Dubai - Premier Inn, the UK's largest and most successful hotel brand has officially opened their first hotel in the region at Dubai Investments Park (DIP). The 308 bedroom hotel marks the beginning of a strategic partnership between the Emirates Group and Whitbread Plc to develop the Premier Inn brand throughout the region.
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum was present at the launch and unveiled a plaque commemorating the official opening. Sheikh Ahmed, who is Chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group, enjoyed a guided tour of the new hotel accompanied by Darroch Crawford, Managing Director of Premier Inn Middle East, Gary Chapman of the Emirates Group and Khalid Kalban, MD & CEO of Dubai Investments.
Commenting on the launch, Darroch Crawford said, "We are extremely excited about introducing the Premier Inn brand to Dubai and the Middle East. This hotel marks the first step in achieving our objectives in the region and we are honoured that Sheikh Ahmed has taken the time to visit our new hotel. His Highness' visit gave us the opportunity to show him at first hand that whilst Premier Inn represents the limited service hotel market, that doesn't mean we compromise on quality."
Gary Chapman, President of Emirates' Associated Companies, said: "Premier Inn is a renowned hotel brand that complements Emirates' ethos of quality service and we are delighted that the first Premier Inn in Dubai is now open for business. This hotel offers something that has to date been lacking in Dubai - a reasonably priced hotel that does not compromise on quality."
"We are thrilled to host Premier Inn's first hotel in the Middle East region," said Khalid Kalban, Managing Director & CEO of Dubai Investments. "As the tourism sector continues to boom in Dubai, Dubai Investments Park has set into motion plans that aim to address the increasing demand for quality hotel facilities in the Emirate. Premier Inn will be the second out of seven hotels to be located in our development."
"Designed to serve as a self-sustaining city within a city, DIP's proximity to key areas such as Dubai's upcoming Al Maktoum International Airport in Jebel Ali and major road and transport networks such as Emirates road and Sheikh Zayed Road makes it an ideal location for visitors to Dubai," Kalban concluded.
Premier Inn Dubai Investments Park features 308 modern and stylish air-conditioned rooms, each en-suite with bath, shower and bidet. Prices are fixed at 450 Dhs, with a rate of 650 Dhs being applied during a few selected major events. The pricing and standard of the hotel further demonstrates Premier Inn's position at the pinnacle of the value for money hotel market.
"Premier Inn is an extremely attractive option for anyone who is interested in value for money. Whether that's people travelling to the region on business, to visit relatives or attend some kind of event, the common theme is that they all want value for money without a trade off on quality," Crawford continued. "The emergence of the limited service market will also open up the region to travellers who previously might not have considered it as a destination, with the associated financial benefits to the region that they will bring."
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Editor's Notes
For hotel bookings, visit premierinn.com or call +971 (0) 4 885 0999.Premier Inn's hotels in Dubai, its first international properties outside of the UK, are operated under a joint venture between the Emirates Group and Whitbread Plc.
About Premier Inn
Premier Inn is the UK's biggest hotel brand with over 500 hotels and nearly 36,000 rooms. All Premier Inns feature: en-suite bathroom with shower and bath; beds with duvet; family rooms that sleep up to two adults and two children aged 15 and under; remote control TV/radio alarm; tea/coffee making facilities; spacious desk area; licensed restaurant and bar (except on Motorway Service Areas).
Premier Inn recently became the first Britain-wide hotel group to sign up with national tourist boards, VisitBritain, VisitScotland and VisitWales. This means that Premier Inn is now part of a new quality assessment scheme, specially created for budget accommodation. Premier Inn offers customers a 'Good Night Guarantee' of a good quality room, comfortable surroundings and friendly service, which is unique amongst Britain's leading hotel chains. Further information is available from www.premierinn.com
About Emirates
Emirates is the Dubai-based international airline. The Emirates Group comprise an award-winning fleet of 115 aircraft which flies to 99 cities around the world, an international cargo division, a fully-fledged destination management and leisure division, an international ground handler and an airline IT developer, Emirates is characterised by two key features, continuous explosive growth and a constant focus on top quality service.
About Whitbread Plc
Whitbread PLC is the UK's leading hospitality company, managing the number one brands in hotels, restaurants, and coffee shops, including Premier Inn, Brewers Fayre, Beefeater, and Costa Coffee. Whitbread's strategy is to create value for shareholders by focusing on growth in expanding sectors of the hospitality industry, primarily in the UK but also in selected international markets. In the financial year to March 1, 2007, Whitbread generated pre-tax, pre-exceptional profit of £213.0m. Founded in 1742, the company is listed on the London Stock Exchange (as WTB.L) and is a member of the FTSE4Good Indices.
For more information on Premier Inn, please contact:
Chris McDonnell
Siren Consulting.
T: 04 3215351
Email: chris@sirenconsulting.com
Heather Redpath
Media Relations Manager
Emirates Group Corporate Communications
T: +9714 7081709
F: +971 2864136
M: +97150 9508420
Email: heather.redpath@emirates.com
© Press Release 2008
