Plaza Premium Group (PPG) has opened an office in Saudi Arabia with investment plans of US$100 million to expand its presence in the Middle East.
With a major focus on Saudi Arabia, the funds will be allocated to opening world-class lounges, establishing a global airport concierge service with white-glove service, creating innovative dining outlets, and exploring opportunities for in-terminal hotels.
Deputy CEO Bora Isbulan will lead this initiative, and will direct the business development, commercial, and marketing divisions, as well as forge robust alliances throughout the region.
With a presence in the Middle East since 2014, PPG has developed a robust portfolio of airport lounges, hotels, and F&B outlets; the company currently operates in 15 locations across eight international airports within key regional cities including Amman, Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Dubai, and Muscat.
The investment aims to establish a corporate presence in the Kingdom and support the company’s goal of expanding its global footprint to 500 locations by 2025, The targeted investment in the Middle East is part of US$300 million that PPG intends to invest over three years globally.
According to Song Hoi-See, founder and CEO of PPG, the projected investment will help to add value to development of airport hospitality services at the existing and upcoming destinations throughout the Middle East.
“This is an exciting time to invest in the Middle East, a region that exemplifies the future of travel and tourism. It is rich in ancient culture yet embraces modernity, reflecting PPG’s ethos of innovation and growth alongside our travel partners,” he said.
PPG is currently in 80 airports, 30 countries and 250 locations.
Anantara Hotels & Resorts is celebrating its 50th property milestone with a reimagined brand identity.
The brand’s refreshed look builds upon Anantara’s 23-year legacy, and has been designed to capture the imagination of today’s travellers while honouring the brand’s roots in experiential luxury.
The reimagined Anantara identity introduces several key updates such as simplifying its name from Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas to Anantara Hotels & Resorts; an updated logo with a contemporary look yet retaining its distinctive icon – the ‘Naam Jai’ water jar and traditional triangular cushions; as well as a new tagline Unforgettable Journeys.
Brand enhancements include modernised design elements with a refined colour palette and elegant typography; new identities for Anantara Spa, Designer Dining and Spice Spoons by Anantara; and refined service culture with enhanced service delivery standards and team member training programmes to elevate the Anantara guest experience.
The rebranding initiative has commenced with the rollout of the new logo and visual identity across all Anantara digital assets, with guests set to experience more tangible changes in service delivery and on-property experiences in the coming months.
“Anantara’s new visual identity and evolved experiences and concepts will redefine how guests see and interact with the brand, and will elevate us to a space less cluttered by other luxury hotel brands,” said Ian Di Tullio, chief commercial officer of Minor Hotels, the parent company of Anantara.
“This will be underpinned by an increased focus on deeply embedded sustainability, both in terms of how we help the environment and local communities, and how guests experience our hotels and resorts.”
Since its inception in 2001 with the opening of its first resort in Hua Hin, Thailand, Anantara has achieved a portfolio spanning Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Indian Ocean and Africa. The brand will continue its global expansion in the coming months, with the brand set to make its India debut with Anantara Jaipur Hotel later in 2024, on top of new openings in Bali (4Q2024) and Zambia (early 2025).