TTN

Jewel of the Creek to open mid-2017

Share  
An impression of Roda’s Jewel of the Creek

Roda Hotels & Resorts’ Jewel of the Creek hotel project on the Dubai Creek between the Maktoum Bridge and floating bridge will have its first phase opening in mid-2017, says the hotel’s corporate vice president strategy and development Louay Sarrage.

'We have many projects under development, but the ‘Jewel of the Creek’ is truly a monumental project. This whole development showcases something for everyone, not only targeting luxury, but also the mid-market. It also incorporates all our hospitality concepts across all segments,' he says.

The founding company Dubai International Real Estate has a lot of things happening and many hospitality projects in the pipeline.

'To begin with, we look at the GCC which is the most logical expansion zone for us geographically. And we have identified some key cities where we would like to be,' he says.

Going further, Roda would like to expand to other parts of the Arab world, Iran and strategic cities in Sub Saharan Africa, like Addis Ababa, which also have a lot of potential.

Roda Hotels & Resorts is a hotel management company based in Dubai and is a subsidiary and the hospitality management arm of Dubai International Real Estate, one of the largest real estate development companies in the UAE.

Sarrage ... a monumental project

Roda is currently managing a hospitality portfolio of more than 4,500 keys in hotels and serviced apartments, mostly under development in Dubai. Building on the experiences and knowledge of our team, we have the capability and intent to grow our management portfolio to nearby strategic destinations, especially in the Gulf region, he says.

The future growth of the hotel industry in the region will mostly be in the mid-market, he says.

'We have created exciting concepts that cater to the needs of frequent travellers and the millennial generation. At the heart of these concepts is the idea of affordable luxury and contemporary lifestyle. We’ve also created a fantastic model for serviced apartments, whether new build or conversion from standard residential buildings, not to mention a sharia-compliant concept that specifically caters to a large important segment in the region,' he says.

There are many hotels in Dubai with great interiors and are part of large scale projects that reflect luxury and grandeur. So it’s very competitive on that level. All the brands of the major operators in every segment are also present or making their way to the city.

To stand apart from all these players and mark our difference, Roda focuses on service quality and consistency. 'Being born in the region, we believe that we also have the advantage of understanding the expectations and requirements of the regional guests more than our competitors. Our biggest strength right now is our team and our people, starting from the CEO, to the people in our founding company, including our chairman and vice chairman.'

In hospitality, it’s all about people and Roda will be able to show the result of this strength once its projects are completed. It is also looking forward to showcase its properties and concepts in the near future, he notes.

Dubai has all the ingredients and components necessary to continue the growth whether as a business hub, a tourist destination or a leisure spot. Dubai has the right infrastructure and many developments popping up around the city. Hence there is always this sort of change and flow which is exciting, he says.

'Our diversified portfolio also reflects the spirit of Dubai itself, which has diversified its approach to business. Even with business going down from one area it picks up from another area, which is an exciting and challenging thing about being in Dubai. We see the future is bright, and our project reflect this confidence.

'We see the need of more hotel rooms leading up to the expo 2020 and hopefully beyond. We are confident that all our projects are catering to each individual segment and target segment that is present here in Dubai and UAE,' he adds.

Spacer