Jumeirah Group confirmed at its annual GCC roadshow in Abu Dhabi that it is seeing continued growth in guests from the region travelling to its global portfolio, with a 4% increase in GCC guests’ room nights into its global portfolio, particularly in Germany where room nights are up 10% versus same time last year. Whilst Jumeirah’s hotels and resorts have always been a popular choice for GCC residents travelling to the UAE, the figures demonstrate the increasing global appeal of the brand’s renowned Arabian hospitality and further validate its focus on expansion not only in the region but in Europe and Asia.
Speaking at Jumeirah at Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi, Chief Executive Officer Jose Silva also discussed the Group’s plans in the region which include Jumeirah Muscat Bay in Oman, Jabal Omar Jumeirah in Makkah, KSA and the group’s second property in Bahrain. Planned international openings in 2020 include Jumeirah Guangzhou in China and Jumeirah Bali in Indonesia, where 123 spacious private villas are set amidst lush and tropical gardens, overlooking the renowned Dreamland surfer’s beach.
This is in addition to the recent opening of two new hotels in Abu Dhabi; Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort and Jumeirah Al Wathba Desert Resort, giving Jumeirah Group the ideal portfolio of city, beach and desert in the capital.
Renovation has also been a big focus in the UAE and the UK with Jumeirah Group investing in the full refurbishment of the iconic Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai, The Carlton Tower Jumeirah in London reopening in spring 2020, and the completed renovation of the rooms and suites at the palatial Jumeirah Al Qasr. The sixth floor of Jumeirah Al Naseem is also currently undergoing a transformation to create six luxurious suites due for completion in early December 2019. To further enhance its leisure offering, the Group is currently adding a new infinity adult pool at Jumeirah Al Qasr.
Jumeirah Group also updated stakeholders from across the GCC on the developments in relation to its brand strategy which, in line with Jumeirah’s luxury proposition, focuses on delivery of service beyond expectations, elevated dining experiences and unmatched physical spaces both in quality and design. 2019 saw thousands of guests take advantage of the new 24/7 e-butler service that allows guests to communicate requests via mobile quickly and efficiently, and Chief Culinary Officer, Michael Ellis, introduced a number of new concepts and culinary innovations to enhance Jumeirah’s dining scene in the UAE. These included the unveil of four signature restaurants; the new Mediterranean menus at Rockfish crafted by Marco Garfagnini, the relaunch of two of Dubai’s most-loved venues – Shimmers and Zheng He’s Chinese Pan-Asian – as well as a Peruvian-Nikkei fusion pop-up KAYTO in Jumeirah Al Naseem under celebrated chef Christian Goya. Coming soon, FIKA by Chef Izu Ani is another ground-breaking concept that celebrates healthy living as a way of life at Jumeirah Beach Hotel.
The Group’s focus on design has also taken centre stage throughout the renovations, new concepts and new hotel builds, including Jumeirah Nanjing whose striking and iconic architecture was created by the legendary architect Zaha Hadid, inspired by a graceful sailing ship, capturing Nanjing’s blend of traditional and cosmopolitan style.
Jose Silva, CEO of Jumeirah Group said: “Jumeirah Group is expanding regionally and internationally and in the privileged position of having the loyalty of many of our guests from the GCC and beyond. That position comes with an obligation to keep delivering service beyond expectations, a key area of our strategy moving forward with a particular focus on dining, design and curating truly memorable experiences for our guests. The GCC is a very important market for us both from a visitor and growth perspective, and we continue to look for the right opportunities to extend our brand footprint across the region.”
