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Michel Noblet
CEO, Hospitality Management Holdings (hmh)
Hospitality Management Holdings (HMH) has made almost monthly announcements during 2010, from new openings to new signings, earning CEO Michel Noblet a leap forward in this year’s Power 50.
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Particularly notable is the company’s progress in Saudi Arabia, where it already operates more than 18 of its 34 hotels. Of the 10 hotels HMH is committed to opening within the next 12 months, six will be in Saudi Arabia. For example, only in May, Noblet announced that five properties had been signed for KSA — two Coral hotels in Jeddah and Dhahran and three Corp-branded properties in Riyadh.
Commenting on the growth in Saudi Arabia, Noblet said: “In addition to the projects under development, we have another 10 under negotiation which is incredible given the fact that our industry has been under severe pressure due to the financial crisis. Most of our projects are well advanced with several expected to reach completion by the end of 2010 or mid 2011, adding nearly 2000 keys to our existing portfolio”.
Elsewhere, the first Coral hotel opened in Beirut in May 2010, and two hotels are planned to open in Doha this year — Coral International, Doha and Corp Doha, Suites. And extending the company’s reach abroad, Coral International Capetown opened in 2010 and two properties have been signed for Sudan.
Meanwhile, in Dubai, Coral Deira recently underwent an AED 10 million renovation to upgrade its guestrooms, suites, corridors, dining outlets and prayer rooms.
Overall growth has been steady despite some hotels in the UAE being cancelled or on hold (as reported by Hotelier in February). In total, HMH has already signed 57 hotels and has a target of 100 hotels by 2012.
Noblet was a founding member of Le Méridien Hotels and Resorts and opened 55 hotels across Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific, Australia and the Middle East during his tenure.
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