At the recent Arabian Hotel Investment Conference held in Ras al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), hoteliers and industry experts came together to share insights on this hospitality industry. The event, which took place from April 9 to 11, was held under the patronage of UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi.

At the event, Mr Ali Hamad Lakhraim Alzaabi, President of Millennium Hotels and Resorts Middle East & Africa (MHR MEA) was awarded with the Creating Impact Award for his outstanding contribution to the industry.

About receiving the award, Mr Alzaabi said, “I have envisioned a great potential in the hospitality industry that inspired me to introduce an array of distinct brands to the region, serving different market segments over the last 20 years and I am proud that the Millennium brand has firmly established itself as one of the fastest growing hotel management companies in the Middle East region.”

In an interview with online travel portal Breaking Travel News, Mr Alzaabi shared about the rapidly developing hospitality sector in the Middle East and the brand’s expansion in the region.

He shared that the region’s hotel sector is still maturing from its existing provision of luxury, branded hotels and owner-operated accommodation, and the need for more upscale and midscale developments is expected to increase to meet the demands of a wider spectrum of visitors.

Mr Alzaabi said, “We are excited to add 14 new hotels to our portfolio in 2019 where we will be operating more than 50 hotels, growing from 26 properties in 2016 which position us as the fastest growing hotel operator in the region.”

“The 14 new hotels and the existing portfolio of 40 hotels in the Middle East and Africa region will help grow tourism demand in the GCC including UAE – who will be hosting the World Expo 2020 and is expected to receive 25 million visitors in six months,” he added.

To bring variety to the market and to offer customised hospitality offerings, MHR MEA has introduced two new contemporary brands – Studio M and Millennium Place. Studio M Arabian Plaza, the first Studio M property in Middle East, opened its doors in December 2018, and the brand opened Millennium Atria Business Bay, its 40th property in the region, in February 2019. It also announced the launch of Millennium Place Marina, which is slated to open in coming months. All three properties are located in Dubai.

At the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference, MHR signed a management agreement to operate the new Millennium Place Barsha Heights. It is the second Millennium Place property in the United Arab Emirates, and is located in Barsha Heights, an up-and-coming community in Dubai. It will comprise 915 rooms, suites and serviced apartments, and is expected to open in Q4 2019.

Also slated to open in 2019 is Studio M Al Barsha. Targeted at self-sufficient and independent travellers looking for fresh, minimalistic, and tech-savvy comfort, the hotel will feature 155 chicly designed rooms, and other facilities including a fitness centre, swimming pool, and dining outlets.

He also shared about the brand’s commitment to not only its employees, owners and customers, but also to causes and organisations that make a difference in the lives of others. MHR MEA has launched programmes such as Taddamon, a corporate social responsibility initiative in collaboration with Al Jalila Foundation for mental health research, and TooMooH, a talent development programme for nationals from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.