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www.breakingtravelnews.com World Travel Awards 2006
9th March 2006
Nominations are announced See Special Supplement
Technology drives Global Travel
Plus winners list from 2005 awards
See page 3
2006 line up announced
See page 8
rides on U.S and China hotel deals As if managing the seven-star Burj Al Arab hotel was not enough, Jumeirah, the Dubai-based hospitality group is again expanding internationally, adding two new significant properties to its portfolio in China and North America. umeirah has said it is also intent on accelerating its portfolio growth. The group already has plans to own or manage 40 luxury hotels at home and abroad. It has already expanded internationally and now manages Jumeirah Carlton Tower and Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel in London's Belgravia. The latter has now closed for a major slice of investment and a $14 million makeover. The group has also recently struck a deal with Emirates Airlines to supply first and business class passengers on longhaul routes with meals from its top chefs. Running for 12 months from March, meals from Jumeirah chefs will be selected from nine hotels including the Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah Beach Hotel,
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Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Madinat Jumeirah, Jumeirah Essex House New York and Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel London and then be served on selected flights. The luxury hospitality group will be managing the HanTang Jumeirah Shanghai, a new hotel being built in the thriving Chinese city. This comes after the Middle East group entered the North America market for the first time in January with the acquisition of Essex House in New York. “The essence of Jumeirah can be expressed in two words -- 'Stay Different' -- and we believe that these hotel developments represent unique opportunities to create the world's greatest and most individual hospitality experiences,” says CEO of Jumeirah
Gerald Lawless. The Shanghai hotel is part of a planned 5.4 million square feet development in the downtown Puxi area. It will have a total of 338 guestrooms, suites and villas, conference and banqueting facilities, as well as a spa. It is due to open in mid-2008. The project brings to reality the vision of Leo Koguan, Chairman of Shanghai Lixing, the group who has appointed Jumierah to manage the hotel.
New York entry “I am delighted to partner up with Jumeirah and together we will redefine the meaning of luxury. We will treat each of our guests as a VIP and provide facilities that enable them to celebrate his or her life to the maximum,” he said.
As the 515-room premier Essex Hotel celebrates its 75th anniversary the property has been rebranded to encompass the Jumeirah name. It will be marketed as a premier destination property in New York City for both business and leisure travellers. “We plan to maintain the property’s historic elements, while enhancing its luxurious offerings,” explains Lawless. Jumeirah already has a lot of experience managing a portfolio of properties in the Middle East as well as internationally including the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Jumeirah Beach Club Resort and Spa, Madinat Jumeirah and Jumeirah Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa. The recent announcements from Jumeirah come as Dubai-based
property developer Nakheel jumps into the hotel business. It has setup a new hotel and resort investment company, called Nahkeel Hotels and Resorts, headed by James Wilson. Nakheel will use the company to acquire and develop properties in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Russia and the CIS. It takes over projects such as The Trump Hotel & Tower Palm Jumeirah, a 150-room hotel and spa on The World development, a 400-room hotel and resort in Djibouti, and a 200-room hotel on The Palm Jumeirah. Other projects under development include properties in Morocco, Oman, Africa, India, Asia and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
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