Dubai: Jumeirah, Emaar eye expansion, foray into new markets

Dubai-based hospitality majors Jumeirah Group and Emaar Hospitality are looking to foray into new territories as well as expand in existing markets in the UAE, regionally and globally as the hospitality and tourism sectors continue to grow exponentially in the post-pandemic period.

Jumeirah Group plans to foray into the Americas as well as expand into Europe, Asia and the Middle East as part of its 2030 plan, said Alex Lee, chief commercial officer, Jumeirah Group.

“Vision 2030 is really about looking at where we go from here. As we navigated through the pandemic, we started to expand more internationally. In the last two years, we've already been a catalyst in the global destinations of Italy, Maldives, Bahrain and Muscat and opening hotels where we have not been before,” Lee said during the Skift Global Forum East, a day-two conference taking place in Dubai.

He added that the US, South America, Europe and Asia are the markets where the group will be strengthening its presence.

“In terms in terms of international expansion, America is on the horizon,” he said on the first day of the conference on Wednesday.

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Jumeirah Group caters to the high-end luxury segment of the hospitality sector, which is expected to grow by around 25 per cent over the next five to seven years. In addition, the Gen-Z segment of luxury consumers is also soaring. Industry surveys found that 80 per cent of luxury consumers will be Gen-Z consumers by 2030. “They are soaring which means we will have to deliver and evolve. Gen-Z is looking at travel and hospitality and luxury experiences being as a necessity, no matter where they are.”

Mark Kirby, CEO, Emaar Hospitality Group, said the group is growing locally and regionally.

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