MILLENNIUM and Copthorne considers 2013 as a leap year having extended its brand footprint across all market segments in the region.
The company will add 10 hotels across the region in the UAE, Kuwait, Muscat, Kurdistan, and Saudi Arabia. This is in line with its three-year plan to operate 50 properties across the Middle East and Africa.
The group relocated its regional headquarters to Dubai last year and also expanded its geographical presence with its entry into Iraq with two operating properties – Millennium Kurdistan Hotel and Spa and Copthorne Hotel Baranan, with its landmark property Grand Millennium Sulaimaniya due to open this year.
Millennium and Copthorne has also secured new projects in Oman, Saudi Arabia as well as in Kuwait, with the Millennium Hotel & Convention Centre situated in the Downtown area of Kuwait city. Its other projects include Georgia, in Eastern Europe and Durban, in South Africa, its first hotel in Africa.
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Naeem Darkazally, vice president sales and marketing, Millennium and Copthorne, Middle East and Africa, says: “The region offers tremendous opportunities and we are looking to further strengthen our presence in key markets. We are looking to become strong players within the UAE and Saudi Arabia as those two markets would take almost 75 per cent of our expected operations within the region by 2015.
“In the future, further growth and openings are expected in all key cities in Saudi Arabia such as Riyadh, Jeddah, Madinah and Makkah. We have also seen potential in sub-cities such as Hail, Jizane, Tabouk, Baha and Al Khobar.
“We also look to improve our market and fair share in existing markets such as the UAE, Oman and Qatar. The GCC has been key to support our brand recognition.”
Keeping in line with the group’s efforts to attract direct business, Millennium and Copthorne is re-launching its “Business Direct” programme by rewarding members with heavily discounted rates and additional free benefits to direct business through its official website.
Millennium and Copthorne (MEA) witnessed a strong 2013 with business levels exceeding the previous year’s figures especially across the.
Darkazally says: “The company has always been confident on its current track and it essentially foresees the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, especially the UAE, as not only the growth engine, but also leading best practice across Millennium Hotels and Resorts worldwide.
“According to reports, Dubai is expected to welcome an estimate of 25 million domestic and international guests from all over the world to visit the World Expo 2020. We will not only see increased numbers of visitors but the increased publicity in the run up to the event will generate even more awareness of Dubai globally and act as beneficial by-product for the travel and tourism sector. In the hotel industry we believe we will see more budget and mid-market hotel brands enter Dubai over the next few years to satisfy this demand.”