Jannah Hotels & Resorts has re- vealed ambitious plans to open 30 properties in the GCC and Mediterranean markets by 2020.
The UAE hospitality firm, which is based in Liwa in Abu Dhabi’s Empty Quarter, has already signed five memorandums of understand- ing to build five more hotels in the UAE in 2016, with a new three- star hotel already mooted to open in Dubai that year according to the Jannah Hotels & Resorts vice president of operations, Richard Haddad.
“The group has presented inter- est, and we have a letter of intent with an owner in Greece,” he said.
“There’s another owner in Oman that accepted a proposal and we’re negotiating now, so we’re not in final agreement yet.”
Haddad added: “We’re reinvest- ing all our profit into the growth. We’re not at this stage distributing dividends for partners.”
He was speaking as the company prepares for the September 2015 opening of its first hotel in Abu Dhabi, which will kick-start the firm’s expansion campaign.
The 318-key Jannah Burj al Sarab will be located on Mina Street in the UAE capital’s Al Zahiyat district, catering primarily to business trav- ellers. The four-star property, which will be jointly managed by Jannah and the Al Rubaya Group, will of- fer 224 Jannah Deluxe King/Twin rooms, 66 Jannah Deluxe Suites, 22 one-bedroom Suites, two penthouse suites and four Royal Suites.
Additional facilities will include international dining brands, meet- ing facilities and a rooftop recrea- tion area featuring an outdoor pool, gym and coffee shop.
Jannah Burj al Sarab will also be halal-friendly, in line with the Abu Dhabi government’s current goal to transform the emirate into a halal tourism destination.
The property will be dry (alcohol free) and offer women-only gym and pool sessions.
The hotel is also marketing itself as a “smart hotel”, using apps and tech- nology to control its heating and air conditioning, to generate solar power and to control the laundry.
Jannah Burj al Sarab’s recently appointed hotel manager, Lennart Mass, said the Burj Al Sarab’s executive suites were “some of the most spacious around”.
“The latest technology and con- nectivity is designed to ease the stress of business travel, without
compromising on style, comfort and service,” he added.
Guests will also be offered Jan- nah’s renowned ‘Karim’ butler- style service whereby Karims, also known as genies, assist with their every need, from arranging couriers or booking event tickets, flights or yachts, to finding schools for their children.
“Basically, we take care of eve- rything so our guests can take care of business,” said Mass who joined Jannah Hotels & Resorts from Do- ha’s new Banana Resort.
