star Hotel Jen, although nothing has been signed yet.
By the numbers
4 Number of years in the role
18 Number of years with company
5 Number of Middle East operating hotels
1 Number of Middle East pipeline hotels
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