Hoteliers planning major investment in UAE

The Westin is a Starwood brand

Two major hotel companies have set their sights on the UAE and surrounding areas with a view to expanding their Middle Eastern portfolios.

Starwood Hotels and Action Hotels Group are each planning major investment in the GCC countries, an area which currently offers the perfect market for growing hospitality projects.

Starwood, which currently has 50 hotels in the Middle East, is proposing to operate all nine of its brands in the region by 2013, including St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, Sheraton and Westin, with the third W hotel in the area to be built in Abu Dhabi by 2012.

After signing an agreement with local UAE multi-disciplinary corporation Belbadi, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Europe Africa and Middle East President Roeland Vos said: "Abu Dhabi is an important market for Starwood as we continue a strong growth pace in this booming, vibrant capital of the UAE.

"With Abu Dhabi joining the roster of international openings for W over the next two years, we are honored to partner with Belbadi as we add this key destination to W's global portfolio."

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Meanwhile, Action Hotels Group has three new hotels under construction and seven more in the pipeline, with a view to providing 5,000 rooms across 25 hotels in the GCC over the next five years.

Chairman Sheikh Mubarak Abdullah Al Mubarak Al Sabah was reported by Emirates Business as having said: "As we are a GCC-centric brand, we are aggressively expanding into the region."
 

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