Emirates and flydubai's new partnership is expected to support the growth of mid-market hotels in Dubai.
Regional hoteliers agree that the new partnership announced between Emirates and flydubai is expected to provide an uplift for Dubai’s midmarket hotel sector, sister site Arabian Business has reported.
Under the new partnership, Emirates and flydubai will operate a codeshare agreement, aligning schedules and optimising both networks to more than 200 destinations. The two airlines’ combined network is expected to cover 240 destinations by 2020, the two carriers said.
The combined fleet of both airlines and synergies to be achieved with frequent flyer loyalty programmes are expected to boost overall visitor number to the emirate and help it meet its target of 25 million visitors by 2021. As low-cost carrier flydubai gains access to Emirates’ network, economy and mid-scale hotels in Dubai are expected to particularly benefit.
“We see the partnership between Emirates and flydubai as closely aligned with current global hospitality trends,” Ignace Bauwens, regional vice-president, Middle East and Africa, at Wyndham Hotels Group, told Arabian Business.
“Today, with the increase in millennials, smart entrepreneurs and value conscious travellers from across the world – especially within the high-growth emerging markets of Asia and Africa – there is greater need to offer them effortless connectivity and value offerings. The approach by Emirates and flydubai, which aims to cover 240 destinations by 2022, therefore addresses this trend by increasing the potential within the mid-market and economy hotel segments.”
He added: “We see this as a renewed opportunity for the Wyndham Hotel Group to further expand its footprint in the UAE.”
Rudi Jagersbacher, president of Hilton Middle East and Africa, agreed: “The partnership between Emirates and flydubai will see the UAE benefiting from proximity and ease of access to rapidly emerging markets in Asia and Africa, and an increase in the number of guests seeking mid-market hotel options in Dubai and beyond.
“Modern day travellers are increasingly seeking affordable and convenient branded accommodation…and this focus on developing the mid-market is a natural, but exciting, evolution of the regional hospitality industry.”
Marc Dardenne, Jumeirah Group COO and interim CEO, added: “The partnership is certainly going to bring more and more people to the city.
“It will generate opportunities for the hospitality sector to further develop within Dubai, and provides even better access to new markets.”
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