JA Resorts casts its magic overseas

THE UAE’s JA Resorts & Hotels, which officially inaugurated its first international property in the Seychelles last month, will continue its expansion overseas with the launch of a new property in the Maldives next month and is supremely confident that it will soon expand into Sri Lanka and Thailand.

Confident enough for its Chief Operating Officer (COO) David Grant Thomson to make a bold wager.

“I will eat my hat if we don’t sign up something in Thailand by the end of the year,” he tells TTN on the sidelines of the launch of The Enchanted Island Resort in the Seychelles, adding that the new property, which JA will manage is “simply fabulous”.

Perched on the intimate Round Island, the five-star resort was inaugurated by Seychelles Minister of Tourism and Culture Alain St Ange in the presence of Nelson Gibb, the COO of Dutco Group, the parent of company of the Dubai-based JA Resorts and Hotels.

Also present at the inauguration was Sunil Shah of Trinity Estates and the owner of Round Island, with his family.

The new resort boasts 10 exclusive villas – two two-bedroom villas and eight one-bedroom villas – and a beautiful spa.

“It’s designed in the old Creole style, so it really is a unique space, like a step back into time,” says Thomson. “Round Island is nestled between four much larger islands, which are more or less open for exploration, with their beautiful beaches. It’s a conserved marine park with a lot of fish and that makes it great for snorkelling.”

JA Resorts & Hotels operates and manages resorts, hotels, restaurants and sporting facilities in the UAE including its flagship JA Jebel Al Golf Resort, the Hatta Fort Hotel, the JA Oasis Beach Tower, and the JA Ocean View Hotel, and Thomson indeed has a lot to be upbeat about as the company continues to roll out new initiatives and plans for expansion overseas.

SPEEDFLEX

Following the launch of the Enchanted Island Resort, JA will launch Speedflex, a machine-based fitness programme completely new to Dubai, this month (October) at the JA Ocean View Hotel. Thomson has big plans for Speedflex, which originated and gained traction in the US. “I read all the hype about it but did not believe it until I actually tried it. I burned some 800 calories but in an hour’s time I was ready to burn another 800!

“While you’re at it it’s brutal, like an intense workout usually is,” explains the down-to-earth Scot, “but because it’s your own body’s resistance that’s burning those calories, it doesn’t damage your muscles at all. Sure, it’s not building muscle but it is burning fat!”

JA MANAFARU

Meanwhile, November 1 will mark the opening of JA Manafaru, a stunning 84-villa property in the Maldives with private pools, seaplanes, beautiful beaches, six food and beverage outlets. “My kids just loved Manafaru,” says Thomson, who has six children. “They’re all teenagers, they thought it was fantastic, and it’s also got great wi-fi,” he says, adding that all JA properties have very good and free wi-fi, “because we know how important it is”.

DUBAI PROPERTIES

Among JA Resorts & Hotels’ UAE properties, JA Jebel Ali Golf Resort remains Thomson’s favourite. “I came to the UAE in 1984 for the first time and visited the resort then, and thought it was fabulous. It’s been completely refurbished now, but I still love it the best. When they opened Jebel Ali hotels, they were one of the first few resorts in the GCC. It helped put Dubai on the tourism map; it was a pioneer.'

JA is hoping to break ground on a new property at the resort in Jebel Ali early next year for an opening in 2017-18. “We’re looking at a new hotel at the far end of the golf course. We have a very large piece of land there, at the moment it is a bit underused; we use it as a nursery for replenishing the gardens,” he explains.

OVERSEAS INTEREST

“We are a very tourist-centric company,” Thomson continues. “We have to expand the brand overseas to give owners the confidence in our ability to operate outside our home turf and Thailand and Sri Lanka are our main focus right now.”

“We’re in serious negotiations with two properties in Thailand. One is a lease agreement on Bangtao Beach [half an hour from the airport] in Phuket, the other one is a management agreement in Koh Samui, a great spot for family tourists. Both are still subject to non-disclosure agreements and are four-star family hotels.

“I made a wager earlier this year that if I don’t sign something in Thailand by the end of this year, I’d eat my hat. We’re very hopeful about both these properties and I would have to eat my hat if I don’t close at least one of these deals by the end of the year.” Coming from someone who shaved his head at ATM this May to raise money for charity, this one would be worth  the wait.