ECOS Hotels, the Middle East’s first environment friendly budget brand, recently signed a property located in Dubailand.
Announcing the deal, HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Faisal Al Qassimi, vice chairman of the recently formed Hospitality Management Holdings (HMH) said, “In developing ECOS Hotels we are driven by sustainability and environmentalism in the budget hotels sector. ECOS Dubailand will serve as a model for our future developments.”
ECOS offers a new perspective in the budget segment with a focus on responsible architecture, ethical practices including technology and design. Ralph Noblet, director, ECOS Hotels said, “ECOS Hotels is designed to lead the way in demonstrating that ecological can be economical. While offering top return on investment in record time for our owners and investors, we ensure best value for money to our customers.”
The new property will feature 234 rooms and is expected to be ready by 2009. “Our site is located within one of the three tower cluster nodes at Dubailand residence complex, each supported with community and neighbourhood facilities and plenty of open spaces,” said Noblet.
The budget hotels market is expected to grow significantly over the next 20 years and at the same time environmental and social issues are also influencing travellers. Noblet said that ECOS Hotels offered “a rare combination” and that these hotels were ideal for the “green-conscious consumer.”
HMH comprises four distinct hotel brands. These are Coral International Hotels, Resorts & Spas, Corp Executive Hotels, ECOS Hotels and EWA Hotel Apartments. With 40 hotels signed up, the group is in the midst of massive development and is targeting 100 hotels in the next four years.
Following the reorganisation, Coral International’s current directors will serve as the directors of HMH.
Michel Noblet, managing director, Coral International Hotels, Resorts & Spas said, ‘The creation of HMH is part of our strategy of consolidation. While giving a boost to our brands, it will strengthen our position tremendously. Single, independent entities are diminishing worldwide and the big groups are growing. The formation of HMH helps us to align our company’s structure better with our subsidiaries while giving us the flexibility to achieve our global development objectives.”