GCC mid-range hotel market still significantly undersupplied

Number of hotel rooms in Dubai set to double to as many as 160,000 in the lead up to Expo 2020, with special incentives provided for the development of mid-range properties

Dubai, UAE, 20 April, 2014 - Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA) has announced the launch of its award-winning Studio division in the UAE and the wider Middle East to offer interior design solutions for the growing mid-tier hospitality sector.

Catering to small and medium-sized hotels, Studio will offer cutting edge, stylish design solutions tempered within the paramount constraints of schedule and budget. In the Gulf, the mid-range hotel market is still significantly undersupplied, with luxury properties dominating the hospitality space. To attract a flow of new tourists, it is essential to offer more options for different categories of travellers. In Dubai, the Government has introduced new incentives to address this, and with the emirate's total hotel rooms expected to nearly double to as many as 160,000 by the time Expo 2020 begins, this presents a significant opportunity for Studio.

Justin Wells, Director of Studio Middle East, who joins HBA from bureau^proberts and brings 20 years of experience in interior design and architecture said: "Studio has achieved significant recognition in the global mid-tier hospitality interiors space by providing clients with carefully tailored budget-conscious solutions while implementing rigorous quality control and ensuring adherence to the original design." 

"In the UAE and the wider region, there is a growing number of small to medium hotel owners and developers who want to maintain high quality standards but can't afford to pay high premiums. Both Dubai and Abu Dhabi posted record numbers of tourists in 2013 and the market is expected to expand further in the years to come, with an expanding segment of budget conscious travellers. We are very excited to bring Studio to the region to meet this demand," he added.

Studio, which is a single source solution provider, specializes in a range of developments, including three and four star hotels, restaurants, show flats, private residences, corporate offices and retail. The division offers a multidisciplinary approach and provides budget-driven projects with the flexibility to outsource while maintaining control over schedules and costs.

Studio also can provide clients an extension of service through HBA brand partners for lighting design, graphic design / signage and art sourcing and procurement via Illuminate, Graphic Studio HBA and Canvas respectively.

Studio, launched in 2007, currently has offices in the USA, India, China, Australia and Philippines. Some of Studio's key projects include the Hilton Woodland Hills in the San Fernando Valley, ALOFT Guangzhou Tianhe in Guangzhou, China, Courtyard Marriott in Bangalore, India, and Radisson in Rancho Bernando, California, Radisson Blu in Faridabad and Coimbatore, India, Sedona Hotel, Myanmar, Hilton Garden Inn, Goa, India.

About HBA
World-renowned as the "Number 1 Hospitality Design Firm" (Interior Design) and honored in 2012 by the Gold Key Awards, Hospitality Design, Perspective Awards, the Boutique Design Awards and the European Hotel Design Awards; HBA/Hirsch Bedner Associates, unveils the world's most anticipated hotels, resorts, and spas.  Leading the hospitality interior design industry since 1965, HBA remains keenly attuned to the pulse of changing industry trends governed by today's sophisticated traveler. The company's international presence, depth of experience, and detailed industry knowledge enables them to identify interior design trends at their source, make definitive predictions about new directions and innovations, and influence design standards at a global level.  HBA's ultimate objective is to add value, raise standards and enhance the brand of a project's owner and operator.

HBA creates the signature look of traditional luxury brands, independent contemporary boutiques, urban resort spas, world-class residences, restaurants, casinos, and cruise ships. From continent to continent, each HBA interior is the result of a unique and sensitive response to location, architecture, and client vision. With over 1,000 designers around the globe in 16 offices and a recent expansion in Asia, HBA is a true global company with more than 75% of its employees now outside the United States. HBA's international presence, combined with its extensive knowledge of the interior design industry, has facilitated the ability to rewrite the language of design with each new project.

For HBA in Los Angeles, Atlanta, San Francisco, London, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo, Singapore, Melbourne, New Delhi, Dubai, Moscow, Istanbul, Thailand and Manila, visit www.hba.com.

Further information:         
Abbey Michelle Urbanski
Edelman UAE
Phone: +971 50 615 8437
E-Mail: abbey.urbanski@edelman.com

© Press Release 2014