UAE-based Emaar Hospitality Group is looking to enter key Asian markets including India and China as part of its expansion plans.
“We are looking to expand into new international markets by leveraging our brand recognition. India and China both are major source markets for us. Though there are no projects that we can announce in these markets yet, we are looking at possibilities in major cities in these two countries,” said Olivier Harnisch, Emaar Hospitality Group’s CEO, speaking on the sidelines of the Arabian Travel Mart in Dubai.
For India and China, Harnisch sees good opportunity to develop Emaar’s three brands, namely the premium luxury Address Hotels + Resorts, upscale lifestyle Vida Hotels and Resorts; and contemporary midscale Rove Hotels.
In particular, he is excited about the prospects of Rove Hotels in the Indian market.
“We are looking to enter the Indian market through a joint venture or a management contract. In fact, a lot of hotels in our development pipeline will be managed. Our focus will be on management contracts going ahead,” shared Harnisch.
The group recently announced its foray into the Maldives with the Address Madivaru Maldives Resort, a 75,000m2 property with a dedicated spa island and water sports island, scheduled to open in 2020.
At present, Emaar Hospitality Group has 12 operational hotels in the UAE, and three serviced residences operational in Dubai. Globally, the group has 36 projects in the pipeline.
