41. Erkan Yildirim, Senior Vice President Operations, EMEA & Far East, Rixos Hotels
Amid continued UAE expansion, Rixos toys with KSA debut
With two Rixos properties already operational in the UAE, Rixos the Palm and Rixos Bab Al Bahr in Ras Al Khaimah, this year the hotel group’s pipeline in the GCC is very much focused on the Emirates again. According to the Turkish hospitality group, its second Dubai property, Rixos JBR, is expected to open this month. The hotel project will also feature a luxury residential tower, with 164 housing units.
Also under construction in the UAE is Rixos’ debut in the capital, located on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi. According to the operator’s senior vice president operations for EMEA and Far East, Erkan Yildirim, the two new Rixos projects reflect the group’s “commitment to pursuing expansion in the UAE market”. Rixos also has its eye on new markets in the Gulf, Iran and North Africa. Yildrim has revealed that Rixos is currently negotiating for the opening of new hotels in Saudi Arabia, with potential signings considered for Jeddah, as well as a new property in Muscat, Oman, which would mark a brand debut for Rixos in both countries.
By the numbers
2 Number of years in the role
15 Number of Middle East operating hotels
9 Number of years with company as of July 2016
2 Number of Middle East pipeline hotels as of July 2016
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