Friday, Dec 09, 2011
Gulf News
Dubai Al Habtoor Group expects its hotels business to yield healthy growth in 2012, as the group’s four hotels achieved “good” results in 2011, the company said in a statement yesterday.
The group’s hotels unit, Habtoor Hotels, according to the statement, projects a 10 per cent growth in revenue and a 17 per cent increase in gross operating profit over the current year.
The company has been aggressively ramping up its hotels business. It recently signed a management agreement with Hilton Worldwide which will see Hilton develop the 324-room Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah, scheduled to open at the end of 2013.
The deal between the two companies would also see Hilton Worldwide make its first entry into Leban-on by converting the 195-room Habtoor Grand and the 183-room Metropolitan Palace to the Hilton Beirut Habtoor Grand and Hilton Beirut Metropolitan Palace. Both hotels are due to open in early 2012.
Speaking about Habtoor Hotels’ performance so far, Khalaf Al Habtoor, Chairman of Al Habtoor Group, said he is confident that the group’s management will exceed expectations in the coming year. “Dubai remains one of the most popular destinations in the world for all kinds of tourism and in recent years for business tourism,” he said.
By Shweta Jain?Senior Reporter
Gulf News 2011. All rights reserved.
