Jumeirah Beach Hotel expansion about to go ahead
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The expansion of the Jumeirah Beach Hotel is set to go ahead with the Jumeirah Group, which operates the hotel, now finalising the necessary permits, as per a report in Gulf News.
“We expect very soon to be able to submit detailed plans to the municipality regarding building and everything. So subject to normal permits, we hope to be a bit more specific about what is planned within the next six months,” said Gerald Lawless, Jumeirah Group president and chief executive.
The plan, announced in June, includes the construction of a 350-room ultra luxury resort, in addition to the existing Jumeirah Beach Hotel, a private beach, recreational marine facilities and retail outlets. The project is due to be completed in 2018.
Nearby, the fourth phase of the Madinat Jumeirah expansion is on track to being completed in March 2016, Lawless said. It includes a 420-room luxury hotel, a villas complex, restaurants and a commercial centre with retail outlets. Aside from expanding existing properties, the luxury hotel group is working on signing management agreements for hotels in different destinations.
Saudi Arabia, for instance, is a destination that Jumeirah has been eyeing for a few years. On when the group expects to strike hotel deals in the kingdom, Lawless said: “We are still extremely interested in Saudi Arabia. I would like to be further ahead in terms of announcements, but that does not mean we are not active in trying to achieve representation within the kingdom, in Madinah, Makkah, Jeddah, Riyadh and Al Khobar. It is taking time.”
Jumeirah currently operates 22 hotels, resorts and residences worldwide.
“I would estimate, with what we have signed to date, that by mid-2018, we should have close to 40 hotels in operation,” Lawless said. The group expects to add 4,300 rooms in 11 countries over the next three years. The expansion is valued at AED eight billion.
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