Deira City Centre Hotel to rebrand to Pullman Deira City Centre next February
Parties in advanced negotiations over two new projects outside the UAE
The Pullman Hotel, Mall of the Emirates to rebrand under an American operator by end of January 2013
Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Accor Middle East, one of the leading hotel operators in the region, and Majid Al Futtaim Properties, the leader in ownership, development and management of shopping malls together with hotels and communities in the MENA region, announced today that the Deira City Centre Hotel will be rebranded under Accor's Pullman brand by February 2013, following extensive renovation of its 317 rooms over the past 18 months.
Once fully renovated, Pullman Deira City Centre hotel will reflect the upper-upscale standards and innovative services of the Pullman brand, offering guests high-end rooms and facilities. The hotel will feature 11 state-of-the-art meeting rooms, innovative break activities and event management and IT solutions teams, creating a perfect destination for business.
Christophe Landais, Managing Director Accor Middle East, said: "Pullman has established itself as the benchmark for upper-upscale hotel products and services, catering to both sophisticated business travellers and discerning leisure markets. After renovations, Pullman Deira City Centre will rank among the top UAE hotels in its category. The official re-launch of the hotel as Pullman Deira City Centre will take place in February 2013."
Accor Middle East first introduced the Pullman brand to the region in October 2010 through The Pullman Hotel, Mall of The Emirates, owned by Majid Al Futtaim Properties. The two parties have reached a consensual decision to end that management contract, and Majid Al Futtaim Properties will rebrand the hotel in January 2013 under an American brand to be confirmed.
Peter Walichnowski, CEO, Majid Al Futtaim Properties, said: "The rebranding of the two hotels comes as part of our proactive approach to asset management. We have decided to retain the successful Pullman brand for our Deira City Centre Hotel, and introduce an American operator to The Pullman Hotel, Mall of The Emirates to diversify our hotel portfolio, which is managed exclusively by European operators at the current stage."
Majid Al Futtaim Properties owns nine hotels in Dubai, eight of which are operated by Accor under the brands Pullman, Novotel, Suite Novotel and ibis, and one which is operated by Kempinski.
"Our longstanding relationship with Accor remains strong. They have been reliable partners over the past 14 years and they will continue to manage seven of our hotels. We are also in advanced discussions with them about the management of two new hotels outside the UAE," Walichnowski added.
Landais concluded: "The rebranding of The Pullman Hotel, Mall of the Emirates and Deira City Centre Hotel are good illustrations of our successful partnership with Majid Al Futtaim Properties, demonstrating Accor's ability to dynamically adapt to its investors' strategic needs for mutual benefits."
-Ends-
About Accor Middle East
Accor ME is one of the fastest growing hospitality groups in the Middle East. Currently, the Group's regional portfolio includes a total of 59 operational hotels representing 14,158 rooms in ten countries. Among the existing global brands ranging from Sofitel, Novotel, Mercure and ibis, new brands such as Pullman and Adagio are emerging as strong players in the region.
With over 25 years of regional experience, Accor ME is the first to establish a training academy. Dubbed as Tamheed - Accor Academie Middle East, the training facility is dedicated to educate and prepare staff at all levels and ensure optimal career development.
About Accor
Accor, the world's leading hotel operator and market leader in Europe, is present in 92 countries with nearly 3,500 hotels and 440,000 rooms. Accor's broad portfolio of hotel brands - Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Novotel, Suite Novotel, Mercure, Adagio, ibis, ibis Styles, ibis budget and hotelF1 - provide an extensive offer from luxury to budget. With more than 160,000 employees in Accor brand hotels worldwide, the Group offers its clients and partners 45 years of know-how and expertise.
About Majid Al Futtaim Properties
Majid Al Futtaim Properties is the leader in the ownership, development and management of shopping malls together with hotels and communities in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Majid Al Futtaim Properties has changed the face of shopping, leisure and entertainment across the region with eleven world-class malls operating in the UAE, Bahrain, Oman and Egypt and two currently under development in Cairo, Egypt and Beirut, Lebanon. In April 2012, Majid Al Futtaim Properties opened its sixth strategic mall in the UAE with Fujairah City Centre. The Company's shopping malls continue to witness a steady increase in footfall with more than 140 million visitors in 2011. Majid Al Futtaim Properties has earned numerous accolades and awards from international organisations that have recognised its leadership and the quality of its properties.
Majid Al Futtaim Properties has four flagship shopping malls; three in Dubai and one in Bahrain. In Dubai, Deira City Centre boasts over 370 stores, leisure and entertainment facilities and over 50 restaurants and cafes; Mall of the Emirates houses over 520 international retail brands, including 80 luxury stores and the world-renowned Ski Dubai; and Mirdif City Centre offers visitors a mix of retail, leisure and entertainment options including 430 stores and iFLY Dubai, an indoor skydiving centre. Bahrain City Centre is the largest shopping, leisure and entertainment complex in Bahrain with 340 international brands including 60 dining options, and features Wahooo!, the region's first region's first indoor- outdoor waterpark.
Majid Al Futtaim Properties also owns nine hotels in the UAE and two in Bahrain, all of which are linked to the company's shopping malls. The hotels' strategic proximity to the company's shopping malls promotes direct access to a wider international demographic and attracts more than 1.2 million guests annually.
The Company is currently developing three master-planned communities. The Wave, Muscat, a joint venture with the Government of Oman; will combine more than 4,000 beautiful properties, Almouj Golf, Almouj Marina, four premier hotels and new retail, leisure and dining opportunities at a seafront address in the new heart of Muscat. The 250,000 sq.m Waterfront City development in Beirut, Lebanon, a joint venture with Société Joseph Khoury & Fils Holding SAL, will feature over 1500 residential homes, an office district, shopping mall, 2 international hotels, as well as multiple parks and a marina front promenade. Finally, Al Zahia, developed by Sharjah Holding, a joint venture between the Government of Sharjah and Majid Al Futtaim Properties, will be a fully integrated community featuring a range of villas, apartments and commercial units.
For further information:
Accor Middle East
Majid Al Futtaim Properties
Amanda Tomlinson/Action UAE
Amanda.t@actionprgroup.com
Tel. +971 4 3902980
Alex Blake Milton/Katharine Crallé
Brunswick Group
Phone: +97144466270
Email: Majidalfuttaim@brunswickgroup.com
© Press Release 2012
