The CEO of Viceroy Hotels and Resorts claims his company is still being denied access to the Viceroy Palm Jumeirah despite a ruling by DIFC.
Viceroy Hotels and Resorts has been locked in a bitter dispute with Five Holdings Limited, who built the newly-opened $1.2 billion property, over a management agreement.
Bill Walshe, chief executive officer of Viceroy Hotel Group, said: “We maintain our position that Viceroy has always been, and remains, the legal manager of the Viceroy Palm Jumeirah Dubai. We are deeply disappointed that the owner of the hotel refuses to recognise this, despite the orders of the DIFC Courts, which were issued on 22 June and remain in place.
“Such actions threaten the entire business community in Dubai. Not only are Five and its affiliates creating confusion amongst colleagues, guests, residents and investors, they are also defying the authority of the DIFC Courts.”
He added that Viceroy “also deeply regrets the inconvenience and confusion Five’s actions have caused, and continue to cause, to our loyal colleagues, hotel guests, purchasers of real estate units in the project, local business partners in Dubai and travel industry partners globally”.
“We call on Five and its affiliates to act in the best interest of all of the hotel’s stakeholders and to allow Viceroy immediate access to the hotel property in order to resume its role as the rightful manager of the Viceroy Palm Jumeirah Dubai,” he said.
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Five hotels chief executive Aloki Batra was quoted saying that “the people who actually provide a hospitality experience never receive the real benefits while most of the commercial benefits are taken in most cases by operators. This needs to change”.
Kabir Mulchandani, the chief executive of Five Holdings, issued a brief statement saying: “We will take all steps to ensure the interests of the hotel’s employees, guests, investors, and stakeholders.”
