Mohammed Al-Habtoor, vice chairman and CEO of the Al-Habtoor Group, and Ian R. Carter, president, global development, architecture, design and construction, Hilton, hosted a press event to announce a new franchise agreement, effective as of Aug. 1, for the three hotels at Al-Habtoor City.
The decision to rebrand these properties as Habtoor Palace, LXR Hotels & Resorts, V Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton and Hilton Dubai Al-Habtoor City was unveiled at a ceremony held at Al-Habtoor City, on Tuesday. The announcement of the deal comes after a recent statement that the Al-Habtoor Group plans to expand its Habtoor Hospitality-management portfolio.
Also present at the signing ceremony were: Rudi Jagersbacher, Hilton’s president of Middle East, Africa and Turkey; Patrick Fitzgibbon, SVP of development, Hilton EMEA; Carlos Khneisser, VP, development, MENA and Turkey; and from Al-Habtoor Group, Maan Halabi, managing director; Sanjeev Agarwala, chief operating officer — hospitality and investments; Sunderesh Iyer, chief operating officer — Al-Habtoor Investment; and Kamal Naamani, managing director — hospitality and leisure projects UAE, Habtoor Hospitality.
Mohammed Al-Habtoor said: “We are pleased to extend our partnership with Hilton to three additional hotel properties at Al-Habtoor City, our flagship hospitality, leisure and residential development located in the heart of Dubai. This is a record transition into a new portfolio of brands, a testament to the strong relationship and trust between Al-Habtoor Group and Hilton.”
He added: “The announcement today increases our partnership with Hilton from five hotels to eight hotels around the world.”
Ian Carter said: “The addition of these three properties is great news for Hilton and strengthens a strategic partnership with Al-Habtoor Group which spans across several markets internationally. Our portfolio will now see more than 5,000 rooms open by the end of the year in Dubai, a destination that ranks alongside global powerhouses such as London, Paris and New York in terms of annual visitor numbers.”
Habtoor Palace, LXR Hotels & Resorts
A 234-guest room luxury hotel will operate as an independent property as it joins the upcoming ultra-luxury collection brand from Hilton, LXR Hotels & Resorts.
V Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton
The first hotel in the UAE to join Curio Collection by Hilton, a global upper upscale portfolio of more than 50 hotels and resorts lauded for their distinct culture and spirit, V Hotel joins 10 pipeline and trading properties in the region.
Hilton Dubai Al-Habtoor City
Centrally situated on both Sheikh Zayed Road and the Dubai Water Canal featuring 1,004 guest rooms, including 142 suites, this hotel under the flagship Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand becomes the largest in Hilton’s Middle East and Africa portfolio.
Khalaf Ahmad Al-Habtoor, founding chairman of Al-Habtoor Group, said: “Dubai is a safe haven for tourism and investment. The decision of Hilton to choose Dubai as one of the first locations for its upcoming luxury collection brand is a confirmation of Dubai and the UAE’s robustness and appeal.”