Best Western to launch 25 hotels

Global hotel chain Best Western will open 25 hotels within the next five years in the Middle East.

The company, which currently has more than 4,000 hotels with 308,636 rooms in more than 80 countries, recently partnered with Zainal Mohebi Group in the Middle East, who will be the chain's area development partner in the region.

Mohebi Aviation will be responsible for marketing, reservation and sales in the Middle East and will handle the sales office of Best West International in the region. Best Western will also introduce its brand by participating for the first time in the Arabian Travel market to be held in Dubai from Tuesday to Thursday.

Commenting on the strong growth in the hospitality sector in the Middle East, Best Western's Vice-President for International Operations, Asia, Glenn de Souza, said in a statement: "The strong economic growth in the Middle East, coupled with the huge potential for expansion in the tourism industry over the next few years, will create a strong demand for hotel rooms throughout the Gulf.

"We aim to open 25 hotels in the Gulf and Middle East within the next five years. Best Western Residences, our first hotel in Dubai with 165 rooms, is targeted to open in February 2009."

Samuel JS Poddar, General Manager of Mohebi Aviation/Escapades, told Emirates Business that the local market for mid-range hotels is growing.

"There is a big demand for the mid-market segment in the region. Many local and international brands are going to be established in the region in the near future as the market is growing."

Poddar said mid-range hotels will target both tourists and business travellers.

The demand for mid-range hotels has always existed, he said, but it is only now that this segment is booming.

"It has always been here, and we have been looking for a good international brand for a long time to promote this and when we got an opportunity with Best Western we thought it was time to launch," he added.

The first hotel, to be named Four-Star Best Residence, is under construction and will be located in Deira.

It is due to be completed in December and will officially open in February, 2009. The second property will be a five-star hotel under the name of Best Western Premier and should be completed by the end of next year. It will be located in Bur Dubai.

More hotels will be added across the UAE, and not just Dubai, the company said.

The next hotel will be built in Ras Al Khaimah and there will also be Best Western hotels in Abu Dhabi, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain.

"In RAK and Fujairah, we plan to build beach properties for leisure travellers, while in Abu Dhabi it will be both leisure and business hotels," said Poddar.

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