TTN

Address set for major expansion

Share  
Dardenne…exciting plans

THE Address Hotels & Resorts is seeking to expand into new markets such as Europe and Asia following the successful roll out of its hotels in Dubai.

Launched in 2008, the brand has opened four properties in Dubai, including The Address Downtown Burj Dubai and The Address Dubai Mall, as well as taking on the Montgomery Dubai.

Marc Dardenne, CEO of brand owner Emaar Hospitality Group and Emaar Hotels & Resorts, is upbeat on the group’s performance in 2009.

“Occupancy levels at all our hotels in Dubai have been strong over the past year, despite the global financial crisis,” he said. “This was led by tourist arrivals from Europe, the GCC and Indian Subcontinent and corporate travel.

“Looking ahead into 2010 our focus for the brand is to grow internationally. The Address Hotels & Resorts, signed its first international management contract earlier this year with Azmi Abdelhadi (AAH) Group, to operate a luxury property within Jnan Amar Polo Retreat, in Marrakech, scheduled to open in 2011.

“We have also signed a management contract to operate Domaine de Lavagnac, a luxury resort developed by Residence De Lavagnac in Languedoc-Roussillon, South of France, marking our entry to the European market” said Dardenne.

Jnan Amar Polo Retreat, one of the new properties

In addition, the company’s development pipeline includes Egypt, Lombok in Indonesia, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, Budapest, Shanghai, London, Los Angeles and New York.

“Despite the challenges of the past year, development projects are progressing as planned. One of the key developments is the opening of Burj Dubai which features the Armani Hotel Dubai and the Armani Residences,” said Dardenne.

He added that one of the significant new trends for the region is the strengthening of tourism from within the GCC and the Indian Subcontinent.

“Another key area that we will definitely be focusing on is retaining talent as well as rationalising and maintaining a high degree of resource use efficiency,” he said.

Spacer