Barcelo Hotel Group to Launch Eight New Hotels in the UAE
Date: March 2018
Location: UAE
Name: Occidental Hotel & Barcelo Hotel
Sharjah Grand Hotel…Photography, David Nascimento
Developer: Family-run Barceló Hotel Group, launched over 85 years ago, currently operates more than 230 hotels in 22 countries worldwide and it’s all set to open two more four-star Occidental hotels in the UAE.
The Spanish hospitality group oversees operations of its four brands Royal Hideaway Luxury Hotels & Resorts, Barceló Hotels & Resorts, Occidental Hotels & Resorts and Allegro Hotels.
On their UAE expansion plans, the president of the Barceló Hotel Group, Simón Pedro Barceló explained, “The United Arab Emirates is renowned for its grand luxury hotels.
According to the MasterCard Index of Global Destination Cities, in 2017 Dubai was ranked fourth in terms of foreign tourists, with 16 million visitors, a number that is expected to reach 20 million in 2020.
This insight coupled with the country’s favouring of the middle to high end segment of tourism, an area in which Barceló has an abundance of experience, makes the country an ideal candidate for the brand’s growth plan.”
Barceló Hotel Group currently operates Occidental Sharjah Grand (currently under renovation) and Barceló Residences Dubai Marina in operation.
“We are currently negotiating and looking forward to signing contracts for eight hotels in the Emirates between now and the end of 2018.
We are seeing that the Barceló Hotel Group is being widely welcomed along with its hotel brands thanks to the group’s values, its flexible and personalised approach to the goals it sets”, shared Raúl González, CEO of the group.
In 2018, Barceló Hotel Group will open two more Occidental hotels in the UAE, in IMPZ (International Media Production Zone). Furthermore, the third Barceló hotel to be launched, is currently under construction will be situated in the new Al Jaddaf quarter.
THPT Comment: Barcelo’s rejection by NH Hotels in 2017 clearly hasn’t dampened their enthusiasm for continued growth, especially in this part of the world.
First Seen: Hotelier Middle East